The description of Lord Shiva in Hinduism is unique.
1.Shiva has both Invisible,Without Form,Aroopa and with Form.
There is a temple in Avudayar Koil,Tamil Nadu,where the Shiva’s Sanctum is Empty,denoting Invisibilty.There is Chidambaram,Tamil Nadu,where the Serect Sanctum is empty.
2.Shiva ,as a symbol,in between being invisible and visible with human form,is Linga.
3.Shiva also has human form .
4.He is also described as a Yogin,Adi Yogi,the first one to present and practice Yoga.
5.Unlike the Avatars of Vishnu,He is never born of a womb.
6.His 64 Avatars as described in Tamil Classics represent the 64 principles of th Universe,as enumerated in Saiva Siddantha.
His physical description and his ornaments are expressions of the Universe.
His famous names.
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- Mahadeva (The Supreme Lord : Maha = great, Deva = God – more often than not, the Aghora (fierce) version)
- Rudra (The one who howls or strict and uncompromising)
- Maheshwar (The Supreme Lord: Maha = great, Eshwar = God)
- Rameshwar (The one whom Ram worships: Ram, Eshwar = worships, God; Ram’s God)
- Mahayogi (The Supreme Yogi: Maha = great, Yogi = one who practices Yoga)
- Mahabaleshwar (Great God of Strength: Maha = great, Bal = strength, Eshwar = God)
- Trinetra (Three-Eyed One, i.e. All-Knowing: Tri = three, Netra = Eye)
- Triaksha (Three-Eyed One, i.e. All-Knowing: Tri = three, Aksha = Eye)
- Trinayana (Three-Eyed One, i.e. All-Knowing: Tri = three, Nayana = Eye)
- Tryambakam (Three-Eyed One, i.e. All-Knowing: Tri = three, Ambakam = Eye)
- Mahakala (Great Time, i.e. Conqueror of Time: Maha = three, Kala = Time)
- Neelakantha (The one with a Blue Throat: Neel = blue, Kantha = throat)
- Digambara (One who has the skies as his clothes, i.e. The Naked One: Dik = Clothes, Ambara = Sky)
- Shankara (Giver of Joy)
- Shambhu (Abode of Joy)
- Vyomkesha (The One who has the sky as his hair: Vyom = sky, Kesha =hair)
- Chandrashekhara (The master of the Moon: Chandra = Moon, Shekhara = master)
- Siddheshwara (The Perfect Lord)
- Trishuldhari (He who holds the divine Trishul or Trident: Trishul = Trident, Dhari = He who holds)
- Dakhshinamurthi (The Cosmic Tutor)
- Kailashpati (He whose abode is Mount Kailash)
- Pashupatinath (Lord of all Creatures)
- Umapati (The husband of Uma)
- Gangadhar (He who holds the river Ganga)
- Bhairava (The Frightful One)
- Sabesan – Lord who dances in the dais
- ( http://veda.wikidot.com/shiva ) These names are from the Shiva Sahasranama.
Shiva is portrayed as the color of Red Embers,sitting in Deerskin, representing the Active emotional nature,Rajo Guna being controlled by Sathva,the Calm naure expressed by Deer Skin.
Shiva is also described as White in color, Swetha,representing Sathva,Pure.
In this description He sits on Tiger skin,which represents Rajas,indicating one can master the impulsive nature by Calmness,Satva Guna.
Shiva,being in Smasana,the Burning ghat,is Hot.
Therefore, He is worshipped with Bilva leaf,which cools.
The Bilva leaf has three leaves in a cluster.
The three leaves forming a part on one Bilva leaf express the Three Attributes of Jiva, the Individual Self.
These three are,
Pasu, The Brahman as Individual Self,
Pathi, The Universal SelfBrahman and
The Paasa, attachment to things worldly.
Vishnu is Cool in the Ocean of Milk,Ksheera Sagar.
He is worshipped with Tulsi,which is hot.
Shiva has maatted locks,he is called Jatadhara.
These locks of intertwined hairs represent the countless thought which overlap each other ,leading to Confusion of the Chitta.
These thoughts can be controlled by raising the Kundalini,which lies in the Solar Plexus,Mooladhara to the Centre of the forehead Sahasrara.
That is Shiva’s Third Eye,
Trinetra represents Sahasrara.
Shiva wears the horizontal,parallel white lines across His forehead.
These lines are to remind one that ‘Dust Thou Art,dust Thou shall retuneth.
And these three lines also indicate the three fundamental units/forces of the Universe.
Motion,Non motion and their being held in balance.
Purusha,the Kinetic Energy,Prakriti,the Potential energy and the Sparsa,the initial contact that evolves the Universe.
The Universe is constantly in Motion and is born of Motion.
Which precedes Motion or Sound/Vibration?
Vibration is caused by Sound or is it the other way?
Out of Vibration is born Sound.
Sound is expressed as Language.
Shivas Damaru,Drum represents Vibration and Sound.
His Damaru produced Sanskrit in. The form of Maheswara Sutras.
‘There are two types of Damaru, Skull Damaru and Chod Damaru.
https://ramanisblog.in/2015/01/17/sanskrit-from-shivas-damaru-maheswar-sutras/
Shiva wears the Moon in its Phase on His head.
Moon is responsible for the activity of the Mind and it has to be controlled by Chitta to realize Self.
The Chitta is on a higher plane of mind.
Shiva’s Trident.
It represents the the three basic tools of performane.
Icha Sakthi,desire to act,
Kriya Sakthi,the Action and
Gnana Sakthi,the discriminating power to coose action.
Shiva’s Earrings.
These are in the shape of Snakes.
In Yoga,two nadis,the path of Prana are described.
The Ida and Pungala,the breath that passes through the left nostril and through the right respectively.
They have to be equal and in Unison to Realize Self.
Snake around the neck represent the desires that bind us to the world as mill around the neck.
Ganga,the river and Rudraksha of Shiva express the physical tools to purify the body.
- Om Namasthesthu Bhagavan
- Visveswaraya Mahadevaya
- Trayambakayah Tripuranthakaya Trikalagni-kalaya
- Kalagni-Rudraya Nilakantaya Mrityumjayaya Sarveshwaraya
- Sadasivaya Sriman Mahadevaya Namah!!
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