Vishnu (right half - blue) and Shiva (left half - white)

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. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 519 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (649 × 750 pixel, file size: 93 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 519 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (649 × 750 pixel, file size: 93 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright... Vishnu (IAST , Devanagari ), (honorific: Sri Vishnu) also known as Narayana is the Supreme Being (i. ... For other uses, see Shiva (disambiguation). ... Vishnu (IAST , Devanagari ), (honorific: Sri Vishnu) also known as Narayana is the Supreme Being (i. ... Hari (Sanskrit: हरि) is another name of Vishnu or God in Vaishnavism, Smarta or Advaitan Hinduism, and appears as the 650th name in the Vishnu sahasranama. ... For other uses, see Shiva (disambiguation). ... The word Hara can refer to: A Japanese martial art term; see Hara (Martial Arts) and Tanden. ... Hinduism is a religious tradition[1] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ... Vaishnavism is one of the principal traditions of Hinduism, and is distinguished from other schools by its primary worship of Vishnu (and his associated avatars) as the Supreme God. ... This article is about the religion Shaivism. ... This article discusses the term God in the context of monotheism and henotheism. ... This article discusses the adherents of Hinduism. ... Vishnu (IAST , Devanagari ), (honorific: Sri Vishnu) also known as Narayana is the Supreme Being (i. ... For other uses, see Shiva (disambiguation). ... Veda redirects here. ... ...

Different Concepts

Vishnu (right half, holding disc) and Shiva (lighter coloured half, holding trident) combined in a single murthi form, along with Lakshmi and Parvati

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. Vishnu (IAST , Devanagari ), (honorific: Sri Vishnu) also known as Narayana is the Supreme Being (i. ... For other uses, see Shiva (disambiguation). ... Bronze Chola murti depicting Shivas most famous dancing posture, the Nataraja, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. ... For other uses, see Lakshmi (disambiguation). ... For the Harry Potter character, see Parvati Patil. ... This article is about the concept in Hindu philosophy. ... Advaita Vedanta is probably the best known of all Vedanta schools of Hinduism, the others being Dvaita and Vishishtadvaita. ... This page deals with the Hindu concept of The Supreme Reality. ...

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] In Hinduism and Jainism, a jiva is the immortal essence of a living being, subject to maya. ...

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’." Swami Sivananda Saraswati (1887-1963), as he is known under his monastic name, was born Kuppuswami in Pattamadai, Tamil Nadu, India. ...

Swaminarayan hold that Vishnu and Shiva are different aspects of the same God.^[2]; see also, ^[3];^[4] Notably, the Swaminarayan view is a minority view among Vaishnavites. Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan Bhagwan Swaminarayan (April 2, 1781 - 1830) was born Ghanshyam Maharaj to a brahmin family in the village of Chhapaiya, Uttar Pradesh, India. ...

Milk and Yoghurt Analogy

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." ^[5] A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (September 1, 1896–November 14, 1977) was the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (popularly known as the Hare Krishnas). Born as Abhay Charan De, in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. ... Maya (illusion) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... In Hinduism and Jainism, a jiva is the immortal essence of a living being, subject to maya. ... This article is about the Hindu deity. ... A glass of cows milk. ... Yoghurt Yoghurt or yogurt, less commonly yoghourt or yogourt, is a dairy product produced by bacterial fermentation of milk. ...

References

Harihara sculpture, British Museum.(the right half represents Shiva (with the Trishula) and the left half represents Vishnu(with the Chakra and Conch)

The Shikshapatri is a text of two hundred and twelve verses, and was written by Shree Swaminarayan, a reforming Hindu from the Vaishnava tradition, who lived in Gujarat from 1781-1830 and who was recognised by his followers as a deity during his lifetime. ... Narayana (Sanskrit: नारायण; ) or Narayan is an important Sanskrit name for Vishnu and is in many contemporary vernaculars, a common Indian name. ... For other uses, see Shiva (disambiguation). ... This page deals with the Hindu concept of The Supreme Reality. ... Saguna Brahma, in Hindu philosophy, is God or Supreme Consciousness with gunas (qualities or attributes). ... A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (September 1, 1896–November 14, 1977) was the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (popularly known as the Hare Krishnas). Born as Abhay Charan De, in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. ...

See also

• Advaita Acharya
• Trimurti
• Shankaranarayana
• Ardhanari

To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... This article is about the Hindu gods. ... Shankaranarayana is a village in Kundapura taluk of Udupi district in the state of Karnataka in India. ... Ardhanarishvara (half male-half female God) Note the sculptures left is female and the right is male, depicting Shiva and his consort Shakti/Parvati. ...

External links

The Position of Shiva & Vishnu

• Shiva and Vishnu as One and the Same (dlshq.org)
• The Position of Shiva and Durga in connection with Vishnu (veda.harekrsna.cz)
• Vishnu and Shiva as different aspects of the one and same God. (Shaivite guru, Bodhinatha)

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ...

Harihara images

• Harihara - Photograph of Carving from Hoysaleshvara Temple, Halebid (art-and-archaeology.com)
• [3] Bronze Harihara from Thailand