The most common factor between Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva was that they were the torch bearers of their respective parental lineage. Vishnu belonged to tradition of Prajapati, and Shiva to one of the indigenous traditions.
Lord Vishnu, or Vishnu Prajapati as is known in Vedic literature is considered as the first to have come out with the Infinite principle. He is taken as the fountain head of Vaishnava Tradition. Followers of Lord Shiva are called Shaiva.?
Mention of Vishnu Prajapati in the lineage of Prajapati is found in Rig Veda. He was the Rishi considered as the confluence of the traditions of? Prajapati Paramesti and Rudra - the two polestars of pre-rig vedic period - revered as well springs of most of the 414 vedic lineages we find in the now available Sakala school of Rig Veda.? As the meeting point person, Vishnu is placed in the middle position of what we call Trinity: Brahma Vishnu and Mahesh. In Rig Veda, Rishi Agni, who understood Infinite Vishnu-principle is known as Adi Vishnu. Vishnu Prajapati is said to be contemporary of Agni and was very closely related to the later, may be,?as his preceptor. Vishnu is one among 12 Adityas in the lineage of? Prajapati.
Hindus worship Vishnu as the protector and nurturer of creation. These attributes of Vishnu that became synonymous with him may haveits origin in Rig Veda. In Rig 10. 184, the seer is Vishnu Prajapatya who speaks about making women (nature) fertile for creation, protection of the womb etc.?
We come across the name of Shiva as the Shiva Sreekantha for the first time in Mahabharat and don?t find mention of him in any preceding literatures. He is said be in the lieage of Rudra and his subsequent Pasupata tradition. In Mahabharat epic (12:349:23431), it is said,? The cult known as Pasupata was promulgated by the lord? master of all creatures, the cheerful Shiva otherwise known as Shreekantha.?? In another place (13:160:13409) Shiva is describes, He is Rudra, He is Shiva?. He is Vayu? and great lightning.? There are thirteen mentions of Siva in Mahabharat.
Shiva is called Bratya, denoting his origin to one of the respected Indian indigenous tibes. A Place known as Kanavira, close to Allahabad, and not far from Varanasi, was the birth place of Shiva Srikantha.
