Who is more powerful? Lord Shiva or Lord Vishnu? There are 18 Puranas (a genre of Indian literature that keeps the record of Hindu mythology, legends, and traditional lore, etc.) in Hindu scriptures, each devoted to a specific name for God and each proclaiming that name supreme. Lord Shiva is established as the greatest in the Shiva Purana. Lord Vishnu is designated as the greatest in the Vishnu Purana. There has always been a conflict over who can defeat whom.
Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are equally strong; if they battle, the cosmos created by Lord Brahma will be destroyed entirely. Hinduism’s principal gods are Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma. Many Hindus consider Brahma the Creator of the universe, Vishnu Preserver it, and Shiva or Maheshwar is known as the Destroyer.
According to several holy books and Puranas, Shiva and Vishnu, the two members of Hinduism’s blessed Trinity, have a particular link of love, devotion, and adoration for one another. There are rare instances in which both gods battled for the greater good.
The Superiority Contradiction
Vishnu and Shiva are regarded as the highest gods in Hinduism as part of Trimurti, a group of three gods (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva). They also signify the cyclical aspect of human existence, from conception to demise, and the cycle continues indefinitely. However, Hindus have long been divided regarding which of these three gods is greatest, notably between Vishnu and Shiva, who are both ultimate and unstoppable.
Vishnu and Shiva are regarded as the highest gods in Hinduism as part of Trimurti, a group of three gods (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva). They also signify the cyclical aspect of human existence, from conception to demise, and the cycle continues indefinitely. However, Hindus have long been divided regarding which of these three gods is greatest, notably between Vishnu and Shiva, who are both ultimate and unstoppable.
One of Hinduism’s ancient scriptures, the Shiva Purana, identifies Lord Shiva as the ultimate almighty of the cosmic cosmos. In contrast, another manuscript, the Vishnu Purana, extols Lord Vishnu beyond other gods and deities. These paradoxes lead the typical individual to dismiss Hinduism as folly and without foundation, although the truth is far from that.
There is a fact that creates confusion that both Lords Vishnu and Shiva are the most devoted to one another. However, there are a few examples of epic clashes between them documented in Puranas, giving us an idea of how powerful they are.
The Fight Between Vishnu & Shiva
There is a short story about a fight between Vishnu and Shiva. The story began when Lord Shiva separated from Adi Shakti (the Hindu goddess of marital felicity and longevity). She is also the perpetual source of feminine energy essential to keep the universe running.
As a result, Lords Vishnu and Brahma faced the issue that they could not complete the creation, preservation, and destruction cycle without Lord Shiva. Vishnu, the deity of the universe’s protection, devised a scheme to unite Lord Shiva and Adi Shakti. According to the plan, Lord Brahma directed Prajapati Daksha (Brahma’s manasputra) to appease Adi Shakti with his penance.
Prajapati Daksha then traveled to a mountain and began conducting intense meditation for several years to appease Adi Shakti. When Adi Shakti appeared before him, satisfied with his penance, Daksha begged her to incarnate as his daughter. Adi Shakti fulfilled his request by manifesting herself as his daughter. Sati was the name given to the girl later in life.
When Sati reached marriageable age, Lord Brahma proposed to Shiva. Because at that time, Devi Sati had become a devotee of Lord Shiva and desired him as her husband. Lord Shiva, on the other hand, turned down the idea.
Why Did Shiva and Vishnu Fight?
Lord Shiva turned down the marriage proposal from Devi Sati since he had lost crucial emotions when Adi Shakti separated from him. Lord Vishnu devised a new strategy to restore Shiva’s lost emotions. He commanded Garuda (Hinduism’s bird deity) to exterminate all snakes on the planet. Garuda then began slaughtering every snake that arose in his path.
Nagraj Vasuki, the snake king, couldn’t believe what Garuda was doing. So he went to Lord Shiva and prayed for assistance. When Lord Shiva heard this, he became enraged and ordered Garuda to cease killing the snakes. Garuda, a Lord Vishnu devotee, replied to Shiva that he couldn’t stop since he was doing what Lord Vishnu had commanded him to do.
Lord Shiva was ready to launch his Trishul (one of Hinduism’s most formidable celestial weapons) at Garuda when Lord Vishnu arrived between them. Thus began the epic battle between Vishnu and Shiva.
Because they are both superior and unseen, the battle dragged on for countless heavenly years. Vishnu knew the conflict would never end unless Lord Shiva appeared in his ultimate form.
As a result, he abruptly choked Lord Shiva with his palm, making him furious and more aggressive. Shiva then pushed Lord Vishnu and hurled his Trishul, which plunged right through Lord Vishnu’s heart.
After that, the war was made, and Lord Vishnu smiled at Shiva. Lord Shiva’s eyes welled up with tears of remorse as he saw Vishnu’s grin. He realized his error with Lord Vishnu and therefore restored his lost feelings. He eventually accepted to marry Devi Sati.
Conclusion
If you closely examine the conflict between Lord Vishnu and Shiva, you will notice that Shiva is somewhat stronger and more powerful than Vishnu. If Vishnu or Brahma are removed from the Trinity, the equation shifts in the other direction. No matter how strong Lord Shiva is, he is incomplete without Vishnu and Brahma.
It is well knowledge that Lord Shiva is the deity of destruction, which effectively makes him stronger as long as Lord Vishnu and Brahma support him.
Lord Shiva is the deity of destruction, which makes him stronger as long as Lord Vishnu and Brahma support him.
So, while Lord Shiva is slightly more powerful, neither one is greater than the other. They all depict the Paramatman’s bodily form, the ultimate divine soul of all creations. As a result, each has its unique set of features and characteristics.
Recommended Reading
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