Hindu God Shiva : Shiva (Shiv) - the destroyer Shiva is the god of the yogis, self-controlled and celibate, while at the same time a lover of his spouse (shakti). Lord Shiva is the destroyer of the world, following Brahma the creator and Vishnu the preserver, after which Brahma again creates the world and so on. Shiva is responsible for change both in the form of death and destruction and in the positive sense of destroying the ego, the false identification with the form. This also includes the shedding of old habits and attachments. All that has a beginning by necessity must have an end. In destruction, truly nothing is destroyed but the illusion of individuality. Thus the power of destruction associated with Lord Shiva has great purifying power, both on a more personal level when problems make us see reality more clearly, as on a more universal level. Destruction opens the path for a new creation of the universe, a new opportunity for the beauty and drama of universal illusion to unfold. As Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram or Truth, Goodness and Beauty, Shiva represents the most essential goodness.

While of course many hindu deities are associated with different paths of yoga and meditation, in Shiva the art of meditation takes its most absolute form. In meditation, not only mind is stopped, everything is dropped. In deep meditation or samadhi, even the object of the meditation (like a mantra) is transformed into its formless essence, which is the essence of everything and everyone. Thus Shiva stands for letting go of everything in the world of forms. The path of Lord Shiva is the path of the ascetic yogi. Forms of Shiva Shiva has many forms, which are visible in his Panchavaktra form with 5 heads, a combination of all Shiva energies : Aghora (resides in the creamation grounds), Ishana (most often appears as the shivalingam), Tat Purusha (meditating), Varna Deva (the eternal Shiva) and Saddyojat or Braddha Rudra (the old wrathful form). The last also forms the connection to the Rudraksha mala - a rosary made of the dried fruits of the Rudraksha tree. Another form is the Nataraj.

Shiva Nataraj's dance represents both the destruction and the creation of the universe and reveals the cycles of death, birth and rebirth. His Dance of Bliss is for the welfare of the world. In the pose of Nataraj, the King of Dance is giving darshan to his beloved devotees within the "Hall of Consciousness", which is the heart of man. Under his feet, Shiva crushes the demon of ignorance called Apasmara Purusha, caused by forgetfulness. One hand is stretched across his chest and points towards the uplifted foot, indicating the release from earthly bondage of the devotee. The fire represents the final destruction of creation, but the dance of the Nataraj is also an act of creation, which arouses dormant energies and scatters the ashes of the universe in a pattern that will be the design of the ensuing creation. Yet another manifestation of Lord Shiva is said to be Hanuman , the ultimate karma yogi, in never-ending selfless service to Ram . The fact that this is not really clear can be perfectly explained by the understanding that a true karma yogi will never take the credit for his acts, as they would otherwise not be entirely selfless. The ego would still get the credit.

So, in order to respect Shiva as a true karma yogi, let us not pay too much attention to this manifestation. The Mahamrityunyaya form of Shiva is the great conqueror of death. The Mahamrityunjaya mantra is one of the two main mantras of the Vedas, next to the Gayatri mantra. It is chanted to remove death and disease. This form of Shiva also is the being of pure joy, referring to the unconditioned enjoyment of the perfectly peaceful mind. That is the true nature of the divine elixir that this Shiva offers his devotees in no less than four hands. Another main form of Shiva is Ardhnarishwara, half Shiva, half Shakti. Also related to Shiva is Indra . Attributes of Lord Shiva Hindu God Lord Shiva (Siva) - the Destroyer Hindu God Lord Shiva (Siva) - the Destroyer by Jayaram V If Brahma is the creator, Vishnu the preserver, Shiva is the quintessential destroyer. His duty is to destroy all the worlds at the end of creation and dissolve them into nothingness.

Modern theories of space do suggest the possible ending of the physical universe after some billions of years through the expansion of a gigantic black hole devouring the matter from endless galaxies. Perhaps Shiva would be the black hole performing this task. However this does not mean that Shiva would remain idle till the arrival of that time. Before the worlds really come to an end, Shiva has many things to do to keep the worlds going. His first and foremost task is to destroy many things in order to ensure the Rta or the order of the universe. Shiva's destruction is not negative. It is a positive, nourishing and constructive destruction that builds and transforms life and energy for the welfare of the world and the beings that inhabit it. He destroys in order to renew and regenerate. His destruction is the destruction of an artist, or a surgeon or a cook. Through destruction he facilitates the smooth transitions of things and events from one stage to another. He destroys our imperfections in order to ensure our spiritual progress. He destroys our illusions, desires and ignorance. He destroys our evil and negative nature. He destroys our old memories, so that we can move on with the movement of time.

He destroys our relationships, attachment, impurities, physical and mental wrong doings, the effects of bad karma, our passions and emotions and many things that stand between us and God as impediments to our progress and inner transformation. And in the end when we have made sufficient progress, when we are ready and prepared, and when we are willing without any inner conflict, he destroys death. There is no reference to Shiva in the Vedas, except as a quality. There are some hymns addressed to Rudra, a fierce storm god, the father of Maruts, who heals with his thousand medicines. (For more information about Rudra please refer the Vedic pantheon). It is said that the practice of worshipping Shiva was a non Aryan practice which was slowly incorporated into Vedic religion as an ongoing process of reconciliation with the non Aryan tribes. Shivaling Shivaling literally means the body of Shiva. Next to the symbol of AUM, it is perhaps the most potent, powerful and popular symbol in entire Hinduism. In almost all the Shiva temples, worship is generally made to Shivalingas only. Very rarely we come across his images in the sanctum sanctorum of any Shiva temple.

