Editing Shiva (section)

=== Trimurti ===
{{Main|Trimurti}}
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.<ref>For quotation defining the Trimurti see Matchett, Freda. "The {{transliteration|sa|ISO|Purāṇas}}", in: {{harvnb|Flood|2003|p=139}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Ralph Metzner|title=Opening to Inner Light: The Transformation of Human Nature and Consciousness|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ke0RAQAAIAAJ|year=1986|publisher=J.P. Tarcher|isbn=978-0874773538|page=61}};<br />{{cite book|author=David Frawley|title=Inner Tantric Yoga: Working with the Universal Shakti: Secrets of Mantras, Deities and Meditation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T6Vp_rTWkAAC&pg=PA25|year=2009|publisher=Lotus|isbn=978-0940676503|page=25}}</ref> These three deities have been called "the Hindu triad"<ref>For definition of Trimurti as "the unified form" of Brahmā, {{transliteration|sa|ISO|Viṣṇu}} and Śiva and use of the phrase "the Hindu triad" see: {{harvnb|Apte|1965|p=485}}.</ref> or the "Great Triple deity".<ref>For the term "Great Trinity" in relation to the Trimurti see: {{harvnb|Jansen|1993|p=83}}.</ref> However, the ancient and medieval texts of Hinduism feature many triads of gods and goddesses, some of which do not include Shiva.<ref>The Trimurti idea of Hinduism, states [[Jan Gonda]], "seems to have developed from ancient cosmological and ritualistic speculations about the triple character of an individual god, in the first place of ''Agni'', whose births are three or threefold, and who is threefold light, has three bodies and three stations". See: {{harvnb|Gonda|1969|pp=218–219}}; Other trinities, beyond the more common "Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva", mentioned in ancient and medieval Hindu texts include: "Indra, Vishnu, Brahmanaspati", "Agni, Indra, Surya", "Agni, Vayu, Aditya", "Mahalakshmi, Mahasarasvati, and Mahakali", and others. See: [a] David White (2006), Kiss of the Yogini, University of Chicago Press, {{ISBN|978-0226894843}}, pp. 4, 29<br />[b] {{harvnb|Gonda|1969}}</ref>