shivaratri

History

MahaShivaratri is celebrated at night, which falls on the 13th or the 14th night of the new moonduring Krishna Paksha(dark quarter of themoon) in the Hindu month of Phalgun, when Lord Shiv manifested as Shivalinga (Shivalingam). There have been numerousstories extolling the glory of Mahadeva (Lord Shiva) in the Puranas. He has been worshipped in Bhaarat (India) since ancient times.

Archaeologists have discovered his meditative-posturedmoorti (idol) in Mohenjo-daro. Initially his moorti was worshipped. Later this was replaced by the Shivalinga, symbolically representing the flame (jyoti) of the fire, and not as a phallic symbol, as has been persistently and ignominiously misrepresented by non-Hindu writers since colonial times. The Shvetaashvatara Upanishad (1-13) refers to Shivalinga upasana-worship.

Two other significant events occurred on MahaShivaratri; the onset of Dwaapara Yuga (yuga = set of a few million Hindu years) and the manifestation of the Dwaadash Swayambhu Jyotirlingam (12 self-born phalluses of fire) of Bhaarata (India).

shiva ratri

Myths and Legends The Shiv Puran relates a story of Maha Shivaratri's glory. The most popular story associated to MahaShivaratri goes as follows: A hunter was roaming in the jungle on the bank on the Kolidum River. He was chasing after a deer when he heard the growl of a tiger. He ran as fast as he could and climbed up a tree nearby. The tiger stood at the foot of the tree, and did not leave. All through the night, the hunter had to stay up in the tree. Afraid that he would fall if he fell asleep, he gently plucked one leaf after another from the tree and threw it down. At the foot of the tree was a Shiva Linga (an image of Lord Shiva). Without realizing it, the hunter, who was sitting on a vilva tree, threw the leaves down at the Linga. The tiger left in at sunrise. The hunter looked down, and found that the tiger was gone, and in its place stood Lord Shiva. The hunter prostrated in front of Shiva and received mukti-the release from the cycle of birth and death. The popular story of the union of Shiva and his consort, Parvati: King Daksha, opposed Sati's marriage with Shiva. At a yagnya (holy sacrifice) the king ignored Shiva’s presence and thereby insulted the latter publicly. Sati was so angered by this that she jumped into the sacrificial fire and ended her life. Lord Shiva unleashed his fury at the death of his wife by performing the violent dance, Taandav. He wiped out Daksha’s kingdom, undertook rigorous penance and retired to the Himalayas. The Gods, who feared that the severity of Shiva’s penance might bring an end to the world, revived Sati in the new avatar of Parvati. Shiva-Parvati married and this reunion is celebrated on Maha Shivratri. There's another popular myth/legend. This story illustrates the greatness of observing the ritual of Shivaratri. Today it is said that whoever fasts all through the night and worships Lord Shiva will attain heavenly bliss: In ancient times, a Bheel (forest inhabitant) named Gurudruha trudged through a forest to hunt deer. At night, without having sighted a single animal, he unknowingly climbed a bili tree on the banks of a lake. Later at night, a doe arrived to drink water. Gurudruha aimed his bow and arrow at her. While aiming, he unknowingly dropped some bili leaves and his drinking water below on a Shivaling. The deer then requested him to allow her to entrust her fawns to her husband, after which she would return. After much haggling he agreed. While awaiting her return, he stayed awake by aimlessly plucking leaves and dropping them below. Again they fell on the Shivaling. Thus he unknowingly performed its puja while remaining awake all night. Finally the doe returned with her family, She informed him that along with her, he'd have to kill her family too. As he aimed, some more leaves fluttered down on the Shivaling. The collective punya (spiritual merit) accrued from the puja performed unknowingly, eradicated all his sins. This purified his heart. Repenting his flawed life of sin, he set the deer free. As he sat repenting, Lord Shiv manifested in front of him and granted a boon, "You shall be born in a town known as Shrungver, as a man named Gruha. Lord Vishnu will grace your home as Lord Rama and redeem you". Lord Shiva also blessed the deer which attained a better destiny. The Garud and Skand Puranas cite similar versions, about a king named Sundersenak and an evil hunter named Chand, respectively.

Avatars

Shiva, like some other Hindu deities, is said to have several incarnations, known as Avatars. Adi Shankara, the 8th-century philosopher of non-dualist Vedanta was named "Shankara" after Lord Shiva and is considered to have been an incarnation of Shiva. In the Hanuman Chalisa, Hanuman is identified as the eleventh avatar of Shiva.

