Who does Lord Shiva meditate upon?

[Guest guest]

Vishnu? Shakti? Brahman?

[Guest guest]

 

Vishnu? Shakti? Brahman?

 

Answer to this question is beyond human understanding.

Any answer to this question will just start up another thread that will debate the old useless arguments of who is supreme etc. and other speculations.

Shiva sustains with his Vishnu aspect with his shakti.

He is the Supreme Brahma and beyond. Who does he need to meditate upon really? As Sadashiva blinks an eyelid completes a cycle of many yugas.

Shiva is Auspicious!

 

Meditate upon that Mahadeva upon whom Krishna meditated. Meditate upon that Shiva upon whom Rama meditated. Meditate upon that Shiva who is seated in the hearts of Gods. Who is Mahadeva - the God of Gods! Who is Mahakaal - the great time and beyond. Who is the controller of all three gunas of material nature and is never affected by any of these gunas. Who is the controller of all the three worlds, spiritual and material nature, but is not affected by any of these. Who is with and without a form. He is Sadashiva.

Hara Hara Hara Mahadev!!! m Namah Shivaya!

[yogesh]

Meditate on Lord Shiva but not like Ravana (Because he wanted to rule the world and was ultimately killed by Lord Rama and even with all his devotion to Lord Shiva, Lord Shiva (could not/ did not want) to protect his devotee) Because someone who Blasphemes against the Lord ultimately meets with such horrible ending!!!

 

But meditate like a devotee that He Mahadev may increase your devotion to The Supreme Lord Situated in your Heart known as Krsna/Rama/Narayan.

 

Remember Ajmila from Srimad Bhagavatam he was a big devotee of Lord Narayan/Vishnu But he fell down and at the end of his life when the terrible Yamduttas came to fetch him he cried for his son whom he named Vishnu and immediately Lord Vishnu sent his Vishnu-duttas to chase the Yamdutas away.

 

So even when Ajmila forgot the Supreme Lord the Supreme Lord never forgets his devotee because he is always situated in the heart as Parmatma.

 

Even Lord Shiva states:-

 

mukti-pradata sarvesam visnur eva na samsayah.

"There is no doubt that Vishnu is the deliverer of liberation for everyone."

To Lord Shiva/Mahadev MY HUMBLE OBEISANCE:-

 

VANCHA-KALPATARUBH YAS CA KRPA-SINDUBHYA EVA CHA

PATITANAM PAVANEBHYO VAISNAVEBHYO NAMO NAMAH

Jay Mahadev

 

Hare Krsna

 

Jay Sirla Prabhupada

[zjj]

Haribol!

 

It is stated in the Ramayan and the Shiv Maha Puran that Lord Shiva meditates on Lord Rama. When Sati Mata asked who the ascetic prince in the forest was, Lord Shiva told her that was Rama, the one he meditated on. When Sati refused to believe this and tested Lord Rama by taking Sita's form, Shiva abandoned her. He couldn't accept her as his wife as she had taken the form of his mother, Sita.

 

I remember hearing that once, Yudistira asked Krishna who he meditated on as he was the supreme so who else was there to meditate on? Krishna replied that he meditated on his devotees, he remembered them and loved them.

 

In this way, Shiva and Rama meditate on each other, with a love that is incomprehensible to our fallen minds.

 

Jai Bholenath! Jai Shri Rama!

[Guruvani]

According to the Bhagavat Purana, Lord Siva meditates on Lord Sankarshan by chanting this mantra:

 

om namo bhagavate maha-purusaya sarva-guna-sankhyanayanantayavyaktaya nama iti

The authoritatve reference is found in the 5th canto, chapter 17, verse 16.

 

 

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 5.17.16

bhavānī-nāthaiḥ strī-gaṇārbuda-sahasrair avarudhyamāno bhagavataś catur-mūrter mahā-puruṣasya turīyāḿ tāmasīḿ mūrtiḿ prakṛtim ātmanaḥ sańkarṣaṇa-saḿjñām ātma-samādhi-rūpeṇa sannidhāpyaitad abhigṛṇan bhava upadhāvati

SYNONYMS

bhavānī-nāthaiḥ — by the company of Bhavānī; strī-gaṇa — of females; arbuda-sahasraiḥ — by ten billion; avarudhyamānaḥ — always being served; bhagavataḥ catuḥ-mūrteḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is expanded in four; mahā-puruṣasya — of the Supreme Person; turīyām — the fourth expansion; tāmasīm — related to the mode of ignorance; mūrtim — the form; prakṛtim — as the source; ātmanaḥ — of himself (Lord Śiva); sańkarṣaṇa-saḿjñām — known as Sańkarṣaṇa; ātma-samādhi-rūpeṇa — by meditating upon Him in trance; sannidhāpya — bringing Him near; etat — this; abhigṛṇan — clearly chanting; bhavaḥ — Lord Śiva; upadhāvati — worships.

TRANSLATION

In Ilāvṛta-varṣa, Lord Śiva is always encircled by ten billion maidservants of goddess Durgā, who minister to him. The quadruple expansion of the Supreme Lord is composed of Vāsudeva, Pradyumna, Aniruddha and Sańkarṣaṇa. Sańkarṣaṇa, the fourth expansion, is certainly transcendental, but because his activities of destruction in the material world are in the mode of ignorance, He is known as tāmasī, the Lord's form in the mode of ignorance. Lord Śiva knows that Sańkarṣaṇa is the original cause of his own existence, and thus he always meditates upon Him in trance by chanting the following mantra.

