WHO IS GREATEST

The Trimurti is a concept in Hinduism in which the cosmic functions of creation, maintenance, and destruction are personified by the forms of Brahma the creator, Vishnu the maintainer or preserver and Shiva the destroyer or transformer.These three gods have been called "the Hindu triad or the "Great Trinity.

Brugu Maharishi though for a moment that to test the great ones is as pernicious a task as touching a live coal to know how hot it is. The situation was so compelling that Brugu could not deny his mission. He started out to the higher worlds to meet the Trimoorthis and test them. Great Brugu reached the Brahma loka. The creator was seated on his golden lotus seat. He was seen in supernal surroundings listening to the celestial lute of Goddess Saraswathy. He was undisturbed by the invocation of Brugu Maharishi. He remained silent to the salutations of Brugu, almost unconsciously ignoring him. This struck Brugu as an insult and he at once decided that Brahma Deva does not deserve the offerings of their yagna. He however wanted to know why Brahma Deva strangely behaves with him. He deliberately took a nearby seat and began to disrespect the Lord. Brahma Deva spoke to him in harsh words that though Brugu possessed spiritual powers, he lacked refinements of even ordinary human that he occupied a chair in the court without the consent of Brahma. He compared the spiritual status of Brugu with several others and seriously questioned his integrity. To all these Brugu was silent and began to think of the undue arrogance or assumption of superiority over others.

Brigu thought over Brahma Deva's unqualified assertions with a great assumption of superiority. He reflected the ancient adage that empty vessels make much noise and left the Brahmaloka, ruling out Brahma. Brugu thought it was irritable when he is not recognized in his own world. Next to the great creator, it occurred to Brugu is Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva dwells in Kailasa, on the sacred Mount Meru. Lord Shiva was very well known for his quick granting of vows of his devotees. Brugu thought it wise to approach Lord Shiva who would be the best among the Trimoorthis to shower his blessings accepting their offerings in the great sacrifice. As Brugu was approaching the golden mountain of Kailash, he distinctly heard the dancing notes of Lord Shiva with his Parivaras, like Nandheeshwara, Chandeeshwara, Shanmuga and millions of Shiva ganas. The dancing notes were echoing around the vast mountain peak and it was a thrilling experience for anyone to join the great dance of Shiva at once. But Brugu being strongly resolved to test the Trimoorthis was least drawn to the fascination of Shiva and Parvathy. Brugu at once wanted Shiva to speak to him as he wanted an immediate answer to his doubt. But the Lord was unmindful of the Sage's presence and he was unendingly dancing with his spouse Parvathy. For a while Brugu waited. But his patience bore no result. He appealed to Parvathy. She was also in the dancing mood and cared nothing for the sage's appeal.


Brugu Maharishi thought his appeals fell deaf to the ears of both of them and interfered with their privacy. When he thus intruded Parvathy bushed aside and stood a little away. Then Lord Shiva spoke to Brugu with stricture: "You have no sense of appreciation of my divine dance and you deliberately intrude into my privacy. You appear to be ripe old by age but your intellectual maturity is glaringly missing. How do you justify your entry into Mount Kailash without my permission? Your ancestors were pure race of Brahmins, whom I revere at heart. You have performed tapas for a long span of time. But your rash behavior has revealed your true image now." Lord Krishna contolling his anger spoke in firm voice, "You have mastered the Vedas, yet you are lacking the basic refinement of a human being. If I open my third eye for a split second you will be nowhere in a moment. I don't want to see your face once more. Get away from here quickly." In spite of these harsh words of Shiva. Brugu Maharishi was least hurt in his mind. On the contrary he reflected the whole incident in his mind and concluded that Shiva is not the ultimate supreme. He too is capable of quick temper. How can the most supreme godhead ever lose his self control and shout at another being, whatever may be the spiritual status of the latter. Further Shiva is not perfect in his endless austerities and penance. He is an embodiment of tamasa guna. After all these also he never inquired me why so urgently I intruded his privacy as he supposes. Any how it opened for me today a good opportunity to know the real nature of Lord Shiva that he is not the supreme godhead nor even he is a perfect being. It is time for me to test finally the third god of the Trinity-Lord Sri Vishnu. Thus thinking aloud, Brugu Maharishi directed himself to Sri Vaikuntha, the ususal abode of Lord Vishnu.

