This article is about Lord Harihara, the fusion form of Lord Shiva and Vishnu. In this article we would talk about the earliest literary evidences of Harihara form, about start of Harihara sect, was it Buddhism that triggered the popularity of the Harihara deity, mythlogical episodes related to Harihara, birth of Ayyappa and iconic representation of lord Harihara in temple sculptures.
Some saying beside Hari there is no God on earth
Some saying there is no God apart from Hara on earth
In order to remove doubts of mankind was assumed the glorious form of Harihara
May he be with affection preserve us”
(An inscription dated 1224 AD from Davanagree)
Harihara is the fusion form of Lord Vishnu (Hari) with Hara (Lord Shiva). Harihara deity is also known by other names like Shankaranarayana, Shambhuvishnu and Rudranarayana.
Earliest Literary evidences of Harihara Form
The earliest literary reference to Harihara form is probably found in Harivamsa. In this epic and other puranas it is mentioned that the two Gods have a tendency to merge and blend with each other.
When did worshiping and sculpting of Harihara start?
The sculpting and worshiping of Harihara as main deity started in the classical period, after the sectarian conflict between the followers of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu abated that elevated one God over another; and a compromise between the two sects was achieved.
There might be a realization among the followers of the two quarreling sects that there could be differences in the appearances of the two Gods, their behavior, attitude, preaching and ways to attain moksha as well, but two of them represents the same, the ultimate God – the ब्रह्मांड.
May be it was done at the same time when the cult following Shakti also joined hand, resulting in the idols of lord Shiva and Shakti as Ardhanareeshwara, and a compromise among all the three main and powerful sects of that time was made. (Now, whether there was really a set of followers worshiping only Shakti and Ardhanareeshwara form was a result of compromise among them is debatable)
Was this the first attempt or the only attempt to unite the quarreling sects of Shaivites and Vaishananites?
A question may arise that was this the first and the only attempt to unite Shaivites and Vaishnavites? The answer appears NO to me.
let us take the example of Devi Durga, consort of Lord Shiva. She is depicted with the conch and chakra, weapons that are characteristics of Lord Vishnu. As per some Puranas & Lalita Sahastranaam Devi Durga and Lord Vishnu are brother & sister. So in this way a relation between Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu was established earlier too.
Mythology is also full of events and episodes where either lord Shiva or lord Vishnu was in dire need and was helped by the other God.
Similarly, there is the story of Bhasmasura, who pleased Lord Shiva and got the boon from him that whomsoever he would touch would be burnt and converted to ashes. The first thing this demon wanted to do after getting this boon was to touch and burn lord Shiva.
At this time, Lord Vishnu took the form of Mohini and came to save Lord Shiva from this maniac demon who was hell bent on killing Lord Shiva. Lord Vishnu in the form of Mohini, lured demon to touch himself and thus the demon was burned to ashes.
I feel that even these mythological episodes where the two Gods helped each other were not enough to convince their followers to reconcile. Probably these episodes gave more ammunition to these quarreling followers to further demean each other’s deity of worship and to believe that their God was better than the other.
I guess, some wise men then realized the need to have a syncretic deity – Harihara to avoid bitterness and bloodshed among the followers of these two sects.
“Into the bosom of one great sea
Flow streams that come from hills from every side
Their names are various as their springs
And thus in every land do the men bow down
To one great God, though known by many names
(Poet Tikkana impressing the significance of Harihara and that the God is one though known by various names of Shiva and vishnu)
Hinduism versus Buddhism
There is another belief that the excessive popularity of Buddhism indirectly led to the emergence of Harihara sect. In order to avert the open challenge of Buddhism to the power and rituals of Brahmanic religion, the different sects of Hinduism joined hand and proposed a common deity Harihara to whom both the powerful sect can relate and unite.
Mythology behind Harihara Birth
Story of Demon Guhasura
According to mythology, once there was a demon Guhasur who lived in Guharanya (now known as Harihara in Karnataka. Harihara is in the center of Karnataka and when the Karnataka state was carved out, because of its central location, it was also considered for the capital of the newly created state).
it is believed that Guhasur performed intense penance and had a boon from Lord Brahma that no human or asura or devta can kill him, not even Hari (Lord Vishnu) and Hara (Lord Shiva).
As always happens with such boons, the invincibility corrupted Guhasura and he became a big menace and started to harass all. Humans and devtas approached both the Gods for a solution. The two Gods heard them and the troubles they were facing, and decided to merged together as Hari-hara to annihilate the demon, ending his cruelties.
Tatva-chintan of this mythological Story of Harihara and Guhasura
Guha is seat of human consciousness. When a person stops hearing the voice of his consciousness, he turns into a demon who is dangerous to himself as well as his surroundings.
