The Three Divine Forces: Brahma, Vishnu & Shiva

In yoga, we are often reminded of impermanence. Just like the seasons, our lives flow in cycles: birth, growth, rest, and renewal. Some phases feel light and full of possibility; others feel heavy, stuck, or uncertain. Yet beneath it all, something steady and wise is always moving us forward.

Yoga philosophy offers a beautiful way to understand these cycles through three great divine forces:

Brahma – the creator Vishnu – the preserver Shiva – the destroyer (the transformer)

These are not just distant mythological figures from another time and culture. They are living symbols of energies that move through your body, mind, and life every single day.

In this article, we’ll explore who Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are, how they relate to the three gunas (fundamental qualities of nature), and – most importantly – how you can work with these forces in your yoga practice and daily life.

The three divine forces: One reality, many faces

In traditional yoga philosophy, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are understood as three aspects of one supreme divine principle. They are three faces of the same consciousness.

They personify the universal processes that are always unfolding:

Brahma – creation: beginnings, ideas, births, possibilities.

Vishnu – preservation: stability, maintenance, harmony, continuity.

Shiva – destruction / transformation: endings, letting go, clearing space for the new.

They are not seen as completely separate individuals but as different manifestations of the one underlying reality. The same way sunrise, midday, and sunset are different expressions of one single sun.

Each phase is essential. Without creation, there would be nothing to preserve. Without preservation, nothing could grow. Without destruction and dissolution, nothing new could ever emerge.

When we bring this into our own lives, we start to see:

• The new job, new relationship, or new habit as Brahma.

• The daily routines, commitments, and steady effort as Vishnu.

• The breakdowns, endings, transitions, and releases as Shiva.

And all three are sacred.

Why this matters for your yoga practice

Yoga is not just about stretching or shapes; it’s a path of awareness.

When we practice, we’re learning to witness and honour these cycles within ourselves:

• The spark of a new intention (Brahma).

• The discipline to keep showing up (Vishnu).

• The courage to let go of what no longer serves (Shiva).

On the mat, you might notice:

• A new pose or sequence that feels like a fresh start – Brahma energy

• The steady breathing and alignment as you hold Warrior II – Vishnu energy

• The deep exhale of surrender in Child’s Pose or Savasana – Shiva energy

Yoga reminds us that no single phase is “better” than another. They all belong. They all serve.

Brahma: The creator within you

Brahma represents creation, beginnings, and the birth of new possibilities.

Symbolically, Brahma is:

• Associated with new ideas, imagination, innovation

• The energy of starting, setting intentions, and envisioning

• The first inhalation at the beginning of your practice – the moment you say, “Yes, I’m here.”

Brahma in your practice

You connect with Brahma when you:

• Roll out your mat for the first time in weeks and begin again.

• Decide to approach a familiar pose with fresh curiosity.

• Set an intention at the start of class: “Today I’m cultivating kindness,” or *“Today I’m listening to my body.”

Every time you allow a new thought, a new pattern, or a new way of being to arise, you are living Brahma’s energy.

Reflection prompt:

What is wanting to be created in your life right now – not from pressure, but from a quiet, genuine desire?

Vishnu: The Preserver of Balance

Vishnu is the force of preservation, protection, and steady support.

Where Brahma is the spark of “Let’s begin,” Vishnu is the calm, grounded voice that says, “Stay with it. Keep nurturing what matters.”

Symbolically, Vishnu is:

• The energy of stability, order, and continuity

• Linked to harmony, compassion, and balance

• The ongoing effort that keeps a practice, relationship, or project alive

Vishnu in your practice

You embody Vishnu when you:

• Return to your mat regularly, even if it’s just for a few breaths.

• Hold a pose with steady breath, staying curious instead of reacting.

• Honour your alignment so your body is supported and safe.

• Choose sustainable effort over pushing to the point of pain.

Vishnu reminds you that small, consistent actions are powerful. A single yoga class is lovely, but it’s the gentle, ongoing commitment that truly transforms you.

Reflection prompt:

Where in your life is Vishnu inviting you to simply keep showing up – with gentleness and consistency?

Shiva: The Destroyer, the Transformer, the Great Releaser

Shiva is often called “the destroyer,” which can sound intense or even frightening. But in yoga philosophy, destruction is not about violence – it’s about transformation.

Shiva is the force that clears away what’s no longer needed so that new life can emerge.

Symbolically, Shiva is:

• The energy of endings, release, and dissolution

• Associated with transformation, inner freedom, and awakening

• The one who breaks old patterns, illusions, and attachments

Shiva is the autumn leaf falling, the snake shedding its skin, the moment you decide, “I can’t keep living this way – something has to change.”

Shiva in your practice

You meet Shiva when you:

• Exhale and soften into a pose, allowing tension to melt.

• Release the need to “perform” and instead practise just for you.

• Gently let go of a story you’ve been telling yourself (e.g. “I’m not flexible,” “I’m not good at this,” “I should be further along by now.”)

• Allow yourself to rest, cry, or feel what you’ve been holding back.

Savasana – the final relaxation – is a powerful expression of Shiva. It’s a small ritual of surrender, softening your grip on what has been so you can move into what’s next with more clarity and softness.

