have a doubt regarding Shiva and Shankar, Are they different? Because Shankar ji is shown worshiping Shiva linga. Also one of the website says taking the referance from Vedas that - " Shiva is formless,beyond time, and beyond space. Shiva is energy ,pure love and is omnipresent. Shiva is energeticly dancing in every atom of this world. Shiva is flow of wind, flow of water." On the other hand they show Shiva means Shankar ji Also one of the spiritual organisation 'Brahmakumari' claims- "Shiva is formless,(though they cnsider Shiva is a small point of light). We all are souls and Shiva is the supreme soul ,an ocean of pure love,light,peace , purity and energy, who lives in paramdham far frm this universe. Shiva created Brahma(the creater) , Vishnu (the preserver) and Shankar (the destroyer). And Krishna and Rama are the births of Vishnu" So should I cnsider formles (or pt. of light) Shiva as creator and Brahma Vishnu Mahesh Krishna Ram as creations? Please clarify my doubts and also expres ur views on the teachings of brahmakumari. Thank you
It is one of the misconception and creates a major difference between Vaishvainv and Shaivs. Some sects of shaivs consider Shiva as Brahman i.e the supreme one and differentiates Shankar from the Shiva. Shankar as deity who is living at Kailash and Shiva as formless supreme being. But they are both the same Both are manifested and formless, the same with the other name. You can find many articles who differentiating Shiva and Shankar but they never quote from any scripture. Now the picture which shows Shiva mediating in front of Shiva Ling, it shows only artistic view, You can find many images of Shiva which are totally different in some with beard in some a small child in some sleeping etc. It all shows the love of devotee who makes the picture. and according to astrology Shiva with shivlinga picture is makes the environment auspicious. that is why these kind of images are popular. The present image is showing different form of Shiva, this does not form that they are different. Why I am saying this because no Scripture (Puran Vedas etc ) differentiate between these two. there is not a single Shloka which can say that both are different. Moreover Shiva Vishnu and Brahma are the three manifested form Brahman to create, Preserve and destroy the Universe so that cosmic cycle and laws of nature do not break. ‘Sivasya hridayam vishnur-vishnoscha hridayam sivah—Vishnu is the heart of Shiva and likewise Shiva is the heart of Vishnu’. There is a verse in the Saivite Scripture ‘Tirumantiram’ that addresses this problem: “Though the three, Brahma Vishnu and Siva form an integral whole the world considers them separate and quarrels.” Shrimad Bhagwat’s Fourth Chapter explains, “Those who find indifference in Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and recognise the oneness in them obtain eternal peace.” The Eighth Chapter adds, “Shiva Brahma and Vishnu are thy manifested forms, which create, maintain and destroy the universe at thy will. Thou is Ishwara who delivers Moksha (Salvation). Thou is Parabrahman (the Supreme Lord).” Narad Pancharatra succinctly states: Shivo Harirhariha Shakshatchiva Eva Nirupitaha | Shivadveshi Haridrohi Vishnum Nityam Bhajanapi || ‘Shiva is Hari and Hari is none other than Shiva. An enemy of Shiva is an enemy of Hari, even though he may daily worship Vishnu.’ Vallabhacharaya, a famed Vaishnava, in similar fashion says, “Glory to thee, who is honoured as Brahman in the Vedanta – Lord of the three worlds – Mahadev.” Shankar is one of the 1008 name of Shiva mentioned in Shiva meaning Giver of Joy or doer of good. Shankar is the most popular name around the globe. Though other names like Shiva, Mahadeva, Bholenath and Neelkantha etc. are highly adorable but a devotee feels much intimacy while chanting this name ‘Shankar’. In spite of many synonyms of word ‘mother’, a sole feeling arises when we call out “Maa”. Similarly Shankar name is more acceptable among devotees. The word ‘Shankar’ is a divine sound vibration which gives rhythm to the cords of one’s heart. An ecstatic feeling is aroused in the body simply by chanting this name. The literal meaning of Shankar is one who brings welfare to all. As per Vedic dictionary ‘Sham’ means welfare and ‘Kar’ means doer, thus Shankar means doer of all good. Shiv-Rahasya reveals the secret of this name— स्मर्तव्यः शंकरो नित्यं शंकरोतीति शंकरः। शंनामाऽनल्पमानन्दमनिर्वाच्यमनामयम् ॥ One should always remember Lord Shankar as He is the most beneficent among Gods. ‘Sham’ is also meant for indescribable, infinite and incredible and ‘ka’ means joy, happiness, bliss. Shankar is giver of such happiness. Aalval defines this name as under— कर एव सुखं धत्से भक्तानां कुरुषे च तत्। पीठे चन्द्रपुराभिख्ये नाम्ना ख्यातोऽसि शंकरः॥ O Lord! You possess all happiness ready in your hands and you give it to your devotees, so you are called Shankar. Your famous Shankareshwar Lingam is present at holy place known as Chandrapur. Generosity of Lord is well expressed by his name-Shankar. He keeps the happiness ready in his hand, so that there might not be any delay in giving it to others. Vedas also proclaim that whatever sense of joy is felt anywhere, it is because of the presence of Lord Shankar. In spite of distributing happiness perpetually, he holds back nothing for him because Shankar never desires to enjoy any worldly pleasures. It is mentioned in Mahimnah Stotram by Pushpadantacharya—“Na hi swatmaramam vishaya mriga trishna bhramayati”. Veda also utters this name in ‘Namakah’ chapter of Shatrudriya—“ Namah Shankaraya Cha Mayaskaraya Cha namah”. Thus Veda is a key evidence to site the significance of this name. At specific times Shankar acts as a destroyer also. At the end of the battle of Mahabharat Arjuna asked a question to sage Vyas—“ O Lord! I observed something very strange during the battle. A person holding a trident, was killing all the warriors and thus my arrows were hunting to those who were already dead. So who was that person?” Then sage Vyas replied that he was not other than Lord Shankar. He is the supreme controller of all beings. Only by the grace of Lord Krishna, you were fortunate enough to behold invisible Lord Shankar. He performs all these pastimes. Dronaparva chapter of Mahabharata states—“ Ishaanmishwaram devam drishtvaan asi Shankaram”. Destruction is also essential to keep balance in creation. Shankar benefits both, whether one is Yogi or Bhogi i.e. detached or attached. He grants material opulence to a attached materialist, while he bestows liberation upon a detached spiritualist. Therefore the poet says –“ O Lord! it is difficult to conclude whether you are a Yogi or Bhogi? You enjoy with your consort, so you are a Bhogi. And you are fixed in transcendence, so you are a Yogi. How these two things are simultaneously possible in you? Because a pleasure-seeker can not be a Yogi, and a Yogi can not attain perfection if he is attached to sensual pleasures. Therefore you are indescribable.” Adi Shankaracharya offers this prayer unto the feet of Lord Shankar— छन्दः शाखिशिखान्वितैर्द्विजवरैः संसेविते शाश्वते सौख्यापादिनि खेदभेदिनि सुधासारैः फलैर्दीपिते। चेतः पक्षिशिखामणे त्यज वृथासंचारमन्यैरलं नित्यं शंकरपादपद्मयुगलीनीडे विहारं कुरु॥ (शिवानन्द 45) O great bird of my mind! You give up your vain movements in the forest of this material world. Do not even hope for any other trees or garden. You eternally wander only in the nest of divine lotus feet of Lord Shankar, which are covered by the leafs of Vedic hymns, which are well served by sages and giver of unrestricted pleasures, which are destroyer of threefold miseries, and which are decorated with the fourfold fruits of Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha.
