Brahma , Vishnu , Shiva... Who was Created First.

The year marking the origin of God was, is and always will be a mystery. No one really knows when the Almighty God came into being, and who still continues to exist today. According to 'Shri Shiv Puran', it is said that a 'Shakti'came out of the body of 'ParBrahm' or 'Sadashiv', the one with eight arms. That Shakti came to be known as 'Tridev Janani '  or the Mother of the three, who gave birth to Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and to Lord Shiva.

All the Vedic Gods have particular roles or functions, and represent different forces of nature. They all have different meanings and potencies to do particular things in the arrangement and management of the universal creation. In this manner, most of them have specific positions and purposes to help facilitate the cause for the creation, maintenance, and the destruction of the universe.

After each cycle of creation and destruction, the three Lords manifest in different ways. Sometimes it may start with Lord Vishnu, sometimes with Lord Brahma and sometimes with Lord Shiva, sometimes, even differently.

Shiva Purana states that at first there was only Lord Shiva. Lord Vishnu is formed from the left body of Shiva. It also states that Lord Vishnu was born when Lord Shiva rubbed some nectar on his ankle. Lord Brahma, the God of creation is referred to in many texts as a self-born, also known as 'Svayambhu 'or 'aja' , meaning "the unborn". He is not created by anyone as he is self-existent and the first cause of all and existing with his own intrinsic powers.

Ramayana says Lord Brahma is the first Deva of the Trimurti along with Vishnu and Maheswara. Lord Brahma sprang from the atmosphere. Lord Brahma is the originator and the generator of the mankind. He is the 'Data' meaning the giver, and the 'Vidhata', signifying the supreme being.

According to Vishnu Purana, at first, there was only Lord Vishnu- the preserver. While Lord Brahma came out of a Lotus which grew out of Lord Vishnu's Navel, who has the duty of creation. In his first creation, Lord Brahma created four sages Sanaka, Sananda, Sanatana and Sanat-Kumar who were devoid of worldly pleasures and were only the devotees of Lord Vishnu. And out of his frustration and anger, Rudra or Lord Shiva sprang out  of his forehead or eyebrow.  Lord Shiva has the duty of destruction. Thus,  the Holy trinity assumed their duties for an endless cycle of creation, preservation, and destruction.

The mysterious question of who came first is still unsolved as different Vedas and Puranas having their own explanations on the origin of the Trimurti, also called Trinity, the representation of the three manifestations of the Supreme Reality, as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.