Paramashiva’s Infiniteness

Paramashiva is eternal, without beginning or end. He is the Anadi—the eternal. Brahma and Vishnu manifest from him; everything manifests from him. He is the source, the Anadi, and the ultimate. He is the Supreme, the totality of all existence, and more. Some people try to limit him to a being, while others say he is beyond being. He is both being, beyond being, and even more.

He assumes a body just like that when he desires and plays his Leelas (divine plays). Yet, even while manifesting in a physical form, he continues to remain in his unmanifest space.

Brahma and Vishnu once searched for the beginning and end of Paramashiva. This story is described in our Puranas in many places. Once, Brahma and Vishnu were arguing about who was superior. Then, Shiva appeared as a Jyotirlinga—a pillar of infinite light—and asked them to find his head and feet. Brahma, in the form of a swan, went upward. Vishnu, as a boar, went downward. However, neither could find the limits of Paramashiva’s infinite form.

This story teaches us about Shiva’s infiniteness and the importance of humility. We need to understand this story on a much deeper level. First, the Vishnu you see in Keshavartha Murti is a direct manifestation of Paramashiva. That Vishnu is different from the Vishnu who went in search of Shiva’s feet. The latter is the Vishnu who takes Dashavataras and worships Paramashiva.

Through this story, Paramashiva reveals to the world that neither just knowledge nor just wealth can reach him.

Paramashiva is infinite, boundless, and omnipresent. Brahma and Vishnu are responsible for creation and preservation, yet they cannot comprehend Paramashiva’s infiniteness.

This story helps us understand that neither wealth nor knowledge alone can help one reach Paramashiva. Then, how to reach him? When Vishnu could not reach Shiva’s feet, he surrendered and said, “I am not able to reach your feet. I surrender to you. Please reveal yourself to me.” Then, Paramashiva granted him Oneness. Vishnu became one with Paramashiva. That is what is meant by Paramashiva accepting Vishnu as part of himself, granting him Oneness, and merging him into Paramashiva.

It is through ultimate surrender that one reaches Paramashiva—not through intellect, not through wealth. This story carries a multi-layered meaning. Going up represents Rajas (passion, ambition). Going down represents Tamas (inertia, ignorance). Neither of these can help one reach Paramashiva. Only surrender can.

Going up symbolizes Ahankara (ego), and going down symbolizes Mamakara (possessiveness, attachment). Neither guilt nor the desire for supremacy can help one reach Paramashiva. Only surrender can.

Brahma, desiring to find Shiva’s head, traveled upward. Vishnu, desiring to find Shiva’s feet, traveled downward. Yet, neither could find the limits of Shiva’s infinite form.

The Puranas explain that Brahma took the form of a swan and flew upward. At one point, he realized that his Brahma Yuga—his age—was coming to an end. If he continued further, his age itself would be over. So, he decided to do something else.

As he was flying, he saw a flower falling from Shiva’s ear. He caught it and asked, “Where are you from?” The flower replied, “I have fallen from Shiva’s ear. I have been falling for four Brahma’s ages.” Brahma was shocked! He himself had only one age, but this flower had been falling for four of his ages ages. He then realized that he could never reach Shiva’s head.

Yet, instead of admitting the truth, Brahma tried to play a trick. He asked the flower to bear false witness and support his claim that he had seen Shiva’s head. The flower agreed. Together, they went to Shiva and lied. But Shiva, laughing at their deception, rejected them. Brahma was exposed, and the flower was cursed never to be used in Shiva’s worship again.

Ultimately, Brahma surrendered and worshiped Shiva. Out of compassion, Paramashiva blessed Brahma and lessened his curse. Initially, Brahma was cursed never to be worshiped in his own temple. However, because he repented and surrendered, Shiva granted him a place in all Shiva temples. Even now, in every Shiva temple, Brahma resides as one of the Parivara Devatas (secondary deities).

This story is not mythology; it is a profound lesson in surrender, humility, and the nature of the divine. To reach Paramashiva, neither intellect nor wealth is enough—only surrender leads to him.

Brahma is telescopic while Vishnu is microscopic. Whether you go in the microscopic level or in the telescopic level, you can’t find the ultimate Paramashiva because he is the source and light from which vision is happening, seeing is happening. Cognize this now. Instead of focusing on what is seen, look at who is seeing. Instead of focusing on seeing, focus on who is seeing.

Who can truly understand the Supreme form of Paramashiva, the greatest of all? So, through this story, you should understand only by deep surrender you can achieve Oneness with Paramashiva, the ultimate.

This whole story can be understood in multiple layers. What we try to do during our journey for Paramatma, how we can be guided to achieve Paramatma. Amazing guide!

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