The Hindu Trimurti

The three Sailor Starlights - Fighter, Maker, and Healer - may be based on the Hindu concept of the Trimurti, or holy triad.

I think that Mnemosynehime deserves credit for originally proposing the idea that the Starlights are related to the Trimurti, although I also read about the idea once at Star of Creation. Specifically, Maker represents Brahma, Healer represents Vishnu, and Fighter represents Shiva. Particularly, the parallels between Seiya/Fighter and Shiva are striking. But anyway, the following mythological association is just a theory! Naoko Takeuchi never said anything about the Starlights literally being related to the Trimurti. However, there is quite a substantial amount of evidence to support this theory in the manga especially. Of course, for Ian Miller's refutation of this idea, click here.

Anyway, the word Trimurti means "having three forms." The Trimurti is composed of three beings: Brahma, the Creator; Vishnu, the Preserver; and Shiva, the Destroyer. However, all three of these dieties are really just different aspects of one Supreme Being. Therefore, the Trimurti is often depicted as a man with three heads sharing one body. Nothing in the universe is created, preserved, or destroyed without the mutual agreement of all three aspects of the Supreme Being.

Brahma, the Creator

Image: Brahma. Brahma is the creator of the universe, and all living things are said to have evolved from him. He is often depicted as an old man with reddish skin, four bearded heads, and four arms. Brahma is the god of sacrifice, and unlike the other Hindu deities, he does not carry a weapon. He is often depicted as sitting on a lotus, and his four hands hold a kamandalu (a water pot), a sacrificial spoon, a rosary, and the four Vedas (ancient Hindu scriptures). Brahma is seen as a god of the intellect and of the mind, the source of all knowledge in the universe.

Brahma's female consort is Sarasvati, a goddess of learning, knowledge, wisdom, and science. She is also the goddess of music and poetry.

While Brahma is a deity of equal importance to Shiva and Vishnu, he is not nearly as widely worshipped as the other two. There are many reasons for the decline of Brahma's cult of worship, one of which is the simple fact that since the universe has already been created, Brahma's work is done - for the time being. The universe will exist for a span of time equal to one kalpa, which is the length of one day for Brahma. At the end of this day, the universe is destroyed, and Brahma will sleep for one night, the same length of time as a kalpa. When he awakens again, Brahma will create the universe anew. This process of creation and destruction, called pralaya, repeats itself for 100 years of Brahma. Since 100 years is the lifespan of one Brahma, the god will then dissolve back into its constituent elements, and a new Brahma will emerge to begin the process all over again. This cycle will repeat itself an infinite number of times.

Vishnu, the Preserver

Image: Vishnu. Vishnu is the preserver of the universe. He represents kindness, compassion, mercy, protection, and general goodness. Vishnu is part of the cosmic ocean that was the only thing in existence before the creation of the universe; he is therefore also known as Narayana, or "one who moves with water."

Vishnu is often depicted as a human body with four arms, who has blue skin and wears yellow clothing. From this fact arises another name, Pitambara, or "one with yellow garments." He is shown resting or standing on a giant thousand-headed snake, floating on the cosmic ocean. In his hands he holds a conch, a mace, and a discus. He uses his weapons to protect his devotees from evil; he blows upon his conch shell to communicate with his worshipers, and to remind them to treat all others with kindness and compassion.

Vishnu's female consort is Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, fortune, and both material and spiritual prosperity.

Vishnu is very popular among worshipers today. His yellow clothing, a symbol of earthly existence, shows how he incarnates himself on Earth in order to fight evil. Vishnu has ten incarnations, the progression of which follows an animal-to-human path that very roughly mirrors the scientific theory of evolution.

Shiva, the Destroyer

Image: Shiva. Shiva is responsible for the destruction of the universe. He is a god of darkness who is sometimes described as an "angry god." However, in Hindu mythology, creation always follows destruction - therefore Shiva is also associated with a reproductive force, restoring what was destroyed. Most Shaivites (worshippers of Shiva) agree that in his highest form, Para Shiva, Shiva is both male and female at once - containing both the male Shiva and his female counterpart, the goddess, Shakti.

Regardless of being a god of tamas, or darkness, Shiva is seen as a kind, compassionate force. He destroys the universe at the end of its natural cycle, so that it may be reborn again. He must also destroy the universe when the delicate balance between good and evil on Earth is disturbed and life becomes unbearable; in this way, Shiva destroys the dysfunctional universe and allows its constituent souls to be recreated in a new, better universe, for a second chance to free themselves from the bondage of the physical world. Shiva therefore protects human souls from the pain and suffering of an evil world.

Shiva is depicted in many, many different forms. One of the more common illustrations of Shiva is that of a dark-skinned man with a blue throat, who wears a tiger skin garment and carries a trident as a weapon. He wears his hair in three matted locks on top of his head, which represent the ideal integration of the three energies - physical, mental, and spiritual. This harmony between the energies is the ideal of yoga, a discipline in which Shiva is a master. Shiva is also often depicted with a snake curled around his neck, in his hair, or additionally worn around his arms and wrists. Snakes are generally despised by all other creatures on Earth, but Shiva took pity on their plight and thus gave them a place of honor on his sacred body.

Image: Shiva and Parvati. Shiva has three eyes, although the third one in the center of his forehead only opens in order to annihilate an evil-doer. The rest of the time, his third eye is closed. When Shiva opens his third eye in anger, the fire that shoots forth from his eye will reduce an evil person to cinders.

Shiva is often depicted with a silver crescent moon ornament on the side of his head. The waxing and waning of the moon symbolizes the continual process of creation and destruction.

Shiva is the Nataraja, the "Lord of the Cosmic Dance." He is the creator of dance, rhythm, and music. He is also said to have spoken the first sixteen rhythmic syllables ever pronounced, which formed the basis of the Sanskrit language. Shiva's dance of anger is called the Roudra Tandava, and his dance of joy is called the Ananda Tandava.

Shiva's female consort is Parvati, who exists in multiple forms, such as that of the goddess Durga (who grants divine protection) and the goddess Kali (a fearsome goddess of destruction). Parvati is a reincarnation and/or an aspect of Shakti. And remember, in his highest form, Shiva is both Shiva and Shakti - male and female at once.

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India Mystica | Puja | Hindu Deities | The Hindu Universe | Shiva and Parvati

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	The Hindu Trimurti The three Sailor Starlights - Fighter, Maker, and Healer - may be based on the Hindu concept of the Trimurti, or holy triad. I think that Mnemosynehime deserves credit for originally proposing the idea that the Starlights are related to the Trimurti, although I also read about the idea once at Star of Creation. Specifically, Maker represents Brahma, Healer represents Vishnu, and Fighter represents Shiva. Particularly, the parallels between Seiya/Fighter and Shiva are striking. But anyway, the following mythological association is just a theory! Naoko Takeuchi never said anything about the Starlights literally being related to the Trimurti. However, there is quite a substantial amount of evidence to support this theory in the manga especially. Of course, for Ian Miller's refutation of this idea, click here. Anyway, the word Trimurti means "having three forms." The Trimurti is composed of three beings: Brahma, the Creator; Vishnu, the Preserver; and Shiva, the Destroyer. However, all three of these dieties are really just different aspects of one Supreme Being. Therefore, the Trimurti is often depicted as a man with three heads sharing one body. Nothing in the universe is created, preserved, or destroyed without the mutual agreement of all three aspects of the Supreme Being. Brahma, the Creator Brahma is the creator of the universe, and all living things are said to have evolved from him. He is often depicted as an old man with reddish skin, four bearded heads, and four arms. Brahma is the god of sacrifice, and unlike the other Hindu deities, he does not carry a weapon. He is often depicted as sitting on a lotus, and his four hands hold a kamandalu (a water pot), a sacrificial spoon, a rosary, and the four Vedas (ancient Hindu scriptures). Brahma is seen as a god of the intellect and of the mind, the source of all knowledge in the universe. Brahma's female consort is Sarasvati, a goddess of learning, knowledge, wisdom, and science. She is also the goddess of music and poetry. While Brahma is a deity of equal importance to Shiva and Vishnu, he is not nearly as widely worshipped as the other two. There are many reasons for the decline of Brahma's cult of worship, one of which is the simple fact that since the universe has already been created, Brahma's work is done - for the time being. The universe will exist for a span of time equal to one kalpa, which is the length of one day for Brahma. At the end of this day, the universe is destroyed, and Brahma will sleep for one night, the same length of time as a kalpa. When he awakens again, Brahma will create the universe anew. This process of creation and destruction, called pralaya, repeats itself for 100 years of Brahma. Since 100 years is the lifespan of one Brahma, the god will then dissolve back into its constituent elements, and a new Brahma will emerge to begin the process all over again. This cycle will repeat itself an infinite number of times. Vishnu, the Preserver Vishnu is the preserver of the universe. He represents kindness, compassion, mercy, protection, and general goodness. Vishnu is part of the cosmic ocean that was the only thing in existence before the creation of the universe; he is therefore also known as Narayana, or "one who moves with water." Vishnu is often depicted as a human body with four arms, who has blue skin and wears yellow clothing. From this fact arises another name, Pitambara, or "one with yellow garments." He is shown resting or standing on a giant thousand-headed snake, floating on the cosmic ocean. In his hands he holds a conch, a mace, and a discus. He uses his weapons to protect his devotees from evil; he blows upon his conch shell to communicate with his worshipers, and to remind them to treat all others with kindness and compassion. Vishnu's female consort is Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, fortune, and both material and spiritual prosperity. Vishnu is very popular among worshipers today. His yellow clothing, a symbol of earthly existence, shows how he incarnates himself on Earth in order to fight evil. Vishnu has ten incarnations, the progression of which follows an animal-to-human path that very roughly mirrors the scientific theory of evolution. Shiva, the Destroyer Shiva is responsible for the destruction of the universe. He is a god of darkness who is sometimes described as an "angry god." However, in Hindu mythology, creation always follows destruction - therefore Shiva is also associated with a reproductive force, restoring what was destroyed. Most Shaivites (worshippers of Shiva) agree that in his highest form, Para Shiva, Shiva is both male and female at once - containing both the male Shiva and his female counterpart, the goddess, Shakti. Regardless of being a god of tamas, or darkness, Shiva is seen as a kind, compassionate force. He destroys the universe at the end of its natural cycle, so that it may be reborn again. He must also destroy the universe when the delicate balance between good and evil on Earth is disturbed and life becomes unbearable; in this way, Shiva destroys the dysfunctional universe and allows its constituent souls to be recreated in a new, better universe, for a second chance to free themselves from the bondage of the physical world. Shiva therefore protects human souls from the pain and suffering of an evil world. Shiva is depicted in many, many different forms. One of the more common illustrations of Shiva is that of a dark-skinned man with a blue throat, who wears a tiger skin garment and carries a trident as a weapon. He wears his hair in three matted locks on top of his head, which represent the ideal integration of the three energies - physical, mental, and spiritual. This harmony between the energies is the ideal of yoga, a discipline in which Shiva is a master. Shiva is also often depicted with a snake curled around his neck, in his hair, or additionally worn around his arms and wrists. Snakes are generally despised by all other creatures on Earth, but Shiva took pity on their plight and thus gave them a place of honor on his sacred body. Shiva has three eyes, although the third one in the center of his forehead only opens in order to annihilate an evil-doer. The rest of the time, his third eye is closed. When Shiva opens his third eye in anger, the fire that shoots forth from his eye will reduce an evil person to cinders. Shiva is often depicted with a silver crescent moon ornament on the side of his head. The waxing and waning of the moon symbolizes the continual process of creation and destruction. Shiva is the Nataraja, the "Lord of the Cosmic Dance." He is the creator of dance, rhythm, and music. He is also said to have spoken the first sixteen rhythmic syllables ever pronounced, which formed the basis of the Sanskrit language. Shiva's dance of anger is called the Roudra Tandava, and his dance of joy is called the Ananda Tandava. Shiva's female consort is Parvati, who exists in multiple forms, such as that of the goddess Durga (who grants divine protection) and the goddess Kali (a fearsome goddess of destruction). Parvati is a reincarnation and/or an aspect of Shakti. And remember, in his highest form, Shiva is both Shiva and Shakti - male and female at once. 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