In ancient Vedic culture, the number three held great significance. However, in the later Vedic period, we observe the number three being replaced by the number four. The number three was prominent 3,000 years ago when the Vedic hymns were composed, but 2,000 years ago, as the Vedic culture gave way to temple rituals the number four became more popular.

In the Rig Veda, three worlds were imagined: the heavens, the atmosphere, and the earth. Gods are seen as inhabiting the sky, the middle space, and the earth. This was created when Indra separated the sky (Dyaus) from the earth (Prithvi). While Soma was on the earth and Indra in the sky, Agni connected the two. The Vedic world had three texts known as the Vedic Trayi. This is mentioned in Buddhist texts too. Matter had three attributes (guna): Satva, Tamas, and Rajas. Ayurvedic texts said health demanded balance of the three humours (dosha): Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. There were only three divisions of people: Brahmanas, Rajanya, and the common man, Vish.