Final answer:
The statement from Prothero is false; while Vaishnavism and Shaivism are main branches of Hinduism, the third branch, Shaktism, focuses on the worship of the Great Goddess rather than forming a trinity with Vishnu and Shiva.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Prothero, Modern Hinduism's three main branches revolve around worship of Vishnu (Vaishnavism), Shiva (Shaivism), and the worship of the Great Goddess Mahadevi or Shakti (Shaktism). The statement is false because while Vaishnavism and Shaivism are indeed two of the main branches of Hinduism, Shaktism worships the Great Goddess or Divine Mother rather than Shiva, Vishnu, or Brahma, who are typically considered the primary trinity in Hinduism.
Hinduism is a complex and diverse religion with multiple deities that are often seen as different aspects of one supreme reality or being. The worship of Shiva, Vishnu, and their consorts, along with a multitude of other deities, reflects the richness of Hindu theism, which can be seen as both monotheistic and polytheistic depending on the perspective.