Hindu Holy Trinity and Relation to Fertility.

                           Hindu Holy Trinity and Relation to Fertility.

 By

Koti Ravi Kiran Chalasani.

© Chalasani Koti Ravi Kiran.

I assert my moral right to be acknowledged as the author of this article and except for the purpose of review no part of this book may be reproduced in any form, without my prior written permission.

 

The Hindu trinity of gods consists of Brahma (creator), Vishnu (Preserver), and Shiva (destroyer) with their consorts being Saraswati (goddess of knowledge),  Lakshmi (goddess of wealth) and Parvati (goddess of female energy).  

The concept of trinity of gods is present in most cultures across the world. Duality is a concept that is also present in most cultures and thought across the world and the basis for the concept of duality has been much examined.  

 The male/female, yin/yang, light/dark, good/bad, God/Devil, God/Creation combinations have been variously and vigorously examined to support the evolution of the concept of duality in human thought and consciousness.  The concept of Trinity might have a basis in the three stage ( (solid, liquid, gas)/(earth, water. Sky) ) existence of the material world.  

 

Various trinity concepts in the major religions are, the God, Son of God, and the holy spirit in Christianity, Buddha, Sangha and Dharma in Buddhism, Zeus, Hades and Poseidon in Greek mythology, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva in Hindu Mythology, et al. 

Even in the monotheistic Islam, the concept of trinity in evident in God, His Prophet and God’s creation.  This division in Islam can be disputed as not being a trinity arguing, that there is only God and creation, a duality concept and not a concept of Trinity, but God has chosen only one voice, the Prophet voice to speak to His creation lending support to existence of Trinity. 

Even in secular organizations, a trinity exists in the form of legislative, executive and judiciary.   It is interesting to note the analogy between the Buddhist concept of trinity and the secular organizations, with the Sangha correlating with the Executive, Dharma with Legislative and Buddha with judiciary (Buddha/Buddhi, self assessment).

Even in Vedas, though they are called Chaturveda (Rig, Sama, Yajur, Athrva Veda), meaning four, the first three Vedas, Rig Veda, Sama Veda, and Yajur Veda, agree in form language and content, lending credence to the argument that Vedas lent themselves to the concept of Trinity and conceived as three.  

The Varna classification (vedic society organization) of Vedic school though called Chaturvarna (Chatur meaning four), has only three Varna’s with distinct thread ceremony, giving rise to the assertion, that the original organization of vedic society was based on the concept of trinity. 

Syncretization of Vedic Aryans, with Greek exchange and influence, to pre existing societies in the Indian subcontinent to the arrival of Aryans, might have resulted in the development of the Hindu trinity in the form of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, and their consorts.

Fertility and fertility cults (promotion of conception and birth) are endemic to all societies and religions, as all derive relevance only in a growing population.  Also, birth and conception are the most fascinating, inscrutable, divine and mysterious happenings, which bring forth life and an antidote to death.  As such fertility is an integral part of any philosophy and the Gods of any religion lend themselves to fertility concepts.  Though in most religions, the church (church is not used here as specific to Christianity) and laity are distinct and the laity is supposed to perform the fertility functions, the withdrawal of church office bearers (the holy men), from fertility functions highlights the influence of fertility and its related concepts in the religion and its philosophy.

The Hindu trinity encompassing Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva/Maheswara, also lend themselves to fertility concepts in their imagery, characteristics, consorts, and symbolism. 

Brahma is the creator and usually pictured as a four faced (same face on all four directions), and seated on a lotus flower, born out of the belly button of Vishnu the preserver, with Saraswati the Goddess of knowledge as His consort.  He is supposed to write the fate of every individual before (Brahma rata), and it is usually accepted that an individual cannot escape that fate. 

Vishnu is the preserver, and usually pictured as resting on a coiled snake (ananta seshu), floating in a milky sea, richly adorned with Lakshmi the Goddess of wealth as His consort, and a stem of a blossomed lotus flower out of His belly button, and Brahma seated in that lotus.

