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Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva
These three gods are called the trimurti, the trio of great gods.
All of the gods in Hinduism are part of the one Supreme God, Brahman. The gods and goddesses all represent parts of God, but the three most important gods are Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu.
Brahma
Brahma is called ‘the creator’ and everything there is came from him. He does not interfere with the normal affairs of humans or the other gods.
Today, very few people worship Brahma. He has nothing to do with life after it has been created, so he has no role in people’s everyday lives.
Shiva
Trident
Shiva is called ‘the destroyer’, but he is not seen as bad or evil. Instead, he destroys so that re-birth can take place, just as spring cannot happen unless there is winter.
G Shiva is often shown with four arms, which stand
for the superhuman power to do many things at the same time. He uses the trident to destroy his demon foes. He holds a drum whose sound creates life. The beads of his necklace stand for all time (past, present and future). He is often shown with a cobra, the naga which is a symbol of fertility and strength, wrapped around his neck. The water flowing from his hair stands for the goddess Ganga, the River Ganges.
F The lingam is another way of showing Shiva. The word lingam means symbol. The lingam is a stone which is broad in the middle and conical towards the top. It rests on a stand called a yoni.
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