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Re: Trinity Philosophy

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Mani Varadarajan • March 14, 2002 


Rama Krishna K writes:
> As per the Sri Vaishnava Philosophy the creation/sustenance/dissolution
> is carried out by Lord Srimannarayana in his
> Vasudeva/Pradyumna/Aniruddha/Sankarshana forms ;  if so,  is there any
> validitiy for the general Hindu philosophy where the same is said to be
> carried out in the form of  Trinity  mode i.e. Brahma/Vishnu/Maheshwara

The idea of Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva (Maheshwara) respectively 
creating, preserving, and destroying the phenomenal universe is
very much accepted by our tradition. Sri Ramanuja clarifies this
idea by citing a sloka from Sri Vishnu Purana:

   That same Bhagavan Janardana assumes three names,
   Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva, by virtue of the three
   functions of creation, maintenance and destruction.
     [V.P. 1.2.66]

   sRshTi-sthity-antakAriNIm brahma-vishnu-SivAtmikAm |
   sa saMjnAm yAti bhagavAn eka eva janArdana: ||

This sloka is meant to emphasize that though conventionally 
the devatas known as Siva and Brahma destroy and create the
conventional universe, in actuality, all these actions actually
stem ultimately from the ParamAtman, Bhagavan Vishnu.

Nammalvar echoes this very idea in the opening patikam of
Tiruvaymoli:

   Through Hara (Siva) and Aja (Brahma), he destroys
   and creates the universe. (tvm 1.1.9)

   aran ayan ena ulagazhittu amaittuLanE |

Sri Ramanuja comments on the Purana sloka, in the Vedarthasangraha, 
"Both the creator and the created, the destroyer and the destroyed are 
together taken up and the unity of all with Vishnu is proclaimed.
The creater and the destroyer are treated as of the same status
as the created existence and the objects of destruction, in the 
matter of being the manifestations of Janardana.

"When it is said that Janardana assumes three names and forms as
Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva, because the terms Janardana and Vishnu
are synonyms, the Lord, whose manifestation all things are,
is said to enter into the realm of his own manifestations and
become included among his own glories.  This is an act of his
own choice and constitutes his own play." (Vedarthasangraha para
159 in S.S. Raghavachar's edition -- translations are by Dr.
Raghavachar. Sanskrit available upon request.).

The fourfold 'vyUha' forms of Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna,
and Aniruddha, and their role in universal creation, etc., is
an idea from the Pancaratra Agamas. This particular idea is not
elaborated by Sri Ramanuja. However, what is understood is that
each of these forms of Narayana perform creation, destruction,
etc., through Brahma and Siva. Ultimately what is to be gathered
is that there is only ONE principle which is the cause of 
creation, preservantion, and destruction, and that one principle
is Narayana.  The Brahma-Sutras unequivocally say "janmAdy asya
yataH" -- Brahman is that from which creation, etc., proceed.

hope this clarifies,
Mani



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