Glories Of Lord Shiva | Radhanath Swami

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Monday, 28 June 2010 04:00

ksiram yath dadhi vikra-vishesha-yogt

sanjyate na hi tatah prthag asti hetoh
yah sambhutm api tath samupaiti kryd
govindam di-purusam tam aham bhajmi
TRANSLATION
Just as milk is transformed into curd by the action of acids, but yet the effect curd is neither same as,
nor different from, its cause, viz., milk, so I adore the primeval Lord Govinda of whom the state of
Shambu is a transformation for the performance of the work of destruction.
PURPORT
(The real nature of Shambu, the presiding deity of Mahesa-dhma, is described.) Shambu is not a
second Godhead other than Krsna. Those, who entertain such discriminating sentiment, commit a
great offense against the Supreme Lord. The supremacy of Shambu is subservient to that of Govinda;
hence they are not really different from each other. The nondistinction is established by the fact that
just as milk treated with acid turns into curd so Godhead becomes a subservient when He Himself
attains a distinct personality by the addition of a particular element of adulteration. This personality
has no independent initiative. The said adulterating principle is constituted of a combination of the
stupefying quality of the deluding energy, the quality of nonplenitude of the marginal potency and a
slight degree of the ecstatic-cum-cognitive principle of the plenary spiritual potency. This specifically
adulterated reflection of the principle of the subjective portion of the Divinity is Sadsiva, in the form
of the effulgent masculine-symbol-god Shambu from whom Rudradeva is manifested. In the work of
mundane creation as the material cause, in the work of preservation by the destruction of sundry
asuras and in the work of destruction to conduct the whole operation, Govinda manifests Himself as
guna-avatra in the form of Shambu who is the separated portion of Govinda imbued with the
principle of His subjective plenary portion. The personality of the destructive principle in the form of
time has been identified with that of Shambu by scriptural evidences that have been adduced in the
commentary. The purport of the Bhgavata slokas, viz., vaisavnm yath sambhu, etc., is that
sambhu, in pursuance of the will of Govinda, works in union with his consort Durgdevi by his own
time energy. He teaches pious duties (dharma) as stepping-stones to the attainment of spiritual
service in the various tantra-sstras, etc., suitable for jivas in different grades of the conditional
existence. In obedience to the will of Govinda, sambhu maintains and fosters the religion of pure
devotion by preaching the cult of illusionism (Myvda) and the speculative gama-sstras. The fifty
attributes of individual souls are manifest in a far vaster measure in Shambu and five additional
attributes not attainable by jivas are also partly found in him. So Shambu cannot be called a jiva. He
is the lord of jiva but yet partakes of the nature of a separated portion of Govinda.

Birth of Lord Brahma the adi kavi

So, this evening we are celebrating the very holy occasion of mahashivaratri ah... I would like to
speak briefly from the Srimad Bhagavatam. There is a vast wealth of information and stories in regard
to Lord Shankar in the Bhagavat puran and of course, it would take many days to discuss all of them.
So we would like to just, just attempt to describe a draft of the glories of this great, great personality
on this most holy evening ah... It is described in the 3rd canto of the Bhagavatam; How Lord Shankar
appears as the guna avatar with in this world. It is described that in the beginning of creation ah the
Supreme Personality of Godhead kshi ah... kshirodaksha ah... Kshirodakshayi Vishnu when he decides
I am sorry Garbhodakshayi Vishnu when he decides to create this cosmic manifestation to facilitate
the independent desires of the, living entities who have gone a straight for his loving service. He lies
in the causal ocean and by His sweet will a lotus flower grows from His naval upon that lotus flower
Lord Brahma born. Lord Brahma not knowing what is to be done, what is not to be done? He is in a
bewildered condition at that time, Supreme Lord from within his heart instructs him to perform
tapasya to engage in the sacrifice for the pleasure of Supreme Lord and through this tapasya, Lord
Brahma is empowered by Narayan with all of the faculties required to create everything within this

cosmic creation.