PURPORT

Sometimes we see a picture of Lord Śiva engaged in meditation. This verse explains that Lord Śiva is always meditating upon Lord Sańkarṣaṇa in trance. Lord Śiva is in charge of the destruction of the material world. Lord Brahmā creates the material world, Lord Viṣṇu maintains it, and Lord Śiva destroys it. Because destruction is in the mode of ignorance, Lord Śiva and his worshipable Deity, Sańkarṣaṇa, are technically called tāmasī. Lord Śiva is the incarnation of tamo-guṇa. Since both Lord Śiva and Sańkarṣaṇa are always enlightened and situated in the transcendental position, they have nothing to do with the modes of material nature — goodness, passion and ignorance — but because their activities involve them with the mode of ignorance, they are sometimes called tāmasī.

 

[Shakti-Fan]

The Post and the Person <hr> Holland: July 3, 1997 (evening)

Tridandisvami Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja

<hr> Sri Narada desired to proclaim the glories of Lord Siva. As previously described, he praised Siva as the greatest devotee of Lord Krsna and most dear to Him, and Lord Siva became upset by hearing those praises. Siva then related a number of incidents which, according to him, were evidence that he was not dear to Krsna at all.

Now Lord Siva compares himself to Sri Prahlada Maharaja,*[end note1] the famed devotee of Lord Nrsinhadeva described in Srimad-Bhagavatam. He told Narada, “Sri Prahlada Maharaja is superior to me, and it is he who is the dear devotee of the Lord.” Even though Lord Siva is superior to Prahlada Maharaja, he told Narada that Prahlada Maharaja is superior. Why? He said this to encourage people to follow Prahlada Maharaja’s ideal character and teachings.

However, Prahlada Maharaja cannot enter Sri Krsna’s transcendental abode, Vrndavana, whereas Lord Siva resides there eternally as Gopisvara. Siva serves Sri Krsna personally in numerous ways. He and his wife Parvati-devi meditate on asta-kaliya-lila, Lord Sri Krsna’s confidential eight-fold daily pastimes. These secret pastimes are very confidential, yet both Siva and Parvati are able to meditate upon them. Siva is hundreds of thousands of times superior to and more worshipable than Sri Prahlada Maharaja, and yet the artful Siva declared Prahlada Maharaja to be superior. Why did he do so? In one sense Prahlada Maharaja is superior, and in another sense he is not.

We can reconcile this by considering the two perspectives from which to understand the identity of Lord Siva: We can see Siva from the point of view of his post, and also from the point of view of his personality. As a personality, separate from his post, he appears as an associate of the Supreme Lord, such as Gopisvara, Hanuman and Bhima. As Gopisvara he resides eternally in Vrndavana. As Hanuman he always associates with and serves Lord Rama. As Bhima he always serves Lord Krsna. And, when Hanuman and Bhima combine together in this present age of Kali-yuga, they become Madhvacarya, our Sampradaya-guru.*[end note 2]

From the point of view of Lord Siva’s function as the god of annihilation, and also that of Brahma as the secondary creator of the universe, Siva and Brahma are actually posts. Lord Brahma and Lord Siva are not ordinary human beings, but their posts are like that of the president or prime minister of a nation, wherein the man representing the post has to perform a certain defined job.

Both as the post and the person, Siva is superior to Brahma. Lord Siva is an expansion of Lord Visnu, but sometimes a jiva may become Siva’s expansion known as Rudra. If a man purely performs the duties of varnasrama for one hundred births, he may become Brahma.*[ end note 3] In other words, he may attain the position or post of Brahma. In turn, when a person in the post of Brahma carries out his function expertly for one hundred births, he becomes qualified to perform the function of Siva in his manifestation as Rudra. Siva’s post is therefore superior to that of Brahma, and this is also evidence that Siva is more powerful than Brahma.

The Duty of Destruction

What is the function of Lord Siva’s post, and why is it superior to that of Lord Brahma? One reason is that Brahma cannot execute pralaya, the complete destruction of the universe – a very dangerous thing, whereas Siva can do so.

Siva’s function as destroyer is similar to that of a farmer who plants and cultivates a large area of wheat. The farmer carefully waters and nourishes the crop, guarding it from animals, and after five or six months the wheat matures and ripens. Then, either by hand or a machine, the farmer harvests the plants and carefully removes the grains from their shafts. The rest of the plant-matter becomes refuse, subject to rotting and attracting disease, vermin, and snakes. Therefore, the farmer sets fire to it and burns it.

Just as the farmer extracts the grains from the plants, Lord Siva extracts the eternal spirit souls from their material bodies and from the world. At the time of annihilation he creates an inferno, setting the entire universe on fire, but the spirit souls are not destroyed.

