OUR GOD SHIVA

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Shiva is a god of many,

often contrasting, characteristics. He is associated with the creative energy

of the universe and at the same time with its destruction.

Literally his name means

'One in whom the universe sleeps after destruction and before the next cycle of

creation'. All that is created must one day disintegrate; this disintegration

is a return to the formless void from which creation may once again spring

forth. Shiva is the dynamic power behind this endless cycle of birth, death and

rebirth. He is the master of Tantric yoga, an esoteric science of sexuality,

and also the Lord of ascetics, renunciates and yogis. He is the god of the

battlefield, the cremation grounds, and inauspicious crossroads, and he is

accompanied by demons, ghosts, and evil spirits. An often frightening deity,

Shiva is also the exponent of the arts and the creator of dance.

 

Lord Siva represents the destructive aspect of

Brahman. That portion of Brahman that is enveloped by Tamo-Guna-Pradhana Maya

is Lord Siva who is the all-pervading Isvara and who also dwells in Mount

Kailas. He is the Bhandara or store-house for wisdom. Siva minus Parvati or

Kali or Durga is Nirguna Brahman Himself. With Maya-Parvati He becomes the

Saguna Brahman for the purpose of pious devotion of His devotees. Devotees of

Rama must worship Lord Siva for 3 or 6 months before they take to worship of

Rama. Rama Himself worshipped Lord Siva at the famous Ramesvaram. Lord Siva is

the Lord of Ascetics and Lord of Yogins, robed in space (Digambara).

 

His Trisul (trident) that is held in His right hand represents the three

Gunas—Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. That is the emblem of Sovereignty. He wields the

world through these three Gunas. The Damaru in His left hand represents the

Sabda Brahman. It represents OM from which all languages are formed. It is He

who formed the Sanskrit language out of the Damaru. The crescent moon

indicates that He has controlled the mind perfectly. The flow of the Ganga

represents the nectar of Immortality. Elephant represents symbolically pride.

His wearing the skin of the elephant denotes that He has controlled pride.

Tiger represents lust; His sitting on tiger's skin indicates that He has

conquered lust. His holding a deer on one hand indicates that He has removed

the Chanchalata (tossing) of the mind. Deer jumps from one place to another

swiftly. His wearing of serpents denotes wisdom and eternity. Serpents live for

a large number of years. He is Trilochana, the three-eyed One, in the centre of

whose forehead is the third eye, the eye of wisdom.

`Hoam' is the Bija Akshara of Lord Siva.

 

Shiva is also known as Maheshvar, the great

Lord, Mahadeva, the great God, Shambhu, Hara, Pinakadhrik, bearer of the axe

and Mrityunjaya,

conqueror of death. He is the spouse of Shakti, the goddess. He also is

represented by Mahakala and Bhairava, the terrible, as well as many other forms

including Rudra. Shiva is often pictured holding the damaru His usual mantra is om namah shivaya.

He is the Lord of Yoga. On his matted locks is a crescent moon,

from which streams the river Ganga. Around his neck and arms are serpents,

while he also wears the rudraksha beads sacred to him. He is smeared with

ash, as that is all that remains at the dissolution of the universe, which he

presides over. This dissolution of the universe comes when his third eye opens,

the whole metaphor referring to the realisation of one's own consciousness,

which is Shiva. He holds the trident, symbol of the three worlds, on which is bound the

damaru.

 

Shiva is fivefold, his five faces being Ishana,

Tatpurusha, Aghora, Vamadeva and Sadjyojata, and eightfold as

the eight directions. Shiva-Shakti also have a form called Ardhanarishvara. .

Mahadeva Shiva is also lord of all beings of the underworld, including bhutas

(elementals), pretas (ghosts), and pishachas (flesh eaters) and the rest. He is

sometimes pictured on a horse, followed by his retinue of siddhas (accomplished

ones), bhairavas (terrifying forms of Shiva), yogis and the rest. As Rudra, he

is identified with the star Sirius (Sothis), and is the supreme hunter.

 

Japa -- Mantra Recitation

Hara Maheshvara Shulapani Pinakadhrik Pashupati

Shiva Mahadeva

 

He is Sivam (auspicious, Subham), Sundaram (beautiful), Kantam

(effulgent). "Santam Sivam Advaitam" (Mandukya Upanishad).

