Devotees ask me often, who is the Supreme Godhead? Is Krishn Supreme Godhead? Is Vishnu Supreme Godhead? Are Krishn and Vishnu same or different? Is Lord Shiv Supreme? Is Shakti Supreme Goddess? Today I am thinking to clear all devotees’ doubts. I will write here all the differences and try to let you know why our sects have differences. (I won’t talk what Sampraday Acharyas said. If you want to know the answer ‘why I’m not’. Read this article)

As all of you know we have some main scriptures. 3-4 Vedas, 18 Purans and 17 sub-Purans, 19 smirities (law books)

But the problem is, “Shurti Bhinna Smirti Bhinna” Ved have differences, law books have differences and Puran also speak different things. So I will try to talk about Purans here because they talk about Supreme Godhead.Ved talks about Brahm and Smritis talk about Gayatri mantra and how to save ourselves from any offenses.

1. According to Brahm-vavrta Puran, Lord Shri Krishn is the Supreme Godhead and Supreme Personality. He resides in Golok Dham and from Him Lord Vishnu, Lod Shiv and Lord Brahma incarnated. Lord Vishnu is the part of Lord Krishn according to this Puran who works for Lord Krishn. Lord Vishnu resides in Vishnu-lok (Vaikunth) and He is the organ of all universes.

2. According to Padma Puran, Lord Vishnu is the Supreme Godhead. First of all, He had born Prakati, afterwards, Mahatatv, Tan-matra, Panchbhut. From His naval-ring, Lord Brahma had born who created the world.

3. According to Brahm Puran and Shri Harivansh Puran, Lord Narayan is the Supreme Godhead. First of all he made the water; by His power he had manifested one big golden egg in the water. From that egg Lord Brahma appeared who designed the world.

4. According to Vishnu Puran, Lord Vishnu is the Supreme Godhead. First of all, Lord Vishnu had born two personalities Prakati and Purush and all emotions. By their mixing one golden egg appeared, from that egg Maha-Virat or Maha-Vishnu came out. He divided into 3 forms, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiv to create the world.

5. According to Narad Puran, Maha-Vishnu is the Supreme Godhead who appeared in the three forms Purush, Prakarti and Time. These forms started to create the world and later changed into Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh.

6. Srimad Bhagwatam Puran, Lord Hari is the Supreme Godhead who created the Maya first. From Maya Mahtatv, Tanmatras and Pancabhut appeared. By their mixings Golden egg appeared, from that egg Maha- Purush appeared. From Maha-Purush (Virat-Purush) all Gods, Goddesses, Demons, Human beings etc appeared.

7. According to Markandeya Puran, Param-brahm-Prameshwar is the Supreme Godhead who born Prakati first. By her support Mahtatv, Tanmatras and Pancabhut appeared. By everyone support golden egg manifested. From golden egg Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh came out who are the creator, maintainer and destroyer of the world.

8. According to all Shiv Purans like Ling Puran, Shiv Puran etc, Lord Shiv is the Supreme Godhead. Who incarnated as a light in the beginning of this world. He born Shakti first then Mahtatv, Tanmatras and Pancabhut appeared by Him and later He born Brahm and Vishnu who started to create and maintain the world.

9. According to Devi Bhagwat, Goddess Shakti is the Supreme Personality. From her Brahma, Vishnu and Shiv appeared, and she distributed the work to them.

10. According to Ganesh Upnishad, Lord Ganesh is the Supreme Godhead and Brahma, Vishnu and Shiv manifested from Him only who respectively are the creator, maintainer and destroyer of the world.

11. In few scriptures as well as Veds Lord Sun is the only Supreme Godhead.

Confused? Don’t be now I will speak minute stuff which will make you more confused.

1. Purushamevedam sarvam eko RUDRO na dwitiyaay vidyate |
These Vedic Mantras mean “there is only one PURUSH who is creator, sustainer and annihilator of this Infinite Cosmos. THAT PURUSH is RUDRA ( BHAGAVAN SHANKAR ). ’’
In NILARUDRA Upanishad, it is said that – “ those who differentiate between BHAGAVAN VISHNU and BHAGAVAN SHANKAR goes to the darkest region of Maya.

2. Mahabharat contains Srimad Bhagwat Gita in where Lord Krishn said, He is the Supreme Personality but in same Mahabharat, In the Anushasana Parvan, Book 13, we find this prayer to Shiv:
yo asrijad dakshinad angad brahmanam loka-sambhavam
vama-parshvat tatha vishnum loka-rakshartham ishvarah
yugante chaiva samprapte rudram angat srijat prabhuh
‘He is the Lord (ishvara) who from his right side created Brahma the creator of the world and from his left side created Vishnu for the protection of the world. And at the end of the Yuga the mighty Lord creates Rudra from his body.’

In the other story in Mahabharat, Lord Vyas Dev tells Kauravs that Parshuaastra (weapon of Shiv) won’t give any harm to Lord Krishn because Lord Krishn is Lord Shiv’s devotees.

