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Harihara
Harihara is a the name of a combined deity form of both Vishnu (Hari) and
Shiva (Hara) from the Hindu tradition. Harihara is thus worshipped by both
Vaishnavites and Shaivities as a form of the Supreme God, as well as being a
figure of worship for other Hindu traditions in general. Harihara is also
sometimes used as a philosophical term to denote the unity of Vishnu and
Shiva as different aspects of the same Supreme God. The exact nature of both
Vishnu and Shiva (from their associated stories in Vedic and Puranic
scriptures), and their position of difference or unity (or both), is a
subject of some debate amongst the different philosophical schools.
Different Concepts
Due to the fluid and diverse nature of Hinduism there are a wide variety of
beliefs and traditions associated to both Vishnu and Shiva. Some schools
hold that only Vishnu (including his associated avatars) is the Supreme God,
and others that Shiva (including his different incarnations) is actually the
Supreme being. Some argue that both Shiva and Vishnu are the Supreme God -
both being different aspects of the one person; and there are others still
who regard the Supreme God as being ultimately formless (advaita) and thus
see both Vishnu and Shiva as different facets of the one formless Brahman.
Depending on which scriptures (and translations) are quoted, evidence is
available to support each of the different arguments. In most cases, even if
one personality is taken as being superior over the other, much respect is
still offered to both Vishnu and Shiva by the other's worshippers (i.e Shiva
is still regarded as being above the level of an ordinary jiva and 'the
greatest of the Vaishnavas' by Vaishnavas who worship only Vishnu). [1]
One and the same
Sivananda states: "Shiva and Vishnu are one and the same entity. They are
essentially one and the same. They are the names given to the different
aspects of the all-pervading Supreme Soul or the Absolute. ‘Sivasya hridayam
vishnur-vishnoscha hridayam sivah—Vishnu is the heart of Siva and likewise
Siva is the heart of Vishnu’."
Milk and Yoghurt
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada states: "Similarly, by expanding
Himself as Lord Shiva, the Supreme Lord is engaged when there is a need to
annihilate the universe. Lord Shiva, in association with maya, has many
forms, which are generally numbered at eleven. Lord Shiva is not one of the
living entities; he is, more or less, Krishna Himself. The example of milk
and yogurt is often given in this regard -- yogurt is a preparation of milk,
but still yogurt cannot be used as milk. Similarly, Lord Shiva is an
expansion of Krishna, but he cannot act as Krishna... The essential
difference is that Lord Siva has a connection with material nature, but
Vishnu or Lord Krishna has nothing to do with material nature." [2]
References
1. ^ "Lord Sambhu [Siva] the greatest of Vaishnavas" from Bhag-Purana
12.13.16
2. ^ The Teachings of Lord Chaitanya, Chapter 8: The Avataras Author: A. C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
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