Reflection prompt:

What is Shiva inviting you to release – a belief, habit, or pattern – so that you can make space for something truer?

The Gunas: Sattva, Rajas, Tamas – The qualities that shape our experience

Alongside the three divine forces, yoga philosophy also speaks about the three gunas – fundamental qualities or tendencies that make up all of nature:

Sattva – balance, clarity, knowledge, light Rajas – energy, passion, movement, activity Tamas – rest, stillness, inertia, darkness

These qualities constantly ebb and flow through everything, including your mind and body. Some days you wake up clear, calm, and centred (more sattva). Other days you feel fired up, restless, or driven (more rajas). Sometimes you feel heavy, sluggish, or foggy (more tamas).

Here’s the empowering part:

We humans have the unique ability to consciously influence the gunas, to choose practices, environments, and thoughts that shift our inner state.

• When you meditate or breathe deeply, you often increase sattva (clarity, peace).

• When you do a dynamic vinyasa flow, you’re working with rajas (energy, movement).

• When you rest in a restorative pose or go to bed early, you’re honouring tamas in a healthy way (rest, recovery).

Yoga doesn’t label one guna as “good” and the others as “bad.” Just like Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, each guna has a role:

• Sattva helps you see clearly and make wise choices.

• Rajas helps you take action and create change.

• Tamas helps you slow down, integrate, and sleep.

Some days you need the clarity of sattva, other days the fire of rajas, and sometimes the deep rest of tamas. Yoga helps you meet yourself wherever you are, gently moving towards balance.

How the Three Deities and the Three Gunas work together

You can think of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Sattva, Rajas, Tamas as two different maps pointing to the same inner landscape.

• Brahma (creation) often moves with rajas – the energised, passionate drive to begin something new – and needs sattva to guide that energy wisely.

• Vishnu (preservation) resonates strongly with sattva – the calm, balanced clarity that sustains harmony – and uses a steady, focused rajas to keep things going.

• Shiva (destruction/transformation) can be supported by tamas in its restful, dissolving aspect (the quietness after an ending) and then by sattva, the clarity that emerges after you’ve let go.

In your own life, this might look like:

• Brahma + Rajas: Getting excited about a new project, habit, or relationship.

• Vishnu + Sattva: Keeping that project or relationship healthy through steady, kind attention.

• Shiva + Tamas (then Sattva): Allowing something to end, resting, and then seeing more clearly what’s next.

Instead of resisting change, yoga teaches us to ride these waves with more ease and trust.

When life feels heavy: Trusting the cycle

If life feels heavy or challenging for you right now, remember: this moment will pass. Change is the only constant, and new horizons, new possibilities, and fresh opportunities are always waiting.

When you feel stuck, exhausted, or unsure:

• Brahma whispers: “A new chapter is possible, even if you can’t see it yet.”

• Vishnu reassures: “You don’t have to fix everything today. Just take the next kind, grounded step.”

• Shiva reminds: “It’s okay to let go. Not everything is meant to stay.”

Your task is not to control the cycle, but to meet each phase with awareness and compassion.

A simple practice: Invoking the Three Divine Forces on your mat

Here’s a gentle practice you can explore, either in a longer flow or as a short, mindful ritual.

Brahma – Begin with intention (creation)

• Sit or stand comfortably at the top of your mat.

• Close your eyes and place one hand on your heart, one on your belly.

• Take a deep, slow inhalation, and ask yourself:

  “What quality do I want to invite into my life today?”

• It might be courage, softness, patience, or joy.

• Let this become your Brahma intention for your practice.

Vishnu – Stay with the breath (preservation)

• Move through a few gentle poses, perhaps Cat-Cow, a few rounds of Sun Salutations, or a simple standing sequence.

• As you move, focus on steady breathing and safe alignment.

• Notice the part of you that wants to rush or chase the “next” posture.

• Gently return to: “Can I stay with this breath, this moment?”

This is Vishnu: the part of you that stays, holds, and supports.

Shiva – Let go, soften, surrender (transformation)

• Gradually transition into soothing shapes: forward fold, supine twist, or legs up the wall.

• With each exhalation, consciously release something – a thought, a tension, a tiny expectation.

• Complete your practice in Savasana, imagining you are laying down old layers that no longer fit.

• When you’re ready to rise, do so slowly, as if emerging into a new version of yourself.

  
  

Bringing it back to you

At Sparkling Soul Yoga, you have permission to simply be you.

You don’t need to “believe” in Brahma, Vishnu, or Shiva in a religious sense to benefit from their wisdom. You can meet them as symbols, stories, or inner archetypes, as mirrors reflecting what is already alive within you:

• Your capacity to begin again (Brahma)

• Your ability to stay steady and kind (Vishnu)

• Your courage to let go and transform (Shiva)

Yoga helps you recognise these forces not as something outside of you, but as part of your own sparkling soul.

No matter where you are on your path – starting, staying, or shedding – you are in the right place. Each phase is necessary. Each phase is sacred.

When you step onto your mat, whether under the open sky or in the quiet of your home, you are entering into this great dance of creation, preservation, and transformation.

You deserve to feel empowered, grounded, and connected.

Let’s keep exploring these cycles together, one breath, one practice, one gentle shift at a time.