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Lord Shiva is one of the
prominent Hindu gods. Shiva is one of the chief deities of Hinduism. His name
means"Auspicious one". Siva is also known by other names,
including Shambhu("Benignant"), Shankara("Beneficent"),
Pashupati("Lord of Beasts"),Mahesh("Great lord") and
Mahadev("Great God"). Shiva is both the destroyer and restorer. He is
the benevolent herdsman of souls and the wrathful avenger.In the most famous
myth concerning Shiva,he saves humanity by holding in his throat the poison
that churned up in the waters and threatened mankind.For this reason he is
often called as Neelkanth("the one with blue neck").
Shiva is a great ascetic. lord Shiva is symbolized by various
things associated with Him. He destroys out imperfections to ensure our
spiritual progress. He destroys the evil and negativity within us and detaches
us from mortal and materialism so we can make an upward movement and progress
towards the next level of inner spiritual transformation. It is a positive
nourishing destruction that builds and transforms life energy for the welfare
of the world.During this movement, our desires,illusions, ignorance is
destroyed and we are eventually being readied to meet the Lord.
Unclad body smeared with ashes/Vibhuti: Vibhuti is the three lines of ashes drawn on
the forehead of the Lord Shiva.It signifies the Immortality of the Lord and his
manifested glory. The ashes on the Lord's body is cemetery ash, which
points to the philosophy of the life and death and shows that death
is the ultimate reality of the life. Most things in the universe reduce to
ashes when burned and this aspect of nature is suggested by the ash-smeared
appearance of Lord Shiva, who is held to be the God of destruction in Hindu
mythology. The Lord is beyond the cycle of birth and death.
Jata (Matted Hair): The flow of his matted hair represents Shiva as the Lord of
Wind or Vayu, who is the subtle form of breath present in all living beings. It
shows that Shiva is Pashupatinath, Lord Of All Living Beings.
Ganga: The river Ganga
(or Ganges) is the most sacred river for pious Hindus. According to a legend,
the river Ganga has its source in Shiva and flows from his matted hair. This is
symbolically represented by depicting Ganga as a jet of water sprinkling out of
the head of the Lord and falling on the ground. Legend has it that the Lord
allowed an outlet to the great river to traverse the earth and bring purifying
water to human being. Thus the name Gangadhara or "Bearer of the river
Ganga". The river Ganga also denotes fertility, one of the creative
aspects of the Rudra. It also indicates that Shiva is not only the Lord of
destruction but also the bestower of knowledge, purity and peace on the
devotees.
The Third Eye: In
the great Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva is depicted as a three-eyed
God. The third eye is aye of wistom or occult knowledge. While his other two
eyes indicate his activity in the physical world, his third eye in the center
of his forehead looks beyond the obvious. It stands for spiritual knowledge and
power, and is thus called the eye of wisdom or knowledge. Like fire, the
powerful gaze of Shiva's third eye can search evil from anywhere and annihilate
it completely. This is the reason why evil-doers fear his third eye.
Crescent: Lord
Shiva is typically pictured as wearing a crescent-shaped ornament on one side
of his head. The Crescent is actually the moon and symbolizes the movement
of time and cosmic proportions.
The Snake around the neck: Lord Shiva is often shown with a snake curled three times
around His neck and looking towards His right side. The three coils of the
snake symbolize the past, present and future - time in cycles. The
snake looking in the right direction of Lord Shiva signifies that the Lord's
perpetual laws of reason and justice preserve natural order in the universe. The
snake with its raised hood is suggestive of Kundalini Shakti, the ever
awakened, that resides within Him.
Tiger Skin: In
Hindu mythology, the tiger is the vehicle of Shakti, the Goddess of
power and force. Lord Shiva is the source of creative energy that remains in
potential form during the dissolution state of the universe. He activates this
energy using his own Divine Will to project the universe.Lord Shiva is often
shown seated upon or wearing a tiger skin, which emphasizes the fact that he is
the master of Shakti and is beyond and above any kind of force.. The Lord's
sitting on Tiger skin indicates that he has conquered lust.
Rudraksha Necklace: Lord Shiva is almost always shown as wearing a necklace
having 108 beads made with seeds of the Rudraksha tree. The beads represent the
elements used in the creation of the world. The Rudraksha necklace points to
the ‘Rudra’ aspect of the Lord, which is also His other name. The word 'Rudra'
means "strict or uncompromising" and aksha means "eye." It
illustrates the fact that Lord Shiva is firm about His cosmic laws and strictly
maintains law and order in the universe.
Damru (Drum): The
damru denotes the connection with the cosmic or primal sound of AUM,which can
be heard during deep meditation. According to Hindu scriptures, Nada is the
source of creation.The damru is also symbol of sound. Sound is nothing but
rhythm and energy.Just as in a heartbeat,of one sees a heartbeat it is not a straight line but a rhythm that goes up and down.The whole Universe is a wave
function of rhythms.This is exactly according to the theory of Quantum Physics.
It is a wave that creates a sound.So the damru also signifies non dual nature
of the universe.
Trishul (Trident): The trident, or the spear with three arrow-like heads, is one
of the accessories of the Lord and symbolizes His three fundamental powers
iccha(will), kriya(action) and jnana(knowledge).It also signifies the three
gunas or characters;satwa,raja` and tamas. These qualities represent the activities of creation,
preservation and destruction which are personified with the Hindu trinity of Brahma,Vishnu
and Mahesh (Shiva) That is the emblem of sovereignty. As His weapon and
instrument of punishment the trident represents Lord Shiva's manner of
punishing the evil doers on all the three planes - spiritual, subtle and
physical. The trishul also represents the 3 nadis or energy channels viz;ida,
pingala on the sides and sushumna in the cent re through which the Kundalini
shakti/energy ascends to travel through the chakras.
Kamandalu: The
water pot (Kamandalu) often shown adjacent to the Lord is another of his
accessories. The carrying of the Kamandalu shows the yogic nature of the Lord.
Kundalas: The
Kundalas refer to the two ear rings. The dual type of Kundalas represent the
Shiva and Shakti (male and female) principle of creation.
Mount Kailash: Lord
Shiva is most often shown to be seated at the peak of beautiful beautiful
Himalayas serving as his backdrop. Mount Kailash in the Himalayas is said to be
His traditional abode. In Hindu mythology, Mount Kailash is said to represent
the center of the universe. Thus the name 'Kailashadhipati' meaning "Lord
Of Mount Kailash".
Nandi: Nandi, the bull is the vehicle of Lord Shiva. The bull is
the symbol of both power and ignorance which suggests that Lord Shiva removes
ignorance of his devotees and gives them the power of wisdom. Nandi is a symbol
of eternal waiting though he is alert. Waiting is considered to be a virtue and
the Nandi is nor anticipating anything neither expecting anything. That is his
meditation.
Shivling: In most Hindu temples you will not see an idol of Shiva.
Rather it will be a shining black or gray shivling in an ellipsoid shape. It
represents the essence of Shiva.The Shivling is an ellipsoid shape-everything
in the universe has has begun as an ellipsoid and will end so.(science talks
about it too!) It is known as the cosmic egg-referring to creation and
destruction. Physically, Shivling is phallic symbol representing the male and
female in a state of conjugal bliss. Mentally it symbolizes the union of mind
and body. Spiritually it's an union between the Purush and Prakriti which
manifest the highest principles of universe. It's a powerful source of divine
energy.