”The blessed Vishnu said: “I salute Mahadeva. Salutations to Thee. O Thou that art eternal origin of all things. The Rishis say that Thou art the Lord of the Vedas. The righteous say that Thou art Penance, Thou art Sattwa, Thou art Rajas, Thou art Tamas, and Thou art truth.” (The Mahabharata, Anusasana Parva Section XIV)

3. According to Srimad Bhagwatam, Lord Krishn- Narayan- hari is the Supreme Godhead but Srimad Bhagwatam reveals this also

SB 8.12.39: My dear Lord Śambhu, who within this material world but you can surpass My illusory energy? People are generally attached to sense enjoyment and conquered by its influence. Indeed, the influence of material nature is very difficult for them to surmount.

SB 8.7.31: O Lord Girīśa, since the Brahman effulgence is transcendental to the material modes of goodness, passion and ignorance, the various directors of this material world certainly cannot appreciate it or even know where it is. It is not understandable even to Lord Brahmā, Lord Viṣṇu or the King of heaven, Mahendra.

SB 8.7.32: When annihilation is performed by the flames and sparks emanating from your eyes, the entire creation is burned to ashes. Nonetheless, you do not know how this happens. What then is to be said of your destroying the Dakṣa-yajña, Tripurāsura and the kālakūṭa poison? Such activities cannot be subject matters for prayers offered to you.

SB 8.7.33: Exalted, self-satisfied persons who preach to the entire world think of your lotus feet constantly within their hearts. However, when persons who do not know your austerity see you moving with Umā, they misunderstand you to be lusty, or when they see you wandering in the crematorium they mistakenly think that you are ferocious and envious. Certainly they are shameless. They cannot understand your activities.

4. Vishnu puran 5.33.46
Yo hariH sa ZivaH sakSad yaH zivaH sa svayamM hariH
Ye tayor bhedamAti stahan narakAya bhave nnaraH
Whoever is Lord Hari, He Himself is Lord Shiva indeed.
Any human being mistakes both the lord to be different, he/she surely go to hell

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Are you confused now? Confusion creates questions. My questions are given below which shall be considered:-

1. We say infact it is written in the scripture, Srimad Bhagwatam is the essence of the Purans. Question comes here… In Bhagwatam there is not a single story from any Shiv’s Purans. How can it be an essence when from 17 Purans, half of them are not there? Right?

2. According to scriptures, one who sees the moon of Ganesh Chaturthi gets the wrong blame in the future. Once Lord Krishn saw that and got the blame on Him that He killed and robbed ‘Mani’.Gem). Later Lord Krishn had proved that he didn’t do that. Since that all devotees never see the Ganesh Chaturthi moon. Eventually all Gods hide themselves inside their deity rooms on this particular day from the moon. When Lord Krishn appeared on the earth, and spread the message everywhere that He is the only Supreme Godhead, then why did he get affected by that moon who belongs to Lord Ganesh?

3. Mainly Lord Krsna, Lord Shiv and Sri Durga Maa are only three supreme personalities which are mentioned in scriptures. There are other two also, and incarnation of Lord Shiv, Sankaracharya put these 5 idols on the altar for worship. He didn’t want us to get confused and start to fight who is Supreme. If we accept one scripture then second scripture is definitely wrong for us which is an offense. So to finish that offense, He put these five Gods on the altar.

4. In our hindu calander, Kartik and Vaishakh months are dedicated to Lord Krishn, Saavan to Lord Shiv and two Nav durgas to Sri Durga Maa. Not other months are dedicated to any other Devta.

5. Lord Shiv meditates Lord Krishn, Lord Krishn meditates Sri Radha ji. So who is Supreme?

6. Lord Shiv worships Lord Krishn and Lord Krishn worships Lord Shiv. However, Sri Durga never worshiped them.

7. In many Purans and our vedic scriptures it is clearly mentioned that Lord Krishn and Lord Shiv worshiped Sri Durga. Why did Lord Krishn or Lord Shiv do that when they were Supreme?

8. Only focus on those shloks which has our stuff in them doesn’t mean we can deny other shloks and facts.

9. When Lord Krsn is ONLY Supreme Godhead then why did He worship Lord Shiv for Sudarshan Chakra. Sudarshan Chakra used to belong Lord Shiv only. After got happy by Lord Krishn tapsaya Lord Shiv gave his Charkra to Him. (Shiv Puran)

10. Could you show me any shloks where Lord Krishn worshiped His other devotees and sang a prayer for them?

11. Did Lord Krsna sang a prayer for any other devta? Why Lord Krishn worshiped only Lord Shiv and Sri Durga?

12. Worship of Shiv take us to Krishn. Worship to Krishn take us to Sri Radha(form of Durga) Who is actually Supreme? Shiv? Krsn? Durga?

13. In the Shiv Rahasya Chapter in the Skanda Purana, there is a shloka of 40 verses where Vishnu praises Lord Shiv as the Ultimate truth etc. but srimad bhagwatan says Lord Krishn is the Ultimate truth.

