Blogs on Lord Shiva

Standing poised on a lotus pedestal and encircled in the ring of the cosmic fire, the Nataraja statue is the perfect depiction of the amalgamation of spirituality and art. Over the years, it has amassed much popularity and can often be seen gracing a myriad of venues. One of the most remarkable Nataraja statues is installed at the prestigious CERN. While Nata means dance, Raja translates to king or lord. Hence, Nataraja means the Lord of Dance. By depicting him in a dancing pose, the Nataraja statue represents Lord Shiva as the controller of every movement in the universe. This representation of Lord Shiva gained popularity during the reign of the Chola rulers, and this is when many Nataraja bronze statues were created. Glimpses of the legacy they left behind can be seen in almost every part of the world today.

The Hindu religion is known for the honor and worship of many deities along with their numerous holy symbols with each of them holding significance. Among them, Shiva trishul is the most widely worshiped and one of the most sacred symbols of the religion, especially the Shaivite sect. It is in this form that Mahadeva is seen in possession of his trident. While there are many other deities like Goddess Durga and some forms of Devi Lakshmi, who are also seen with the trident, it is nobody else but Lord Shiva who is considered to be the master and the supreme owner of the trishul. Tri means three, and shool means stake. Hence, the meaning of trishul is a weapon that has three stakes. According to Hindu belief, Lord Shiva used this very trishul to sever the human head of Lord Ganesha.

Shiva and Parvati are inseparable companions. A true devotee needs to venerate both and have equal adoration for both. On the off chance that one worships Shiva without worshipping Parvati, such worship will be in vain. The Lord won't acknowledge such a prayer. It is to show the world the significance that Shiva and Parvati hold in each other's life. This article is a deep dive into their beautiful relationship as a representation of Love, Devotion, and Faithfulness-

One of the three paramount deities of the Hindu Pantheon, Lord Shiva or “the Auspicious One” is loved and revered in Shaivism (one of the three most powerful groups in contemporary Hinduism) as the Supreme God. In Hinduism, Lord Shiva in his linga form is revered by his worshippers. It is called the Shivling or Shivalinga. At the point when a Linga is introduced on a Yoni, it signifies the association of Shiva and Shakti - the start of creation. It is found at a temple’s focal point, resting in a rimmed, circle moulded yoni. This article will explain why Lord Shiva is worshipped in linga form. It will also dive deeper into other significant details about Lord Shiva in Linga form-

Among the supreme deities of the Hindu pantheon, Lord Shiva is known to be the most remarkable. Shiva is frequently alluded to as the "destroyer", however, it is he who obliterates the adulterations taking shelter in the human psyche. He frees a body of its deficiencies and makes it deserving of accomplishing moksha. It is he who is responsible for obliteration on the grounds that if the 'old' doesn’t perish, the 'new' wouldn't have the option to take birth.

Pratyabhijna and the Recognition That All is Shiva The Pratyabhijna is a school of thought or a religious and philosophical system in the Kashmir Shaivism sect of Hinduism, where the god Shiva is recognized and revered as the supreme being and reality. This school of thought is believed to have been established in the ninth century CE and was founded by Somananda. His work, the Sivadrsti, serves as the foundation and cornerstone of the philosophy. The term Pratyabhijna is a Sanskrit word that refers to an act of recognition. It actually originates from the well-known work entitled Isvara Pratyabhijna Karika, which was written by Utpaladeva, who was the son and follower of Somananda,. In a literal sense, the word Pratyabhijna is comprised of the words prati, which means “something once known now appearing as forgotten”, abhi, which means “immediate”, and jna, meaning “to know”. As such, it is said that the Pratyabhijna not only means a simple act of recognition but actually a direct knowledge of oneself.

Parvati, the Hindu goddess of love, devotion, beauty, marriage, and fertility, is of course, among the most important and revered deities in the Hindu faith. Given all that she represents, it is certainly no surprise. As the goddess of love, she’s known to be an especially benevolent figure. She is likewise revered as the Mother goddess in Hinduism, who is known to be kind, gentle, nurturing, and loving. She is considered to be a voice of reason, freedom, strength and encouragement. However, there are also aspects of her that are destructive, violent, fierce and ferocious. Her contrasting natures show Parvati as a figure who is able and willing to adapt to Pratima or reality and what the circumstances call for or require from her as the mother goddess. The name Parvati comes from Sanskrit and means “daughter of the mountains” or “she of the mountains”. A fitting name for Parvati who is, in fact, the daughter of Himavat. Himavat is considered to be the very embodiment of the Himalayan mountains and his wife Mena is said to originate from the asparas, which is a group of female cloud and mountain spirits. Aside from the name Parvati, the goddess of love is called by many other appellations, including Uma, Shailaja, Girirajaputri, Haimavathi, Lalitha, Gowri, Aparna, and Shivakamini, just to name a few.

Also known as Kumara, Subrahmanya, and Murukan, Skanda “has been hunter, warrior, philosopher… He is teacher… He is the eternal child as old as time itself”. Obeyesekere writes that Skanda is viewed as possessed of having six faces, twelve arms, and riding a peacock. Throughout Skanda’s history, he has been worshipped for several different reasons. He has been worshipped “as a god of hill and hunt… and avenger of ananku and cur, malevolent spirits of the hills”. During the Cankami period of Tamil India “Murukan was known … as the lord of the hunt”. According to Clothey, he has also been worshiped in South India as the son of Siva. Through this several other deities related to vegetation and hunting embodied the name Murukan. Clothey also writes that the name Murukan has become commercialized with an array of different industries using his name, for songs and films.

Shiva is known the world over as a god of awe-inspiring and terrible power. For many Hindus, he is the god of destruction, rending the universe and bringing existence back to emptiness when the Yuga cycle comes to its completion. In this role, Shiva is an essential element of the godhead, clearing the way for the universe to renew itself. Much like the Death card of the Tarot, his role is a source of horror for those clinging to the way things are, but he is also a necessary harbinger of the new universe. Famously, Shiva accomplishes his destruction through his tandava — also called Tāṇḍava natyam — a dance he performs to bring the universe to darkness. But Shiva’s tandava has many other purposes as well. He dances through the entire cycle of the lifespan of the universe. From its creation to its preservation and, finally, to its end, the tandava accompanies and makes possible all three phases. The tandava is described in many texts, including most notably the Natya Shastra. In this tome on performing arts, elements of the dance are described.

Saivagama Tantras, the ritualistic sacred texts of Sadhana or devout single-pointed worship, devised an artistic form to which all human devotion can be directed — Nataraja, the supreme dancer. The form of Nataraja has been hailed as the highest concept of art. Ancient Saivites were known to practise a dance-drama at the famous Nataraja Temple of Chidambaram. In the holy month of Margazhi (December-January) in Tamil Nadu, on the day with the asterism Tiruvadirai, the Arudra festival is especially important to Lord Nataraja in all temples, particularly Chidambaram. Among the five elements, the subtlest space whose essence is sound, is represented by the Akasa Lingam in the temple dedicated to this concept, Chidambaram. Lord Nataraja personifies the descent from the subtlest as an act of creation and also the ascent from the grossest as an act of dissolution. Ananda Tandavam — the Blissful dance — is the dance of Nataraja of Chidambaram. Tirumoolar in his Tantra Tirumandiram refers to it as ‘Nadanta’ posture — the pinnacle of meditative bliss — even beyond the realm of unheard sound or Shiva Vyapti, the ultimate! The dance hall is Chit Akasha, the hall of Supreme Consciousness.