He explained that Goddess Lakshmi is often depicted seated at Lord Vishnu’s feet,. According to him, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati are neither given an equal nor a higher position in such depictions, whereas Lord Shiva has given Goddess Parvati an equal and even higher position.
Based on this, he was explaining why Lord Shiva is considered superior to Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma.
Bhaiya please share a deeper understanding of this subject, because I feel the Kathavachak was unable to explain the subtle philosophical meaning behind these representations and presented them in a rather superficial manner.
This is even factually incorrect. Saraswati has been revered and worshipped since the Vedic Age. At that point she is not regarded as a consort of Brahma but as the goddess of Vak, the Word of creation. There is no Brahma but Brahmanaspati, or Brahaspati in the Vedic Age. Later Puranic legend shows Saraswati brought out from Brahma but it is she who has the creative power and seated in a lotus above him.
Similarly Lakshmi ji is shown seated in Vishnu ji’s heart. That is why she goes away when Rishi Bhrigu gives a hurtful blow to test Lord Vishnu. Lakshmi ji goes away and with her departure the gods lose their power and prosperity, Shree or Sri. Even Uma or Gauri walks away from Shiva once and the great god loses his power. All the goddesses are depicted as the real power while the gods are largely stabilising forces. In fact there are many stories showing the unity of Hari and Hara, Vishnu and Shiva. While in the Daksha yagya god Vishnu loses to Shiva, in the fight against Banasura, Shiva loses to Krishna. These stories simply relate different stages of self development. When the sadhak is in tamoguna, closer to the animal, pasu and Asura then Shiva is the natural deity. When the sadhak is in rajoguna then Brahma with the creative power of Saraswati is the natural deity. When the sadhak is in Sattwaguna, then Vishnu ji with the harmonising power of Mahalakshmi is the deity. And when the sadhak seeks to go beyond the guna intoxicated with the love of God the Krishna and Radha are the natural deities. It is a vast subject of which the pandit ji is naturally not aware.
Love
