Brahma, Visnu or Shiva: Who is the Supreme?

Once, long long ago, on the shore of the river Sarasvati, a discussion arose among a group of sages as to which of the three chief Lords: Brahmā, Vishnu or Shiva; is the greatest. They deputed Bhrigu Muni to investigate the matter.

Bhrigu decided to test the Lords’ tolerance, for that quality is a sure sign of greatness. First he entered the court of Lord Brahmā, his father, without offering him any respect. This enraged Brahmā, who suppressed his anger because Bhrigu was his son.

Next, Bhrigu went to Lord Shiva, his elder brother, who rose from his seat to embrace him. But Bhrigu rejected the embrace, calling Shiva a deviant heretic. Just as Shiva was about to kill Bhrigu with his trident, Goddess Pārvati interceded and pacified her husband.

Next, Bhrigu went to Vaikuntha to test Lord Nārāyana. Going up to the Lord, who was lying with His head on the lap of the goddess of fortune, Bhrigu kicked His chest. But instead of becoming angry, both the Lord and His consort stood up and offered Bhrigu respects.

“Welcome,” said the Lord. “Please sit down and rest awhile. Kindly forgive us, dear master, for not noticing your arrival.” When Bhrigu went back to the assembly of sages and told them all that had happened, they concluded that Lord Vishnu is certainly supreme.

Srila Prabhupada comments, “Of course, Lord Vishu is all-merciful. He did not become angry at the activities of Bhrigu, for Bhrigu was a great ब्राह्मण. A ब्राह्मण is to be excused even if he sometimes commits an offense, and Lord Vishnu set the example.

Yet it is said that from the time of this incident, the goddess of fortune, लक्ष्मी, has not been very favorably disposed toward the ब्राह्मण, and therefore because the goddess of fortune withholds her benedictions from them, the ब्राह्मण are generally very poor.

The so-called ब्राह्मण of कलियुग are sometimes very proud that a great ब्राह्मण like Bhrigu could touch the chest of Lord with his foot. But in fact, when Bhrgu kicked the Lord, it was the greatest offense, although Lord being greatly magnanimous did not take it very seriously.

So when such great personalities like Bhrigu, Parashara, Vasistha & Atreya etc. can't understand the supreme Lord, what to speak of others? How will they understand the Supreme Lord by mental speculation? They will conclude naturally, “God is imperson.” That’s all.

It is not possible for them to understand God. Only the devotees of Lord can understand what is the actual identification of the absolute truth.

(An excerpt from the Srimad Bhagavatam, 10th Canto, Chapter 89)