Thus Spake the Divine - Vishnu and Shiva are Identical

Thus Spake the Divine

Vishnu and Shiva are Identical

There are exhibits in Puranas that say Shiva has lost to Lord Vishnu and Vishnu has lost to Shiva as well. History also says that Vishnu has worshipped Shiva and Shiva has worshipped Vishnu. It is believed Vishnu could not find the feet of Shiva as He drilled through the underground in the form of a boar. In another instance, when there is a contest between Shiva and Vishnu to judge who is more powerful, Shiva’s Bow becomes defunct and He is defeated by Vishnu. The same Bow (Shiva Dhanush) is also broken by Sri Ram, a Vishnu Avatara, says Ramayana.

When Vishnu is performing Pooja to Shiva, there is one less flower. Instantly, Vishnu removes one of his eyes and uses it as a flower, says Tiruveezhimizhalai Purana. Here, Shiva is called Nethrarpaneshwar. In another instance, when Shiva plucked Brahma’s head, He got into Brahmahathi Dosham (Sin of Killing a Brahmin). In order to alleviate Himself from this sin, Shiva worships Vishnu and gets rid of that sin, according to the story of Tirukandiyur. Here, Vishnu is known as Harasaba Vimochanar (Alleviator of Curse of Hara). There are many such similar stories.

You might ask me one question: When Shiva and Vishnu are one and the same will that One Swami fight with His own self? Or, will He do pooja on His own self?

Let me explain.

I told you the story of Rama breaking the Shiva Dhanush. There is another bit of story I want to share with you at this juncture. When Rama is returning to Ayodhya after marrying Sita, Parashurama, the erstwhile Avatara of Vishnu, gets into a confrontment with Rama. He says, “Don’t be too proud of stringing the Shiva Dhanush! Now, I have the Bow of Vishnu, which won over Shiva Dhanush! Can you string this now and prove your mastery?” Rama strings the bow and wins over Parashurama!

Parashurama, an avatara of Vishnu, instigates Rama, who is another Avatara of Vishnu! One Avatara loses to the other Avatara of the same Vishnu! The same Rama later worships Shiva Lingam in Rameshwaram.

This way, God Himself is directing people to inculcate Bhakti in their hearts. Only with this objective, Shiva worships Vishnu as His Devotee in some instances and Vishnu worships Shiva in other instances.

Both are one. The nomenclatures of Hari Haran and Shankara Narayan are ideals that foster the feeling of equanimity. The Alwars (Tamil poet-saints of South India, who espoused Bhakti (devotion) to the Hindu Supreme God Vishnu) identify Vishnu as Shiva. Even the great poet Kamban endorses the same.

Leave what scholars say on this. Even small kids say in Tamil, “Hariyum Shivanum Onnu; idai ariyadhavar vaayil mannu”. This can be literally translated as “Hari and Shiva are One and those who are ignorant of this truth deserve to eat sand”. When a hut is built with clay, it lasts for a couple of years; when a building is constructed with bricks, it lasts for around hundred years. If the construction is with rock stones, it stands for several thousand years. Sim ilarly, words, which are not strong, are washed away in waves of time. But words of children last beyond time. That is because of the essence or philosophy contained in their statement.

This article is a snippet from the Book Thus Spake the Divine, is available online at www.giri.in and across Giri Trading Agency Private Limited, A chain of Speciality Stores dealing in all kinds of products needed in Indian Culture and Tradition.