The Antiquities of Orissa v1.c11.114

v1.c11.114

Opinion is divided among European orientalists as to the respective ages of the *Rāmāyaṇa* and the *Mahābhārata*, and also about the authenticity of the passages in those works which assign divine origin to Rāma and Kṛṣṇa, and it is not my intention to enter into a chronological dissertation about them in this place, but whatever their age and authenticity, this much is undeniable that they fully recognise the divinity of Viṣṇu, and of his being the object of special adoration to a large number of sectaries. Nor are evidences wanting in those works, of a strong spirit of bigotry aud antagonism having prevailed in their times between the followers of Viṣṇu and Śiva. These evidences appear under different forms, but their tendency and purport are unmistakable. Thus in one place, the *Rāmāyaṇa* makes Paraśurāma relate a story in which it is said that on one occasion, “the gods made a request to Brahmā, desiring him to find out the strength and weakness of Śitikaṇṭha ( Mahādeva ) and Viṣṇu, and Brahmā, most excellent of the three, learning the purpose of the gods, created enmity between the two. In this state of enmity, a great and terrible fight ensued between Śitikaṇṭha and Viṣṇu, each of whom was eager to conquer the other. Śiva's bow of dreadful power was then relaxed, and the three-eyed Mahādeva was arrested by a muttering. These two eminent deities being entreated by the assembled gods, *ṛṣis*, and *cāraṇas*, were pacified. Seeing that the bow of Śiva had been relaxed by the prowess of Viṣṇu, the gods and *ṛṣis* [ 153 ] esteemed Viṣṇu to be superior”. ⁵⁶ Other stories of a similar character are not by any means scarce, but it is not necessary to quote them here, as it is not likely that anybody will question the fact that religious antagonism between the Śivites and the Vaiṣṇavites was high at the time of the *Rāmāyaṇa* and the *Mahābhārata*.