Is Krishna or Shiva the Supreme?
In India there is traditional controversy of who is the Supreme Lord: Lord Krishna or Lord Shiva. But for one who has scrutinizingly analyzed the Vedic scriptures in this connection there is no controversy.Regarding the relationship between Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva, Srila Prabhupada explains as follows in his purport to Srimad Bhagavatam, 4th Canto, Chapter 24, Text 30:
"It is said, vaiṣṇavānāṁ yathā śambhuḥ: Lord Śiva is the best of all devotees. Therefore all devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa are also devotees of Lord Śiva. In Vṛndāvana there is Lord Śiva's temple called Gopīśvara. The gopīs used to worship not only Lord Śiva but Kātyāyanī, or Durgā, as well, but their aim was to attain the favor of Lord Kṛṣṇa. A devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa does not disrespect Lord Śiva, but worships Lord Śiva as the most exalted devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Consequently whenever a devotee worships Lord Śiva, he prays to Lord Śiva to achieve the favor of Kṛṣṇa, and he does not request material profit. In Bhagavad-gītā (7.20) it is said that generally people worship demigods for some material profit. Kāmais tais tair hṛta jñānāḥ. Driven by material lust, they worship demigods, but a devotee never does so, for he is never driven by material lust. That is the difference between a devotee's respect for Lord Śiva and an asura's respect for him. The asura worships Lord Śiva, takes some benediction from him, misuses the benediction and ultimately is killed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who awards him liberation.
"Because Lord Śiva is a great devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he loves all the devotees of the Supreme Lord. Lord Śiva told the Pracetās that because they were devotees of the Lord, he loved them very much. Lord Śiva was not kind and merciful only to the Pracetās; anyone who is a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is very dear to Lord Śiva. Not only are the devotees dear to Lord Śiva, but he respects them as much as he respects the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Similarly, devotees of the Supreme Lord also worship Lord Śiva as the most dear devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa. They do not worship him as a separate Personality of Godhead. It is stated in the list of nāma-aparādhas that it is an offense to think that the chanting of the name of Hari and the chanting of Hara, or Śiva, are the same. The devotees must always know that Lord Viṣṇu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and that Lord Śiva is His devotee. A devotee should be offered respect on the level of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and sometimes even more respect. Indeed, Lord Rāma, the Personality of Godhead Himself, sometimes worshiped Lord Śiva. If a devotee is worshiped by the Lord, why should a devotee not be worshiped by other devotees on the same level with the Lord? This is the conclusion. From this verse it appears that Lord Śiva blesses the asuras simply for the sake of formality. Actually he loves one who is devoted to the Supreme Personality of Godhead."
After reading and understanding what Srila Prabhupada has written above, we can clearly see why is really no controversy at all.
Rahul Gautam
My Dear Rahul,
Please accept my blessings.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Lord Brahma clearly describes in the Brahma samhita that just as yogurt (dahi) can be derived from milk and that milk cannot be derived from yogurt (dahi), in a similar way Lord Shiva is derived from Lord Krishna for the work of destruction without there being any possibility of Lord Krishna being derived from Lord Shiva.
Here is the answer to your question as given by my spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada:
Regarding those who say that Shiva is the Supreme, in the Rig Veda
it is stated: "om tad visnoh paramam padam.'' The lotus feet of Vishnu
are the supreme devotional platform. There Vishnu is accepted as the Supreme. So there are 18 Puranas. Six of them are for persons in the modes of ignorance, some for those in passion, and the topmost are for those in goodness, the sattvic puranas. If one intelligently reads the Puranas and Vedas, then he can understand that Vishnu is the Supreme Person. But, for those on the stage of ignorance and passion, sometimes such statements are there. So it depends on the quality of the nature of the person that one accepts Lord Shiva or Lord Vishnu as the Supreme, but one who studies scrutinizingly all the Vedic literature and who accepts the statements of the acharyas who guide the destiny of Vedic culture of India who all accept Vishnu as the Supreme Person, then he will also
have the same conclusion.