Indra
In the Rig Veda, Rudra is the father of the Maruts, but he is never associated with their warlike exploits, as is Indra. In the Rig Veda, the term siva is used to refer to Indra. (2.20.3, 6.45.17, and 8.93.3.) Indra, like Shiva, is likened to a bull.

Vishnu
During the Vedic period, both Vishnu and Shiva (as identified with Rudra) played relatively minor roles, but by the time of the Brahmanas (c. 1000-700 BCE) both were gaining ascendance. By the Puranic period both deities had major cults that competed with one another for devotees. Many stories developed showing different types of relationships between these two important deities.

Sectarian forces each presented their own preferred deity as supreme. Vishnu in his myths "becomes" Shiva. The Vishnu Purana (4th c. CE) shows Vishnu awakening and becoming both Brahma to create the world, and Shiva to destroy it. Shiva also is viewed as a manifestation of Vishnu in the Bhagavata Purana. In Shaivite myths, on the other hand, Shiva comes to the fore and acts independently and alone to create, preserve, and destroy the world. In one Shaivite myth of the origin of the lingam, both Vishnu and Brahma are revealed as emanations from Shiva's manifestation as a towering pillar of flame. The Satarudriya, a Shaivite hymn, says that Shiva is "of the form of Vishnu". Rivalry between the two cults is apparent in the story of Sarabha (also spelled "Sharabha"), the name of Shiva's incarnation in the composite form of man, bird, and beast. Shiva assumed that unusual form to chastise Vishnu in his hybrid form as Narasimha, the man-lion, who killed Hiranyakashipu, an ardent devotee of Shiva.

Syncretic forces produced stories in which the two deities were shown in cooperative relationships and combined forms. Harihara is a the name of a combined deity form of both Vishnu (Hari) and Shiva (Hara). This dual form, which is also called Harirudra, is mentioned in the Mahabharata. An example of a collaboration story is one given to explain Shiva's epithet Mahabaleshvara, "Lord of Great Strength" (Maha = great, Bala = strength, Ishvara = Lord). This name refers to story in which Raavana was given a linga as a boon by Shiva on the condition that he carry it always. During his travels, he stopped near the present Deoghar in Bihar to purify himself and asked Vishnu in the guise of a Brahmin to hold the linga for him, but after some time Vishnu put it down on the ground and vanished. When Ravana returned, he could not move the linga, and it is said to remain there ever since. A number of lingas in southern India are associated with this story, including the famous Mahabalesvara linga at Gokarna.

Agni
Rudra and Agni have a close relationship. The identification between Agni and Rudra in the Vedic literature was an important factor in the process of Rudra's gradual development into the later character as Rudra-Shiva. The identification of Agni with Rudra is explicitly noted in the Nirukta, an important early text on etymology, which says "Agni is called Rudra also". The interconnections between the two deities are complex, and according to Stella Kramrisch: "The fire myth of Rudra-Siva plays on the whole gamut of fire, valuing all its potentialities and phases, from conflagration to illumination." In the Shatarudria, some epithets of Rudra such as Sasipañjara ("of golden red hue as of flame") and Tivasimati ("Flaming bright") suggest a fusing of the two deities. Agni is said to be a bull and Lord Shiva possesses a bull as his vehicle, Nandi. The horns of Agni, who is sometimes characterized as a bull, are mentioned. In medieval sculpture both Agni and the form of Shiva known as Bhairava have flaming hair as a special feature.

Taandava & Laasya

Lord Shiva is also known as Nataraj, the Dancing God. This divine art form is performed by Lord Shiva and his divine consort (energy) Goddess Parvati. The dance performed by Lord Shiva is known asTandava. Shiva’s Tandava is a vigorous dance that is the source of the cycle of creation, preservation and dissolution. Tandava depicts his violent nature as the destroyer of the universe. According to scholars, ‘Characteristics of the Tandava Dance’ have been described in the fourth chapter of Bharat Muni’s Naatya Shastra, which is referred to as fifth Veda and an expression of Lord Shiva’s eternal dance - Tandava. It says that Shiva’s Tandava is embellished with 108 karanas and the 32 angaharas - the composite parts of the dance. Bharat Muni further says that Lord Shiva conceived the dance, as he was very much fond of dancing every evening. Shiva further mentioned that 108 karanas included in tandava could be employed in the course of dance, fight, and personal combats and in other special movements like strolling. Some scholars believe that there are seven different types of Tandava. The tandava performed with joy is called Ananda Tandava and that which is performed in violent mood is called Rudra Tandava. The other types of tandava identified are Tripura Tandava, Sandhya Tandava, Samara Tandava, Kaali Tandava, Uma Tandava andGauri Tandava. However, there are few people who believe that there are 16 types of Tandava. According to religious scholars, the cosmic dance of Shiva, called 'Anandatandava,' meaning, ‘the Dance of Bliss’ symbolizes the cosmic cycles of creation and destruction, as well as the daily rhythm of birth and death.

