3 TYPES OF SIVA – IN VAIKUNTA, INTERMEDIATE & MATERIAL WORLDS!
A male devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
“Dear prabhuji, your explanation about doubts, questions and certain subjects are very explicit and clear , very helpful, my question today is about lord shivaprabhu.
Prabhu so the planet shiva resides is called kailash in spiritual world which is eternal meaning he existed from eternal time but it is also mentioned in bhagavadham than shiva was born from brahma’s anger, can u please explain on this as brahma is situated in material world and kindly explain more about shiva and his orgin”
REPLY:
Today, I like to clarify a few details about Lord Siva that are very very important.
There are Three Types Of Lord Siva:
(1) SIVA IN VAIKUNTA SKY
A full fledged Visnu-tattva known as Sadasiva exists in Vaikuntha loka. (Sri Advaita Acharya is considered to be this Sadasiva)
Visnu tattva Sadasiva is the material cause of the world (Maha Vishnu being the efficient cause). This form Vishnu tattva Sadasiva is the same as Maha-Vishnu.
This Sadasiva is mentioned in Caitanya Caritamruta – Adi Lila 6:79 (see at the end) and in the Vayu Purana.
As Visnu-tattva, He has about 93% of the qualities of Krishna and is NEARLY SIMILAR TO the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
(2): SIVA TATTVA SADASIVA, IN INTERMEDIATE SKY
This Siva is known as SHAMBHU OR SADASIVA, and He is an expansion of the Vishnu Tattva-Sadasiva as mentioned in Sri Chaitanya Charitamrta. Adi lila 6:79.
He resides with His consort Maha Mayadevi in MAHESH-DHAMA (Spiritual Kailash) that is situated slightly lower than Vaikuntaloka, but outside of the material world (we can say, between Material sky and Vaikunta loka).
This Sadasiva, ie, Shambu is not at Visnutattva but Shiva-tattva.
This Sadasiva possesses 85% of the qualities of Krishna.
This Sadasiva does not directly perform any destruction.
(3) LORD SIVA AND HIS 11 RUDRA EXPANSIONS IN MATERIAL SKY
This is the Popular Lord Siva that we are calling as Siva. This Lord Siva and the 11 Rudras live within this particular material universe and most others.
The 11 Rudras are:
Ajaikapat, Ahibradhna, Virupaksa, Raivata, Hara, Bahurupa, Devasrestha Tryambaka, Savitra, Jayanta, Pinaki and Aparajita.
Lord Siva and His 11 Rudra Expansions are also Shiva-tattva.
Here, Siva’s expansions are involved in the destruction of creations.
NOTE:
The Siva mentioned in Puranas are TYPE – (2) SADASIVA (Siva thattva) and TYPE – (3) Lord Siva and His 11 expansions only.
VISHNU TATTVA SADASIVA IS MENTIONED ONLY IN VAYUPURANA AND CAITANYA CARITAMRUTA.
Now Let us read that:
Caitanya Caritamruta – Adi Lila 6.79:
MEANING:
Rudra, who is an expansion of Sadāśiva and who appears in unlimited universes, is also a guṇāvatāra [qualitative incarnation] and is the ornament of all the demigods in the endless universes.
