Lord Brahma and Lord Siva are called cira-loka-pala, permanent governors. This means that they govern the affairs of the universe from the beginning of the creation to the end. In the next creation, the same living entities may not be present, but because Brahma and Siva are existing from the beginning to the end, they are called cira-loka-pala, permanent governors. Loka-pala means "predominating deities." There are eight predominating deities of the prominent heavenly planets, and they are Indra, Agni, Yama, Varuna, Nirrti, Vayu, Kuvera and Siva.