The dance is a pictorial allegory of the five principle manifestations of eternal energy - creation, destruction, preservation, salvation, and illusion. According to learned scholar, Coomerswamy, the dance of Shiva also represents his five activities namely,

* 'Shrishti' - creation, evolution
* 'Sthiti' - preservation, support
* 'Samhaara' - destruction, evolution
* 'Tirobhava' - illusion
* 'Anugraha' - release, emancipation, grace

The overall temper of the image is paradoxical, uniting the inner tranquillity, and outside activity of Shiva. The dance performed by Goddess Parvati is known as Lasya. In Lasya, the movements are gentle, graceful and sometimes erotic. Some scholars call Lasya, the feminine version of Tandava. Lasya is of two kinds - Jarita Lasyaand Yauvaka Lasya. According to the Puranas, Shiva dances a wild and vigorous (tandava) dance in the cremation grounds at night but dances a soft and graceful (lasya) dance in the tranquillity of the twilight.

Relationships in the pantheon

Shiva's rise to a major position in the pantheon was facilitated by his identification with a host of Vedic deities, including Agni, Indra, Prajapati, Vayu, and others.

The Destructive & the Regenarting Aspects

Shiva is believed to be at the core of the centrifugal force of the universe, because of his responsibility for death and destruction. Unlike the godhead Brahma, the Creator, Shiva is the dissolving force in life. But Shiva dissolves in order to create, since death is the medium for rebirth into a new life. So the opposites of life and death and creation and destruction both reside in his character.

Since Shiva is regarded as a mighty destructive power, to numb his negative potentials he is fed with opium and is also termed as Bhole Shankar, one who is oblivious of the world. Therefore, on Maha Shivratri, the night of Shiva worship, devotees, especially the menfolk, prepare an intoxicating drink called Thandai (made from cannabis, almonds, and milk) sing songs in praise of the Lord and dance to the rhythm of the drums.

According to Gavin Flood, "Siva is a god of ambiguity and paradox", whose attributes include opposing themes. The ambivalent nature of this deity is apparent in some of his names and the stories told about him.

Destroyer versus Benefactor

In the Yajurveda two contrary sets of attributes for both malignant or terriffic (Sanskrit: Rudra) and benign or auspicious (Sanskrit: siva) forms can be found, leading Chakravarti to conclude that "all the basic elements which created the complex Rudra-Siva cult of later ages are to be found here." In the Mahabharata, Shiva is depicted as "the standard of invincibility, might, and terror", as well as a figure of honor, delight, and brilliance. The duality of Shiva's fearful and auspicious attributes appears in contrasted names.

The name Rudra reflects his fearsome aspects. According to traditional etymologies, the Sanskrit name Rudra is derived from the root "rud"- which means "to cry, howl." Stella Kramrisch notes a different etymology connected with the adjectival form raudra, which means wild, of rudra nature, or even the midday's or summer's fierce sunrays, and translates the name Rudra as "the Wild One" or "the Fierce God". R. K. Sharma follows this alternate etymology and translates the name as "Terrible".

Hara is an important name that occurs three times in theAnushasanaparvan version of the Shiva sahasranaama, where it is translated in different ways each time it occurs, following a commentorial tradition of not repeating an interpretation. Sharma translates the three as "One who captivates", "One who consolidates", and "One who destroys." Kramrisch translates it as "The Ravisher". Another of Shiva's fearsome forms is as Kaala, "Time", and as Mahakaala, "Great Time", which ultimately destroys all things. Bhairava, "Terrible" or "Frightful" is a fierce form associated with annihilation.

In contrast, the name Shankara, "Beneficent" or "Conferring Happiness" reflects his benign form. This name was adopted by the great Vedanta philosopher Shankara (c. 788-820 CE), who is also known as Shankaracharya. The name Shambhu, "Causing Happiness", also reflects this benign aspect.

Ascetic versus householder

He is depicted as both an ascetic yogin and as a householder, roles which are mutually exclusive in Hindu society. When depicted as a yogin he may be shown sitting and meditating. His epithetMahayogin (The Great Yogi: Maha = great, Yogin = one who practices Yoga) refers to his association with yoga. While Vedic religion was conceived mainly in terms of sacrifice, it was during the Epic period that concepts of tapas, yoga, and asceticism, became more important, and the depiction of Shiva as an ascetic sitting in philosophical isolation reflects these later concepts.