Appearance of Lord Shiva
There is Brahma within each universe, it is describe that Lord Brahma at one stage of the process of
creation from his own mind is born the four Kumars ah... being his original sons he instructs them to
procreate and to produce off springs, to populate the universes but the four kumaras being very, very
intelligent being born from the mind of Brahma himself .They have no desire to have wife, children
and engage in this family business of producing off springs. So they deny the request of Lord Brahma.
Now understand Lord Brahma although he is a pure jiva, an unadulterated devotee of the Lord. He as
especially impregnated in his heart with rajaguna or the mode of passion because it is the mode of
passion which is the principal of creation within this world. Just like we can understand this very
practically, just for a man or women to procreate off spring, first there must be passion and that
passion induces them to engage in sex life and from sex life creation takes place. So Lord Brahma is
the predominating deity, who is the controller of the mode of passion throughout this universe. So
being very much influenced by the mode of passion, he becomes very angry at his sons the four
kumaras for not obey his order but at the same time it is described in the Bhagavatam that Lord
Brahma knows that there are very advanced spiritually and they are denying his request because they
have a very high goal in their mind therefore they are glorious but still the thought there obey,
disobey instruction he becomes very internally angry but he controls it .It does not manifest. He
keeps it within himself. Now anger is born from the mixture of raja guna and tama guna, passion and
ignorance. From the great, great story of passion and ignorance within the heart of Brahma. This
energy is released from between his two eyebrows and from that place; a beautiful young child is
born. Whose color is blue and red. Blue is the color of tama guna and red is the mode or the color of
the raja guna. So this child who is born of the passion and ignorant condition of Lord Brahma begins
to cry. He begins to cry my dear father, where should I go? And what should I do? Because he was
crying he was named by Brahma --- Rudra. Rudra means one who is coming from tears. Rudra means
crying I believe. So Lord Brahma at that time instructed his son on behalf of the Lord to predominate
over the mode of tama guna or the ignorance. Now because this material existence is essentially in
the mode of ignorance. Therefore it is described that this Lord Rudra is the predominating deity of the
entire material creation. But try to understand that this is not simply a result of passion and ignorance
but Lord Shankar. Shankar means that he is the, he is the support of the entire creation, the entire
universe. Lord Shankar is none other than a plenary portion of the Supreme personality of Godhead
Himself. He is utterly pure, He is Godhead, He is above than the master of all jiva atmas but the
Supreme Lord for the sake of incarnating in this guna avatars He accept the influence of raja guna
and tama guna upon Himself just for the purpose of engaging in this very important essential
universal function. Therefore Lord Shiva is none other than Krsna or Narayan but different in the
sense that by His own sweet will He accepts subordination and influence by tama guna. Now we
cannot say that he is contaminated by tama guna. It is not a contamination; it is simply by His own
sweet will, He mixture for the sake of being the predominating Lord of those who are in this mode of
material nature. Therefore Lord Shiva because He is accepting this position He is considered the most
merciful of all personalities. Therefore it is said vaisnavanam yatha Shambu. That Shambu or Shiva
is the most glorious, most worship able of all devotees of Lord Krsna or Narayan.
AhSee after Shankar was born, Lord Brahma explain to him now my other four sons the kumaras
they will not procreate. So now you produce off spring. So Shankar begin to produce off spring in
exceedingly large quantities but all his off springs were very prominently in the raja guna and tama
guna and therefore they were very, very firry angry personalities and they were just marching
throughout every corner of the universe causing tremendous havoc and destruction and he was just
continuing to just create, create, create and then Lord Brahma told him ah my dear son please let
me do the creating .You go into the forest there is a mountain, you go on that mountain in the jungle
and you sit in the peaceful meditation until I call upon you, at the time of destruction. He said You
simply go and you meditate o the beautiful form of our master the Supreme Personality of Godhead
Narayan So at that time Lord Shiva giving up his ah position as a creator. He began to perform
tapasya and sit in sublime state of Samadhi fixing his mind, his consciousness on the divine form of
Supreme Personality of Godhead. In this way the most common picture of Lord Shiva that we see that
he is sitting in the lotus posture, in this peaceful state of the divine meditation.

