User:Hilaryvishwa/Shiva or vishnu?

Shiva (pronounced /ˈʃiːvə/; Sanskrit: शिव, Śiva, IPA: [ˈɕivə]; Hindi: [ˈʃɪʋə], meaning "Auspicious one"), also known as Rudra (the "Feared One") is a major Hindu god and one aspect of Trimurti. In the Shaiva tradition of Hinduism, Shiva is seen as the Supreme God. In the Smarta tradition, he is one of the five primary forms of God.[2][3]

Vishnu (IAST: viṣṇu, Devanagari: विष्णु), (honorific: Bhagavan Vishnu), is the Supreme God in Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God,[1]. He is exalted as the highest God in Hindu sacred texts like the Taittiriya Samhita and the Bhagavad Gita.[2] [3]

Who is Superior?
The two deities in Hinduism that are most revered are Shiva and Vishnu. The people who pray them separately are called Shaiva and Vaishnav. Shaivas respect Shiva and say that He is superior god of all. Whereas vaishnavs profess that Vishnu is superior god of all. This theory is known as Dweit theory in Hinduism. Naturally shaivas and vaishnavas have different methods of worshipping God. Vaishnavas are recognized by U mark on their foreheads and shaivas are recognized by three strips on their foreheads. This difference is more pronounced in South India. The antagonism in shaiva sect and vaishnav sect is so sever in some parts of India that they appear to be sworn enemies of one another. There are many people in India who agree to existence of God but believe that God does not interferes in day to day lives of people.God has different names in different sects, religions or dharmas. Some call Him Allah, some call Him God and some call Him Ishwara. Similarly in Hindus some call Him Shiva and some call Him Vishnu. Today I undertake to describe the origin of these two sects.

Originally there was only vast expanse of water in this world. There was only ocean. On the vast ocean a small leaf was visible and on that leaf a small child was visible. This was birth of Vishnu. Then Vishnu created Devas and Asuras. Devas He placed in Swarga and Asuras He placed in Patala. Devas represented the good virtues and Asuras represented bad virtues. Devas and Asuras went on to churn the ocean to find Amruta the elixir of life. Out of the bowels of ocean fourteen different jewels were found in which poison was first. Shiva came forward and imbibed the poison straight and His throat became blue with it. So Shiva is also known as Neelkantha. Now nobody knows how Shiva was born and who are his parents. It is believe that Shiva is there in this universe even before Vishnu is born. Because nowhere in the scriptures Shiva’s birth is mentioned or His parents are reffered. In fact even Vishnu’s parents are not known as He is seen drifting on a leaf ( by whom? ). So this part is ambiguous in our scriptures. It can be safely said that Shiva is elder brother and Vishnu is younger brother and together they run this universe.

'''"One day, when Lakshmi and Vishnu were together in vaikuntha, Lakshmi sees Ucchaishravam, her brother, the horse of Revanta who is the son of Surya(The Sun). Engrossed in seeing her brother, she does not reply to the repeated calls of Vishnu. Seeing her attraction, Vishnu gives her curse to go to Bhulokam(Earth) in the form of a horse and come back to Vaikuntam only after getting a son equal to Himself! She comes to Bhuloka to experience the shaapam and realizing that none other than her brother, Shiva can help her calm Vishnu, she immediately does a tapas( for Him and Shiva appears to save her soodari. Lakshmi says “You and Vishnu are both same, the Paramaatma. Please help me!”. Shiva says “Soodari! How do you know that we both are same? All learned people know that. Who told you?”. Lakshmi says, “Once Mahavishnu Himself told me this. Seeing Him in deep Daiva-dhyaanam, I asked Him “During Samudramanthanam, I thought you were the greatest of all and hence chose you. Devaadideva! Who is better than you that you are in dhyaanam of Him?”. Mahavishnu replied “I am doing Shankara-dhyaanam. He is Eshwara. He is the same as Me. All learned people know that. If someone is my devotee but still hates Shiva, he will fall into naraka(Hell)”.''' Saying this, She asks Shiva to pursuade Vishnu to bless Her with a child. Shiva sends Chitrarupa as a duta to convince Vishnu. Vishnu immediately accepts and comes to Bhuloka and blesses Lakshmi with Ekaveera, who is equal to Vishnu Himself. From Ekaveera came forth the Haihaya dynasty, of which the most noted king is Kartavirya Arjuna (Ekaveera’s grandson).