As a family man and householder he has a wife, Parvati (also known as Uma), and two sons, Ganesha and Skanda. His epithet Umapati("The husband of Uma") refers to this idea, and Sharma notes that two other variants of this name that mean the same thing,Umakanta and Umadhava, also appear in the sahasranaama. Uma in epic literature is known by many names, including Parvati. She is identifed with Devi, the Divine Mother, and with Shakti (divine energy).

Shiva and Parvati are the parents of Karthikeya and Ganesha. Karttikeya is popular in South India by the names Subrahmanya and Murugan, and in North India he is more popular by the name Skanda, Kumara, or Karttikeya. Ganesha being still again, one of the five main Gods of Hinduism.

The Five Mantras

Five is a sacred number for Shiva. One of his most important mantras has five syllables (na-mah shi-vaa-ya). Shiva's body is said to consist of five mantras, called the pañcabrahmans: As forms of god, each of these have their own names and distinct iconography:

* Sadyojaata
* Vaamadeva
* Aghora
* Tatpurusha
* Ishaana

These are represented as the five faces of Shiva, and are associated in various texts with the five elements, the five senses, the five organs of perception, and the five organs of action (see above for details: Section: The Eleven Rudras). Doctrinal differences and possibly errors in transmission have resulted in some differences between texts in details of how these five forms are linked with various attributes. But the overall meaning of these associations is summarized by Stella Kramrisch: "Through these transcendent categories, Siva, the ultimate reality, becomes the efficient and material cause of all that exists". According to the Pañcabrahma Upanishad: "One should know all things of the phenomenal world as of a fivefold character, for the reason that the eternal verity of Siva is of the character of the fivefold Brahman".

Tandavamurthy: Lord Shiva is a master of dance forms. He is the author of all dance forms. The science of dance (Natyasasthra) dealing with the 108 types of classical Indian dance forms said to have originated from him along with all the yogic postures. For Lord Shiva, all dance is a form of expression, which he uses either to relieve the tensions in the world or alleviate the sufferings of his devotees. Sometimes he entertains the gods or his wife or his devotees with his dance. About nine forms of Shiva in dancing mode are described, of which the most popular form is Nataraaja (the king of dance). Though we have a number of icons of Shiva as Nataraja, he is rarely worshipped in this form. His other dance forms include Ananda-tandava-murhty, dancing in a pleasant and cheerful mood, Uma-tandava-murhty, dancing in the company of Parvathi, Tripura-tandava-murthy, dancing while slaying Tripurasura and Urddha-tandava-murhty, dancing in the air.

The Eleven Rudras: Shiva has eleven forms of Rudra. He has several names and avataras and various scriptures and religious books give different names. However the 11 Rudras worshipped in the Ekadasa Rudrabhishekam Pooja is the most reliable information. The 11 Rudras are as follows:

1. Mahadeva, 2. Shiva , 3. Maha Rudra, 4. Shankara, 5. Neelalohita, 6. Eeshana Rudra, 7. Vijaya Rudra, 8. Bheema Rudra, 9. Devadeva, 10. Bhavodbhava and 11. Adityatmaka Srirudra.

Their 11 consorts of these 11 Rudras respectively are:-
1. Dhee devi, 2. Dhritti devi, 3. Ushna (Rasala) devi, 4. Uma devi, 5. Neeyut devi, 5. Sarpi devi, 7. Eela devi, 8. Ambika devi, 9. Ieravati devi, 10. Sudha devi and 11. Deeksha devi.

The auspicious and sacred Easwara principle is present in every man. This divine principle can be manifested only through the practice of pure thoughts and actions. The Rudras turn the intellect (Buddhi) towards sensuous objects and thrust the individual in the sea of (worldly life). The Paramatama (Supreme Spirit) is master of all the Rudras. Only the man who has conquered the eleven Rudras can expect to realize the Supreme. There are so many theories and notions about the eleven Rudras as well. One of them is, the Rudras are the symbolism of the eleven sensory organs. Man must seek to control as much as possible these eleven organs. From ancient times, the sages have stressed the supreme importance of sense-control as the means to God-realization. The eleven organs consists of ~

Karmendriya - The five organs of action(Sanskrit: karma = work; indriya = sense organ):

1. Chakshu (eyes)
2. Karna (ears)
3. Naasika (nose)
4. Jihavaa (tongue)
5. Tvak (skin)

Gnyanendriya - The five organs of perception
(Sanskrit: gnyana = knowledge; indriya = sense organ):

6. Baak (speech)
7. Paad (feet)
8. Paani (hands)
9. Paayu (anus)
10. Upastha (excretory organs- penis/vagina)

Ubhayendriya - One organ, acting as both
(Sanskrit: ubhaya = both; indriya = sense organ):

11. Manah (mind)

Nataraaja: For Shiva dance is a kind of entertainment, or just an activity that is spontaneous and without any purpose. Just as the entire creation is said to be an activity of God for His own entertainment and does not seem to have a definite purpose, so is the dance of Shiva. It is not a specific artistic activity. It is not some kind of a sport with a particular aim. It is a spontaneous movement of rhythm and harmony, that bursts out like a flower from the bud, a smile from a baby or a rainbow from the sky, without a flaw and pleasing to the mind and the senses.