There are two kinds of universal devastations: one at the end of Lord Brahma’s day and one at the end of his life. At the end of his day (4,320,000,000 solar years) he rests in a mystic sleep within the body of Garbhodakasayi Visnu, and all the conditioned living entities enter as well.*[end note 4]

While the entire universe is submerged in water, the living entities rest in their subtle bodies within the transcendental body of Garbhodakasayi Visnu. They await the start of the next day of Brahma, the next material creation or manifestation. Some of them become liberated, and others do not.

When Lord Brahma completes the one hundred celestial years of his life, Lord Siva again performs this duty of destruction. At that time all the spirit souls enter into the body of Karanodakasayi Visnu or Maha Visnu. At the end of each day of Lord Brahma, all souls enter Garbhodakasayi Visnu, and at the end of Brahma’s life, even the millions of manifestations of Garbhodakasayi Visnu enter Karanodakasayi Visnu*[end note 5] along with the spirit souls. At the time of creation, Karanodakasayi Visnu generates innumerable manifestations of Garbhodakasayi Visnu, and at the time of complete annihilation, they enter back into his body.*[end note 6]

Lord Siva is not a living entity, but he is also not in the category of Lord Visnu. He is much more powerful than any living entity, even up to Lord Brahma. However, he is not equal to Lord Visnu. Because he is almost as good as the Supreme Personalty of Godhead, he can see the three phases of time: past, present, and future. One of his eyes is like the sun and another is like the moon. He also has a third eye, located between his eyebrows. It is from this third eye that he generates fire and employs it at the time of the universal destruction.

Seen from this perspective – the destroyer – Lord Siva cannot serve Sri Krsna directly, because he is engaged at his post. Those souls who are liberated after hundreds of thousands of lifetimes of devotional practice, having renounced all responsibilities and concerns of the world – including occupations like that of Brahma and Siva – and who constantly hear about, glorify, and remember Lord Krsna, take birth in this world as pure devotees like Prahlada Maharaja. This was told by Lord Siva to Sri Narada.

Prahlada Maharaja has nothing to do with this world; nothing to create or demolish. He rejected all such affairs as insignificant. Although he had inherited a large kingdom, it was controlled and governed by his ministers. His senses were totally absorbed in the transcendental loving service to the Supreme Lord. He was always engaged in hearing the name and glories of the Lord, singing and speaking about his glories, remembering and meditating on him, offering prayers, carrying out the his orders and fully surrendering to him.

Devotees in Prahlada’s category have no need to approach Lord Krsna’s manifestations like Lord Nrsinhadeva and Lord Rama, for the Lord personally comes to them in these forms. Lord Siva told Sri Narada that because he is always engaged in the post of controlling the universe, he can neither see nor offer services to the Lord daily, as Prahlada Maharaja sees Lord Vamanadeva or Lord Nrsinhadeva. Vamanadeva and Nrsinhadeva are both manifestations of the same Lord, who regularly gives Prahlada his divine association and the opportunity to serve and offer obeisance at his lotus feet.

Although both Brahma and Siva are actually superior in bhakti to Prahlada Maharaja, their posts involve contact with the three gunas, or modes of material nature, namely goodness, passion, and ignorance. The role of Lord Brahma is creation and procreation in raja-guna, the mode of passion. Lord Siva’s role of demolition and dissolution is in tama-guna, the mode of ignorance. It is for this reason that they are called guna-avataras, incarnations of the material qualities.

Prahlada Maharaja is nirguna, transcendental to the three modes of nature. He has nothing to do with activities in material goodness, passion, and ignorance, by which this world is shackled. Lord Siva is also beyond the three modes of nature, but he adopts the mode of ignorance (tama-guna) to efficiently perform his function.

The Personal Associate

Regarding Lord Siva’s glorification of Prahlada Maharaja, now consider Lord Siva’s identity as a transcendental personality – separate from his post. Sometimes senior Vaisnavas express sincere recognition of the novice, inspiring him or her on the path of devotion. The Vaisnava may say, “Oh, you work so hard and earn money, and with that money you support and nourish me. I have no means at all. I do nothing but visit for a short while, eating, and sleeping at your expense. I would not be able to speak the glories of Lord Krsna at this festival if you had not arranged for the management of all the activities here, so you are superior to me.”

Out of sincere humility, gratitude and affection, liberated souls speak in this endearing manner, and at the same time they are fixed in the realization that they are always being personally maintained by the Supreme Lord. The senior Vaisnava has the disciple’s personal benefit in mind.

However, Lord Siva was not speaking for Prahlada Maharaja’s benefit, but to acquaint aspiring devotees with the stages of devotion. His desire was to facilitate the service of Sri Narada Muni and Srila Sanatana Gosvami, whose mission was to establish in the world the sequence of the grades of devotion and ultimately establish the glories of the gopis. Try to understand all these truths, and seek to gradually become firmly situated in bhakti.

Imagine that you are in a market in which there are thousands of varieties of shops. In some of those shops there are products made of iron, in some shops there are products made of gold, in some there are jewels, and in others cintamani (wish-fulfilling stones). An expert is guiding you through all the shops, pointing out different products and revealing which are superior.

If there are a thousand pounds of iron and only one ounce of gold, the gold has more value. On the other hand, many pounds of gold will not amount to the value of one Kaustubha-mani or a similarly precious stone. Millions of such precious jewels cannot compare with a tiny quantity of cintamani, and even millions of cintamani stones cannot compare with one holy name of Lord Krsna.

