Have you ever wondered,

Why does Shiva have Shakti (Power) with him?

Why does Vishnu have Lakshmi?

And

Why does Brahma have Saraswati?

We often talk about the Trimurti (the three principal deities in Hinduism), and this very logic symbolizes the balance in our lives. It explains why a wife is called the “Vamangi” (the left side of the body) and why a husband is considered incomplete without his wife, and vice versa.

In the scriptures, Vishnu and Shiva are depicted as Lakshmi Narayan and Ardhanarishvara (the combined form of Shiva and Parvati) respectively.

Let’s delve deeper into this:

Why does Shiva have Shakti (Nature/Power/Parvati/Sati/Jagat Janani) with him?

Do you know that Shiva is a symbol of the eternal cycle of creation and destruction? Destruction is Shiva’s domain, and without Shakti, destruction is impossible. This is why Shakti is always with Shiva—without Shakti, Shiva is nothing more than a lifeless corpse. You might have read Einstein’s theory of mass-energy equivalence. The concept here is similar.

Now, the question arises: If Shiva symbolizes the eternal cycle, how can he be eternal? The answer lies in this verse: “अतः अस्ति प्रारंभ” (meaning the end is the beginning). If understood correctly, the Big Bang Theory is also based on this concept.

You might have often seen Shiva closely associated with Shakti. They are frequently depicted as being absorbed in each other because the presence of Shakti is essential for destruction. The transformation from lifelessness to life, from being a mere corpse to becoming Shiva, is not possible without Shakti. No matter can be animated or brought to life without energy.

Why does Vishnu have Lakshmi (Wealth/Prosperity) with him?

You might know that Vishnu is considered the preserver of the universe. He is responsible for its upkeep and sustenance. Without wealth, particularly prosperity, nothing can be sustained. All forms of luxury, wealth, and material resources are associated with Goddess Lakshmi. This is why she is often depicted sitting at the feet of Lord Vishnu.

When one has the support of wealth, they are capable of sustaining life. It’s possible that Lakshmi being under Vishnu’s control symbolizes that having control over wealth is normal. However, when you become controlled by wealth, it leads to destruction.

Goddess Lakshmi is often depicted deep in the ocean, seated on the Shesha Nag, at the feet of Lord Vishnu. This might be because it is essential for wealth to be under the control of the preserver. Wealth and prosperity should not overpower the mind (symbolizing dominance), as this can lead to destruction.

Why does Brahma have Saraswati (Knowledge/Wisdom/Goddess Sharda) with him?

After understanding the relationship between Vishnu and Shiva with their respective consorts, it’s clear why Goddess Sharda is associated with Brahma. Brahma is considered the creator of the universe, and creation is his domain. Without knowledge, creation is impossible. Just as wealth is essential for preservation and power for destruction, knowledge is crucial for creation.

No creation is possible without education, knowledge, and wisdom. This is why Goddess Saraswati is associated with Lord Brahma.
Goddess Saraswati is often depicted seated on a lotus, just like Brahma. While they have distinct roles, they are always in close proximity. Goddess Sharda is often portrayed as being busy, as continuous flow of knowledge is essential for creation.

In essence:

What people are trying to understand, learn, and discover today has been known to us for centuries.
Astu.

Written by Sultan Singh – in his Blog Vicharvrund