Brahma Vishnu Mahesh Who Came First

There are multiple stories about the origin of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu in Hindu scriptures. The Shrimad Bhagavatam narrates that Shiva emerged from a burning pillar when Lord Vishnu and Brahma were engaged in an argument. According to the Shiva Purana, Vishnu originated when Shiva rubbed nectar on his ankle. Meanwhile, the Vishnu Purana states that Shiva was born from Vishnu's eyebrows, which explains Shiva's meditative nature.

While these accounts might seem contradictory, they are all true within the broader Hindu cosmological framework. The perceived confusion arises primarily due to two reasons:

  1. Cyclical Time in Hindu Philosophy: Unlike the linear concept of time, Hinduism views time as cyclical, with repeated cycles of creation, preservation, and destruction.
  2. Dual Forms of Deities: Hindu deities have both formless (nirguna) and physical (saguna) aspects.

The Supreme God, Parambramha, is formless and attribute-less. His physical form is Sadashiva or Maheshwar, from whom Shakti (Prakriti or Maa Durga) emanates. Together, Sadashiva and Shakti give rise to Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra in various cycles.


All three Lords are ever present in their esoteric form, but they get manifested in different physical worlds in different ways at different times.

As per Shiv Puran after each cycle of creation and destruction the three Lords manifest in different ways. Sometimes it may start with Lord Vishnu, sometimes with Lord Brahma and sometimes with Lord Shiva, sometimes, even differently.

After the latest destruction, Bramha ji came out of a Lotus which grew out of Lord Vishnu’s Navel ( now the real esoteric meaning of this story is totally different) and Lord Rudra came out of Lord Bramha’s forehead or eyebrow.

It is also written that before this ‘birth’ of Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma, all three had met each other where the events to follow were known. (The story where Lord Shiva appears in form of infinite tower of energy and then there are more times when they meet before Lord Bramha starts creating Universe). It was during one such time that Lord Brahma requested Lord Rudra to be born in the physical universe through him, and therefore, the stories of Lord Rudra coming out of Lord Bramha’s eyebrow/tear.

BIRTH IN THE MATERIAL WORLD

Where does the earth start from or where does a circle start from? The concept of birth applies only to the material realm. The Bhagavad Gita teaches that the soul is eternal, beyond birth and death. Just as a circle has no definitive starting point, the origins of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva defy linear interpretation. They existed as cosmic consciousness even before the material universe began.

SO, WHO WAS THE FIRST HINDU GOD BORN?

Different belief systems within Hinduism offer varied interpretations:

  • Shiva Purana: Ardhanarishvara (a composite form of Shiva and Shakti) was the first being, and from Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma originated.
  • Vishnu Purana: Vishnu was the first, and from his navel emerged a lotus bearing Brahma, with Shiva originating from Vishnu’s form.
  • Shakti Purana: Bhuvaneshwari Devi was the first being, and she gave rise to the three gods.

In truth, these accounts highlight the interdependence of creation, preservation, and destruction, represented by Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, respectively:

  • Sattva (Preservation): Vishnu
  • Tamas (Destruction): Shiva
  • Rajas (Creation): Brahma

Preservation and destruction will be needed if something is created. If nothing is created there is nothing to preserve or destroy. So when the creation occur, there should be a Vishnu or Shiva to either preserve or destroy the things which are created/creating. So here their existence come almost together or within a fraction of time. But hence Brahma is the creator/creation, Shiva or Vishnu should be created by Brahma only.  So Brahma came first.

Second Aspect

But to create something, there is a need for “maintaining” a suitable environment for the creation. If you want to make a cup of tea, the milk, sugar and tea powder should remain as it is for the tea to taste good. While making, if the milk turns into curd, or if the sugar turns into carbon means, you are not making tea, you are making something else. So we can say that creation or Brahma will come to existence when Vishnu (act of preserving) is there. But when Vishnu came into existence, then there itself happened a “creation”. So Who came first Brahma or Vishnu?

Third Aspect

But when creation occurs, energy and matters are converted from one state to another state. Because you cannot create something out of nothing. So destruction happens first, then creation. When there is destruction, then there is no protection. So Shiva was there even before Vishnu or Brahma. But when Shiva came to existence, there itself happened a creation, and preservation too. So who came first? Brahma, Vishnu or Shiva?

THE PARADOX OF ORIGIN

Ultimately, the question of “who came first” is paradoxical. Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma represent aspects of the same cosmic truth, Brahman, which transcends creation and time itself. Each guna (quality) depends on the others. For instance, creation requires preservation and destruction to maintain balance. Thus, these processes occur simultaneously, and no one deity precedes the others. This unity is referred to as Brahman, the eternal and unchanging reality beyond the material world.


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