Following is a trasnacript of a lecture of Srila Prabhupad:
"The Vedic principle is described... According to these modes of material nature, there are eighteen Purāṇas. Out of that, six Purāṇas are in the modes of goodness, and six Purāṇas are in the modes of passion, and six Purāṇas are in the modes of goodness [ignorance]. So there are different varieties of sacrifices according to the different class of men. The whole idea of Vedic literature is to give chance to every human being to develop spiritual consciousness under certain rules and regulations. So what is applicable to the persons who are in the modes of ignorance, they are not applicable to the persons who are in the modes of goodness, or those who are in the modes of passion, they are not applicable to the modes of goodness. The gradual process of evolution."
Srila Veda Vyasa is the compiler of puranas. Not all of puranas show his mindset. So Srila Prabhupada himself answers your question as to why Srila Veda Vyasa wrote Shiv Purana.
Shiv Purana is considered to be one for the mode of ignorance. So for the persons studying and complying with it, achievement is lord Shiva will be highest. To illustrate for 5-6 years child, 0 is the lowest number. -1, -2 dont exist for them. You dont argue with a child on this. You simply understand that when he grows up he will know. In the same way, when a person will sincerely and without selfish motivation worship lord shiva then lord shiva will guide him to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
The discussion on the nature of puranas is discussed in the Brahma Vaivarta Purana.
Please stop comparing who is great and who is not. You will end up confused. God is ONE and expresses Himself in varied manifestations. Each having their own significance. Veda Vyas has understood that truth and hence for him, Krishna and Shiva are the same. So, its high time we stop being ignorant and stop fighting for supremacy within religions and across religions.
This is the main reason people around the world are fighting over religions, because of the half-knowledge/confused knowledge they have. Some say Krishna is Supreme, some say Allah, some say Jesus and some say Buddha etc. But none of these understood the absolute truth.
Now I know many would come back on this. But the Truth is only ONE, if somebody believes it or not. And I stand by it.
Thanks,
Subash
jefferson > Subash AnjuruNovember 22, 2014 at 7:03pm
Dear Prabhu,
We follow the instructions of the Scriptures and not what people in general believe.
Nowadays the general people like the idea of all devatas to be equal, but the autorized Shastra speaks the absolute truth:
The second offence against the holy name is:
[Padma Purana, Brahma-khanda 25.15]
sivasya sri-visnor ya iha guna-namadi sakalam dhiya bhinnam pasyet sa khalu harinama-hita-karah
To consider the names of demigods like Lord Siva and Lord Brahma to be equal to or independent of the Lord (Vishnu or Krishna)
This is from the padma purana but was also repeated in the conversation between lord Chaitanya and Haridas Thakur.
Lord Shiva the most powerfull demigod (Mahadeva) is a devotee of the lord,( Vaishnavam Jatha Shambo) he belong to the Shiva tattva category, while it is the Vishnu tattva's only that are the Supreme God or Param ishvara.
Knowledgeable Devotees should always respect and glorify lord Shiva as the greatest devotee, but not as equal or independent to the Supreme Lord Hari.
If we do not watch out for this offense it will hinder our Krishna consciousness and prema growth.
Bhagavad gita also confirms there is none equal or superior to Krishna, and that worshippers of demigods go to the planet of demigods while devotees of the lord go to him in Vaikuntha.
Lord Buddha is a avatar of the lord as confirmed in the Bhagavatam and Lord Jesus also a empowered incarnation(Shakti Avesha Avatar) also taught Krishna consciousness according to time and place, while Allah is also another name for the supreme Lord, since it was revealed by Muhamed, also a empowered incarnation.
Srila Prabhupada confirms:
(Room conversation. Geneva. 4/06/74)
Srila Prabhupada: Buddha is shaktyavesha-avatara. We accept Lord Jesus Christ also as shaktyavesha-avatara. Muhammad is also shaktyavesha- avatara. Shaktyavesha-avatara means a living entity especially empowered and he preaches the philosophy on behalf (of God). That is called shaktyavesha-avatara.
Only Vishnu category of beings are the Supreme or Paramishwara, whose worship grants the utlimate Goal of life.
Let us always follow the instructions of the authorized Shastra, followed by enlightened souls aswell as of the Guru.
The question on Shiva purana has been very nicley explained By Sapan Siddharth.
Hare Krishna
Subash Anjuru > jeffersonNovember 22, 2014 at 11:11pm
Hare Krishna prabhu,
So we follow scriptures. There are many and each describe their own form as the supreme.
Which one to believe? Each sampradaya has gurus and disciples. Similarly the many religions.Everybody claims their God to be supreme. Which one is true? Whatever you have said is your belief according to the scriptures you believe to be true. In the same way, there are others. Its just like a frog in the well which always believes that there is nothing beyond the well. Please enlighten me on what is the truth? And why only what you believe is true?
