An essay written by Prof (Dr) Sarat P Chandra, Head of the Department of Neurosurgery at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, is published here on 14 January 2026 as a tribute to Pandit Matabhikh Pandey, the pioneer of the revival of the most ancient knowledge house Sangkrit Gurukul, commemorating his 101st birth anniversary.
Eternally, the triad of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva represents synergistic cosmic forces that together sustain existence. Brahma embodies creation—unceasing, restless, and always oriented toward the future. Creation, in this sense, unfolds endlessly and is rooted in Maya, the cosmic illusion.
This idea is beautifully captured in the myth where an infinite pillar of light appears before Brahma and Vishnu as a manifestation of Shiva. Each is asked to find its end. Vishnu descends downward, Brahma ascends upward, yet neither finds the source. Eventually, Brahma encounters a Ketaki flower and persuades it to falsely testify that he has seen the summit. Vishnu, by contrast, returns honestly, admitting failure.
Shiva, enraged by Brahma’s deception, curses him—declaring that Brahma will no longer be widely worshipped and that the Ketaki flower will never be used in prayer. Symbolically, this story reveals a profound truth: creation is infinite and deceptive, and claiming mastery over it is rooted in illusion. Once one is caught in the act of creation—of doing, becoming, accumulating—there is no end.
Brahma thus represents the ceaseless unfolding of patterns, much like a screensaver endlessly generating forms. There is no rest here, no final destination—only continuous emergence based on Maya.
Vishnu, on the other hand, represents preservation and sustenance. He understands limitation and works within it. Vishnu consciousness is about the experience of manifested reality—home, profession, wealth, relationships, beauty, and comfort. Lakshmi, Vishnu’s consort, symbolizes abundance in its fullest sense and is therefore adorned with jewels.
Importantly, Sanātana Dharma does not reject material life. It recognizes that one has a duty to live fully and enjoy what life offers. Wealth here is not merely money; it is holistic well-being—harmonious relationships, meaningful work, social respect, the ability to enjoy one’s earnings, and the capacity to contribute to society. Even the inability to enjoy wealth, despite possessing it, is considered a form of poverty. All these are manifestations of Vishnu.
Yet, Sanātana darshan insists that this is not the final truth. Material happiness, while real, is limited. There comes a moment when one must realize that happiness need not depend on external conditions. That realization is Shiva.
Shiva symbolizes inner completeness. In ancient depictions, a serpent hovers above the ‘Linga’, signifying mastery over thought and instinct (the serpent blocking all thoughts and giving freedom from the mind). His eyes are closed—not in ignorance, but in inward absorption. He is naturally content, unaffected by possessions or circumstances. His abode among snow-clad, barren mountains reflects the irrelevance of external adornment once inner fulfillment is realized.
Thus, Brahma represents creation—unceasing, restless, and forward-looking. Creation has no final point; it continuously unfolds through Maya, the great illusion. The myth of the infinite pillar of light reveals this clearly: Brahma seeks mastery over creation and resorts to falsehood, while Vishnu accepts limitation. The lesson is stark—creation has no end, and claiming otherwise is itself illusion.
Vishnu embodies preservation and lived reality. He represents material life in its fullest sense—wealth, relationships, work, dignity, pleasure, and responsibility. Sanātana Dharma does not reject these; it affirms them. To live well, to enjoy prosperity, to fulfill one’s social and familial duties—these are not distractions but sacred obligations. Wealth here is holistic: not merely money, but harmony, joy, and the capacity to contribute meaningfully.
Yet material fulfillment, though required, is incomplete.
That realization is Shiva.
Shiva symbolizes inner freedom. Detached yet not denying, he shows that happiness need not depend on possessions or circumstances. With closed eyes and bare surroundings, he represents the state where joy arises from within, untouched by gain or loss. The serpent above the linga signifies mastery over thought and instinct.
So whom do we truly need—Brahma, Vishnu, or Shiva?
The answer is all three.
Sanātana Dharma emphasizes balance. Brahma represents the unavoidable reality of creation and Maya. Vishnu provides the means to live well within this illusion. Shiva reveals that neither creation nor enjoyment is ultimately necessary for happiness—because true contentment arises from within.
The above is summarized in a short poem below
The Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva Modes of Life
Creation rises like a wave with no shore.
Brahma moves endlessly forward, dreaming forms into being.
Yet all that is formed rests upon Maya,
and the one who claims the summit of creation speaks untruth.
Vishnu walks the world gently,
preserving what has appeared.
Gold, grain, love, home, duty, honor—
none are denied, for life is meant to be lived fully.
He teaches: Do not reject the world; experience it.
But Shiva sits unmoving.
Eyes closed, thoughts dissolved,
clothed in silence and snow.
He knows what the others do not say aloud—
that happiness does not arrive; it was always there.
Creation continues.
Preservation sustains.
Yet liberation waits quietly within.
This is the balance of Sanātana Dharma:
to act without bondage,
to enjoy without dependence,
and to know that what you seek
has always been inside you.
Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva can be understood as three modes of human life and leadership.
Brahma-mode is innovation and growth. It is ambition, creativity, startups, expansion, and disruption. It drives progress—but if unchecked, it leads to burnout, dishonesty, and endless dissatisfaction. Growth without wisdom becomes illusion.
Vishnu-mode is stability and success. It values systems, wealth, relationships, reputation, and responsibility. This is where families thrive, institutions endure, and societies function. Vishnu teaches us to enjoy success ethically and fully—but not to mistake it for ultimate fulfillment.
Shiva-mode is inner mastery. It is clarity, detachment, and resilience. Leaders in Shiva-mode are not driven by ego or fear; they act from inner sufficiency. They can walk away, simplify, or endure loss without collapse.
Effective leadership—and a meaningful life—requires all three:
• Brahma to create,
• Vishnu to sustain,
• Shiva to remain free.
The failure lies not in ambition or success, but in forgetting when to transcend them.
Om Shanti!