Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.7.29
Āśraya· The supreme shelterLord Śiva Is Viṣṇu’s Direct Representative
“O lord, the five important Vedic mantras are represented by your five faces, from which the thirty-eight most celebrated Vedic mantras have been generated. Your Lordship, being celebrated as Lord Śiva, is self-illuminated. You are directly situated as the supreme truth, known as Paramātmā.”
What the purport teaches
- The five mantras are Puruṣa, Aghora, Sadyojāta, Vāmadeva and Īśāna. They belong to the category of thirty-eight special Vedic mantras chanted by Lord Śiva.
- Śiva means “all-auspicious.” Lord Śiva is self-illuminated, exactly like Lord Viṣṇu, who is the Paramātmā.
- Lord Śiva is directly an incarnation of Lord Viṣṇu and His direct representative. The Supersoul has many names, including Maheśvara, Śiva and Acyuta.
Try this today
Write down the meaning “all-auspicious” beside Śiva’s name and recall his relationship with Lord Viṣṇu.
Ask yourself
How can understanding Lord Śiva as Lord Viṣṇu’s direct representative deepen your respect for him?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.