Everything he does, each and every movement of his body, is a spontaneous expression of beauty and rhythm. Nataraja (pronounciation: Nataraaja) is Shiva who is hidden in all the rhythmic movements of the manifest creation, the so-called cosmic dance that ensures the orderliness (Rta) of the universe, the movement of the earth and the heavens, the arrangement of the galaxies and the interstellar spaces, on which depends precariously the whole balance. His dance is a divine activity that has no conflict. It entertains our suffering minds and dispels our ignorance. It destroys our illusions and burns the worlds of demons and darkness. Finally, at the end of creation it dissolves the entire universe into a mysterious period of suspended activity. He dances upon our ignorance. TheApsmarapurusha (the forgotten and deluded self, or the ignorant darkness and the inauspicious aspects of creation), on whose body he rests his feet in the image of Nataraja symbolizes this fact. And for Shiva this whole wide world of apasmarapurushas is a stage on which he enacts his dance drama.

Dakshinamurthy: This is Shiva in his aspect as the universal teacher, teaching the secrets of yoga, tantras, yantras, alchemy, magic, occult knowledge, arts and sciences, ancient history or knowledge of the future to the sages and saints, gods and goddesses and his highly qualified devotees. He is called Dakshinamurthy, because he does his teachings sitting on the snowy mountains of Himalayas and facing towards the Indian subcontinent, which is in the southerly direction.

The images of Dakshinamurthy, depict Shiva in his pleasant mood, seated on a high seat, with one leg folded while the other rests on the Apasmarapurusha, the deluded self. Two of his arms hold a snake or rosary or both in one hand and fire in the other. The snake is a symbol of (tantric) knowledge and the fire is the symbol of enlightenment. Of the remaining two one is in abhayamudra (posture of assurance) and the other holds a scripture in gnanamudra (posture of presenting knowledge).

Lingodbhava-murthy: This image signifies the importance of Shiva, as has been described in the texts of the Linga Purana & the Shiva Purana (Puranas dedicated to the glory of Lord Shiva), in the form of a magnanimous Linga (phallus) of fire, with no beginning, middle or end, as the Supreme Self. According to Hindu mythology, Shiva once revealed his infinity to Brahma and Vishnu in the form of a pillar of fire that could not be scaled by either of them from one end to the other. As Lingodhbava-murthy, Shiva appears seated in the heart of a Linga, with four arms, while Brahma and Vishnu adore him from the two sides.

Bhikshatana-murthi: This is Shiva in his ascetic aspect, wandering from place to place, with a begging bowl made of human skull (from Goddess Annapurnaa- holding the golden bowl of cooked rice to give alms to Lord Shiva and rescue the world with food, being another form of Parvathi, Shiva's consert), doing penance or lost in his own thoughts. Even today we can see some followers of Shiva going around the villages in India in this form. Some of them even do a little magic to attract our attention or scare away the trailing children.

Hridaya-murthy: This is Shiva in a mood of reconciliation and friendship with Lord Vishnu. Also known as Harihara or Sankaranarayana. The image shows sometimes the right half of Shiva on the right side of the image and the left half of Vishnu on the left side, or the vice versa.

Ardhanarishwara: This Shiva and Parvathi together in one form signifying the unity of Purusha (form of male) and Prakriti (energy as female). The feminine left half of Parvathi is fused with the masculine right half of Shiva in one continuous form, sometimes standing with the Bull Nandi in the background, or sitting on a pedestal and blessing the worlds, with eyes open or closed.

The Destructive & the Regenarting Aspects

Shiva is believed to be at the core of the centrifugal force of the universe, because of his responsibility for death and destruction. Unlike the godhead Brahma, the Creator, Shiva is the dissolving force in life. But Shiva dissolves in order to create, since death is the medium for rebirth into a new life. So the opposites of life and death and creation and destruction both reside in his character.

* Varanasi (pronounced: Vaaraanasi; < Benaaras) is considered as the city specially-loved by Shiva, and is one of the holiest places of pilgrimage in India.

