Harihara as Supreme?

[ShivaFan]

Yes, Dattatreya Sampradayas are what you are looking for, Dattatreya is Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, they also have some temples with the "Hari Hara Pitamaha" with not just Harihara but is all Three sitting side by side on a padmasana with a Nandi, Swan and Garuda carved below.

You other thing you will find about the Dattatreya sampradaya is Advaitic Tantrika as well as devotions to Hanumanji.

Om Namah Sivaya

 

[Stormcry]

that Harihara is Supreme, even
though such a notion is nowhere supported in
Shruti/Trayi-Veda-s.​

It is supported in Fifth Veda - Puranas - essence of entire Veda. What should you have more?

And neither of the two, not Vaishnava-s nor
Shaiva-s, would adhere to viewing Harihara as
Supreme. In fact, the two have historically had
fights (debates & some violent engagements).

I'm a vaishnawa and I believe Shiva & vishnu are same. In fact, vaishnawa is not that person who differentiate between shiva & vishnu. Being vaishnawa doesn't mean not believing in Shiva as supreme. And as per my knowledge, Bhagavata purana which is the soul of Vaishnawas, states that both shiva and vishnu are one. There shri krushnu himself said that whoever thinks myself different from shiva doesn't attain peace nor me. So who is real vaishnawa is very clear from Bhagavata purana. Sampradayik beliefs which insult shiva by calling demigod is not true vaishnawism of Bhagavata Purana. Surely, I believe in Bhagavata Vaishnawism , not in any vaishnswa sampradaya who contradicts with Bhagavata. The another thing we get from Puranas and itihasa: " Whoever see vishnu different from shiva or shiva different from vishnu doesn't attain vishnu or Shiva, rather they go to the hell as they incure the sin of Brahmahatya" This is not my idea. This is the statement of Purana. If someone wants source let me know. Seeing vishnu different from shiva is really ashamed thing and dangerous as well.

And about fights ! Fights between two selfs of Bhagavan are just lilas. Unintelligent persons should not judge it. Only pure devotees of Shiva and Vishnu know those lilas.
There was a battle between krishna and his devotee Bhishma. Bhishma injured his Bhagavan himself with his bows. But that doesn't mean Krishna or Bhishma hates each other. Those who aren't devotees can not even imagine such topmost devotion. Study of veda can't ever reveal such devotion.​

 

[StarryNightshade]

Yes, Dattatreya Sampradayas are what you are looking for, Dattatreya is Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, they also have some temples with the "Hari Hara Pitamaha" with not just Harihara but is all Three sitting side by side on a padmasana with a Nandi, Swan and Garuda carved below.

You other thing you will find about the Dattatreya sampradaya is Advaitic Tantrika as well as devotions to Hanumanji.

Om Namah Sivaya

Interesting. Thanks Shivafan!

I have a few questions about this Sampraday.

1.) So Dattatreya is considered the Saguna Brahman? How are Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva viewed on their own? If at all?

2.) How about the other Devas and Avatars?

3.) Aside from the Vedas, what are the main scriptures used?

4.) Exactly what kind of Tantric practices are done?

5.) Compared to other Sampradays, what is the presence of this one? Both in and outside of India?

 

[Poeticus]

Why not just be a common main-line Hindu, worshiping all and having a chosen deity, Henotheism? Depreciating all isms.

That's most certainly possible.​

 

[ShivaFan]

Namaste

I am by no means an "expert" on Dattatreya or His sampradaya. But I know for a fact that the Sampradaya is considering Him Saguna Brahman and the Tantra Yoga element is also there, even Bhakti too. But again, I am no expert.

However there are devotees who are, and these are what THEY told me, some of THEIR words:

(From an ADVANCED Gaudiya) -

"Dattatreya pure is one of Atri and AnsUya's three sons, Chandra (Rshi) = BramhA,
DattAtreya = VishNu (who made 24 Gurus, and KRshNa tells Uddhav about this avatar of His) and DurvAs Muni = Shiva/Rudra."

"Shri Gurucharitra is the primary scripture for Dattatreya sampraday."

"Three babies (who were the TrimUrti owing to the boon given), Chandra Datta and DurvAs were later on "seen around by people as one mUrti"

"Datta really is ek-mukhi and He is the source of the TrimUrti, which means He is the supreme Lord. The three shaktis are combined as Dattatreya's potency, consort AnaghA Devi acc. to ShripAd Shrivallabh (Datta avatar in Kali Yug)."

"He was donated (datta) by Himself to Atri Rshi"

"In one Datta temple/maTh (NRsinghpUr), there is a quote:
"Give with two hands , and I shall give with six.
Give with six hands and I shall give with a thousand (sahastra) - symbolic for infinite, abundant [hands]"

"There is some uncanny connection between the Lord as murlidhar veNu mAdhav as DwArkAdheesh and as Dattatreya. As the former He would just come to your doorstep courteously at noon smiling natkhat wearing yellow pitambar vaijayanti haar and peacock feather with a "Here I am!" grin , knock or ring the bell as per the times. As the latter He would come to your doorstep at noon in avadhUt attire and a bhiksha jholi and shout "Alak!!" or "Alak Niranjan!!" As the former He would be just your surprise guest. As the latter He would be a traditional bhikshuk. In both forms His whole and sole goal would be to bestow causeless mercy on you - your entire household."

"No. I am not an avadhUt. I am Brahman. It is the experience of avadhUts that Brahman is all-pervading, everywhere.
So, I am not just an avadhUt but Brahman and I am the antaryAmi (indweller) of all beings. This is my state.
The avadhUts who are liberated from the bondage of saMsAr, merge into Me (vileen - attain oneness with Me), and in this way they experience bramhAnanda. (* Note how the Lord implies their existence remains.) No personality (vyaktitva) is left in them, hence they are devoid of any goal, desire or resolve (saMkalpa). I am in the Supreme Energy (mahAshakti) and the Supreme Divine Resolve (mahAsankalpa) of the universes. The avadhUts who are "leen" i.e. merged in Me, are also compelled to take birth here if that is My order. My svarUp is satya-jnana-Ananda (truth-knowledge-bliss) with sankalpa (resolve) whereas their svarUp is satya-jnAna-Ananda without sankalpa."

(And below from a very ADVANCED Hindu) -

"Dattatreya is the Guru Murthy of the Tretayuga. As per Srimad Bhagavatam, He is one of the 21 avataras of Vishnu. Unlike other avatars which take leave from this earth after accomplishing the task, He remains and roams in this loka through out for he is the Guru of all and his task is only to uplift the needy. It is said that, when one invokes any Guru in this world, it is infact Sri Datta Guru who would respond for he is the Guru Murthy residing on this earth. That is why he is called as "Smarthrugami" - One who comes to your aid the moment you remember or think of him. His state of appearance and behavior is not always pleasing and could be deceptive as well. He is referred to as "Balonmattapisachaveshaya", that is, he acts like a Child, a madman or a devil and would reveal himself only to the ones that pass his test. "Tripura Rahasya" is a great book of his teachings. I've read the Jnana Kanda of that. Of all the Tantras in this world, Dattatreya Tantra is the best. It is said that, Gayatri, of all the Mantras, Sri Yantra, of all the Yantras and Dattatreyatantra of all the tantras is Supreme. My native place is 14KM from Pithapuram, Andhra Pradesh where the birth of Sripada Srivallabha took place. I feel proud of it and blessed. Sri Dattassaranam Mama."