[Advaita-l] Hari-Hara abheda in Vishnupurana

[KAMESWARARAO MULA]

Dear Subrahmanyam Sir,                                        It is good that you mentioned nicely regarding the Hari-Hara abheda. Although not related to this context, but I would like to mention one great god  who is the union of Hari-Hara i.e Swamy saran Ayyappa.Ayyappa, Hariharaputra, Manikanta, Shasta or Dharma Shasta.Ayyappan depicts him as ahandsome celibate god doing yoga and as an epitome of Dharma, who wears a bellaround his neck. he is also an incarnation of the Buddha. He is honoredby some Muslims in Kerala.In the Hindu tradition popular in the Western Ghats of India, hewas born with the powers of Shiva and Vishnu to confront and defeat the shapeshifting evil Buffalo demoness Mahishasuri. He was raised by a childless royal couple,and grows up as a warrior yogi champion of ethical and dharmic living, he is shown as riding a white elephant.Ayyappan popularity has grown in many parts ofIndia, and the most prominent Ayyappan shrine is at Sabarimala,nestled in the hills of Pathanamthitta of Kerala. The shrinereceives millions of pilgrims every year in late December and early January,many of whom prepare for weeks before and then climb the hill barefoot. The pilgrimage attracts a wide rangeof devotees, from diverse social or economic backgrounds, except women in theirfertile age given Ayyappan is believed to be the celibate deity. Some Ayyappan temples show him withwomen in grihastha (married, householder) life. Ayyappanmay share a historical relationship with the Tamil deity Aiyanar. The most significantfestival linked to him is the Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti),  
SriGuru Padaravindarpana Mastu
Kameswara 



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