Shiva is the destroyer, and is usually worshiped in the form of phallus, imitating an erect male penis, with a base.  Shiva has two consorts, one is Parvati, Goddess of female energy and is depicted in the form of yoni (vagina, the female sexual organ), and the other consort is Ganga (water), shown as coming out of His coils on the head when depicted in human form.  Shiva is also depicted as a Nataraja (dancing male, with His feet and hands flying in dance gesture), and also as a handsome male with a third eye on His forehead, and body smeared with ashes and coiled hair on His head, a snake around His neck, water spouting out of His coils on the head, moon placed on His head, and elephant skin wrapped round His waist.

The symbolism and imagery of Shiva associated with fertility is well understood.  Being represented by a phallus, the male sexual organ, He is generally assumed to be the male/male energy in copulation, with Goddess Parvati, with Her representation as the Yoni (translates to vagina), the female sexual organ, is generally assumed to be the female/female energy in copulation. 

As a side note, there is a general assumption, that any cylindrical stone placed on a base are representative of Shiva.  That is not entirely correct.  During the ascendancy of Mahayana Buddhism, it is assumed as an act of merit, if one constructs a sthupa (a Buddhist mound like architecture, supposedly with some relic of Buddha or a monk), and the standards of sthupa, were lowered to involve everybody, that even setting a cylindrical stone on the ground is considered an act of merit.  Later on when Shaivism (the cult of Shiva) took over, all such sthupas are considered to be representative of Shiva.  However, the famous Shiva temples, called Pancha Aramas (five Arama’s, actually Buddhist resting place is called Arama, and this calling of Arama is a residue of the history of taking over of the Buddhist places by followers of Shiva cult), have a small stone or a large pillar, with no distinctive carving on them to indicate that to be representing the erect penis.   

A correct statue that represents Shiva, is an erect human penis, with a head and lines carved to indicate it as such.  Like wise, for Parvati, sometimes an yantra (a machine or a aid), a relic from the Yantrayana Buddhism (the yantra has concentric circles of triangles pointing to the center, where each triangle is supposed to represent an element of Buddhist thought which lead to the realization of Sunyata in the middle), and the subsequent handing over of those facilities by followers of Shiva and Shakti (Parvati representing the female power that is Shakti).   

A correct representation of Parvati is the Yoni (translates to vagina), the female sex organ.   

Another note worthy aspect of Abhishekam (ritual washing of the stone image) with regards to Shiva and Parvati, is for Abhishekam of the Parvati symbol of yoni, only kumkum (the red powder from turmeric/saffron used by Indians to apply o forehead) is used indicating the vaginal discharge of blood in red colour, and for Abhishekam of Shiva symbol of linga/phallus, just water is used or panchamrutham (mixture of five, that is coconut water, milk, honey, ghee, yoghurt) is used, or one can add ash, fruit juice, etc, but no requirement to do it with red coloured liquid.

Given their representation, Shiva and Parvati are generally assumed to represent the fertility rite.  There are also many stories attesting the same.  The other attributes are not well understood with respect to Shiva being the male part of the fertility rite of copulation.  Shiva is portrayed as the head of “pradhama Gana’s” , translating to first formations.  They are the basic instincts of a male.  Just as a male is expected to, Shiva controls those “Pradhama Gana’s”, but unleashes them only in extreme case.  Further, these basic instincts are supposed to destroy everything in their path indiscriminately, just as a male who unleashes his basic instincts acts on them without any heed to the rightness of his actions.  

The Nataraja, that is the dancing Shiva representation also has a man (Apasmara Purusha) under the feet of Nataraja over whom He dances, indicating that a male has to transcend his base emotions, and attain knowledge (Apasmara - not aware of latent knowledge).   Likewise the entourage of Parvati (not usually highlighted in literature), is supposed to encompass more inclusive and compassionate elements befitting a female.  Only when Her primal anger is kindred, she would kill with satisfaction, befitting female restraint.

