What is in the hand of the god Shiva. Gods of Indian mythology
SHIVA- (Sanskrit Siva - “good, kind, supportive”).
According to legends, Shiva lived about 5-7 thousand years ago and was recognized by all the authorities of his time as the greatest mahasiddha (who achieved complete perfection) and avatar (Divine incarnation). His wife Parvati was also a great practitioner and, together with Shiva, fully realized her Divine nature. Having reached the highest stage of spiritual evolution possible in the human body, Shiva transformed his physical body into the state of immortal golden light (in Taoism such an achievement is called the diamond body, and in Tibetan Buddhism - the rainbow body). In such an immortal body, Shiva appeared to many outstanding masters of tantra and yoga, initiating them into various secret practices. Subsequently, Shiva and Parvati began to be identified with their respective deities, and some details of their biography became legends about the gods Shiva and Parvati. Many tantric texts take the form of a dialogue between Shiva and Parvati.
The word Shiva has several meanings. Here are some of them:
~ Shiva is the eternal ocean of the Supreme Divine Consciousness, the one God.
~ Shiva is one of the three main gods (the other two are Vishnu and Brahma).
~ Shiva symbolizes one of the three aspects of Divine perfection - the aspect of Divine power (with Vishnu symbolizing Divine love, and Brahma - Divine wisdom).
~ Shiva is the name given to the Force that destroys the Universe at the end of its existence (while Brahma is the Force that creates the Universe, and Vishnu is the Force that maintains its existence).
~ Shiva is the cosmic masculine principle.
~ Shiva is the highest consciousness of man.
~ Shiva is the name given to the force that destroys vices in the process of spiritual improvement.
~ Shiva is a historical figure, one of the founders of tantra and yoga as a system.
~ The word Shiva is used to name the highest stage of human spiritual evolution, as well as the one who has reached this stage.
The Shiva Puranas contain many descriptions of Shiva sitting in meditation on Mount Kailash in Tibet from time immemorial. He is worshiped by all yogis as God and by all gods as the Supreme God. The history of the Siddha tradition goes back millions of years and begins with the story of how, in a huge cave in Amarnath (Kashmir Himalayas), Shiva initiated his wife Shakti Parvati Devi into Kriya Kundalini Pranayama (the art of achieving breath control). Later on Mount Kailash in Tibet, Yogi Shiva initiated others, including the siddhas Agastyar, Nandi Devar and Tirumular. Subsequently, Agastyar gave initiation to Babaji...
Shiva is traditionally revered as the creator of Yoga and the patron of Yoga schools and everyone who practices yoga in one way or another.
“The patron saint of all yogis is considered to be the god Shiva, the oldest deity on Earth, revered by previous civilizations that existed on Earth. Shiva is the first Cosmic Teacher; he once lived on Earth and was a Teacher. It was Shiva, according to legend, who gave yoga to people...
Guru Ar Santem “YOGA AS A WAY OF LIFE ON EARTH”
“The third person of the Trimurti is Shiva, the Destroyer of the World, whose prototype can be considered Rudra, and even more ancient is his image as the lord of animals Pashupati on a signet from Mohejo-Daro (III millennium BC). Shiva acquired importance only in the Hindu pantheon of the Puranic era. Although Shiva does not have an avatar, he received many different types and aspects.
Shiva is portrayed as a deity who brings both good and evil. In early Shaivist temples he is represented only by his symbol - the lingam (phallus), on which his high relief image is sometimes found. Shiva is the only deity (except Tara and sometimes Ganesha) who is usually depicted with three eyes (the third eye is in the forehead). His hair is tied into a conical hairstyle (jata-mukuta). If Shiva is depicted in a dancing pose, then he may have more than four arms and he is carrying a weapon; under one of his legs there is a prostrate figure of the dwarf demon Apasmara-Purusha, or Miyalaka.
Shiva-murti can be represented in standing, sitting and dancing poses, and in the aspect of a yogi - in terrifying and many more diverse forms than other deities...
A very interesting and important group of images are sculptures of the dancing Shiva - Nritya-Murti, including the most significant form of this image - Shiva NATARAJA (“Lord of Dance”). The cult of Nataraja is especially developed, and his images are especially common in southern India. If there is no flaming halo around the figurine, then this is Shiva Natesha...
ANANDA-TANDAVA - Shiva performs a dance of ecstasy, trampling on the dwarf demon Miyalaka with one foot. In another version of the TANDAVA dance, Nataraja has ten arms and carries a weapon; the deity rests on his right leg, and his left is raised. The NADANTA dance differs from the Ananda-Tandava dance pose only in that Nataraja stands on his left leg and his right leg is raised. In the fourth version of the dance, Shiva’s left leg stands on the defeated demon, and his right leg is thrown up so high that it almost touches the dancer’s head. In the next three variations, Shiva is depicted in the same way as in the dance of ecstasy, only the number of hands and sometimes eyes changes. In the ninth variation of the dance, Shiva has four arms and the usual emblems (i.e. attributes), but there is no demon under his feet.
There are six more types of special dances, of which the most interesting is CHATURA, when Shiva stands with his right foot on the top of the seated demon. Such difficult-to-depict poses in the figurines are conveyed with great grace and dynamism, combined with remarkable balance of the figure.”
Tyulyaev S. “ART OF INDIA”
“Shiva as Nataraja (King of Dance). This bronze sculpture (circa 1000 AD) is one of several sculptures of the Hindu god Shiva made during the Indian Chola dynasty (10th to 13th centuries). The sculpture shows Shiva dancing in a circle of flames. In one of the god's hands there are tongues of flame, while with the other he beats a drum. His foot rests on the demon of ignorance."
“More about one of the traditional images of Shiva: Shiva has an elongated male earring in his right ear, and a round female earring in his left ear. Shiva's right foot rests on the dwarf demon, the material creation of illusion (Maya). Surrounded by a ring of matter, Shiva rests on its key link and dominates this fiery ring, causing it to move in a circular motion. Certainly in contact with matter, but without going beyond its limits, he thereby clearly demonstrates to us the inextricable unity of spirit and matter.
In his upper right hand, Shiva holds a double-sided damaru drum, a symbol of the awakening of the Universe. In his left hand he holds a symbol of purification and renewal of the world - the flame of Agni. Shiva's second right hand is bent at the elbow and palm facing forward in a gesture of approval. Shiva's second left hand is extended obliquely across the chest, parallel to the raised one, and in approval, signifying power and strength, the palm points towards the defeated demon.
On both sides of the head there are 30 strands of snake hair scattered in the dance, symbolizing the energy emitted by the deity.
The two eyes of Shiva Nataraja are the Sun and the Moon, and the third most important eye in the forehead is Fire. A cobra is wrapped around Shiva’s lower back, and a cobra is also wrapped around his neck.”
Narayana A. “THREE THREADS OF THE PATH”
Shiva is one of the most significant and popular gods of Hinduism. Amarakosha gives a list of forty-eight of his names.
Shiva identified with the Vedic Rudra. Rudra wears a skin and lives in the mountains, his favorite weapon is the bow and arrow. He also occasionally uses lightning. Rudra is the father of the Maruts. He is also called Tryambak - the son of three Mothers (Earth, Air and Sky). His wife is Ambika. The Vajasaneya Samhita of the Yajurveda states that Agni, Asani, Pashupati are the head of the community, Bhava, Sarva, Isana, Mahadeva, Ugradeva are forms of the same deity.
SACRED JYOTI LINGAMS OF SHIVA
The sacred Shiva Lingams are symbols of Creation. In India, it is believed that a person who has seen the Shiva Lingam will certainly receive liberation.
Shri Somnath at Veraval in Gujarat
Jyotilingam Somnatha is located in the state of Gujarat. This powerful linga was created after chanting mantras that liberate death and receiving the blessings of Lord Shiva. Anyone who prays to the feet of Lord Shiva gains health for life.
Shri Malika Arjun in Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh
This jyotirlinga is located in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The story tells that this is the place where Lord Shiva and Parvati came to their son Kartikeya and remained in the form of Mallikaarjun. Those who pray to God Mallika Arjuna always regain their lost wealth.
Sri Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh
This is the sacred and all-powerful jyotilingam of Lord Shiva. It is said that Lord Shiva appeared in the form of Mahakala from the linga to defeat and kill the demon. And all those who worship this linga will never fear death, and if their faith is sincere, they will be beyond the wheel of Samsara, the wheel of life and death.
Sri Sri Kedarnath in Uttarakhand
This Jyotilingam is located near Haridwar in the Himalayas. This temple is open only 6 months a year due to frost. They say that those who, despite weather and temporary difficulties, end up in the temple of Lord Shiva, achieve their goals in life. Kedarnath Lingam is known as one of the holiest lingams of Lord Shiva in the Himalayas.
Sri Bhimashankar in Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra
Jyotilingam symbolizing Lord Shiva, who comes to protect his devotees despite wars or any other situations. Those who worship Lord Bhimashankar will successfully overcome all dangers and get what they want due to the protection of the Lord.
Shri Vaidyanath at Deoghar in Bihar
This jyotilingam of Lord Shiva is in the state of Bihar. The story goes that this is the place where the demonic king Ravana prayed to Lord Shiva in eternal devotion. There are many different stories associated with this linga, but certainly those who worship this linga are happy and healthy.
Shri Nageshwar near Dwarka in Gujarat
Jyotilingam Nagesvara is located in Gujarat. This powerful jotilingam symbolizes the antidote and therefore, those who pray to the Nageshwar Lingam are protected from poisoning.
Sri Rameswar in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu
The Rameswara Jyotilingam is famous for being prayed to by Lord Rama after the conquest of Lanka. Jyotil Ngam Ramesvara consists of two lingams - one of them is the Rama lingam, the other lingam was brought by Hanuman from Mount Kailash.
Shri Ghrushneshwar in Maharashtra
The Jyotilingam is located at the Shivalaya place in Maharashtra. Difficulties await everyone except the devotees who have molded 100 lingams from clay and worship Lord Shiva, taking responsibility for this jyotirlingam. Those who worship Lord Ghrushneshwar are constantly visited by good fortune throughout their lives.
Sri Tryambakeshwar near Nashik
Jyotilingam is located on the banks of the Godavari near Nashik. Jyotirlinga Tryambakeshwar is famous for the miracle where a dead cow was brought back to life after devotees made 100 thousand lingas and worshiped Lord Shiva with devotion by performing tapasya. Miracles happen to everyone who worships Lord Tryambakeshwar.
Shri Bholenath
The Bholenath Lingam is located in the Shiva Temple on the way to Bangalore Airport. The temple was consecrated on the auspicious day of Mahashivratri in 1995. This is the strongest lingam in the country today. Hundreds of thousands of devotees visit this linga, thereby making it the most revered linga in the country. Anyone who worships the lotus feet of the world's greatest statue of Lord Shiva in the middle of the Manasa Sarovar lake achieves fulfillment of the desires of his mind if he has faith in the Lord.
Sri Vishwanath in Varanasi
A small temple of Sri Vishwanatha is located in Kashi (Varanasi). This is a very strong lingam. It is said that whoever takes his last breath at this place will achieve mukti and immediately go to heaven.
Shri Amarnath
The ice linga in Amarnath is of natural origin, born in the Himalayas. Year after year, summer and winter, the ice linga retains its shape and outline, enchanting devotees and believers of Lord Shiva. This is one of the most powerful lingams of Lord Shiva and whoever touches the cold ice of this lingam will be blessed and all his sins will be destroyed by the purity of Shri Amarnath Lingam.
Shri Mamleshwar
Jyotirlinga Mamleshwar is located on the banks of the Narmada River. It is also known as Omkareshwar. In this place, wanting to receive the blessing of Shiva, Raja Mandatha and Vindyachal performed tapasya. Lord Shiva decided to remain in this place forever for the satisfaction of his devotees. This linga symbolizes that one who meditates on Lord Shiva will eventually achieve him.
SHIVA GENERATES and DESTROYS
The gods are immortal and the mountains are immortal - the foot of the sky.
There is nothing on earth that is closer to heaven than mountains. They are sacred as the eternal refuge of the gods. Climbing the mountains, people get closer to heaven. On the high slopes of the mountains and on their peaks, those who, through their earthly deeds, prayers and obedience, have earned the mercy of the celestials meet with the gods. The life of the earth's firmament is carried up to the sky by the mountains - they hear and see the deeds and thoughts of people. And by the will of the gods who live on their heights, they can punish all earth-born for their sins. But they also pour out onto the plains the good gifts of the deities - rivers, sources of earthly prosperity and life itself.
Rivers are born in hidden places on the mountains, and their sources are worthy of praise and reverence. Believers come here to worship the springs and lakes and bring them gifts of earthly fruits, flowers and aromas. Temples have been erected here, and each of them is endowed with great power to help those praying and give their souls light for many years of life. On the pure heights of the mountains, the gods are closer to people than on the sinful lowlands of the earth.
And the holiest of all mountains, of all peaks is Mount Kailasa. On it, dressed in silver light, lives the formidable and merciful god - Shiva, who contains within himself all the forces of the universe, giving birth to the life of earthly creatures and destroying them.
In their prayers, people glorify him under many names: he is Shiva, but he is also Shiva-Rudra, and Rudra-Shiva, for not only are these gods similar in their formidable greatness, but they are also united, united in everything. One hundred Rudras, the offspring of Rudra, also live in his abode on Kailash, and from here the gods send them to the earth-born. Other deities also find refuge here: the furious Agni, the devourer of sacrificial flesh, and the Maruts, the lords of the winds, and Kubera, the patron of wealth and precious stones. But mortals cannot rise here without being called by the gods.
Shiva, like the first creator Brahma, like the guardian of truth Vishnu, has ruled the world since time immemorial. And from the same initial centuries the threefold glory of these mighty rulers extends over the earth. And people in their souls and in prayers combine these three bright names into one name of Mahadeva - “Great God”.
From the silver heights of Kailasa, Mahadeva looks at the world, and here he welcomes the souls of the righteous called by him. Forever great and glorious is Shiva-Rudra. Glorious forever is Mahadeva - Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva.
At the dawn of centuries, when the gods were extracting amrita from the ocean of milk, Shiva saw that a terrible poison was hidden at the bottom of a white vessel. And when the gods had swallowed almost the entire drink, Shiva snatched the vessel from their hands and poured this poison into his throat. He did not swallow it, so as not to die, and did not spew it out, so that no one would die, but stopped the destructive gulp in his larynx. Silently he endured the intolerable burning sensation of the poison, but since then his throat has forever turned blue, and in memory of this self-sacrificing act he also bears the name Blue-Proud. They call him Eternal Time, and they believe that he is Pashupati - the Father of all animals, for he extended his hand over all creatures as a sign that he will always protect cows and horses, elephants and deer, snakes and tigers. Such is the greatness of Shiva.