Now suppose someone is chanting the name of Lord Krsna alone, and another is absorbed in the name of Radha-Ramana. The name Radha-Ramana, meaning Sri Krsna, the enjoyer of pastimes with Srimati Radharani, has more transcendental taste (rasa) than the name Krsna alone. The person absorbed in that holy name will therefore experience a greater spiritual pleasure.

Regarding the analogy of the shops in a market, that expert tells you, “This shop is good, that shop is better, and this one is the best. Similarly, in his Sri Brhad-bhagavatamrta, Srila Sanatana Gosvami establishes the gradations of excellence of various devotees and their devotion, in order to help his readers determine their spiritual path.

The history of Narada Muni’s coming to the abode of Lord Siva and glorifying him was first narrated in this Sri Brhad-bhagavatamrta. Like Srila Sanatana Gosvami, Narada is also that expert described above. He desired to establish pure bhakti in the world, and therefore he played the role of searching for the greatest devotee and recipient of Lord Krsna’s mercy. His search had taken him first to the “shop” of a brahmana in Prayaga, and after that to South India, to the shop of a king. Then he traveled to heaven, where he entered the shop of King Indra, and Indra sent him to the shop of Lord Brahma. Brahma sent him to Lord Siva, and Lord Siva is now sending him to Prahlada Maharaja. Gradually, Sri Narada will bring us to the greatest recipients of Lord Krsna’s mercy, the gopis. In the form of Gopisvara, Lord Siva is the beloved servant and associate of those gopis.

*[end note 1] In the hermitage of Sri Narada Muni, Prahlada Maharaja heard the message of Srimad-Bhagavatam while within the womb of his mother. From his birth, Prahlad was fixed in transcendental realization of the all-pervading presence of the Supreme Lord, and he preached love of God to his schoolmates at the tender age of five. Despite efforts by his atheistic father to change his nature – efforts that culminated in repeated attempts to kill him by means of administering poison, putting him in boiling oil, tossing him from the top of a cliff and so on – Prahlada continued to experience great joy by remembering Lord Visnu and chanting his holy names. Prahlada was protected by the Supreme Lord in every situation. Finally, Lord Visnu appeared in the form of a half-man, half-lion and killed his demonic father. When offered a benediction by the Lord, Prahlada simply asked for the liberation of his father, as well as that of all conditioned souls. He is honored in this world by all pure devotees.

*[end note 2] “Srila Madhvacarya is the original acarya for those who belong to the Madhva-Gaudiya-sampradaya.”(SB 6.1.40.purport) “This Madhva-Gaudiya-sampradaya is also known as the Brahma-sampradaya because the disciplic succession originally began from Brahma. Brahma instructed the sage Narada, Narada instructed Vyasadeva, and Vyasadeva instructed Madhva Muni, or Madhvacarya.” (Krsna Introduction).

*[end note 3] “The Vedas say, ‘svadharma-nisthah sata janmabhih puman virincatam eti - One who strictly follows the principles of varnasrama-dharma for at least one hundred births will be rewarded with the post of Lord Brahma.’ ” (SB 5.20.33 purport)

Varnasrama-dharma - the institutions dividing society into four divisions of social life and four occupational divisions of castes.

*[end note 4] “At the beginning of Brahma’s day, all living entities become manifest from the unmanifest state, and thereafter, when the night falls, they are merged into the unmanifest again. Again and again, when Brahma’s day arrives, all living entities come into being, and with the arrival of Brahma’s night they are helplessly annihilated.” (Bhagavad-gita 8.18-19)

“At the end of the day, under the insignificant portion of the mode of darkness, the powerful manifestation of the universe merges in the darkness of night. By the influence of eternal time, the innumerable living entities remain merged in that dissolution, and everything is silent.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.11.28)

“The dissolution of the three worlds is effected by the incarnation of darkness, Rudra, represented by the fire of eternal time which blazes over the three worlds. These three worlds are known as Bhuh, Bhuvah and Svah (Patala, Martya and Svarga). The innumerable living entities merge into that dissolution, which appears to be the dropping of the curtain of the scene of the Supreme Lord’s energy, and so everything becomes silent.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.11.28 purport)

“It is said that the blazing fire from the mouth of Sankarsana rages for one hundred years of the demigods, or 36,000 human years. Then for another 36,000 years there are torrents of rain, accompanied by violent winds and waves, and the seas and oceans overflow. People forget all these devastations of the worlds and think themselves happy in the material progress of civilization. This is called maya, or ‘that which is not.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.11.31 purport)

“Thereafter, at the end of the millennium, the Lord Himself, in the form of Rudra, the destroyer, will annihilate the complete creation as the wind displaces the clouds. This creation is very appropriately compared to clouds.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.10.43)

*[end note 5] “There are two types of dissolution of the manifested cosmos. At the end of every 4,320,000,000 solar years, when Brahma, the lord of one particular universe, goes to sleep, there is one annihilation. And at the end of Lord Brahma’s life, which takes place at the end of Brahma’s one hundred years of age, in our calculation at the end of 8,640,000,000 x 30 x 12 x 100 solar years, there is complete annihilation of the entire universe, and in both the periods both the material energy called the mahat-tattva and the marginal energy called jiva-tattva merge in the person of the Supreme Lord.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.10.21 purport)

*[end note 6] “Karanodakasayi Visnu is the first incarnation of the Supreme Lord, and he is the master of eternal time, space, cause and effects, mind, the elements, the material ego, the modes of nature, the senses, the universal form of the Lord, Garbhodakasayi Visnu, and the sum total of all living beings, both moving and nonmoving.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.6.42)

[Guest guest]

 

Meditate on Lord Shiva but not like Ravana

So even when Ajmila forgot the Supreme Lord the Supreme Lord never forgets his devotee because he is always situated in the heart as Parmatma.

