| Shiva,
the last of the Trinities is the God of destruction &
he is assisted in this by his consort Parvathi, the Goddess
of disintegration. Parvathi represents sakthi, to disintegrate
perishable matter, in the absence of which true and complete
destruction by shiva becomes impossible. This could possibly
be the meaning of the idea that shiva becomes nothing in the
absence of Sakthi.
Shiva
is generally worshipped in the form of the phallus (linga)
fixed on a pedestal. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed
& the Linga symbolises this scientific fact. The Linga
denotes the primeval energy of the Creator. At the end of
Creation all Gods find their resting place in the Linga -
Brahma being absorbed into the right, Vishnu being absorbed
into the left & Gayathri Devi being absorbed into the
heart of the Linga.
Linga, the emblem of shiva is the main form worshipped in
shiva temples.
Shiva in his human form is worshipped as the Utsava murthi,
taken out on processions.
shiva Lingams worshipped in temples are mostly made of stone
& consists of three parts. The lowest portion in the shape
of a square symbolises Brahma (the God of Creation). The middle
part in the shape of an octagon symbolises Vishnu (the God
of Maintenance). These two portions are embedded inside a
pedestal. The cylindrical portion projecting from the pedestal
symbolises Shiva (the God of Destruction).
shiva resides high up on snowy mountain ranges. Image of shiva
in his physical form presents him as a soothing meditative
figure. His ornaments are not gold & precious stones.
He wears a necklace made of skulls signifying his role as
destructor. He has snakes coiling all over his body &
his hair is matted and long extending over the whole sky &
space. The crescent moon adorns his crown, signifying his
control on the time cycle.(Amavasay & Pournami). He smears
his body with ashes & wears a tiger skin and elephant
skin. He has a third eye on his forehead which is the source
of knowledge & wisdom. The holy Ganges is imprisoned in
his flowing locks. In his two arms he holds the Trisulam (the
three prongs representing the three gunas of sattva, tamas
& rajas) in one & Damaru in the other. His vahana
is the Nandi, who is also his chief disciple to whom shiva
passed on all his immense knowledge in arts.
The above description should convey him as an angry &
destructive image, yet being the source of all knowledge he
is often in a meditative pose with half closed eyes looking
out into the universe as well as in to his inner self, signifying
that his act of destruction is in itself an act of creation
for in the absence of destruction there can be no creation.
Different names & manifestations of Lord shiva
1. Nataraja
2. Dakshinamurthi
3. Lingodhbava
4. Haryardhamurthi
5. Ardhanareeswara
6. Bhikshatana
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