He is also the first hermit yogi who learned all the wisdom of self-denial. In his high mountain refuge, he sat alone, immersed in self-absorption, calmly closing his all-penetrating eyes and for a long time shackling himself with complete immobility. The skin of a tiger covered his thighs, and cold cobras wrapped themselves around his body, arms and throat, that throat that always craves coolness.
And no one dared to disturb his peace in the quiet emptiness of the sky.
But suddenly this peace was disturbed. The majestic yogi was seen by the daughter of Himavat - the lord of the mountains, the bright girl Parvati - “Mountain”. She felt in her heart such a burning love for the beautiful hermit that she disregarded all prohibitions and dared to approach him. And the god of desire and love, Kama, pushed her to take this daring step. That Kama who appeared from oblivion in the days of creation and remained forever among gods and people, compelling everyone to inevitable love and desire.
But the desire for a loved one is the most powerful desire. And when Kama struck Parvati’s heart with an arrow from his magic bow, she dared to approach Shiva. The alarmed hermit directed a fiery ray of his third eye at Kama in anger and immediately incinerated him. But he took pity on Parvati, who was bowing prayerfully at his feet, and extinguished the deadly ray, the heat of which even the stones could not bear. And she remained near him, with every movement, with every glance, expressing the highest submission to the one whom she had chosen as her ruler.
Shiva accepted her love, and a bright marriage took place in heaven.
Through her, his first and eternal wife, Shiva realized that his strength had now begun to increase a hundredfold. All manifestations of this power, expressed in the desire to generate life, were caused by it, its energy, its shakti. And from that time, from that beginning of all things, without the influence of shakti, without her call, the desire to revive life cannot manifest itself even among earth-born seed bearers. Everyone worships Shiva's phallus - the Shivalinga.
And on earth they began to glorify the power of the shakti of the Female Goddess, without which the male energy of gods and people is dead. And people began to glorify the generative principle of Shiva and worship the power of his procreation. With prayers, they sprinkle red powder and flowers on images of this powerful force - after all, without its manifestation, life on earth would disappear, the source of the generation of new creatures would dry up.
Great is the life-creating power of Shiva, but his anger is terrible and invincible. At the end of Time, he directs a fiery ray from the third eye to all living ones, exhausted under the burden of their imperfections and sins. And no one can escape the deadly heat of this ray - the whole world and all living things perish in the fire, forests are burned out and water sources boil away. Life cycles end, and the lord of death, Yama, reigns for a long time. In his anger, Shiva torments the flesh of his enemies and sinners with a terrible weapon, which he does not part with - a cruel trident. Sinful people, begging for his mercy, call him the Lord of the Trident, trying in vain to avoid the fatal blows of the three sharp, inescapable teeth.
This is how Shiva cleanses the universe from accumulated vices and does not know mercy. He completes the self-exhausted Time.
Many centuries pass and the world is reborn. And again the god of love, Kama, who rose from the ashes, begins to rule over the souls of people and gods, helping the revival of new living beings. And they appear, summoned from the depths of ever-moving particles of matter, created by the masculine power of Shiva and the inexhaustible feminine energy - Shakti.
Shiva rules over all things, knowing and feeling that there is no and will not be movement in the universe if it subsides in the days of the death of the world and the beating of every smallest particle of existence is not revived, so small that it is not possible for a person to see or hear. And this great god, the ruler and tamer of universal fire, indulges in a dance in a ring of burning tongues of flame, calling these particles to life, causing them to beat continuously and evenly. He dances, spreading strands of his hair throughout the universe and calling everyone to the movement of body and soul with the beats of a small drum, and in this dance of creation he is decorated with garlands, he is joyful, and the music of the planets rings around him.
In memory of this great dance, the people of the earth, bowing before the power and beauty of God and trying to tell about him, selflessly dance in front of his altars, trying with their movements to convey his actions and impulses, everything they know about him, everything that was given to them from above in their perception and understanding. And they believe that their dance is a prayer offered to God, and he will hear, protect and protect them from the attacks of evil forces.
With a feeling of ardent gratitude, they tell on earth that once Mahadeva, having descended from the heights of Kailasa and staying at the foot of the mountains, heard the unprecedented roar of a waterfall under the heavens. And this god, who always instantly comes to the rescue in trouble, saw that a huge stream of water was rushing to the ground from above. And then he took this mass of water onto his head, immediately dividing it into streams and rivers, thereby saving the earth’s surface from a terrible blow that could have knocked the earth off its path.
People bowed to the brightest, deepest river with love. And then the goddess Ganga appeared to them in a good and pure form and blessed everyone, allowing everyone to drink the healing moisture from this river. Since then, its river has become known to the world as the Ganga. She supports life by plowing the earth, growing crops and giving water to everyone who is thirsty.
The Great Ganga is not only a source of moisture, it is also the path to heaven for those who lost their lives. People immerse the remains of the deceased in its waves, praying for eternal peace for them in that heavenly abode where the souls of their ancestors reside.
People, turning with words of gratitude to the great-powerful Shiva, who saved the earth from flooding and gave them the Ganga, prepare beautiful images of him for their altars and place small delicate figures of the goddess Ganga on his head - this is a memory of the great deed of God.
The beautiful face of Shiva appears before people and is decorated with a thin crescent moon above the forehead, above the third eye of the god. This is a sign that Mahadeva has dominion over the planets. And from the quiet light of the crescent moon, peace and tranquility pour onto the earth.
And next to the god, at his feet, lies the powerful bull Nandi, humbly and obediently awaiting the commands of his ruler. He was appointed by Shiva to be the patron of all earthly creatures that have four legs, and from century to century Nandi carries out his service, protecting them and punishing them for violations of the laws of life. And those blessed cows, who once fed the marvelous Krishna with their milk, believed in the power of Nandi, just as their many thousands of descendants, calmly roaming the earthly pastures, believe in it. Stone images of Nandi are always kept at the entrance to Shiva temples, reminding people that he never leaves the great god and that his devotion to Shiva is limitless.
This great god is so close to the solar Vishnu in his constant desire for justice that the first god and creator Brahma gave them both common name Hari-Hara - both of these gods seem to merge in their impulses and actions. The name Hari evokes in the souls of mortals the image of Vishnu, painted with the golden radiance of the sun, a bright image of a mentor and patron pure in his feelings. And hearing the name Hara, they feel in their hearts the power of this destroyer of enemies, the irresistible power of Shiva the conqueror. And glorifying the name of Hari-Hara in prayers, they turn to both rulers of the world and gain their love and support. Hari-Hara is the unity of mercy and power, and nothing threatens those who do not violate the laws of truth. These laws are eternal and unshakable, and earth-born must always remember that punishment for their violation is inevitable.
MAIN NAMES AND ASPECTS OF SHIVA
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“I always contemplate the Supreme Lord, resembling the Silver Mountain, with the enchanting moon in the vicinity, the Kind One, whose body is resplendent with precious ornaments, holding an ax and an antelope in his hand, expressing signs of blessing and protection, seated in the lotus position, surrounded on all sides by celestial beings who reward Him praise, Clothed in the tiger's skin, the Primordial One, the Seed of the World, the Destroyer of all troubles, the Five-Faced and Three-Eyed One;
Lord, Whose third eye is like a beautiful bandhuka flower, with a crescent moon in the crest of its hair;
Lord the Bearer of trishul, the Purest One, the owner of a charming smile;
the Lord holding the kapala, symbolizing abhaya and varada mudra by His hand gestures;
I always contemplate the All-Good Lord Shambha, Someshvara along with Uma.”
Dhyana-sloka
Shiva has many names and aspects, which, however, do not exhaust his True Highest state, the main ones are:
~ Mahadeva (“Great God”) - the cause, the source of the world, an analogue of Brahman;
~ Mahakala (“Great Holder of Time”) - the god of destruction and death, the personification of all-consuming time. However, in addition to death, in this aspect, it also brings hope, because... being the “death of Death,” Shiva grants liberation from the wheel of birth and death, salvation (moksha).
~ Nataraja (“King of the Cosmic Dance”) - Shiva, as the embodiment of the omnipresent cosmic energy, eternally creating and destroying worlds, setting and maintaining the rhythm of the movement of the universe.
~ Mahayogi (“Great Yogi”), immersed in a meditative trance on Mount Kailash, the embodiment of absolute yogic power.
~ Dakshinamurti (“South-facing”, “Benevolent”) - Shiva, who destroys the soul’s attachment to worldly affairs and leads it to liberation, is a great teacher who gives enlightenment to his students through silence.
SHIVA and SIVALINGAM
It is generally accepted that Shaivism (the cult of worship of Shiva) dates back to the Vedic Rudra, who personified terrible and destructive phenomena. Rudra (whose name in this case is derived from the root rud "to roar") roars around the world, accompanied by the mighty winds (Maruts), his sons. Rudra is both the destructive power of lightning (deadly fire arrows) and the pestilence caused by terrible diseases, an invincible and irresistible power. The very name of Rudra is already frightening, which is why they do not pronounce it directly. It is said that even the gods fear him. These terrible natural phenomena are generated by the anger of Rudra, who, however, can be appeased by prayer, praise or sacrifice, then Rudra becomes Shiva, the merciful god. The ambivalent character of Rudra is repeatedly emphasized in the Rig Veda: he not only sends diseases, but is also the greatest healer, Pashupati, the master and protector of all living creatures. In the central hymn of the Yajurveda, “Shatarudriya,” the image of Rudra is developed further: “His favorite places are wild forests, mountains and cremation grounds...”.
His appearance is sharply different from the other Vedic gods: “... he has a brown body, a dark blue neck and a tuft of hair on his head of the same color, a black belly and a red back. He wears a kaparda (hair braided and collected in the form of a crown), adorned with a gold multi-colored necklace, and dressed in a skin. He patronizes robbers, thieves and outcasts, and is the protector of all the weak and humiliated... There is no one dearer and closer to him. He is good (in Sanskrit “Shiva”) and the creator of good things (“Shankara”). He is the god who permeates the entire universe, who dwells in fire, water and all creatures, grass and trees, the Supreme Ruler of everything..."
However, there is ample evidence to suggest that Rudra is simply a Vedic version of a widespread pre-Vedic folk god.
The cult of Shiva is the oldest on earth and has its roots deep in the pre-Aryan period of Indian history. “Shaivism has always existed,” states Jagadguru Shivaya Subramuniyaswami. This is a unique religion in which God is manifest and unmanifest, dual and non-dual, within us and outside us.
The natural desire of an ancient man to appease a Certain Power that frightens him and surpasses him in everything, to worship, to pay tribute (to pour out) his love to this Higher Incomprehensible Power, to cool its anger, to enlist support in difficult moments of life sooner or later leads him to the idea of designating some kind of power. or in an accessible way, place the location of this Power, erect an object symbolizing it. Such an object for primitive man becomes the Lingam (Sign) of God: an object that has an outwardly attractive shape, necessarily rising above the ground, i.e., setting the spontaneous direction of prayer and indicating the supreme support of all things in the universe (a certain symbol of the axis mundi).
Erecting Lingams from sand, clay, using stones of symmetrically rounded shape, he poured on them (in proto-Dravidian - watered, performed puja) first just water, thereby cooling the anger of the god, and as the ritual became more complex, other liquids - milk, juices, the blood of sacrificial animals, from which the image of the deity acquired a red color, which in proto-Dravidian meant “shiva”. The color red has always been associated with blood, a vital substance that accumulates the vital energy of every living creature and symbolizes life itself. Its loss brings death, just as sacrificing it to the gods brings additional strength and energy. It is reasonable to assume that the Shivalinga, the symbol of the Red God, was the oldest non-iconic idol on earth.
Shivalingas on the coast of Dwarka, Gujarat Shiva Lingam is also a phallic symbol of God, signifying the fertility of the earth, the fertility of people and animals, the Fundamental and All-Generating Essence, the Source of Everything. Shiva is the only god whose reproductive organ is revered. The tradition of worshiping the lingam dates back to the Upper Paleolithic era (18-20 thousand BC), as evidenced by a phallic staff found during excavations at an ancient site in Achinsk (Siberia), carved from a mammoth ivory and “encrusted” with a serpentine, curving spiral pattern , which can be understood as a model of the Universe and, above all, perform the function of a lunar calendar.
Officially, the emergence of the phallic cult of Shiva is usually attributed to the Neolithic era (VIII-III millennium BC), citing numerous excavations of the Kappagalu mound in Bellar and the Indus Valley, where conical terracotta objects with a rounded top and stone rings for them were discovered (undoubtedly symbolizing the lingam and yoni), as well as phallic figurines from Mahenjo-Daro (III-II millennium BC). Both of them belong to the pre-Aryan culture. Judging also by the numerous wells, temple (public) and private baths discovered in these places (in almost every house), we can safely say that the most important ritual acts of this ancient (obviously sedentary) people were ablution and puja (libation).
Compare today: snana, tarpana and abhisheka are the main daily religious rituals in Hinduism. The sunken settlements along the entire coast of modern Gujarat (from Somanath to Dwaraka) still remain poorly studied. But now, based on the unique tradition of local residents to install huge Shiva Lingams in the ocean tide zone (a kind of natural continuous Shivaabhisheka), which is undoubtedly a legacy of the ancient civilization that once existed here, we can confidently say that in this place with Since time immemorial there has been a cult of Shiva.
The most ancient phallic cult and the cult of the sire are reflected in the ithyphallic proto-Indian god Yogeshvara Pashupati (Lord of Yoga, Lord of all beings. Not the Horned God, as some mistakenly believe, but literally the Lord of Cattle), whose image (famous seal from Mahenjo-Daro ) became the prototype of the anthropomorphic image of Shiva of the pre-Vedic civilization of the Indus Valley. He is depicted as a three-faced god, seated on a throne in a typical yogic pose, naked, with his phallus exposed... His head is crowned with an unnaturally high headdress and a pair of horns, symbolizing his royal position (possibly an animal skin thrown on top). (In the iconography of the epic Shiva, these objects were transformed into jata and a crescent, moreover, in the meaning of “guardian”, repelling evil spirits, “magnet” attracting happiness, “bowl” filled with soma or amrita - the drink of immortality, a symbol eternal life, a “shuttle” ferrying across the Ocean of suffering, etc., the symbolism of the latter in the form of an inverted “horseshoe for good luck” came to paganism, including the ancient Slavs, and, in relay, to Orthodoxy, as one converted by “horns” up, a crescent at the base of the cross). To the left of it are a rhinoceros and a buffalo, to the right are an elephant and a tiger, below are two antelopes. There is no need to add that these features of the proto-Indian god later became the prototype of the Vedic Rudra-Shiva.
