Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 31
लिङ्गप्रतिष्ठा-माहात्म्यम् / The Greatness of Liṅga Installation
एवमेव विवादोभूद्ब्रह्मविष्ण्वोः परस्परम् । अभवच्च महायुद्धं भैरवं रोमहर्षणम्
evameva vivādobhūdbrahmaviṣṇvoḥ parasparam | abhavacca mahāyuddhaṃ bhairavaṃ romaharṣaṇam
Ainsi naquit une querelle entre Brahmā et Viṣṇu, l’un contre l’autre ; et s’ensuivit une grande bataille, terrible, faisant frissonner jusqu’aux cheveux. Du point de vue śaiva, ce heurt révèle la limite de la souveraineté mondaine lorsqu’elle n’est pas liée à la reconnaissance du Seigneur suprême (Pati), Śiva, qui seul apaise une telle rivalité en dévoilant la vérité plus haute.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Bhairava
FAQs
It shows that even exalted powers like Brahmā and Viṣṇu can fall into rivalry when authority is claimed through ego; Shaiva teaching points beyond such conflict to Śiva as the Supreme Pati, the harmonizing Reality that dissolves duality and restores right understanding.
In the larger Shiva Purana context, such disputes are typically resolved when Śiva manifests (often as the Linga/column of light) to reveal the limits of pride and the supremacy of the Lord; worship of Saguna Śiva (as Linga or personal form) becomes the practical means to align the mind with that higher truth.
The takeaway is to counter rivalry and agitation with Śiva-smaraṇa: japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), coupled with a calm, sattvic discipline (e.g., Tripuṇḍra with bhasma and daily Linga-pūjā) to cultivate humility and inner peace.