Radhanath Swami explains The Exalted Position of Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva

näham na yüyam yad-åtäm gatim vidur

na vämadevah kim utäpare suräh

tan-mäyayä mohita-buddhayas tv idah

vinirmitah cätma-samah vicaksmahe

(SB 2.06.37)

Translation

Since neither Lord Shiva nor you nor I could ascertain the limits of spiritual happiness, how can other demigods know it? And because all of us are bewildered by the illusory external energy of the Supreme Lord, we can see only this manifested cosmos according to our individual ability.

Purport

We have many times mentioned the names of twelve selected authorities (dvädaça-mahäjana), of which Brahmä, Närada and Lord Shiva head the list as the first, second and third in order of merit of those who know something of the Supreme Lord. Other demigods, semi-demigods, Gandharvas way. But what can the scientists know? Even Brahmä himself was once bewildered, thinking himself the only one Brahmä favored by the Lord, but later on, by the grace of the Lord, he came to know that there are innumerable more powerful Brahmäs as well, in far bigger universes beyond this universe, and all of these universes combined together form ekapäd-vibhüti, or one fourth of the manifestation of the Lord’s creative energy. The other three fourths of His energy are displayed in the spiritual world, and so what can the tiny scientist with a tiny brain know of the Absolute Personality of Godhead, Lord Krsña? The Lord says, therefore, mohitam näbhijänäti mäm ebhyah param avyayam: [Bg. 7.13] bewildered by such modes of material nature, they cannot understand that beyond these manifestations is a Supreme Person who is the absolute controller of everything. Brahmä, Närada and Lord Shiva know about the Lord to a considerable extent, and therefore one should follow the instructions of these great personalities instead of being satisfied with a tiny brain and its playful discoveries such as spacecraft and similar products of science. As the mother is the only authority to identify the father of a child, so the mother Vedas, presented by the recognized authority such as Brahmä, Närada or Shiva, is the only authority to inform us about the Absolute Truth.

Radhanath Swami on Humble nature of Lord Brahma

Beautiful chapter of Srimad Bhagavatam. We are given a glimpse into the types of discussions that take place amongst the greatest spiritual personalities. This a dialog between Lord Brahma and his disciple that exalted acharya of our sampradaya Sri Narada Muni. Narada Muni is the spiritual master of so many of the greatest acharyas through history. He is the personal associate of the Lord. In fact we see in all of the past times he comes in this world. And here we find, we see the beginning of Narada Muni’s relationship with his own spiritual master, Lord Brahma. Lord Brahma who is the father of Narada Rishi. The grandfather, great grandfather of all species of life within this entire universe. The original Guru who has manifested the Vedas through his four mouths within this universe. The all powerful creator of the various manifestations within this entire universe. He has such an exalted position and yet in his description to Narada he is not in any way indicating his own greatness or capacity on any level. He has completely humbling himself before his disciple in relation in to his connection to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is not trying to prove to Narada how great he is, he his trying to prove to Narada how great Krishna is. This is spiritual master.

Today so many spiritual masters want to prove how great they are. To the limit that they want to be worshipped as God, the Supreme Personality of Godhead or the manifestation of impersonal Brahman. But Brahma, he says nothing flattering about himself. He simply glorifies Krishna. He simply wants to impress in Narada’s heart the supreme unlimited glory of Krishna and the absolute necessity of taking shelter of Krishna and the renunciation of everything and anything saven, except those things that are favourable to help us to please Krishna. Here Brahma is admitting that although he is being given the post such a exalted status even he is bewildered by the illusory energy. What to speak of Lord Shiva? And Narada himself.

