44. Identity between Śiva and Nārāyaṇa

In the Vāyu Purāṇa, it is depicted that lord Śiva is the fire and Viṣṇu is the moon. He is day, truth and sacrifice and Viṣṇu is the night, order and fruit. Viṣṇu is knowledge and Śiva is object. Śiva is said to be Puruṣa and Viṣṇu Prakṛti. He (Viṣṇu) is described as one half of the body of Śiva and Śiva is the other half of Viṣṇu. Viṣṇu is his (Śiva’s) left side which is dark complexioned and Śiva is his (Viṣṇu’s) right side which is mentioned as blue and red complexioned. God Viṣṇu is in the heart of lord Śiva and Śiva resides in the heart of Viṣṇu.^[1]

In the Vāmana Purāṇa, the similarity between Śiva and Nārāyaṇa is portrayed very beautifully with a story. According to this story—one day the gods went to Viṣṇu and wished to know about the presence of Śiva so that the actual worship could be given.^[2] Then Viṣṇu pointed to his own heart and told the devas that in his heart Śiva resides in the form of liṅga.^[3] Afterthat, the gods worshipped Śiva in the heart of Viṣṇu.

Another reference has been found in the Vāmana Purāṇa where the unity of Śiva and Viṣṇu has been seen. Here, lord Śiva told the devas that if the devas cut his (Śiva’s) body into two parts, they would see the presence of Viṣṇu in his body.^[4]

The appearance of Hari-Hara mūrti is portrayed as—one ear is arrayed with golden ear-rings and another with snake. The one half of this body is clad in yellow garment and neck is arrayed with necklace and the other half in tiger’s skin and serpents in his neck. One part of hair is curly and other part is matted. The half part of this body holds Cakra, Khaḍga, Hala, bow, Śaṇkha and other part of this body carries Pināka, Triśūla, Ajagava, Khatvāṅga, Kapāla and a Ghaṇṭā.^[5] From these references, it is clear that Śiva and Nārāyaṇa or Viṣṇu is same.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

ahamagnirbhavān somo bhavān rātrirahaṃ dinam | bhavānṛtamahaṃ satyaṃ bhavān kraturahaṃ phalam || bhavān jñānamahaṃ jñeyaṃ yajjapitvā sadā janāḥ | māṃ viśanti tvayi prīte janāḥ sukṛtakāriṇaḥ | āvābhyāṃ sahitā caiva gatirnānyā yugakṣaye || bhavānardhaśarīraṃ me tvahantava yathaiva ca || vāmapārśvamahammahyaṃ śyāmaṃ śrīvatsalakṣaṇam | tvañca vāmetaraṃ pārśvaṃ tvahaṃ vai nīlalohitaḥ || tvañca me hṛdayaṃ viṣṇo tava cāhaṃ hṛdi sthitaḥ | bhavān sarvasya kāryasya kartāhamadhidaivatam || Vāyu-purāṇa, 1.25.21-24

[2]:

tamūcurnaiva paśyāmastvatto vai tripurāntakam | satyaṃ vada sureśāna maheśānaḥ kva tiṣṭhati || Vāmana-purāṇa, 62.22

[3]:

tato’vyayātmā sa hariḥ svahṛtpaṅkajaśāyinam | darśayāmāsa devānāṃ murārirliṅgamaiśvaram || Ibid., 62.23

[4]:

Ibid., 67.37

[5]:

sārdhatrinetraṃ kanakāhikuṇḍalaṃ jaṭāguḍākeśakhagarṣabhadhvajam | samādhavaṃ hārabhujaṅgabakṣasaṃ pītājinācchannakaṭipradeśam || cakrāsihastaṃ halaśāraṅgapāṇiṃ pinākaśūlājagavānvitaṃ ca | kapardakhaṭvāṅgakapālaghaṇṭaṃ saśaṅkhaṭaṅkāraravaṃ maharṣe || Ibid., 62.29-30