The Vedic Rudra, whose name also means “ruddy”, “red” (from the lost root rud), owes to the proto-Dravidian Red God (Shiva) and a number of other features that distinguish him among the gods of the Vedic pantheon, the main one of which is that he became revered in two aspects: anthropomorphic and in the form of a lingam (“Shiva is the greatest of the gods, since only his lingam is worshiped by the gods”). Another feature was Rudra's love for blood. Thus, in the main Vedic rituals of Ashvamedha (horse sacrifice) and Rajasui (anointing for the kingdom), it is Rudra who is destined for the blood of sacrificial animals, henceforth referred to as “the waters of Rudra.” Like the proto-Dravidian Shiva, Rudra is performed puja (literally - sprinkling and watering the image of god) in contrast to homa (fire sacrifice) to the other Vedic gods, and from the practices of veneration, strict tapasya, asceticism, and brahmacharya are welcomed (“Anyone who strives to appease Shiva is converted to asceticism"), various types of yoga, temple worship and archana (worship of an image, from archa - idol), alien to the orthodox Vedic religion. There is no doubt that it was in the image of Rudra-Shiva that the formidable god of death and destruction (Rudra) took the position of the Supreme Deity, and later became one of the five aspects of the Supreme Shiva, symbolizing him destructive force and tamo-guna.
SHIVAABHISHEKA - POOJA TO LORD SHIVA
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It is noteworthy to note here the fact that Shaivism gave birth not only to the puja ritual itself, but also to the sublime love relationship that develops between the adherent and the object of his veneration (murti), the devotee and God, becoming, in fact, the founder of bhakti yoga (the practice of a devotee). Love for God). After all, it was the Shivalinga that was the most ancient image of God, and Rudra-Shiva (as can be seen from the above) - the most “physical” and “accessible” among all the gods of the Vedic pantheon: “The worship of Shiva is available to any person, regardless of his tribe, varna or ashrams, even untouchable chandalas and ignorant peasants can achieve it.” It is clear that bhaktic feelings could arise only among the people, and not in the atmosphere of the Brahmanical elite, and Rudra became the first truly “folk” Vedic god, playing a major role in grhya rituals (“household” rituals), such as ashvayuji (sacrifice Rudra-Shiva on the full moon day), shulagava (“bull on a spit”, an offering to Rudra of bull meat and blood), prishtaka (offering to Pashupati a mixture of ghee and cottage cheese), etc.
Over time, the blood was replaced with kumkum or sindoor (red powder), anointing the forehead (top) of the murti with it, not only of Shiva, but also of other gods, and fresh meat with “noble” naivedya and flowers. Blood sacrifices have sunk into oblivion, and this “sattvic” puja has become the main form of worship in modern Hinduism.
An important milestone in the history of the development of Shaivism was the Upanishads (philosophical foundations of the Vedas), among which special place took Shvetashvatara (5th century BC) - a kind of philosophical continuation of “Shatarudriya”. In it, Shiva-Rudra is glorified as the One God, simultaneously immanent and transcendent, the creator of the world and its destroyer: eka eva rudra... - “Rudra is the only one, there is no other who rules these worlds” (compare with eka vratya - “the only Vratya” in the description of “Shatarudriya”). He is the all-pervading, the lord and therefore the omnipresent Shiva. Purusha, the size of thumb, constantly abiding in the hearts of people. Thousand-headed Purusha, thousand-eyed and thousand-legged... This Purusha is everything that was and everything that will be. In the spirit of Sankhya, Yoga and Vedanta, the Shvetashvatara Upanishad proclaims that exclusively contemplation of Hara (Shiva), aspiration towards Him and merging with Him destroys the unreality that this world represents: “Having realized the One who alone rules over every womb ... - this Lord (Maheshwar), the Giver of blessings (Shiva), the Venerable God, (man) comes to endless peace." Other Upanishads proclaiming the greatness of Lord Shiva were: Atharvasiras, Atharvashikha, Kaivalya, Nilarudra, Kalagnirudra, Rudraksha-Jabala, Bhasma-Jabala, Tripura-tapini, Shiva, Rudra-hridaya, etc.
Speaking about the importance, the place that the ancient Scriptures (Sacred texts) assign to the veneration of Shiva, I would like to quote the following lines from them:
“There is no one, O Rudra, stronger and more glorious than You!”
Rig Veda, II. 33.10
“The best Knowledge is the Vedas, in the Vedas there is a hymn to Rudra (“Shatarudriya”), in the hymn to Rudra there is a mantra of five syllables, and in it there are two syllables: Shiva.”
Vayu Purana
“The one who reads the Shatarudriya is purified by fire, he is purified by the wind, he is purified by the Atman from drunkenness, from the murder of a Brahman, from the theft of gold, from what should be done and what should not be done. Thanks to this, he achieves Knowledge that destroys the ocean of the cycle of existence.”
Kaivalya Upanishad
“Surrender entirely to That God, the Primordial Source of all things, the Lord of the universe, Mahadeva, the Greatest Spirit, the Only Lord Shankara (the Bringer of Good), the Three-Eyed and the Mighty-Armed... For there is no one in the three worlds equal to Him!”
Mahabharata
“The entire universe praises Lord Shiva, the God of Love. The heads and faces of people are His heads and faces. He is in everyone's heart."
Yajurveda
In the post-Vedic period, the concept of the Shiva Lingam also developed: man’s desire to express the inexpressible, to make God understandable to the human imagination, finally supplants primitive symbolism.
“First of all, the Lingam should be spoken of as devoid of smell, color, taste, beyond the range of audibility, tactile sensations...”
Linga Purana
That is, talk about Prakriti, the Beginningless Reality.
The Shivalinga is the most accurate of all possible approximations of the cosmic (thousand-headed) Purusha: the hemisphere with which the Lingam ends consists of thousands of heads, each the size of a point.
In the Linga, therefore, the formless and all-formed Lord Shiva, the Absolute God, finds expression. There is simply no better symbol of Him.
“The Linga is Mahesvara himself in person,” points out the Linga Purana.
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“He who reveres the Linga as the root cause, the source of consciousness and the substance of the universe is closer and dearer to Me than any other being,” says the Lord in the Shiva Purana.
The idea of the Primordial Supreme Lingam of Shiva is confirmed in the famous Puranic myth about the Appearance of the Infinite Pillar of Light (Fire Shivalingam), which put an end to the meaningless disputes between Brahma (Creator) and Vishnu (Almighty) about supremacy in the Universe. Various interpretations of this story can be found in other Smritis, Saiva Agamas and Sanskrit poetry.
“Before, in the middle of the great ocean, the Shining Supreme Linga of Ishvara arose. In Him, the Divine, the Universal Lingam of Ishvara...
All gods exist in the Incomprehensible and Incomparable One, and in Him they are destroyed at the end of the kalpa.”
Chandra-jnana agama, 3.5-6
“O Lord of Minds! How can I perform due worship of You, since the location of neither Your head nor Your feet is known; even Pitamaha (Brahma) and Hari (Vishnu) could not discover the limits of Your greatness.”
Adi Shankaracharya, Sivananda Lahari
This myth formed the basis of the main Hindu holiday Mahashivratri (Great Night of Shiva), celebrated annually on the night before the new moon in February-March. They say that on this Holy Night, prayers reach the Almighty God without hindrance, because all gods, asuras, demons, and hosts of other celestial beings, without exception, are busy worshiping Shiva and cannot interfere with the worshiping people. All the devotees of the Lord try to understand Parasiva or achieve Sivasayujya this night.
SHIVA NATARAJ
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Another, most accurate expression of the Universal world order was the Dancing Shiva-Nataraj, according to Einstein, the best iconographic image of God.
Nataraja (King of Dance) has four arms: the upper right hand holds the drum (damaru), the source of creation (srishti-shakti), the lower right hand is raised in blessing (abhaya-mudra), symbolizing the powers of conservation (sthiti-shakti), the upper left hand holds fire, symbol of destruction (samhara-shakti), lower left - indicates the raised left foot, symbolizing the mercy of the Lord (anugraha-shakti) and thus indicates the path leading the mature soul to liberation; the right leg rests on the demon Muyalaka (or Apasmarapurusha), an immature soul mired in idleness, ignorance, confused and forgetful (tirobhava-shakti); The cobra wrapped around Nataraja’s waist symbolizes kundalini shakti, cosmic energy that awakens the soul, and the fiery halo around it symbolizes the “Great Time,” Space and Universal Consciousness.
“Lord Shiva dances for the welfare of the whole world. The purpose of His dance is the liberation of souls from the triple shackles of maya, anava and karma (the destruction of Tripura, the Triple Cities). He does not create destruction, but rebirth."
S. Sivananda, “Lord Shiva and His Worship”
“The entire universe is involved in a whirling current of change and activity. This is the dance of Shiva. We all dance with Shiva, and He dances with us. Ultimately, we are the dancing Shiva.”
S. Subramuniyaswami, “Dance with Shiva”
This is the ultimate meaning and meaning of the Dance of Shiva.
Here we come to an integral part of the philosophy of Shaivism - the concept of Shakti, as the all-encompassing and all-pervading Supreme Power of the Lord, immanent in relation to its transcendental Source. It is said that without Shiva, Shakti could not have appeared, but without Shakti, Shiva could not have manifested. This manifestation or descent of the Spirit into Matter (visually presented in the main mystical diagram of Shaktism - Sri Yantra), according to Shaivite canons, has 36 tattvas (stages of evolution or categories of Being) from the highest - Pure Consciousness (Shiva Tattva) to the lowest - earth (prithivi -tattvas). Among them: 5 shuddha-tattvas with their inherent actinic (or pure spiritual) energy, 7 shuddha-ashuddha tattvas with their characteristic actinodic (or spiritual-magnetic) energy and 24 asuddha tattvas, characterized by odic (or gross-magnetic) energy.
Parashiva himself (or Parameshvara, Shivalinga - Absolute Reality) remains eternally unchanged, beyond all tattvas, all categories.
However, being identical with His Power (His Shakti), He is also the Supreme personal God. Then He is the Almighty, Omniscient, active God. He dances, and the rhythm of His movements creates (Brahma), supports (Vishnu), destroys (Rudra), conceals (Maheshvara) and blesses for new creative activity (Sadasiva) - this contains the 5 main aspects (or energies) of Lord Shiva.
According to His will, Ishvara, in union with Maya, takes the form of the three gunas (the constituent principles of the primary nature: rajas, sattva and tamas), and He is then known as Trimurti (Brahma-Vishnu-Mahesha).
In the form of Sharva, Bhava, Rudra, Ugra, Bhima, Pashupati, Ishana and Mahadeva (Ashta-murti, 8-faced Shiva) He dwells in earth, water, fire, air, Sri Yantra, ether, kshetrajna (soul), sun and the moon. Being the original unmanifested sound (nada), Shiva reveals Himself through Devi in the form of fifty letters of the divine matrix (50 letters of Devanagari, the Sanskrit alphabet), thereby being invisibly present in every mantra and all shrutis (Revealed Scriptures): “The Vedas are His speech,” - says the Atharva Veda. Through His Shakti, His Beloved, Whose name is Uma, Durga, Parvati, Bhavani, Gauri, Kali, Bhagavati, Tripurasundari and a thousand other names, the Formless and Infinite (Absolute Lord Shiva) becomes finite in the variety of forms of His universe, but remains as before his only Master.
“He is the One who alone rules over every womb - over all images and all yoni. He is the Universal Womb (Yoni of the World) - the One who allows his own nature to ripen and who grows everything that is capable of ripening.”
Svetashvatara
There is no difference between God and his Power (whose manifestations are innumerable), just as there is no difference between fire and the many tongues of its flame, therefore any deliberate prominence of one of these aspects of the Most High God, and, moreover, zealous worship of him, looks at least at least naively.
This can be confirmed by another beautiful image of Lord Shiva - Ardhanarishvara, the right half of which is male and the left half is female, trying on all possible contradictions in this regard.
Moreover, a correct understanding and perception of the integral God will help to unravel the seemingly paradoxical character of Shiva at first glance, answering the question: how is it that the Lord of all yogis and ascetics, who eternally remains in silence and meditation, is, for example, the initiator and patron of drama, and dancing; the inspiration of the sutras of Panini's grammar or with natural ease contains within Himself the perfect balance of supreme detachment and yogic tapasya, and the fierce heat of kama (passion).
“He is always united with his beloved, and at the same time He is the most severe of all ascetics who have renounced the world,” Kalidasa beautifully put it on this matter. This indissoluble unity of the Father and Mother of the world reveals itself as Brahman-Maya in Vedanta, Purusha-Prakriti in Sankhya philosophy, Prakasha-Vimarsha in Kashmir Shaivism, Shiva-Shakti in Tantrism, and, in turn, is harmoniously expressed in the eternal union of Lingam and Yoni (Shivalinga) - The universal model of the entire Universe.
ARDHANARISVARA
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From time immemorial, worship of God, especially in the form of Shivalinga, was considered the highest good.
“This hand of mine, O Lord, is more blessed than others, for, touching Your Image, (Shivalingam) becomes the best medicine in the world,” ends the hymn to Rudra in the sacred Yajurveda.
“Whatever may be the merit of sacrifices, asceticism, offerings, pilgrimages, the merit of worshiping the Shiva Linga is hundreds of thousands of times greater than those mentioned.”
Karana Agama
What allowed the most ancient prophet-rishis to say this and why did they bequeath Sivaupasana to us?
The Bhagavad Gita says: “Upadrastanumanta ca bharta bhokta Maheswara” - “Maheshwara is the Contemplator, Benefactor and Provider of all beings.” To protect all residents in cities and villages, a Lingam is installed in different ways - by gods, seers and ordinary people (Karana Agama). If the worship of Shiva ceases, troubles fall on the ruler, little rain falls, and the earth is filled with theft and robbery (Tirumantiram).
The Lingam is filled with all the gods, holy places and acquired merits are dissolved in Its base, Lord Shiva resides in it by His mercy. Therefore the Lingam should be venerated. According to the Shiva Purana, the Lord Himself indicated to Brahma, all the gods and celestial beings 12 of His Jyotirlingas (Self-arisen-from-the-light Images of God), which grant liberation. Since then, Indra worships Kedareshvara, Agni - Mallikarjuna, Yama - Bhimashankara, Niritti - Amareshvara, Varuna - Mahakala, Vayu - Somanatha, Kubera - Vaidyanatha, Ananta - Naganatha, Bhaskara (Surya) - Ghusrneshvara, Chandrama - Tryambakeshvara, Vagdevi (Saraswati ) - Rameshvara. Vishnu, together with Keshava (Sri Krishna), performs puja to Shiva-Vishvanatha in Varanasi every day, each time offering Him a thousand beautiful lotuses.