Great personalities

We are all little puppets before the Supreme Godhead who is the cause of all causes and according to our desire we are either controlled by the Supreme puppeteer, by the strings of his external energy, Maya shakti or we are controlled by the strings of his internal energy yoga maya. But in any case we are always like puppets being controlled by Krishna. And no one should think that they are very great. Narada Muni in his previous birth was a son of a maid servant and because he humbly took the remnants of the great sages and served them with great devotion and listened to their narrations of Hari Katha he was given the opportunity to purify his life in complete absorption and meditation on the lotus feet of the Lord and then he took such a exalted birth, directly from Brahma himself to the dawn of creation himself. And Brahma is not just talking to a ordinary neofied Bhakta, disciple. He is talking to a disciple like Narada Muni who has already in previous birth realized everything and he is explaining that we are all subjected to the illusory external energy of the Lord unless we are fully protected by the shelter of the Supreme Lord’s mercy. This is subject matter even for the greatest acharyas. And what makes a person a great acharya? Not that such a person is above the external energy, but a person is constantly moment after moment after moment seeking shelter of the Lord in pure devotion and due to that shelter that person is above the external energy. Without the mercy of the Lord no one can stand even Brahma, Narada or Shiva. And they say this reality has been demonstrated for so many wonderful narrations within the Srimad Bhagavatam, Chaitanya Charitamrita and other such scriptures. Srila Prabhupad in this purport refers to the time that Brahma was bewildered. He was bewilderment was just to show the power of illusion. And just to show the greatness of God.

Radhanath Swami speaks on Lord Brahma goes to Vaikuntha

Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita explains how Lord Brahma came to Vaikuntha. And when he got to the door he asked the gatekeeper, “Please tell my Lord Narayan, that Brahma has come to see him.” Now Brahma has very exalted service. He runs the whole universe. Something like if someone goes to the GBC and says, “Tell Maharaj that I am the president of Bombay has come” of course we know the president of Bombay. But in this temple, Radha Gopinath temple if you come, the answer will be which president? In this way nobody has a very exalted position. Everyone is.. . so Lord Vishnu treated the same way. He said, “Which Brahma?” and when Brahma heard, which Brahma? He was very confused, very bewildered because he was thinking he is the only Brahma because when you have a very very high and great position you are thinking that you are the only like this. You become so much into your self. And Brahma was really confused. All the service I have done to the Lord by creating the whole universe he doesn’t even know who I am! Sometimes when we do good service we want to be recognized. So he said “Tell the Lord it’s the four-headed Brahma.”

So the Lord when he heard that, he called for so many other Brahma from the different universes within the cosmic manifestations. And a little four-headed Brahma walked into the room. And he saw so many Brahmas offering their obeisances and worshiping with prayers the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Some had eight heads. He thought how is this eight heads. Then he looked. he saw some with sixteen heads. Some had thirty-two heads. Some with sixty-four heads. Some with one hundred and thirty eight heads. Some with two hundred, three hundred, five hundred, thousand. Some with ten-thousand heads. Some with lakhs of heads. He even saw a Brahma with millions of heads. And each of them looked so beautiful and graceful. And brahma realized he is insignificant. And each brahma was talking to the Lord explaining what are the affairs of the universe they were in. How the asuras were being controlled, how the demigods were doing, how the devotees were the different problems they may have been facing. Like this. And then Lord said “alright. You all go back to the universes and always remember me”. And they all left. And then Lord Brahma, he understood that by the Lord’s supreme mercy he wanted to reveal to him that he is insignificant. That God is great. And how great is God. No one can ever know.

Radhanath Swami explains the Manifestation of Lord Shiva

And it s being explained that even Lord Shiva, who is greater than Shiva? Within this material cosmic manifestation he is actually even the source of Brahma. He takes birth from Brahma. Brahma becomes angry with the Kumaras for not wanting to get married. From the beginning of the creation fathers have being angry with the son when they want to be Brahmacharis. So don’t think you will be any different today. So in this way Shiva was born from the third eye from between the eyebrows of Brahma. But actually he manifested. But Shiva existed before. The very beginning of cosmic manifestation Shiva, Parvati began to manifest various energies on behalf of Krishna of material cosmos.

