Re: Shiva &Vishnu (Vedic, Puranic)
Namaste PT,
Originally Posted by
PestThurse
Vishnu and Shiva evolved from vedic Gods. Now we say that these vedic gods are just Avatars (Vamana and R-dra) of two greater Gods.
Vishnu and Shiva are mentioned in Veda SamhitA. So, I am unable to understand why you don't see them as Vedic Gods. I am not sure if VAmana Avatar is mentioned in Veda SamhitA ( I don't remember). Vishnu is mentioned by name in Veda SamhitA and Shiva is mentioned as Rudra and also as That who lives in HimAlaya. Rudra is also mentioned as the Supreme God, the Ultimate Reality, the Self, Param Brahman in VedAnta (ref : SvetAsvara Upanishad and other Upanishads of Krishna Yajur Veda).
What is when only humans made them so great and we worship the older vedic gods and they just think: "they worship us wrong but its okay..."
Its just because most of the gods can be found in other religons with other names, but not Vishnu and Shiva.
All this confusion arises due to faulty idea of God. First of all, there are not many Gods. God is one alone. Yes, there are many devatas who live in Devalokas (which is a subtle realm of spiritually highly evolved souls and some of them take part in Nature's work). Lord BrahmA, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva are not one of those gods of Devalokas. Lord BrahmA is the form/aspect of God which creates this whole universe. Lord Vishnu is that aspect of the same God which acts as the nourisher and one who takes care of the creation and finally, God as Shiva is that aspect of God which destroys everything when time comes.
Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are worshiped as PaurANic God as mentioned above by most of the Hindus but they are also worshiped as Param Brahman by people of various sects. The Vaishnavas worship Vishnu as the Param Brahman whereas the Shaivas worship Lord Shiva as the Param Brahman. In fact, there is another sect i.e. the ShAktas who worship mother Goddess as the Param Brahman.
All this makes it very,very confusing ! Right ? No, it is not really so. What is God ? It is not an entity that our human mind can understand. VedAnta tells us that God is Infinite Consciousness, without part, blissful, the controller of the worlds, the origin and end of all beings. Hindus believe that God takes the name and form which you worship. That is why in Vedas sometimes one form /name of God and sometimes another name/form of God is praised as the Supreme God. Mudgala Upanishad says, "He became as He was worshiped". So, it is your own faith, own belief system which gives a particular name and form to God.
OM
"Om Namo Bhagvate Vaasudevaye"
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