As the legend goes, one day, when only one flower was missing, he plucked out his eye and offered it to God. Knowing this, especially devoted Vaishnavas always stay at the walls of this holy city in the hope of daily receiving darshan of their Ishta (favorite deity) and, following his example, worship the Lingam, the Lord and Protector of the World. Such is the exclusive faith of Hindus in the holy scriptures and the authority of the most ancient Saivite texts.
“He who always honors the Linga, the Lord of the three Worlds, will himself become the King of Liberation, revered by all. All worlds are filled with Linga. Everything abides in Him. Therefore one must worship the Lingam if one desires liberation.”
Chandrajnana Agama, 3. 49-53
Worshiping Shiva in the form of Lingam is as natural as breathing. The child, without knowing it, sculpts it from sand and pours water from his palms, thereby performing the first puja to Lord Shiva in his life, experiencing the first, albeit still unconscious, religious experience of hierophany.
The symbolism of its form goes beyond the foreseeable limits of both Shaivism itself and all of Hinduism as a whole. Take, for example, such conceptual denotations of the Shivalinga: Huge Lingams on the ridge. Manpupuner, the Urals, like Mount Kailash in Tibet, Egyptian or Mexican pyramids, megaliths of Easter Island and Britain (mysteriously “scattered” across our planet, according to a strict mathematical system), menhirs (“male stones”) of Western Europe, North Africa , Assam (India), the Caucasus, the Far East, the Urals or the Kola Peninsula, where quite recently 2-meter lingams were discovered in the Khibiny Mountains, installed next to horseshoe-shaped (yoni-shaped!) elevations. Are these not traces of the lost Hyperborea (the country of the god of the North (!) Wind), the path to which Kandalaksha (“sign of the arrow”, possible translation from Sanskrit) points?!
As well as conical stones and columns of the Sumerian-Semitic tradition.
This includes Buddhist stupas, the Delphic (Greek) Omphalus (“navel of the earth”) and the Muslim black stone of the Kaaba (a kind of cubic Omphalos of the Arab world).
The symbolism of the lingam is visible in the image of the Egyptian god of fertility Min and the Greek Hermes, the Slavic Perun the Thunderer (the bestower of masculinity, decorated with rubies), and his Lithuanian archetype - Perkunas, the Celtic coronation stone Lia Fail (otherwise known as the Stone of Destiny) and numerous totemic idols Oceania.
Even the pointed domes of Catholic cathedrals, the towering domes of Muslim mosques, Orthodox temples and churches, Easter cakes and Omphalos, the “navel of the earth” of Arunachala - the Lingam of Lord Shiva, symbolizing the element of fire, Tiruvanamalai (India) painted (from “red”) eggs carry philosophy. symbolism of Shiva Lingam or phallic semantics.
Well, tell me, doesn’t the Old Testament Shivaabhisheka, performed by Jacob, look extremely “homely” (something familiarly familiar), who three centuries before the Jews received the Torah and almost 2 thousand years before the birth of Christ “... erected a stone as a monument and poured oil on top of it, and called it the house of God” (Genesis 28: 16-22)?!
And the biblical story of the appearance of the Lord in the form of a burning thorn bush on Mount Sinai, isn’t it in the same semantic row with the Puranic myth of the Fiery Shivalinga, whose manifestation is frozen forever in South Indian Arunachala?! Isn’t this proof of how famous and original the living tradition of worshiping the Lingam of the Lord was in those distant times, when the age of obscurantism and the dominance of various kinds of dogmas had not yet arrived?
As we see, the veneration of the non-iconic image of God (Shivalingam), only under different names, was widespread at all times and among all peoples, and remains so to this day. And what, after all, is not a symbol (lingam) of God on earth?! Man himself is nothing more than His divine linga, in which the Mother and Father of this world are fully reflected.
It is said: “The sign of all beings (praja) is not the lotus (the sign of Brahma), not the chakra (the sign of Vishnu), not the vajra (the sign of Indra), but the Linga (the sign of Shiva) and the Yoni. Therefore, all beings belong to Maheshvara... Know, Ishana is Linga, Uma is Yoni” (Mahabharata).
We began our short excursion into the World of Shiva with His dhyana-sloka. This image of God, glorified in ancient scriptures, is tenderly cherished by all Shiva bhaktas, ascetics, yogis and sages.
Its contemplation fills a person with blissful peace... shanti...
Any worship of Shiva, reading sacred mantras, yogic exercises and meditation begin with the sacralization of the upcoming action, for which this bright image of the Lord is mentally visualized and held in one’s heart for as long as possible.
Lord Shiva is depicted with barely open eyes, as if “hovering” between this and that world, the world of illusion and Eternity. This is both a state of samadhi and invisible control over everything that happens here, a connecting bridge between the world of samsara and nirvana, a helping hand, always ready to reach out and save us, at the moment when we ourselves wish it (we are ready). This is His main difference from Buddha. Shiva is the Buddha (“... in the era of Kali He (Shiva) is Dharmaketu”, “He whose banner is the Law” is the epithet of Buddha, Brahmanda Purana), but the Buddha is merciful, not an indifferent witness, but an empathetic God.
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In general, Buddhism and Shaivism have many connecting points, let us note at least the main one - both perceive the world as a source of torment and suffering (i.e., as a pasha for all pashas - bonds for all creatures). Shiva is the only one of the Gods capable of disrupting this world order (established by him): “He is the Fetters of the world and the One who destroys these fetters!” That is why reverence for Him becomes a vital (!) condition for any improvement.
The scriptures say this about Lord Shiva: He is the destroyer of bondage and the giver of final liberation (mukti). He is the universal Self and the true Self of all beings. He dwells in the places of burning and the possessions of those who died to the world. All jivas and the world emanate from Him, exist in Him, are supported and rejected by Him, and are ultimately immersed in Him.
“Only by knowing Him does a person go beyond death; there is no other path to follow.”
This is, in general terms, the exegesis of the cult of Shiva, the oldest on earth, which laid the foundation for modern syncretic Hinduism and served as an intellectual and spiritual fount for the rest of the world’s religions. Capable of withstanding on his body both the extremely dogmatic views of marginal sects and sometimes the atheistic theories of Advaita. But always tirelessly calling on his follower to drink the nectar of immortal Knowledge, bathe in the sacred waters of the endless bliss of Shivasayujya, smear the ashes of illusory concepts on his mortal body and, having clothed his spirit in the purest clothes, tailored from the four cardinal directions, like the Greatest Hermit, freely step into Eternity.
Turn to Lord Shiva, and you will see Brahma, Vishnu and Sri Krishna, and the beautiful Devi and hosts of other gods and goddesses, because they all dance on His chest. He is the support, source and substrate of the whole world. Every energy or visible form is His energy, His Shakti. He is the embodiment of Truth, Beauty, Goodness and Bliss. He - the God of gods (Deva-deva) and Mahadeva (Great Lord) - alone rules over the World. This is the immutable Truth that has reached us from the depths of centuries, directed into the endless future, and revealed to you right here and now.
May the Good Lord bless you all!
Om namah Shivaya!
SOME HOLY NAMES OF LORD SHIVA
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Aghora - Fearless, Undaunted.
Adideva - First, Primordial God.
Amarnath - Immortal Lord.
Ardhanarishvara - Half-female Lord.
Bhagavan is the Existent (Lord).
Bhairava - Terrible, Terrible.
Bhikshatana - [Ascetic] Beggar.
Bhuvanesvara - Lord of Bhuvarloka (which includes two worlds: Pitriloka - the world of ancestors and Pretaloka - the world of ghosts of the dead).
Bhutanath - Lord of all things (pancha-bhuta - five elements: earth, water, fire, air and akasha (ether), from which all things consist); in another meaning: Lord of bhuts (ghosts, souls of “hostage” dead people and recently deceased people who are still strongly attached to life in the body).
Bhutesvara is the same as Bhutanath.
Vishwanath - Lord of the World.
Gangadhara - Bringer of Ganga.
Gangeshvara - Lord of the Ganga.
Giritra - Lord of the Mountains.
Girisha, Girishanth - Lord of mountain peace.
Gunaraja - King of the [three] gunas.
Dakshinamurti - Image of [Shiva] Looking to the South.
Jalamurti - Having the Image of Water.
Jatadhara - Uncombed, matted, wearing a shock of hair.
Digambara - Clothed in the cardinal directions (Naked).
Ishana - Ruler.
Ishvara - Lord, Divine Personality.
Yogaraja is the King of Yoga (and yogis).
Yogeshvara - Lord of Yoga (and yogis).
Yoniraja - King of Yoni (Feminine).
Kala - Time or Black.
Kalabhairava - Black Bhairava, the Personification of All-Devouring Time.
Kalagnirudra - Rudra of Black Fire (Personification of the Fire of Time, Fire of Eternity).
Kalanjara - Wearing a necklace of skulls.
Kapalamalin or Kapalin - Wearing a kapala (skull or skull cup).
Kuleshvara - Lord of the Kula (Divine Family).
Lingaraja - King of Lingam (Masculine).
Lingodbhavamurti - Existent in the form of Lingam.
Mahadeva is the Great God.
Mahayogi[n] - Great Yogi.
Mahakala - Great Time or Great Black.
Mahashaktiman - Filled with Great Power.
Mahesvara - Great Lord.
Mrityunjaya - Conqueror and Lord of Death.
Nandikeshvara - Lord of [the bull] Nandi.
Nilakantha - Blue-throated, Blue-necked.
Panchamukha, Panchanana - Five-faced.
Parameshvara - Supreme Lord.
Pashupati - Lord of creatures (literally: “animals” or all souls connected [by avidya and karma]).
Rakshabhutaraja - King of rakshasas (cannibal demons) and bhutas (ghosts); in another meaning: King and Protector of all things (from “raksha” - “protection” and “bhuta” - “element, element of the Universe”).
Ramesvara - Lord of Rama.
Rudra - Terrible, Red (Ruddy), Roaring, Crying or One Who makes others cry.
Sadashiva - Always Good, Eternally Good.
Sarveshvara is the Lord of all things, the All-Lord.
Swayambhunath - Self-Manifested Lord.
Siddheshvara - Commander of the Siddhas.
Somanath - Lord of Soma.
Sthanu - Hard.
Sundareshvara - Lord of Beauty, All-Attractive Lord.
Triaksha - Three-eyed.
Trikagnikala - Personification of the Three Fires of Time (Past, Present and Future).
Trinarayana is the Almighty of the three worlds (Narayana is one of the names of Vishnu, the God-Supporter of the Universe, which literally means: “Floating on the water”).
Trinetra - Three-eyed.
Tripurantaka - Destroyer of Tripura (Triple Cities of Asuras).
Tripurari - Enemy of Tripura.
Tryambaka - Three-eyed.
Tryambakeshvara - Three-Eyed Lord.
Tyagaraja - King of tyaga (self-denial, asceticism).
Ugra - Furious.
Uma-Sankara - Giver of happiness to Uma.
Urdhvalinga - He whose phallus is raised.
Hara - Grasper, Catcher; Destroyer.
Chanda - Angry, Fierce, Fierce.
Chandipati - Lord (Spouse) of Chandi.
Chandramauli, Chandrashekhara - Crowned by Chandra (Moon - Moon God).
Shambhu - Good.
Shankara - Giver of happiness, Benevolent.
Shiva - Good, Benevolent.
Sri Kantha - Beautiful Neck.
Repeated repetition of the Holy Names of the Lord brings endless nectar of joy and bestows attainment of perfections (siddhi).
Om Jai Parameswara Mahadev Ki!!!
Forms of Shiva:
1. Four hands - trident, drum, grace position and rosary.
2. Eight hands. The right ones are the rosary, the shakti spear, the danda rod and the sula spear or trident. Left - ritual rod, skull bowl, grace position and cobra. Elephant skin and crescent moon.
3. Four hands - beneficial and protective positions, spear or trident sula, noose. Two eyes. Pencil crown.
4. Two hands - spear or trident sula, bow. Three eyes.
5. Four hands - protective and beneficial positions, deer and drum. Three eyes. Accompanied by Parvati.
6. Two hands - a trident and a rosary. Three eyes.
7. Two hands - a snake and a battle ax. Stands on the dwarf Apasmara purusha
STORIES ABOUT SHIVA AND HIS FORMS
ANUGRAHA-MURTI
Gracious forms of Shiva
"Anugraha" means "mercy". In some cases, Shiva could be merciful and give benefits to his devotees. This happened when they satisfied and pleased Shiva. Sculptures illustrating such acts of favor from the god are known as Anugraha Murtis. This is Shiva seated in the aspect of benevolence.
CHANDESHANUGRAHA-MURTI
![](https://i1.wp.com/advayta.org/binaries/am/8395.jpg)
This form is associated with the story of the acquisition of the favor of Shiva by a Brahman boy named Vicharasarman.
Vicharasarman was tending a herd of cows that had previously been tended by a very cruel shepherd boy. Vichasarman took tender care of the cows, so they began to give more milk than their udders could bear, and the milk spilled out of the udders. The boy began to collect this milk in vessels and wash the Linga made of sandstone with it, thus offering worship to Shiva. Rumors of this reached Vicharasarman's father, Yajnadatta. When he met his son pouring milk on a sand mound, he kicked the mound in great anger. His son, emerging from deep meditation, cursed his father who had committed sacrilege and cut off his leg, the one that kicked the sacred object of worship.
Shiva was very pleased with this act and appeared before his young devotee with his consort Parvati, bestowing mercy on him. He made Vicharasarman the head of his ganas and the manager of Shiva's household, giving him the name Chandesa Chandesa.
Shiva is depicted either sitting with his wife Uma and placing his hand on the head of his devotee, the boy Vicharasarman, or placing a garland of flowers around the neck of a boy standing with folded hands.
Shiva sits with Parvati as in Uma-sahita-murti. Shiva's face is turned to the left. Shiva's right hand is in a graceful pose, the left one lies on Chandeshi's head, or in one of his right hands Shiva holds a garland of flowers and with his left hand puts it on Chandeshi's neck. Chandesha stands on a lotus pedestal opposite Shiva or sits in front of him. His hands are in anjali position.
VISHNUVANUGRAHA-MURTI
The Shiva Purana narrates how Shiva, having received satisfaction from the worship of Vishnu, bestowed upon him his own Wheel or Disc to be used as a weapon. One day, when Vishnu was fighting with the asuras, he realized that he could not defeat them only with his own strength. Then Vishnu offered worship to Shiva and asked Shiva for his Wheel. Vishnu offered Shiva a thousand lotus flowers every day.
One day he discovered that one flower was missing. He immediately plucked out one of his eyes, which was the lotus-shaped one of Kamala Nayana. Immensely pleased with this act, Shiva gave Vishnu his Wheel.
Shiva sits with his wife, and Vishnu stands in front of him with folded hands and receives the Chakra, which he asked for help in fighting demons.
