The saga of Lord Shiva

Birth of Shiva

The Vishnu Purana narrates the story behind the birth of Shiva.

Lord Shiva is said to have sprung from the forehead of Brahma. Later, he separated himself into assume male and female forms. This legend is the forerunner of Shiva’s another manifestation, the Ardhanareshvara. In this manifestation, he is half-male and half-female, signifying that he is the combination of the energies of both the sexes written in shastra(books). It symbolizes that Shiva is the unison of Substance and Energy, the life Principal and Shakti.

Shiva’s Appearance

·         The third eye on his forehead

·         Trishul, Shiva’s weapon

·         He sits on/wears a tiger skin

·         Cobras adorn his neck and shoulder

·         Long matted hair, part of which is partially piled atop his head

·         Crescent-shaped Moon on his hair

·         River Ganga flowing down one side of his head

·         Bull, the vahana (vehicle) of Shiva

·         The mendicant’s bowl

Shiva’s Third Eye: Because of his third eye, Shiva is also known as Trinayana, Tri-netra, Tri-ambaka. Shiva’s third eye is the eye of higher perception. In Sri Shiva Tattva, it is mentioned as the “Frontal Eye” or the “Eye of Fire”. When this eye is directed upwards, it burns all that stands in its way. Many of us have read how Kamdev, God of Love, was once burnt to ashes by Shiva’s third eye, when he had broken Shiva’s meditation.

As “The Destroyer”, Shiva is also responsible for the periodical destruction of the Universe.

Trishul: Shiva’s trishul (trident) represents three functions of the Supreme Soul:  Creator, Preserver and Destroyer. It also stands for the punishments of sinners in all the three planes: spiritual, subtle and physical.

The Tiger Skin: The tiger is the vahana of Shakti, Goddess of Power. The tiger is also the symbol of power, and the tiger skin symbolizes that Shiva is beyond all power and is the victor of all force.

Cobras: Cobras are often synonymous with death. Cobras around Shiva’s neck symbolize that he is beyond the reach of death; he is encircled by death, yet death is powerless against him . The cobras are also symbols of Kundalini -- the dormant energy Researches.

Matted Hair (Jata): The matted hair represents him as the lord of wind. Vayu is the lord of wind who is a subtle form of breath.

Crescent: The crescent-shaped Moon is the Moon on its fifth-day. The crescent represents the power of the Moon (Soma). When the sea was churned for the Nectar of Immortality, many splendid and amazing things rose from the sea, the Moon being one of them. Shiva took the Moon as his ”share” from the churning of the sea.

Ganga: The Holy Ganga represents purification. Ganga is the holiest of all rivers in India. The Ganga is immensely powerful and has the capacity of causing untold damage and destruction if allowed to move at its own pace and fury. Shiva controlled both the power and the force of Ganga by imprisoning Ganga in his hair, and allowing a small stream to flow through the Earth so as to purify mankind from all sins.

Shiva’s Vahana: The bull is Shiva’s favourite animal; Nandi is his vehicle or vahana, and is always seen with Shiva. Shiva’s devotees also worship Nandi along with Lord Shiva.