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APPENDIX III
THE RIDDLE OF THE TRIMURTI
To say that Hindu Religion is made up of sects is no less true than to say that Hindu Society is made up of castes. But not half the attention paid to the study of castes has been paid to the study of sects. This is as unfortunate as it is strange. Sects have played as great a part in India’s history as castes have done. Indeed some sects just as some castes have made the history of India what it is.
The sects which make up the Hindu Religion are of course legion. It is impossible to explore the origin of all and compare and contrast their cults within the compass of a chapter. All that can be done is to take the most important ones and to present some of problems connected with them. The most important of these sects in the history of India have been three, one believing in the cult of God Brahma, second believing in the cult of Vishnu and the third believing in the cult of Shiva or Mahesha. The following are some of the questions, which cannot but puzzle the student who has studied the origin and history of these cults.
The Chula-Niddessa a Buddhist treatize refers to various sects which were at one time prevalent in India. Classified on the basis of creeds and cults they may be listed as follows:
I CREEDS
Serial Name of the Sect Essence of the creed No.
1 Ajivika Shravaka [1] .. Ajivika [2]
2 Nigatta Shravakas .. Nigautha [3]
1 Shravaka means a disciple.
2 Mendicants following special rules with regard to livelihood.
3 Mendicants who are free from all ties and hindrances.
This Riddle may be read along with the Riddle No. 11 which deals with The Rise and Fall of Gods. This title ‘The Riddle of the Trimurti’ however does not find place in the original Table of Contents, nor was it available in the MS received by the Govt. This copy has been spared by Shri S. S. Rege—Ed.