NANDISANUGRAHA-MURTI
This is the story of how Nandikeshvara, or Adhikarandi, achieved mercy from Shiva.
According to one version, the sage Shalankayana, who did not have a son, lived in solitude and practiced severe asceticism. Vishnu, pleased with his religious zeal and piety, made him happy by giving him a son possessed of great virtues. The sage's son appeared on the right side of Vishnu and resembled Shiva. He was given the name Nandikeshvara.
According to another version of the myth, a rishi named Nandi declared that he would perform a great penance on Mount Mandara. Shiva was very pleased with this and appeared before Nandi. The latter asked Shiva to make him the head of the gana. Shiva granted him the mercy that Nandi asked for.
Another legend tells us of a blind sage named Shilada, who began to practice severe asceticism in order to obtain a son who was not born of mortal parents. On the advice of the god Indra, he began to offer worship to Shiva. The latter was so pleased with his admirer that he himself offered to be born as his son. And so that Shilada would not interrupt the worship, a young man who appeared in the room looked like two peas in a pod like Shiva, carrying a trident, a cutter, a staff and a lightning bolt in his hands. Shiva gave the young man the name Nandi. Nandi began to live in an ashram, a secluded abode, a hermitage with his father and made great progress in the study of the Vedas. Now he looked like any other boy.
Having learned that he was a mortal, the boy Nandi began to offer worship to Shiva with great fervor. Very pleased, Shiva appeared before him and embraced Nandi, placing his own garland around his neck. The boy now began to look like an exact copy of Shiva, with three eyes, ten arms and other attributes of Shiva. Shiva made Nandi immortal and appointed him as the head of the gana. Nandi later married Suyasu, daughter of the Maruts.
In many Saivite temples of South India, Nandi appears as an exact copy of Shiva.
He can be identified as Nandi by the position of his two front hands, which he holds in anjali mudra with his hands folded opposite his chest. In his other two hands he carries a battle ax and a black antelope. Nandi is accompanied by his wife Suyasu. Nandikeshvara is also often represented as a human being with the face of a god.
VIGHNESHVANUGRAHA-MURTI
Vighneshvara was called Ganapati when he had a human head on his shoulders. The Shiva Purana tells us that it was created by Parvati during the absence of her husband Shiva to guard her privacy.
When Shiva returned, he found that the way to Parvati's chambers was blocked by a new gatekeeper, who did not allow him to enter. Enraged, Shiva sent his ganas to destroy the guard who had caused him trouble. But Shiva's troops returned defeated. Then Vishnu and after him Kartikeya tried to destroy Vighneshvara, but these attempts were not crowned with success. Ultimately, Vishnu, using his maya maya illusion, diverted the attention of Vighneshvara, while Shiva cut off the guard’s head.
When Parvati found out about this, she became so furious that she created many powerful goddesses to fight the gods. In the end, Narada, in the interests of the gods, promoted reconciliation by promising to resurrect Vighneshvara. Shiva asked the gods to go north and bring him the head of the first living creature they came across. They saw the elephant and immediately cut off its head. Shiva placed it on the shoulders of Vighneshvara, who now became Gajanana - “elephant-faced”.
Shiva made him the lord of his ganas and gave him the name Ganapati Ganapati lord of the ganas. He also promised his son a significant role among the gods. From that time on, Ganapati becomes the first one to be addressed on all occasions, otherwise Yajamana's prayers and sacrifices will not bear fruit.
Shiva has three eyes. Four-armed. On his head is a Jata-mukuta. In two hands he carries a battle ax and an antelope. One of the right hands is in a protective position and lies on the head of Vighneshvara, one of the left hands is in a beneficial position. Shiva's left leg is hanging down.
Parvati sits to his left, her left leg dangling. In her right hand she carries a blue lotus, her left hand is in a beneficial position. Vighneshvara stands in a respectful pose. Has four arms - two arms in anjali position, while the other two carry a noose and a goad.
KIRATAJUNA-MURTI
Arjuna, the third prince of the Pandava line of Pandava, wishing to receive Shiva's powerful weapon pashupatastra, went to the Himalayas to offer him worship. Pleased with Arjuna's asceticism, Shiva approached him in the form of a hunter - a kirat.
At that moment, the asura took the form of a boar to attack Arjuna. The moment the latter aimed his arrow at the boar, the hunter Shiva asked him to refrain from shooting, as he was the first to discover the presence of the boar. Arjuna refused this and they simultaneously shot and killed the boar.
Angry, Arjuna entered into battle with the hunter, whom he suddenly recognized as Shiva himself. He prostrated himself at the feet of Shiva and offered him worship. Shiva, doubly pleased with his admirer and his skill as an archer, presented him with his mighty pashupatastra - a terrifying military weapon. Shiva gives Arjuna a bow and arrows. Shiva as Kirata has three eyes, four arms, and a Jata-mukuta on his head. He stands upright, carrying a bow, arrow, battle ax and an antelope.
To his left is Parvati, to his right is Arjuna. He has four eyes and his hands are folded in anjali position. On his head is Jata-mukuta.
RAVANANUGRAHA-MURTI
One day Ravana, the king of Lanka (modern Ceylon) was returning from a successful expedition against Kubera, the God of Wealth. He planted a beautiful garden in the Himalayas and went there on his Vimana celestial chariot Pushpaka. Suddenly he found that his vehicle could not move any further. At that moment, Ravana met Nandikeshvara, the powerful leader of the Gana Shiva. Ravana informed him that he could not move because Shiva was having fun on the mountain with his wife Uma and for this reason did not allow anyone to cross this space. Ravana disrespected Shiva in conversation and humiliated Nandikeshvara by comparing him to a monkey. Enraged, Nandikeshvara cursed Ravana, predicting that the latter would be destroyed by monkeys.
Ravana became enraged and, miscalculating his strength, tried to tear Mount Kailasa out of the ground. He approached the mountain and began to shake it. When the mountain began to shake, the gods on it were afraid. Uma, in great fear, clung to her master. Shiva, knowing who was responsible for shaking the mountain, calmly placed a finger of his hand on its base, which made the mountain stand unshakably in its place. Ravana found himself pressed by the mountain and could not free himself from this captivity.
Seeing the great power of Shiva and realizing his own helplessness before him, Ravana began to praise Shiva. He worshiped Shiva for a thousand years until Shiva, being satisfied with this, allowed him to return to Lanka by gifting a sword to Ravana.
Shiva and Uma Parvati are sitting on top of Mount Kailasa, and the ten-headed Ravana, standing in front of them, asks for forgiveness. In the famous Kailasanatha temple in Elur there is a scene where Ravana tries to overthrow Mount Kailasa, on which Shiva and Parvati are seated.
LINGODBHAVA MURTI
In the bottomless abyss of the primordial waters, Vishnu reclined in deep sleep. From the navel of the god emerged a lotus stem from which Brahma was born. He looked around him, but saw only a vast expanse of water. He was happy, considering himself the First Born.
But Brahma discovered that the stem of the lotus on which he was born came out of the navel of Vishnu, who was reclining on the serpent Ananta of Eternity, floating in the primeval waters. Vishnu asked Brahma who he was. Brahma replied that he was the Creator. Vishnu began to dispute Brahma's claim, saying that he, Vishnu, and not Brahma, was the Creator. There was a quarrel between them.
While they were engaged in a verbal duel, a gigantic Linga appeared in front of them, which looked like a great all-encompassing fire. Brahma and Vishnu stopped arguing and decided to find the beginning and end of the great Linga. Brahma took the form of a boar and descended underground, while Vishnu, in the form of Garuda, flew into the sky. But neither Vishnu nor Brahma could find the top and bottom of this great all-encompassing fire. This made them realize that there was someone greater than them. After this, in complete humility, they offered worship to the great pillar of fire.
Satisfied with their worship, Shiva appeared on the body of Linga with a thousand arms and legs, with the sun, moon and fire as his three eyes. Shiva further told Brahma and Vishnu that they support his left and right sides, respectively, and that their division into three is an illusion, in reality they are one. Having said this, the great Mahadeva disappeared. From that time on, Linga became an object of universal worship.
Shiva should be carved on the front side of the Linga. His legs below the knees are not indicated. Of his four hands, one should be in a position of protection, the other in a position of grace. The third hand should carry the battle-axe, while the fourth hand should carry the sable antelope Krishnamriga. Brahma should be located to the right of Shiva, near the crown of his head, in the form of a hamsa goose. The size of the goose should correspond to the size of Shiva's face.
Vishnu in the form of a boar should be carved on the left, at the base of the Linga. The boar should be depicted biting into the ground. Brahma and Vishnu are to be carved in anthropomorphic forms to the right and left of the Linga respectively, facing him in positions of worship.
SAMHARA-MURTI
A whole series of images of Shiva in a menacing, terrible, destructive aspect. In this aspect, fangs protrude from the half-open mouth of the deity, his eyes are bulging, in the hands of which there may be four or more, he carries various weapons.
KANKALA-MURTI BHAIRAVA
One day it happened that learned people of the past, who wanted to know the truth, began to reflect on the origin of the Universe, its creator. They approached Brahma with a question. Brahma replied that he is the creator of the universe. Shiva, who had meanwhile arrived at the scene, became furious at this statement of Brahma, demanding that Brahma recognize his statement as erroneous, which the latter refused to do. Shiva tried to demonstrate his strength in various ways, but Brahma continued to stand his ground.
Enraged, Shiva took the form of Bhairava and cut off one of the five heads that had humiliated him. This killed Brahma, but not for long, since due to his great virtue, Brahma was quickly resurrected. But Shiva unwittingly committed the sin of Brahmahatya, the sin of killing Brahman, which he was supposed to atone for.
Washing away this sin, Shiva wandered for twelve years, begging, using Brahma's skull to collect alms. Shiva went to Vishnu for advice to find out how he could atone for his sin.
But when he reached the domain of Vishnu, his gatekeeper Vishvaksena, who was a Brahman, did not allow him inside. Shiva attacked Vishvaksena, killed him, and thereby performed another Brahmahatya. Vishnu advised Shiva to go to Varanasi with the body of Vishvaksena.
In this sacred place, Shiva was cleansed of sins, after which he retired to his home on Mount Kailash Everest. Here Shiva is depicted as having four, eight, twelve or more arms with weapons, and carries a spear in one of his hands. A dead man or skeleton stands nearby. He is either naked or wears the skin of a tiger or elephant, a garland of skulls around his neck, and snakes around his neck and arms. Has dark skin. Shiva's face is terrifying, with fangs protruding from his half-open mouth.
GAJASURA-SAMHARA-MURTI
Shiva killing the demon Gajasura - the Elephant Demon. The Kurma Purana tells how Shiva began to wear elephant skin. One day, while the Brahmins were sitting around the Shivalinga offering prayers, a demon in the form of an elephant appeared before them and began to bother them. Shiva was greatly angered by this and appeared next to Linga, killed the demon elephant and used its skin as outer clothing.
Another text - Suprabhedagama gives another version of the legend. The demon king Andhaka planned to kidnap Parvati, the wife of Shiva. For this, another demon, Nila, took the form of an elephant with the intention of killing Shiva. When Nandi, Shiva's bull, came to know about this plan, he told about it to Virabhadra, the son of Shiva. Then Virabhadra took the form of a lion and killed Nila the elephant. After which he presented the elephant skin to his father Shiva, who used it as outerwear. Shiva himself then went to destroy the demon Andhaka. This form of Shiva was also called Gajasura-vadva-murti.
Shiva stands on the head of an elephant demon, his left leg rests on the elephant’s head, his bent right leg is raised and has four, eight or ten arms. If there are four hands, the right hands carry a noose and an elephant tusk, and the left hands carry an elephant tusk and an elephant skin. If there are eight hands, in two hands he holds an elephant skin, in his right hands he carries a trident, a drum and a noose, in his left hands he carries a skull bowl, an elephant tusk, one of the hands is in the position of amazement - vismaya. Located in Alidha asana. Shiva is richly decorated. To the left of Shiva stands Devi with Skanda in her arms.
TRIPURANTAKA MURTI
Shiva destroying the Three Palaces. The Mahabharata, the great Indian epic, contains the story of the destruction of three palaces built by the mighty sons of the demon Andhakasura - Vidyunmali, Tarakaksha, and Kamalaksha. The latter performed very severe penances, and Brahma liked it so much that he granted the brothers the opportunity to fulfill any of their desires. They wished for three metal palaces: one made of gold - in the sky, another, made of silver - in the air, the third, made of steel - on the ground, and each of them should be impregnable, and if they were combined, then one giant palace would arise, including sky, air and earth, and this unification should become possible after a thousand years. Brahma granted this boon to the three brothers without much thought.
They also demanded that the united palace could only be destroyed by one single arrow. After this, the brothers began to harass the gods from their invulnerable palaces. Indra's lightning was useless against demons. Desperate, the gods turned to Brahma, who was responsible for the situation. Brahma told the gods that demons could only be destroyed with a single arrow, and no one except Shiva had enough strength to wield this weapon. Then the gods offered prayers to Shiva. The latter, satisfied with this worship, agreed to take on the task of destroying the demons. Shiva asked the gods to give him half of their powers, and the gods agreed.
Now Shiva became stronger than all other gods, became “Mahadeva”, “Great God”.
He took from Vishnu his arrow, from Agni his tooth, from Yama his penis, he took from the Vedas their bow and from Savitri her bowstring. Brahma became his charioteer. Using his great strength, he shot an arrow and destroyed the three demon palaces. Here he has two, four or eight arms. Four-armed: Right - one in the simhakarna position near the navel, holding the bow string, the other holding the chisel. The left ones are one in kartari-hasta, the other is a black antelope. Shiva's right leg is extended forward, his left is slightly bent. Devi stands to his right.
Variations:
1. Sixteen-armed. Holds a rosary, a sword, a spear, a staff, a sulu, an arrow, a wheel, a sword, a mace, a khatvanga ritual staff, a snake, a skull bowl, a shield, in a graceful position, a bow, a bell and a conch.
2. Four-armed. Holds a bow, a chisel, an antelope and a bow. On the left is Gauri Gauri. Or an arrow, a battle ax and a bow. Or in two hands there is a bow and arrow, with Parvati to his right.
3. Eight-armed. In his right hands he carries an arrow, a battle axe, a sword and lightning. In the left hands there is a bow and a shield, two hands in the positions of vismaya and kataka. On the left is Devi.
4. Ten-armed. In the right hands there is an arrow, a battle axe, a sword and lightning. On the left are a bow, a conch and a shield, two in the positions of vismaya and suchi.
5. Shiva drives the chariot. The right leg is slightly raised, the left leg stands in the center of the chariot. Brahma the charioteer with a whip in one hand and a vessel in the other. Lotus loop in one hand, a vessel with water in the other.
