The Ancient and Medieval Architecture of India: A Study of Indo-Aryan Civilisation c18.25

c18.25

The Indian conception of the Trimûrti, the Three Aspects of the One, may be considered from many different standpoints. Originally, like all other Indo-Aryan conceptions, it was derived from the life of the ancient Indian village community. The first Aspect was Brahmâ, the Creator, whom all Aryans worshipped as the Cause of all things; or Buddha, the great Aryan Guru. It was the symbol of the spiritual wisdom of the Aryan race. The second Aspect was Justice, the pillar of Aryan society, represented by the village council, or by the head of the tribe. The third was the Dharma, the Law spiritual and temporal, revealed and recorded by the Vedas. And as all three Aspects were interchangeable, and manifestations of the universal Law, together they represented God, as Three in One, or One in Three.