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VISHNU and SHIVA
There has been a debate going on the internet with regard to the
trinity as to who is the supreme personality of God head.
First, let me point out that one's beliefs are based on his/her karma.
Similar to the material knowledge, spiritual knowledge has to be learned
in steps (similar to the steps: the k.g or the first grade to the high
school and beyond). All of us are in various stages of spiritual
understanding. We are increasing the understanding through a number of
lifes. There are eighteen Puranas: six for the sathviks (mode of
goodness) who are seeking pure knowledge; six puranas are for the
Rajasiks (mode of passion); and six puranas are written for the
thamasiks (mode of ignorence).
A spiritually ignorant person is under the impression that this
body is every thing. Thamasic Puranas have been written to teach such
persons that the universe is under god's control. These puranas teach
that you will derive material benefits if you pray to the god and that
God is under control of the universe. They teach us about punya and papa,
etc, and warn us of punishment if you do not do certain act. They talk of
animal sacrifices.
The next stage of puranas are Rajasik and teach us about
the athma and at the same time teach about the methods of fulfilment of the
desires through pious actions (punya).
The third set of puranas are sathvik and teach us about our relation to
the God and pure love of the God. They inculcate renounciation, gnyana
(pure knowledge) and pure bhakthi. These puranas are to be read and
followed by those who desire no material benefits and those who seek our
true relationship with the God. Reading this puranas one tends to
obtain pure knowledge and tend develop pure loving relationship with the
God.
Now, depending on our own spiritual position, we tend to like certain
puranas over the others, and tend to equate the supreme Godhead with other
demigods, or may tend to like one demigod over the others.
Although I would not like to make comments as to who is the supreme
personality of Godhead, I would like to point out some facts:
The Purusha suktha (drawn from the Vedas) clearly ponts out that the
billions of universes
constitute only one pada (a part) of spiritual existence and the
thri-pada (three fourths) of the spiritual existence is the Supreme
Purusha. It further points out that even this one pada (constituting the
universes) are also part of the supreme Purusha, and that everything
emnated from Him. The purusha
suktha concludes "Hreeshyathe Lakshmichya Pathnouw....." He is the the
Supreme
purusha who has the godess lakshmi and the godess of shyness as his
concerts. Thus, the Purusha suktha which is accepted by every sect of
hinduism and sung during abhishekam in every temple, clearly points out that
Narayana is
the Supreme Personality of Godhead and that everything is emnated from Him.
Narayana suktha, also drawn from the Vedas, starts out saying that the
supreme being with thousands of faces, is Narayana, and points out
that He is living in every being along with the jivathma. The suktha
concludes by instructing that He is Brahma, he is Vishnu, He is Shiva,
and He is Indra.
He is everything, therefore, why fight? It is said "Like all rivers flow
into the great ocean, Namaskaras performed to all demigods finally reach
Krishna." Krishna said "Whom ever you believe, I make that belief strong
by taking offerings through that demi-god and grant those wishes."
The discussion as to who is supreme is age old. Peri-Alwar of south
India has long ago proved the supremacy of Lord Vishnu over the other two.
Of the trinity, one has washed the second person's feet, and the third
has sprinkled that water over his own head. Now, who is great?: Obviously
the person whose feet was washed. When Lord Vishnu took the incarnation
of Vamana, Lord Brahma washed his feet. This holy water purifies sins
since it is emnating from the feet of Lord Hari. It has been brought to
the earth by king Bhageeratha and is flowing as the sacred river. Yes, It
was sprinkled on Lord Shiva's head since he is bearing the force of
Ganga. This act alone ponts out that Lord Narayana is supreme.
Let us forget the discussion as to who is supreme, and let us progress
through life toward attainment of oneness with the supreme. Eventually,
we will discover that He has to give us the knowledge, and when we get
that knowledge, we will always desire to serve Him. Complete knowledge
about the infinite can not be obtained by finite means. However, try to
read all the puranas and decide for yourself.
With all glories to the Lord Narayana, I remain,
sincerely
Narender P. Reddy, Ph.D.
npreddy@brain.biomed.uakron.edu
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