Once Vyaasa Bhagavaan came under the influence of Shiva-maaya and started telling in his Pravachanams that Vishnu is greater than Shiva. Once Nandeeshvara also heard Vyaasa Bhagavaan saying this. Vishnu Murty then appeared before Veda Vyaasa and told Him “O Maharshi! Dont you know that I and Shiva are the same? Knowing this why are you telling like this in your pravachanams?” Veda Vyaasa then had great pashchaattaapam and asked Kshama from Nandeeshvara.

Though many consider them same but according to purans & vedas Linga(Shiva) is the supreme god & Vishnu & Brabha is incarnations of Shiva.There are many stories in Purans which shows that Shiva is supreme god.

Why Shiva is supreme God?
According to Purans & vedas following points makes Shiva the supreme god.

1. Mahādeva ("great god"; mahā = great + deva = god):- Mahadeva, mighty god, Hindu Puranic, is an important epithet of Shiva with three heads (two male and one female) signifying the three aspects--Aghora (right), Saumya (center), and Shakti (left). The attributes are the ax, bell, hook, mirror, noose, staff, sword, tree, and trident. This term is also identified as a manifestation of Shiva and one of the Ekadasarudras (eleven forms of Rudra). In northern India among the tribes including the Gonds, the expression Mahadeo (great god) is directed toward Shiva as the supreme deity. A.G.H.

2. Lingam:- Apart from anthropomorphic images of Shiva, the worship of Shiva in the form of a lingam, or linga, is also important.[38][156][157] These are depicted in various forms. One common form is the shape of a vertical rounded column. Shiva means auspiciousness, and linga means a sign or a symbol. Hence, the Shivalinga is regarded as a "symbol of the great God of the universe who is all-auspiciousness".[158] Shiva also means "one in whom the whole creation sleeps after dissolution".[158] Linga also means the same thing—a place where created objects get dissolved during the disintegration of the created universe. Since, according to Hinduism, it is the same god that creates, sustains and withdraws the universe, the Shivalinga represents symbolically God Himself.[158] Some scholars, such as Monier-Williams and Wendy Doniger, also view linga as a phallic symbol,[159][160] although this interpretation is disputed by others, including Christopher Isherwood,[161] Vivekananda,[162] Swami Sivananda,[163] and S.N. Balagangadhara.[164]

3. Sudarshan Chakra:- "Jalandharasura, a rakshasa, who conquered all the worlds finally landed in Kailasa to conquer it. Lord Shiva drew a Chakra by his big toe on the ground and asked the asura to lift it. Jalandhara lifted the chakra and when it reached near his neck it severed his head. Mahavishnu prayed to Lord Shiva for a proper weapon to kill the Asuras thus saving the livelihood of Devas. Vishnu did tapasya and offered 1008 lotus to the Shiva Linga. To test Vishnu's devotion Mahadeva hide one lotus flower. At the end of his Tapas(pooja) Vishnu found one lotus was missing and without hesitation he offered one of his own eyes and completed the Pooja. Lord Shiva pleased and appeared before him and gave him the Chakra which is called Sudharshana and also gave him the title name as "Tamaraikannan" (lotus eyed).

4. Kala Bhairav:- The origin of Bhairava can be traced to the conversation between Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu recounted in "Shiv Maha-Purana" where Lord Vishnu asks Lord Brahma who is the supreme creator of the Universe. Arrogantly, Brahma tells Vishnu to worship him because he (Brahma) is the supreme creator. This angered Shiva who in reality is the creator of all. Shiva then incarnated in the form of Bhairava to punish Brahma. Bhairava beheaded one of Brahma's five heads and since then Brahma has only four heads. When depicted as Kala Bhairava, Bhairava is shown carrying the amputated head of Brahma. Cutting off Brahma's fifth head made him guilty of having slain brahma, and as a result, he was forced to carry around the head for years until he had been absolved of the sin.

5. Third Eye of Shiva:- In Hinduism, it is believed that the opening of Shiva's third eye causes the eventual destruction of the universe.

6. Ardhnareshwra:- In the Shaivite hymn 'Ekohum bahusyami' (Shiva Purana), that is, I am One, but wishes to be many, there echoes the Rigvedic perception of the single egg splitting into bhuta and prana. Otherwise also, most interpretations of the Vedas widely favor the principle of monogenic existence. Besides its emphasis on the unity of the outward duality, the Rigveda acclaims, 'He, who is described as male, is as much the female and the penetrating eye does not fail to see it'. The Rigvedic assertion is explicitly defined. The male is only so much male as much he is female and vice versa the female is only as much female as much she is male. The maleness and femaleness are the attributes contained in one frame.