A Shivaling is usually a round or cylindrical and protruding object. The cylindrical part is held firmly by a circular base. On the physical plane, the object resembles the male sexual organ, suggestive of the creative power of Shiva. The circular base resembles that of the female, suggestive of his consort Parvathi. Physically a Shivaling is a phallic symbol, representing the male and female sexual organs in a state of conjugal bliss. Mentally it symbolizes the union of mind and body. Spiritually it represents the union between Purusha and Prakriti, the highest principles of the manifest universe. The Shivaling is also symbolic of the Supreme Self. It is verily Maheswara Himself, the Highest Self and the Lord of the universe. In this aspect it has three parts. The lower part represents Brahma. The middle part, which is octagonal in shape, represents Vishnu. The upper part, which is cylindrical in shape, represents Rudra and is also called Pujabhaga since it receives the actual offerings of milk and other substances. The Shivalingas are normally found installed in the temples . But many devotees of Shiva keep them in their houses and offer regular worship.

People are however cautioned not to keep Shivalingas in their houses without offering worship, since they are believed to be powerful sources of divine energy. Shivalingas are either naturally found or made artificially. Different materials are used in their making, such as clay, gold, crystal, glass, diamonds, precious stones and wood. The round and smooth stones found in the river beds of the Narmada or the Godavari are considered to be the most ideal for worship. Sometimes Shivalingas are made temporarily with clay or sandal paste and disposed of after worship. Some devotees wear Shiva lingas on their bodies or around their necks. When Shiva lingas are found fortuitously in the river beds and desolate places, it is considered to be a great omen. They are housed in temples or houses and offered regular worship. Description of Shiva Unlike Vishnu who is depicted as dark blue, Shiva is white in color, except for his neck which is dark blue. Images of him in dark blue color is however the norm. He leads a life of severe austerities. But in the images we find him tall and well built.

His body is usually besmeared with ashes, denoting his frequent rounds to the cremation grounds. He has three eyes. The third eye rests between his eye brows. It is the eye of wisdom, by opening which he destroys our false selves and our myriad illusions. In contrast to Brahma who is generally depicted as old, Shiva is usually shown either as a young or middle aged god. Though he is described in the scriptures as god of anger, in the images we generally find him in his cheerful and jovial mood. Sometimes he is depicted with a lot of innocence in his demeanor as Bholenath. He is generally shown sitting cross-legged in a yogic posture, with his eyes closed and deep in meditation. When he is shown with his eyes open, his face expresses love and compassion. The images of Shiva evoke in us deep emotions. Those who are inclined to worship god are naturally drawn to him as they hold him in their minds. Unlike Vishnu, who leads a luxurious life, surrounded by opulence, Shiva and his family lead austere lives in simple surroundings. He is a god of utter simplicity, exemplary humility and austerity. A tiger skin and an elephant skin serve as his garments.

His long matted hair is normally tied into a knot or left flowing. He has four arms. With one he holds his weapon the trident. With another, he holds Damaru, a small drum. The remaining two are held in abhaya and varada mudras (postures). The tiger and the elephant skin symbolically signify his ability to control and transform animal nature. The trident represents the three qualities, namely sattva, rajas and tamas. The damru denotes his connection with the primal sound AUM, the creation of alphabets, languages, grammar and music. His long matted hair denotes his spiritual life and his great powers. It is also compared to the night sky. He wears a garland of snakes around his neck. Sometimes we see more snakes: one across his body like a sacred thread and two acting as bracelets around his muscular hands. The snakes symbolically represents his control over desire and sensuality. Sometimes in his ferocious aspects, he is shown wearing a garland of skulls. The crescent moon adorns his hair like a silver diadem. And the Ganges flows from his head down into the world below. Though he is an ascetic, he lives with his family.

He is very fond of his consort, Parvathi, whom he married after subjecting her to a lot of tests. While Vishnu is shown as being served by Lakshmi sitting at his feet, Shiva and Parvathi are being shown as equals sharing the same seat on the snowy heights of Kailash. Parvathi is literally described as his better half sharing half of his body. This earned him the title ardhanariswara (half female half lord). Normally we find her always by his side, especially when he is seated in Kailash, sharing with him all the honors that he receives. He seems to dot on his two children, Skanda or Kumara and Lord Ganesha or Vinayaka. The Bull Nandi is his vehicle. Nandiswara is humility personified. He is very knowledgeable also. Nandi taught Hanuman the secrets of Vedas and lessons in humility! Another important member of his retinue is Bhringi, the zealous devotee who was not inclined to worship anyone other than Shiva and refused to worship even Parvathi, till he was made to realize his mistake.

Although a mountain dweller, he is not attached to anything and true to his ascetic nature, keeps wandering from place to place. Mount Kailash is his abode, where live his family, his devotees who attained liberation and his great army of goblins, imps and ghosts. Symbolism We have already explained some aspects of symbolism associated with Shiva in the previous paragraphs and in our other articles on Shiva and Trinity. Shiva symbolically represents the tamasic quality. Because of this he is called Pasupathi, (the lord of the animals). His body color which is white, denotes his purity (Shivam) and association with the snowy mountains. His three eyes represents the three worlds, the sun, the moon and the earth, the three paths of liberation and the triple nature of creation. The third eye is actually the eye of wisdom or occult knowledge. The moon that adorns his head represents the movement of time and also his cosmic proportions. With the moon there, his head becomes the night sky, for which he earned the name Vyomakesa (one who has the sky or space as his hair). His association with the moon is in contrast to Vishnu who is associated with the Sun as a solar deity.