Lord Shiva desires to see the Mohini Murti

So it is explained by Srila Shukhdev Goswami that once this great personality Mahadev the greatest of the Gods, he approached Lord Vishnu and he enquired, “that I have seen many of your incarnations all kinds of incarnations but I just heard the story of how you appeared in the form of a beautiful women and you bewildered all the women to the extent that what they gave their life and souls to attain the nectar of the mortality. They gave it to you out of infatuation for your beauty. I desire to see this wonderful manifestation like this form.” And Lord Vishnu he said “yes I appeared in the form of the most beautiful women within this creation and I bewildered the demons. But I did not bewilder the demigods. You want to see this form? Lord Vishnu began to smile; He said “I will reveal this form to you. And the great acharyas explain that when Vishnu smiled he understood that Lord Shiva is asking for something that would become very historical. So then Lord Vishnu disappeared. And Lord Shiva was standing alongside his consort Bhavani who is actually Maya-devi herself who controls the whole material nature. As well as his associates and his devotees. They were all standing together.

Radhanath Swami explains the wonderful form of Mohini Murti

And then a little distance away there was a beautiful forest with all multi-colored leaves and flowers and the trees. All sorts of nice fragrances. And in that forest a beautiful young lady appeared and she was playing with a ball. And she was bouncing the ball the various parts of her delicate body were moving and trembling in certain ways that completely infatuated the mind of Lord Shiva. And as she was watching the ball with her eyes and was moving very restlessly which were like lotus flowers. That was. She every now and then glanced upon Lord Shiva. And Lord Shiva was thinking she likes me. She is attracted to me. This is the power of Maya. This is how Maya works. No secret but a yet a great secret. Now in the form of the opposite sex which is so charming when we are so attracted to them, but when they glance upon us and appear to be attracted to us and we become even more harassed by attraction to them. And as she was bouncing her ball, the ball started going little distance away. So she began to chase after her ball. And Lord Shiva he became completely intoxicated with lusty desires. And he just forgot about his wife Bhavani and all of his associates and his devotees and he went running after her, very fast.

Detachment of Lord Shiva

How is this possible? Who is Lord Shiva? His wife Bhavani is the conductor of material energy and her form of Durga with her trident she keeps everybody completely trapped by the three modes of material nature, by three folds miseries of the material existence. And Shiva is never infatuated by her. He is never put into illusion by her. Shiva sits in Kailash under the big, big Banyan tree in samadhi, completely immersed in the thought of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And when Parvati wants to have some Lila with him, she has such a difficult time even getting a trace of his attention. He is so completely detached from her and from everything. Lord Shiva is so, so renounced. How can anyone compare to him? He has such immense wealth. Material nature himself, Durga who all the worlds are worshipping for material wealth and prosperity. Very rarely does anyone approach Durga for anything rare and spiritual. They approach Durga for money, for wealth, for prestige, for power. Like that. And Lord Shiva is her master. She is his chaste humble faithful servant. That is the power of Shiva. And yet he doesn’t care for any wealth. He consort is giving kingdoms and planets with all oppulences to devotees and Lord Shiva is just wearing some simple animal skin. And he doesn’t even have a house. Have you ever heard or seen a picture of Shiva’s house? He just sleeps under trees. Sits under trees. Shukadev Goswami was asked by Maharaj Parikshit, “how is this Lord Shiva. He is the bestower of the greatest opulences and yet he has no oppulences as far as material wealth.” So this is the nature of Shiva’s detachment.

Radhanath Swami speaks on Power Of Lord Shiva

And one time he was so deep in Samadhi. The demigods they wanted Lord Shiva to come out of the Samadhi, because they desperately needed him to help because the demons were conquering. And nobody would get him out. When he would go into trance, meditating on the beautiful form of Lord Vishnu, Krishna, he was beyond material existence. So they had Kama Dev, cupid himself. And who is this Kama dev? He is just shooting arrows at everyone. And his arrows are keeping everyone completely intoxicated and infatuated by the desires of material enjoyment. Specially the attraction between a male and a female.

puàsaù striyä mithuné-bhävam etam

(S.B 5.5.8)

It is the basic principle of all material bondage. From that attraction between man and a women comes the expansion of so many desires to enjoy not only our bodies, but also our homes and wealth and our, property, and our animals, and our everything, oir relatives our friends, our society.

janasya moho ‘yam aham mameti

(S. B. 5.5.8)

Completely in grip of the misconceptions of I and all things in relation to the body and the mind. This is the work of Kama dev. And still the whole world is dancing to the melody sung by cupid. So here is a source of all that power and energy.

