The concept of Triad (or Trimurti, Trinity) makes a relatively late appearance in Hindu literature, or in the second half of 1st millennium BCE.Jan Gonda (1969), The Hindu Trinity, Anthropos, 63/64, 1/2, pp. 212-226 The idea of triad, playing three roles in the cosmic affairs, is typically associated with Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva (also called Mahesh); however, this is not the only triad in Hindu literature.GM Bailey (1979), Trifunctional Elements in the Mythology of the Hindu Trimūrti, Numen, Vol. 26, Fasc. 2, pp. 152-163 Other triads include Tridevi, of three goddesses – Lakshmi, Saraswati and Parvati in the text Devi Mahatmya, in the Shakta tradition, which further assert that Devi is the Brahman (Ultimate Reality) and it is her energy that empowers Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The other triads, formulated as deities in ancient Indian literature, include Sun (creator), Air (sustainer) and Fire (destroyer); Prana (creator), Food (sustainer) and Time (destroyer). These triads, states Jan Gonda, are in some mythologies grouped together without forming a Trinity, and in other times represented as equal, a unity and manifestations of one Brahman. In the Puranas, for example, this idea of threefold "hypostatization" is expressed as follows,
The concept of Triad (or Trimurti Trinity) makes a relatively late appearance in Hindu literature or in the second half of 1st millennium BCEJan Gonda (1969) The Hindu Trinity Anthropos 63/64 1/2 pp 212-226 The idea of triad playing three roles in the cosmic affairs is typically associated with Brahma Vishnu and Shiva (also called Mahesh); however this is not the only triad in Hindu literatureGM Bailey (1979) Trifunctional Elements in the Mythology of the Hindu Trimūrti Numen Vol 26 Fasc 2 pp 152-163 Other triads include Tridevi of three goddesses – Lakshmi Saraswati and Parvati in the text Devi Mahatmya in the Shakta tradition which further assert that Devi is the Brahman (Ultimate Reality) and it is her energy that empowers Brahma Vishnu and Shiva The other triads formulated as deities in ancient Indian literature include Sun (creator) Air (sustainer) and Fire (destroyer); Prana (creator) Food (sustainer) and Time (destroyer) These triads states Jan Gonda are in some mythologies grouped together without forming a Trinity and in other times represented as equal a unity and manifestations of one Brahman In the Puranas for example this idea of threefold "hypostatization" is expressed as follows