So far we are concerned in the Krishna consciousness movement, we are
preaching the teachings of the Bhagavad-gita. Krishna is the Supreme
Person even before all demigods including Lord Vishnu even, and of course Lord Shiva. Our fundamental principle is the teaching of the Bhagavad-gita. Those persons who cannot understand this on account of particular modes of nature, such persons require further education, and until such time is fulfilled, we are helpless. To an animal in the modes of ignorance, how can we preach? Then we are helpless.
It is stated in the Vedas: eko narayana asin na brahma na isano. . . In the beginning there was no Brahma, no Shiva, only Krishna. The cosmic manifestation is from Mahat Tattva, and before the Maha Tattva there is Narayana.
Sankaracarya is a Lord Shiva worshipper and an incarnation of Lord Shiva, and he admits that Narayana is the master, and Narayana is the Supreme. narayanah paro 'vyaktat. This is the best authority. What more evidence you want? This is in his Sanka Bhasya on Bhagavad-gita. This is not even the statement of the Puranas but of Sankaracarya's own
writings. How can you deny if the incarnation of Lord Siva says that Krishna is Supreme?
In the Puranas it is stated that another demigod is supreme just to convince the devotee. Just like a student in primary school, he thinks the primary education is everything and has no idea of higher education. This is to convince the devotees but from the Gita we understand that it is from Krishna that He gives the faith by which one can worship the demigods.
Krishna says "aham adi hi devanam.'' Is Krishna speaking a lie? "mattah parataram nanyat [Bg. 7.7].'' Nobody is greater than Me, He says. Why should we reject Krishna's statement? Our mission is to put Krishna as first, and they may take it or not. We do not interfere with their choice, but
we do it as our duty.
I hope this meets you in the best of healthand in an ecstatic mood.
Your ever well-wisher,
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
"It is said, vaiṣṇavānāṁ yathā śambhuḥ: Lord Śiva is the best of all devotees. Therefore all devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa are also devotees of Lord Śiva. In Vṛndāvana there is Lord Śiva's temple called Gopīśvara. The gopīs used to worship not only Lord Śiva but Kātyāyanī, or Durgā, as well, but their aim was to attain the favor of Lord Kṛṣṇa. A devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa does not disrespect Lord Śiva, but worships Lord Śiva as the most exalted devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Consequently whenever a devotee worships Lord Śiva, he prays to Lord Śiva to achieve the favor of Kṛṣṇa, and he does not request material profit. In Bhagavad-gītā (7.20) it is said that generally people worship demigods for some material profit. Kāmais tais tair hṛta jñānāḥ. Driven by material lust, they worship demigods, but a devotee never does so, for he is never driven by material lust. That is the difference between a devotee's respect for Lord Śiva and an asura's respect for him. The asura worships Lord Śiva, takes some benediction from him, misuses the benediction and ultimately is killed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who awards him liberation.
"Because Lord Śiva is a great devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he loves all the devotees of the Supreme Lord. Lord Śiva told the Pracetās that because they were devotees of the Lord, he loved them very much. Lord Śiva was not kind and merciful only to the Pracetās; anyone who is a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is very dear to Lord Śiva. Not only are the devotees dear to Lord Śiva, but he respects them as much as he respects the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Similarly, devotees of the Supreme Lord also worship Lord Śiva as the most dear devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa. They do not worship him as a separate Personality of Godhead. It is stated in the list of nāma-aparādhas that it is an offense to think that the chanting of the name of Hari and the chanting of Hara, or Śiva, are the same. The devotees must always know that Lord Viṣṇu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and that Lord Śiva is His devotee. A devotee should be offered respect on the level of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and sometimes even more respect. Indeed, Lord Rāma, the Personality of Godhead Himself, sometimes worshiped Lord Śiva. If a devotee is worshiped by the Lord, why should a devotee not be worshiped by other devotees on the same level with the Lord? This is the conclusion. From this verse it appears that Lord Śiva blesses the asuras simply for the sake of formality. Actually he loves one who is devoted to the Supreme Personality of Godhead."