With all Kama Dev’s determined energies, he shot an arrow into Lord Shiva. In order to try to invoke lusty desires in Shiva. And when that arrow hit Shiva, he came out of his meditation and he looked who has done this. And there he saw the beautiful form of Kama Dev. And did any lusty desires come from his heart? Not even a trace. Just to show Kama Dev what a rascal he was for disturbing him he opened hid third eye and fire came out and burnt Kama Dev to ashes. Shankar Bhagawan Ki Jai!!! Now when Kama Dev attacks you, you have that power? You or somehow or other just holding on the lotus of the holy name.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare.

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

Then a greater power than Shiva will come to save us. But if we forget the holy name, we have no alternative but to bow at the lotus feet of Cupid. So Shankar is such a great soul.

Lord Shiva runs after Mohini Murti

When he came before Vishnu, his form of Mohini murti, he forgot who he was, what he was, where he was. He was only thinking that we enjoy the lusty relationships with this woman. And he began to chase after her. And then what happened is, as she was running about here and there playing with her ball, a very nice fragrant breeze came by and unwrapped her sari and belt from her body and then she stood before Lord Shiva with no clothes. And this further aggravated the desire of Lord Shiva to have her. So they were running and running and finally Lord Shiva, somehow or other caught the braid from her and then he touched her. And then he embraced her. And she was embracing Lord Shiva she began to squirm like a serpent and she escaped and began to run again. Lord Shiva began to discharge his semen. Semen of Lord Shiva is very powerful. Not a drop of it could go to waste and he continued to run after her. And he began to run all over the world chasing after her through near lakes and ponds and forests and she even ran through the hermitages of the great great sages and Rishis, who were devotees of Shiva, who were practicing renunciation in the footsteps of Lord Siva. And all these nice Brahmacharis and Sadhus were performing their sadhana and all of a sudden this beautiful, beautiful naked lady comes running by. And then after that Lord Shiva is running after her completely immersed in trying to get her.

And the reason why Vishnu did this, because He wanted to show these great sages, do not think you are above my powers. Do not be proud and think you are great souls. The Acharyas interpret this past time in this way. Even though you are very renounced and you are very learned in the scriptures and you are very, very advanced spiritually and very detached from everything, never ever be complacent in being on God against maya. Because in the form of the opposite sex, anyone can be charmed and subdued, even your master, Shiva. So beware, be careful, be cautious. Very very strong lesson was learnt. And ultimately Shiva was running, and when his semen was fully discharged, then he became sober.

Radhanath Swami on Origin of Gold

But every drop of that semen turned to a gold mine and the gold mines throughout the world which are so precious are born of this wonderful past time of Lord Shiva. So whenever you see someone with gold earring, a gold bangle, a gold ring, a gold bracelet, a gold necklace, a gods rings on toes and whatever else of gold, gold teeth. When you see gold you should not think, oh how beautiful is this gold! Oh this gold is coming from great lesson Lord Shiva taught us. That we should not be charmed by the opposite sex. Gold is that signal to us. This is the Vaishnavas see gold. Other people are mad after gold. They just see it is Lord Shiva’s semen. That is discharged only to teach us a grand lesson, not to look at Maya.

Lord Vishnu praises Lord Shiva

So Lord Shiva became very sober and he came back to his natural completely self-controlled state. And then Mohini murti transformed her form into that of Lord Vishnu, standing before Shiva with his four arms, holding the conch-shell, the disc and the lotus flower. And Lord Shiva smiled at him. Now you have seen this form of Mohini murti. And I am so proud of you. Why was Lord Vishnu so proud of Lord Shiva? After what Lord Shiva had done. This is a great, great teaching to understand. That after Lord Shiva in front of his wife Bhavani, in front of all the half Brahmins and those who associate with and worship him, in front of all the great sages and rishis who worship him and honor him, he was performing such an act of chasing after her completely intoxicated by illusion. When he understood that Mohini murti was Vishnu himself he was not the slightest bit ashamed. He didn’t feel bad at all. He was simply proud of Vishnu. He was proud of the Supreme Personality of Godhead has such power over me that he can make me do this. How great is my Lord! Because please understand that Lord Shiva is beyond Maya. Maya cannot touch Lord Shiva, Mahamaya. She is his consort, under his control. This was Krishna’s personal yogamaya.