SARABHEESHA-MURTI
Shiva as Sarabha, the mythical animal that destroys Vishnu in the form of Narasimha. This form was apparently conceived by the followers of Shiva to prove his superiority over Vishnu. The latter took the form of a half-lion and half-man to destroy Hiranyakasipu, who was disturbing the gods. Vishnu-Narasimha killed the demon, but after that he retained his violent temper, became arrogant and dangerous.
The whole world turned to Shiva for help. Shiva immediately took the form of Sarabha, a terrible monster with two heads, two wings, eight clawed lion paws and a long tail. He pounced on Narasimha and tore him apart, after which he began to wear Narasimha's skin.
This brought Vishnu to his senses, he calmed down and, praising Shiva, returned to his home.
Here Shiva has two wings, four paws with sharp claws, and a tail. The upper half of the body is human with a lion's head. Narasimha is shown in the form of a man with his hands folded in the anjali position. Or has 32 arms. The right carries lightning, clenched into a fist - mushti, defensive position, wheel, spear, staff, goad, sword, ritual staff, battle axe, bone, bow, wooden pestle and fire. In his left hands he carries a noose, in a graceful position, a bow, an arrow, a flag, a sword, a snake, a lotus, a skull-bowl, a book, a plow, a mudgara mudgara club, with one hand he embraces Durga.
KALARI-MURTI
Shiva chastising the conqueror of Kala, or Yama. This story narrates the circumstances of the punishment of Kala, or Yama, by his teacher Shiva. One day Rishi Mrikandi asked Shiva for a son. Shiva, promising to give him a son, asked Mrikandi to make a difficult choice. Either he will give the Rishi many useless descendants, or he will give him an only son who will have a short life but will become an outstanding personality. Rishi chose the latter.
In due course, his wife gave birth to a son, who was given the name Markandeya. When Markandeya grew up, his parents, knowing about his short life span of only 16 years, began to worry.
One day Markandeya learned about his approaching death and asked Shiva to extend his life. As he devotedly worshiped Linga in a sacred place, Kala or Yama, the lord of Death, prepared to take him to his kingdom. As Yama began to bind the youth, Shiva suddenly emerged from the Linga in great anger and struck Yama on the chest. Yama disappeared, and Shiva endowed Markandeya with eternal youth and immortality.
Shiva, defeating Yama, should be depicted as follows: his body bends slightly to the left, his right leg stands straight, his left leg only touches the padmapitha pedestal with his toe. In the front right hand he carries a trident raised to ear level, in the second right hand he holds a battle ax or it is in the Varadakar position. The front left hand is in the position of suchi hasta at the level of the navel, the other left hand is in the position of vismaya hasta. In this position, the end of the ring finger should be raised to the level of Shiva's headdress.
If Shiva is eight-armed, then in his right hands he carries a trident, a battle axe, a vajra, a sword, in his left hands - a shield and a noose, the third left in the vismaya-hasta position, the fourth in the suchi-hasta position. The idol of Shiva should be painted in bright coral color and richly decorated. There should be a pit at Shiva's feet. He is two-armed, holds a noose, is crowned with a pointed headdress, his fanged face is distorted, he is completely overcome with horror, his body is bleeding. Hands in anjali position and pressed to the chest, legs apart.
Variations:
1. Shiva, striking Yama with his left foot. The left leg stands on a pedestal. Four-armed. In his right hands he holds a sula and a battle ax, in his left hands he holds a snake noose, one in suchi-hasta.
2. Shiva rises from the Linga, worshiped by Markandeya. The latter sits near Linga with flowers.
BRAHMA-SHIRSA-CHEDAKA-MURTI
Shiva cutting off Brahma's fifth head. The Kurma Purana tells the story of a dispute that broke out between Shiva and Brahma, which led to Brahma losing his head.
One day the sages approached Brahma and asked him who created the universe. Brahma replied that he was the creator. Suddenly Shiva appeared before the assembly of rishis, declaring that he, and not Brahma, was the creator of the Universe. The Vedas themselves confirmed the words of Shiva. But Brahma refused to agree with the statement of the Vedas. Then a giant ghost of Bhairava appeared - the aggressive form of Shiva. The latter asked Bhairava to cut off Brahma's head, one of several. Bhairava cut off the fifth head of Brahma, who was eventually forced to accept the superiority of Shiva.
Another story narrates how Shiva cut off Brahma's fifth head because Brahma addressed Shiva as the "Kapali" bearer of the skull bowl. Shiva took this as an insult and immediately cut off Brahma's head. By doing this, Shiva committed the great sin of Brahmahatya, the sin of killing a Brahmin. Of course, Brahma did not die, surviving thanks to the power of his penance. But formally, the crime was committed, and Brahma’s severed head could not be forgiven to Shiva - it stuck to his hands. Then Rudra asked Brahma how he could atone for the sin and free his hands from Brahma's head. Brahma advised him to wander, carrying Brahma's Kapala and Brahma's skull bowl for twelve years. After this period, the head will automatically fall off. After the required twelve years of wandering had passed, Rudra-Shiva came to Kashi. Here the skull bowl of Brahma fell from his hands. After this, he bathed in the sacred waters of the Ganges and returned to Kailasa, his heavenly palace.
Here Shiva has three eyes. In the right ear there is an earring in the form of a Patra kundala leaf, in the left ear there is an earring in the form of Makara Makara kundala. Four-armed. In his right hands he carries lightning and a battle axe. On the left are the skull-bowl of Brahma and the sulu.
KAMANTAKA-MURTI
Shiva destroying Kama Kama, the god of Love. The legend tells how Kama, the god of Love, sacrificed his life to save the gods from the demon Taraka.
Daksha-Prajapati's daughter Sati married Shiva, and her father was against this marriage. Therefore, when she came uninvited to her father's sacrifice, he insulted her, and Sati committed suicide by throwing herself into the sacred fire.
This angered Shiva and he created the fearsome Virabhadra, who destroyed Daksha's sacrifice and subjugated him to Shiva. After this, Shiva imposed severe penance on himself.
The demon Taraka took advantage of the situation - having become extremely powerful, he began to disturb the gods. Unfortunately for the gods, the only one who could kill Taraka was the unborn son of Shiva, and the latter at that time practiced severe asceticism. It was obvious that it was necessary to convince Shiva to interrupt his penance for the birth of a son. But the gods were so afraid of Shiva's wrath that none of them dared to disturb him.
Then they sent Kama, the god of Love, to create thoughts of love in the mind of the Great Yogi. To do this, Kama used arrows decorated with flowers and made Shiva forget about penance and start thinking about women. But this angered Shiva. In his anger, he burned Kama to ashes. But Kama had already achieved his goal and Shiva fell in love with Parvati, who was born by the king of the mountains Himavan.
Shiva married Parvati and begat Kumara, or Subrahmanya, who destroyed the demon Taraka. Kama's wife Rati approached Shiva with a request for the rebirth of her husband, and Shiva promised that Kama would be reborn as Pradyumna.
Shiva should be depicted as three-eyed, four-armed, sometimes two-armed, with a braid curled on the crown of his head, in a Yoga pose. He has a scary look, he holds a snake and a rosary. One of the right hands in the Pataka-hasta position is a gesture of an outstretched hand, as if carrying a banner - victory mudra, the left one in the Suchi mudra position. The height of the statue of Shiva should be six angulas, and that of Kama - three angulas.
The image of Kama should be gilded, it should be placed either on a pedestal or in a chariot. It is all decorated, divinely beautiful, with five flower arrows and a bow made of sugar cane, and a fish is depicted on its banner. With him are his companions: Intoxication, Passion, Spring and Coolness. His five arrows are called: Tormenting, Burning, Enchanting, Intoxicating, All-Crushing.
Kama should hold a bow in his left hand and an arrow in his right. Kama's face should be turned towards Shiva. Shiva is accompanied by his wife Sati, as well as Devabhaga and Vasanta.
ANDHAKASURA-VADHA-MURTI
Shiva destroying the demon Andhaka. Several slabs in Ellora depict the death of the demon Andhaka at the hands of Shiva. Perhaps the Asura Andhaka Puran is identical to the Ardhaka of the Vedas and the Andhaka of the Mahabharata. The Atharva Veda describes Rudra as "Ardhaka-ghatina", or "slayer of Ardhaka".
And it was like this: Andhakasura was a great king who was inflamed with love for Parvati, the wife of Shiva, and wanted to take possession of her, which led to a war between Andhaka and Shiva. During the battle, from every drop of blood shed by the demon, a healthy and strong demon immediately arose, and Shiva could not defeat Andhaka.
Then Shiva created Chamunda, or Sapta-Matrika - the Seven Divine Mothers so that they would drink the blood of Andhaka. But after they drank the blood of the demon, Andhakasura’s doubles began to emerge again from the blood that continued to flow. Then Shiva, asking for help from Vishnu, almost destroyed Andhaka with his spear, but at the last moment Andhaka praised him, thanks to which he received forgiveness and became the head of the ganas, the dwarf servants of Shiva, and received the name Bhringisa, or Bhringirishi.
Shiva has eight arms. In two hands he carries a trident, in the rest - a drum or bell, a sword, a skull cup, in the spirit he holds an elephant skin, one hand is in the position of tarjani punishment.
Located in Alidha-asana. Goddess Yogeshwari sits holding a bowl in her hand to collect drops of blood from the demon Andhaka. In his other hand he holds a dagger. She has an emaciated body. Above Yogeshwari's head is a Dakini - half-man, half-bird. To her right is Devi sitting in Padmasana.
GLORY TO LORD SHIVA
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Om!
With folded hands in prayer, I bow before Lord Shiva,
Who is the Lord of the Universe (Jagatpati),
World Master (Jagad Guru),
Destroyer of Tripura (three walled cities of selfishness, lust and malice),
Lord of Uma (Uma-Shankara), Gauri (Gauri-Shankara), Ganga (Ganga-Shankara),
Which is full of light (Jyotirmaya), knowledge and bliss (Chidanandamaya),
Lord of Yogis (Yogishvara),
Treasury of knowledge
Who is known by different names as Mahadeva, Shankara, Hara, Shambhu, Sadashiva, Rudra, Shulapani, Bhairava, Uma-Maheshvara, Nilakantha, Trilochana, Tryambaka, Vishvanatha, Chandrashekhara, Ardhanarishvara, Mahesvara, Nilalohita, Paramashiva, Digambara, Dakshinamurti, and also under other names.
How merciful He is! How loving and kind He is! He even wears the skulls of His devotees as a necklace around His neck. He is the embodiment of renunciation, mercy, love and wisdom. It is wrong to say that He is the Destroyer. In fact, Lord Shiva is the One who regenerates. When someone's physical body becomes incapable of further development in this life - whether due to illness, old age or other reasons - He immediately removes this unusable physical shell and bestows a new healthy, strong body for rapid development in the future. He desires to quickly attract all His children to His lotus feet. He strives to give them the illustrious Shivapada. Shiva is easier to appease than Hari. A little love and devotion, a short chanting of His five-syllable mantra is enough to awaken the delight of Shiva. He willingly satisfies the desires of his devotees.
How responsive is His heart! For a little penance, Arjuna received the Pashupata weapon from Him without any difficulty. He bestowed a precious gift on Bhasmasura. At Kalahasti, near Tirupati, He honored His darshan with Kannappa Nayanar, a devoted hunter, who plucked out both his eyes so that the eyes of the murti would stop crying. At Chidambaram, even the untouchable pariah saint, Nandan, had darshan of Lord Shiva. With unimaginable speed He rushed to make the boy Markandeya immortal when he was under the power of Yama, the god of death. Ravana from Lanka pleased Shiva with his singing of Samaveda. In the form of Guru Dakshinamurti, He initiated four chaste youths - Sanak, Sanandan, Sanatan and Sanatkumara - into the mysteries of jnana. In Madurai in South India, Sundareswara (Lord Shiva) took the form of a boy and during the construction of a dam on the Vaigai River, he carried earth on His head, working for a woman devotee for a handful of putti (sweet food) as a reward. See how unlimited His mercy is towards the devotees!
When Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu decided to find the head and feet of Lord Shiva, He took the form of an endless and expanding Pillar of Light. Their attempts failed. How magnanimous and radiant He is! He lived for several years in South India, in the house of Pattinattu Swami as his adopted son and disappeared, leaving him a short note that read: “When you die, you will not take even a broken needle with you.” Reading this note became the starting point for Pattinattu Swami in achieving jnana.
Why don't you try to understand God (Lord Shiva) right now, this minute, with all sincerity?
Hatha yogis awaken Kundalini Shakti, sleeping in the Muladhara chakra, with the help of asana, pranayama, kumbhaka, mudra and bandha, guide Her through various chakras (centers of spiritual energy) - Svadhisthana, Manipura, Anahata, Vishuddha and Ajna - and connect with Lord Shiva in Sahasrara - a thousand-petalled lotus located on the crown of the head. They drink the nectar of Immortality (Shivajnana-amritam). This is called amritasrava. When Shakti is united with Shiva, the yogi achieves complete Enlightenment.
Lord Shiva is the destructive aspect of Brahman. This part of Brahman, clothed in tamo-guna-pradhana-maya, is Lord Shiva, Who is the Omnipresent Ishvara, also residing on Mount Kailasa. He is Bhandar, the Treasury of Wisdom. Shiva without Parvati, Kali, or Durga is pure Nirguna-Brahman. With Maya (Parvati) He, for the sake of the pious zeal of His devotees, becomes Saguna-Brahman. Devotees of Lord Rama should also worship Lord Shiva. Rama himself worshiped Lord Shiva at the famous Rameswaram. Lord Shiva is the Lord of ascetics and yogis, wearing only the four cardinal directions (Digambara).
His trishula (trident), which He holds in His right hand, symbolizes the three gunas - sattva, rajas and tamas. This is a symbol of dominion. Through these three gunas He rules the world. The damaru drum in His left hand represents the shabda-brahman, symbolizing the syllable “om” from which all languages are composed. The Lord Himself created Sanskrit from the sounds of damaru.
The crescent moon He wears on His head indicates that He is in complete control of His mind. The flow of the Ganges is a symbol of the nectar of immortality. The elephant symbolically represents vritti, pride. The elephant skin robe signifies the pride controlled by Him. The tiger symbolizes lust. The doe He holds in His hand indicates that He has eliminated the chanchalata (disorderly movement) of the mind. The doe quickly jumps from place to place. The mind also rushes from one object to another. The snakes around His neck speak of wisdom and eternity. Snakes live for many years. He is Trilochana, the Three-Eyed; in the middle of His forehead is the third eye, the eye of wisdom. Nandi, the bull sitting in front of the Shivalinga, represents the pranava (omkara). The Linga symbolizes Advaita. He points out: “I am the One who has no like, ekameva advitiyam,” like a person raising above his head right hand with extended index finger.