Regards,
Subash
jefferson > Subash AnjuruNovember 23, 2014 at 8:19pm
Dear Prabhu, Hari Bol
What we devotees believe based on the Shastra can be confirmed because it is the path followed by the highest authorities:
Arjuna said: You are the Supreme Brahman, the ultimate, the supreme abode and purifier, the Absolute Truth and the eternal divine person. You are the primal God, transcendental and original, and You are the unborn and all-pervading beauty. All the great sages such as Narada, Asita, Devala, and Vyasa proclaim this of You, and now You Yourself are declaring it to me
Here the great devotee arjuna says Krishna is the supreme brahman, but then he says All the great sages such as Narada, Asita, Devala, Vyasa and others confirm this. Bhishma in the Mahabharata confirms in Vishnu sahasranama, also Lord Brahma who is the creator of the universe confirms in Brahma samhita. Srila Madhavacharya explained this, he defeated Mayavadism that believes in the pancopasana the five devas being equal since supossedly those forms are imaginary, Lord sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and all the devotees in chaitanya bhagavata, and in this modern times by the Lord's Causeless mercy the pure devotee Srila prabhupada appeared to instruct us fallen souls in the western world the holy words of the Gita and the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha mantra.
Greatest of Demigods, Rishi's as-well as perfected humans are declaring this truth. They are no frogs in a well but superior to eagles seeing far and wide.
That's the surest way fallen an miserable men kali yuga such as myself can follow, Just following the example the path left by the great Souls and pure devotees such as Arjuna in the Bhagavad gita.
There are many scriptures indeed, But Bhagavad Gita is glorified and accepted by great souls in all the universe even in this age of kali by great personalities consider and great sampradayas, it the essence of the Vedas.
Spoken by the lord himself, it is the essence of Mahabharata, it is the essence of the Vedas.
* Besides that as mentioned earlier, we have to be always very careful to avoid offenses against Harinama or we will be hampered in our Krishna prema.
The holy name is our only shelter in the age of Kali. This should be like a guide when trying to read and understand other scriptures.
How can we chant the holy name of Krishna, but we do not believe the lord's own words:
gita chapter 10.2
aham ādir hi devānāṁ maharṣīṇāṁ ca sarvaśaḥ
I am the source(origin) of the demigods (devatas) and sages.
gita chapter 7
O Conqueror of wealth [Arjuna], there is no Truth superior to Me.
Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread.
This is what this fallen soul can humbly say by the mercy of Gurudeva, Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna.
Replies
Hare Krsna Utsav Pr,
PAMHO
AGTSP
Following is a trasnacript of a lecture of Srila Prabhupad:
"The Vedic principle is described... According to these modes of material nature, there are eighteen Purāṇas. Out of that, six Purāṇas are in the modes of goodness, and six Purāṇas are in the modes of passion, and six Purāṇas are in the modes of goodness [ignorance]. So there are different varieties of sacrifices according to the different class of men. The whole idea of Vedic literature is to give chance to every human being to develop spiritual consciousness under certain rules and regulations. So what is applicable to the persons who are in the modes of ignorance, they are not applicable to the persons who are in the modes of goodness, or those who are in the modes of passion, they are not applicable to the modes of goodness. The gradual process of evolution."
Srila Veda Vyasa is the compiler of puranas. Not all of puranas show his mindset. So Srila Prabhupada himself answers your question as to why Srila Veda Vyasa wrote Shiv Purana.
Shiv Purana is considered to be one for the mode of ignorance. So for the persons studying and complying with it, achievement is lord Shiva will be highest. To illustrate for 5-6 years child, 0 is the lowest number. -1, -2 dont exist for them. You dont argue with a child on this. You simply understand that when he grows up he will know. In the same way, when a person will sincerely and without selfish motivation worship lord shiva then lord shiva will guide him to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
The discussion on the nature of puranas is discussed in the Brahma Vaivarta Purana.
Hope it clarifies
Ys
Hare Krishna,
Please stop comparing who is great and who is not. You will end up confused. God is ONE and expresses Himself in varied manifestations. Each having their own significance. Veda Vyas has understood that truth and hence for him, Krishna and Shiva are the same. So, its high time we stop being ignorant and stop fighting for supremacy within religions and across religions.
This is the main reason people around the world are fighting over religions, because of the half-knowledge/confused knowledge they have. Some say Krishna is Supreme, some say Allah, some say Jesus and some say Buddha etc. But none of these understood the absolute truth.
Now I know many would come back on this. But the Truth is only ONE, if somebody believes it or not. And I stand by it.
Thanks,
Subash
Dear Prabhu,
We follow the instructions of the Scriptures and not what people in general believe.
Nowadays the general people like the idea of all devatas to be equal, but the autorized Shastra speaks the absolute truth:
The second offence against the holy name is:
[Padma Purana, Brahma-khanda 25.15]
sivasya sri-visnor ya iha guna-namadi sakalam
dhiya bhinnam pasyet sa khalu harinama-hita-karah
To consider the names of demigods like Lord Siva and Lord Brahma
to be equal to or independent of the Lord (Vishnu or Krishna)
This is from the padma purana but was also repeated in the conversation between lord Chaitanya and Haridas Thakur.