The moon also symbolizes his association with the occult and the tantras. Shiva is generally a seated yogi, a posture with which most Hindus are familiar. However we also come across Shiva as Nataraja or tandavamurthi in a dance posture. With his hair flying in all directions and hands and feet in dynamic motion, the image of Nataraja is a symbol of harmony and rhythm. Among the objects which are associated with him popularly, apart from the trident and the Damaru, are battle axes (parasu), rosary (aksamala), pasa (noose), khatvanga (magic wand) and khadga (sword). Followers of Saivism are familiar with three words: pati, pasu and paasa. Pati is Shiva himself, the lord and husband. Pasu is the deluded self that is caught in the cycle of birth and death. Pasa is the bond that binds the pasu to this world and it gains liberation through devotion and surrender to pati. Aspects of Lord Shiva Shiva is known by several names and worshipped in various forms.

We are mentioning below some of his most famous aspects: Panchanana Shiva: In some temples Shiva is shown with five faces. Each of the faces has a name and represents a specific aspect. These five faces are Isana, Tatpurusa, Aghora, Vamadeva and Sadyojata. Isana faces south east and represents Iswara aspect 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. Vamadeva faces north. He is healer and preserver. Sadyojata 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, Kankala or 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 well 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 Sarabhesa-murthy: The form in which he allegedly fought and killed, Narasimha, the incarnation of Vishnu. Kalari-murthy: the form in which he fought and defeated Yama to save his devotee Markandeya. Kamantaka-murthy: The form in which he destroyed Manmadha, the god of 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. 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. 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 just as all the yogic postures. In case of 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 also 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 Nataraja (the king of dance). Though we have a number of icons of Shiva as Nataraja, he is rarely worshipped in this form either in the temples or in the households.

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 Urdhva-tandava-murhty, dancing in the air. Symbolism of Nataraja: Nataraja literally means lord of the dance. Shiva is the lord, the ultimate and effective cause of all creation and the dance is his act of creation, a dynamic rhythmic movement. His dance is a guided action, under his complete mastery, not an act of chaotic, random movements. The lord and the dance together constitute the projection of the ParamaShiva, the highest eternal and formless Nirguna Brahman on the canvas of his own awakened state as Saguna Brahman. Every aspect in the image of Nataraja represent an aspect of creation. The lord is surrounded on all sides by a circular ring of fire. The ring represents the whole of creation. It is finite, cyclical and filled with energy or shakti shown here as flames.

It ensues from the hands and limbs of the Lord suggestive of the fact that he is the primal and effective cause of creation. Nataraja holds a tongue of flame in his upper left hand. The fire represents the energy that is responsible for creation and also the dissolution of the worlds at the end of creation. As a creator he creates, upholds and also destroys the worlds. The upper right hand holds a drum or damaru which is a musical instrument that produces rhythmic sounds. It is suggestive of the sound of breath, the sound of life, the vibrations underlying all currents of creation and manifestation. It also represents the vibrations that arise from our thoughts, emotions, mental activity, movement of the senses and the very samsara in which the jivas continue their existence till they find an escape. The lower left hand is held in an assuring mode (abhaya-mudra) suggesting that the jivas need not have to despair and that they can escape from the impurities of samsara (anava, karma and maya) and achieve sameness (saujya) with Shiva through his grace (anugraha) and intervention.

The second right hand is shown pointing towards the downside with the palm upside drawing our attention to the figure lying beneath his feet suggesting that the lord is not holding anything back but revealing the knowledge of creation and the secrets of our bondage so that jivas can find means of escape through the assurance they find in his lower left hand. The matted hair of Shiva is shown as flying high and flowing in all directions. These are the symbols of divinities or the higher gods who live in the higher realms and participate in the cosmic dance enacted by Lord Shiva. The tiger skin worn by the deity suggests that even God has respect for the rules of right conduct and the dharma he has established in the manifest creation for the guidance of the souls. The snake around his waist enjoying the dance with a raised hood is suggestive of the kundalini-shakti that remains ever awakened in Shiva and is in unison with him. The dwarf lying at the feet of the dancing Nataraja is known as apasmara-murthy.

It symbolically represents the jiva that has forgotten about its own infiniteness and its Shiva nature because of the impurity of anava which makes it believe it to be a dwarf or anu (atomic or minute or finite being) and become a subject of the dance of creation. Thus we can see that the image of Nataraja is an iconic representation of the whole Saiva Siddhanta philosophy one of the most ancient schools of Saivism. The various aspects of the image represent the nature of Shiva, the act of creation, the state of the jivas and the means of liberation. By creating it or serving it or by contemplating upon it one can initiate the process of liberation through the grace of Shiva. 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 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). Lingodhbhava-murthy: This image signifies the importance of Shiva in the form of Linga as the Supreme Self, without a beginning and without an end. 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, 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 Vishnu. Also known as Harihara or Sankaranarayana. The images show the right half of Shiva on the right side of the image and the left half of Vishnu on the left side. Ardhanariswara: This Shiva and Parvathi together in one form signifying the unity of Purusha and Prorate. 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. Minor Deities of Shiva The minor deities are part of Shiva's Retinue.

Among them the most important are Nandi, Bhringi, Virabhadra and Chandesvara. Nandi: It is interesting to note that unlike the Vedic people who regarded the cow as sacred animal, the followers of Shiva venerate the bull! It is because Nandi, the Bull, is Shiva's vehicle. Nandi is invariably found sitting right infront of the sanctum sanctorum in every Shiva temple facing the image and looking at him all the time. In fact no one is supposed to see the chief deity in a Shiva temple without paying homage first to the seated Nandi and looking at Shiva from afar through the space between the ears and the top of his head. There are some temples in India which are exclusively built for him like the famous Nandiswara temple in Karnataka. Nandiswara in his anthromorphic form appears just like Shiva, with three eyes and four hands of which two are permanently dedicated to the veneration of Shiva while the other two carry his weapons. Symbolically Nandi represents the animal or the tamasic qualities in man which Shiva rides and transforms with his energies.