14. In Padma Puran it is written, Lord Ram installed Rameshwar (Lord Shiv) deity and worshiped Him. On the second hand, Valmiki Ramayan is silent. Now either Padma Puran is right or Valmiki Ramayan.

15. Why does Lord Krishn praised Lord Shiv and Durga Maa as ‘THE ORGIN OF THE CREATION’ several times? He didn’t praise anyone else like that. What was the reason which made Lord Krishn to speak that? Did He lie? I guess He never Lies. Right? On the one hand He is saying He is Supreme. On the Other Hand He is praising THEM Supreme also.

16. When Lord Vishnu is the part of Lord Krishn according to Brahmvavrta Puran but on the other hand Vishnu and other Purans say that Lord Krishn is the part of Godhead Vishnu, then who is Supreme? Is Golok Supreme or Vaikunth?

There are so many questions and so many differences in Purans, I can write a good book on that. But let me tell you the answer of all questions.

Never do worship of Shiv because He is Vaishnav. It is somehow you are committing offense. Ok He is Vaishnav but in many Scriptures it is also mentioned that Lord Krishn worshiped Lord Shiv. So should we worship Lord Krishn as the greatest SHAIV? NO. We should worship both of THEM as The Supreme Personalities.

I do not see any point in arguing then that this idol is supreme compared to the other idols unless I forget what the ideal behind the idol stands for. This is the reason I believe that Bhakti without proper understanding can lead to fanaticism. History indicates that there were Vaishnavaits and Saivates who were killing each other in the name of Bhakti. This was no different from what Muslims did and still do and Christian did through crusade wars and still does by converting masses now by showing a caret instead of sword. In a same manner, Gyan without Bhakti can lead to intellectual arrogance. I feel that with true Bhakti, Gyan should develop; and with Gyan, Bhakti should develop. This we can see in our lives. We need the devotion (Bhakti) to achieve the goal we seek – And we develop understanding (Gyan) of the goal as we devoutly work to achieve it. These are similar to the two wings of a bird. So I do not see any meaning in arguing that Bhakti is superior to Gyan or Gyan is superior to Bhakti. Start anywhere that appeals to you -Bhakti or Gyan - if you have true devotion to the Lord, Bhakti, or true Gyan, a clear understanding, then one should develop the other. That in fact becomes the definition of what a true Bhakti or real Gyan is! Bhakti is not exhibition of intense emotionalism and Gyan is not the knowledge of the scriptures. These are neither necessary nor sufficient, and many a time can even be an obstruction if this is not supported by true Bhakti or true Gyan. Guidance from a proper teacher will help in avoiding our falling into these traps of fanaticism or arrogance. Ofcourse by definition “a proper teacher” does not guide us in the direction of fanaticism because that in the final analysis leads to self destruction.

At the end, everyone should know, as I have mentioned above there are 5 Supreme Personalities according to all Hindu scriptures. Every Sampradaya which are known as religious schools has their own syllabus from the authentic scriptures which contain, who is their Supreme Godhead, how to attain Bhakti to make Godhead happy, how to reach the higher level, what is the difference between the Brahm, Jeev and Maya, What is the ultimate goal? Etc

Because of their syllabuses we find so many theories, differences in our Hindu religion. Because when they talk in their syllabuses about their Godhead, they put other Gods down. Because of that innocent devotees get fanatic. According to Padma Puran, Four Vaisnava disciplic successions, inaugurated by Sri, Lord Brahma, Lord Rudra, and Sanaka, one of the four Kumaras, according to the scriptural source, appear in the holy place of Jaganatha Puri, and purify the entire earth during the Kali yuga (believed to be the current age in Hinduism). Sri chooses Ramanuja to represent her disciple succession. In the same way Lord Brahma chose Madhvacharya in Brahma sampradaya, Rudra chose Visnuswami in Rudra Sampradaya, and the four Kumaras chose Nimbaditya (Nimbarka Sampradaya).” Number of traditions due to assumption of the god-like status of their founder, rejected the parent sampradaya in favour of the new, as would be an example with Ramanandis, Gaudiya, Vallabhacharya and Swaminarayan. Shiv followers have also main sampradasy such as Samart Sampraday, Nandinatha Sampradaya, Adinath Sampradaya, Siva Advaita, Kashmir Shaivism, Pasupata, etc there is a one Sampraday for Shakti also. There are other schools of Yog like Hatha yog, Integral Yog who do the meditation of Brahm-The Supreme Personality, and few other philosophies like Nyaya, Samkhya, Vaisheshika, Purva mimamsa etc. Every other philosophy lead us to the ultimate goal.

If devotee wants to get rid of these confusions and philosophies, then he should follow one path ( any sampraday) which sounds appealing to him and helps him to gain the bhakti to reach the last goal. Because lastly every other Sampraday talks about Brahm-The Supreme soul. Vaishnav only read vaishnav scriptures and believe on that, Shaivs only read Lord Shiv scriptures and become fanatic. I would suggest to everyone, Follow one and respect everyone.

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