Sri Vaikuntha is the most beautiful spot in the entire manifested universe. Since the great Goddess Sri Lakshmi dwells there, Sri Vaikuntha had a potent charm. In its winsome appearance any one would lose his mind. Brugu being a great sage could easily flow through various planes and reached Sri Vaikuntha Loka. Lord Sriman Narayana was reclining on Adhisesha, while his divine consort Sri Lakshmi Devi was attending to his pada seva. Brugu saw this from a little far away from the entrance door step. As soon as he neared the Lord he kicked the Lord on his chest. Sri Lakshmi Devi was shocked by this strange assault on the Lord. The Lord at once stepped down from Adhisesha and begged the pardon of Brugu Maharishi touching the Maharishi's feet. The Lord said in soft voice, "Forgive me or my delinquencies. In a true sense I have been blessed by the touch of your foot dust and have become purer today. But your soft feet has been by my hard chest. Don't you experience severe pain." Thus speaking the Lord just pressed hard the thumb eye the Maharishi had from his birth and vanguished it. Again the Lord said, "O seer you are really great. I know pretty well the purpose of your visit. I hope your doubts have been cleared now." The Lord's patient talk pleased the Maharishi. He felt sorry for assaulting the almighty Lord Sriman Narayana. He humbly apologized for his hasty impulse.

"O Lord, for the sake of confirming your tests I have attacked the most supreme and thereby accrued a great sin. Can there be anyone so foolish like me? I may not be redeeming in any number of lifetimes to come. I find my impulsive behavior too foolhardy. The horrible consciousness has just dawned upon me that I have done now to you unpardonable sin any one commit. To this moving prayer of Brugu Maharishi, the Lord replied, "O great sage, you need not worry over what has happened now. You haven't come here for doing any willful misdeed. I know your heart. By your act my magnanimity is known to others. May you be prosperous. My good wishes to you." But however Goddess Lakshmi was not really very happy about Brugu Maharishi's behavior and also with Sriman Narayana for his attitude towards his devotee. She felt that Lord Sriman Narayana should have taught a lesson for the head strong Brugu. Goddess Lakshmi explained to Lord Narayana that he being the Lord of the entire universe, how can just Maharishi take him for granted and behave so badly. Goddess Lakshmi continuously kept arguing to the Lord of Universe how instead of punishing Brugu maharishi he was comforted.

Sriman Narayana explained to Goddess Lakshmi the relationship he shares with his ardent devotee Brugu Maharishi and tried consoling Goddess Lakshmi that it is not fair on any God to punish his devotee. Sriman Narayana told Lakshmi that, "patience should be the foremost quality of a woman in general and to you in particular". But all this was in vain for the Goddess Sri Lakshmi was not happy with these words of the Lord. Her anguish on Brugu Maharishi rose up to the worst by these arguments of the Lord. Sri Lakshmi preferred to do penance in forests than have her celestial abode with shame and indignity. She came down to the earth as speedily as she decided to quit the Vaikunta Loka. Down on earth she walked a while, crossing forests, rivers, mountains and finally reached the banks of Godavari River and it was there in a small hermitage near Kolhapur she stayed performing penance seeking peace of mind. Strangely by the absence of Goddess Sri Lakshmi the beautiful loka of Sri Vaikunta lost all its charisma. The Lord could easily feel it was no better than a desert on earth. In search of Sri Lakshmi, the Lord also finally came down to the earth plane. He roamed all around in vain to find Sri Lakshmi. After all these problems Brugu felt very bad to have initiated this problem among the trimoorthis. He gives a clear explanation that it is Brahma who is the creator, Vishnu who is the preserver and finally Shiva who is the destroyer. This is how in general the Trimurti's are explained, It is Brahman who creates through Brahma, who sustains through Vishnu, and who Destroys through Shiva. It is believed this is in the Kurma Purana. For Brahma, it is in the Brahamanda Purana.