As we have already noted, Nandi is well versed in all scriptural knowledge and spiritual knowledge and imparted knowledge of devotion to Hanuman. It is a tradition in many parts of rural India to let a Bull roam free in each village as a mark of respect to Nandi and to inseminate the cows in the village. Bhringi: He was originally a demon named Andhaka, who was transformed by Shiva into a humble devotee and admitted into his force as a commander of his armies. Bhringisa was so loyal to Shiva that in his state of devotion he would not offer his worship to any one including Parvathi. It is said that when he saw once Shiva in his Ardhanariswara form, he tried to bore through the middle of the body in the form of a bee to complete his obeisance to only the Shiva side of the form, much to the annoyance of Parvathi. Bhringi who got his name thus was made to realize his mistake and change his behavior by Lord Shiva. Virabhadra He is Shiva in his ferocious mood.

Shiva manifested himself as Virabhadra, when Daksha, his father in law, ill treated and insulted his wife Sati, Daksha's own daughter, infront of a large gathering. Unable to cope with the insult, Sati immolated herself. This angered Shiva so much, that he descended upon the place of Daksha with his large army and beheaded Daksha's. The images of Virabhadra depict the anger and ferocity of Shiva in that destructive mood, wearing a garland of skulls, and with four arms holding four different kinds of weapons. Virabhadra is a warrior god who was worshipped during wars in ancient and medieval periods. He is also the principal deity of Virasaiva movement and still worshipped by many in the Karnataka region of India. Chandesvara He is an aspect of Chandi in human form later elevated to the status of divinity, to signify the connection between Shiva and Chandi, or Durga. Chandesvara is a ferocious god, holding weapons of war and ready to do battle for a divine cause. His images are generally found in a corner in all the Shiva temples.

As in case of Nandi, devotees usually visit him and pay their respects before going to see the Shivaling in the sanctum sanctorum. Suggestions for Further Reading BBC - Religions - Hinduism: Vishnu Religions Article about Vishnu, the second god in the Hindu triumvirate of Brahman, Vishnu and Shiva. On this page Print this page Who is Vishnu? Vishnu is the second god in the Hindu triumvirate (orTrimurti). The triumvirate consists of three gods who are responsible for the creation, upkeep and destruction of the world. The other two gods are Brahma and Shiva . Brahma is the creator of the universe and Shiva is the destroyer. Vishnu is the preserver and protector of the universe. His role is to return to the earth in troubled times and restore the balance of good and evil. So far, he has been incarnated nine times, but Hindus believe that he will be reincarnated one last time close to the end of this world. Vishnu's worshippers, usually called Vaishnava, consider him the greatest god. They regard the other gods as lesser or demi gods.

Vaishnava worship only Vishnu. Vishnu monotheism is called Vaishnavism. What do the ancient texts say about Vishnu? In the Rig Veda, which is the holiest of the four Vedas , Vishnu is mentioned numerous times alongside other gods, such as Indra. He is particularly associated with light and especially with the Sun. In early texts, Vishnu is not included as one of the original seven solar gods (Adityas), but in later texts he is mentioned as leading them. Vishnu © From this time, Vishnu appears to have gained more prominence, and by the time of the Brahmanas (commentaries of the Vedas), he is regarded as the most important of all gods. Two of Vishnu's incarnations, Rama and Krishna, are also the subject of the epic stories Ramayana and Mahabharata, respectively. What does Vishnu look like? Vishnu is represented with a human body, often with blue coloured skin and with four arms. His hands always carry four objects in them, representing the things he is responsible for.

The objects symbolise many more meanings than are presented here: The conch: the sound this produces 'Om', represents the primeval sound of creation The chakra, or discus: symbolises the mind The lotus flower: an example of glorious existence and liberation The mace: represents mental and physical strength Vishnu is usually represented in two positions. Standing upright on a lotus flower with Lakshmi , his consort, close by him Reclining on the coils of a serpent, with Lakshmi massaging his feet. They are surrounded by the Milky Ocean. Vishnu rides on the King of Birds, Garuda, who is an eagle. What are Vishnu's incarnations? As Rama, he kills the demon King Ravana, who abducted his wife Sita Krishna (mentally advanced man) Krishna is the hero of the Mahabharata, an epic poem. He also delivered his famous message, known as the Baghavad Gita. Buddha (the all knowing one) who appeared in the 5th century BCE. In some traditions, Balarama replaces Buddha as an incarnation of Vishnu.

Kalki Expected towards the end of this present age of decline, as a person on earth, seated on a white horse. Vishnu's incarnation as the fish Matsya © Vishnu in Hindu mythology The churning of the Milky Ocean is the story that explains how the gods finally defeated the demons and became immortal. In the story, Vishnu advised the other gods to churn the Milky Ocean in order to recover a number of lost treasures, including the elixir of immortality and Lakshmi, the goddess of success and wealth. Both of these items would enable the gods to defeat the demons who had taken taken over the universe. Knowing the gods would be unable to churn the great ocean themselves, Vishnu struck a deal with the demons. He told them they would get a share of the treasures, including the elixir of immortality, if they helped to churn. They agreed. Vishnu told the gods and demons they should use Mount Madura as a churning stick, and the giant serpent, Vasuki, as a rope. Vishnu managed to persuade the demons to hold the head of the snake, which was spitting furiously, while the gods held the tail end. The serpent was then coiled around the mountain.

Each side alternately pulled the rope then allowed it to relax, causing the mountain to rotate in the water. Before they could regain the treasures, however, there were many problems they had to face. As the gods and demons churned, the mountain began to sink into the soft sand bed of the sea. At the request of the gods, Vishnu incarnated as a turtle. He placed the mountain on his back to act as a foundation stone, thus allowing the churning to continue. Some reports say it was churned for a thousand years before anything came up. When the elixir of immortality finally rose to the surface, the demons rushed to grab it. But Vishnu assumed the form of Mohini, a beautiful woman who captivated all the demons. By sleight of hand she changed the elixir for alcohol and returned the precious liquid to the gods. The churning also brought Lakshmi forth from the ocean. She came as a beautiful woman standing on a lotus flower. Seeing all the gods before her, she chose the god she felt was most worthy of her. Vishnu and she have been inseparable since.