NAME OF THE LORD
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The name of Lord Shiva, chanted in any manner, rightly or wrongly, consciously or unconsciously, carefully or carelessly, is sure to give the desired result. The greatness of Lord Shiva's name cannot be understood by mental speculation. It can definitely be experienced or realized through devotion, faith and constant repetition of the Name and chanting His hymns with bhava. Each of the Names contains within Itself the enormous potential of various shaktis. The power of the Name is indescribable, His glory is indescribable. The potency of Lord Shiva's name and His inherent shakti are simply unimaginable.
Constant repetition of Shiva Stotras and the Names of Lord Shiva purifies the mind. Repetition of hymns to Shiva strengthens good samskaras. “What a man thinks is what he becomes.” In the mind of a person who strengthens himself in good, sublime thinking, a tendency towards good thoughts appears. Good thoughts melt and transform his character. When the mind is fixed on His image while chanting hymns to the Lord, the mental substance actually takes the form of the Lord's image. The impression of the object of a person's thoughts remains in his mind. This is called samskara. When an action is repeated very often, the repetition strengthens the samskaras and this helps to form a habit. He who strengthens himself with thoughts in the Divine, with the help of his thinking, himself turns into the Divine. His bhava (aspiration) is purified and sanctified. Singing hymns to Lord Shiva is in tune with the Lord. The personal mind dissolves into the cosmic consciousness. One who sings hymns becomes one with Lord Shiva.
The Name of Lord Shiva has the power to burn away sins, samskaras and vasanas and bestow eternal bliss and never-ending peace on those who chant the Lord's Name.
Take refuge in the Name of Shiva. Sing hymns to Him. Nami (Named) and nama (Name) are inseparable. Sing hymns in honor of Lord Shiva continuously. With every inhalation and exhalation, remember the Name of the Lord. In our cruel age, nama-smarana (singing hymns) is the easiest, fastest, safest and surest way to reach the Lord and gain immortality and unclouded joy.
Glory to Lord Shiva! Glory to His Name! Ravana propitiated the Lord by singing hymns. Pushpadanta delighted Lord Shiva with his famous “Shiva Mahimna Stotra” (which is still chanted by all Shiva devotees throughout India) and achieved complete aishwarya (siddhi of wealth and dominance) and mukti. The glory of Shiva's stotras is indescribable.
Fast during Shivaratri. If this is not possible for you, eat only milk and fruits. Spend this entire night in vigil, chant His stotras and repeat “Om Namah. Shivaya."
May the blessings of Lord Shiva descend on you all!
KAILASA
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Kailasa is a vast mountain range in Tibet, in the center of which is a beautiful, nature-created and adorned shining peak, forever clad in silvery snow; its elevation above sea level is 22,280 feet. This peak has the natural shape of a huge Shivalingam (Virat's form). He is worshiped from a distance as an image of Lord Shiva. There is no temple, no pujari, and there is no daily puja. Didipha Guhi, the first stop on the path of those performing Kailasa parikrama.
Although in pictures of Lord Shiva the Ganges flows down from His head, it is actually the Indus that originates from His head, Kailasa (on the physical plane). The length of the Kailasa parikrama is 30 miles. This takes three days. The path passes by the famous and sacred Gauri Kund, always covered with snow. To take a bath in it, you have to break the snow crust.
SHIVA - LORD OF DANCE
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Shiva is the greatest yogi among the gods, also the master of dance. Dance is an act of creation. It creates a new environment and evokes a new and higher individuality in the dancer. Dance has cosmogonic significance as it awakens dormant energies that can change the shape of the world. On a global level, Shiva is the Cosmic Dancer. In his dance actions (manifestations), he embodies himself and at the same time reveals Eternal Energy. The forces collected and manifested in his furious, eternally lasting circular dance are the forces of development, preservation and destruction of the world. The Universe and all beings are the result of the eternal Dance.
Shiva represents two opposites: the original ascetic and the original dancer. On the one hand, he is Complete Peace - inner peace, absorbed in oneself, absorbed by the emptiness of the Absolute, in which all differences dissolve and all tensions disappear. But on the other hand, he is Full Activity - the life force, mad, aimless and playful.
MINOR DEITIES ASSOCIATED WITH SHIVA
It is impossible to imagine a Saivite temple without Nandi, the figure of a bull, lying in front of the shrine. The descriptions of Shiva and Nandi (Nandikeshvara) are almost identical: both have three eyes, in two hands a battle hatchet and an antelope. However, Nandi has two other hands folded in a respectful gesture. He is often represented as a man with a bull's head or simply a bull.
The Puranas report that he was born from the right side of Vishnu and was like Shiva; he was accepted and raised as a son by the sage Shalankayana, who led a harsh ascetic life. According to other sources, he is the son of the sage Shilada, bestowed upon his father by the grace of Shiva.
Nandikeshvara, also known as Adhikaranandi, heads the ganas of Shiva and serves as his mount.
From a symbolic point of view, the bull means animal instincts, especially sexual ones, and Shiva riding a bull symbolizes complete power over them.
We must also mention the sage Bhringa, an undividedly devoted servant of Shiva, who was honored to be included in his retinue. The sage's devotion to Shiva reached the point of fanaticism, so he did not pay the slightest attention to his wife Parvati. When Parvati merged her body with Shiva and became Ardhanarishvara, Bhringi turned into a bee and, flying through Ardhanarishvara, made a circle of honor around the deity! Of course, Shiva made the sage understand his mistake.
Virabhadra is another deity associated with Shiva. This is the personification of Shiva's anger during the sacrifice of Daksha; this anger was caused by the arrogance shown to him. According to legend, Shiva created Daksha from a hair torn from his head. Virabhadra destroyed Daksha's sacrifice and disgraced all the gods gathered for the ceremony. He is usually depicted with three eyes and four hands containing a bow, arrows, a sword and a mace. He wears a necklace of skulls; his face is terrible. Sometimes next to Virabhadra you can see Bhadrakali - his female form, represented by Parvati. Saivite temples often have a small shrine to Virabhadra, which is located in the southeast.
Chandeshvara is a faithful devotee of Shiva, elevated from human to divine as a reward for his devotion. This frantic deity, armed with a bow, arrows, trident, cleaver and lasso, is a symbol of war and destruction. Although his shrines are rare, an image of Chandeshvara is found in every Saivite temple in the north-eastern part and is usually facing south. Devotees believe that Chandeshvara can act as a messenger, mediator and intercessor for them before Shiva; therefore, every believer, coming to a Shaivite temple, must turn to him with prayer.
Shiva's retinue also includes ganas (they are also called pramathaganas, bhutaganas - semi-deities or evil spirits). If you don't win them over, the ganas can cause harm.
MAHASHIVARATRI
Maha Shivaratri occurs on the 13th day of Krishan Paksha Maagha Maasa (February-March). It is a night of fasting and prayer in honor of Lord Shiva in His aspect as the destroyer of sins and bad deeds. The night is called Shivamaya, i.e. a night to be spent in contemplation of Lord Shiva. As the Lord of the universe, He is full of compassion and punishes only out of Love and for the benefit of humanity. It was on this great night that Lord Shiva saved the world. He swallowed poison and sins for the salvation of His devotees. During this holy night, devotees of Lord Shiva fast, meditate, pray and chant the glory of the Savior. Whatever is offered to Lord Shiva with devotion will please Him. On this night He showers abundant blessings.
The symbol of Lord Shiva, Shiva Lingam, is a form to represent the formless and is worshiped in a grand manner during Maha Shivaratri. This Linga is a symbol of the one who is All Purity, All Perfection, All Bliss - Lord Shiva. If you contemplate it with adoration, it becomes a mirror of the soul. It becomes a cosmic window, opening to give devotees the opportunity to touch the Purest One.
During Maha Shivaratri, devotees can independently perform Abishekam Lingam with water that has been collected from the sacred rivers of India. This is followed by Ekadasha Rudrabishekam (pouring of various ingredients on the Lingam: milk, honey, ghee, kefir, coconut milk, sugar, flowers and bay leaves). Beautifully decorate the Lingam with flowers, vibuthi, sandalwood paste, turmeric, kumkum, rudrakshas, oil, etc. abishek crowns. Everything has deep meaning. During the ceremony, a huge crowd of devotees can be heard repeating the famous Shiva mantra: Om Namah Shivaya!
MAHAMRITYUNJAYA MANTRA - CONQUERING DEATH
OM triyambakam yaja-mahe sugandhim pushTivardhanam,urva-rukamiva bandhana-n mrrityormokshiya ma-mrrita-t.
This mantra is a teaching of kaya kalpa (the art of immortality) from Laya yoga.
They call her great, and even magical.
Repeated reading of this mantra can stop the aging process in the body, restore metabolic processes and rejuvenate the physical body.
It provides healing, energy, power, stability and strength.
In addition, it has great healing effects against diseases.
It must be repeated before traveling.
It is also a Moksha Mantra, that is, it bestows liberation.
This is the Mantra of Shiva.
The mantra can be repeated 3, 9, 27 or 108 times.
Especially on your birthday, repeat this Mantra as much as possible.
Your reward will be health, long life, peace, liberation and prosperity.
Full version this mantraOm, Trayambakam Yajamahe
Sugandim Pushtivardhanam
Urvarukamiva Bandhanam
Mrityer Mukshiya Mamritat
(repeat 3, 9, 27 or 108 times)
Om, Sarvesham Swastir Bavatu
Sarvesham Shantir Bavatu
Sarvesham Purnam Bavathu
Sarvesham Mangalam Bavathu
Sarve Bavathu Sukhinan
Sarve Santu Niromayaa
Sarve Bhadrani Pashyant
Ma Kashid Dukha Bhag
Bhagavet
Asatoma Sat Gamaya
Tamasoma Jyotir Gamaya
Mrityer-ma Amritam Gamaya
Om, Purnamada Purnamida
Purnat Ppurnamudachyate
Purnasya Purnamadaya
Purnmevavashishyate
Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti
Translation:
Om, we worship the Three-Eyed One (Lord Shiva),
which smells and nourishes all living things;
May he free us from death for the sake of immortality
just as a cucumber is torn from its bond (in a creeping plant).
Om, let there be auspiciousness in everything,
May there be peace everywhere
May there be completeness everywhere
Let everything prosper.
Om, may everyone be happy,
May everyone be free from powerlessness,
Let everyone take care that others feel good.
Let no one suffer from grief.
Om, lead me from the unreal to the real,
From darkness to light
From death to immortality.
Om, That is the whole. This is the whole.
From the whole the whole becomes manifest.
From the whole, when the whole is taken away,
The whole remains again.
Om, Peace, Peace, Peace.
PRAYER to SHIVA
(about gaining siddhi of protection, long life, longevity and immortality)
O Shiva, the three-eyed Lord, the one who saved the Earth during the churning of the Causal Ocean, the great ascetic and hermit, whose ornament is snakes, O Lord of all yogis and siddhas!
I pray, turn your compassionate gaze on me!
I ask, O immortal one, grant me longevity of siddhi, harmony in the pranas, protection and a strong body!
O immortal Lord, conqueror of suffering and death, I pray, make me invulnerable, powerful, great, free from pain, suffering, illness and death, protect me from the influence of harmful wind, fire, water and earth, from poisons, slander, curses, harmful mantras , spirits, maras, from the influence of karma, demigods and people, evil planets, on earth, in the subtle, causal world, and in the lower worlds, inside, outside and wherever I am.
Protect, O Lord, send down your strength and mercy, envelop the whole body, muscles and bones with it, fill all pranas, channels and chakras with it.
Protect my mind, memory and subtle body, fill my entire essence with the nectar of immortality, so that I can live for a long time, full of strength and power, glorifying you day and night for the benefit of those living joyfully.
There are many deities in Indian mythology, but the most influential and revered of them is the god Shiva. He, along with Brahma and Vishnu, is part of the trimurti - the divine triad.
God Shiva is considered not only a good protector, but also a formidable creature, sometimes carrying destructive power. He is often depicted with a rope on which are strung skulls and appears to be a bisexual creature.
Shiva acts as a creator god and at the same time a god of destruction, living high in the Himalayas, near Mount Kailash. This mountain serves as the throne of the deity and the location of his heavenly chambers. Pilgrims from all over the world flock here. Shiva is a controversial deity, especially adored in the southern regions of the country. We invite you to familiarize yourself with.
Nataraja
Characteristics of Shiva's dance
Legends
It is believed that in the dance Shiva regulates order in the Universe and when he stops, the world is covered in chaos. So one period gives way to another.
Shaivism is one of the revered and main religions of India. Shiva began to be depicted already in the second century BC. In the north of Madras there is his oldest stone statue (in the Gudimallam temple).
Shiva is the most extraordinary and multifaceted god, personifying creation and destruction at the same time, the manifestation of mercy and toughness.
His name comes from a Sanskrit word and means “kind” or “friendly”. The diversity and originality of Shiva is represented in his names. Hindu scriptures indicate 1008 names of this deity. One of them is Shambhu. It is translated as “generous”, “bestower of happiness”. Shankara (another name for god) means "beneficent."
Shiva is considered the destroyer of Tripura - cities built by demons who decided to conquer the gods and seize their power. Shiva burned all three fortresses with one arrow and peace reigned.
He is often called Pashupati, meaning "lord of cattle" . He is often depicted on the bull of Nandi, a former man and worshiper of God, who took the form of an animal. This bull is present in many temples dedicated to Shiva and is a symbol of the human soul, tirelessly striving to contemplate and worship the deity.
Legends say that people once possessed almost divine powers. They could live up to 800 years and easily communicate with the inhabitants of heaven - remember the biblical characters! That was the golden age of humanity... But modern science states: there is nothing impossible in regaining the gift of eternal youth and supernatural psychic abilities. However, let's start from afar.
The hangover experience of Pierre Boucher
Parisian artist Pierre Boucher earned extra money by taking photographs, which became fashionable at the end of the 19th century. One evening the photographer got drunk “to hell” - in the most literal sense: according to personal confession, two devils with pitchforks in their hands were chasing him all night. In the morning he trudged to the darkroom. Chaos reigned on the table: exposed cassettes were scattered interspersed with clean ones. Boucher tried for a long time to figure out which of them needed to be shown, then he waved his hand and showed them all. And he was dumbfounded: those same disgusting faces of the “night guests” were looking at him from the records.
Boucher's friend, a scientist, became extremely interested in the strange phenomenon and, after examination, even sent an article to the Academy of Sciences about the possibility of photographing alcoholic hallucinations. As one might expect, they did not dare to publish it. But articles soon followed about the “psychic photographs” of the famous astronomer and researcher of anomalous phenomena Camille Flammarion. New evidence of the reality of the phenomenon has also emerged. The famous Russian psychiatrist V.Kandinsky reported about “radiations from the head” and even their projection onto the screen: “Projected pictures... are invisible in bright light, but as soon as the room is darkened, they appear very clearly.”
