Who is Lord Shiva??

By Prabhupad Prem Gopal Goswami

We have heard from different scriptures the position of Lord Shiva and there is and there will always be different opinions based on every one’s faith and realisation.
I am sharing here a very brief and clear explanation by my Gurudev, Prabhupad Prem Gopal Goswami about Lord Shiva’s position:

In Hari Bhakti Vilas, it is mentioned, that we should never make any comparisons even among devotees, what more with Bhagavan. In the ten offences against the chanting of the Mahamantra, it has been clearly mentioned that one should not distinguish between Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. It will be a grave offence because according to tattwa both of them are in the same position, both are Ishwar. There is a great confusion about Lord Shiva as Ishwar and many opinions are formed based on misconception. The argument is how can Lord Shiva be considered as Ishwar when he is always meditating on Krsna and is also always serving Krsna, so how is it possible to see them in the same position and non-different?
 
Jiva Goswamipad has justified this misconception explaining their non-difference very simply and clearly that they are both Ishwar tattwa, Lord Vishnu is Ishwar in the form of Ishta and Lord Shiva is Ishwar in the form of a devotee. By mood, Bhakta and Bhagavan are always together. They are the same truth but in two different forms, Bhakta and Bhagavan. If we take the devotee away from Bhagavan then Bhagavan is nothing and, if we take Bhagavan away from the devotees then devotees become completely zero. So, they are always together and are inseparable. So, the conclusion is, Lord Shiva is Bhakta Bhagavan!!!

Wishing everyone a very auspicious Mahashivratri