Why does Vishnu like Tulsi in puja?

Tulsi – Ocimum sanctum, commonly known as the holy basil is an extremely useful and important Ayurvedic herb. Tulsi attracts more energy from the sun as compared to the other plants and thus blossoms very well in strong sunshine in Indian tropical weather. Under the sun, the leaves become bigger and thicker and also turn dark green, towards black, this variety is called Krishna Tulsi or black tulsi. Similarly, there is green tulsi and other types like sabza. Tulsi varieties are used in other countries too, in fact all over the world.

Why this popularity? Because anywhere we live, one problem that affects us all, if the weather is cold or rainy, it causes common cold and chest congestion. Tulsi is one of the best remedies against this. It has the ability to destroy excess Kapha and Vata. Tulsi juice when taken with honey, is excellent to do away with a cold. Even in a child, one drop of the Tulsi juice with honey, reduces cold and cough in the chest.

When we drink tea, adding two crushed leaves of Tulsi to it will act as a immune booster against common colds. Alternatively, take a few Tulsi leaves in water, add, lemongrass and mint, a little ginger and bring to a boil, filter it, and add 2-3 lemon drops to make a lovely cup of herbal tea.

Tulsi is intense in taste and a little bitter and pungent, it has a lot of agni or fire. I would not say that pitta increases by eating a leaf of tulsi, rather it balances the agni in the body.

Another important area of action of the tulsi plant is heart and circulation. When the heart pumps, circulation happesn and every cell of the body is replenished with oxygen. The strength of the heart is enhanced by tulsi.Lord Vishnu has his abode in the heart and Vishnu likes the Tulsi plant. Vishnu is the deity of the ‘present’. The present tense is life itself. As the heart beats lub-dub, incessantly, it marks the present, like a non-stop watch.Thus Vishnu is very fond of Tulsi.

Is Shiva half of both Shakti and Vishnu?

 Yes. Actually Shiva, Shakti and Vishnu are three forms of one Param Tatva only.

So the non-dual (Advaita) Philosophy uses the concept of Ardhanarishwara and Harihara to explain this. Harihara means Shiva = Vishnu and Ardhanarishwara means Shiva= Shakti which means Vishnu= Shakti.

The simple mathematics here is A=B, A=C which means B= C.

Hence proved, A=B=C

Jai Bhavani 🙏 Har Har Mahadev 🙏 Namo Narayana 🙏

What is the relation between Lord Vishnu and Lord Surya?

 Vishnu is the soul of Surya deva. This is mentioned throughout vedas . Which is one of the reasons why Surya is referred to as Surya -Narayana.

The wheel of Surya bhagawan moves by the strength of Vishnu

• ādityarathavegena viṣṇorbāhubalena ca |(Ashwalayana Samhita 1/191/18)
• viṣṇave tvā devastvā savitā madhvānaktvoṣadhe |(Kāthaka Samhitā 1/3/2)

Shatapatha brahmana mentions about being within the sun is the inner controller of all.

• य आदित्ये तिष्ठन्। आदित्यादन्तरो यमादित्यो न वेद यस्यादित्यः शरीरं य आदित्यमन्तरो यमयति स त आत्मान्तर्याम्यमृतः
• Meaning: He who is dwelling in the SUN, is within the SUN, whom Sun doesn’t know, whose body is the SUN, Who internally rules the Sun.

Maitrayani samhita directly attributes devata of Surya mandala to Vishnu

• हिरण्मयेन पात्रेण सत्यस्यापिहितं मुखम् तत्त्वं पूषन्नपावृणु सत्यधर्माय विष्णवे योऽसा आदित्ये पुरुषः सोऽसा अहम्
• ❝The mouth of the true (Brahman) is covered with a golden lid; open that, O Pushan (sun), that we may go to the true one, Viṣṇu. He who is the person in the sun.❞~Maitrāyaṇī Upaniṣad/samhita 6.35
• यश्चैषोऽग्नौ यश्चायं हृदये यश्चासावादित्ये स एष एकः ।
• “He who is here in the fire, he who is here in the heart, and he who is yonder in the Sun—he indeed is One.”

Sayana refers to Vishnu in Tad vishno parama padam as the spiritual sun that dwells within the Surya Mandala .

