Who is Harihara
Harihara is a syncretic deity combining Vishnu (Hari) and Shiva (Hara), representing the unity of preservation and destruction and the reconciliation of Vaishnava and Shaiva traditions. The earliest known depiction of Harihara appears in the Kushan period, but the concept is rooted in Vedic and Puranic texts. The Rigveda (1.89.10) hints at the complementary nature of deities, while the Mahabharata (Anushasana Parva 149.120) explicitly states that Vishnu and Shiva are one and the same. The Skanda Purana (Maheshvara Khanda) narrates the story of Harihara emerging from the union of Vishnu and Shiva to demonstrate their non-duality.
Iconographically, Harihara is depicted with the left half as Shiva—with matted hair, a crescent moon, and tiger skin—and the right half as Vishnu—wearing a crown and jewelry. The deity typically has four or more arms holding a shankha (conch), chakra (discus), trishula (trident), and damaru (drum), symbolizing the attributes of both gods. Principal myths include the story of the demon Andhaka, whom both Vishnu and Shiva together vanquish, as recounted in the Shiva Purana (Rudra Samhita). In the Bhagavata Purana (10.89), the sages debate the supremacy of Vishnu and Shiva, and the Lord himself reveals their oneness.
Regional worship is prominent in South India, especially in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, where temples like the Harihareshwara Temple in Harihar are dedicated to this form. In Nepal, the deity is known as Harihara and is worshipped in the Pashupatinath temple complex. The consort is considered a combined form of Lakshmi and Parvati. Harihara plays a role in Hindu cosmology by embodying the synthesis of the two major streams of Hinduism, illustrating that creation and destruction are complementary aspects of the divine.
The Harihara Stotram, a hymn praising this unified form, is recited by devotees seeking harmony and balance.
Names by which the divine is addressed
What they hold
Form, mudras, weapons & vahana
Half Vishnu, half Shiva. Left half is Shiva (matted hair, crescent moon, tiger skin), right half is Vishnu (crown, jewelry). Four or more arms holding respective symbols.