I'm no expert on this, but the question interested me, so I did a little online research. I found a site that suggests the text is in the Brahmanda Puranam. The site I found is at  https://www.quora.com/Hindu-Gods-What-is-the-true-history-of-lord-Shiva

The full text of the Brahmanda Purnam can be found at

https://archive.org/stream/BrahmandaPurana/BrahmandaPuI_djvu.txt

I'm no expert on this, but the question interested me, so I did a little online research. I found a site that suggests the text is in the Brahmanda Puranam. The site I found is at  https://www.quora.com/Hindu-Gods-What-is-the-true-history-of-lord-Shiva

The full text of the Brahmanda Purnam can be found at

https://archive.org/stream/BrahmandaPurana/BrahmandaPuI_djvu.txt

Hello Hendrika,

Thank you for your interest and for replying. It is (at least for me) a fascinating topic. Here is another web page that might interest you. Of course these forces are abstract but like most abstract things, they have been personalised into three deities so the general public can understand them better. Looking on the net - it really seems as though they have not been much mentioned in early Indian literature. That also raises the question when this idea was introduced. Maybe some of our Indian colleagues can help us in this regard. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trimurti

Hello Tina,

I just came across this. 

Hindu cosmology is complex and requires a great deal of patient study. It is full of symbolism and you need to get past this to arrive at the core. i.e. The Lord is formless and attributeless but takes on both for man. Creation - Destruction go on in endless cycles. This is the law of nature.

Basically the 3 functions of creation, preservation and destruction are attributed to 3 deities namely Lords Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva respectively.

The Supreme Consciousness is referred to as 'Parabrahman' or ' Brahman' - not to be confused with Lord Brahma.

However depending on which school of thought you belong to one or the other can become supreme:

1. Vaishnava - Lord Vishnu - see Shrimad Bhagavatham

https://books.google.com.my/books? at 135

- this is a good website to explore

2. Shaivite - Lord Shiva -

3. Shakti - Divine Mother - The Shrimad Devi Bhagavatham

http://sacred-texts.com/hin/db/index.htm

heavy reading . Good luck.

Dear Tina, 

Hindu Mythology iS very complex.

There are multiple stories about the origins of the Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva.

-Shrimad Bhagavatam states that Lord Shiva appeared from between the eyebrows of Lord Brahma.

-Shiva Purana states that Lord Vishnu originated when Lord Shiva rubbed some nectar on his ankle.

-Vishnu Purana says that Lord Shiva originated from the eyebrows of the lord Vishnu, and that is why Lord Shiva is mostly in the meditative state

To understand these concepts, you should study at least Shrimad Bhagavatam, Shiva Purana and Vishnu Purana.

Try to explore these Sacred Books.

This is religious, and refers to three goods as per Hinduism

These features of three Gods are represented in Shivlinga (idol form)

http://ritsin.com/shivlinga-meaning-interesting-untold.html/

The earliest Veda, the Rig-veda has largest number of hymns devoted to Indra. Later, the importance of Indra was deceased. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiv became prominent in mind of people in India. Brahma also lost its status later on.

Followers of each god (deities) ascertain it to be supreme and tell that other deities originated through/by the same. To co-ordinate between them, the theory of three devas may be evolved.

Later in Hinduism, theory of anthropomorphism (avatarvad) originated establishing that the God bear the body of creatures to do some important work.

The theory of three devas should be studied with history of India also as many of the theories have evolved with time.

@ Tina,

I have learned about the trilogy you mention at a conducted tour in India, some time ago (from Srinagar – Kashmir to Hampi - Karnataka).

The trilogy was mentioned in an interesting introduction to Indian civilization by Pierre Amado in the book about India of the touristbook collection “Les Guides Bleus” (Blue Guides) edited by Hachette (1976).

Pierre Amado (deceased in 2014) was responsible of research at CNRS (Paris) and teaching professor at the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes. Unfortunately, in the Blue Guide, he just mentions (with a few explanations) what he calls : “the privileged “triad” (trimûrti)" without further reference. He just writes that one comes to this privileged “triad” when one reads the “ancient texts”.

Pierre Amado explains :

Brahma is the symbol of the principle of creation of the universe

Vishnu is the symbol of the principle of conservation

Shiva is the symbol of the principle of destruction

He says that, contrary to the two others, Brahma has no adepts and very few temples. Then he describes more in details “SHIVAISM” and “VISHNUISM” noting a.o. that Shiva acts in the world with the intermediary of female goddesses, considered to be his wifes, and who are the “manifestation of the cosmic energy” (shakti)".

Vishnu is considered to be the manifestation of the “Absolute Reality” and, for the adepts of Vishnuism, this makes that the world cannot be irreal because Vishnu is everywhere present in it.

It seems that what Amado says is closest to the posts of Krishnan Umachandran and Gita Radhakrishna. But the other posts enrich the issue a lot.

It might be that you find further references to ancient sacred texts of the Indian literature related to this triad in books written by Pierre Amado to be found at the "Bibliothèque Nationale de France" (BNF) :

http://data.bnf.fr/12585507/pierre_amado/

http://data.bnf.fr/12585507/pierre_amado/

Dear @Guibert Crevecoeur 

Thank you for your answer - I am always open to learn more about this triad - I find it such and interesting way of viewing the Universe. We are surrounded with forces but only some of these apply to the  visible world of forms hence it makes perfect sense when you say 

"Brahma has no adepts and very few temples. Then he describes more in details “SHIVAISM” and “VISHNUISM” noting a.o. that Shiva acts in the world with the intermediary of female goddesses, considered to be his wifes, and who are the “manifestion of the cosmic energy” (shakti)".

Warm regards - Tina 

@Sandeep Kulshrestha: I agree with your views and explanations. However, I would like to add. Hinduism is very complex, as sacred books of it are authored by different people in different era. Views of authors differ which is natural. Some people tried to integrate the theories described in different books by different authors. Therefore Brahma, Vishnu and Shiv - all accepted in India. 

Buddhism originated in against of Brahmanism (a form of Hinduism), but Buddha was worshiped by Hindus in later times. Buddhism was also affected by anthropomorphism (avatarvad) of Hinduism. Therefore thoughts of people interchanged, and sometimes common thoughts originated.

The Hindu triad or trinity

http://www.indianmirror.com/history/mythological-stories/who-is-greatest-pg1.html

Certainly Buddhist Tantra or Hindu teachings are more fun to read and contemplate than Euler's Theorem - but essentially they all entice us to take similar journeys even though they differ in perspectives.

There are two sacred books in India, Vidu and Sam Fido, and can be found in the book of Abu al-Rayhan al-Biruni, written under the title of the money of India