Why did Lord Ramachandra Pray to Lord Siva as being God?

Question: In the Ramayana, Why did Lord Ramachandra Pray to Lord Siva as being God??

Prabhupāda: Lord Rāmacandra worshiped His devotees. Just like sometimes Kṛṣṇa worships Rādhārāṇī and touched Her feet. Just like Kṛṣṇa was tolerating ear-pulling by Mother Yaśodā. That does not mean that Mother Yaśodā is the Supreme. Kṛṣṇa was carrying the wooden shoes of Nanda Mahārāja. So that does not mean Nanda Mahārāja is greater than Kṛṣṇa. It is Kṛṣṇa’s pleasure. Just like sometimes a father takes the son on the shoulder, carries. Does it mean the father is inferior than the son? So this is third-class man’s conclusion. They do not know what is Kṛṣṇa, what is Rāma. Kṛṣṇa says He is the origin of Lord Śiva. So how Śiva can be the Supreme? We have to consult śāstra. Kṛṣṇa does not say that Śiva is Supreme. So if a third-class man says Śiva is Supreme, we have to accept it? We are preaching Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Whatever Kṛṣṇa says, that is Supreme, not a third-class man’s version. Is it clear? Yes. We should not take a third-class, fourth-class man’s version. We should take from the śāstra.

Indian man: Swāmījī, Śiva is not another name of God?

Prabhupāda: Yes. Śiva is next to God. Just like yogurt, dahī. You know dahī? What is this dahī? Milk, but it is not milk. Dahī is not anything but milk, but it is not milk. Similarly, Lord Śiva is nothing but Viṣṇu, but it is not Viṣṇu. You can say, “Well, dahi is nothing but milk.” Yes. But it is not milk. If instead of milk you take dahi, the result will be different. And if you take milk instead of dahi, the result will be different, although the milk and dahi is the same thing, same ingredients. So you have to understand in that way. Lord Siva is nondifferent from the Supreme Lord. Everyone is nondifferent from Supreme Lord, but he’s still different. This is the perfect philosophy, acintya-bhedabheda, simultaneously one and different. So that you do. There is no harm. There is no harm. But you should understand what is Siva and what is Visnu. If you offer first prayer to Lord Siva, there is no harm. It is good. He is… Vaisnavanam yatha sambhuh [SB 12.13.16]. He is our spiritual master. He is Vaisnava. Why not offer first respect to him? But if you take Lord Siva as the Supreme, that is insult. You are giving me respect as spiritual master, but if you give me overestimation, that “You are the king of the whole world,” that is insult. That is insult. That is not prayer. If you offer me prayer as I am befitting, then it is all right. But if you give me prayer for which I am not befitting, that is insult. That is insult. So you must know what is the position. Lord Siva is Vaisnava; he is the greatest devotee; he is the number one demigod — and everything is all right. But if you say that he is the Supreme, then he will feel insulted, that “What is this nonsense saying?” So don’t insult him in that way. That will go against your credit. He doesn’t like that.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Morning Walk — October 5, 1975, Mauritius

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