There are multiple stories about the origin of Lord Shiva
and Lord Vishnu in Hindu scriptures. The Shrimad Bhagavatam narrates
that Shiva emerged from a burning pillar when Lord Vishnu and Brahma were
engaged in an argument. According to the Shiva Purana, Vishnu originated
when Shiva rubbed nectar on his ankle. Meanwhile, the Vishnu Purana
states that Shiva was born from Vishnu's eyebrows, which explains Shiva's
meditative nature.
While these accounts might seem contradictory, they are all
true within the broader Hindu cosmological framework. The perceived confusion
arises primarily due to two reasons:
- Cyclical
Time in Hindu Philosophy: Unlike the linear concept of time, Hinduism
views time as cyclical, with repeated cycles of creation, preservation,
and destruction.
- Dual
Forms of Deities: Hindu deities have both formless (nirguna) and
physical (saguna) aspects.
The Supreme God, Parambramha, is formless and
attribute-less. His physical form is Sadashiva or Maheshwar, from whom Shakti
(Prakriti or Maa Durga) emanates. Together, Sadashiva and Shakti give rise to
Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra in various cycles.
All three Lords are ever present in their esoteric form, but
they get manifested in different physical worlds in different ways at different
times.
As per Shiv Puran after each cycle of creation and
destruction the three Lords manifest in different ways. Sometimes it may start
with Lord Vishnu, sometimes with Lord Brahma and sometimes with Lord Shiva,
sometimes, even differently.
After the latest destruction, Bramha ji came out of a Lotus
which grew out of Lord Vishnu’s Navel ( now the real esoteric meaning of this
story is totally different) and Lord Rudra came out of Lord Bramha’s forehead
or eyebrow.
It is also written that before this ‘birth’ of Lord Shiva
and Lord Brahma, all three had met each other where the events to follow were
known. (The story where Lord Shiva appears in form of infinite tower of energy
and then there are more times when they meet before Lord Bramha starts creating
Universe). It was during one such time that Lord Brahma requested Lord Rudra to
be born in the physical universe through him, and therefore, the stories of
Lord Rudra coming out of Lord Bramha’s eyebrow/tear.
BIRTH IN THE MATERIAL WORLD
Where does the earth start from or where does a circle start
from? The concept of birth applies only to the material realm. The Bhagavad
Gita teaches that the soul is eternal, beyond birth and death. Just as a
circle has no definitive starting point, the origins of Brahma, Vishnu, and
Shiva defy linear interpretation. They existed as cosmic consciousness even
before the material universe began.
SO, WHO WAS THE FIRST HINDU GOD BORN?
Different belief systems within Hinduism offer varied
interpretations:
- Shiva
Purana: Ardhanarishvara (a composite form of Shiva and Shakti) was the
first being, and from Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma originated.
- Vishnu
Purana: Vishnu was the first, and from his navel emerged a lotus
bearing Brahma, with Shiva originating from Vishnu’s form.
- Shakti
Purana: Bhuvaneshwari Devi was the first being, and she gave rise to
the three gods.
In truth, these accounts highlight the interdependence of
creation, preservation, and destruction, represented by Brahma, Vishnu, and
Shiva, respectively:
- Sattva
(Preservation): Vishnu
- Tamas
(Destruction): Shiva
- Rajas
(Creation): Brahma
Preservation and destruction will be needed if something is
created. If nothing is created there is nothing to preserve or destroy. So when
the creation occur, there should be a Vishnu or Shiva to either preserve or
destroy the things which are created/creating. So here their existence come
almost together or within a fraction of time. But hence Brahma is the
creator/creation, Shiva or Vishnu should be created by Brahma only. So
Brahma came first.
Second Aspect
But to create something, there is a need for “maintaining” a
suitable environment for the creation. If you want to make a cup of tea, the
milk, sugar and tea powder should remain as it is for the tea to taste good.
While making, if the milk turns into curd, or if the sugar turns into carbon
means, you are not making tea, you are making something else. So we can say
that creation or Brahma will come to existence when Vishnu (act of preserving)
is there. But when Vishnu came into existence, then there itself happened a
“creation”. So Who came first Brahma or Vishnu?
Third Aspect
But when creation occurs, energy and matters are converted
from one state to another state. Because you cannot create something out of
nothing. So destruction happens first, then creation. When there is
destruction, then there is no protection. So Shiva was there even before Vishnu
or Brahma. But when Shiva came to existence, there itself happened a creation,
and preservation too. So who came first? Brahma, Vishnu or Shiva?
THE PARADOX OF ORIGIN
Ultimately, the question of “who came first” is paradoxical.
Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma represent aspects of the same cosmic truth, Brahman,
which transcends creation and time itself. Each guna (quality) depends on the
others. For instance, creation requires preservation and destruction to
maintain balance. Thus, these processes occur simultaneously, and no one deity
precedes the others. This unity is referred to as Brahman, the eternal
and unchanging reality beyond the material world.
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