Siva and Vishnu are one and the same. If you say Vishnu’s name, it implies you have chanted Siva’s names and vice versa. They are both one and the same. It is we who create the differences.

Many ascetics, and avadhootas mix all the items served to them and eat. Will such food have a proper taste? Sweet, salt, sour items would be mixed. Yet, they find it tasty. They decide not to experience the different tastes separately.

However, we are different. We relish salty foods separately, and enjoy sweets separately. We eat sour foods separately. Do we mix water and rasam? No. But what happens to the food after you swallow it? Inside the stomach, do the items remain separate? Everything gets mixed. Only the essence from the food gets absorbed into the body.

Similarly, you consider Shiva and Vishnu as separate. However they are the same. Whether you say Siva’s name or Vishnu’s name, it goes to the same God. What is important is that you are chanting divine names. That’s all. It is not important as to which divine name you chant.

(Q&A Bangalore 11 Nov 2015)