Lord Shiva was so happy that Lord showed the whole world how great he was that even the greatest Mahadev, the king of all demigods could easily become bewildered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although we have so many wonderful conceptions of Lord Shiva, so many stories of he kills demons and how he destroys universes here we find a most wonderful display of Shiva’s complete humility.

trnäd api sunécena

taror api sahisnunä

amäninä mänadena

kirtaniyah sadä harih

this is what a Vaishnava is. One who is more humble than a blade of grass, more tolerate than a tree, ready to offer all respect to others who respect no one. That is Vaishnav, true Vaishnav.

Lord Shiva- the Guna avatara

So we see Lord Shiva. Sometimes he is known as Ashutosh, he is easily pleased and he gives blessings, but he is also easily angered. So many stories of people who offend him. Like when Brghu Muni. He offended him. He said to Lord Shiva, what si all this. You want to embrace me because you are my brother? How can I embrace you, dirty person. Ashes of dead bodies all over. Never comb your hair. Snakes. You are a filthy person. So Lord Shiva became a angry. He was about to stab him with his trident. So when they ask, how is this trnäd api sunécena, taror api sahisnunä. What to speak of amäninä mänadena. But we should understand that in his world as the gunavatara, Prathama guna. He acts in this way.

But he actually he takes this role out of humble devotion to the Supreme Lord. vaisnavänäm yathä sambhuh. This means Lord Shiva is the greatest of all Vaishnavas. And this verse is from the Srimad Bhagavatam which is the greatest of all scriptures. So when we see that Lord Shiva sometimes behaves in certain ways, out of utter surrender and humility to the Supreme Lord he behaves this way because he takes the role of the gunavatara for tamogun. And he attracts certain people by this past time who are in the mode of ignorance who like these things. To see somebody who is very angry. His anger is in the mode of ignorance. But actually Lord Shiva is the most humble devotee. And this is displayed in the wonderful past time Mohini murti. He was so pleased and proud that Lord Vishnu has shown His mercy upon Shiva and he was so happy that Lord Vishnu showed the whole world that Shiva is subordinate to him. Sadashiva, the original Shiva appeared as Advaita Acharya.

Sadashiva as Advaita Acharya

Advaita Acharya was Mahavishnu as well as Sadashiva. And you know the wonderful past time. Lord Chaitanya always worshipped Advaita Acharya. Because he was the most exalted of all Brahmans on earth and he was also the God-brother of his own spiritual master. And when Lord Chaitanya wanted to take the dust from Advaita Acharya’s lotus feet, there was nothing Advaita Acharya could do possibly stop him. Lord Chaitanya was more strong. So Advaita Acharya he began to preach yogashishta philosophy mayavad. And Lord Chaitanya when he heard this he went to Shantipur and he jumped on Advaita Acharya and he began to beat him right in front of all Advaita Acharya’s students. He had a whole class of his disciples learning from him and listening to him. And his family was there. Achyutanada and his wife was there, Sita Devi Thakurani. And you know the nature a husband does not like to be embarrassed in front of the wife. What to speak of the children? What to speak of students and disciples? But when Lord Chaitanya was beating him, beating him with his fists and chastising, Advaita Acharya was simply laughing in ecstasy because my Lord now you have shown the whole world that you are the master and I am the servant. Today I am very happy. So great personalities, they want to reveal to the world the greatness of the Lord. Never the greatness of themselves.