• तद् विष्णोः परमं पदम् ...
• दिवीव चक्षुराततम्
• “Viṣṇu's supreme station … like an eye extended in heaven.”
• AV 7.27.7 commentary
• सर्वेषां चक्षुःस्थानीयं सूर्यमण्डलम्
• “the solar orb, which occupies the place of the eye of all.”

Narayana in rig vidhanam is referred to as the solar orb which dwells in savitar mandala .

• ध्यायेत् सदा सवितृमण्डलमध्यवर्ती
• नारायणः सरसिजासनसन्निविष्टः ।
• “One should always meditate upon Nārāyaṇa, seated upon a lotus, who is situated in the midst of Savitṛ's solar orb.”

Maitrayani samhita also mentions that Sattva is the inner self of the sun and achyuta is the inner self of Sattva

• रविमध्ये स्थितः सोमः सोममध्ये हुताशनः ।
• तेजोमध्ये स्थितं सत्त्वं सत्त्वमध्ये स्थितोऽच्युतः ॥
• “Soma is situated in the midst of Ravi; Agni is situated in the midst of Soma; Sattva is situated in the midst of Tejas; and Acyuta is situated in the midst of Sattva.”
• शुद्धः सत्त्वान्तरस्थमचलममृतमच्युतं ध्रुवं विष्णुसंज्ञितम् ।
• “He sees the pure, immovable, immortal, Acyuta, steadfast, called Viṣṇu, abiding within [the] Sattva…”

Vishnu is the indweller of Surya .

What if the famous story of Shiva, Brahma, and Vishnu was never really about deciding who was more powerful, but about discovering the limits of knowledge, ego, and the human mind?

 Yes, it is never about who is more powerful as these are the three names of divine cosmic energy or the Ultimate consciousness.

Human mind tries to compare, but the absolute truth is oneness (Advaita), and these are three forms of One Divine Reality known as Para Brahman which is eternally auspicious and is without beginning or end in its own bliss. It can also be understood as the pervasive energy which is everywhere and it is beyond time, space and imagination.

It is like the infinite sky. In fact, the oneness of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva can be best understood with the Om or Omkara (the Pranava) which is actually Aum.

A (Akaar)– Associated with Brahma, it is the seed, i.e., creation which is expressed out.

U (Ukaar)– Associated with Vishnu, it is the cosmic energy that carries/holds or preservers or sustains the creation.

M (Makaar)– Associated with Mahesh, it is the cosmic force that causes the dissolution of the creation back into the absolute oneness, so that recreation can happen, the seed can again be generated.

So the essence remains the non-duality of these three as one complete reality as they are inseparable fundamentally.

Cosmic play of Tridev (Brahmā Viṣṇu Śiva)

The story you are asking about is the story of Lingodbhava. Although the story Shiva centric but it's message is non-dual nature of Brahman. So it can very much be viewed with the non-sectarian lens.

According to the story, once Brahma visited Vishnu who was in his yoga nidra, the divine sleep. Since he was in a deep slumber, he didn't welcome Brahma.

Brahma then gets offended and wakes him up. Vishnu then asks him the reason behind anger to which Brahma claims that he is greater than Vishnu. In response, Vishnu denies it.

This leads to an argument between them. So in order to settle the conflict, Shiva appears there and takes up the form of the eternal pillar or the column or fire.

The fire pillar form of Shiva was very large and it led to their curosity to explore it. Shiva then asks Brahma and Vishnu to search the origin or end point of the pillar.

So Vishnu takes the form of Varaha (wild boar) and goes deep down to search the end point. While Brahma takes the form of a swan and goes upwards to find the origin of the pillar.

But after a long time, Vishnu comes out and accepts that the pillar was indeed without an end. Brahma on the other hand had a plan in his mind as he wanted to win the contest in any case, so he uses his divine powers to make the Ketaki flowers speak in favour of him. He then came out, declared the flowers as the witness and claimed that he has successfully found out the origin of the eternal, infinite pillar.

Since Shiva was aware about the lie, he disqualified Brahma and said that he won't be worshipped because he was deceitful while taking part in the competition. On the other hand, Shiva declared Vishnu as the winner and declared that he would be worshipped with great honour.

But Brahma’s fifth head out of arrogance said that he is better than Shiva and Vishnu.

So in order to remove that ignorance, Mahadeva manifested his divine anger because of which Bhairava emerged from his third eye 👁️.

