Father of Lord Vishnu

There has been no clear answer to this question, "who is father of Lord Vishnu". Various assumptions have been made about Vishnu ji's father but no one is certain. Holy Puranas give a clear indication of father and mother of Lord Vishnu but gurus and acharyas have been oblivious to it. If one reads Shiv Purana and Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Purana, one can get clear information about Lord Vishnu's father. 

Who is the Father of Lord Vishnu?

The fact is that Kaal (Brahm) is the father of Lord Vishnu and Mother of Lord Vishnu is Goddess Durga. This information is clearly given in the following two scriptures.

1. Shiv Purana
2. Shrimad Devi Bhagwad Purana.

Who is Kaal Brahm

Kaal Brahm is the master of the cosmos that we live in. It is comprised of 21 multiverses.  21st multiverse is the personal universe of Kaal. He resides there in his original Kaal form. He has also made 3 separate universes where he himself resides as Mahabrahma (मंहब्रह्मा), Mahavishnu (मंहविष्णु), and Mahashiva (मंहशिव) or Sadashiv. His wife is Goddess Durga and in each of these universes he keeps Durga as MahaSavitri, MahaLakshmi and MahaParvati respectively. From their union, the trio of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are born. The appearance of these sons is similar to their father i.e. Brahma resembles Mahabrahma, Vishnu resembles Mahavishnu and Shiva resembles Mahashiva.

This basic concept is essential to understand the secret of 2 Brahma, 2 Vishnu and 2 Shiva described in Shrimad Devi Bhagavad Purana. Please see below.

Shrimad Devi Bhagavad Purana

In Devi Purana, Skand 3, Adhyay 3, there is a description of an account where Goddess Durga asks Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva to sit in a plane and she then gives them a tour of a secret place by her own power. While seated in that plane, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva visit different places where they see another Brahma, another Vishnu and another Shiva. On witnessing this, the three get completely perplexed and look at each other in amazement. Please see the account in Shrimad Devi Bhagavad Purana below.

Shrimad Devi Bhagavata Purana, Skand 3, Adhyay 3 - Hindi 

Sankshipt Shrimad Devi Bhagwat, Gita Press Gorakhpur

English - Shrimad Devi Bhagavad Purana, Skand 3, Chapter 3

12-30. Next we saw with great wonder, Varuna, the lord of the aquatic animals, Kuvera, Yama, Surya (sun), fire and the other Devas; then we saw that in our front, Indra the Lord of the Devas, was coming out from a well decorated city. He was there situated in his palanquin, calm and quiet and carried by men. Then the plane, where we were situated, began to get up high in the sky, and in the twinkling of an eye, we reached Brahma loka, that is saluted by all the Devas. There Shiva and Vishnu were greatly bewildered to see another Brahma of that place. In the council hall of Brahma, the Vedas with their Angas, the serpents, hills, oceans and rivers were seen. Seeing all these, Vishnu and Maheshvara asked me :-- “O Four-faced one! Who is this eternal Brahma? I replied :-- I do not know who is this Brahma? Who am I? and who is He? why has this error come over me? You, too, also are gods so you can better ponder over it.”

Next our plane, going with the swiftness of mind went, in the twinkling of an eye, to the beautiful all auspicious Kailasha mountain surrounded by bliss-giving Yaksas. It was beautified by the Mandara garden, resonated by the sweet cooings of Shukas and cuckoos and the sweet sounds of lutes and small drums and tabors. When we reached there we saw the five faced, three-eyed Bhagavan Shankara, with ten hands, wearing tiger skin, and the upper garment of the elephant skin. He was then, getting out of his abode, riding on a bull. His two sons, the great heroes, Ganesha and Kartikeya, beautifully adorned, were attending Him as His body guards. Nandi and all other hosts were following Him, chanting victories to Him. O Muni Narada! we were greatly wondered to see another Shankara, surrounded by the Matrikas. So much so, that perplexed with doubts, I sat down there.

Next our aeroplane went on with the force of wind; and in an instant reached the abode of Vaikuntha, the amusement court of Laksmi. O Suta! There at Vaikuntha, we saw a wonderful manifestation of power. Our companion Vishnu was greatly surprised to see that excellent city. We saw there four-armed Vishnu, of the colour of Atasi flower, wearing yellow garments, adorned with divine ornaments sitting on Garuda. Laksmi Devi is fanning wonderful chowry to Him. Struck with wonder at the sight of the eternal Vishnu, we took our seat on the plane and looked at one another's face.

Gist of the above mentioned account from Devi Bhagawat Purana

Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Purana – Video

Read more: full analysis of Shrimad Bhagavata Purana

Shiv Purana

In Shiva Purana, Vidhweshwar Samhita, Chapter 10, there is an account of fight between Brahma and Vishnu. To stop the fight, God Kaal Brahm appears in SadaShiva form and gives knowledge to both Brahma and Vishnu. He addresses them both as his children. He describes in detail what qualities he has granted to Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh thus proving Kaal is the father of Lord Vishnu as well as Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva.

Read more: father of Lord Shiva.

Shiva Purana - Rudrasamhita Adhyay 6 - Hindi

In Shiva Purana Rudrasamhita Chapter 6, the birth of Lord Vishnu has been explained. It clarifies that the father of God Vishnu is God Sadashiv. 

Shiv Purana - Rudra Samhita Chapter 6 | English

33-38. Shiva thought within Himself like this-"Another being shall be created by me. Let him create everything, protect it and in the end let him dissolve it with my blessing. Having entrusted everything to him we two, remaming in Kasi shall roam as we please keeping only the prerogative of conferring salvation. We can stay happily in this blissful forest being free from worries (of creation). With the consent of Shiva the supreme lord spread the liquorine essence of nectar on His left side, on the tenth limb, nectar which was the outcome of churning the ocean of His mind wherein Thoughts were the waves, the Sattva Guna).a was the precious gem, Rajas being coral and Tamas---crocodile. Thereupon a person came into being who was the most charming one in the three worlds, who was calm with Sattva Guna being prominent, and who appeared to be the ocean of immeasurable majesty.

39. O sage, he was endowed with patience. There was no one comparable to him. He had the lustre of sapphire. He was glorious with his excellent eyes shining like a lotus.

40. He was having a golden form and features. He wore two excellent silk garments of golden colour. His arms were brawny and brilliant. He was indefatigable.

41. He bowed to Shiva Paramesvara and said-"O lord give me names and assign me my task."

42. On hearing it Lord Shiva laughed. With words thunderlike in resonance, Lord Shiva addressed the person thus. Shiva said :-

43. "You will be famous as Vishnu by name as you are all-pervasive. You will have many other names conferring happiness on devotees.

Shiv Puran Rudra Samhita, Pratham Khand, Adhyay 1

Shiv Puran Rudra Samhita, Khand 1, Chapter 1 - English

We have heard that Lord Shiva is easily pleased. He is very benevolent, therefore cannot witness the agony of his devotees. The trio Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh have originated from Shiva.

Conclusion:

Both Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Purana and Shiv Purana give ample information about Lord Vishnu's father. In Shiv Purana, Lord Sadashiv clearly explains the orgin and birth of Lord Vishnu and him being the father of Vishnu. In Shrimad Bhagwat Purana, Goddess Durga with her own grace, from a distance, shows Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, their father as MahaBrahma, MahaVishnu and MahaShiva (Sadashiv). These are all the forms of Kaal Brahm who is the father of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

References

• Sankshipt Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Purana - Gita Press Gorakhpur - Page 117, 118

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