The Great Hymns to Devi — Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma Realize Their Dependence on the Supreme Mother

Tales from the Puranas: The Hymns to the Great Devi

Another divine episode unfolds in Devi Bhagavat Purana (Skandha 3, Chapter 4–5). Here, the three deities—Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva—are granted a rare vision of Manidvipa, the radiant realm of Goddess Durga (Bhuvaneshvari). What they witness there changes their understanding of divinity forever.

The Vision of the Supreme Goddess in Manidvipa

As Brahma narrates to Narada, Vishnu addressed him and said:

“Let us bow again to the Great Devi and approach Her fearlessly. By chanting Her glories, She will be pleased and grant us boons.”

Obeying Vishnu’s suggestion, Brahma and Shiva followed. As they approached the gates of Manidvipa, the radiant realm of the Devi, the Goddess smiled upon them and—by Her will—transformed all three into beautiful celestial women. Amazed and awestruck, they entered Her court adorned with divine jewels, where thousands of attendant goddesses danced, sang hymns, and played celestial instruments in Her praise.

It was then that Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva beheld an extraordinary sight:

“Within the nails of the Devi’s lotus feet, we saw countless universes—mountains, rivers, suns, moons, devas, humans, and even ourselves reflected therein.”

They realized that the entire cosmos—moving and unmoving—was contained within Her. Their illusion of independence shattered; they now saw Her as the Mother of the Universe, the primal energy sustaining all existence.

Vishnu’s Hymns to the Great Devi

While in their transformed state, Vishnu began to offer heartfelt hymns to Bhuvaneshvari, acknowledging Her as the source of creation, preservation, and dissolution:

“O Devi Prakriti! You are the Creatrix, the ever-auspicious Mother, the embodiment of Existence, Consciousness, and Bliss. You create, preserve, and destroy this universe. You are the fivefold doer of all — creation, preservation, dissolution, concealment, and grace. O Mother, I bow again and again to You!”

Vishnu recognized that the entire universe arises from Her, and without Her energy even the Highest Purusha (Supreme Being) could perform no act. He confessed that it was through Her power that the Sun shines, the Earth stands firm, and he himself could sustain creation.

He continued:

“It is through Your will, O Devi, that Brahma creates, I preserve, and Shiva destroys. Without You, nothing can move or act. All power and glory flow from You alone.”

Yet, in his realization, Vishnu also understood a deeper truth: that even this Maya of the Devi is temporary — for the Supreme Brahm, the Eternal God, stands beyond this cycle. It is the Devi who imparts Brahma Vidya (true knowledge) to the soul so that one may realize the Supreme Eternal beyond illusion.

Vishnu’s Realization — Infinite Universes and Infinite Deities

In this vision, Vishnu also perceived countless other Brahmas, Vishnus, and Shivas in the universes reflected in the Devi’s toenails:

“We saw another Vishnu, another Shiva, another Brahma, all presiding over their respective realms. Who knows how many such universes You have created, O Devi! Your glory is infinite.”

Through this revelation, the three realized that their universe was not singular. Countless worlds exist within Kaal’s vast expanse, each governed by a separate trinity—proving that Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are not eternal beings, but appointed administrators under the Devi’s command within one universe of many.

Shiva’s Hymns — The Great Confession

When Vishnu concluded his hymns, Shiva (Maheshvara) bowed to the Devi and confessed:

“O Mother! If Vishnu and Brahma have been born from You, then I, too, who embody Tamoguna, am born of You. You are the Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether. You are the mind, intellect, and ego. Those who believe that Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are the creators, preservers, and destroyers do not understand that we are all created by You and act according to Your will.”

Thus, even Shiva acknowledged that the trinity owes its existence to Durga, who is both the material (Upadan) and efficient (Nimitta) cause of the cosmos.

The Great Realization — Durga as the Power of Kaal

Although the Devi Bhagwat Purana extols Durga as the Mother of all creation, Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj clarifies a crucial truth hidden in these scriptures:

Durga (also called Prakriti Devi or Bhuvaneshvari) operates under the command of Kaal Brahm (Jyoti Niranjan). She is his consort, and together they manage the 21 universes under their control. The trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva — along with their Shaktis — are born of Durga and Kaal, and therefore not supreme.

The fact that Durga had to “grant boons,” “transform their forms,” and “bestow knowledge” upon the trinity itself shows that she is superior to them, yet not beyond the bondage of Kaal. Her own creation and dissolution cycles continue within his domain. Beyond both Kaal and Durga exists the Eternal Supreme God — Kabir Sahib, who alone is unborn, unchangeable, and the liberator of souls.

Conclusion — From Illusion to Realization

This chapter of the Devi Bhagwat Purana marks a spiritual awakening for Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. The trinity, once considering themselves autonomous, realized their complete dependence on the Maha Maya, Goddess Durga. Through Her, they perform their duties; without Her, they are powerless.

Yet, even this grand revelation points further—to a higher truth:

“The Devi’s realm, too, is within Kaal’s domain, and She Herself acknowledges a power beyond Her.”

Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva: Mortal and Dependent on the Devi

One of the most striking revelations in this episode is that Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva themselves acknowledge their mortality and dependence on the Devi. Vishnu openly declares that it is through the Devi’s power alone that he can create, preserve, or destroy anything in the universe. Similarly, Shiva confesses that he, born of the Devi, is bound by her will and cannot act independently. Brahma too recognizes that his creative power comes entirely from her. This admission is profound: the three principal deities of the cosmos, often thought to be eternal and all-powerful, explicitly affirm that they are not eternal, not omnipotent, and entirely subject to the higher force of the Devi. Their mortality underscores a key spiritual truth — even the highest gods within a universe operate under a greater cosmic authority, pointing toward a Supreme, eternal power beyond all creation.