Brahmā-Vishṇu Mahāstotra

The Brahmā-Vishṇu Mahāstotra is the great hymn that Brahmā and Bhagavān Vishṇu sang together to Bhagavān Śiva at Śivaloka. It is found in the Śiva Purāṇa, Rudra Saṃhitā, Yuddha Khaṇḍa, Chapter 30, in the cycle of the war with Śaṅkhacūḍa.

The stotra declares Bhagavān Śiva to be Parabrahman. It states that Bhagavān Śiva and Bhagavān Vishṇu are not different. It tells how Kṛshṇa’s Goloka stands in relation to Śiva’s Śivaloka. It declares that Brahmā, Vishṇu and Rudra are three forms born from the body of Bhagavān Śiva.

The setting

Śaṅkhacūḍa conquered the three worlds and drove all the devas into exile. Brahmā and Bhagavān Vishṇu then led the whole assembly of devas to Śivaloka, to ask Bhagavān Śiva to act.

The account describes Śivaloka in detail. There are fifteen great gates, and each gate is guarded by gaṇas with five faces and ten arms. After the fifteen gates comes the great sabhā (assembly hall). It is vast, set with jewels and full of fragrance. Bhagavān Śiva sits in the middle on a throne of gems. He is calm. He chews the betel of Pārvatī, and he watches the divine dance and music with a smile of contentment.

The teachings of the stotra

Brahmā and Bhagavān Vishṇu addressed Bhagavān Śiva with a joint mahāstotra (great hymn). It holds these teachings.

Śiva as Parabrahman

Bhagavān Śiva is the supreme Parabrahman beyond all guṇas (qualities). In his highest nature he is nirguṇa, without qualities. Yet he can appear as saguṇa, with qualities, to protect creation. He is both the Absolute without attributes and the personal Bhagavān Śiva who does the pañca-kṛtya, the five acts.

The Trimūrti born from the body of Śiva

Three forms of cosmic work are born from the body of Bhagavān Śiva:

• Brahmā, with rajo-guṇa, who creates (sṛshṭi).
• Bhagavān Vishṇu, with sattva-guṇa, who keeps the world (sthiti).
• Rudra, with tamo-guṇa, who dissolves it (saṃhāra).

Śiva and Vishṇu as abheda

There is no difference between Bhagavān Śiva and Bhagavān Vishṇu. They are abheda, non-different. Anyone who imagines a difference between them will be rejected by children and grandchildren in this life and will go to naraka after death. Bhagavān Śiva himself said this when Kṛshṇa came to Śivaloka (Chapter 31).

Goloka beside Śivaloka

Kṛshṇa’s Goloka lies right next to Śivaloka and a little below it. In Goloka, Kṛshṇa serves as the cowherd of Bhagavān Śiva, by Śiva’s own appointment. Rādhā is called the fifth śakti. The other four are Pārvatī, Lakshmī, Sarasvatī and Gāyatrī.

The nature of Śaṅkhacūḍa

Śaṅkhacūḍa is Sudāmā the gopāla (cowherd) born again through the śāpa (curse) of Rādhā. That curse was itself arranged by the māyā of Bhagavān Śiva, to correct the pride of Sudāmā. The whole course of Śaṅkhacūḍa’s life as a dānava was the cosmic play of Bhagavān Śiva.

The petition of the devas

Śaṅkhacūḍa has driven the devas out of all their places. Only Bhagavān Śiva can kill him. The devas give themselves up entirely to Bhagavān Śiva and ask him to act.

Sources

• Śiva Purāṇa, Rudra Saṃhitā, Yuddha Khaṇḍa, Chapters 30–31