Radhanath Swami on Krishna the Supreme controller

Here in this beautiful verse of Srimad Bhagavatam, Lord Brahma is explaining that himself, Shiva and you Narada, and everyone we can never know who is Krishna. We are all under the control of Krishna. he can give us enlightenment, He can give us bewilderment, whatever he wants we are that. If Krishna wants to put you in total illusion, you are in total illusion. You have no power. If Krishna wants to rescue you from illusion there is no power on the earth that can distract your attention from his loving service.

ye yathä mäm prapadyante

täms tathaiva bhajämy aham

(B.G.04.11)

And as we surrender to Krishna, he will reveal himself accordingly. He controls us either by his beauty or love or by the illusions of this material world. Depending on our desire. Depending on our determination. Lord Brahma wants to give this nice explanation. And therefore we should have faith in the shastra.

Insignificant tiny knowledge of the scientists

Srila Prabhupad taking this beautiful verse is taking the opportunity to warn us – Do not have faith in the realizations or the speculations born of the tiny brains of material scientists, philosophers or so called educationists. Because what can they know? They do not even know what’s beyond planet earth. They have their telescopes and they are looking into other planets and they are looking into the stars and they according to the little tiny glimpse they see at that place they come up with kinds of speculations and they manufacture all kinds of theories of what is mars and what is the moon and what is everything else. But what do they know? What do they see? They have no idea that they are just looking into the closest to the planets to this little speck called the air floating in the ocean of the sky of this universe. What to speak? They cant see Brahma Loka or Tapa Loka, Maha Loka, Jana Loka. They cannot even see Swarga Loka. They are just seeing a few little things. And yet they are posing themselves of being great knower of the truth. They do not understand that this whole universe which is completely beyond our capacity is just like one little tiny mustard seed in the massive ocean of mustard seeds and beyond this universe which is just 1/4^th the energy of the Lord is the spiritual sky and all innumerable Vaikuntha planets. So what do they know? When we reach Srimad Bhagavatam we are hearing from Krishna himself. The descriptions in Srimad Bhagavatam are the descriptions given by God. Even Brahma, even Shiva they study Srimad Bhagavatam to understand what is the truth. They receive their information from the Lord. tene brahma hrdä ädi-kavaye? They do not speculate what is what? what to speak of the tiny brains of the so called scientists today?

Radhanath Swami on Krishna is inconceivable.

And it is explained here that according to one’s individual personal capacity, one is even eluded by the material nature in very unique way and Krishna reveals himself as the beautiful personality of Godhead in unique personal wonderful way to every living being. According to nature of our devotion. So let us cultivate that devotion. Bhaktavatsal the attractor of even cupid Madan Mohan is attracted by the devotion of the heart of His servants.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare.

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

Inconceivable Lord Sri Krishna

Who can understand Krishna? Even Krishna cannot understand Krishna. What to speak of Brahma, Vishnu? Mahavishnu wanted to see Krishna. And even Krishna when He was looking in the beautiful jewel pillar when He saw reflection of Himself He said “I cannot understand this how great this beauty is? Even I cannot understand.” And He is the knower of everything. And then he was thinking “this beauty is so inconceivably beautiful that even I am attracted to it. When I see myself in the reflection. What to speak of Srimati Radharani, what kind of ecstasy she is in. who is his own pleasure potency. So in order to deeply understand the nature of his own beauty as Srimati Radharani his own self he was seeing he appeared as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Now understand what is it that so attracts the heart of Srimati Radharani? What is the nature of her love? What is happiness she derives in the love? Krishna is even amazed of his own opulences and the ultimate expression of that is the incarnation of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who came to taste the and experience the higher and higher and higher spiritual ecstasies of himself and to distribute freely that ecstasy to everyone. To the congregation of chanting the Hare Krishna mahamantra

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare.

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

Sri Gaurang Mahaprabhu ki Jai!!!

Sri Prabhupad Ki Jai!!!

Gaur Bhaktavrind Ki Jai!!!

Thank you very much..

Is there any questions?

Question and answer session

Question: Maharaj in south India there is a temple, a Shabrimala where we are told the presiding deity over there Ayyapa is a product of this past time between Mohini and Shiva. But the Bhagavatam says otherwise. Can you please clarify the position of Ayyapa swami? And second question Maharaj just like how Brahma.

