# Lord Śiva > [!summary] > *Lord Śiva occupies a unique position in the cosmic hierarchy — he is neither an ordinary living entity nor the Supreme Lord, but holds a special status as the greatest Vaiṣṇava (devotee of Viṣṇu). Although he appears to destroy the universe at the time of annihilation, he acts only under the direction of the Supreme Lord. Śiva is worshiped by both demigods and demons, but his own worship is directed toward Lord Kṛṣṇa. The scriptures describe him as vaiṣṇavānāṁ yathā śambhu — "among Vaiṣṇavas, Śambhu (Śiva) is the best."* ![[images/all-catalogs/0037_SB-4-1-5.jpg]] ## The Topmost Devotee ![[sb/4/24/18]] ![[sb/4/24/30]] ## Acts as the Destroyer Under the Lord's Will ![[sb/1/2/23]] ![[sb/2/9/28]] ## An Incarnation of the Lord's Quality ![[cc/madhya/20/311]] ![[sb/4/6/34]] ## Always Meditates on Kṛṣṇa ![[sb/4/24/76]] ![[sb/8/12/38]] ## His Prayers Are Most Auspicious ![[sb/4/24/33]] ![[sb/4/24/69]] ## Cannot Be Imitated ![[sb/4/2/2]] ![[sb/4/6/39]] ## From the Scriptures **Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam**: - [[sb/4/2|SB 4.2: Dakṣa Curses Lord Śiva]] — The conflict with Daksha - [[sb/4/3|SB 4.3: Talks Between Lord Śiva and Satī]] — Dialogue with his wife - [[sb/4/4|SB 4.4: Satī Quits Her Body]] — His wife's sacrifice - [[sb/4/5|SB 4.5: Frustration of the Sacrifice of Dakṣa]] — Śiva's anger - [[sb/4/6|SB 4.6: Brahmā Satisfies Lord Śiva]] — Reconciliation - [[sb/4/24|SB 4.24: Chanting the Song Sung by Lord Śiva]] — His famous prayers to Viṣṇu - [[sb/8/7|SB 8.7: Lord Śiva Saves the Universe by Drinking Poison]] — Drinking the poison - [[sb/8/12|SB 8.12: The Mohinī-mūrti Incarnation Bewilders Lord Śiva]] — Enchanted by Mohinī ## Related Articles - [[wiki/articles/lord-brahma|Lord Brahmā]] — The creator - [[wiki/articles/the-principal-demigods|The principal demigods]] — Śiva among the Trimūrti - [[wiki/articles/the-twelve-mahajanas|The twelve Mahājanas]] — Śiva as one of the twelve authorities - [[wiki/articles/the-role-of-demigods|The role of demigods]] — Cosmic administration ## From the Index - [[index/entries/siva-lord|Lord Śiva]] — The greatest Vaiṣṇava - [[index/entries/demigod|Demigods]] — Śiva as chief - [[index/entries/annihilation-of-universe|Destruction]] — By Śiva's agency