Kaal Bhairava then cuts the fifth head of Brahma which represented ego. Vishnu then requests Shiva to forgive Brahma, then Brahma apologizes to Shiva.

Shiva forgives Brahma and blesses him by calling him as his dear. Shiva did the same with Ketaki flowers, he cursed the flower by stating that his worship will not include Ketaki flower but when the flower accepted its fault and apologized for the mistake, Shiva blessed it by saying that the flower would be definitely used for decoration.

Thus Bhagwan Shankar didn't punish Brahma, he enlightened him to be overcome his ego and understand the non-dual reality by becoming humble.

However, the human mind tries to create the difference by evaluating Shiva or Vishnu as the Supreme and Brahma as inferior or anyone as the Supreme and other two as inferior or if the story doesn't suit the reader, he/she might call it fake or something like that.

The message here itself is oneness but in a true sense. Doing comparison and claiming one as superior to others or downgrading others is wrong, the ultimate reality remains oneness. When Shiva in the form of Bhairava chopped Brahma’s head of ego, he did not attack a different entity from himself. Basically he did a lila, a cosmic play to teach the importance of truthfulness and humbleness.

Brahma in this case has to be considered as Shiva’s very own form in which he acted in a particular manner and so Shiva cuts off his head in order to show the side effects of growing arrogance within an individual.

Similarly, Shiva and Vishnu also are to be considered as one. Vishnu acknowledged the never ending ultimate truth, Shiva thus praised him for being truthful and showed that one can surely get the benefit for being righteous.

So the absolute truth (oneness) is about revering all as one Ultimate Reality rather than wasting time and energy in comparisons. Thus the bond of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva remains unbreakable as the three forms of One Ultimate Brahman.

In Hindu mythology, why was Brahma born from Vishnu's navel but not from Shankar’s navel?

 Yajna is called the navel of the universe and as per vedas , Vishnu is Yajna.

• ayaṃ yajño viśvasya bhuvanasya nābhiḥ
• “This sacrifice is the navel of the whole universe.”
• Ṛgveda 1.164.35
• सुपादर्धगर्भा भुवनस्य रेतो विष्णोस्तिष्ठन्ति प्रदिशा विधर्मणि ।
• ते धीतीभिर्मनसा ते विपश्चितः परिभुवः परि भवन्ति विश्वतः ॥ १७ ॥
• “The seven half-embryos, well established, are the generative principle of the universe associated with Viṣṇu; they stand throughout the regions according to their cosmic functions. Endowed with intelligence and mind, these all-encompassing powers pervade the universe in every direction.”
• Atharvaveda Śaunakīya 9.10.17
• भुवनस्य रेतो विष्णोः
• “the generative seed of the universe, belonging to Viṣṇu.”

So it makes sense

What is OM? Is it Vishnu or Shiva or something else? Who is supreme? Whom do you consider when you are meditating?

 The whole answer is in its Origin. When there was nothing no form time and space everything was in Avyakta Param Shivam whom we worship in Shiva Linga, Due to spanda of Shakti a part of this bliss ocean without a ripple get conscious of his own existence and thought emerged That was first Thought of God OM. Then he manifested himself in Sakara form as Adi Shakti Shiva. They made there abode beyond time. Called Ananda Van, That is True Kashi also, On earth we have its ansha, that is Our Kaashi is also beyond time it survives pralaya Rudra Deva keeps it on his trident. Its only thing which survives Pralaya.

After gazillions of years, Adi Shakti suggested Shiva to make universe to which he said as he is aptakaam why we need that and have cudgels to take care of them, So she said we will make Devas and Gods to do the business. Adi Shiva rubbed amrit on Left hand and came Vishnu, and he asked him to do tapasaya for realization of Param Shivam in Paravaani. Lord Vishnu attained enlightenment and streams of water issued forth hence he called Narayana the one who dwells in water. Then he went in to Yog Nidra by bhagwatis bidding and Shiva rubbed amrit on His right hand and came Bramha, he placed the beej the seed of Bramha in stomach of Vishnu and a lotus sprouted with Bramha sitting on it.

Lord Bramha and Vishnu were at ekarnava singularity that time, Lord Bramha having five heads Looked at Lord Vishnu and woke him up, and said i am Lord God who are you , you shall bow down to me, Lord Vishnu said no i am Lord God you must bow down to me, and they both fought for eons but none could win each other then suddenly eve existing Shiva took form of fire pillar Luminous then trillions of suns, With a great sound heave of sound of OM, between them, and Aksashwani told them the who would find either end or beginning of this Fire Pillar would be greater God.