I bow with folded hands crores of times at the lotus-feet of that Lord

Siva who is non-dual, who is the Adhishthana, or support for the world and all

minds, who is Sat-Chit-Ananda, who is the Ruler, the Antaryamin, the Sakshi

(silent witness) for everything, who is self-effulgent, self-existent and

self-contained (Pari-purna), who is the remover of the primitive Avidya and who

is the Adi-Guru or Parama-Guru or Jagad-Guru.That Lord Siva I am in essence.

Sivoham, Sivoham, Sivoham.

Snake On The Body Of Siva-Serpent is the Jiva or the individual soul which rests upon Siva, the

Paramatman or the Supreme Soul. The five hoods mean the five senses or the five

Tattvas, viz., earth, water, fire, air and ether. They also represent the five

Pranas, which hiss in the body like the serpent. The inhalation and exhalation

are like the hissing of the serpent. Lord Siva Himself became the five

Tanmatras, the five Jnanendriyas, the five Karmendriyas and other groups of

five. The individual soul enjoys the worldly objects through these Tattvas.

When the individual attains knowledge through control of the senses and the

mind, he finds his eternal resting abode in Lord Siva, the Supreme Soul. This

is the esoteric significance of Lord Siva wearing the snake on His body.

Lord Siva is absolutely fearless. Srutis declare, "This Brahman is

fearless (Abhayam), Immortal (Amritam)." Worldly people are afraid even at the

very sight of a snake but Lord Siva is wearing serpents as ornaments on His

body. This indicates that Lord Siva is absolutely fearless and immortal. Generally

serpents live for hundreds of years. Wearing of serpents by Lord Siva signifies

that He is Eternal.

Significance of Bhasma, Nandi, Etc. Om Namasivaya is the Mantra of Lord Siva. `Na'

represents earth and Brahma; `Ma' represents water and Vishnu; `Si' fire and

Rudra; `Va' Vayu and Mahesvara; `Ya' Akasa and Sadasiva and also the Jiva.

Lord Siva has white complexion. He teaches

silently that people should have pure heart and entertain pure thoughts and

should be free from crookedness, diplomacy, cunningness, jealousy, hatred, etc.

He wears three white-lined Bhasma or Vibhuti on His forehead. He

teaches silently that people should destroy the three impurities, viz., Anava

(egoism), Karma (action with expectation of fruits), and Maya (illusion), and

the three desires or Eshanas, viz., desire for landed property, desire for

woman, desire for gold, and the three Vasanas, viz., Lokavasana, Dehavasana and

Sastravasana, and then attain Him with a pure heart.

 

Nandi or the bull Nandi is the attendant or doorkeeper of Siva. He

is the vehicle of Lord Siva. He represents Satsanga. If you make association

with the sages, you are sure to attain God-realisation. Sages will show you the

way to reach Him. They will remove pitfalls or snares that lie on your path.

They will clear your doubts and instil in your heart dispassion, discrimination

and knowledge. There is no other safe boat than Satsanga to reach the other

shore of fearlessness and immortality. Even a moment's Satsanga or association with

the sages, is a great blessing to the aspirants and the worldly-minded persons.

They get firm conviction in the existence of God through Satsanga. The sages

remove the worldly Samskaras. The company of sages is a formidable fortress to

protect oneself from the temptations of Maya.

 

Lord Siva represents the destructive aspect of the Godhead. He is seen

absorbed on the mountain peak of Kailas. He is an embodiment of serenity,

renunciation and indifference to the world. The third eye in the centre of His

forehead represents His destructive energy which when let loose destroys the

world. Nandi is His favourite. He is the door-Keeper. He is seen hushing all

nature, so that the Lord may not be disturbed in His Samadhi.

The bull represents Dharma

Devata. Lord Siva rides on the bull. Bull is His vehicle. This denotes that

Lord Siva is the protector of Dharma, is an embodiment of Dharma or

righteousness.

Salutations and adorations to the blissful Lord Siva, the lover of Parvati, the Lord of all beings (Pasupati).O Mahadeva , O Shambu