Lord Shiva: Destroyer of Worlds Lord Shiva: Destroyer of Worlds Lord Shiva: God of Destruction ! “Fire is His head, the sun and moon His eyes, space His ears, the Vedas His speech, the wind His breath, the universe His heart. From His feet the Earth has originated. Verily, He is the inner self of all beings.” –The Upanishads Divine Model QWD1 The QuWave Divine can help open your third eye. The solfeggio frequencies the Divine sends out (936Hz, 852Hz and 963Hz) are designed to open sections of your brain associated with spiritual and paranormal experiences. The Lord Shiva Shiva is the Hindu god of destruction. To the Hindus destruction is merely another phase in life: the three most important deities in Hinduism are Brahma (god of creation), Vishnu (god of preservation) and Shiva (god of destruction). Shiva represents consciousness itself. His wife, Shakti, represents the energy of life. He is often depicted with three eyes: the third eye, on his forehead, is the Eye of Shiva.

It is said that when the Eye of Shiva is opened, the universe is destroyed. Shiva’s devotees drink Bhang, an infusion of cannabis and milk. As an ascetic (religious monk) Shiva is known to live in a natural fashion, more akin to an animal or a hermit than a civilized man. He wears ashes on his body as a representation of death and the renunciation of life. Shiva has a variety of other symbols associated with him. He has a crescent moon (symbol of female sexuality) on his forehead, near his third eye. He carries a trident which is a symbol of the three nadis (paths of spiritual energy) converging in the head at the crown chakra. In Hindu religion there are three spiritual principles. These are known as sattva, rajas, and tamas. Sattva is the spiritual principle of spiritual light. Imagine a glowing, smiling Buddha: that is an image of sattva. Rajas is the active principle. It is the principle of worldly activity, but not necessarily spiritually-infused. Tamas is the passive principle, the principle of darkness.

Shiva is representative of spiritual tamas: holiness found even in parts of life we don’t often want to look. He is known to meditate in graveyards and wear skulls. In order to understand Shiva one must understand death and destruction as equally perfect and essential parts of life as birth and creation. One of the highest trances in yoga is known as Atma Darshan: union with the Atman, or the principle of Self. Shiva Darshan is an even higher trance: union with, and destruction of, the principle of Self into nothingness. Shiva & Meditation One story of Shiva involves his wife, Parvati, trying to draw him out of his meditation. She had self-immolated herself in another life where she was Shiva’s wife but reincarnated and was trying to draw Shiva’s attention. As a perfect yogi Shiva could not be disturbed. Parvati sent Karma Deva (similar to the Greek Cupid) to spellbind Shiva with a love arrow. Deep in meditation, Shiva, disturbed by the love arrow, burned Karma Deva to ashes. Surprised, he later revived Karma Deva and reunited with Parvati.

“Om Namah Shivaya” – Shiva’s mantra Imagine what he could have done if he had the QuWave Divine! The Divine Shiva is the perfect renunciate and perfect yogi. With the QuWave Divine you too can experience paranormal and spiritual experiences at an accelerated rate. The Divine sends out three high-frequency solfeggio channels (936Hz, 852Hz, and 963Hz) designed to attune your brain to the wavelengths associated with paranormal and spiritual experiences. The Chakra eBook Download the QuWave Divine eBook "You and Your Chakras" to get meditation techniques, methods to open your third eye, explanations of the chakras, and more. You too can get the wonderful results shown here Simply have the Divine on you when you meditate Or even better have it near you all the time • Stimulate Pineal Gland to release its power • Awaken your mystical Third Eye • Stimulate Brain's Spiritual & Psychic Centers • Wake up your 6th Chakra, the Psychic Chakra • Awaken Intuition,Enlightenment, Clairvoyance Vishnu Vishnu by Alan G. Hefner Vishnu is regarded as a major god in Hinduism and Indian mythology.

He is thought as the preserver of the universe while two other major Hindu gods Brahma and Shiva , are regarded respectively, as the creator and destroyer of the universe. The original worship of Vishnu, by the Aryan conquerors of India or the original Dravidian inhabitants is not definitely known. In the ancient Vedas, the body of literature known as the Veda, and sacred literature of the Aryan conquerors, Vishnu is ranked among the lesser gods and is usually associated with the major Vedic god Indra who in the epics and Puranas fights against dragons and demonic forces. These latter writings emerge during the later development of Hinduism. It is throughout this literature and especially through incarnations that Vishnu is raised to higher rankings within the Hindu pantheon. He becomes the prominent second god of the Trimurti, the Hindu Triad, while Brahma is first and Shiva is third. In some Puranic literature Vishnu is said to be eternal, an all-pervading spirit, and associated with the primeval waters that are believed to have been omnipresent before the creation of the universe. The concept of Vishnu being the preserver of the world came relatively late in Hinduism.

Presumedly it sprang from two other beliefs: that men attain salvation by faithfully following predetermined paths of duty, and that powers of good and evil (gods and demons) are in contention for domination over the world. When these powers are upset Vishnu, it is further believed, descends to earth, or his avatar, to equalized the powers. Further it is thought that ten such incarnations or reincarnations of Vishnu will occur. Nine descents are said to have already occurred, the tenth is yet to come. Rama and Krishna were the seventh and eighth. Another interesting speculation concerning Vishnu's role as preserver among many modern scholars is that it is characteristic of the practitioners of Hinduism to raise local legendary heroes to gods in the Hindu pantheon. Vishnu is portrayed as blue or black shinned and has four arms. He has a thousand names and their repetition is an act of devotion. Article details: Lord Shiva Destroyer of World Lord Shiva Destroyer of World Lord Shiva Shiva is the god of the yogis, self-controlled and celibate, while at the same time a lover of his spouse (shakti).

