Actually truth is entirely opposite of what some people think, In fact Shiva is only Giver of Moksha is declared in Vedas Puarans, Tantras etc, quite many times, and specifically The Four Mokshas granted By Hari, are not right ones and who dare say it, Shree Hari himself, in Muktika Upnishad. And this is not belief it is simple to understand truth if one learns Shastra unbiasedly, How.
Lord Vishnu in his geetas and Purans talks about Four Mokshas which he can give to his believers, They are Sameepya, Salokya, Sarupya and Sayujya, Sayujya being highest among four where one become like the god he worships. Now Shiva in His Puran Vedas Geetas has always maintained to give Five mokshas The four Mokshas and the greatest and only True one Kaivalya Moksha. And that can only be granted by Shiva.
And as per Vedas Kaivalya is greatest and only true moksha, In other maya and duality are still there hence dream, as all Lokas are Dream, The Real one is Kaivalya and that can only be granted by Shiva, in this answer you will find citation from Vedas and Purans you can cross check.
And also those who are indian anyways if do not know about greatness of Kashi than they are most ignorant and biased ones in darkness. Kashi is only teertha which guarantees sures unconditional Moksha, None other Gods or Teertha can do that, and that said Vedas too, even many Vaisnav Jagadgurus Tulsi das etc stayed at Kashi for sure moksha instead of any other teertha . Because surely they are great teerthas yet Moksha Guarantee gave none but Kashi.
Even what mokshas Hari can Give is only because of Shiva only all Gods power and authority is because of Shiva, Mahabharat says that and the authority of Moksha is totally vested in Shiva Mahadev. Now where it is mentioned that Shiva is the One and Only Giver of Moksha, well many places in Shastras but let me cite one where Shree Hari himself is Talking about some real truth of Mokshas. Read your self in words of Lord Hari.
Skanda puran , Yagya Vaibhav khand 25th Adhyaya,,
Krishna is telling his Bhakta who wanted true Moksha from him
Naham sansar magnannam sakshat sansar mochkah
Bramha didevashchanyepinaiva sansar mockah
Aham bramhadidevasch prasadat tasya shulinah
Pranaddyaiv hi sansarmochkah natra sanshayah
naamatashcharth ashchapi mahadevo maheshwrah
tadanye kevalam deva mahadeva n teanagh
mahadevam bina yo mam bhajate shradhya sah
nasti tasya vinirmokshah sansarajjanm kotibhih,
i Krishna can not give salvation to worldly people directly, in same manner Bramha Mahavishnu etc are not true liberator, or Moksha Granters, I or Mamavishnu or Bramha and others i Krishna can not give salvation to worldly people directly, in same manner Bramha Mahavishnu etc are not true liberator, or Moksha Granters, I or Mamavishnu or Bramha and others can only give Moksha by order and power or Shiva called SHIVAPRANAADI, By Shivas Grace and power Only WE CAN BE SANSAR MOCHKAH, giver of mokshas ,without shivas grace surely we can not grant Moksha.
O Dear actually Only Shiva is greatest as his name Mahadev is and that is entirely true, he is god of myself Vishnu Mahavishnu Bramha etc , as we Gods Mahavishnu etc are called Devas and only shiva is Mahadeva by name and truth, no god is equivalent or second to him we (krishna mahavishnu bramha) all gods are Subservient to Shakti Shiva.
The one who worships me only leaving Mahadev can not get moksha in crores of lives, because true moksha or any of them can only be given by mahadev, though i become his messenger only to deliver what he orders me to.
It is not once he said such, in Vedas Muktika Upnishad Rama says same thing to Hanuman, that real Moksha can only be given by Mahadev or in Kashi. He also said to hanuman The other four Moksha i can give to deservers are not true ones, The truest Moksha is Kaivalya and Kaivalya can only be given by Mahadev by acquiring Barmha Gyan,.
अन्ये वेदान्तवाक्यार्थविचारात्परमर्षयः । सालोक्यादिविभागेन चतुर्धा मुक्तिरीरिता ॥ १७॥ सहोवाच श्रीरामः । कैवल्यमुक्तिरेकैव परमार्थिकरूपिणी
And he reiterates that to get Kaivalya moksha is the way of Bramha Dharna as in Mandukya Upnishad which describes worship of Nirakar Sadashiva whose one human second dhyan or worship is worth crores of worships and Yagnas daan daskhina, bhoj, great Purashchran, etc done continuously for aeons.