The Ted Serios Phenomenon
The mystical turn of the century gave way to a stage of materialism, and there was a lull in the research of psycho-radiations. It was violated in the early 60s of the 20th century by the American sailor Ted Serios, who was written off ashore. He accidentally discovered that he could project his own mental images onto photographic film. For the amusement of the public, they pointed the camera at the sailor, clicked the shutter and... instead of the face of “drunkard Ted,” well-known buildings and landscapes appeared on the film...
Intrigued scientists persuaded Ted to become a “guinea pig” and conducted about eight hundred experiments. To avoid cheating, the scientists sealed the Polaroid and ordered the “pictures” from Ted themselves. He carried out the “order” with amazing accuracy. And what was absolutely surprising was that at some out-of-town and foreign objects there were new signs and other changes that Ted had no way of knowing about, since he had been stuck in Chicago for many years. Pundits were at a dead end... Even philosophers joined the discussion about mental images.
The venerable Soviet scientist A.M. Mostepanenko put forward the hypothesis that hallucinations are an objective reality that exists in space and time. It seems that the experiments were given the green light, but... Either the scientists were terribly afraid of the devils, or they were afraid of the result, which could leave no stone unturned from classical psychology - no one wanted to take risks.
Some daredevils still dared to experiment. Perm psychiatrist G.P. Krokhalev in 1974 risked photographing the hallucinations of the “alcoholic contingent” of the clinic. The old Zenit regularly recorded everything, including the above-mentioned devils. Both amateurs from the media and fellow psychiatrists took up arms against the scientist. Meanwhile, Krokhalev, purely by chance, conducted another experiment: he placed several patients suffering from hallucinations in a shielded chamber... and all the hallucinations immediately disappeared. The question arises: what does the brain have to do with it then?
"Knowing the Three Times"
Classical science is not yet able to explain this phenomenon. And the ancients eastern teachings They don’t see anything supernatural in him. According to them, special energy centers of the body - chakras - have the ability to receive and emit mental images. Moreover, the so-called ajna chakra, which has long been called the “third eye,” has become especially proficient in this. In many beliefs, this amazing organ is a mandatory accessory immortal gods. The image of the third eye on the forehead of the deity Shiva can be found on paintings and sculptures of Hindu temples.
Adepts eastern religions claim that the “eye of Shiva” once existed among all people, as a gift from the heavenly ancestors of humanity. He, like a satellite dish, captured subtle cosmic energies. The consciousness of our ancestors was open to the flows of information permeating the Universe; they had access to the world “database”, and therefore the sphere of their perception was much wider than the three dimensions familiar to us.
Opening the third eye is the goal of life for many ascetics who spend years of spiritual improvement on this. The possibilities they achieve are amazing. Thus, yogis who have opened the “eye of Shiva” have not only the gift of clairvoyance, telepathy, overcoming gravity, etc., but can observe events occurring at great distances and in other eras - in the past, present or future. In India they are called Trikala Jna - “knowers of the three times.”
What is this? Mystic? A beautiful but unrealistic fairy tale? Apparently not. The prominent Soviet scientist Nikolai Kobozev, who studied mental processes at the atomic level, came to the conclusion that the matter of the brain... by itself is not capable of providing thinking. This requires an external source of fluxes, so-called fermionic (information-carrying) particles.
And if this hypothesis is correct, a very interesting picture emerges: a person does not think of his own free will. We are not the source of the mind, but our thoughts and images come from the Mind, which is immeasurably greater. Remember the version of the philosopher Mostepanenko about the independent existence of visions from the one whom they visit?
Let me say, yogis are one thing, but drunks with their hallucinations are something completely different. Are we confusing God's gift with scrambled eggs? Patience, dear reader. Everything will fall into place.
Still, Leonardo was right!
The fact is that the mysterious third eye is not an abstract concept, but a very real organ that is formed in everyone during intrauterine development. This is the pineal gland, or pineal gland, located in the head of vertebrates and humans. In reptiles, in place of the pineal gland, there is a real parietal eye, for which there is even a hole in the skull. It is covered with skin and is able to perceive not only light. It is known that it is especially sensitive to the millimeter wave range, the magnetic field, and also, possibly, to a number of other (including information?) radiations.
(I think that zombification technologies are specifically designed to irradiate the third eye, i.e. the human pineal gland)
In humans, the pineal gland is located deep in the skull. This “atavism” is responsible for the production of melatonin and serotonin – the hormones of “sleep” and “joy”. Quite modest to claim to be the “eye of Shiva,” isn’t it?
But Leonardo da Vinci considered the pineal gland to be the seat of the human soul. And modern science has proven that he was probably right. It turned out that pineal gland hormones help fight cancer, have a rejuvenating effect and prolong our life. And if the functions of this gland are artificially maintained... old age will never come! And a few years ago, specialists from the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology managed to take the first step towards immortality: the drug they created based on pineal gland hormones triggered the reverse passage of time in the body of old macaques - they began to rapidly grow younger!
Microchips in the brain
Let us suppose. And yet, where is the connection with the “eye of Shiva”, the “antenna” into the cosmic information field, bestowing extrasensory qualities? A bold analogy was inspired by the amazing ability of the pineal gland to rotate like an eyeball. Significant similarities with the eye were recently found in the structure of this gland: the rudiments of a lens and... receptors for the perception of colors were discovered there.
And one more thing: the pineal gland contains so-called “brain sand” - mineral bodies ranging in size from fractions of a millimeter to two. The function of this sand remains not entirely clear to science. However, X-ray analysis showed that the grains of sand contain even smaller crystals with a large percentage of silicon, which is used to record information in microchips! The experiments allowed us to conclude: it seems that brain sand stores in holographic form data about a person’s existence in space and time. Scientists believe that microcrystals are capable of capturing external radiation and reading information sent by cosmic bodies.
There is another (albeit indirect) evidence that the pineal gland is really connected with vision and information capabilities: in some Indian monks who devoted themselves to spiritual practices, the pineal gland significantly increases in size, as if swelling the brain. And the parietal bone becomes thinner, dissolves, the area of the skull above the “third eye” becomes like a baby’s fontanel, which facilitates the penetration of cosmic energies.
According to researchers, the third eye explains the phenomenon of clairvoyance: the picture that appears in the mind's eye is projected from the pineal gland onto the retina of the eye, just as light from a movie installation is projected onto a cinema screen.
This version answers another question quite well: why did priests and soothsayers from ancient times resort to the help of children and virgins? It has been reliably established that the pineal gland is directly related to sexual functions, and abstinence greatly activates it. And in children who have not reached puberty, all the power of the pineal gland is directed, willy-nilly, not into the sexual, but into the spiritual sphere. It is no coincidence that hermits who have taken a vow of celibacy have such a great ability to perceive visions from above.
In this article you will learn:
God Shiva is one of the supreme gods in Hinduism, translated means “bringer of happiness.” Shiva, together with the gods Brahma and Vishnu, forms the trimurti - the sacred, divine triangle. The many-armed god is the personification of time and at the same time destruction and fertility. Shiva is a deity who symbolizes the contradictory nature of the world. His goal is to destroy the world and other gods to renew and create something new.
The legend of the birth of the god Shiva
Let us tell you some interesting stories about the birth of Shiva. Each of them is different from each other.
The first story of Lord Shiva says that he was born in response to Brahma's prayers for a son. The prayers were heard, and a blue-skinned deity was born. The child ran near Brahma, crying and asking him to give him a name. Brahma named the child Rudra, but the boy did not stop; the father was forced to give the boy 10 more names. In total there were 11 names and 11 incarnations.
Another legend says that the multi-armed Shiva (Rudra) - the result of Brahma's anger and malice - emerged from his eyebrows. This was the reason that the most negative energy of all the energies of Hinduism became the nature of the newborn deity.
Another legend tells that Brahma is the son of Vishnu. Brahma had 4 sons who did not want their own offspring. God became angry, and a blue-skinned child appeared from between his eyebrows. He was given a name - Rudra and 10 more names and lives, Shiva is one of the names.
The last legend says that Vishnu is the father of Brahma. At the moment of Brahma's birth, demons were nearby who wanted to destroy God. Because of this, Lord Shiva appeared at the place where Vishnu’s eyebrows meet with a trident in his hands and protected Brahma.
Symbolism and attributes of God in Buddhism
Like other Indian deities, the multi-armed deity has symbols, attributes of Shiva, reflecting the facets of his nature. Attributes include:
- the body is covered with ashes, expresses the beginning of the Universe, which is wider than the boundaries of existence;
- braided hair is a plexus of different energies;
- the moon in the hair represents the power of control over the mind and understanding;
- 3 eyes – moon and sun, fire;
- half-closed eyes - the infinity of life processes; open eyes - the birth of life, closed eyes - the destruction of the old life;
- snakes on the neck and shoulders - the personification of the current time, past and future;
- Ganga in the hair - symbolizes the removal and cleansing of sins;
- right hand – conquers evil, gives strength and blessing;
- the bull is the faithful companion of the destroyer of desires, a means of transportation;
- clothing made from tiger skin - victory over shortcomings and obscene desires;
- the drum also refers to the attributes of Shiva, personifying physical and out-of-body existence;
- a halo around the body - personifies the Universe;
- phallus - lingam, masculinity and fertility;
- The deity’s weapon is a trident, symbolizing 3 facets: the destroyer of desires, the guardian and the creator.
The most common symbol of India is the dancing Shiva. The dance is called tandava. Every element of an image or figurine, every movement is imbued with a non-random meaning. The main meaning is the destruction of the Universe. The image is dynamic, mobile, some gestures are woven into an ornament.
Such dynamics mean the eternal passage of time, constant changes, alternating processes of creation and destruction.
The story of Shiva's consorts
Shiva's first wife is Sati, the daughter of the god Daksha. Dakshi himself did not love Shiva, did not recognize him as a god and did not want such a marriage and husband for his daughter. But at the festival of choosing her future spouse, Sati herself chose the many-armed god. The father had to come to terms, but his feelings for Rudra did not change. At one of the festivals, Lord Shiva did not show respect to Daksha, for which the latter decided to take revenge.
Daksha arranged a sacrifice on Mount Himavat for all the gods except Shiva. A beautiful horse was sacrificed. Frustrated, Sati demanded a piece of sacrificial meat from her father and for Shiva, but Dakshi refused. Unable to bear the humiliation, Sati threw herself into the fire for sacrifice and burned.
Shiva became very angry and created the monster Virabhadra, which destroyed Daksha by cutting off his head. For a long time, Rudra mourned the death of his wife on Mount Kailash, and did not pay attention to the world, women and the prayers of his admirers for hundreds of years.
During this time, Sati was reborn on earth in the form of Parvati. Sati's love was transferred to Parvati, the girl decided to conquer the harsh god with repentance. She went to the mountain, changed expensive clothes, fasted, ate only leaves, but Shiva remained adamant.
The other gods decided to intervene and a war broke out between the demons and the gods. Only the unborn son of Rudra could defeat the leader of the asuras. The god of love Kama was sent to Shiva to instill new love, but nothing came of it either: Shiva’s thoughts were only about Sati.
Parvati again surrendered to repentance. The goddess exhausted her body and soul for many years. One day she met a young Brahman who was asking why he was exhausting himself so much. To the arguments and persuasion of the brahman, Parvati gave one answer: no one is needed in the world except Shiva.
The young priest was transformed: an image of Shiva appeared in front of Parvati, and then the god himself. He was touched by such love and worship, and he took Parvati as his wife. The wedding was magnificent, the gods were present at the celebration. After the wedding night, the newlyweds had a son, Skanda, the god of war with extraordinary power.
The meaning and symbolism of Shiva in Hinduism
The religion of Hinduism is full of symbols that embody philosophical movements and teachings, gods and goddesses. It is customary to divide symbols into 2 categories: mudra - gestures and postures, murti - images and images.
Nataraja is the famous image and symbol of Shiva.
Lord Shiva is the king of dancers, the lord of dance. The deity dances in the center of the universe, which personifies the human heart.
Often Rudra is symbolically shown in the form of a lingam, an upright cylinder with a rounded top. Lingam means fusion, dissolution. Shiva from the east is a deity who brings blessings to all beings for fusion.
- (ancient Indian Civa, “good”, “bringing happiness”), in Hindu mythology one of the supreme gods, included together with Brahma and Vishnu in the so-called. divine triad (trimurti). As an independent deity, Sh. was included in the pantheon relatively ... Encyclopedia of Mythology
Siva, one of the three Hindu deities, destroyer of the world. A complete dictionary of foreign words that have come into use in the Russian language. Popov M., 1907. SHIVA See SIVA. Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language. Chudinov A.N., 1910 ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language
Shiva- and his wife Parvati. Bengal. X century Shiva and his wife Parvati. Bengal. X century Shiva in Hinduism and Brahmanism is one of the three supreme gods (). Shiva is the supreme being, personifying the creative and destructive forces in the universe. Dancing Shiva. South India... encyclopedic Dictionary"The World History"
Characteristics Length 12 km Basin White Sea Watercourse Mouth of Oz. Big Shuo Yarvi Shuo Location Country ... Wikipedia
In Hinduism and Brahmanism, one of the three supreme gods (along with Brahma and Vishnu). Shiva is the supreme being, personifying the creative and destructive forces in the universe... Historical Dictionary
- (male) soft (God Shiva) Ancient Indian names. Dictionary of meanings... Dictionary of personal names
Vishnu, Trimurti, destroyer god, Brahma Dictionary of Russian synonyms. shiva noun, number of synonyms: 7 god (375) brahma ... Synonym dictionary
yeshiva- (yeshbot) (Hebrew) Jewish mortgage, report. div. Yeshiva... Architecture and monumental art
One of the three supreme Gods (along with Brahma and Vishnu) in Brahmanism and Hinduism. By origin, pre-Aryan God, master of animals. Depicted in a formidable form, often in a sacred dance, embodying cosmic energy, or as an ascetic, immersed... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
- (well). The well, so called by Isaac and subsequently giving its name to the city (Gen. 26:33) see. Bathsheba... Brockhaus Biblical Encyclopedia
Shaivism- the name of the human family... Spelling dictionary of Ukrainian language
Books
- Shiva and Dionysus, Danilo Alien. This book is not an essay on the history of religions. It reflects my personal experience of discovering most of the foundations of religions in the veritable museum of world history that is India. The predecessor of the Vedic...
- Shiva and Dionysus, Danilo Alien. This book is not an essay on the history of religions. It reflects my personal experience of discovering most of the foundations of religions in the veritable museum of world history that is India. The predecessor of the Vedic...