Vaisnavanam yatha Shambu the devotees of Lord Hari worship Shiva as the greatest of all
vaisnavas. Sometimes people ask at rameshwaram, sethu bandha ksetra in the south Indian province.
We read in Ramayan that Lord Shri Ramchandra was worshiping with great devotion to the form of
Lord Shiva. So therefore, there is a great argument who is supreme Ram or Shiva. We see that Shiva
is worshiping Ram and Ram is worshiping Shiva. of course vaisnavanam yatha Shambu from the
point of view of the baghavat in the Ramayan we understand that the Supreme Personality of
Godhead Lord Shri Ram is always taking the greatest pleasure in worshiping the feet of His devotees
sdhavo hrdayam mahyam
sdhnm hrdayam tv aham
mad-anyat te na jnanti
nham tebhyo mang api
Lord Narayan explains that My devotee he has given up everything only for My sake. Therefore I give
up everything for the sake of My devotee. My devotee worships Me with all his heart and therefore I
worship My devotee with all heart. My devotee knowns nothing but Me and I know nothing but My
devotee. My devotee is always subordinate to my love and I am always subordinate to the love of my
devotee. Just like we find in Krsna Lila, when Sudhama Vipra who was a very gentle and pure
Brahman, servant of the Lord. When he came to Dwaraka because of his pure devotion the Supreme
Lord Shri Krsna who was at that time in the role of Dwarakadish the king of Dwaraka. He got off His
own throne and He put Sudhama Vipra on that throne and with His own hands He washed the lotus
feet of Sudhama and he began to offer praise and prayers of love and Rukmini the very goddess of
fortune engaged in the menial service of fanning him with the chamara. In this way the supreme Lord
shows that He is always anxious to worship the feet of His devotee. So Lord Shri Ramchandra in this
spirit, he worshiped the greatest of all of his devotees.
Lord Shiva the greatest devotee:
In the Bhagavatam it describes what is the quality of the greatest devotees of the Lord? Who are
most perfectly example is most perfectly exemplified in the personality of Shankar. What is the most
pleasing service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead? That captures the Lords heart. It is the
quality of compassion. It is the quality of the willingness to make sacrifice for the upliftment of the
Lords fallen children and Lord Shiva is the supreme embodiment of this principle. We find many, many
examples in this regard. In the baghavat it describes that at one time the demon mayadanava
attacked all the devatas and the devotees and he created three formidable cities that were flying in
the air. It was called the thripura and these cities were so formidable due to the expert architectural
design , just like in the Middle East now there are having too much trouble attacking the Iraqis
because they have created cities underground .They have created these trenches, very deep trenches
that go way deep down and they are having too much trouble trying to get through this, this
architectural design but mayadanava build three cities flying in the sky that were much far, far more
sophisticated, in their defensive measures to attack defensive and offensive to attack the innocent
people in all the world. So in this condition everyone was in great frustration. So Lord Shankar
himself, who was called upon by the devotees in great desperation. It was the Supreme Lord Narayan
Who instructed the devotees go to Lord Shankara, he is the greatest of all I want him to get credit.
Narayan Himself could have done it but He loves to see His devotees get more credit than Him. Just
as Krsna could have killed all the kurus within one second he wanted Arjuna to get the credit. So Lord
Shankar with his formidable bows and arrows he destroyed these three cities and thus he became
known as thripurari.
Para dukha dukhi
There is another incidence in the Bhagavatam, at the time of the churning of the ocean of milk the
sura and the ausuras demons and the demigods were on two ends of the mountain called mandhara.
They wanted to churn the ocean in order to extract amrit or nectar but as they were churning the first
thing that came out from the ocean was something called hala hala which is a deadly, deadly poison.
This poison was so intense and so powerful that everyone around understood that this poison it is
spreading it growing in all directions and it soon to destroy all life within the entire universe. They did
not know what to do? So the supreme Lord Narayan himself who loves to glorify His purest and most
intimate devotees. He led them all to that holy place known as Kailash very high in the Himalayas and

there all of the devatas headed by Narayan Himself , Brahma they all began to offer their prayers with
love to Lord Shiva and in a helpless tone they said please Lord Shankara you are were the Supreme
person within this universe because you are the pure representative of Narayan Himself, you are
manifesting all the divine powers and potencies of the Supreme Godhead by your pure surrender unto
His Lotus Feet , by your constant meditations of Lord. Therefore kindly save us from this imminent
destruction that is upon us. At that time, Lord Shankar turn to his wife he spoke My dear Bhavani
just see how all these living entities have been placed in danger because of the poison produced in
the churning of the ocean of milk. It my duty to give protection and safety to all living entities
struggling for existence. Certainly it is the duty of the master to protect his suffering dependents.
People in general being bewildered by the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are
always engaged in animosity towards one another but the devotees even at the risk of their own
temporary lives try to safe them. My dear gentle wife bhavani when one performs the benevolent
activities for others the Supreme Personality of Godhead Hari is very pleased and when the Lord is
pleased I am also pleased along with all living creatures. Therefore let me drink this poison for all the
living entities may thus become happy because of me and thus after informing bhavani this way Lord
Shiva began to drink this deadly, deadly poison this poison as swell to become like an ocean but by
his great mystic power. He concentrated to fit within the size of palm of his hand. You can imagine the
concentrated deadliness of this poison and with the spirit of being willing to suffer and even give up
his life in order to show kindness to others he took this poison place it in his mouth and drank it
.When it came into his throat. His throat turned black due to the very venomous effect and because of
this Lord Shankar is sometimes known as Neela Kanta or Kaala kanta and the devotees of the Lord
considered this to be the most beautiful decoration on the body of Lord Shiva. Although by material
conditions it is considered to be a blemish because he accepted this blemish upon his body as an act
of pure love and kindness to all living beings exclusively for the pleasure of the God he accepted this
hardship. This is one of the most beautiful, beautiful of all the characteristics of the supreme person
Shankar. So in drinking this poison Lord Shiva is demonstrating the true quality of how to render the
greatest, the highest pleasure service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. There is no greater
pleasure than being willing to risk once life and make all sacrifice for the upliftment in the welfare of
others. Para dukha dukhi a devotee of Lord is not concerning of his own happiness and distress but
he is very sensitive towards the happiness and distress of others and what is the greatest welfare
work? The greatest welfare work is to guide and lead a person on the path to eternal life and
therefore we find throughout the ages that those personalities who truly dedicate they themselves for
the highest welfare of work of humanity by Krsnas arrangement they are often prosecuted. Why are
they prosecuted? It is not by accident, it is not due to some previous bad karma. They are put in
hardship and sufferings because Krsna wants to glorify that devotee to show how intensely he is
willing to accept any consequences to spread His glories and bring the suffering out of their
conditional sorrow. In the glorification of Krsnas holy name it is described that all living beings in this
age of kali can be removed from the ocean of sorrows, the ocean of birth and death. Therefore those
personalities who are in the most loving association of the Lord, who want to do the topmost service
to please the Lord. They are not concerned simply with sitting in the holy place and enjoying the
atmosphere. They are willing to risk everything and anything for the purpose of uplifting the world.
We also read in the Bhagavatam how Lord Shiva his only purpose his only desire and life is simply to
glorify and please the Personality of Godhead. There is a story also in the baghavat were Lord
Shankar by his own free will allows himself to be bewildered by Mohini Murti and he allows himself to
put in the most embarrassing position of chasing after an unmarried women right in the presence of
his wife and his disciples and afterward when he comes to his senses. Is he ashamed? Is he
embarrassed? no he is proud. He is proud that Krsna can do this to me. Krsna is so great that if he
wants to put me in illusion let me be in illusion. What do I care what anyone says or thinks. This is
Krsnas potency. How wonderful is my Lord!! This is the utter self less pure heart of the greatest of
vaisnavas.
So it is described that we should not try to imitate such great personalities but we must follow in their
footsteps. Mahjano yena gatah sa panthh there are twelve mahajans yamaraj describe who they
are in the 6th canto of Bhagavatam. One of this is Lord Shambu or Lord Shiva. Shiva means one who
invokes all auspiciousness in all directions and to follow in his footsteps does not mean to Om namah
shivaya shoo and smoke bang and ganjas and hashish [Laughter] that is not the mission of Lord

Shiva. Of course many people feel that this is the way to worship Lord Shiva. After all Lord Shankar it
is the fact that sometimes he did like this but great acaryas explain he also drank the ocean of poison.
If you want to imitate one thing you must be able to duplicate all the other things. If you can drink
the ocean of poison than you have the right to smoke ganja and drink bang. If you cannot drink the
ocean of poison, you should not try to imitate him in any way. Just like Lord Krsna he danced with
gopis and some unscrupulous devotees of Krsna feel that the best way to understand Krsna is to
dance with gopis and they find the nicest young girls they can and say now i invoke gopi bhava in you
let us dance and enjoy after all Krsna is Gopijana Vallabha . He is the enjoyer of gopis but my dear
friend He is also Girivaradhari which means he is the lifter of govardhan hill. So first lift govardhan hill
because He did that first before he dance with the gopis. After you lift govardhan hill then yes dance
with the gopis but if you cannot lift govardhan hill then dont imitate Krsna follow what He says.
Similarly if you cannot drink the ocean of poison in which invoked the greatest fear even the demigods
like indra, then dont try to imitate his all other activities but Lord Shankar how merciful, how
compassionate that he is willing to go to the lowest classes of the most sinful people in civilization
even, to try to uplift them. For those who are in the darkest region of the mode of ignorance.
Therefore he dresses and he behaves in such a way just to attract there mind to gradually come to
the platform of dharma. He covers his body with crematorium ashes. He wears (enamels) snakes on
his body why? Because he wants to help those persons with such consciousness identify with him and
worship him as their worship able Lord and thus bring them to the highest truth. Therefore his
sacrifice is unparalleled and it is the sacrifice a pure unalloyed compassion in his devotion to Lord
Hari. So therefore this night of mahashivaratri is a very, very important evening for all the vaisnava
devotees of the Lord
When Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was going on his travels throughout the south India in the record
of the Caitanya Caritamrita we read of how he visited innumerable temples of Lord Shankar. Where He
worshiped him with great devotion and love and it is also described I believe it was on the mountain
called rishab hill Lord Caitanya secretly went to a meeting place and there Lord Shiva and parvathi
incarnated in disguise of Brahmans and they spent many days together in the ecstasy of love and
parvathi was cooking for Lord Caitanya everyday to His great satisfaction. So yes to worship Lord
Shankar is a very , very into go necessity within the lifes of great vaisnavas but the worship is not the
same as most people who worship Shankar within the society today because you see although Lord
Shiva was in his heart in the highest level of pure devotion. He is assuming, he is assuming the role of
a demigod and practically 99 % of the society of India they only understand him in his role of a
demigod. What is the purpose of a demigod? To give material benediction to those who are less
intelligent. Who think that the perfection and the goal of life is material prosperity? Lord Shiva is
known as Ashutosh which means that he is very easily pleased. Therefore we find that those who
worship lord Shiva make lots of money very fast. Those who worship Lord Shiva can also attain mystic
powers very fast. unfortunately even demons who worship him power and money very fast. After all
ravana was a devotee of Lord Shankar. He worshiped Shiva with great devotion and Shiva fulfilled his
desires. He gave him power, he gave him money, he gave him the regime to control practically the
whole of the world make him undefeatable .only God Himself the master of Shiva had the potency to
destroy him. No one less than Ram could destroy ravana because of the benediction of Lord Shankar.
