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Originally Posted by Arjuna Haridas
This is a great offense to the Lotus Feet of Lord Shiva. Don't you know that Lord Vishnu incarnates as Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva? Since they are His incarnation (and Vishnu Himself is an incarnation of Sriman-Narayana), then the Trimurti are all equal and all deserve respect and worship. The proof for this (that from Vishnu incarnated Brahma and shiva) is in the Vishnu Purana's creation story and also from:
Om Tryambakam Yajaamahe
Sugandhim Pushti Vardhanam
Urvaarukamiva Bandhanaat
Mrityor Muksheeya Ma-Amritaat
(Taittiriya Upanishad 2.7)
Let us worship Shiva (the three-eyed One), who is sacred (fragrant) and who nourishes all beings. Just as the ripe cucumber is automatically released from its attachment to the creeper, may we be liberated from death (our mortal body and personality) and be granted immortality. (Taittiriya Upanishad 2.7)
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"To those unaware of Your position understanding it the material way do You, by Yourself expanding Your maya, appear for the matters of creation as Me (Brahma), as Yourself for the purpose of maintenance and as Lord Trinetra (Shiva) in the end." (Bhagavata Purana 10.14.19)
Such greats as Sri Bhagavan Swaminarayan and Sri Ramaunjacharya have accepted this fact. In fact, this is the very reason why Ramanujacharya preferred the Name "Sriman-Narayana" or "Lord Narayana" to address the Divine in order to not confuse people into thinking that Vishnu the Preserver was better than the rest of the Trimurti.
Why can't the rest of Vaishnavas? Why must we twist the teachings of our Acharyas in order to fit our own "My-God-is-better-than-your's" beliefs?
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You are right that Lord Siva is an incarnation of Lord Visnu. This is another proof of his greatness. But Vaishnavas like to call him the greatest Vaishnava, because we accept Bhagavat purana as the greates authority in which it is said- vaishnavanam yatha sambuh. I cannot accept the trimurti as equal. When Narada muni came to Brahma to glorify him as the greatest Vaishnava, he at once covered his ears and said to go to Lord Siva and sing those praises. Both as the post and the person, Lord Siva is greater than Lord Brahma. Any jiva can assume the post of Lord Brahma, but no jiva can assume the post of Lord Siva.
When you yourself have quoted the Bhagavat puran, why are you refuting another quote from Bhagavata puran, vaishnavanam yatha sambuh? I am accepting the fact that Lord Siva and Brahma are incarnations of Lord Narayana, but why must you be so stubborn in your beliefs?
People who chant the maha mrityunjaya mantra (purely) eventually go to Mahesh dhama which is beyond the material world. They will not come back to the material world, so they are granted with liberation, as the prayer asks for.
Even in the spiritual world there are divisions. Above Vaikuntha is Ayodhya. But on the topmost level is Goloka Vrindavana. So you can say both Narayana and Rama are incarnations of Krishna. But then why is Ayodhya above Vaikuntha? Why is Goloka above Ayodhya? Because Krishna can incarnate as Narayana or Rama, but Narayana and Rama can't incarnate into Krishna. The same thing with Lord Siva. He is just as important an incarnation as Narayana and Rama but he cannot become Lord Krishna. Why can you not see the importance of the Lord's dear devotees? They are sometimes even higher then the Lord.
Jai Nitai!
indulekhadasi