Shiva Last updated On this page Find out more Page options Print this page. Who is Shiva? Hindus who worship Shiva as their primary god are members of the Shaivism sect. What does Shiva look like? Shiva is represented with the following features: A third eye The extra eye represents the wisdom and insight that Shiva has.
It is also believed to be the source of his untamed energy. On one occasion, when Shiva was distracted in the midst of worship by the love god, Kama, Shiva opened his third eye in anger. Kama was consumed by the fire that poured forth, and only returned to life when Parvati intervened. A cobra necklace This signifies Shiva's power over the most dangerous creatures in the world.
Some traditions also say that the snake represents Shiva's power of destruction and recreation. The snake sheds its skin to make way for new, smooth skin. The vibhuti The vibhuti are three lines drawn horizontally across the forehead in white ash. They represent Shiva's all-pervading nature, his superhuman power and wealth. Also, they cover up his powerful third eye. Members of Shaivism often draw vibhuti lines across their forehead.
The trident The three-pronged trident represents the three functions of the Hindu triumvirate. Even though Shiva is the destroyer, he is usually represented as smiling and tranquil. Other representations Shiva is sometimes represented as half man, half woman. Who is he linked with? Hindus believe Shiva and Parvati live in the Kailash mountains in the Himalayas.
Daksha's curse started showing its effects after Chandra gradually started losing his glow and shrinking in size. Fearing that he would cease to exist, Chandra rushed to Lord Brahma for help, who then suggested he must pray to Lord Shiva.
Chandra offered his prayers to Lord Shiva until the latter was pleased by his devotion. But since the curse of Daksha had already shown its effects, Lord Shiva couldn't revoke it entirely but blessed Chandra the powers to retain his form gradually. Hence, the Full Moon Purnima appears approximately once in fifteen days after growing in size and then slowly shrinks until it disappears Amavasya. And since Lord Shiva saved Chandra from losing his form, he is also known as Somnath. Moreover, he is also referred to as Chandra Shekhar because the crescent moon adorns his matted locks.
Here, you would do well to remember that turmeric and basil leaves are two things that should never be offered to Lord Shiva. While performing the puja, keep 4 or 8 green bangles on the plate of offering. After the puja is over, offer the green bangles to Goddess Parvati. After offering, hold those bangles in your hands. Doing this ritual is said to increase the love between husband and wife. Vedanta metaphysics was allegorised so that paramatma was not just an abstract concept; it was personified in godhead.
In the Shvetavastra Upanishad, Shiva is without doubt Brahman, the cosmic consciousness. With this association, Vedism transformed into what is now known as classical Hinduism. It was a transformation that ensured that Vedic ideology survived the Buddhist and Jain onslaught. The Vedic gods, such as Indra and Agni, were sidelined.
All attention was given to Shiva and Vishnu, forms of godhead, whose story was told and retold and finally compiled in Sanskrit chronicles known as the Puranas. The middle ages saw great rivalry between Shiva-worshippers and Vishnu-worshippers.
The theme is reversed in the Vishnu Purana and the Matysa Purana. So great was the rivalry that Vishnu-worshippers wore vertical caste marks while Shiva-worshippers wore horizontal caste marks; Vishnu-worshippers painted their house with vertical strokes while Shiva-worshippers painted their houses with horizontal strokes; Vishnu-worshippers kept the Tulsi in their house while Shiva-worshippers kept the Bilva plant.
People who worshipped Vishnu refused to marry or dine with those who worshipped Shiva. There were, of course, many attempts at reconciliation such as the cult of Hari-Hara, the simultaneous worship of Vishnu and Shiva, that become popular around the fifteenth century.
Even the sixteenth-century classic, Tulsi Ramayana, makes an overt attempt to show that Shiva and Vishnu are one and the same Godhead that cares for humanity. Today, the rivalry between Shiva-worshippers and Vishnu-worshippers is not very evident except perhaps in the temple complexes of Tamil Nadu and in the traditions of the Iyers and the Iyengars.
The concept of Shiva constructed by sacred stories, symbols and rituals is quite different from the idea of Vishnu. Shiva is always a reluctant groom whom the goddess has to force into marriage. Vishnu, on the other hand, is surrounded by women. As Rama, he protects them. As Krishna, he flirts with them. While Shiva is associated with snow-capped mountains and caves and crematoriums, Vishnu is associated with meadows and rivers and battlefields.
Whereas Shiva surrounds himself with dogs, bulls, ashes, skulls, animal skins and narcotics, Vishnu is found amid cows, horses, silks, flowers, pearls, gold and sandal paste.
Shiva does not want to be part of society; Vishnu, on the other hand, establishes the code of conduct for society. In temples, Vishnu is visualised as a king. His anthropomorphic image is bedecked with gold and devotees can see him only from afar. Shiva, on the other hand, is enshrined in open temples. Devotees are free to walk in and pour water on the oval stone or cylinder that represents him.
0コメント