Vishnu took form of Varaha a boar and went downwards , Bramha took form of swan and went upwards none could find its end till 1000 of years yet bramha while flyig upwards found ketaki flower dropping, he aksed him who you are from where you are falling he said, i dont know since eons i m just falling down, Bramha convinced him to lie that i will say to vishnu that i have found you over top of this fire like pillar,

They met at same place again, and Bramha lied and ketaki flower have false witness Lord Vishnu accepted it and started worshiping Bramha then again with pralayankar sound OM first emerged from Shivalingam, then came Panchakshari Mahavidya, then came gayatri of 24 vyahrtis and seed of 50 crore mantras, and Lord Shiva Manifested in Sakaar form and cursed Bramha not be worshiped and gave boon to Lord Vishnu that he will be worshiped as God by his followers as he was desirous of Godliness, and given him many vardaans and banned ketaki from his worship.

Now upon request of Lord Vishnu and Bramha Shiva gave Bramha Yagna Bhaag that in yagnas he will be worshipped. And ketaki can not be put near him but when his mandal is made it can be put some where outside.

And said to both of them that while you guys were fighting thinking that your are Gods, i giggled a bit seeing my kids fighting and head swayed a bit this ketaki was there and it fell down, then i become this fire pillar, Now you must know that i am final God, no body is above or beyond me. Hence you and all shall worship this avyakta primordial ShivaLingam from which whole universe and you sprout and get merged in it at end. And after some time from my anahad heart my replica Shiva Rudra would come, He would be One among you, you all three are my own parts, and Vishnu you will be equally worshiped as my form Rudra Shiva, you trinity shall be considered one. And you and Bramha shall worship my own form Shiva Rudra and you trinity would have mutual respect and reverence for each other.

And then putting a cover on there heads Shiva gave them Panchakshari Mahavidya and since then worship of Shiva Lingam started.

Now the OM What it is, Precisely Its Unification of all that exists whiech permeats within Pramtama Shiva Including Consciousness.

The best source yet very condensed and really there is no point of bing modest it is meant for highest of Sadhaks the Top Notch, Every Shloka is very condensed and describes Prabramha Shiva Tattva and declares the way to reach Shivatva is Om.

In Muktika Upnishad Hanumanjee asked Shree Ram how to get Kaivalya the only true moksha. Shree Rama said that is only possible through Gyan of Praam Shivam and Kaashi, for the caliber you have the great gyani you already are Oh Hanuman onlly Mandukya Upnisahd can bring one to Kaivalya , See such is Importance of Mandukya and it describes Shivatwam Tureeyateet adwait awastha infinite bliss as finality.

Let us see what special has Mandukya Upnishad, it mainly talks about meaning of Om its sadhna and at alas it declares what you attain,

अमात्रश्चतुर्थोऽव्यवहार्यः प्रपञ्चोपशमः शिवोऽद्वैत 
एवमोङ्कार आत्मैव संविशत्यात्मनाऽऽत्मानं य एवं वेद ॥ १ 

That which is partless, soundless, incomprehensible, beyond the senses, blissful, non-dual Shiva the one and that wherein all phenomena are resolved is the “forth,” the Shiva Self . The one who knows It dissolves the self in It.

Though the meaning is wast yet precisely it has five syllables inside it, or Panch vyahratis which means hidden greater meaning of a word. which is explained in this picture

There are Long commentaries being written on its meaning as per the Shlokas one can check on net.

Now dont go into supremisation business, None in Sakaar is Supreme, Supreme is what Nirakar beyond name form as shows the shloka of mandukya upnishad here, The Param Shivam Adwaitam. Whom we worship in Shiva Lingam.

The five vyahritis also mean Bramha Vishnu Mahesh Than Iswara and Maheswara. And the five powers of Parama Shivam, Sristhi Sthiti Laya, Tirobhav and Anugrah.

Why does Vishnu manifest in non-human forms like a fish or a lion-man instead of appearing only in a human likeness?

 Bhagwan Vishnu does not incarnate only to resemble humans because he assumes that form which is appropriate to the purpose of the avatāra.

We need to understand that what we call God, it’s not a human being but the Supreme Energy depicted in various forms.