After reading and understanding what Srila Prabhupada has written above, we can clearly see why is really no controversy at all.
Lord Shiva, the Topmost Vaisnava
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Who is the Supreme?
Answers According to Vedic Wisdom
Question: Why Not Accept Lord Shiva as the Supreme?
Nameste, As we all know that all the puranas including bhagwatam , Vishnu puran, shiv puran and Shakti puran were written by Ved Vyasa and in bhagwatam he writes Lord Krishna is the supreme, in Vishnu purana he writes Lord Vishnu is supreme , in shiv puran he writes about how lord Shiva is the supreme and is the cause of all causes and in Shakti puran he writes that Devi Shakti is the supreme who created shiv ,Vishnu and Brahma .So, it means that lord shiv ,Vishnu ,Krishna and Shakti are equally supreme,so why don't we say that there is no difference between shiv and Krishna , and why only to see lord shiv as a param bhakt of Krishna and not supreme ?Rahul Gautam
Answer: Vedas Conclude Krishna is the Supreme
From: ISKCON Austin, Texas USAMy Dear Rahul,
Please accept my blessings.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Lord Brahma clearly describes in the Brahma samhita that just as yogurt (dahi) can be derived from milk and that milk cannot be derived from yogurt (dahi), in a similar way Lord Shiva is derived from Lord Krishna for the work of destruction without there being any possibility of Lord Krishna being derived from Lord Shiva.
Here is the answer to your question as given by my spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada:
Regarding those who say that Shiva is the Supreme, in the Rig Veda
it is stated: "om tad visnoh paramam padam.'' The lotus feet of Vishnu
are the supreme devotional platform. There Vishnu is accepted as the Supreme. So there are 18 Puranas. Six of them are for persons in the modes of ignorance, some for those in passion, and the topmost are for those in goodness, the sattvic puranas. If one intelligently reads the Puranas and Vedas, then he can understand that Vishnu is the Supreme Person. But, for those on the stage of ignorance and passion, sometimes such statements are there. So it depends on the quality of the nature of the person that one accepts Lord Shiva or Lord Vishnu as the Supreme, but one who studies scrutinizingly all the Vedic literature and who accepts the statements of the acharyas who guide the destiny of Vedic culture of India who all accept Vishnu as the Supreme Person, then he will also
have the same conclusion.
So far we are concerned in the Krishna consciousness movement, we are
preaching the teachings of the Bhagavad-gita. Krishna is the Supreme
Person even before all demigods including Lord Vishnu even, and of course Lord Shiva. Our fundamental principle is the teaching of the Bhagavad-gita. Those persons who cannot understand this on account of particular modes of nature, such persons require further education, and until such time is fulfilled, we are helpless. To an animal in the modes of ignorance, how can we preach? Then we are helpless.
It is stated in the Vedas: eko narayana asin na brahma na isano. . . In the beginning there was no Brahma, no Shiva, only Krishna. The cosmic manifestation is from Mahat Tattva, and before the Maha Tattva there is Narayana.
Sankaracarya is a Lord Shiva worshipper and an incarnation of Lord Shiva, and he admits that Narayana is the master, and Narayana is the Supreme. narayanah paro 'vyaktat. This is the best authority. What more evidence you want? This is in his Sanka Bhasya on Bhagavad-gita. This is not even the statement of the Puranas but of Sankaracarya's own
writings. How can you deny if the incarnation of Lord Siva says that Krishna is Supreme?
In the Puranas it is stated that another demigod is supreme just to convince the devotee. Just like a student in primary school, he thinks the primary education is everything and has no idea of higher education. This is to convince the devotees but from the Gita we understand that it is from Krishna that He gives the faith by which one can worship the demigods.
Krishna says "aham adi hi devanam.'' Is Krishna speaking a lie? "mattah parataram nanyat [Bg. 7.7].'' Nobody is greater than Me, He says. Why should we reject Krishna's statement? Our mission is to put Krishna as first, and they may take it or not. We do not interfere with their choice, but
we do it as our duty.
I hope this meets you in the best of healthand in an ecstatic mood.
Your ever well-wisher,
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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