 

Who can meditate like Ravana really??? Who has that level of sadhna shakti who can have Mahadev appear before him through his tremendous austerities. Ravana was the grandchild of Rishi Pulatsya who was the son of Brahma!! If someone's suggesting folks on this forum not to meditate like Ravana, then I think they just won't be able to do that, even if they want to! So that is not the danger I guess. Ravana's intention was not noble though.

We can meditate not to rule the world but just our senses and material desires. We can meditate on that Mahadeva for liberation.

[Guest guest]

In this way, Shiva and Rama meditate on each other, with a love that is incomprehensible to our fallen minds

 

Yes, they are the biggest FRIENDS and stand up for eachother when one is mistreated.....

[Guest guest]

 

Haribol!

Shiva and Rama meditate on each other, with a love that is incomprehensible to our fallen minds.

Jai Bholenath! Jai Shri Rama!

 

TRUE!

[Guest guest]

 

According to the Bhagavat Purana, Lord Siva meditates on Lord Sankarshan by chanting this mantra:

Lord ?iva knows that Sa?kars?an?a is the original cause of his own existence, and thus he always meditates upon Him in trance by chanting the following mantra.

 

What is the "MANTRA" that Lord Shiva 'chants'?

 

 

Sometimes we see a picture of Lord ?iva engaged in meditation. This verse explains that Lord ?iva is always meditating upon Lord Sa?kars?an?a in trance. Lord ?iva is in charge of the destruction of the material world. Lord Brahm? creates the material world, Lord Vis?n?u maintains it, and Lord ?iva destroys it. Because destruction is in the mode of ignorance, Lord ?iva and his worshipable Deity, Sa?kars?an?a, are technically called t?mas?. Lord ?iva is the incarnation of tamo-gun?a. Since both Lord ?iva and Sa?kars?an?a are always enlightened and situated in the transcendental position, they have nothing to do with the modes of material nature — goodness, passion and ignorance — but because their activities involve them with the mode of ignorance, they are sometimes called t?mas?. The authoritatve reference is found in the 5th canto, chapter 17, verse 16.

Who calls Shiva as Tamasi? The Shaivas don't. And to know Shiva, one should listen to Shaivas and not to Vaishnavas. Just like to know about engineering one should consult an engineer not a doctor. To know Shiva, read Shiva Mahapurana and Shiva Gita. And read the literature written by great Shaiva Bhaktas. Bhaktas who had direct perception of Shiva Tatva. Shiva controls the three Gunas but is not affected by them at all, hence he is not tamasi. He is not affected by any of the Gunas. The tamasi Shiva propaganda by Gaudiyas is void. He does take the destruction responsibility of the universe. Unless he does that, Brahma and Vishnu cannot carry forward their duties.

OM Namah Shivaya.

[Guruvani]

 

What is the "MANTRA" that Lord Shiva 'chants'?

 

 

Who calls Shiva as Tamasi? The Shaivas don't. And to know Shiva, one should listen to Shaivas and not to Vaishnavas. Just like to know about engineering one should consult an engineer not a doctor. To know Shiva, read Shiva Mahapurana and Shiva Gita. And read the literature written by great Shaiva Bhaktas. Bhaktas who had direct perception of Shiva Tatva. Shiva controls the three Gunas but is not affected by them at all, hence he is not tamasi. He is not affected by any of the Gunas. The tamasi Shiva propaganda by Gaudiyas is void. He does take the destruction responsibility of the universe. Unless he does that, Brahma and Vishnu cannot carry forward their duties.

OM Namah Shivaya.

 

The mantra was given in the post.

 

 

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 5.17.17

 

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

oḿ namo bhagavate mahā-puruṣāyasarva-guṇa-sańkhyānāyānantāyāvyaktāya nama iti

 

SYNONYMS

 

 

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the most powerful Lord Śiva says; om namo bhagavate — O Supreme Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You; mahā-puruṣāya — who are the Supreme person; sarva-guṇa-sańkhyānāya — the reservoir of all transcendental qualities; anantāya — the unlimited; avyaktāya — not manifested within the material world; namaḥ — my respectful obeisances; iti — thus.

 

 

TRANSLATION

 

 

The most powerful Lord Śiva says: O Supreme Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You in Your expansion as Lord Sańkarṣaṇa. You are the reservoir of all transcendental qualities. Although You are unlimited, You remain unmanifest to the nondevotees.

 

The reference to Siva as Tamasi is mentioned in Vedic texts that were given by Vyasadeva long before there were "Gaudiya" Vaishnavas.

Vyasadeva is the giver of the Vedas. He is not a "Gaudiya".

The name for Siva as Tamasi is not a Gaudiya invention.

It is in the Bhagavat Purana and other Vedic literatures that have been accepted by many great sages and devotees for thousands of years.

Your accusation that the name as Tamasi was given to Lord Siva by the Gaudiyas is a false allegation and betrays a poor knowledge of authentic shastra in favor of your own misconceived ideas that have no shastric basis.

The opinion of "Shaivas" have no meaning or authority if not based upon authentic Vedic literatures that have been approved by the great Vedic sages.

You present yourself as an authority above Srila Vyasadeva.

You have now exposed yourself as being a spiritual novice with erroneous conclusions based upon your own confused understandings.

[yogesh]

 

Who can meditate like Ravana really??? Who has that level of sadhna shakti who can have Mahadev appear before him through his tremendous austerities. Ravana was the grandchild of Rishi Pulatsya who was the son of Brahma!! If someone's suggesting folks on this forum not to meditate like Ravana, then I think they just won't be able to do that, even if they want to! So that is not the danger I guess. Ravana's intention was not noble though.

We can meditate not to rule the world but just our senses and material desires. We can meditate on that Mahadeva for liberation.

The Yuga in which Ravana was living was conducive to meditation and I do know that he was no ordinary living entity. That is why he was killed by the hands of the Lord Rama.

 

:deal:What I meant was that Persone(s) meditating on Lord Shiva should not have the same mentality (Bhudhi) as Ravana.

 

Just to make it clear to you Yogi Kriya (y k)

 

Thanks

 

Jay Mahadev

 

Jay Sirla Prabhupada

 

Hare Krsna

[Guest guest]

Thank you Yogesh for the clarification. Though I'm well aware of it. But I'm also aware of the scepticism that the HKs are into, regarding the rest of the spiritual lineages except theirs. Nama Shivaya!

 

The Yuga in which Ravana was living was conducive to meditation and I do know that he was no ordinary living entity. That is why he was killed by the hands of the Lord Rama.

:deal:What I meant was that Persone(s) meditating on Lord Shiva should not have the same mentality (Bhudhi) as Ravana.

 

Just to make it clear to you Yogi Kriya (y k)

 

Thanks

 

Jay Mahadev

 

Jay Sirla Prabhupada

 

Hare Krsna

[Guest guest]

 

The mantra was given in the post.

 

I would like to know the mantra and its sadhna procedure Guruvani. Are you aware of it?

 

 

 

The reference to Siva as Tamasi is mentioned in Vedic texts that were given by Vyasadeva long before there were "Gaudiya" Vaishnavas.

Vyasadeva is the giver of the Vedas. He is not a "Gaudiya".

Vyasadeva has given a lot of stuff. The Gaudiyas are a partial lot and accept only some thing tha tappeals to them! Why don't they accept other "VEDIC" knowledge?

The name for Siva as Tamasi is not a Gaudiya invention.

It is in the Bhagavat Purana and other Vedic literatures that have been accepted by many great sages and devotees for thousands of years.

Who are those sages for thousands of years?? Who are the "SAGES" you are talking about? There is no tamasic propoganda by the Vedas about Lord Shiva. It is a different issue that the Gaudiyas consider the Tamsic aspect of Shiva only. Shiva is NOT tamsic. He is not affected by any of the Gunas. If you think so, then it is foolish and ignorance. You quoted Narayan Maharaj. Does he know Lord Shiva??? If he doesn't how can he talk about Shiva? This is unrealized knowledge!!

The opinion of "Shaivas" have no meaning or authority if not based upon authentic Vedic literatures that have been approved by the great Vedic sages.

Well, if the opinion of Shaivas have no meaning, then the opinion of make up Vaishnavas have no meaning as well!

I can show you numerous shlokas in the Bhagwatam and Gita that are mistranslated and purported!!! What are you talking about? Krishna says in Bhagwatam that he doesn't reveal himself to a sadhak in a state of sleep, semi consciousness, unconsciousness or any other state except for deep trance. Unfortunately I don't remember the shlok number etc. HKs hardly ever follows that kind of yoga.

You present yourself as an authority above Srila Vyasadeva.

You have now exposed yourself as being a spiritual novice with erroneous conclusions based upon your own confused understandings.

lol Guruvani baby, I've never presented myself above Vyasadeva!!! This is a hilariously foolish effort from you to try to put me down.

lol HKs always give me a reason to have a good laugh! At least I'm gaining some health by laughing! LMAO!!

This is an old HK tactic of hiding behind an authoritative personality to prove their misinterpretation of scriptures.

 

For a start I would like to know what rishis you are talking about and whether they were Shiva Bhaktas??

 

Secondly I would like to know what mantra you said Shiva chants and what is the procedure for that mantra sadhna?

 

Thirdy, I would so greatful if you can enlighten me on the the fact that if or not Lord Shiva is affected by the tamo Guna.

Besides these questions, pleae stay away from all other speculations.

Regards,

 

y. k.

[brajeshwara das]

 

I would like to know the mantra and its sadhna procedure Guruvani. Are you aware of it?

