SHIVA Vs NARAYANA –
The Eternal Debate
For as long as I can remember, there has been a quiet war in the hearts of seekers, an endless debate of Shiva vs. Narayan OR Narayan vs. Shiva
Who is greater? Who is supreme?
I, too, have found myself caught in this spiral, arguing, reasoning, and even drowning myself in various sadhanas only to be more confused, which form should I pray to? Ironically, the more I sought, the more confused I became.
Can you relate? Give me a mental YES, if you, too, have wrestled with this divine puzzle, once upon a time in your spiritual journey.
For me the turning point arrived, by grace and grace alone on 30th December 2023, where I was blessed with the rare opportunity to ask this question, to none other than my revered Guru, Om Swami, Himself.
For me, Swamiji, is not just a reflection,
But an Avatar of Narayan Himself.
A bold statement, Yes!!
But those who have experienced His presence, His grace and His miracles, will know why I say so!
Just as Krishna concealed Himself from many at the time of the Mahabharata, with only a handful of people ever knowing who He really was, similarly Swamiji once shared:
“Sri Hari hides in plain sight so well that, of the seven billion on the planet, only a handful ever truly find Him.”
(Bhagvan and Bhakta, Pg. 194, by Sadhvi Vrinda Om)
And so, with the innocence of a child, carrying years of confusion, I finally asked Swamiji:
“Prabhu, Who is my Isht? And please give me an Isht Mantra, that bestows upon me not only Moksha, but immense ‘Elon Musk’ type of Wealth!”
Swamiji heartedly laughed and just like a mother cradling her child, Swamiji spoke with infinite tenderness:
“Willbur, it is He, whom you have been praying since childhood, on your terrace under the Moonlight — None other than MAHADEV Himself!!”
When Swamiji gave me my 1st ‘Isht Mantra’, I was mentally thinking that it is soo long and I may forget it! And the very next moment, Swamiji gave me another Mantra!
In that moment, not only my heart melted but my mind was racing with questions, ‘How did Swamiji know all this about my past? How can he know already what I was thinking to give me another Mantra instantly etc etc? Only to quickly realise that ‘READING THE OTHER PERSON’S MIND’ is only one of the countless Siddhi’s Swamiji has been blessed with.
(P.S. – Much more of these miracles, can be found in Sadhvi Vrinda Om Books!)
Swamiji’s answer unlocked an eternal Truth and Secret for Me!
The Scriptures say: “When you ask Narayan who His Isht is, He replies, “Mahadev.” And when you ask Mahadev who His Isht is, He replies, “Narayan.”
Shattering my ego, ignorance & folly, Swamiji’s love, light & grace, made me smile, only to realise and KNOW; Not Believe, but KNOW, through first-hand experience that:
‘When Narayan is your Isht, then Mahadev becomes your Guru;
When Mahadev is your Isht, then Narayan becomes your Guru;
For it is only via the blessing of one, that you can reach the other;
For in the end, both, Mahadev and Narayan are just One”.
Photo Credit – Artist_Manvika