Does Lord Vishnu recognise a higher force than him?

Many people believe that Lord Vishnu is the Supreme God and does not worship anyone. However, ancient scriptures provide evidence that even Lord Vishnu engages in worship. One such significant text is the Devi Bhagwat Purana, which explicitly states that Lord Vishnu, along with Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva, worships a higher divine power.

Evidence from Devi Bhagwat Purana

The Devi Bhagwat Purana provides an important account in which Lord Vishnu, along with other deities, acknowledges the supremacy of Goddess Durga (Prakriti Devi). In Devi Bhagwat Purana, 3rd Skand, Chapter 4, Lord Vishnu himself states:

"I, Brahma, and Shiva are born from her (Durga). We act according to the rules set by her."

This statement suggests that Lord Vishnu is not the ultimate authority but is subordinate to Durga.

Furthermore, in Devi Bhagwat Purana, 7th Skand, Chapter 36, there is a discussion between King Himalaya and Goddess Durga. In this dialogue, Goddess Durga declares that she is the primordial force and that even Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva worship her.

She states:

"Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva receive their powers from me. Under my influence, they create, sustain, and destroy the universe."

This further reinforces the idea that Lord Vishnu is not the Supreme God but rather operates under the influence of a higher power. However, in the discussion further she reveals a higher force called Brahm and recommends his worship. Goddess Durga specifies that the mantra of worship of this God is Om and he resides in Brahmlok.

The Worship of Durga by Vishnu

• The Devi Bhagwat Purana, 5th Skand, Chapter 8 reveals that Lord Vishnu performed intense worship of Goddess Durga. He sought her blessings during a time of distress. The text describes Vishnu offering prayers and performing austerities to seek her divine intervention.
• The Devi Bhagwat Purana, 9th Skand, Chapter 1 also narrates that Lord Vishnu, along with other gods, prays to Durga to help them in difficult times. This also suggests that Lord Vishnu acknowledges her as a superior power.

Understanding the Supreme God

While the Devi Bhagwat Purana highlights Durga's influence over Vishnu, it is important to note that this does not mean she is the Supreme God. There are even higher spiritual truths beyond her. First of all she advised King Himalaya to worship Brahm by chanting Om mantra. Secondly, the Vedas and Bhagavad Gita hint at the existence of a Supreme God who is distinct from Durga and the three gods (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva).

For instance, in Bhagavad Gita 18:62, the speaker of the Gita directs Arjuna to seek refuge in a higher Supreme God beyond himself:

"Surrender completely to that Supreme God; by His grace, you will attain eternal peace and the supreme abode."

This suggests that there is an entity higher than Vishnu, Brahma, Shiva, and even Durga.

Conclusion

The Devi Bhagwat Purana provides clear evidence that Lord Vishnu worships Goddess Durga and seeks her blessings. This challenges the common belief that Vishnu is the ultimate Supreme God. However, deeper study of scriptures like the Vedas and Bhagavad Gita reveals that the Supreme God is beyond Durga as well. Those who seek the highest truth must explore these scriptures to understand who the Supreme God truly is.