 

He gave the mantra in his first response in this thread:

 

om namo bhagavate maha-purusaya sarva-guna-sankhyanayanantayavyaktaya nama iti

 

You need to read posts before flaming people, it doesn't help your case.

 

Also it isn't said that Lord Siva is in ignorance, but is the incarnation of tamo-guṇa, but has nothing to do with the modes of material nature (and therefore not in ignorance, which is what you are objecting to, I assume):

 

Because destruction is in the mode of ignorance, Lord Śiva and his worshipable Deity, Sańkarṣaṇa, are technically called tāmasī. Lord Śiva is the incarnation of tamo-guṇa. Since both Lord Śiva and Sańkarṣaṇa are always enlightened and situated in the transcendental position, they have nothing to do with the modes of material nature — goodness, passion and ignorance — but because their activities involve them with the mode of ignorance, they are sometimes called tāmasī.

This is from Srimad Bhagavatam, you can argue it is a Gaudiya concoction but bring that up with Vyasadev, ok?

[Guest guest]

 

He gave the mantra in his first response in this thread:

 

om namo bhagavate maha-purusaya sarva-guna-sankhyanayanantayavyaktaya nama iti

 

You need to read posts before flaming people, it doesn't help your case.

Sincerely, I don't think Lord Shiva has to meditate and do sadhna wih a particular mantra. It could be a satement oir vachana.

 

 

Also it isn't said that Lord Siva is in ignorance, but is the incarnation of tamo-gun?a, but has nothing to do with the modes of material nature (and therefore not in ignorance, which is what you are objecting to, I assume):

 

Because destruction is in the mode of ignorance, Lord ?iva and his worshipable Deity, Sa?kars?an?a, are technically called t?mas?. Lord ?iva is the incarnation of tamo-gun?a. Since both Lord ?iva and Sa?kars?an?a are always enlightened and situated in the transcendental position, they have nothing to do with the modes of material nature — goodness, passion and ignorance — but because their activities involve them with the mode of ignorance, they are sometimes called t?mas?.

Whe are we discussing this tamo guna at all dear bhakta?

Lord Shiva is NOT an incarnation of tamo Guna!!! What a misunderstanding indeed!!!

I wish SHiva could be explained in two words as you desire!!!!!

This is from Srimad Bhagavatam, you can argue it is a Gaudiya concoction but bring that up with Vyasadev, ok?

Really I don't need it to brig it up with Vyasdeva. But I do need to bring it up with the later versions of Bhagwatam and its gaudiya understanding!

[brajeshwara das]

Believe as you choose to believe, more power to you.

[Guest guest]

 

Believe as you choose to believe, more power to you.

Love and bhakti to you dear Brajeshwara das!

Let Lord Brajeshwara be the source of every joy to you!

 

y k.

[zjj]

Haribol!

 

Shiva and Vishnu are above the three modes of material nature. However, by the lila they perform, they are put into the catergories of Vishna as Satva, Brahma as Raja and Shiva as Tamasi. This does not mean that Shiva is ignorant or evil. It simply means that the necessary activities he performs in the universe are of tamasi nature. All the three modes are necessary to the universe. There must be destruction just as there must be creation.

 

Lord Shiva's tamasic activities are necessary and he performs these tasks for the benefit of us all. That is why demons and asuras can worship him. Have you ever heard of an evil asura being able to worship Vishnu? No, they worship Shiva because, in his mercy, he allows them to worship him according to their tamasic nature. Shiva is known as Bhootnath, which means Lord of Ghosts. So even ghosts, who are very tamasic, can worship Shiva. This is evidence of his supreme compassion. All the living entities that cannot possibly reach Vishnu because of their tamasic nature may reach Shiva and through Shiva, find a way to Vishnu.

 

This is why Shiva is refered to as tamasic. It is not an insulting term or a misunderstanding.

 

This is how I understand the situation, Prabhus.

 

Jai Bholenath!

 

Jai

[brajeshwara das]

 

Haribol!

 

Shiva and Vishnu are above the three modes of material nature. However, by the lila they perform, they are put into the catergories of Vishna as Satva, Brahma as Raja and Shiva as Tamasi. This does not mean that Shiva is ignorant or evil. It simply means that the necessary activities he performs in the universe are of tamasi nature. All the three modes are necessary to the universe. There must be destruction just as there must be creation.

 

Lord Shiva's tamasic activities are necessary and he performs these tasks for the benefit of us all. That is why demons and asuras can worship him. Have you ever heard of an evil asura being able to worship Vishnu? No, they worship Shiva because, in his mercy, he allows them to worship him according to their tamasic nature. Shiva is known as Bhootnath, which means Lord of Ghosts. So even ghosts, who are very tamasic, can worship Shiva. This is evidence of his supreme compassion. All the living entities that cannot possibly reach Vishnu because of their tamasic nature may reach Shiva and through Shiva, find a way to Vishnu.

 

This is why Shiva is refered to as tamasic. It is not an insulting term or a misunderstanding.

 

This is how I understand the situation, Prabhus.

 

Jai Bholenath!

 

Jai

 

A very nice, clear concise explanation

[Guest guest]

Thank you for this zjj

Your understanding nears the truth.

Haribol!