The other imagery that is indicative of fertility symbolism, is the presence of moon on Shiva’s head when He is represented as a handsome man, is indicative of night, and the moons coolness aiding arousal.   The third eye is representative of the split on the glans of the male penis.  The third eye is supposed to be knowledge eye, and it is generally assumed that when a man attains knowledge, his third eye would open.  Also, it is said that when Shiva opens His third eye, the world would be destroyed.  This allegory dovetails with the fact, that the sperm containing the building blocks of life, is knowledge, and when the third eye, the glans is opened, the life of the sperm as far as its life in the human body is destroyed.  Further, a male only after attaining knowledge of his body and the world, passes out the sperm, or open his third eye.   

It is also interesting to note Shiva does Tandavam (an intense form of dance), with His consort, usually in the morning, and He opens His third eye only after performing the tandavam.  This can only be understood as copulation.  Ganga (water coming out of His head, when represented as a handsome male), can be associated as body water (urine) being passed out.  It is interesting to note that only Shiva, among the three is shown with two consorts, Parvati and Ganga, indicating the dual function of male penis, passage of water and passage of semen containing sperm.  It is also interesting the note that Shiva does Tandavam, only with Parvati, never with Ganga.  The snake around His neck, is again indicative of penis (raising the hood when the snake becomes potent).  Shiva holds poison in His neck, which actually is supposed to blacken His neck, is indicative of the ability of a man to hold poisonous thoughts not harming him, which is supposed to be the nature of a primal man, who brooks no competition. 

The matted hair, smearing of the body with ashes, wrapping of the animal skin, holding a trident, might be indicative of being the attributes of a primitive/primal man.  However, Shiva is also represented as Bhairava (the God of the burial grounds, who collects the souls of the burnt corpses), as He is generally accepted to be the destroyer, and death being the ultimate destroyer.  So, these attributes might be that of the God of the burial ground, not exclusively related to fertility.  

Shiva-Parvati, as Linga-Yoni, and as Male/Female is well researched and understood as part of fertility, but neither Brahma-Sarawati, Vishu-Lakshmi, is well espoused nor the functions of the trinity, that is creation, preservation, and destruction in relation to fertility is well understood.

Moving on to Brahma, the creator and His consort Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge, Brahma being represented as having four faces on all the four sides, and sitting on a lotus with a stalk fits the image of a sperm.  The sperm head holding the DNA is bud shaped, similar on all sides with a pointing end, and a neck and tail.  The DNA is the Brahma Rata (writing of Brahma, also translates into fate, which cannot be escaped), as the body and mind development is dictated by the DNA in the sperm.  The female contribution of DNA is not well understood in scriptures.  Female is the field and the sperm the seed.  However, it is amazing that Sarawati, Brahma, the creators consort is made the Goddess of knowledge, as in actuality DNA is knowledge of evolution, and that is the only knowledge.  Lotus is a sacred symbol, and Brahma might be placed on a lotus to indicate the sacredness of the sperm/seed, but it could also be that of a spermatozoon, prior to developing into a mature sperm, as the lotus stalk is showed as being born out of the belly button of Vishnu, the preserver.  So Brahma as the creator who gives/writes fate/gene/DNA fits with the image and symbol.

Vishnu the preserver, is shown as lying on the coils (snake Adeseshu), in an ocean of milk (Paala samudram).  This image is in agreement with seminal tubes and seminal fluid.  Vishnu gives birth to Brahma the creator, and it also agrees with the fact that the Brahma (sperm) is born in the seminal vessels floating in seminal fluid.  Vishnu the preserver, preserves the creation of the sperm.  He is generally shown as one who lives luxuriously, with His consort Lakshmi being the Goddess of wealth.  This again agrees with the fact, only when a man body is well nourished and healthy, does it will start assembling the sperm, for creation, and to be well nourished and healthy, one has to be aided by wealth, as Vishnu is aided by His consort Goddess Lakshmi.  

Thus the image of Hindu Trinty, with Shiva being the destroyer (with ejaculation, the sperm faces destruction, except that one sperm which may fertilize, and Brahma as the sperm with the genetic matter enclosed with Him as the seed and creator, and Vishnu lying on coils and milk ocean, as the preserver of the universe and one bringing forth Brahma is well explained from the view of fertility. 

 

Viewed from this perspective, one should appreciate the divinity of human fertility, copulation, marriage, and sanctity of birth.   

One’s body is one’s temple and all the Gods reside therein.