What Are God Siva's Traditional Forms?

[Guest guest]

mso-hansi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New

Roman'">Images and icons. Primary among them are Sivalinga, Nataraja,

Ardhanarishvara,Dakshinamurti, Hari-Hara, Bhairava and the trishula. Aum Namah

Sivaya.

Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Every form is a form of Siva.

Tradition has given us several of special sacredness. The Sivalinga was the

first image of Divinity. After it all other icons evolved from mystic visions.

We contemplate God Siva as ParaSiva when we worship the Sivalinga. Its simple

elliptical shape Speaks silently of God's unspeakable Absolute Being. We exalt

Siva as ParaShakti or Satchidananda, God's living omnipresence, when we

worship any form of His never-separate Shakti, especially Ardhanarishvara,

whose right half is masculine and left half is feminine, and in whom all

opposites are

reconciled. We adore Him as Parameshvara, the Primal Soul, when we worship

Nataraja, the Divine Dancer who animates the universe. Thus we worship

Siva's three perfections in three forms, yet knowing that He is a one Being,

fully present in each of them. He is also Dakshinamurti, the silent teacher;

Hari-Hara--half-Siva, half-Vishnu--and Bhairava,

the fierce wielder of trishula, the trident of love, wisdom and action. The

Tirumantiram declares, "Everywhere is the Holy Form. Everywhere is Siva-Shakti.

Everywhere is Chidambaram; Everywhere is Divine

Dance." Aum Namah Sivaya. -----Satguru

Sivaya

Subramuniyaswami Sivaya Namah

Photos – NEW, now offering a quality print service from just 8p a photo.