You see as a demigod as Ashutosh he is obliged to perform purpose tapasya to give whatever you
want whatever your motive is.
We also read in tenth canto of Bhagavatam about one asura of the name what was his name
Vrkhasura. He was cutting out his own flesh and offering it to Lord Shankar, chanting loudly hallowing
his names and offering it in the sacred fire. He was about to cut out his own head. Finally Shankar
said alright what do you want? I want the benediction that whoever head I touch it will crack and
that person will die. Lord Shankar said ah all right. I know you are an evil man but still you have
pleased me I must give you the benediction. Its not good for you but what do to this is what you
want. To pay the price I have to give it to you. So the first thing he did is he wanted to touch Shivas
head because he was too much falling in love with his wife parvathi and thinking I cannot enjoy
parvathi as long as Shiva is around. So first thing is to let me get rid of him. So lord Shiva ran away
and he was chasing. It was a question of honor, he gives the benediction and it doesnt work thats a
disgrace to his honor and at the same time if it works then he no longer is alive so he ran away. At
that time Lord Vishnu disguised himself as small boy and he went to Vrkhasura and said what are

you doing? I am going to touch Shivas head and take his wife. Ha-ha... You think Lord Shivas
benediction actually work ha-ha they never work I have seen so many times [Laughter]. What do
you mean they never work? He said yeah you will touch his head nothing will happen everyone will
laugh at you, you will lose your reputation, (you will beat his) honor is worst then death, what you will
do ah no, no I have seen. Now what should I do what should I do. Well first you should test and
see if it works before yourself in a private place. Test before you make a big embarrassment now.
Alright touch your head alright. He died. So you see in this way Lord Shiva is Ashutosh he gives
material benedictions. Whether its good for you or not. If you approach him in his role as a demigod
or devata . For lord Hari people are not very inclined to worship him why because Krsna does not give
you what you want he gives you what you need. Hari means one who steals. If it is good for you to
have lots of money and great mystic powers. Lord Hari can give you all mystic powers and all great
wealth has he did for maharaj yudhistir, maharaj ambharish, maharaj Priyavrat and so many other
great personalities but if it is not good for you, you can worship Him for money and you may end up
with nothing. You may worship Him for mystic powers and you may end up in an in various condition,
insulted by all. This is the supreme mercy
yasyham anugrhnmi harishye tad-dhanam shanaih
Krsna say My supreme compassion upon My devotee is sometimes I take everything away so that
devotee have no pride left cries of Me helplessly Hey Krsna, Hey Govinda then at that time he is
ready to receive my divine love pure Bhakti. So that is why we find there are many people who
approach the demigod aspect of Lord Shiva because he is easily gives benedictions but the greatest
benediction is the benediction of Bhakti divine love and therefore we find in Srimad Bhagavatam that
Lord Shiva for those who are materialistically inclined he gives them whatever benediction they want
but for those who are sincere to understand the actual truth, sincere in the path of liberation. We find
that Lord Shiva is always directing people to the worship of Lord Narayan. As in the case of pracetas,
the sons of king pracinibarhishad. They approached Lord Shiva and Lord Shiva thought then beautiful
songs and praise of Lord Narayan because he saw that they cared nothing of this world. They truly
wanted the highest benediction. If they asked for mysticism he would have given them great powers
of control [background darshan is opened with bell ring jai Sri Radha gopinath] they asked for the
highest goal of life they asked for the highest liberated state. Lord Shiva thought them beautiful
prayers, his own personal prayers in glorification of Lord Hari. So those who worship Lord Shiva for
that divine purpose of life His spiritual master is always directing us to the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha
gopinath by his examples by his words.
Thank you very much!