Now here also once again he is saying that Only kashi and Mahadev can guarantee Moksha to all beings, upon his discretion otherwise one has to deserve it first than we can liberate them, but in kashi Mahadev can grant Moksha to any one without any qualification. Or otherwise also Shiva can grant Moksha to any one, as per his will, no other can do that, as all gods give Moksha by Agya and Power of Shiva.
Now here other option than kashi, is Bramha Gyan of ShivaTattva, and for that for gyani a pious man Mandukya will be able to liberate him. Let us see what is in Mandukya Upnishad What is that greatest Tattva greater than all four mokshas and trinity. Mandukya Upnishad talks about worship and Sadhna of Om to get on to state of greatest Realization greater than Bramhan, Shiva Chinmaya Pad.
Sadhna of Om, and its vyahritis, epithets of each sound vibe in pranav. Like A U M Bindu and Naad. And that is what constitutes the whole Universe to get the Ultimate greatest state of being of Atman the greatest Bliss unending ever present ever increasing inexplicable bliss.
Prapancho pashmah shiva madwaitam chaturtham manyante.
प्रपञ्चोपशमं शान्तं शिवमद्वैतं चतुर्थं मन्यन्ते स आत्मा स विज्ञेयः
Here the Shloka is telling that what is that One, on whose grace Kaivalya Satya Gyan depends on
एष सर्वेश्वरः एष सर्वज्ञ एषोऽन्तर्याम्येष योनिः सर्वस्य प्रभवाप्ययौ हि भूतानाम्
Sarveshwar Vishweshwar are Shivas Name, and again in 12 th Shloka the final one,
अमात्रश्चतुर्थोऽव्यवहार्यः प्रपञ्चोपशमः शिवोऽद्वैत एवमोङ्कार आत्मैव संविशत्यात्मनाऽऽत्मानं य एवं वेद
The Only one who is real and existent Shiva shall be Realized at Fourth State of Pranava. That Shiva roop is spread around universe as Atman. This is greatest truth this is Veda.
Now who is considered or say witnessed by Gyan Yogis who were neutral to all Gods see Finality the one to whom all worships shall be to, Just like Mandukya these Rishis witnessed the same entity,
Agnishikhopnishad
Omkar Rath Marumhya Vishnum Kritwarth Sarthim
Bramha Lok Padanweshi Rudra Radhan Tatparah.
Making chariot of Prnava making Vishnu your Sarthee the guide or Guru Those who want Greater states than that of Bramha Pada (Aham Bramhasmi and Four Mokshas) shall unceasingly without delay shall always worship Lord Rudra.
This Upnishad would talk about Yog Niyam Pratyahar prnayam Dharna samdhi etc, Here the distinction is also cleared,. Vishnu is great Sarhtee one who shows right way that is what Krishna became Guru and Sarthee of Arjun, and the Guru tells about right way to worship that greatest Avyakta Entity Shiva.
So here is what Vedas Purans tantras all Unanimously said, about Moskha and that Shiva is greatest God on whose authority Gods grant moksha yet the greatest and truest only come directly through him only.
This confirms Shastras, among them i quote Shiva Puran. That there are three Main powers of God sristi sthiti and lay and among trinity all three are capable of doing all three. Now Rudra has a Greater Power That is Tirobhav, This is where the Realm of Four Moskha Is. and the greatest power of God is Anugrah which no one has other than him, and that is to truly liberate the being. Those having Sayujya already being in there planet or Loka at Once they also get beyond it, and go to Mahakali Loka or Divya Kailasa to get Kaivalya Moksha. Millions of Trnities are there meditating on Nirakar Jyotirroopa SadaShiva in heart to reach the ultimate destination all being take form for, The unending Shiva Bliis of SadaShiva , there is nothing like it, It is completion The Kaivalya.
And same great opportunity which Great souls who have sayujya and tridevs have, is available for all of us, to meditate and worship that Parbramha Parmatman for whose worship best is heart shiva linga and before that outer shivalinga shall always be worshiped, it is not about just belief but Shivas worship and his gyan via true shaiva guru can give inexhaustible rocket engines to ones ship to enlightenment.
For any true unbiased seeker enquirer, this is enough to establish truth, you want more, i have plenty of examples, i am not a sycophant and find it worthy and Dharma Yukta to call a spade a spade.
In fact, in Truth there are not two different Gods, The trinity is the form of one Parmatman One can choose what suits him yet don't compare or degrade to boast your insecurities, and ask such derogating questions with no shastra basis but just hateful malice for other than your favourite god.
