Om
Namah Shivay
Today
is the day of Maha Shivaratri, which literally means “great night of Shiva”.
Shiva
is one of the most popular God’s in Hinduism. He is referred to as bholenath,
Pashupati and has a variety of other names. Devotees of Shiva have been
imitating his life style and philosophy for hundreds of years.
Maha
Shivaratri is largely celebrated throughout India and also Nepal when there is
a new moon in the month of Maagha (Mid February). The dates are determined each
year according to the Hindu calendar.
Who is Shiva?
Shiva
(or Siva) is one of the chief deities of Hinduism. His name means
"Auspicious One." Devotees of Shiva are called "Saivites."
Shiva is known by many other names, including Sambhu ("Benignant"), Samkara
("Beneficent"), Pasupati ("Lord of Beasts"), Mahesa
("Great Lord") and Mahadeva ("Great God").
Shiva
is a paradoxical deity: "both the destroyer and the restorer, the great
ascetic and the symbol of sensuality, the benevolent herdsman of souls and the
wrathful avenger." In the most famous myth concerning Shiva, he saves
humanity by holding in his throat the poison that churned up in the waters and
threatened mankind. For this reason he is often depicted with a blue neck.
History of Shiva and Shiva-Worship
In
the Vedas, shiva is an aspect of the god Rudra, not a separate god. However, a
joint form Rudra-Shiva appears in early household rites, making Shiva one of
the most ancient Hindu gods still worshipped today. By the 2nd century BCE,
Rudra's significance began to wane and Shiva rose in popularity as a separate
identity.
In
the Ramayana, Shiva is a mighty and personal god, and in the Mahabharata he is
the equal of Vishnu and worshipped by other gods. Shiva became associated with
generation and destruction; sometimes fulfilling the role of Destroyer along
with Vishnu (the Preserver) and Brahma (the Creator) and sometimes embodying
all three roles within himself.
The
two faces on either side represent (apparent) opposites - male and female
(ardhanari); terrifying destroyer (bhairava) and active giver of repose;
mahayogi and grihasta - while the third, serene and peaceful, reconciles the
two, the Supreme as the One who transcends all contradictions. –
Shiva's Family and Associations
Shiva's
female consort is variously manifested as Uma, Sati, Parvati, Durga, Kali, and
sometimes Shakti. Their sons are Skanda, the god of war, and the beloved
elephant-headed Ganesh, remover of obstacles.
Shiva
is especially associated with the Ganges River, which flows through his hair in
images, and Mount Kailasa in the Himalayas.
Iconography and Symbolism of Shiva
Shiva's
symbols are the bull and the linga. The latter symbol is
historically associated Shiva and the Ganges
with the phallus, but is not
generally perceived as such by worshipers. Other depictions of Shiva have his
hair in matted locks and piled atop his head like an ascetic and adorned with
the crescent moon and the Ganges River (according to legend, he broke the
Ganga's fall to earth by allowing her to trickle through his hair).
Shiva
has a third eye, giving him the capability of inward vision but also burning
destruction when focused outward. He is variously shown with two or four hands,
which hold a deerskin, a trident, a small hand drum, or a club with a skull at
the end.
One
of the most popular representations of Shiva is as Nataraj, the cosmic dancer.
He is also variously depicted as a naked ascetic, a beggar, a yogi, and the
union of he and his female consort in one body.
Shiva as Nataraja: The Cosmic Dancer
Shiva the Hindu god of destruction is also known as
Nataraja, the Lord of Dancers (In Sanskrit, Nata means dance and raja means
Lord). - To understand the concept of Nataraja we have to understand the idea
of dance itself. Like yoga, dance induces trance, ecstasy and the experience of
the divine. In India consequently, dance has flourished side by side with the
terrific austerities of the meditation grove (fasting, absolute introversion
etc.). Shiva, therefore, the arch-yogi of the gods, is necessarily also the
master of the dance. -
But Shiva, the God, who is sometimes depicted
dancing; sometimes mediating, and sometimes showing wrath is largely unknown in
the world of non-Hindus. Here’s a list of some facts about Shiva in this Shiva
Ratri.
1) Shiva is
the third god in the Hindu triumvirate. He is accountable for the destruction
of the world. He is often depicted as having a temper, but is mostly seen in a
meditative state. The other two gods are Brahma and Vishnu. Brahma is
responsible for the creation of the world and Vishnu is responsible for running
the world.
2) Shiva can
largely be considered a fashion icon. He wears elephant and tiger skins, and
carries live cobras that dangle from his neck and has dreadlocks. He is also
known as the lord of the animals- Pashupati.
3) Shiva is
slender and resolute. He has a blue face. He has an extra eye in in forehead,
which represents his wisdom and intuition. He carries a trident, which
represents the three function of the triumvirate.
4) Shiva is
called the Lord of Dance, or the Nataraja. His most important dance is the
Tandav, the cosmic dance of death, which he performs at the end of every age to
destroy the universe. He also performs the Lasya, which is the dance of
creation.
5) Legend says that Shiva lives a simple life in
the Kailas Mountains of the Himalayas with his wife, Parvati. He is usually
spotted in a yogic position. Whenever Parvati is present, she is always at the
left hand side of Shiva.
7) In some
Hindu legend, Shiva is known for his reckless life style. He rides a bull, and
he often smokes weeds. He also loves meditating, and is called the lord of
yoga.
8) Shiva and
Parbati are husband and wife. They have two sons- Ganesh and Kartikeya (Kumar).