 

Shiva and Vishnu are above the three modes of material nature. However, by the lila they perform, they are put into the catergories of Vishna as Satva, Brahma as Raja and Shiva as Tamasi. This does not mean that Shiva is ignorant or evil. It simply means that the necessary activities he performs in the universe are of tamasi nature. All the three modes are necessary to the universe. There must be destruction just as there must be creation.

 

Lord Shiva's tamasic activities are necessary and he performs these tasks for the benefit of us all. That is why demons and asuras can worship him. Have you ever heard of an evil asura being able to worship Vishnu? No, they worship Shiva because, in his mercy, he allows them to worship him according to their tamasic nature. Shiva is known as Bhootnath, which means Lord of Ghosts. So even ghosts, who are very tamasic, can worship Shiva. This is evidence of his supreme compassion. All the living entities that cannot possibly reach Vishnu because of their tamasic nature may reach Shiva and through Shiva, find a way to Vishnu.

 

This is why Shiva is refered to as tamasic. It is not an insulting term or a misunderstanding.

 

This is how I understand the situation, Prabhus.

 

Jai Bholenath!

 

Jai

[Guruvani]

Lord Siva meditating on Lord Sankarshan

 

[Guest guest]

 

Haribol!

 

Shiva and Vishnu are above the three modes of material nature. However, by the lila they perform, they are put into the catergories of Vishna as Satva, Brahma as Raja and Shiva as Tamasi. This does not mean that Shiva is ignorant or evil. It simply means that the necessary activities he performs in the universe are of tamasi nature. All the three modes are necessary to the universe. There must be destruction just as there must be creation.

 

Lord Shiva's tamasic activities are necessary and he performs these tasks for the benefit of us all. That is why demons and asuras can worship him. Have you ever heard of an evil asura being able to worship Vishnu? No, they worship Shiva because, in his mercy, he allows them to worship him according to their tamasic nature. Shiva is known as Bhootnath, which means Lord of Ghosts. So even ghosts, who are very tamasic, can worship Shiva. This is evidence of his supreme compassion. All the living entities that cannot possibly reach Vishnu because of their tamasic nature may reach Shiva and through Shiva, find a way to Vishnu.

 

This is why Shiva is refered to as tamasic. It is not an insulting term or a misunderstanding.

 

This is how I understand the situation, Prabhus.

 

Jai Bholenath!

 

Jai

 

Your understanding is wrong, Prabhu. This is an example of politics inside religion.

 

Shiva is described as Tamasic only in Vaishnava traditions and who are Vaishnavas? The age old rivals of the Shaivas or more acccurately the Pashupathas from the time of the Mahabharata. Hence, a rival's description of Shiva has political undertones and has no value. You can check with the countless Shaivas in India and ask them if they consider Shiva to be tamasic.

 

You are free to continue to propogate this 'tamasic' nonsense inside Vaishnava circles, but keep in mind that no Shaiva s to such a nonsensical view. This reminds me of some hate writings by Christians about Jews in Europe a hundred years ago. It went something like "Jews are everything that Christ does not represent....". Nonsense, of course...but taken seriously by many with catastrophic results.

 

Om

[Guest guest]

 

Your understanding is wrong, Prabhu. This is an example of politics inside religion.

 

Shiva is described as Tamasic only in Vaishnava traditions and who are Vaishnavas? The age old rivals of the Shaivas or more acccurately the Pashupathas from the time of the Mahabharata. Hence, a rival's description of Shiva has political undertones and has no value. You can check with the countless Shaivas in India and ask them if they consider Shiva to be tamasic.

 

You are free to continue to propogate this 'tamasic' nonsense inside Vaishnava circles, but keep in mind that no Shaiva s to such a nonsensical view. This reminds me of some hate writings by Christians about Jews in Europe a hundred years ago. It went something like "Jews are everything that Christ does not represent....". Nonsense, of course...but taken seriously by many with catastrophic results.

 

Om

 

Frankly speaking, I'm tired of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas arguing and putting down Lord Shiva as a "demi-God" and Tamasic. so I try to agree with certain things at times as otherwise it all results in the same tamasik crapy argumentation with them.

 

But Guestabc, I couldn't have agreed more - with every word you wrote. Well done! Someone's talking sense here.

If I had to follow this crap then let's see for a minute, Prabhupada is satvik, but Lord Shiva is tamsik?? This is what is happening. Kaliyuga!!

To have a view on Lord Shiva, one SHOULD approach a Shaiva!!

Namah Shivaya!

y k

[Beggar]

 

Frankly speaking, I'm tired of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas arguing and putting down Lord Shiva as a "demi-God" and Tamasic. so I try to agree with certain things at times as otherwise it all results in the same tamasik crapy argumentation with them.

 

But Guestabc, I couldn't have agreed more - with every word you wrote. Well done! Someone's talking sense here.

If I had to follow this crap then let's see for a minute, Prabhupada is satvik, but Lord Shiva is tamsik?? This is what is happening. Kaliyuga!!

To have a view on Lord Shiva, one SHOULD approach a Shaiva!!

Namah Shivaya!

y k

Here is an example of one manifesting a tamasic mentality. All subtle arguments such as the real Gaudiya Vaisnava concept of Shiva Ji are lost upon them. So, lost upon them that they are not even capable of giving an intellegent rebuttal.