One shall be dedicated to one Form all moksha can be reached by devotion to any one ultimately, Like Ramana reached Him directly by Shiva, RamaKrishna Prm Hansa got via worship of Mahakali divine mother, she send him for gyan of Kaivalya Shiva awastha,. Another Bramha Gyani Shisya of Shree Ramana , Shree Poonjaji known as Papaji, was Krishna Bhakta, a dualist, and quite adamant in his approach as he was Krishna Bhakta since several lives.
Now As by Grace of Shree Ramana he got Darshan of Shree Krishna, Maharishi Ramna thorugh Shaktipat let his realized his one ness with Krishna, as he said that once i was Krishna or Bramhan (he saw krishna as Bramhan) bhakta now have become Bramhan self as know to Jeevan Mukta Rishis as Ek Shivam Shantam Adwaitam Chaturtham Tureeya Manyate alone is reality, There is no you and I, Only Shiva exists, This is reality which is ever present and even known to many but Realized by fewest of few Siddhas Gyanis Rishis.
From Shiva Purana chapter 2.,section 2,.15.couplet :55
प्रत्यग्द्रष्ट्रैऽविकाराय परमैश्वर्य धारिणे ।
यं भजन्ति चतुर्वर्गे कामयंतीष्टसद्गतिम् ।
सोऽभूदकरुणस्त्वं नः प्रसन्नो भव ते नमः ॥ ५५ ॥
pratyagdraṣṭrai'vikārāya paramaiśvarya dhāriṇe |
yaṃ bhajanti caturvarge kāmayaṃtīṣṭasadgatim |
so'bhūdakaruṇastvaṃ naḥ prasanno bhava te namaḥ || 55 ||
Translation :
Obeisance to Thee, the self-contemplator, the unchanging, the holder of great suzerainty and glory. Never be ruthless unto them who resort to the four aims of life (Dharma, Artha Kama Moksha) and desire the cherished final goal. Obeisance to Thee O Shiva.
(Lord Krishna on Shiva)
As Purusha, the rays of your power are in all hearts You are the obtaining of anima and laghima. You are Ishana, the resplendent and undecaying one. The worlds resort to your understanding and intelligence and seek you out as a refuge. Those who have conquered their senses and are devoted to the truth always use yoga to meditate on you. There are those who know you as the eternal one, the lord who is the deep refuge, the Purusha who is everywhere in the universe, the one who is golden in complexion, the one who is supremely intelligent and is the supreme destination. These intelligent ones based themselves on what transcends intelligence.
(MOKSHA DHARMA PARVA, BORI CE, Mahabharat)
In Anushasana Parva of Mahabharata Devas pray Lord Shiva as:
शक्रोऽसि मरुतां देव पितृणां धर्मराजसि ।
ब्रह्मलोकश्च लोकानां गतीनां मोक्ष उच्यसे ।।
You are Shakra among the Marut Devas, Dharma among the Pitris, Brahma Loka among the Lokas and Moksha among the paths (gati).
“umaasahaayaM parameshvaraM prabhuM trilochanaM niilakaNThaM prashaantam.h |
dhyaatvaa munirgachchhati bhuutayoniM samastasaakShiM tamasaH parastaat.h |” (Kaivalya Upanishad 7)
sa eva sarvaM yadbhuutaM yachcha bhavyaM sanaatanam.h |
j~naatvaa taM mR^ityumatyeti naanyaH panthaa vimuktaye | (Kaivalya Upanishad 9)
“Meditating on the highest Lord, allied to Uma, powerful, three-eyed, blue-necked, and tranquil, the holy man reaches Him (Shiva) who is the source of all, the witness of all and is beyond darkness (i.e. Avidya). He alone is all that was, and all that will be, the Eternal; knowing Him, one transcends death; there is no other way to freedom”.
“aya.n hR^idi sthitaH saakshii sarveshhaamavisheshhataH |
tenaaya.n hR^idayaM proktaH shivaH sa.nsaaramochakaH |” (Panchabrahmopanishat 36)
“Lord Shiva, who grants salvation to one, from this day- to-day life of the world, exists as witness without differentiation in the heart of all beings and is called Hrudayam (That which exists within)”.
The world is a maya of Lord Shiva only and only Shiv-Shakti can liberate us from this maya.
“chhandaa.nsi yaGYaaH kratavo vrataani bhuutaM bhavya.n yachcha vedaa vadanti |
asmaan.h maayii sR^ijate vishvameta-ttasmi.nshchaanyo maayayaa sanniruddhaH |” (Swetasvatara Upanishad 4:09)
“The Lord of Maya projects the Vedas, sacrifices, spiritual practices, past and future, religious observances, all that the Vedas declare, and the whole world including ourselves. The lord of Maya, again, is bound by Maya in this [in the form of Jiva].”