So that divine energy which is pervasive and known as “Vishnu”, it can manifest itself in any form as and when needed. There is no such rule that the divine shall be in the form only a human.

He manifested in the form of Matsya, the fish since he had to save the creation from the massive cosmic flood. Since flood is related to water 🌊, he manifested as the divine fish.

Then when the Asura Hiranyakshyap attained the boon from Brahma that he neither by any human/man nor by any animal/beast, Neither during the day nor at night (specifically circumvented at twilight/dusk), Neither indoors nor outdoors (circumvented on a threshold/porch step). Neither on earth/ground nor in the sky/space. By no weapon forged or any living/non-living object. Since these all conditions were the part of boon, the asura was immune to death from all those factors. So upon identifying the loophole in the asura’s boon from Brahma, Vishnu assumes the form of Narasimha which was half man half lion and he picked those minute conditions which Hiranyakshipu couldn't mention in his boon and then slayed the evil asura and saved his devotee Prahlad.

So him taking the form of an animal isn't something unusual as the divine is pervasive not just present only in humans.

Then of course, Narayan as Shri Ram the ideal man (Maryada Purushottam) is one of the most worshipped forms of him.

And Shri Krishna, a very very popular form of Narayan.

So the human like forms of him are the most popular ones, but the animal like forms too had a lot of significance in his aim of sustaining the creation, restoring the balance of nature and protecting the world.

नमो नारायण 🙏

Why did Vishnu take the Kurma avatar?

 

Kurma avatar in Shatapatha brahmana and Taittariya aranyaka is referred to as Sacrifice and yonder Aditya which are both ephithet for Vishnu.

Kurma avatar and Vishnu are both mentioned as the Yonder Aditya :

1:

स यः कूर्मोऽसौ स आदित्यः । अमुमेवैतदादित्यमुपदधाति ।

“That which is Kūrma—that is yonder Āditya [the Sun]. It is yonder Āditya that he thereby places down.”

7.5.1.6

स यः स विष्णुः स यः स यज्ञः ।

असौ स आदित्यः ॥

2:

“That which is Viṣṇu is that which is Yajña; that [yonder] is Āditya.”

14.1.1.6

As well as sacrifice :

1:SB 1.6.2.3

ते पुरोडाशं कूर्मं भूत्वा चरन्तमपश्यन् ।

ते ह ब्रुवन् — एष वै यज्ञ इति ॥

“They saw the puroḍāśa having become a tortoise and moving about.

They said: ‘This indeed is the sacrifice.’”

2:

यज्ञो वै विष्णुः ।

yajño vai viṣṇuḥ

“Yajña indeed is Viṣṇu.”

In Taittariya aranyaka it is directly mentioned that Kurma which is the embodiment of sacrifice is the purusha who created Prajapati

• There after from the waters , kurma or tortoise crawled therein. Prajapati addressed the kurma: have you emerged from my skin and flesh. Kurma replied in the negative and corrrected Brahma by saying that he existed earlier as he was the that Purusa with the Purusatvam; the tortoise then assumed form of Purusa with thousand heads and thousand feet and the thousand eyes flashing from the waters. Then the Creator Prajapati exclaimed indeed, you existed well before I was born; since you were the first , you created the universe well before me!

And also Kurma also shares similar characteristics of Vishnu who prevaded the three worlds with three steps

तस्य यदधरं कपालम् । अयं स लोकः । तत्प्रतिष्ठितमिव भवति प्रतिष्ठित इव ह्ययं लोकः । अथ यदुत्तरं सा द्यौः । तद्व्यवगृहीतान्तमिव भवति व्यावगृहीतान्तेव हि द्यौः । अथ यदन्तरा तदन्तरिक्षम् । स एष इमे एव लोकाः । इमान् एवैतल्लोकानुपदधाति ॥

7.5.1.2

pra tad viṣṇuḥ stavate vīryeṇa

mṛgo na bhīmaḥ kucaro giriṣṭhāḥ |

yasyoruṣu triṣu vikramaṇeṣv

adhikṣiyanti bhuvanāni viśvā ||

“That Viṣṇu is praised for his might,

like a fearsome roaming beast dwelling upon the mountains,

in whose three wide strides all the worlds dwell

In Mahabharata and Ramayana. He appeared to support the gods during samudra manthan