Lord Shiva

[Guest guest]

Thank you to Rohit of another list for this post, which I share with

you on this most auspicious day:

Lord Shiva represents the aspect of the Supreme Being that

continuously dissolves to recreate the cyclic process of creation,

preservation, dissolution and recreation of the universe. Lord Shiva

is the foremost of the Hindu Trinity, the other two being Lord Brahma

and Lord Vishnu. Owing to His cosmic activity of dissolution and

recreation, the world's destruction has been erroneously associated

with Lord Shiva. This difficulty arises when people fail to grasp the

true significance of His cosmic role. The creation sustains itself by

a delicate balance between the opposing forces of good and evil. When

this balance is disturbed and sustenance of life becomes impossible,

Lord Shiva dissolves the universe for creation of the next cycle so

that the unliberated souls will have another opportunity to liberate

themselves from bondage with the physical world. Thus, Lord Shiva

protects the souls from pain and suffering that would be caused by a

dysfunctional universe. In analogous cyclic processes, winter is

essential for spring to appear and the night is necessary for the

morning to follow. To further illustrate, a goldsmith does not

destroy gold when he melts old irreparable golden jewellery to create

beautiful new ornaments.

Lord Shiva is the Lord of mercy and compassion. He protects devotees

from evil forces such as lust, greed, and anger. He grants boons,

bestows grace and awakens wisdom in His devotees. The symbolism

discussed below includes major symbols that are common to all

pictures and images of Shiva venerated by Hindus. Since the tasks of

Lord Shiva are numerous, He cannot be symbolized in one form. For

this reason the images of Shiva vary significantly in their

symbolism.

The unclad body covered with ashes: The unclad body symbolizes the

transcendental aspect of the Lord. Since most things reduce to ashes

when burned, ashes symbolize the physical universe. The ashes on the

unclad body of the Lord signify that Shiva is the source of the

entire universe which emanates from Him, but He transcends the

physical phenomena and is not affected by it.

Matted locks: Lord Shiva is the Master of yoga. The three matted locks

on the head of the Lord convey the idea that integration of the

physical, mental and spiritual energies is the ideal of yoga.

Ganga: Ganga (river Ganges) is associated with Hindu mythology and is

the most sacred river of Hindus. According to tradition, one who

bathes in Ganga (revered as Mother Ganga) in accordance with

traditional rites and ceremonies on religious occasions in

combination with certain astrological events, is freed from sin and

attains knowledge, purity and peace. Ganga, symbolically represented

on the head of the Lord by a female (Mother Ganga) with a jet of

water emanating from her mouth and falling on the ground, signifies

that the Lord destroys sin, removes ignorance, and bestows knowledge,

purity and peace on the devotees.

The crescent moon: Is shown on the side of the Lord's head as an

ornament, and not as an integral part of His countenance. The waxing

and waning phenomenon of the moon symbolizes the time cycle through

which creation evolves from the beginning to the end. Since the Lord

is the Eternal Reality, He is beyond time. Thus, the crescent moon is

only one of His ornaments, and not an integral part of Him.

Three eyes: Lord Shiva, also called Tryambaka Deva (literally,

"three-eyed Lord") or Trolochana, is depicted as having three eyes:

the sun is His right eye, the moon the left eye and fire the third

eye. The two eyes on the right and left indicate His activity in the

physical world. The third eye in the center of the forehead

symbolizes spiritual knowledge and power, and is thus called the eye

of wisdom or knowledge. Like fire, the powerful gaze of Shiva's third

eye annihilates evil, and thus the evil-doers fear His third eye.

Half-open eyes: When the Lord opens His eyes, a new cycle of creation

emerges and when He closes them, the universe dissolves for creation

of the next cycle. The half-open eyes convey the idea that creation

is going through cyclic process, with no beginning and no end. Lord

Shiva is the Master of Yoga, as He uses His yogic power to project

the universe from Himself. The half-open eyes also symbolize His

yogic posture.