Lord Shiva is the destroyer of the world, following Brahma the creator and Vishnu the preserver, after which Brahma again creates the world and so on. Shiva is responsible for change both in the form of death and destruction and in the positive sense of destroying the ego, the false identification with the form. This also includes the shedding of old habits and attachments. See Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva All that has a beginning by necessity must have an end. In destruction, truly nothing is destroyed but the illusion of individuality. Thus the power of destruction associated with Lord Shiva has great purifying power, both on a more personal level when problems make us see reality more clearly, as on a more universal level. Destruction opens the path for a new creation of the universe, a new opportunity for the beauty and drama of universal illusion to unfold. As Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram or Truth, Goodness and Beauty, Shiva represents the most essential goodness. While of course many hindu deities are associated with different paths of yoga and meditation, in Shiva the art of meditation takes its most absolute form. In meditation, not only mind is stopped, everything is dropped.

In deep meditation or samadhi, even the object of the meditation (like a mantra) is transformed into its formless essence, which is the essence of everything and everyone. Thus Shiva stands for letting go of everything in the world of forms. The path of Lord Shiva is the path of the ascetic yogi. Forms of Shiva Shiva has many forms, which are visible in his Panchavaktra form with 5 heads, a combination of all Shiva energies : Aghora (resides in the creamation grounds), Ishana (most often appears as the shivalingam), Tat Purusha (meditating), Varna Deva (the eternal Shiva) and Saddyojat or Braddha Rudra (the old wrathful form). The last also forms the connection to the Rudraksha mala - a rosary made of the dried fruits of the Rudraksha tree. Another form is the Nataraj. Shiva Nataraj's dance represents both the destruction and the creation of the universe and reveals the cycles of death, birth and rebirth. His Dance of Bliss is for the welfare of the world.

In the pose of Nataraj, the King of Dance is giving darshan to his beloved devotees within the "Hall of Consciousness", which is the heart of man. Under his feet, Shiva crushes the demon of ignorance called Apasmara Purusha, caused by forgetfulness. One hand is stretched across his chest and points towards the uplifted foot, indicating the release from earthly bondage of the devotee. The fire represents the final destruction of creation, but the dance of the Nataraj is also an act of creation, which arouses dormant energies and scatters the ashes of the universe in a pattern that will be the design of the ensuing creation. Yet another manifestation of Lord Shiva is said to be Hanuman, the ultimate karma yogi, in never-ending selfless service to Ram. The fact that this is not really clear can be perfectly explained by the understanding that a true karma yogi will never take the credit for his acts, as they would otherwise not be entirely selfless. The ego would still get the credit. So, in order to respect Shiva as a true karma yogi, let us not pay too much attention to this manifestation.

The Mahamrityunyaya form of Shiva is the great conqueror of death. The Mahamrityunjaya mantra is one of the two main mantras of the Vedas, next to the Gayatri mantra. It is chanted to remove death and disease. This form of Shiva also is the being of pure joy, referring to the unconditioned enjoyment of the perfectly peaceful mind. That is the true nature of the divine elixir that this Shiva offers his devotees in no less than four hands. Another main form of Shiva is Ardhnarishwara, half Shiva, half Shakti. Also related to Shiva is Indra. Relationships The power or energy of Shiva is Shakti, his spouse, of which Parvati is probably the most popular form. Shiva's first wife was Sati and his second wife was Parvati. They are also known by many other names, such as Uma, Gauri, Durga, Kali, Annapurna and Shakti. His sons are Ganesha and Kartikeya. Shiva and Parvati are often shown as sitting in happy, intimate embrace. They also like to discuss philosophy.

Shiva taught Parvati on Vedanta (transcendent knowledge), while Parvati tought him Sankhya (cosmological knowledge). Both were perfected yogis. After their marriage, they left for mount Kailash and immersed themselves completely in a sexual intercourse so strong that the deity of desire Kama was reborn when their sweat mingles with his ashes. Their love was so intense that it shook the cosmos and frightened even the gods. The balance between male and female can also be obtained in marriage, when both partners complement each other to form an ultimate oneness, which is the source of creation. When Shiva does his destructive Tandava dance, Parvati is said to complement him with a slow, creative step of her own, calming him with her soft glances. While Shiva shows a wilder nature that is both ascetic and erotic, Parvati stands for the middle path of the householder. As Shiva exulted in his romantic dalliance with her, the true mother in her longed for a child. Shiva resisted the life of a householder, but Parvati's desire for it was greater than his resistance. Hence first Ganesha was born, later also Kartikay.

The Shiva Lingam Lord Shiva is conceived in his unborn, invisible form as the Shiva Lingam. The Lingam represents the male creative energy of Shiva. This main symbol of Shiva is worshipped in virtually every Hindu temple and home. The phallus is not worshipped as such, but through it Shiva is worshipped as the supreme consciousness. Embracing the base of the linga is the yoni, the female organ, as the universal energy, as Shakti, Shiva's spouse. Through profound understanding of this symbol, the mystery of creation can be understood as an act of love. When Ganga incarnated on Earth, Lord Shiva captured her in his hair to avoid that she would flood all of Earth . Shiva worshippers (Shaivites) are among India's most ascetic yogis, their body smeared with ashes, dressed in saffron colors and wearing a Rudraksha mala. The path of Shiva can thus be seen as the inward-going path, the great journey to find the self. This path is complementary to the path of Vishnu, which is the outgoing path, bringing out the self from within and letting it manifest in the universe and our lives.

