Understanding Trikaya: The Three Bodies of a Deity in Hinduism and Buddhism

Trikaya (Sanskrit: त्रिकाय, Trikāya) is a term used in Hinduism and Buddhism to describe the three bodies or aspects of a deity or a spiritual being. The three bodies are:

1. Nirmanakaya (Sanskrit: निर्माणकाय, Nirmāṇakāya): the physical body or the manifestation of the deity in the material world.
2. Sambhogakaya (Sanskrit: सम्भोगकाय, Sambhoga-kāya): the body of bliss or the aspect of the deity that experiences pleasure and enjoyment.
3. Dharmakaya (Sanskrit: धर्मकाय, Dharma-kāya): the body of reality or the aspect of the deity that represents the ultimate truth and reality.

In Hinduism, the three bodies are often associated with the three aspects of the god Vishnu: his physical form as Krishna, his pleasure form as Lord Narayana, and his spiritual form as the ultimate reality. In Buddhism, the three bodies are associated with the three stages of enlightenment: the physical body of a Buddha, the body of bliss and enjoyment, and the body of ultimate reality.

The concept of trikaya is used to describe the different aspects of the divine and to emphasize the idea that the divine is beyond human comprehension and cannot be reduced to a single aspect or form. It also highlights the idea that the divine is present in all things and that everything is interconnected and interdependent.