* Mount Kailasa (pronounced: Kailaasha) in the Himalayas is his traditional abode, for which he is calledKailasapati (Sanskrit = pati, or the lord, of mountKailasa, or the Lord dwelling in the Kailasa). In Hindu mythology, Mount Kailasa is conceived as resembling alinga (phallus), representing the center of the universe.

 

(II) Aspects of Lord Shiva: Explanations

Lord Shiva is known by several names and worshipped in various forms- some myths, some legends, some beliefs, some regional, and some are just stories, far beyond the facts or theories of the Hindu scriptures. Among them, just a handful of a few of them are listed below:

Panchanana Shiva: In some temples Shiva is shown with five faces. Each face has a name and represents a specific aspect. These five faces are Ishaana, Tatpurusha, Aghora, Vaamadeva and Sadyojaata. Ishaana faces south east and represents Eeshwaraaspect of Shiva known as SadaShiva, or the Eternal Shiva. Tatpurusha faces the east. He is Shiva in his aspect as a deluded purusha or ego. Aghora faces the south and represents the destructive and regenerative aspect of Shiva that, like fire, first devours life and then prepares the ground for its renewal. Vaamadeva faces north. He is healer and preserver. Sadyojaata faces west and represents the creative power of Shiva.

Anugrahamurthy: This is the milder or peaceful aspect of Lord Shiva when he is in the company of his beloved devotees or his family members.

Ugramurthy: Also known as Raudra, Bhairava, Kankalaor Samharamurthy, this is the ferocious or angry form of Shiva, generally associated with the events during which Shiva assumed his terrible form to slay the demons or the wicked. The following are his better-known terrible forms:

Kankala-bhairava: The form which he assumed after cutting off the fifth head of Brahma.

Gajasura-vadha-murthy: The form he assumed while killing a demon named Nila.

Tripurantakmurthi: The form he assumed while destroying the three cities of gold, silver and iron built by the three sons of Andhakasura.

Kalari-murthy: the form in which he fought and defeated Yama, the god of death, to save his devotee Maarkandeya.

Bhairava-murthy: The form generally found in connection with the secret cults of Tantricism that involve his worship in the cremation grounds and grave yards.

Sarabhesa-murthy: The form in which he allegedly fought and sanctified, Narasimha, the incarnation of Vishnu.

Kamantaka-murthy: The form in which he destroyed Kama (pronunciation: Kaama), orManmatha, the god of love and lust, for disturbing him while doing penance.

Andhakasura-vadha-murthy: The form in which he defeated Andhakasura, who subsequently joined his forces as his commander and became popular as Bhringi.

* Ashes: Shiva smears his body with ashes (bhasma). In this connection, he is called Vibhootibhooshana(Sanskrit: vibhooti = ashes, bhooshana = ornament, or one who is ornamented). Some forms of Shiva, such asBhairava, are associated with a very old Indian tradition of cremation-ground asceticism that was practiced by some groups who were outside the fold of brahmanic orthodoxy. These practices associated with cremation grounds are also mentioned in the Pali canon of Theravada Buddhism. One epithet for Shiva is "Inhabitant of the cremation ground" (Sanskrit: smasanavasin, also spelled Shmashanavasin) referring to this connection.

* Tiger skin: He is often shown seated upon or wearing a tiger skin. In this connection, he is calledKrittivaasa (Sanskrit: kritti = tiger skin, vaasa = attire or cloth to wear, or one who is wearing).

* Serpents: Shiva is often shown garlanded with a snake, for which he is also called Naagabhooshana(Sanskrit: naaga = serpent, bhooshana = adorned or ornamented, or one who has adorned himself with).

* Trident: (Sanskrit: Trishoola) Shiva's particular weapon is the trident.

* Other divine & neuclear weapons: Lord Shiva also holds, often in his five-headed [for which he is called Panchaanana (Sanskrit: pancha = five, aanana= head or face), ten-armed form, many weapons, among which the particular ones are the axe, the scimitar, which is called the Chandrahaasa, or one with the smile of the moon, his arrows and bow, which is called thePinaaka, for which, Shiva is also called Pinaaki, or one holding the Pinaaka.

* Drum: A small drum shaped like an hourglass is known as a "damaru" (Sanskrit). For this, Shiva is also called Damarudhara (Sanskrit, "one who is holding thedamaru; dhar = holder). This is one of the attributes of Shiva in his famous dancing representation, known asNataraja. A specific hand gesture (mudra) called Damaru-hasta (Sanskrit for "Damaru-hand") is used to hold the drum. This drum is particularly used as an emblem by members of the Kaapaalika sect.