Kundalas (two ear rings): Two Kundalas, Alakshya (meaning "which

cannot be shown by any sign") and Niranjan (meaning "which cannot be

seen by mortal eyes") in the ears of the Lord signify that He is

beyond ordinary perception. Since the kundala in the left ear of the

Lord is of the type used by women and the one in His right ear is of

the type used by men, these Kundalas also symbolize the Shiva and

Shakti (male and female) principle of creation.

Snake around the neck: Sages have used snakes to symbolize the yogic

power of Lord Shiva with which He dissolves and recreates the

universe. Like a yogi, a snake hoards nothing, carries nothing,

builds nothing, lives on air alone for a long time, and lives in

mountains and forests. The venom of a snake, therefore, symbolizes

the yogic power.

A snake (Vasuki): Is shown curled three times around the neck of the

Lord and is looking towards His right side. The three coils of the

snake symbolize the past, present and future - time in cycles. The

Lord wearing the curled snake like an ornament signifies that

creation proceeds in cycles and is time dependent, but the Lord

Himself transcends time. The right side of the body symbolizes the

human activities based upon knowledge, reason and logic. The snake

looking towards the right side of the Lord signifies that the Lord's

eternal laws of reason and justice preserve natural order in the

universe.

Rudraksha necklace: Rudra is another name of Shiva. Rudra also means

"strict or uncompromising" and aksha means "eye." Rudraksha necklace

worn by the Lord illustrates that He uses His cosmic laws firmly -

without compromise - to maintain law and order in the universe. The

necklace has 108 beads which symbolize the elements used in the

creation of the world.

Varda Mudra: The Lord's right hand is shown in a boon - bestowing and

blessing pose. As stated earlier, Lord Shiva annihilates evil, grants

boons, bestows grace, destroys ignorance, and awakens wisdom in His

devotees.

Trident (Trisulam): A three-pronged trident shown adjacent to the Lord

symbolizes His three fundamental powers (shakti) of will (iccha),

action (kriya) and knowledge (jnana). The trident also symbolizes the

Lord's power to destroy evil and ignorance.

Drum: A small drum with two sides separated from each other by a thin

neck-like structure symbolizes the two utterly dissimilar states of

existence, unmanifest and manifest. When a damaru is vibrated, it

produces dissimilar sounds which are fused together by resonance to

create a sound. The sound thus produced symbolizes Nada, the cosmic

sound of AUM, which can be heard during deep meditation. According to

Hindu scriptures, Nada is the source of creation.

Kamandalam: A water pot (Kamandalam) made from a dry pumpkin contains

nectar and is shown on the ground next to Shiva. The process of

making Kamandalu has deep spiritual significance. A ripe pumpkin is

plucked from a plant, its fruit is removed and the shell is cleaned

for containing the nectar. In the same way, an individual must break

away from attachment to the physical world and clean his inner self

of egoistic desires in order to experience the bliss of the Self,

symbolized by the nectar in the Kamandalu.

Nandi: The bull is associated with Shiva and is said to be His

vehicle. The bull symbolizes both power and ignorance. Lord Shiva's

use of the bull as a vehicle conveys the idea that He removes

ignorance and bestows power of wisdom on His devotees. The bull is

called Vrisha in Sanskrit. Vrisha also means dharma (righteousness).

Thus a bull shown next to Shiva also indicates that He is the etemal

companion of righteousness.

Tiger skin: A tiger skin symbolizes potential energy. Lord Shiva,

sitting on or wearing a tiger skin, illustrates the idea that He is

the source of the creative energy that remains in potential form

during the dissolution state of the universe. Of His own Divine Will,

the Lord activates the potential form of the creative energy to

project the universe in endless cycles.

Cremation ground: Shiva sitting in the cremation ground signifies that

He is the controller of death in the physical world. Since birth and

death are cyclic, controlling one implies controlling the other.

