1) We know that Sriman Narayana is Supreme, as per Vedas. And this means, we reject Rajasic and Tamasic Puranas as invalid. We accept the Ithihasas, Ramayana and Mahabharata. Swami, my question is about the Mahabharata. There are so many versions in existence today. Many of these versions have tales like Shiva being called Supreme. How do Vaishnavas explain these verses? Because, I believe a team of scholars compiled an edition of every existent verse (BORI’s Critical Edition). In that edition, there are things like Bhishma telling Yudhishtira to worship Shiva, and Shiva being called greater than Vishnu. So, which is the correct version (in english) for Vaishnavas to follow? And if these verses calling Shiva as supreme are authentic, then how do we explain them? Did our poorvacharyas explain these verses? 2) My second question pertains to the Veda. I am aware that Satapatha Brahmana and other verses talk about birth of Shiva, so therby, Shiva is not Supreme. But how do we identify Vishnu as Sriman Narayana? And in Gita, Krishna says, ‘Among Adityas, I am Vishnu’. We know Adityas are created by NarayaNa. Then why does Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu, call Vishnu an Aditya? I’d be grateful if you could kindly answer these questions.

1) NO DOUBT THAT THERE ARE MANY SLOKAS INTRUDED IN MAHA BHARATHA IN RECENT TIMES. AS WE KNOW THAT THE WHOLE STORY ULTIMATELY DECLARES THAT LORD VISHNU IS THE SUPREME AND MANY LIKE BHISHMA IN RAJASUYA YAGA, RISHIS IN FOREST ETC., REVEALED THAT LORD VISHNU IS THE ULTIMATE GOD. SO, ANY SLOKAS CONTRADICTING THIS FACT, SHOULD BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED AS INCLUDED BY RECENT PUNDITS FOR THEIR OWN SAKE.
WHILE LORD KRISHNA WAS IN KAILASA YATRA, LORD SIVA DECLARES THAT LORD KRISHNA ( VISHNU ) IS ONLY THE “KA:RANA TATWAM” ACCEPTED SIVAS PRAYERS AND GRANTED THEM OUT OF COMPASSION WITH HIS ACT LIKE ASKING FOR BOONS FROM SIVA ETC., HE SAYS THAT IN HIS SLOKA VIZ., “ KA ITHI BRAMHANO: NA:MA, I:SO:HAM SARVA DE:HINA:M | A:VA:M THAVA:NGE: SAMBHU:THOW TASMA:TH KE:SAVA NA:MA VA:N || myself and bramha both were come out of your own divine form thus your name became “KE:SAVA”
THERE ARE MANY OTHER INCIDENTS TO PROVE THAT LORD VISHNU WAS WORSHIPPED BY ALL OTHER DEVATHAS AND SURRENDERED TO HIM. SO SLOKAS GOING IN TUNE TO THIS WILL BE TAKEN AS AUTHORITY AND OTHERS WILL BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED THAT THEY ARE LATER ADDITIONS ONLY.

2) ACCEPTING NARAYANA OR VISHNU AS SUPREME, IS JUST BECAUSE OF VEDAS ONLY. AS PURUSHA SUKTHA IS CONSIDERED TO BE QUINT ESSENCE OF ALL THE VEDAS. THERE IT IS ACCEPTED THAT “THE ONE WHO IS THE ORIGIN OF THIS UNIVERSE IS THE DIVINE SPOUSE OF LAKSHMI ETC.,” THIS IS ENOUGH TO PROVE THE SUPREMECY OF LAKSHMI NATHA.
TO PROVE THAT VISHNU AND NARAYANA ARE ONE AND THE SAME, WE TAKE THE MEANING OF THE WORDS AS NO ONE HAD EVER CHANCE TO WITNESS THE FORM IN TOTAL. ANY QUESTION OF THIS TYPE RELATED TO THE SUPREME CONCEPTS, SHALL BE REPLIED ONLY THROUGH THE EVIDENCE FROM SCRIPTURES WHICH ARE COMMONLY ACCEPTED BY ALL. ALL THEY DECLARE THAT LORD VISHNU AND NARAYANA ARE ONE AND THE SAME. SRI VISHNU SAHASRA NAMAM ALSO SAYS THE SAME.
VISHNU, THIS NAME IS EXISTENT TO MANY DEVATHAS & ALSO.TO INDRA, ONE OF THE SURYAS IS ALSO CALLED AS VISHNUS. IN GITHA, LORD WAS REFFERING TO THAT ADITHYA ONLY.
=CHINNAJEEEYAR=