Lord Shiva the most powerfull demigod (Mahadeva) is a devotee of the lord,( Vaishnavam Jatha Shambo) he belong to the Shiva tattva category, while it is the Vishnu tattva's only that are the Supreme God or Param ishvara.
Knowledgeable Devotees should always respect and glorify lord Shiva as the greatest devotee, but not as equal or independent to the Supreme Lord Hari.
If we do not watch out for this offense it will hinder our Krishna consciousness and prema growth.
Bhagavad gita also confirms there is none equal or superior to Krishna, and that worshippers of demigods go to the planet of demigods while devotees of the lord go to him in Vaikuntha.
Lord Buddha is a avatar of the lord as confirmed in the Bhagavatam and Lord Jesus also a empowered incarnation(Shakti Avesha Avatar) also taught Krishna consciousness according to time and place, while Allah is also another name for the supreme Lord, since it was revealed by Muhamed, also a empowered incarnation.
Srila Prabhupada confirms:
(Room conversation. Geneva. 4/06/74)
Srila Prabhupada: Buddha is shaktyavesha-avatara. We accept Lord Jesus
Christ also as shaktyavesha-avatara. Muhammad is also shaktyavesha-
avatara. Shaktyavesha-avatara means a living entity especially
empowered and he preaches the philosophy on behalf (of God). That is
called shaktyavesha-avatara.
Only Vishnu category of beings are the Supreme or Paramishwara, whose worship grants the utlimate Goal of life.
Let us always follow the instructions of the authorized Shastra, followed by enlightened souls aswell as of the Guru.
The question on Shiva purana has been very nicley explained By Sapan Siddharth.
Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna prabhu,
So we follow scriptures. There are many and each describe their own form as the supreme.
Which one to believe? Each sampradaya has gurus and disciples. Similarly the many religions.Everybody claims their God to be supreme. Which one is true? Whatever you have said is your belief according to the scriptures you believe to be true. In the same way, there are others. Its just like a frog in the well which always believes that there is nothing beyond the well. Please enlighten me on what is the truth? And why only what you believe is true?
Regards,
Subash
Dear Prabhu, Hari Bol
What we devotees believe based on the Shastra can be confirmed because it is the path followed by the highest authorities:
Gita chapter: 10
arjuna uvaca
param brahma param dhama
ahus tvam rsayah sarve
devarsir naradas tatha
asito devalo vyasah
svayam caiva bravisi me
Arjuna said: You are the Supreme Brahman, the ultimate, the supreme abode and purifier, the Absolute Truth and the eternal divine person. You are the primal God, transcendental and original, and You are the unborn and all-pervading beauty. All the great sages such as Narada, Asita, Devala, and Vyasa proclaim this of You, and now You Yourself are declaring it to me
Here the great devotee arjuna says Krishna is the supreme brahman, but then he says All the great sages such as Narada, Asita, Devala, Vyasa and others confirm this. Bhishma in the Mahabharata confirms in Vishnu sahasranama, also Lord Brahma who is the creator of the universe confirms in Brahma samhita. Srila Madhavacharya explained this, he defeated Mayavadism that believes in the pancopasana the five devas being equal since supossedly those forms are imaginary, Lord sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and all the devotees in chaitanya bhagavata, and in this modern times by the Lord's Causeless mercy the pure devotee Srila prabhupada appeared to instruct us fallen souls in the western world the holy words of the Gita and the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha mantra.
Greatest of Demigods, Rishi's as-well as perfected humans are declaring this truth. They are no frogs in a well but superior to eagles seeing far and wide.
That's the surest way fallen an miserable men kali yuga such as myself can follow, Just following the example the path left by the great Souls and pure devotees such as Arjuna in the Bhagavad gita.
There are many scriptures indeed, But Bhagavad Gita is glorified and accepted by great souls in all the universe even in this age of kali by great personalities consider and great sampradayas, it the essence of the Vedas.
Spoken by the lord himself, it is the essence of Mahabharata, it is the essence of the Vedas.
* Besides that as mentioned earlier, we have to be always very careful to avoid offenses against Harinama or we will be hampered in our Krishna prema.
The holy name is our only shelter in the age of Kali. This should be like a guide when trying to read and understand other scriptures.
How can we chant the holy name of Krishna, but we do not believe the lord's own words:
gita chapter 10.2
aham ādir hi devānāṁ
maharṣīṇāṁ ca sarvaśaḥ
I am the source(origin) of the demigods (devatas) and sages.
gita chapter 7
O Conqueror of wealth [Arjuna], there is no Truth superior to Me.
Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread.
This is what this fallen soul can humbly say by the mercy of Gurudeva, Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna.