Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 583

THE TRIMURTI
It is
very
difficult to trace
543
the origin of the Trimurti,
inasmuch as the accounts of it do not agree. In some
Puranas it is related that the Trimurti sprang from a
female source called Adi-Sakti (the original power), who
gave birth to these three divinities united in a single body
and it is added that after having brought them into the
world she fell so desperately in love with them that she
married them.
In some other Puranas we read that Adi-Sakti produced
a seed from which was born Siva, the father of Vishnu.
Elsewhere we are told that a flower of the tamarasa
plant (water-lily) sprang from the navel of Vishnu, and that
;
from
this flower
Brahma was
born.
we
find in the Hindu books a mere tissue of
contradictions relating to the Trimurti, and the absurd
details which are related in connexion with each are even
more inconsistent. The point on which they agree to a
In short,
is that which relates to the excesses and
abominable amours of the three divinities composing it.
In spite of the great power which these divinities enjoyed,
they were nevertheless often compelled to feel the terrible
vengeance of virtuous persons, who, shocked at the sight
of their infamous proceedings, found means of reducing
them to subjection and inflicting on them severe punish-
ment. Thus, for example, there was a certain virgin,
named Anusooya, who was as much renowned for her
inviolable chastity as for her devotion to the gods and for
her tender compassion for the unfortunate. The divinities
of the Trimurti, having heard of her, became so greatly
enamoured that they resolved upon robbing her of her
virginity, which she had till then treasured with so much
certain extent
To attain their object the three seducers disguised
themselves as religious mendicants, and under this guise
went to ask alms of her. The virgin came to them, and
with her wonted kindness showered gifts upon them. The
sham beggars, after being loaded with her gifts, told her
that they expected from her another favour, which was to
care.
naked before them and to satisfy then impure
Surprised and frightened by this shameful pro-
posal, she repulsed them by pronouncing against them
certain mantrams.
These, together with some holy water
strip herself
desires.