Posted in Vidyeśvara

Viṣṇu – Śiva Equality

Unable to tolerate this untruthful conduct, Śiva appeared and Viṣṇu bowed to Him. As Īśvara, Śiva blessed, “O Viṣṇu, you have spoken the truth being desirous of achieving the form (oneness) with Īśvara, therefore you shall be the best among the divinity for this world. From today your images shall be worshipped everywhere with festivities. You shall be considered equal to me in every manner”.

Śiva produced Bhairava from the anger in his eyebrows and ordered him to deal with Brahma, the primeval lord of earth, with his khaḍga (short sword). Bhairava grasped the fifth head of Brahma (vertical upward) which had lied and severed it from the body leaving Brahma shivering like a leaf with only four heads. The compassionate Viṣṇu intervened, “O Lord Śiva, Brahma obtained his five heads by your grace and the one that had lied has already been destroyed, please be merciful .” On hearing the plea of Viṣṇu, Śiva stopped Bhairava, “Do not punish Brahma any further”.
Brahma prayed ~

स्वामिन्प्रसीदाद्य महाविभूते मन्ये वरं मे शिरसः प्रमोक्षम्॥१०
svāminprasīdādya mahāvibhūte manye varaṁ me śirasaḥ pramokṣam||10

Translation: O Supreme Soul, you are the great Siddha and bestower of boons (siddhi). May this [severed] head serve as an offering at your feet with a prayer for emancipation.
Jyotiṣa Notes: The word svāmin has been used by Parāśara in reference to the ātmakāraka graha in jyotiṣa charts. We follow Brahma in this and treat ātmakāraka planet as svāmin i.e. a form of Śiva as the ātmā-liṅga

नमस्तुभ्यं भगवते बन्धवे विश्वयोनये।
सहिष्णवे च दोषाणां शम्भवेसैलधन्वने॥११
namastubhyaṁ bhagavate bandhave viśvayonaye|
sahiṣṇave ca doṣāṇāṁ śambhavesailadhanvane||11

Translation: Obeisances to Bhagavān (Śiva), the source of all creation and its benefactor. O weilder of the mighty bow Sambhu, [may] you tolerate the faults [of sinners like me]

Notes: (1) vibhūti means (a) development , multiplication , expansion , plenty , abundance and (b) indicates manifestation of might, great power, superhuman power (consisting of eight faculties called siddhi, especially attributed to Śiva, but supposed also to be attainable by human beings through Śiva sādhanā. These are

  1. aṇiman, the power of becoming as minute as an atom;
  2. laghiman, extreme lightness and ability to fly;
  3. prāpti, attaining or reaching anything or stretching beyond limits] ;
  4. prākāmya, irresistible will;
  5. mahiman, illimitable bulk, weight or size;
  6. īśitā, supreme dominion;
  7. vaśitā , subjugating by magic ; and
  8. kāmāvasāyitā, the suppressing of all desires

(2) The word ‘भगवते’ (bhagavate) is normally reserved for Viṣṇu and avatara. However since Brahma has used this reference to Lord Śiva, we must also use this reference to Him. This justifies the use of भगवते (bhagavate) in various mantras of Lord Śiva