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A divine clash between Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu unveils the inseparable unity of the trinity.
Characters in the story:
Lord Brahma: Lord Brahma holds a significant position in Hinduism as the divine creator of the universe and all living beings. He is commonly portrayed with four heads, symbolizing his association with the four Vedas.
Lord Vishnu: Lord Vishnu is one of the three major deities in Hinduism, known as the preserver of the universe and the protector of dharma (righteousness). He is often depicted with four arms holding a conch shell, a discus, a mace, and a lotus flower.
Lord Shiva: Lord Shiva holds significant prominence in Hinduism as a prominent deity, revered for his role as the vanquisher of malevolence and the catalyst of universal change. Depicted in various forms, he is often portrayed as a tranquil ascetic engaged in deep meditation or as the divine dancer, adorned with a third eye, an entwined serpent around his neck, and a trident grasped firmly in his hand.
Garuda: Garuda is a divine bird and the mount of Lord Vishnu, known for his immense strength and speed.
Vasuki: Vasuki is a serpent deity and is known as the king of serpents. He was used as the rope to churn the ocean in the story of Samudra Manthan.
Following the tragic demise of Sati, Lord Shiva withdrew from his duty of universal regeneration. As a consequence, the universe fell into disarray, lacking the necessary elements of destruction.
Sensing this, Lord Vishnu devised a plan to incite a battle with Lord Shiva, hoping it would rekindle Shiva’s sense of duty. In pursuit of this objective, Lord Vishnu commanded his loyal mount, Garuda, to eradicate all snakes on Earth.
As Garuda commenced his mission, a significant turn of events unfolded. Vasuki, the king of snakes, set out to visit Lord Shiva at Mount Kailash. It was during this visit that Garuda encountered Vasuki, leading to an intense clash between the two.
Favored by a boon from Lord Brahma, Garuda swiftly triumphed over Vasuki. In a desperate plea for assistance, Vasuki sought refuge with Lord Shiva, praying for his intervention. Answering the call, Lord Shiva confronted Garuda, instructing him to release Vasuki. Yet, Garuda argued that obeying Lord Vishnu’s orders took precedence, refusing to back down.
Incensed by this disobedience, Lord Shiva prepared to vanquish Garuda, who then implored Lord Vishnu for help.
Responding to Garuda’s plea, Lord Vishnu materialized on the scene, setting the stage for an epic showdown. Lord Shiva expressed his disapproval of the command to eliminate all snakes, emphasizing the equal rights of these creatures.
Lord Vishnu, upholding the sanctity of the trinity’s boons, argued that adherence to the command was necessary. To save Vasuki, Lord Shiva would need to defeat Garuda, but to achieve that, he must first overcome Lord Vishnu in battle.
Filled with anger, Lord Shiva made his move, while Lord Vishnu brandished his bludgeon, ready to strike. However, as Lord Vishnu’s weapon drew near Lord Shiva, it inexplicably vanished.
In a swift counterattack, Lord Shiva aimed his trident at Lord Vishnu’s heart. As the strike landed, Lord Shiva realized that within Vishnu’s heart resided Shiva himself. Overwhelmed by this revelation, Lord Shiva understood the inseparable unity of the Trinity.
Lord Vishnu acknowledged the shared pain, declaring it as the anguish of the entire universe. At this moment, Lord Shiva embraced his divine duty once again.
Symbolizing this reconciliation, Lord Shiva adorned Vasuki, the king of snakes, as a garland, earning him the epithet Nagendra Haraya.
Thus, neither Lord Shiva could defeat Lord Vishnu nor could Lord Vishnu vanquish Lord Shiva. Both were indomitable and invincible. For:
“Shivaya Vishnu Roopaya, Shiva Roopaya Vishnave,
Shivasya Hrudayam Vishnu, Vishnoscha Hrudayagum Shivah,
Yathaa Shivamayo Vishnu, Evam Vishnumaya Shivah.”
In this proclamation, it is stated that Shiva assumes the form of Vishnu, and Vishnu takes on the form of Shiva. Shiva dwells in Vishnu’s heart, just as Vishnu resides in Shiva’s heart. Shiva permeates Vishnu entirely, and similarly, Vishnu permeates Shiva.
In their ultimate confrontation, Shiva and Vishnu discovered their inseparable bond, transcending their differences and embracing their shared purpose. The epic clash became a testament to the eternal unity of the divine forces shaping the universe.
