visible in essence, and indivisible in action; mystery profound!
which is explained in the following manner:

_Brahma_ represents the _creative_ principle, the unreflected or
unevolved protogoneus state of divinity--the _Father_.

_Vishnu_ represents the _protecting_ and _preserving_ principle, the
evolved or reflected state of divinity--the _Son_.[369:4]

_Siva_ is the principle that presides at destruction and
re-construction--the Holy Spirit.[369:5]

The third person was the Destroyer, or, in his good capacity, the
Regenerator. The dove was the emblem of the Regenerator. As the
_spiritus_ was the passive cause (brooding on the face of the waters) by
which all things sprang into life, the dove became the emblem of the
Spirit, or Holy Ghost, the third person.

These three gods are the first and the highest manifestations of the
Eternal Essence, and are typified by the three letters composing the
mystic syllable OM or AUM. They constitute the well known Trimurti or
Triad of divine forms which characterizes Hindooism. It is usual to
describe these three gods as Creator, Preserver and Destroyer, but this
gives a very inadequate idea of their complex characters. Nor does the
conception of their relationship to each other become clearer when it is
ascertained that their functions are constantly interchangeable, and
that each may take the place of the other, according to the sentiment
expressed by the greatest of Indian poets, Kalidasa (Kumara-sambhava,
Griffith, vii. 44):

"In those three persons the One God was shown--
Each first in place, each last--not one alone;
Of Siva, Vishnu, Brahma, each may be
First, second, third, among the blessed three."

A devout person called Attencin, becoming convinced that he should
worship but _one_ deity, thus addressed Brahma, Vishnu and Siva:

"O you _three_ Lords; know that I recognize only _One_ God;
inform me therefore, _which of you is the true divinity_, that
I may address to him alone my vows and adorations."

The three gods became manifest to him, and replied:

"Learn, O devotee, that there is no real distinction between
us; what to you _appears_ such is only by semblance; _the
Single Being appears under three forms, but he is
One_."[370:1]

Sir William Jones says:

"Very respectable natives have assured me, that one or two
missionaries have been absurd enough in their zeal for the
conversion of