Thus, Lord Shiva is revered as the ultimate controller of birth and

death in the phenomenal world.

Nagendra Haaraaya ThrilochanaayaBhasmaanga Raagaaya

MaheshvaraayaNityaaya Suddhaaya DigambaraayaTasmai Nakaaraaya Namah

Shivaaya.

I offer my humble salutations to Lord Mahesvara - who has a garland of

serpents around the neck; who has three eyes; whose body is covered

with ash (vibhuti); who is eternal; who is pure; who has the entire

sky as His dress and who is embodies as the first letter Na.

Mandaakini Salila Chandana ChaarthitaayaNandeesvara Pramatha Naatha

MahesvaraayaMandaara Pushpa Vahu Pushpa SupoojitaayaTasmai Makaaraaya

Namah Shivaaya

I bow to Lord Mahesvara, who is embodied as Makaara (letter Ma), whose

body is anointed with holy waters from the river Ganges and sandal

paste, who is the sovereign king of the Pramatha Ganas and who is

adorned with innumerable divine flowers such as Mandaara.

Shivaaya Gauri Vadana Aravinda Sooryaaya Dakshaadhvara NaashakaayaSree

Neelakantaaya Vrisha DhvajaayaTasmai Shikaaraaya Namah Shivaaya

I offer my salutations to Lord Shiva, who is the resplendent sun for

mother Gauri's lotus face (sun causes the lotus flower to open up and

bloom; Lord Shiva makes mother Gauri's face bloom), who is the

destroyer of Daksha's sacrificial ritual, who is the blue necked Lord

(due to the Haalahala poison which He agreed to consume), whose banner

bears the emblem of a bull and who is embodied as the letter Shi.

Vasishta Kumbhodbhava GautamaayaMuneendra Devaarchita

SekharaayaChandraarka Vaishvaanara LochanaayaTasmai Vakaaraaya Namah

Shivaaya

I prostrate before the God of Gods, who is worshipped and prayed to by

great sages such as Vashishta, Agastya and Gautama, whose eyes are

sun, moon and the fire and who is embodied as Vakaara (letter Va).

Yajna Swaroopaaya JataadharaayaPinaaka Hasthaaya SanaatanaayaDivyaaya

Devaaya DigambaraayaTasmai Yakaraaya Namah Shivaaya.

Prostrations to the sacred Lord who is the Yaksa incarnate, whose hair

is long and matted, who holds Pinaaka (trident) in His hand, who has

the entire sky as His attire and who is embodied as the letter Ya.

Panchaaksharam Idam PunyamYah Pateh Shiva SannidhauShivaloka MavaapnotheeShivena Saha Modate

Whoever repeats this prayer composed with the five holy letters before

Lord Shiva, attains that supreme abode of His and enjoys eternal

bliss.

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[Guest guest]

, "Lady Joyce" <ladyjoy@v...>

wrote:

> Thank you to Rohit of another list for this post, which I share

with you on this most auspicious day:

>

>

> Lord Shiva represents the aspect of the Supreme Being that

continuously dissolves to recreate the cyclic process of creation,

preservation, dissolution and recreation of the universe. Lord Shiva

is the foremost of the Hindu Trinity, the other two being Lord Brahma

and Lord Vishnu.

> Owing to His cosmic activity of dissolution and recreation, the

world's destruction has been erroneously associated with Lord Shiva.

This difficulty arises when people fail to grasp the true

significance of His cosmic role. The creation sustains itself by a

delicate balance between the opposing forces of good and evil. When

this balance is disturbed and sustenance of life becomes impossible,

rms of Service.

 

Namaste,

 

Excellent reproduction, however let us not forget there are two

concepts of Siva, Big Siva and Little Siva. Big Siva is another term

for the Self or Brahman, as used by Ramana, Little Siva is the God

Image or Ishtadevata that is described as part of the Trinity etc etc

etc...........ONS.(Big Siva)....Tony.