Srimathe ramanujaya namaha
Namaskaram
Swami,
Since kashi was a shiva Temple, why many sri vaishnavas are visiting kashi?Why kashi is a mukti kshetra?Why vaishnavas are praying to kashi vishwanathar?Is it correct? Can we pray to shiva or to other gods to develop our vishnu bhakthi?
Kshamikka prarthikindren
Adiyen Ramanuja dasan
Srimate Ramanujaye Namaha,
Namskaaram.
Sri Velukkudi Swami’s Enpani audio 1776 is related to this question.
Swami explains that Sri Krishna wants us to take Krishna as the means and as the end as well.
So it means that it is not mandatory to worship Lord Shiva directly. As by worshiping Lord Krishna we are worshiping Lord Shiva as well (as we can see in Krishna’s universal form)
As watering the root of the tree nourishes all parts and branches..as quoted in Bhagavatam 4.31.14
yathā taror mūla-niṣecanena
tṛpyanti tat-skandha-bhujopaśākhāḥ
prāṇopahārāc ca yathendriyāṇāṁ
tathaiva sarvārhaṇam acyutejyā
As pouring water on the root of a tree energizes the trunk, branches, twigs and everything else, and as supplying food to the stomach enlivens the senses and limbs of the body, simply worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead through devotional service automatically satisfies the demigods, who are parts of that Supreme Personality.
This is how alwars lived. But when we also try to apply that we should be cautious. Though it is not required to explicitly worship Lord Shiva, if we worship other celebrities by praising them and following them and giving our time to them (like sports persons, TV, media etc..) then it becomes a double standard on our part…
So it is not easy for us to reach the state of alwars immediately, giving up all our material shelters.. until then even though one need not go to Lord Shiva’ temple explicitly..(provided one is going to Perumaal temple) if one by chance comes upon a Lord Shiva’s deity procession on the way..or if we see a shivalinga inside a divya desam temple ( there are atleast 2 to three i know of) it is required on our behalf to offer respect, as we are not yet in Alwars stage immersed 24 hrs in Krishna, that is what i think applies for me.
Regarding why Kashi is stated as mukthi kshetra is i have heard ( need to confirm) that for one who dies in Kashi Lord Shiva initiates the soul into either Raama mantra/ Ashtakshari Mantra of Bhagavan Srimannarayana.
I am just sharing my views and thoughts based on what i have heard.
Kshamikka pratikkiraen.
Dhanyosmi.
Adiyen
Srimate Ramnujaye Namaha
Namaskaaram G Swami.
To add another perspective and dimension to the above, Lord Shiva is called Ashutosh, one who easily gets pleased and gives us the boons.. So if we have material desires he may fulfill them as well.. that is the main reason Acharyas do not recommend us to go in that route..
For exceptional cases who are are pure in motive of service. there are exceptions. Like Arjuna was advised by either Vyasadev / Sri Krishna to meditate on Lord Shiva to get Pasupatashtram before Mahabharata war..
Gopis of Vrindavan pray to Lord Shiva for their devotion to Krishna..(Srimmad Bhagawatam)
So there are many examples like this, but we cannot imitate them as we are not in that mood of service yet.
But neither can we imitate the mood of Alwars..
So we have to follow what our acharyas say..which is surrender to Sri Krishna alone and respect Lord Shiva as one of the highest pure devotee of Krishna.
So the act of praying or respecting Lord Shiva itself cannot be determined as right or wrong as it depends on the mood with which the person approaches which is best known to themselves alone..
Adiyen.
So, can we ask lord shiva to develop our devotion towards krishna like gopis of vrindavan? Can vaishnavas go to kashi or kedarnath ?
Srimate Ramanujaye Namaha
Swami this is a very detailed question which each person has to apply the principles for themselves in consultation with their acharya and decide.
But i am giving a general thumb of rule here..
There are various ways in which a sri vaisnava can offer respect to Lord shiva..by reciting his prayers to Sri Krishna..as in ” sri rama rama rameti…” with full remembrance of this fact or stotrams like narasimha raja pada stotra given by Lord shiva.
Second is if we are really devoted we can also possibly see Lord shiva in Sri Krishna’s heart as he is one of the dearmost devotees.
Also when we go to divyadesams like anantha padmanabha swamy temple, adikesava perumaal temple, some.malayala few other divya desams, chidambaram divya desam, kancheepuram ( there is one divya desam which has both lord shiva and perumaal inside the same temple compound.).similarly most of the temples in vrindavan have a shiva linga in the temple prahara..
So when we go to such divya desams we can offer our respects to Lord shiva and admire his devotion to krishna..and if we are mature we should be able to see Lord krishna in lord shiva s heart whom he is meditating on..
In this way our surrender remains to Lord Krishna as in BG 18.66 but we also offer our due respects to Lord Shiva..
Regarding an explicit endeavour to kashi or kedarnath it is better to discuss with your acharya..
However if you are on a work trip to UP and have covered all divya desams. And then planning to go on site seeing to tajmahal et ..instead better to go to kedernath kashi etc..
So it is a very intricate topic and needs to be applied based on time place and.ciecumstance..there is no single answer for this question.
Adiyen
Vaishnavas can go to kedarnath but they can’t accept Vishnu as door keeper there
Namaskaram
In Bagawad Geetha Lord Krishna Says “I am Shiva in Gods”. In Vishnu Puranam, right in the first chapter it is clarified that It is Sri Hari, who is Brahma during creation, Vishnu during protection and Shiva during destruction. All are Hari!! Adi Shankara Bagawad Pada has clarified in Kaivalya Upanishad that it is a sin to see Vishnu and Shiva as separate individuals.
Jai Seeta Ram
I will pray everyone
“Sarva Deva namaskAra: Keshavam Prathi Gacchathi”
Let Perumal do whatever he wants.
“MAmekam Sharanam Vraja”
“AnanyA Chinthayan Thoma ”
“AnyatA Sharanam Nasthi TwamEva Sharanam Mama”
Shivam= Mangalam
So Mangalam Bhagawan Vishnu
Mangalam Garudadwaja
Dasanudasan
