Dear Bhagavatars, some of us seem to be missing the point on this discussion on the Vedas and the Supremacy of Narayana. No one is doubting the "supremacy" of Narayana - seeing that Narayana means the "ground of all being" - therefore the name in itself is self-evidently absolute. The problem arises when we enter into this Puranic discussion about who is supreme - like debating who is the president is it A or is it B. The Vedas declare "khalvidam brahma" "sarvam vai rudra", "tvameva (ganesha) sarvam khalvidam brahmasi", "narayana evedagam sarvam". So by a process of logic if A = X, B = X, C = X and D = X then the relationship between A,B,C,D must be identical. This is then supported by the Ghataka sruti = "ekam sat vipra bahudha vadanti" - the Truth is ONE but the wise describe is differently. If we regard Narayana as a person who is different to Siva, Ganesha, Brahma and that they are all contenders for the throne then we are divided into different camps with different agendas and end up fighting and dirt raking like a presidential election! When we understand that the Vedas repeatedly say the trimurti comes from Narayana, and then the same trimurty comes from Siva, Ganesha etc, we come to a non sectarian conclusion that they are all aspects of the one Supreme Being, different forms of the same energy. We as vaishnavas have a personal subjective bias towards Vishnu, but let us not deny the validity of the Saivite or Ganapatya or Sakta approach. Let us simply accept what Krishna has said in the Gita - that he accepts all people in whatever way they wish to take refuge in Him, be it as Siva, Ganesha, Sakti Brahma or as Vishnu. The truth of Rig veda is that the majority of suktas are indeed addressed to Indra and Agni, and only 3 or 4 to Vishnu, Narayana does not get a mention. So let us not get carried away by fundamentalism and dogmatism. Let us treasure our sampradaya and also respect and accept the sampradaya of others. Let us pursue the path of unity in diversity which to me is the true message of the Vedas. Adiyen Sri Ram
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