The same Shve Upanishad explains further and informs us that the Lord of Maya is Maheshwara as follows.
“maayaa.n tu prakR^iti.n vidyaanmaayina.n cha maheshvaram.h |
tasyavayavabhuutaistu vyaapta.n sarvamida.n jagat.h |” (Swetasvatara Upanishad 4:10)
“Know then Prakriti (nature) is Mâyâ (art), and the Maheshwara the Mâyin (maker); the whole world is filled with what are his members (forms)”.
Shiv Gita Padma Purana Chapter 7.
I am the very Pra?ava (Omkara) consiting of three morae (a, u, m) whose head is the north, feet the south and the middle is all that is in between. ||29||
I am truly the Pra?ava (Omkara), one, eternal and ancient because I lead (pious souls) upwards (to heaven) and send them down (when their merit is exhausted). ||30||
I am called Pra?ava because in the act of sacrifice I am Brahma (directing the sacrifice) make (the Rtviks) render obeisance to the brahma?as (or Rg, Yajus and Sama Vedas). ||31||
Just as ghee pervades a piece of meat and makes the body (of the eater) grow, I (pervade) similarly all the worlds; therefore, the Pervader of all am I. ||32||
Because Brahma and Vi??u, and other Deities did not see the beginning or end to My form (Jyotirli?ga), I am called the Infinite. ||33||
Since I save My devotee from the ocean of dread of being born in a womb, old age, death and the cycle of births and deaths, I am called the Savior. ||34||
I dwell as the soul in the four kinds of bodies (born of womb, of egg, of sweat and of the earth). Taking a subtle form I live in the heart. Hence, I am called subtle. ||35||
I illuminate the devotees immersed in the primeval darkness (of ignorance) with my incomparable light, like a flash of lightening. Therefore, I am known as lightening. ||36||
Since I alone create and dissolve the worlds, make (the souls) go from one world to another and bestow grace, I am the only supreme Lord. ||37||
Since there is no second to that transcendent Brahman, which withdraws all the beings into itself, I (that Brahman) alone exist as Rudra. ||38||
Since I rule all the worlds with My wondrous powers, I am the Isana (Ruler) of this world, the Lord and the witnessing eye. ||39||
(The scriptures extol Me) as Isana, as Indra, as Brahma and the Lord of all at all times, and the Lord of disciplines and knowledge. Hence, I am called Isana. ||40||
Kashi is that place where Lord Shiva readily grants Moksha. Kailash Samhita of Shiva Purana in 3.2 states:
अतस्तदेव जानीयात्प्रणव सर्वकारणम् ।
निर्विकारी मुमुक्षुर्मां निर्गुणं परमेश्वरम् ।।
एनमेव हि देवेशि सर्वमन्त्रशि रोमणिम् ।
काश्यामहं प्रदास्यामि जीवानां मुक्तिहतवे ।।
Hence he who aspires for salvation and is free from aberration shall understand the Pranava as the cause of all, and Me as the Nirguna Parameshwara. I give this crest-jewel of mantras at Kashi for the liberation of all individual souls
“ajaata ityeva.n kashchidbhiiruH prapadyate |
rudra yatte daxiNaM mukha.n tena maaM paahi nityam.h |”(Svetaswatara Upanishad 4:21)
“It is because Thou, O Lord, art birthless, that some rare souls, frightened by birth and death, take refuge in Thee. O Rudra, may Thy benign face protect me for ever!”
"mokshamantraH trayyaiva.n vadet.h . etadbrahmaitadupaasitavyam.h . evamevaitadbhagavanniti vai yaaj~navalkyaH " (Jabala Upanishad 4:04)
"The mantra of liberation (namely ‘Om’) is (the essence of) the three Vedas; this he shall realize. It is Brahman and It is to be worshipped. Indeed, so it is, O revered Yajnavalkya (said Janaka)".
Now from the below verses it becomes clear that Lord Rudra alone is the Mantra of liberation - OM.
"nama staraya cha" (Yajurveda Sri Rudram Anuvaka-8)
"Salutations to Him (Rudra) who is the TARAKA (Pravana mantra - Om)".
"namah paryaya chavaryaya cha
namah prataAranaya chottaranaya cha "" (Yajurveda Sri Rudram - Anuvaka:8)
"Salutations to Him who ferries men over the sins and evils of Samsara (the Illusions of the world), and who by the grant of knowledge ferries them over the Samsara altogether".
