What does the Hindu trinity – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva – signify?

Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are popular as creator, caretaker and destroyer respectively of the universe.

Pic courtesy: Thinkstock image for representation purpose only.

Mumbai: The Hindu trinity – Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (Shiva) – are revered as the most powerful of the pantheon of Gods in Sanatana Dharma. They are popular as creator, caretaker and destroyer respectively of the universe.

For the uninitiated, Hinduism is a faith that believes in symbolism. The stories and the tales of the Gods and Goddesses that we hear actually have an in-depth meaning and are high on moral values.

When we talk of the trio--Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - we associate each of them with a certain task – to construct, to nurture and to annihilate.

But there is a deep symbolism hidden beneath these popular beliefs.

Let’s take a look at them:

For any form of life to thrive on earth, it must exist in the first place. Brahma symbolises the chance that we get to visit earth. Each living being that takes birth serves a specific purpose and has a mission in life. Now enters Vishnu, who inspires us to value life by nurturing desires to sustain. And when desires take the form of greed, pride and lust, Shiva teaches us to destroy the evil within.

Now, if this is juxtaposed with the graph of our life, you will notice that as children, we realise we have a long path to walk and that we have been given a life. As we grow up, we become ambitious. This leads to a complex human behaviour – greed, pride, love, lust, hated etc seep in. And as we grow old, we start rejecting these ideas to seek solace as we rest finally rest.

Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, thus teach us the basic principles of life.