Concept of Divinity in Jainism

Author(s): P Ajay Kothari
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 41

Divinity in Hindu Holy Triad (Trimurti)
Under Hinduism, divinity gets manifested in the concept of trinity. The Trimurti, i.e., “triple form”, denotes the great Hindu Trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, the august representatives of the creative, destructive and preservative energies or principles. Brahma is the embodiment of the rajo-guna, the quality of passion, or desire, by which the world was called into being; Vishnu is the embodied Sattva-guna, or property of mercy and goodness, by which the world is preserved; and Shiva is the embodied Tamo-guna, the attribute of darkness, or wrath, and the destructive fire by which the world is consum ed. 62
William M.M. observes — "The difference between the Hindu and Christian idea of the Trinity lies in this fact. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva have only derived or secondary existence, and the Supreme Being may be worshipped through the worship of these three, or of any one of the three, supposed for the time to be superior to the others. It is even possible for the members of this Trinity themselves to worship the One Spirit through the worship of the other, each being in turn regarded as inferior. Then, in the next pace, homage may be paid to the Universal Spirit by and through the worship of the inferior gods, goddesses, departed ancestors, living Brahmins, heroes, animals and plants”.63
Brahma : Brahma is the first of the three great Hindu divinity, the personified emanations of the Supreme Spirit, Brahman. He is called the creator, the framer of the universe.
Brahma the creator should not be confused with Brahman, the Supreme Being, of the Upanishads, for there is very little relation between them. Brahma undoubtedly is a later development of the creator and protector god Prajapati so frequently mentioned in the later Vedic texts.64
Vishnu: Vishnu, the protector and sustainer of the world, is one of the most highly venerated of the Hindu gods. He is the
THE CONCEPT OF DIVINITY IN JAIHISM