"atha kasmAduchyata o~NkAro yasmAduchchAryamANa eva
prANAnUrdhvamutkrAmayati tasmAduchyate o~NkAraH " (Atharvasiras Upanishad 3:07)
"Rudra is called the personification of Pranva because he sends the souls towards heaven, at the time of death (dissolution)".
"atha kasmAduchyate praNavaH yasmAduchchAryamANa eva
R^igyajuHsAmAtharvA~Ngirasa.n brahma brAhmaNebhyaH praNAmayati
nAmayati cha tasmAduchyate praNavaH " (Atharvasiras Upanishad 3:08)
"He is called the “one who has the shape of Pranava“, because the Brahmins read and propagate the Rik, Yajur, Sama and Atharva Vedas only after reading 'OM'".
The below verse is another proof that Rudra is alone the TARAKA.
"atha kasmAduchyate tAra.n yasmAduchchAramANa eva
garbhajanmavyAdhijarAmaraNasa.nsAramahAbhayAttArayati trAyate
cha tasmAduchyate tAram.h " (Atharvasiras Upanishad 3:10)
"He is called “Tara (Taraka - Liberator)” because he protects one from the fear of life which consists of the fear of staying in the womb, fear at time of birth, fear from diseases, fear from old age and fear from death".
"sa eva sarvaM yadbhuutaM yachcha bhavyaM sanaatanam.h
j~naatvaa taM mR^ityumatyeti naanyaH panthaa vimuktaye "(Kaivalya Upanishad 9)
"He (Rudra) alone is all that was, and all that will be, the Eternal; knowing Him (Rudra), one transcends death; there is no other way to liberation".
"atra hi jantoH praaNeshhuutkramamaaNeshhu rudrastaarakaM brahma
vyaachashhTe yenaasaavamR^itii bhuutvaa mokshii bhavati
tasmaadavimuktameva nishheveta avimukta.n na
vimu~nchedevamevaitadyaaj~navalkyaH " (Jabala Upanishad 1.1)
"This is the spot where, when the vital airs depart from the living person, Rudra imparts the mantra (Taraka Brahman) to him by which, becoming immortal, he attains liberation".
So from these references it is clear that TARAKA mantram is OM (Pranava) which is lord Rudra (Shiva) in mantra form. And Shiva whisphers this OM mantra in Kashi and liberates the dying person.
So, According to Vedas, Only Lord Shiva can grant the moksha and was asked for it.
RigVeda 7.59.12, Taittariya Samhita of YajurVeda in 1.8.6.i, Vajasena Samhita of YajurVeda in 3.60 declare the same statement as:
त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माऽमृतात् ।।
We worship the Three-eyed Lord who is fragrant and who nourishes and nurtures all beings. As is the ripened cucumber freed from its bondage (to the creeper), may He liberate us from death for the sake of immortality.
मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माऽमृतात् = मृत्यु + मोक्ष + मम अमृतात् ie. Moksha through death for immortality.
And also 10.17 of Taittariya Aranyaka of YajurVeda clearly declares:
सद्योजातं प्रपद्यामि सद्योजाताय वै नमो नमः।
भवे भवे नाति भवे भवस्व मां भवोद्भवाय नमः॥
I take refuge in Sadyojata. Verily I salute Sadyojata again and again. O Sadyojata, do not consign me to repeated birth; lead me beyond birth, into the state of bliss and liberation. I bow down to Him who is the source of transmigratory existence.
Sadyojata is one of the 5 forms of lord shiva (viz Sadyojata, Aghora, Ishana, Vamdeva, Tatpurusha).
As for other diety like Vishnu, Brahma, Sona, Agni, Vayu, Varuna, Indra, etc they can also grant moksha by the grace of Shiva but that moksha is limited till that person's/soul's good karmic bank bslance is full but kaivalyam the real moksha can only be granted by lord Shiva as declared by vedas and Upanishads only.
“eko rudro na dvitIyAya tasmai ya imA.nllokAnIshata IshanIbhiH |
pratya~NjanAstiShThati sa.nchukochAntakAle sa.nsR^ijya vishvA bhuvanAni goptA | (Svet. Upa 3.02 & Atharvasiras Upanishad 5.2)
“Rudra is truly one. For the knowers of Brahman do not admit the existence of a second. He rules all worlds by his power. He dwells as the inner Self (Atman) of every living being. After having created all the worlds, He, their Protector, takes them back into Himself at the end of time”.