Shiva Avatars The sages requested Sutji to describe about the different incarnations (Avtar) of Lord Shiva. Sutji told them that, although Lord Shiva took many incarnations (Avtar) but five of his incarnations (Avtar) were very important- Sadhojat, Namadeva, Tatpurush, Aghoresh and Ishan. 1) SADHOJAT Lord Shiva took his first incarnation (Avtar) from the physique of Lord Brahma, who was engrossed in his deep state of meditation, during the nineteenth Kalpa named Shweta Lohit. Lord Brahma gave him the name SADHOJAT and eulogized him. Later on, from the physique of Sadhojat four of his disciple manifested, whose names were Sunand, Nandan, Vishwanandan and Upanandan. All the four disciples were of fair complexion. Lord Shiva blessed Brahma and empowered him to do creation. 2) NAAMDEVA During the twentieth Kalpa named 'Rakta' the complexion of lord Brahma turned red, while he was engrossed in his meditative state.

From his body manifested an entity who also was of red complexion. Lord Brahma named him Namadeva considering him to be the incarnation (Avtar) of lord Shiva and eulogized him. Later on four sons were born to Namadeva, whose names were Viraj, Viwah, Vishok and Vishwabhawan. All of them were of red complexion just like their father Namadeva. Naamdeva Shiva alongwith his virtuous progenies blessed lord Brahma with the power of creation. 3) TATPURUSH The twenty-first Kalpa on the earth was known as 'Peetavasa'. It was named so because of the apparel of lord Brahma which were of yellow colours. Lord Brahma's prayer resulted into the manifestation of a effulgent entity. Considering this entity as Lord Shiva, Lord Brahma started chanting the mantras of Shiva Gayatri. After the chantings of the mantras, numerous entities manifested who had put on apparels of yellow colour on their body. This way the third incarnation (Avtar) of Shiva popularly known as Tatpurush manifested.

4) AGHORESH After the Peetavasa Kalp came the Shiva Kalpa. A black complexioned manifested while Lord Brahma was engrossed in his deep meditative state. Lord Brahma considering this entity as Aghor Shiva started eulogizing him. Lord Brahma's eulogization resulted into the manifestation of four more entities who had the same black complexion as that of 'Aghor Shiva'. Their names were Krishna, Krishnashikha, Krishnamukha and Krishnakanthdhari. Aghor Shiva along with those four entities blessed lord Brahma with the power of creation. 5) ISHAN During the Kalpa named Vishwaroop, manifestations of Saraswati and Ishan Shiva took place. Lord Brahma eulogized Ishan Shiva after which four divine entities named Jati, Mundi, Shikhandi and Ardhamundi manifested from Ishan Shiva. All of them blessed lord Brahma with the power of creation.

EIGHT IDOLS OF SHIVA After describing about the five chief incarnations of lord Shiva, Sutji explained about the eight famous idols of lord Shiva- Sharva, Bhava, Rudra, Ugra, Bheema, Pashupati, Ishan and Mahadeva. TEN GREAT INCARNATION OF SHIVA (DASH AVATAR) and TEN INCARNATION OF SHAKTI (DASH MAHAVIDYA) Describing about the ten incarnations and their corresponding power (Shakti), Sutji said- The first incarnation of lord Shiva was as 'Mahakal' and his Shakti was called 'Mahakali'. Lord Shiva took his second incarnation as 'Tar' and his Shakti was called 'Tara'. The third incarnation of Lord Shiva was as 'Bhuvaneshwar' and his Shakti was called 'Bhuvaneshwari'. Lord Shiva took his fourth incarnation as 'Shodash' who was also known as 'Srividdyesh' and his Shakti was called 'Shodashi' or 'Shri'.

Lord Shiva took his fifth incarnation as 'Bhairav' and his Shakti was called 'Bhairavi'. The sixth incarnation of Lord Shiva is famous as 'Chhinamastak' and his Shakti by the name of 'Chhinamasta'. Lord Shiva took his seventh incarnation as 'Dhoomvan' and his Shakti was known as 'Dhoomvati'. The eighth incarnation was as 'Baglamukh' and his Shakti as 'Baglamukhi'. The nineth incarnation of lord Shiva became famous as 'Matang' and his Shakti as 'Matangi'. Lord Shiva took his tenth incarnation as 'Kamal' and his Shakti as 'Kamala'. If these ten incarnation of Shiva are worshipped along with his ten Mahavidyas then a man attains salvation. THE ORIGIN OF ELEVEN RUDRAS Lord Shiva, later on took birth as eleven Rudras from the womb of Kashyap wife Surabhi.

The name of these eleven rudras were as follows- 1) Kapali 2) Pingal 3) Bheem 4) Virupaksha 5) Vilohit 6) Shastra 7) Ajapaad 8) Ahirbudhnya 9) Shambhu 10) Chand and 11) Bhav. These eleven Rudras fought battles with the demons and killed them. The deities were relieved after the death of the demons. They worshipped these eleven rudras to express their gratitude and indebtedness. Apart from above incarnation, Lord Shiva has taken some other incarnation also: 1. Ardhnaarishwar Avtaar 2. Nandi Avtaar 3. Sharabh Avtaar 4. Grihpati Avtaar 5. Neel Kanth & Yaksheshwar Avtaar 6. Durvasha Avtaar 7. Mahesh Avtaar 8. Hanuman Avtaar 9. Brishabh Avtaar 10. Piplaad Avtaar 11. Vaishyanath Avtaar 12.