* Nandi, also known as Nandin, is the name of the bull, that serves as Shiva's mount (Sanskrit: vaahana). For this, Shiva is known as Vrishavaahana (Sanskrit: vrisha= bull, vaahana = mount, or one who is mounting). Shiva's association with cattle is reflected in his namePashupati or Pasupati (Sanskrit: pashu = animal, pati = lord), translated by Sharma as "Lord of cattle" and by Kramrisch as "Lord of Animals", who notes that it is particularly used as an epithet of Rudra.

* Crescent Moon: Shiva bears on his head the crescent of the moon. The epithet Chandrashekhara(Sanskrit: "Having the moon as his crest" - chandra = Moon, shekhara = crest, crown), Bidhushekhara (bidhu= moon), Chandramouli (mouli = crown), Chandrachoorha (choorha = crest, crown) and others, refer to this feature. The placement of the moon on his head as a standard iconographic feature dates to the period when Rudra rose to prominence and became the major deity Rudra-Shiva. The origin of this linkage may be due to the identification of the moon with Soma, and there is a hymn in the Rig Veda where Soma and Rudra are jointly emplored, and in later literature Soma and Rudra came to be identified with one another, as were Soma and the Moon.

* Matted Hair: Shiva's distinctive hair style is noted in the epithets Jatin, "The One with matted hair" andKapardin, "Endowed with matted hair" or "wearing his hair wound in a braid in a shell-like (kaparda) fashion". Akaparda is a cowrie shell, or a braid of hair in the form of a shell, or more generally hair that is shaggy or curly.

* Sacred Ganga: The Ganga rivers flows from the matted hair of Shiva. The epithet Gangaadhara("Bearer of the river Ganga") refers to this feature. The Ganga (Ganges), one of the major rivers of the country, is said to have made her abode in Shiva's hair.

Lord Shiva's General Appearence

The actual image of Shiva is also distinct from other deities: his hair piled high on the top of his head, with a crescent tucked into it and the river Ganges tumbling from his hairs. Around his neck is a coiled serpent representing Kundalini or the spiritual energy within life. He holds a trident in his left hand in which is bound the 'damroo' (small leather drum). He sits on a tiger skin and on his right is a water pot. He wears the 'Rudraksha' beads and his whole body is smeared with ash. He is well built, strong-armed, powerful, and resembles a huge mountain made of dazzling silver. All the features in his looks are symbolisms.

Lord Shiva's Forms

(I) Attributes of Lord Shiva: Explanations

* Third Eye: Shiva is often depicted with a third eye with which he burned Desire (Kama) to ashes. There has been controversy regarding the original meaning of Shiva's name Trilochana (Sanskrit: tri = three; lochana= eye(s) or eyed), or Tryambaka (Sanskrit: one with three eyes of fire), which occurs in many scriptural sources. In classical Sanskrit the word ambaka denotes "an eye", and in the Mahabharata Shiva is depicted as three-eyed, so this name is sometimes translated as "Having Three Eyes". However, in Vedic Sanskrit the word amba or ambika means "mother", and this early meaning of the word is the basis for the translation "Having Three Mothers" that was used by Max Müller and Arthur Macdonell. Since no story is known in which Shiva had three mothers, E. Washburn Hopkins suggested that the name refers not to three mothers, but to three Mother-goddesses who are collectively called theAmbikas. Other related translations have been "having three wives or sisters", or based on the idea that the name actually refers to the oblations given to Rudra, which according to some traditions were shared with the goddess Ambika.

* Silver Complexion: Lord Shiva's body complexion is silver, for which he is attributed asRajatagirisnniva (Sanskrit: rajata = silver, giri = mountain, sanniva = resembling, or one who resembles).

* Blue Throat: The epithet Neelakantha (Sanskritneela = blue, kantha = throat) refers to a story in which Shiva drank the poison churned up from the world ocean, to save the creation.

The Pashupati Seal

A seal discovered during excavation of the Mohenjo-daro archaeological site in the Indus Valley has drawn attention as a possible representation of a "proto-Shiva" figure. This "Pashupati" (Sanskrit = Lord of Animals) seal shows a seated figure, possibly ithyphallic, surrounded by animals. Sir John Marshall and others have claimed that this figure is a prototype of Shiva, and have described the figure as having three faces, seated in a "yoga posture" with the knees out and feet joined.

