Hindu Mythology

Lesson 4: Vishnu

Shaivism versus Vaishnavism

Shaivism is the worship of Shiva as the principal God and Vaishnavism is the worship of Vishnu as the principal God. Today these two Supreme Gods occupy equally important positions in the Trinity, with Brahma, in practice, occupying a less important one. However, this was not always so. There was a period when the followers of Shiva and Vishnu were competing to establish ‘their’ God as the sole Supreme God. Even today the hard-core followers of Shiva and Vishnu are somewhat at loggerheads and each has their own set of beliefs and rituals.

Just as God’s incarnation as Ardhanarishvara depicts that the male and female are manifestations of the same Being, the legend of Harihar shows that Vishnu and Shiva are manifestations of the same Being. Harihar is a combination of Hari (another name of Vishnu) and Har (another name of Shiva).

When Shiva heard the tale of the ravishing Mohini depriving the Demons of the nectar of life, he expressed his desire to see Vishnu in the form of Mohini. But Vishnu put him off by saying that he would again incarnate himself as Mohini at an appropriate time. The time did come sooner than expected.

Shiva, who was easily pleased, granted a boon to the Demon Bhasmasur, bestowing on him the power to reduce to ashes anyone whom he touched on the head. The evil Demon decided to test the effect of the boon on Shiva himself. Shiva panicked and turned to Vishnu for help and protection. After chastising Shiva for being overly generous with his boons, he once again assumed the form of the beautiful and bewitching Mohini. The Demon was totally captivated by Mohini's sexuality and forgot about Shiva. He desired nothing but taking Mohini to bed. Mohini agreed on condition that Bhasmasur replicate her dance steps. In the ensuing competition between the two, Mohini placed her hands on her head. The Demon did likewise, thus reducing himself to ashes.

The Mohini-Attam is a traditional dance form that evolved from the narration of how Mohini uses her charm to save Shiva from Bhasmasur. The exponents of this dance form now include a large number of mythological tales in their repertoire.

Shiva was totally enamoured of Mohini and allowed her to seduce him. Their union is known as Harihar. As a result of their union, Mohini gave birth to a child known as Ayyappa or Hariharaputra (the son of Harihar). Shiva and Vishnu left the baby on the banks of the river Pampa and returned to their heavenly abode. Rajashekara, the childless King of Pandalam, spotted the baby lying helpless while he was out on a hunt. He and the queen accepted the baby as a gift from the Heavens. Since the baby was wearing a golden bell around his neck they decided to call him Manikantan.

The birth of Ayyappa was not a result of an infatuation, as it appeared to be. It was essential and ordained. Mahishasura was a terrible demon killed by the goddess Durga. Mahishasura’s cousin, Mahishi, decided to take revenge. She undertook severe penance and propitiated Lord Brahma and received a boon to the effect that she would not be killed by anyone born from a man-woman relation. If at all a child was born out of any other relation, he must live in a royal family for a minimum period of twelve years in an earthly kingdom before he could kill her. This was the reason for Ayyappa’s birth. After a long tough fight, Manikantan killed Mahishi near the river called Azhutha.

Optional Exercises

5a. Read the brief introduction to the chapters on Shiva and Vishnu from ‘Hindu Myths’ on pages 116 and 175 respectively.

5b. How was the chasm between Shaivites and Vaishnavites bridged? What evidence is there in mythology of this?

5c. Read the legends of Ayyappa from the following sites

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/9380... http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/9380...

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