Dwijeshwar Avtaar 13. Yatinath Avtaar 14. Krishna Darshan Avtaar 15. Awdhuteshwar Avtaar 16. Bhichhuwarya Avtaar 17. Sureshwar Avtaar 18. Bramhchoti Avtaar 19. Sunatnartak Avtaar 20. Sadhu Avtaar 21. Vibhuashwathama Avtaar 22. Kiraat Avtaar The Hindu God Known as the Destroyer of Evil & Ignorance | Our Everyday Life The Hindu God Known as the Destroyer of Evil & Ignorance by Chris Deziel One manifestation of Shiva is Nataraj, Lord of the Dance. Related Articles Famous Hindu Holy Figures In the Hindu trimurti, or three faces of God, Brahma is the creator, Vishnu the preserver and Shiva the destroyer. Shiva is known by 108 names and has many forms, some terrible and some serene.

He has the power to destroy the entire universe when it has become so overtaken by evil that only death and regeneration can restore it to wholeness. He also has the supreme wisdom to conquer ignorance. History The name Shiva comes from a Sanskrit adjective that means "pure," and the worship of Shiva goes back to the time of the Rig Veda -- the oldest book in Hinduism -- and even before. The Vedas speak of Rudra, god of the hunt and of thunderstorms, and that is still one of the names of Shiva. Shiva is more complex than Rudra, however. He is also associated with Agni, the Vedic god of fire, and Indra, the god of war. He is the only god whose origins can be traced to the pre-Aryan period in the Indus Valley. Characteristics More than any other Hindu god, Shiva is given to extremes. He is sometimes portrayed as a serene ascetic and sometimes as a wanton hedonist. He is often depicted as a householder with his eternal wife, Parvati, and their two children, Ganesha and Kartikeya.

He wears a cobra necklace to signify his dominance over nature, and has a third eye, signifying wisdom and insight. Shiva is sometimes depicted as Ardhnarishwara, conjoined with Shakti, who personifies his female aspect. This androgynous, sexual aspect of Shiva is worshipped in the form of the sacred lingam, or phallus, which is the centerpiece of the annual Maha Shivaratri festival. Lord of Wisdom and Serenity At his most serene, Shiva sits in meditation in the forest, with the Himalayas -- particularly Mount Kailash, his home -- in the background. He is the god of yogis, and in this aspect, he renounces the world and all attachment to it in favor of the bliss of samadhi, or enlightenment. Consequently, Shiva worshippers, who form a distinct sect within Hinduism called Shaivism, are the most ascetic of all Hindus. Shaivist sadhus wander the countryside dressed in saffron robes, covered in ash and seeking self realization through the inward directed practices of yoga and meditation.

Nataraj, Destroyer of Ignorance The depiction of Shiva as Nataraj, Lord of the Dance, began in south India in the 9th and 10th Centuries. As Nataraj, Shiva crushes Apasamara Purusha, the demon of ignorance and forgetfulness, under his feet. The fire that burns around him is the fire of destruction, and Shiva's dance is so complete that it reduces the world to ashes and scatters it in all directions, making possible the creation of a new world. The Dance of Shiva is also known as the Dance of Bliss. It alludes to grand cosmic cycles of creation and destruction as well as more earth-centered ones of birth and death. References Lord Shiva - The Destroyer 0 Lord Shiva , a major deity and the third god in the Hindu triumvirate, is also known as the destroyer or the transformer. The other gods in the triumvirate are Brahma – the creator and Vishnu – the preserver of the universe. It is believed that Shiva possesses the power to destroy the world in order to rid it of all evil and pave way for its recreation.

Shiva’s powers of destruction and recreation are used to destroy the illusions and imperfections of this world and change it for the better. This makes him a source of both good and evil – a supreme being who combines many contradictory elements. These contradictions are evident in the god’s various representations. The yogi who leads the life of an ascetic deep in meditation, while balancing his roles of a husband and father with his wife Parvati and his two sons Ganesha and Kartikeya . The destroyer with a ‘third eye’ who slays demons as well as the merciful god who rids the universe of vish (poison) by consuming it and sharing amrit (elixir or gift of immortality) with the gods and the asuras (demons). Another popular form of Shiva is that of the Nataraja, the Lord of Dance. Many myths and legends talk about how the energy of Shiva’s dance sustains the universe while his indulgence in the destructive Tandava dance can destroy it. Shiva means the ‘pure one’ or the ‘auspicious one’ – the Supreme Being who cannot be contaminated by the imperfections of the world.

It is believed that the very utterance of his name purifies everyone. Shiva is in fact the only god who is not affected by the three Gunas of Prakriti. In Samkhya philosophy, there are three Gunas (guiding principles) of Prakriti (universal nature). These are Sattva– forces that are responsible for purity and goodness; Rajas – all that motivates activity and passion; and Tamas, which is loosely translated as darkness – forces that promote sloth, ignorance and death. Unaffected by these principles, Shiva is said to be the only Hindu god who has no Aadi(birth or beginning) or Anta (death or end), often referred to as AadiAnanta Shiva. These beliefs help understand the god who is feared as the destroyer and loved as the merciful ‘BholeNath’. His powers and actions are better described as transformative, not simply destructive. Shiva is responsible for change – through death and through the destruction of the ego and through the shedding of old habits and material attachments. His various depictions propagate balance and harmony.

They teach one the importance of the life cycle and how one must understand and respect it in order to co-exist harmoniously with nature, society and the universe. All that has a beginning must have an end – through Shiva’s powers nothing is truly destroyed except the illusion of individuality. His transformative and purifying powers pave the way for a better reality – a beautiful new beginning along with new opportunities. As the god who constantly meditates and lives as a simple ascetic, Shiva searches and strives for a universe in perfect harmony and balance. While best known as the destroyer, Shiva truly represents hope, transformation and goodness.

Question: Which Hindu god is the "destroyer of worlds"?
Answer: Shiva