This claim has not fared well with some modern academics. Gavin Flood characterizes these views as "speculative", saying that while it is not clear from the seal that the figure has three faces, is seated in a yoga posture, or even that the shape is intended to represent a human figure, it is nevertheless possible that there are echoes of Shaiva iconographic themes, such as half-moon shapes resembling the horns of a bull. Historian John Keay is more specifically dismissive, saying:

...there is little evidence for the currency of this myth. Rudra, a Vedic deity later identified with Shiva, is indeed referred to as pasupati because of his association with cattle; but asceticism and meditation were not Rudra's specialties, nor is he usually credited with an empathy for animals other than kine. More plausibly, it has been suggested that the Harappan figure's heavily horned headgear bespeaks a bull cult, to which numerous other representations of bulls lend substance.

The Sanskrit word "Shiva" is an adjective meaning kind, friendly, gracious, or auspicious. As a proper name it means "The Auspicious One", used as a euphemistic name for Rudra. In simple English transliteration it is written either as Shiva or Siva. In English it is pronounced as - ɕivə (IPA). The adjective Shiva meaning "auspicious" is used as an attributive epithet not particularly of Rudra, but of several other Vedic deities. In the Rig Veda, Indra uses this word to describe himself several times. (2:20:3, 6:45:17, 8:93:3)

The Sanskrit word saiva means "relating to the god Shiva", and this term is the Sanskrit name both for one of the principal sects of Hinduism, and for a member of one of those sects. It is used as as adjective to characterize certain beliefs and practices, such as Shaivism.

The Name Shiva (International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration: S'iva, also spelled Siva; Modern main Indian languages, Shiv) is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. Within Shaivaism or Shaivism, He is viewed as the Supreme Being (i.e., God, whereas in other branches of Hinduism such as the Smarta tradition he is worshipped as one of several manifestations of the divine. Followers of Hinduism who focus their worship upon Shiva are called Shaivites or Shaivas (SanskritShaiva). His role as the primary deity of Shaivism is reflected in his epithets Mahadeva ("great god"; maha = great + deva = god), Mahesvara ("great lord"; maha = great + isvara = lord), and Paramesvara ("Supreme Lord"). Shaivism, along with Vaishnava traditions that focus on Vishnu, and Sakta traditions that focus on the goddess (Devi) are three of the most influential denominations in Hinduism. Who is Shiva Shiva is one of the five primary forms of the Divine in Smartism, a denomination of Hinduism that puts particular emphasis on five deities, the other four being Vishnu, Devi, Ganesha, and Surya. Another way of thinking about the divinities in Hinduism identifies Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva as each representing one of the three primary aspects of the divine in Hinduism, known collectively as the Trimurti. In the Trimurti system, Brahma is the creator, Vishnu is the maintainer or preserver, and Shiva is the destroyer or transformer. Shiva is also often portrayed as the supreme ascetic with a passive and composed disposition. Lord Shiva is said to be the ultimateVaishnava, one who chants or cantillates and meditates the name of the great Lord Vishnu (or Lord Raama), or the supreme soul, in his meditating form. To one point, the supremacy of both the gods Vishnu and Shiva has unified in the devotees' hearts so much that, it is said that, Lord Raama's guru is Shiva, and Lord Shiva's guru is Raama (Lord Vishnu's incarnation). The Harihara image [the combination form of Lords Vishnu (Hari) and Lord Shiva (Hara)] is very popular and common, and is well found in the classical and present day Indian art and literature. Vishnu and Shiva are still again the two of the five main Gods of Hinduism, viz., Soorya (Sun God), Ganesha, Shiva, Shakti (MotherGoddess) and Vishnu, and from these five godheads, the five main subdivisions of the sects of Hinduism has taken birth. They are, Sourya (from Soorya), Gaanapatya (from Ganesha), Shaiva (from Shiva), Shaakta (from Shakti) and Vaishnava (from Vishnu). Vaishnavism and Shaivaism are the most popular of them all at present. Though each of the Gods is the Supreme to his/her devotees. Shiva is 'Shakti', Shiva is power, Shiva is the destroyer, one of the most powerful Gods of the Hindu pantheon and one of the godheads in the Hindu Trinity. Known by many names - Mahadeva, Mahayogi, Pashupati, Nataraja, Bhairava, Vishwanath, Bhava, Bhole Nath - Lord Shiva is perhaps one of the most complex of Hindu deities. Hindus recognise this by making thousands of His temples all over the world, down the ages, which can compete only with the temples of Lord Vishnu. He is often referred to be in the form of the middle-aged man, or sometimes even bearded old (middle-aged or old may be the symbol of the worn-out or destruction, or the experienced one withyoga, or knowledge, or the age of an experieced yogi (ascetic). Among his many different forms, Shiva sometimes is also shown naked, for which He is attributed as Digambara (Sanskrit: Dik => sky; ambara = cloth, or one who is clad).