TRIMURTI (from the Sanskrit tri, three, and mdrti, form), is the name of the Hindu triad, or the gods Brahman (masculine), Vishn'u, and Siva, when thought of as an inseparable unity, though three in form. The Padma-Purdn'a (see PURAN'A), which, being a Purfin'a of the Vaishn'ava sect, assigns to Vishn'u the highest rank in the Tri marti, defines its character in the following manner: "In the beginning of creation, the .great Vishn'u, desirous of creating the whole world, became three-fold: creator, pre server, and destroyer. In order to create this world, the supreme spirit produced from the right side of his body himself as Brahman; then, in order to preserve the world, he produced from the left side of his body Vishn'u; and in order to destroy the world, he produced from the middle of his body the eternal S'iva. Some worship Brahman, others Vishn'u, others S'iva; but Vishn'n, one, yet three-fold, creates, preserves, and destroys; therefore, let the pious make no difference between the three." And the
ilfutsya-Purcin'a, where speaking of ...3fahat, or the intellectual principle of the Sankliya philosophy (see SINictrvA), says that "Mahat becomes distinctly known as three gods. through the influence of the three qualities, goodness, passion, and sin ; being one person and three gods—viz., Brahman, Vishn'u, and S'iva." Apart, therefore, from sectarian belief, which makes its own god the highest, and gives him the attributes also of the other gods; IrimOti implies the unity of the three principles of creation, preservation, and destruction, and as such belongs more to the philosophical than to the popular belief. When represented, the Trimarti is one body with three heads: in the middle, that of Brahman ; at its right, that of Vishn'u; and at its left, that of S'iva. The sym bol of the Trimurti is the mystical syllable om, where (o being equivalent to a + u) a means Brahman; u, Vishn'u; and m, S'iva. See OM.