And then the God help this person in the form of Harihara. Where Hari as sustainer strengthens trust and other positive qualities like compassion, understanding of others, love etc. And Hara as destroyer, destroys the negative aspects of human personality – lust, anger, greed, pride, attachment and jealousy.
The significance of Harihara Puja
Harihara puja is thus recommended to get rid of evil forces acting as hindrances in an individual’s peaceful and prosperous life.
Lord Harihara gave birth to Lord Ayyappa
According to another Legend, Mahishi, sister of Mahishasura who was killed by Devi Durga, wanted to avenge death of her brother. She worshiped Lord Brahma and got a boon from him that only a son born with the union of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu could kill her. This son was also supposed to live among the humans for twelve years for defeating the demon. She was happy as she attained invincibility because it was unthinkable that the two male-god can come together and give birth.
In order to get rid of her – a shape shifting Demoness, the two Gods came together, Lord Shiva as male and Lord Vishnu as female in Mohini’s avatar and their union gave birth to Lord Ayyappan, a deity popular in Kerala. Lord Ayyappan is thus also known as Hariharasudhan and Hariharaputra.
Lord Ayyappa was raised by a childless royal couple Rajashekara Pandiyan and Koperundevi. He grew up as a warrior champion of ethical and dharmic living. He confronts and defeat the shape shifting evil Buffalo demoness Mahishi with the combined powers of lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.
Iconography Representation of Harihara Idols
In iconography, the two Gods form the two halves of the idol. The Hari portion of the God i.e Lord Vishnu is usually represented in left hand side while the Hara portion (Lord Shiva) of the God is carved towards the right. The spouses of the two God also accompanies them, Devi Lakshmi is carved towards left while Devi Parvathi is carved towards right.
Similarly, towards Vishnu side his vehicle Garuda is carved while towards Lord Shiva’s side his vehicle Nandi is carved. The right half of Harihara gives an impression of terrific form while the left half represents the pacific and gentle form of the lord, matching the characteristics of the two Gods.
Shiva half is shown with matted locks; crescent moon adorns his hairs and Ganga is shown flowing over his head. Half of Lord Shiva’s third eye should be visible on his forehead. And He is carved wearing a sarpa-kundala in his right ear.
If there are two hands on one side (i.e its a four-armed statue of Harihara) Shiva side is shown holding a trident, parshu, damru, akshamala or a small deer in one hand and the other hand should be in Abhaya or Varada pose.
Hara potion of the God is usually carved with his beloved snakes. It is shown adorned with a naga-yagnopavita on his chest, and sarpa-mekhala or girdles of snakes on his waist. His loins and portion upto the knee are covered with tiger-skin. His body is covered with blue ash – representing a revered yogi.
The half representing Lord Vishnu is carved wearing a Kirita set, a tall crown, of excellent workmanship studded with precious stones.
He is shown wearing Makara Kundala in his left ear and is adorned with keyura (a flat ornament worn on the arm just over the biceps muscle), kahkana (metal bracelets) and other ornaments in the arm and is draped with yellow silk garment.
If the statue is four-armed, Lord Vishnu portion is carved holding a conch, chakra or a mace pointing in a downward direction in one arm and the other arm must be in kataka pose near the thigh. This half is shown in green, bluish-brown or black color – representing the holiness.
The two legs of Harihara must be straight without bend and should be resting on a Padma-peetha. The right foreleg usually has a snake wrapped like an anklet while the left leg is carved wearing an anklet of precious stone.
Temples with carvings of lord Harihara
Carvings of Harihara can be seen in Badami Cave Complex 1 and 3, Dharamraja Ratha of Mahabalipuram, Osiyan (Rajasthan), Baijnatha Temple in Himachal and Mukteshwara Temple of Odisha.
Celebrations in Harihara Temples
In the temple Mahotsava where the deity is Harihara, in alternate years the vehicles, decorations and ceremonies are done as peculiar to that to Lord Shiva and to Lord Vishnu respectively.
Hymn of Alvar Saint – Poikayalvar celebrating Harihara
I would like to end this article with the hymn of alvar saint – Poikayalvar celebrating Harihara:
His name is Hara and Narayana (Hara-Narayana); His Conveyance is bull and bird. His words the Agamas and Vedas; His residence the mountains and the waters; His activity destruction and protection; He holds the spear and discus. His color is of the fire and the cloud; His form is one.
References
Elements of Hindu Iconography, By T. A. Gopinatha Rao
Encyclopedia of the Saivism – Volume 1 – Swami Parmeshwaranand
Why are you spending fake information it’s a Avlokitshawar Padamani Bodhisattva not vishnu and the other one is tara Bodhisattva not durga
Dear Aman – Enjoyed your plain speaking. Well, I believe that the best way to stop fake information is to share facts with more information. Just for your information, I read this from the caption put by the Museum folks in Tanjore. You are welcome to back your statements with facts, for the readers to make their own judgement.