[Sidenote: 3. The 3 Worlds. ॐ भूर्भुबः स्वर् ।] The earth, sky and heavens, called the three great evolutions (महा ब्याहृति) of _Om_. But those were afterwards subdivided into twenty one (3×7) each named as Om (ॐ त्रिसप्तं) as in the beginning of Atharva Sanhitá ॐ त्रिसप्ता ये परियन्ति बिश्वाः—“The Universe composed of thrice seven worlds.” [Sidenote: 4. The 3 states of things. श्रवस्थात्रयं ।] [Sidenote: 5. The 3 Agencies Personified त्रि मूर्त्ति ।] These are the creation, preservation, and destruction of all things (सृष्टि, स्थिति, प्रलय), or as philosophically called their evolution, sustentation and dissolution (उत्पत्ति, स्थिति, ध्वंस), and their agents, _Brahmá_ the creator, _Vishnu_, the preserver, and _Siva_ the destroyer of each and all, corresponding with Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto, and Osiris, Horus and Typhon (ब्रहमाबिष्ण्वीशाः). But this trinity is refuted by the Vedántic doctrine of unity, which repudiates a secondary cause. (सृष्टि स्थिति लयादीनां नान्य कर्त्ता द्वितीयकं). The Maitrí Upanishad makes mention of many more triads which were glorified with the aforesaid hallowed epithet _Om_ (VI. 5.) _Viz._ the following:— [Sidenote: 1. The Trisex Divinity.] _Om_ composed of the three genders, masculine, feminine and neuter (स्त्रीपुन्नपुं). But the Vedánta refutes the generic distinctions of the One unknown (नपण्डनपुमान् शक्तिः). [Sidenote: 2. The 3 Elemental forms.] The fire, wind and sun, (सूर्य्याग्नि बायु), the three powerful manifestations of the Deity each of which had its votaries in the early fire, wind and sun worshippers of India. [Sidenote: 3. The 3 Agencies as above.] The creation, preservation and destruction of things in the forms of Brahmá, Vishnu and Siva as said above. [Sidenote: 4. The 3 Fires. अग्नित्रयः ।] _Om_ the three sacrificial fires called the दक्षिणा, गार्हपत्य and आह्वनीयाग्न्यः, which were continually preserved in families. [Sidenote: 5. The 3 Vedas. त्रयोबिद्या ।] _Om_ the triple learning contained in the Rik, Yajur and Sáman, which were identified with God for their being his words. [Sidenote: 6. The 3 Intelligences.] The three Intellectual faculties consisting of the Mind, Intellect or Reason, and the conscious soul. [Sidenote: 7. The 3 Times. त्रिकाल ।] Present, past and future composing the circle of the eternity of _Om_ (कालत्रयं). [Sidenote: 8. The 3 Aliments. अन्न ब्रह्म ।] Food and water and moon. The water and food are eulogised as _Om_ in Bhrigu Valli as अन्न ब्रह्म, and the moon is reckoned as such for its containing the ambrosial beverage of the gods. [Sidenote: 9. The Mental Powers. मनोवृत्तिः ।] The three intellectual faculties, the mind, intellect and consciousness as the spiritual manifestations of the Invisible Spirit. [Sidenote: 10. The three Vital Airs. प्राणादि ।]