|
The "Trimūrti" (;〔("Trimurti" ). ''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary''.〕 Sanskrit: त्रिमूर्तिः ', "three forms") is a concept in Hinduism "in which the cosmic functions of creation, maintenance, and destruction are personified by the forms of Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver and Shiva the destroyer or transformer."〔For quotation defining the trimurti see Matchett, Freda. "The ", in: Flood (2003), p. 139.〕〔For the Trimurti system having Brahma as the creator, Vishnu as the maintainer or preserver, and Shiva as the transformer or destroyer. see Zimmer (1972) p. 124.〕 ==Evolution== The Puranic period saw the rise of post-Vedic religion and the evolution of what R. C. Majumdar calls "synthetic Hinduism."〔For dating of Puranic period as c. CE 300-1200 and quotation, see: Majumdar, R. C. "Evolution of Religio-Philosophic Culture in India", in: Radhakrishnan (CHI, 1956), volume 4, p. 47.〕 This period had no homogeneity, and included orthodox Brahmanism in the form of remnants of older Vedic faith traditions, along with different sectarian religions, notably Shaivism, Vaishnavism, and Shaktism that were within the orthodox fold yet still formed distinct entities.〔For characterization as non-homogeneous and including multiple traditions, see: Majumdar, R. C. "Evolution of Religio-Philosophic Culture in India", in: Radhakrishnan (CHI, 1956), volume 4, p. 49.〕 One of the important traits of this period is a spirit of harmony between orthodox and sectarian forms.〔For harmony between orthodox and sectarian groups, see: Majumdar, R. C. "Evolution of Religio-Philosophic Culture in India", in: Radhakrishnan (CHI, 1956), volume 4, p. 49.〕 Regarding this spirit of reconciliation, R. C. Majumdar says that:
Maurice Winternitz notes that there are very few places in Indian literature where the Trimurti is mentioned.〔Winternitz, volume 1, p. 452, note 1.〕 The identification of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva as one being is strongly emphasized in the '' Purāṇa'', where in 1.6 Brahman is worshipped as Trimurti; 1.9 especially inculcates the unity of the three gods, and 1.26 relates to the same theme.〔For references to Purana see: Winternitz, volume 1, p. 573, note 2.〕 Historian A. L. Basham explains the background of the Trimurti as follows, noting Western interest in the idea of trinity: Early western students of Hinduism were impressed by the parallel between the Hindu trinity and that of Christianity. In fact the parallel is not very close, and the Hindu trinity, unlike the Holy Trinity of Christianity, never really "caught on". All Hindu trinitarianism tended to favor one god of the three; thus, from the context it is clear that 's hymn to the is really addressed to , here looked on as the high god. The was in fact an artificial growth, and had little real influence.〔Basham, pp. 310-311.〕 Nicholas Sutton states that Brahma was never recognized as the Supreme Deity: There must be some doubt as to whether the Hindu tradition has ever recognized Brahma as the Supreme Deity in the way that Visnu and Siva have been conceived of and worshiped. Freda Matchett characterizes the Trimurti system as one of "several frameworks into which various divine figures can be fitted at different levels."〔Matchett, Freda. "The ", in Flood (2003), p. 139.〕 The concept of Trimurti is also present in the Maitri Upanishad, where the three gods are explained as three of his supreme forms.〔"Brahma, Rudra and Vishnu are called the supreme forms of him. His portion of darkness is Rudra. His portion of passion is Brahma. His portion of purity is Visnu" Maitri Upanisad ()〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Trimurti」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|