Lord shiva occupies very unique position in this cosmic manifestation. Revealed scriptures state that Lord Shiva has qualities which no ordinary soul can have. Even Brahma has less qualities than Lord Shiva. So, it is said that oridinary Jiva also can have qualities that Brahma possess in minute proportion but not of Lord Shiva's.Srila Prabhupada ( founder Acharya of ISKCON) explains, “The living being can never possess attributes like Shiva, Vishnu or Lord Krishna'. Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.28 purport”
Lord Shiva has connection with the material nature but Lord Vishnu (or Lord Krishna) is transcendental to material nature. The position of Lord Shiva is very beautiful explained in Brahma – Samhita (Verse 45),”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 Shambhu is a transformation for the performance of the work of destruction”.
The scriptures like Srimad – Bhagavatam, Brahma – samhita, Padma – Purana etc. explains the position of Lord Shiva in this universe.
- Srimad – Bhagavatam (S.B) (12.13.16) states vaisnavanam yatha sambhu i.e. Lord Shiva is the best of the Vaishnavas, the devotee of Lord Krishna. It shows that lord Shiva himself is Vaishnava devotee. In fact Lord Shiva has his own spiritual line ( sampradaya) called the Rudra- sampradaya.
- Lord Shiva tells his wife that he drank hala hala, the poison which came out during the churning of the ocean, to please Lord Vishnu.(S.B. 8.7.40). This point also explain that Shivaji is the devotee of Krishna and wants to please Krishna.
- In Padma Purana Shiva tells his wife Sati,”sri rama rama rameti rame rame manorame sahasra namah tat tulyam rama nama varanane.” Lord Shiva clearly speaks here that he relishes chanting the names of Lord Rama. Even Lord Shiva Chants the name of God.
- Lord Shiva got bewildered when he saw the female form of Lord Vishnu, Mohini Murti. Lord Shiva later reveals that he is unable to completely understand the illusory energy of Lord Krishna. This is stated in S.B. (8.12.10).
- When Krishna displayed his Universal form then Arjuna said: “My dear Lord Krishna, I see assembled in Your body, all the demigods and various other living entities. I see Brahma sitting on the lotus flower, as well as Lord Shiva and all the sages and divine serpents.” Bhagavad-gita (11.15).
In conclusion revealed scriptures explain that Lord Shiva in one way is the expansion of Krishna himself ( If Krishna is Milk Shiva is like Cord) , devotee of Krishna , greatest among Vaishnava , not Jiva and spiritual master.
