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Re: Siva as yogi?
Hari Krishna Susarla <susarla.krishna@studentserver1.swmed.edu> wrote:
>>
>> Of course, this post ignores all the OTHER scriptures.... :-)
>>
>> Which is understandable, since they are rejected by his sect, and it
>> is appropriate for devotees to respect the decisions of their sect.
>>
>Which other scriptures? Please be specific.
Hmm. How about some verses from the Paadma Purana?
First a brief introduction. Markandeya and other sages go to see Lord Krishna
and he comes out wearing the sacred Ashes and the Rudraksha. And he tells them
Jagath sthusho hyatma mama mulam mahamune.
Yo devaha sarva devanam Dheyaya pujya Sadashivaha.
and so on and so forth. Consult the original for more. In the purana Krishna
makes it amply clear that worship of Lord Shiva is most desirable. I couldn't
find any passages where he praises worship of Lord Vishnu. Also look up Rudram
in the Yajur Veda and the Shiva Purana.
>I notice once again you are using the "his sect vs. my sect" approach,
>something I found rather distasteful. I don't regard as a sect a religion
Unlike you who uses the "my sect is the only right sect and all others are
wrong" approach. How un-enlightened of him.
>which appeals to people of all cultures and creeds. Perhaps you would care
>to explain how a "sect" which has gained followers from the Christian,
>Islamic, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, atheist, and countless other faiths
>could be considered a 'sect.' I myself used to be a Smartha Shaivite. But
Now you are using the "countless number of people do it, so it has to be right
approach ". A "Smartha Shavite"!! Shows that you know the meaning of probably
neither. A Smartha is one who follows the Advaitic tradition. He may or may not
have Lord Shiva as his favorite deity. He also thinks all the Gods are
manifestation of the Self and holds all of the equal. A Shavite thinks of Shiva
the way Vaishnavites consider Vishnu. Many smarthas (ex. my grand father) have
Lord Narayana as their Kula-devata.
>it was only now that I have given the Vedic/Vaishnava paradigm more
>consideration that I actually accepted that there was a being called
>Shiva. Prior to that, I was taught, as many Hindus were, that all the
>I have noticed that there are some people who take offense at the
>scriptural idea that Shiva is Vishnu's devotee, even though (strangely
>enough) they themselves do not believe in Shiva. This is a kind of
Only Shaivaites who want to trumpet their agenda take offense at such things.
Also Vaishnavaites like you take offense when Shaivaites use the same
ridiculous arguments as you do in reverse, quoting the Shiva purana.
>hypocrisy. I for one have been interested in seeing if there are any
>genuine Shiva bhaktas who do not subscribe to this impersonalist
>philosophy, but sadly I have found none as of yet.
>> In the Shaivite scriptures, the word "Shiva" is used for all the same
>> aspects of God that "Narayana" is used for in the Vaisnavite
>> scriptures.
>Again, which scriptures?
Open your eyes and see the Shiva purana, Linga Purana, Arunanachala Mahatmya
etc etc. The first two belong to the 18 major Puranas.
Ramakrishnan.
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