Answer: You should ask one question not two questions. We accept that Ayyapa is son of Shiva. But as far as son of Vishnu where does that come from? There was never touch by Vishnu. There was no evidence in any shastra in this way. So therefore we worship him as a great personality. But we do not worship him as the son of Vishnu. To be the son of Vishnu means coming from Vishnu directly. He is coming from Shiva. Mohini Murti never gave birth to anyone. She was running too fast. But you know they like to make movies and all these things. People have these conceptions. But according to shastra this is how we accept. And the great acharyas of the Madhva Sampradaya, this is the way they explain it. Second question.

Question: Maharaj just like how Lord Brahma lives for hundred years, is there anywhere in the shatras where it is mentioned how long Shiva lives?

Answer: How long he lives? Lord Shiva is eternal. Lord Brahma is a Jiva-atma, generally. Special cases Vishnu takes the form of Brahma but generally Brahma is Jiva and he is a living entity like you and me. In fact if you perform the proper tapasya you can take the post of Lord Brahma. Perhaps sometime in the past you were Lord Brahma. So there fore Lord Brahma lives three hundred eleven plus trillion years. That is the life of Brahma. That means from the, that is the time that the Supreme Personality of Godhead empowers Brahma within the universe. And then Brahma dies. And generally those Brahmas who worship the Lord properly at the time of the end of the cosmic manifestation they go back to Godhead. However Lord Shiva is eternal. He is not born and dies. He manifests, incarnates as the son of Brahma into this particular universe. Just as Vishnu he is not born. He comes into this universe, he performs his Lila, he leaves. Lakshmi Devi is not born. But she manifests herself within the universe during the time of the chinning of the ocean of the milk. But actually she is the eternal consort of the Supreme personality of Godhead. So Shiva is like that. He is actually not Jiva-tattva. He is Vishnu himself. But he is eternally in a mood of or when he comes into this world Lord Shiva takes the role of a demigod. Therefore he is called Shiva tattva. Beyond devidham where there is material existence just in the vicinity of the Vaikuntha Loka there is Mahesh dham. This is described by Lord Brahma himself. Lord Shiva has his own abode. So in this way we should understand that Shiva remains within this universe for the time of the time span of Lord Brahma. And at the end he is an agent of the Lord for destruction. But he does not die. And he is not born. He is eternal. Is that your understanding also, Gauranga Prabhu?

Question: Just like in every universe Brahma is different living entity and from Brahma Shiva has manifest. So in every universe Shiva tattva is the same or?

Answer: You are answering a question with a question. You are asking whether in every universe Shiva is the same. Same personality. A Jiva can never become Shiva. It is not a post. Brahma is a post. Shiva, every Shiva is the expansion of the same personality. But he expands himself as various Rudras and so forth which are expansions of himself. So in one sense they are the same personality the same principal the Shiva tattva in every universe. However Lord Shiva is full of varied. So he doesn’t act the same in every universe. The same personality. In fact from moment to moment you may have so many wonderful inconceivable past times. So when you ask is Krishna always the same, when he comes to this world, once a day of Brahma. Yes he is the same person. But that same person is revealing innumerable transcendental varieties of his own personalities. And Shiva also reveals much variety of his various attitudes.

Any other questions?

Question: Maharaj how are the Vishnu-tattvas different from Krishna –tattvas? How are the Vishnu-tattvas different from the Supreme Personality of Godhead?

Answer : Krishna is the cause of all causes. krsnas tu bhagavän svayam. Krishna is the ultimate realization of Supreme Personality of Godhead. And Vishnu-tattva is Krishna but the difference is Krishna is the source and the cause of all Vishnu-tattva and all Vishnus are the manifestations of that source. Eternal manifestation of that source Krishna. Brahma Samhita explains. So many candles are being lit and all those candles are giving out the same type of light. But still there is a original candle from whom has manifested all other candles. The original candle is govindam ädi-purusam tam aham bhajämi.

Thank you very much.

om ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-saläkayä

cakñur unmélitam yena tasmai sré-gurave namah

vänchä-kalpatarubhyas ca krpä-sindhubhya eva ca

patitänäm pävanebhyo vaisnavebhyo namo namah

jaya sré-krsna-caitanya prabhu nityänanda