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There is a popular verse:

शिवाय विष्णुरूपाय शिवरूपाय विष्णवे ।
शिवस्य हृदयं विष्णुर्विष्णोश्च हृदयं शिवः ॥

“Shivaya VishnuRoopaya , Shivarupaya Vishnave , Shivasya hirdayam VishnurVishnoscha hridayam Shivah “

Shiva is in the form of Vishnu, as Vishnu is in the form of Shiva . Shiva is in the heart of Vishnu as Vishnu is in the heart of Shiva.

Hari-Hara However, Some people are always in debate regarding Supremacy of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. In the Puranas also Shaiva Puranas call Shiva as Lord of Vishnu and Vaishnava Puranas call Vishnu as Lord of Shiva.

Is there some statement in scripture calling Vishnu as Lord of Shiva and Shiva as Lord of Vishnu ? If it is, where is it stated ?

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    Haha, In the pic both looking chubby and cute. Oct 15, 2017 at 7:12
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    from which "scripture" this verse is ? "“Shivaya VishnuRoopaya , Shivarupaya Vishnave , Shivasya hirdayam VishnurVishnoscha hridayam Shivah"?
    – zaxebo1
    Mar 25, 2018 at 4:56

2 Answers 2

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Lord Shiva being Supreme Lord of Vishnu and Lord Vishnu being Supreme Lord of Shiva is stated in Harivamsa Parva of Mahabharata in 2.125.41

रुद्रस्य परमो विष्णुर्विष्णोश्च परम: शिवः ।
एक एव द्विधा भूतो लोके चरति नित्यसः ॥
rudrasya paramo viShNurviShNoshcha paramaH shivaH |
eka eva dvidhA bhUto loke charati nityashaH ||2.125.41


The supreme lord of Rudra (Shiva) is Vishnu and the supreme lord of Vishnu is Shiva. The same lord is moving in the world always in two forms.

Also in Harivamsha Parva of Mahabharata in 2.125.29

शिवाय विष्णुरूपाय विष्णवे शिवरूपिणे ।
यथान्तरं न पश्यमि तेन तौ दिशतः शिवम् ॥
shivAya viShNurUpAya viShNave shivarUpiNe |
yathAntaraM na pashyAmi tena tau dishataH shivam || 2.125.29

Shiva is in the form of Vishnu and Vishnu is in the form of Shiva. There is no difference between them and both provide Auspiciousness.

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    It's very annoying when Hindus fight(maybèe not literally but verbally) over the supremacy of their God. Brahma Vishnu SadaShiv jaanat aviveka... Pranavaakshar mein shobhit, ye teeno eka Your post is an amazing reply to those ignorant people, and it has a beautiful source too. Thanks, jai Maata di ^-^
    – ABcDexter
    Jun 9, 2016 at 4:11
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    @ABcDexter Here in Shiva Purana it goes on like only a devotee of Shiva inherit the wealth of a Shiva devotee. does this look like intolerance? indianscriptures.com/scriptures/puranas-18-puranas-mahapurana/…
    – user9554
    Jul 9, 2017 at 12:30
  • @Ajay Let me read and translate myself.
    – ABcDexter
    Jul 9, 2017 at 12:36
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    That last slokha also appears in skandOpanisad, which is attributed to Yajur Veda (but not found in any of the shakhas available today).
    – Vidyarthi
    Jan 14, 2020 at 0:31
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Equality of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu's equality are shown not one time but many times in Mahabharata Tezz reply is also very good! and I like that

let's continue :—

Vaisampayana continued, "Phalguna then beheld him-- Mahadeva--that god of blazing splendour-that wielder of the Pinaka-that one who had his abode on the mountains (of Kailasa)-- accompanied by Uma. Bending down on his knee and bowing with his head, that conqueror of hostile cities-the son of Pritha worshipped Hara and inclined him to grace. And Arjuna said, 'O Kapardin, O chief of all gods, O destroyer of the eyes of Bhaga, O god of gods, O Mahadeva, O thou of blue throat, O thou of matted locks, I know thee as the Cause of all causes. O thou of three eyes, O lord of all! Thou art the refuge of all the gods! This universe hath sprung from thee. Thou art incapable of being vanquished by the three worlds of the celestials, the Asuras, and men. Thou art Siva in the form of Vishnu, and Vishnu in the form of Siva. Thou destroyedest of old the great sacrifice of Daksha. O Hari, O Rudra, I bow to thee. Thou hast an eye on thy forehead. O Sarva, O thou that rainest objects of desire, O bearer of the trident, O wielder of the Pinaka, O Surya, O thou of pure body, O Creator of all, I bow to thee.

—— The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva: Kairata Parva: Section XXXIX

"Sanjaya said, 'Then Partha, with a cheerful soul and joined hands and eyes expanded (in wonder), gazed at the god having the bull for his mark and who was the receptacle of every energy. And he beheld the offerings he made every night to Vasudeva lying by the side of the Three-eyed deity. The son of Pandu then, mentally worshiping both Krishna and Sarva, said unto the latter, 'I desire (to obtain) the celestial weapon.' Hearing these words of Partha desiring the boon he sought, god Siva smilingly said unto Vasudeva and Arjuna, 'Welcome to you, ye foremost of men! I know the wish cherished by you, and the business for which you have come here. I will give you what you wish.

—— The Mahabharata, Book 7: Drona Parva: Abhimanyu-badha Parva: Section LXXXI

You can see that there is clearly written that Arjuna got all the offerings in right side of Rudra that he made to krishna every night.

Vishnu and Agni and Soma became (as already said) the arrow. The universe is said to consist of Agni and Soma. The universe is similarly said to consist of Vishnu. Vishnu is, again, the Soul of the holy Bhava of immeasurable energy. For this the touch of that bow- string became unbearable to the Asuras.

—— The Mahabharata, Book 8: Karna Parva: Section 34

Here vishnu is rudra's soul.

O son of Pandu, Rudra should be known to have always Narayana for his Soul. If that deity of deities, viz., Maheswara, be worshipped, then O Partha, is the puissant Narayana also worshiped. I am the Soul, O son of Pandu, of all the worlds, of all the universe. Rudra, again, is my Soul. It is for this that I always adore him.

——The Mahabharata, Book 12: Santi Parva: Section CCCXLII

Here Rudra is Vishnu's soul and Vishnu is Rudra's soul.

but if you want it on a larger scale just go on my blog:—

Equality of Lord Rudra and Lord Vishnu in Mahabharata http://shivaandvishnu.blogspot.in/2017/09/equality-of-lord-rudra-and-lord-vishnu.html?m=1

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