PURPORT BY SRILA PRABHUPADA:
There are eleven expansions of Rudra, or Lord Siva. They are as follows: Ajaikapat, Ahibradhna, Virupaksa, Raivata, Hara, Bahurupa, Devasrestha Tryambaka, Savitra, Jayanta, Pinaki and Aparajita. Besides these expansions, there are eight forms of Rudra called earth, water, fire, air, sky, the sun, the moon and soma-yaji. Generally all these Rudras have five faces, three eyes and ten arms. Sometimes it is found that Rudra is compared to Brahmā and considered a living entity. But when Rudra is explained to be a partial expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is compared to Sesa. Lord Siva is therefore simultaneously an expansion of Lord Visnu and, in his capacity for annihilating the creation, one of the living entities. As an expansion of Lord Visnu he is called Hara, and he is transcendental to the material qualities, but when he is in touch with tamo-guṇa, he appears contaminated by the material modes of nature. This is explained in Srimad-Bhagavatam and the Brahma-saṁhita. In Śrimad-Bhagavatam, Tenth Canto, it is stated that Lord Rudra is always associated with the material nature when she is in the neutral, unmanifested stage, but when the modes of material nature are agitated he associates with material nature from a distance. In the Brahma-saṁhita the relationship between Viṣṇu and Lord Siva is compared to that between milk and yogurt. Milk is converted into yogurt by certain additives, but although milk and yogurt have the same ingredients, they have different functions. Similarly, Lord Siva is an expansion of Lord Visnu, yet because of his taking part in the annihilation of the cosmic manifestation, he is considered to be changed, like milk converted into yogurt. In the Puranas it is found that Siva appears sometimes from the heads of Brahma and sometimes from the head of Visnu. The annihilator, Rudra, is born from Sankarṣaṇa and the ultimate fire to burn the whole creation. In the Vayu Purana there is a description of Sadāśiva in one of the Vaikuntha planets. That Sadasiva is a direct expansion of Lord Krsna’s form for pastimes. It is said that Sadasiva (Lord Sambhu) is an expansion from the Sadasiva in the Vaikuntha planets (Lord Visnu) and that his consort, Mahamaya, is an expansion of Rama-devi, or Laksmi. Mahamaya is the origin or birthplace of material nature.
Next, about the eternality of Siva asked by you:
Siva does not die and He resides in Spiritual planet. How? Read further:
If a god is Vishnu-tatva, he is immortal; If he is Jeeva-tatva, he is mortal and dies. Lord Siva is not Vishnu-tatva. But, He is not Jeeva-tatva also. He belongs to Siva-tatva that is also immortal. That is why, He is known as sadasiva.
(Why Krishna is Supreme as Vyasa Puranas say many gods as Supreme? READ HERE!)
According to Srila Sanathana Gosvami, the planet of Siva is beyond the seven-fold coverings of the material world, It is eternal, transcendental, and full of bliss and Only the greatest servants of Lord Siva may enter it.
To establish the eternal nature of Sadasiva, the origin of One of the Trimurti Siva, let us read some more writings by eminent acharyas below:
(A) BRHAD-BHAGAVATAMRTA 1.2.79-97 BY SRILA SANATANA GOSWAMI:
(79) Siva is famous as the personal friend of Lord Visnu. In this universe I do not see anyone who is the object of the Lord’s mercy as Siva.
(80) Always intoxicated by the sweet nectar of Sri Krsna’s lotus feet, Siva has lost all interest in material goals, in supreme power and opulence, and in varieties of sense-pleasure.
(SHOULD A KRISHNA DEVOTEE WORSHIP OTHER GODS (DEMIGODS) AND CHANT ALL THEIR MANTHRAS? READ HERE!)
(81) Eating Dhustura seeds and arka leaves, decorated with a garland of skulls, and his naked body smeared with ashes, Siva laughs at materialists like myself, who are addicted to sense-pleasures.
(82) Wearing matted locks of disheveled hair, and eager to conceal his actual nature, he staggers about like a madman. On his head he happily carries the Ganges, which has washed the lotus feet of Lord Krsna. When he dances he destroys the universe.
(83) Lord Krsna is so kind to him that not only does he have the power to grant the most valuable liberation to demigods like myself, but even his wife has that power.
(84) Ah! All the residents of Sivaloka are liberated souls. By Siva’s mercy how many of them are not only liberated, but are now pure devotees of Lord Krsna?
(85) To consider Siva different from Lord Krsna is a great offense. The Supreme Personality of Godhead may forgive offenses committed to Him, but He does not forgive those committed against Siva.
(Why Krishna is Supreme as Vyasa Puranas say many gods as Supreme? READ HERE!)
(86) When Tripuresvara, Vrkasura and other demons maddened by benedictions he gave them, placed Siva in a very dangerous position, Lord Krsna at once rescued him with words as sweet as nectar.
(87) Conquered by the intimate love of His devotee, Lord Krsna personally worships Siva just to glorify him.
(88-89) Lord Krsna personally asked Siva to drink the terrible poison produced from the churning of nectar. In this way Siva became worshiped by the Prajapatis, and showered with streams of great glory.
(90) The Puranas sing of the mercy of Lord Krsna to Siva. You know this already. O sage, please remember his glories.
(91) Sri Pariksit said: O affectionate mother, Narada offered obeisances to his spiritual master and was about to depart for Kailasa Hill when Brahma glanced at his son and said:
(92) Sri Brahma said: Submissive to the loving service of Kuvera, Siva resides in Kuvera’s place on Mount Kailasa in the material universe.
(93) Assuming the role of the protector of the northern direction, Siva resides there, surrounded by his associates, and keeping very little material wealth.
(Lord Shiva helps me faster than Krishna. How to get help earlier from Krishna? READ HERE!)
(94) The Supreme Personality of Godhead Krsna becomes conquered by the loving service of devotees like myself, and for this reason He resides on my planet, on Svargaloka, and in many other places as well, and enjoys suitable pastimes there. (In the same way Siva resides in Kailasa because of the devotion of Kuvera.)
(95) I quote the opinion of Vayu Purana “The planet of Siva is beyond the seven-fold coverings of the material world. It is eternal, transcendental, and full of bliss. Only the greatest servants of Siva may enter it.”
(96) In that place Siva is decorated with splendid transcendental garments and ornaments. There He is the master of great powers and opulences, and there he is surrounded by many associates as splendid and glorious as he.
(97) In that place, even though the two of them are not different, Siva worships the supremely powerful and opulent Lord Sankarsana as his chosen Deity. Is this not very wonderful?
(Why Lord Shiva is worshiped as LINGA and why Gopis worshiped Shiva? READ HERE!)
(B) From Paramatma Sandarbha by Srila Jiva Gosvami:
Anuccheda-17:
“In may also be noted in the context of these words that Lord Shadashiva is not the same as the demigod Shiva of the three guna-avataras. In the Shiva scriptures it is clearly said that Lord Sadashiva is an expansion of the purusha-avatara and the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In Shrimad-Bhagavatam (in Canto Ten. Chapter Eighty-nine), the crest jewel of all scriptures, the question “Who is the most exalted of the three guna-avataras?” is raised. In the answer given there it is clear that the (Guna avatar) Shiva is not an expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the purusha-avatara.
(C) The Guna avatar Lord Siva is different from this Sadasiva. Srimad Bhagavatham describes about this guna avatar Shiva only.
Example: Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.14.29):
“Demigods like Brahma also follow the religious rites observed by him (Siva). He (Siva) is the controller of the material energy, which causes the creation of the material world. he is great, and therefore his devilish activities are simply imitation.”
(Krishna, as Buddha denied vedas ; Shiva as Sankaracharya reestablished Vedas, as requested by Krishna. Why? READ HERE!)
CONCLUSION:
Thus, As per the TATVAS, there are two TATVAS – Vishnu tatva from Maha Vishnu and SIVA TATVA from SADASIVA. These two origins of tatvas are immortal. There is a Siva in Vishnu Tattva also (Type-1). The Guna avatar Lord Siva is annihilated during pralaya and reinstated. However, Sadasivas (Both Vishnu tattva and Siva Tattva, ie, Type 1 & 2) remains immortal as always.
Only this guna avatar Siva originated from Brahma, not Sadasiva.
If you expand your studies beyond Bhagavatham towards other acharyas and Gosvamis, you can gain still deeper knowledge about Lord Siva. The above mentioned verses have been given from such expanded readings through such acharyas.
Therefore, as I have been writing in this site for long, a devotee of Krishna should never degrade or defame Both Vishnu Tattvas and Siva Tatvas because even Krishna will not forgive them for this serious offence. Krishna’s expansions should also be honoured as we are humble devotees of Krishna.
However, the creator of these entire creations is Lord Krishna who is AdhiPurusha and Siva tatva originated as per the will of Krishna giving Sadasiva an eternal position. Only the Krishna’s Guna avatar Siva is annihilated, not this original Sadasiva.
READ HERE THESE TWO INCIDENTS SHOWING THE MUTUAL LOVE BETWEEN LORD KRISHNA AND LORD SIVA