Re: Lord Shiva the greatest Vaishnav

Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krsna
Thank you so much for this questions dear Bhakta Rahul. I will try to give short answer, according to what I learned from my Gurudeva, His Holiness Bhakti-ratna Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada.

There is no harm to worship Mahadeva, Shiva as vaishnava-yatha-sambhu - greatest of all vaisnavas.We are offering obeisances to all our Gurus, our Guru Varga,vande gurun isa bhaktan...Gurun means gurus, plural. He is gatekeeper of Vraja and Our worshipable Acharya! If you pray to Lord Shiva to help you to chant Harinaam and serve Lord Krsna,there is no harm in that. Vaisnava yatha sambhu...we are offering our obeisances to every vaisnava, what to say to greatest of all vaisnavas - Mahadeva,  Shiva!

Basically, your question was how to become free from sins in order to approach Lord Krsna? What is best way to become free from sins in this age?

Our spiritual master, Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura is teaching us:

kali jivera aparadha asankhya durvara
gauranga-nam vina tara nahika uddhara.
Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya Chp 1

"The offenses and sins of the living entities in Kali-yuga are unlimited and absolutely insurmountable. That is why the souls can never never be delivered without the regular chanting the most merciful name of 'Gauranga'."

Also you can read in Chaitanya-Bhagavata, Madhya-Khanda 3.134

"Simply by chanting or hearing the name of Lord Nityananda, the sinful inclinations in the hearts of all the living entities in the universe are permanently destroyed and their inherent purity is automatically awakened. On chanting or hearing the name of Lord Nityananda, even the merchants, degraded, fallen and foolish people are purified and immediately become realized in the Absolute Truth and devotees of the Lord."

So, conclusion is simple, there is no harm in worshiping Lord Shiva and praying to Him to help us to advance in Naam Yoga. At the same time chanting of om nama shivaya mantra is not prerequisite to approach Lord Gauranga Krsna, because His Own Holy Names instantly destroys unlimited numbers of sins. So chanting of Nitaai and Gauraa Naam together with Hare Krsna Maha Mantra is most powerful and highest practice.

Please feel free to ask any relevant questions. If we are helping each other to advance in understanding and practice of devotional service then all creation is becoming favorable because topics about Lord Krsna and His Names, Pastimes , Associates etc are our eternal wealth.

Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krsna
Dasso'smi
Bhakta Igor

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