Puraane-Itihaasam - Part 1

 Does Linga Purana destroy the core of Vaishnavism ?

No…….Never !!!!!!!!!!

Linga Purana like every other Purana though is interpolated by fanatics in medieval India but it never insults, Lord Vishnu, Ashtakshar Mantra or Vaishnavism. Lord Narayana is specially praised many times in all Shaivite Puranas, let it be Shiva Purana, Linga Purana, Matsya Purana, Kurma Purana, Vaayu Purana, Vaaman Purana or any. Narayana or Vishnu or Krishna or Rama is always called with a particular name which is Parmatma in these Puranas. The only aim of these Purana is to show the equality of Shriman Narayana and Shriman Mahadeva and even equality among Shaivas and Vaishnavas. If one thinks some interpolations in Linga Purana is destroying core of Vaishnavism then what about Padma Purana or Garuda Purana ? Then are they destroying the core of Shaivism and Smarthism ? No na !!!!! Then one must even don’t disrespect Shaastras by telling such thing. Interpolations are common in every Purana because we didn’t had Copyright claims in earlier days so everyone interpolated them as per their will. However they didn’t did full because at that time people do feared from some facts which will discuss later on.

Now coming to the question of Linga Purana destroying the core of Vaishnavism, Sorry it’s not doing that. Even have glorified Lord Vishnu, Ashtakshar Mantra and Vaishnavas. If it praises Shaivas as the most divine of all, it don’t disagrees calling True Vaishnavas too as divine but remember one thing, true Vaishnava. Its very easy to call yourself as a Vaishnava but very hard to become in reality because as it's said in Linga Purana, a Vaishnava is free from every worldly pleasures and has burnt his sins. It even says that when a Vaishnava arrives Swarga Loka (Heaven), Devas and Devis there gets afraid and ran to wash their feets and with full respect and love, they welcome them.

In Linga Purana, at different places many times Lord Hari is glorified but special glorification of him and Vaishnavas comes in these 8 chapters of Section 2 or Dwitiya Khanda. 1st one is Glories of Narayana (the supreme soul), 2nd one is Glories of Vishnu, 3rd one is the achivement of Science of music by Narada, 4th one is description of the Vaishnava, 5th one is the anecdote of Shrimati, 6th one is the origin and activities of Alakshmi, 7th one is Dwadash-akshaayi Mantram and the 8th one is Ashtakshara Mantram. In the 8th one, here the glories of Ashtakshara Mantra of Lord Vishnu is said that in glories and divinity, its equal to the Panchakshara Mantra and Dashakshar Mantra of Lord Shiva. Because both are same and one.

In the 6th one i.e. Origin and activities of Alakshmi, it's clearly written that Alakshmi who brings unhappiness, un-wealthyness, death, I'll health, sorrows, misfortune, and all the other problems will never come to those who is devoted towards Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. The one who chants these names which are Hari, Vishnu, Vasudeva, Narayana, Lakshmi Narayana, Madhava, Krishna, Rama, Vaaman, Narsimmha , Lakshmipriya, Hara, Uma-Maheshwara, Rudra, Shiva, Mahadeva, Shankar, Nandi-Dhwajaya, etc. many other names of Lakshmi Narayana and Uma Maheshwara, no misfortune or no problems will attack them and if attacked though, the supreme will destroy it, Because all these names are of the supreme only.

I will not give the full contents of that chapters because they are too long. So I request all the people reading this answer, read this parts of Linga Purana yourself. Never insult Linga Purana ever because insulting Linga Purana is insulting the supreme Lord Shiva i.e. Shriman Mahadeva.

Hope it helps !!!!!!!

Jay Uma Maheshwara !!!!!!!!!

Jay Lakshmi Narayana !!!!!!!