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 Lord
Shiva represents the aspect of the Supreme Being and is considered
to be the destroyer of evil and sorrow. Shiva is 'tri netra' or
three eyed, and is 'neela kantha' - blue necked. Shiva - Nataraja
is the Divine Cosmic Dancer. Shiva - Ardhanareeswara is both man
and woman. Shiva is both static and dynamic and is both creator
and destroyer. He is the source of fertility in all living beings.
He has gentle as well as fierce forms. Shiva is the greatest of
renouncers as well as the ideal lover. He destroyes evil and protects
good. He bestows prosperity on worshipers although he is austere.
He is omnipresent and resides in everyone as pure consciousness.
Lord Shiva is the Lord of mercy and compassion. He protects devotees
from evil forces such as lust, greed, and anger. He grants boons,
bestows grace and awakens wisdom in His devotees. Lord Shiva is
the third member of the Hindu Trinity, the other two being Lord
Brahma and Lord Vishnu. Owing to His cosmic activity of dissolution
and recreation, the words destroyer and destruction have been erroneously
associated with Lord Shiva.
Lakshmi normally appears on one of three vehicles. In her enlightened
aspect, sattvic guna, she accompanies Vishnu on Garuda. In her materialistic
aspect, raja guna, she appears with two elephants on either side
of her. The owl depicts the pernicious aspect of wealth. Though
its considered a bird of ill omen and a symbol of darkness, the
owl also symbolizes wisdom and intelligence because of its ability
to presage events.
Lord Shiva dissolves the universe for creation of the next cycle
so that the unliberated souls will have another opportunity to liberate
themselves from bondage with the physical world. Thus, Lord Shiva
protects the souls from pain and suffering that would be caused
by a dysfunctional universe.
Shiva is inseparable from Shakti - Parvati the daughter of Himavaan
- Haimavati. There is no Shiva without Shakti and no Shakti without
Shiva, the two are one - or the absolute state of being - consciousness
and bliss.
The names of the deified faces with their elements are Mahadeva
(earth), Bhairava (fire), Nandi (air), Uma (water) and Sadasiva
(space). Panchamukha lingams have been seen from the 2nd century
onwards.
Shiva Lingam form of Shiva is what is held in reverence in temples
all over the sub continent. The Lingam is a symbol. It is a symbol
of that which is invisible yet omnipresent. It is hence a a visible
symbol of the Ultimate Reality which is present in us and in all
objects of creation .
Siva 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
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