Lord Shiva Blessing Posture With Trishul

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LORD SHIVA

Lord Shiva is one of self-contained ash-smeared, principal deities of Hinduism. Considered as ultimate reality, transforming, destroying the force, principal god of the 'Trinity 'force of Hindu gods- Brahma(creator), Vishnu(preserver), Mahesh-Shiva (destroyer).

Word Shiva means,'Shi-Va 'i.e. that which is not. That which is, is a physical creation.

Shiva also means that which is pure and transcendental. He is a God who cannot be contained by space or time. He is everywhere, vast, boundless, formless, dimensionless and infinite .he is everywhere,  Lord Shiva represents the stability and stillness of spiritual reality. He is the supreme hermit god of Hinduism, still and serene, visualized as a householder with a wife and children.

Nearly 99% of the cosmos is empty- this vast emptiness in cosmos is Shiva.

Lord Shiva (Shiva Tattva )is associated with various symbols and attachments:-

"Moon" signifies mind and wisdom. The crescent moon is the waning moon indicating the eventful end of things.

"Damru"-Shiva's rattle-drum is a symbol of rhythm, energy and perfect state of mental alignment. Shiva rattles the drum to comfort Brahma's mind and purify it by pulling the focus from ego conscious state to that of inactive, soul conscious state of ethereal joy, alertness, and stillness. It reminds us of moving away from bhoga( pleasure seeking ) to yoga ( conjoining of the body with ultimate god awareness state of the soul ). Rattle drum is created by two conjoint triangles one representing material reality and other spiritual reality.

"Serpent"- The hooded cobra is a symbol of alert and still Tapasvin- the meditating Shiva who sits still and alertly watches the world and rhythms of nature around.Some scriptures equate the serpent with Patanjali who wrote

''Yogasutra''. It represents the idea of still, serene, silent spiritual soul within the God which is silently watching the moving, restless material world – the Prakriti or the goddess.

"Trishul" –the three bladed trident represents the three aspects of consciousness- waking, dreaming and sleeping.I t also represents the three gunas - 'sattva , rajas and tamas. 'It refers to the three worlds, created by Brahma and destroyed by Shiva. These are the three constructions we occupy because of Maya. 'Me '(our physical and mental body, 'Mine ' ( the wealth, property, knowledge relationship, all that we claim ownership over and control)and what that is 'not mine

"Prakriti" - all that we claim ownership over but cannot control )Shiva is the upholder of these three states and signatory of the unity of three separate realities, the three worlds of flesh, mind, and society merged by the staff into one soul.

“Ash" -Shiva smears himself with ash to remind all of the immortality of the soul. Ash outlives body and cremation fire, is a symbol of indestructible soul.- the Atma that never dies. It is created when all is destroyed but which can not be broken down further. Ash represents the ‘destruction’ as well as ‘permanence’- the unchanging truth of the immortal soul released when the matter is destroyed.

" Tripundra" - is the sacred mark of three horizontal lines of ash on Shiva's head representing the three worlds that are deconstructed and destroyed by Shiva's third eye of wisdom, a state of inertia which states that nothing is to be done actively to destroy the three worlds of Brahma. The horizontal orientation

"Shiv linga" Lord Shiva is worshipped symbolically as a linga, a self-stirred phallus of a Tapasvin. It is a physical expression of mind focusing upwards on ( Chitta)engaging in the tranquility of discovering nature and divinity.I t is a still pillar of consciousness and fire. The 'sat-Chitta-Ananda 'liberated state, away from acquiring material pursuits. Some equate mitt is a fertility symbol. He who destroys is a creator. The erect phallus is a visual representation of spiritual bliss, born of self-containment in a meditative state with closed meditative eyes shut away from material pursuits.

"Tiger skin" - It is reminiscent of the tiger, killed fearlessly by Shiva. Nature frightens Brahma but Shiva subjugated nature crushing its intimidation.H e observes nature like a still and alert serpent coiled around his neck. Shiva is dressed in animal hide befitting his role as an ascetic. Use of animal hide suggests Shiva does not wear man wilderness provides.

"Rudraksha" - seeds of Elaeocarpus tree commonly found in foothills of Himalayas are symbols of celibacy and continence. They bestow potential spiritual power. Called 'gaze of Shiva'. Rudraksha string also represents the withdrawal of possibilities.

"Ganga" - means knowledge. The knowledge that purifies your soul. Head is the symbol of knowledge. Shiva bears the river goddess Ganga on top of his head. Shiva matted hair stills the turbulent river Ganga and makes the flow of river gentle so that it cannot overwhelm the world and mind with her flow.

The "3rd eye" is associated with alertness, awareness and transcendental wisdom free of all desires. It represents disdain for desire, the indifference for things that are desirable as well as things that are undesirable. His third eye release flame that destroyed ‘Karma’

“Half Open Eyes” – indicates the withdrawn, hesitant engagement of Lord Shiva with the worldly matters following his marriage to goddess Parvati. His closed eyes represent the disconnect from the outside world. He refuses his observation of the world and his indifference to Karma, to Yama and Tripura.

"Nandi" -the bull, his vehicle represents Shiva's autonomy and capability. Nandi also represents indifference and freedom. He is a potent power of the hermit ascetic who is a non-interfering and least concerned relationship with society.

"Bel - Bilwa leaves"- Shiva is offered the three-leaved sprig of Bilva. The bilwa spring on Shiva’s throat has three leaves United at the stem to declare the unit of three separate realities of Prakriti (my self, my world, the rest of the world) into one soul that is represented by the stem of the twig. The stem is the wisdom or the soul conscious state of mind that we seek from the spiritual teachers which help us recognize the realities of ‘Maya’ and ‘Moksha’.

‘Clay Pipe’ – used to smoke hemp and withdraw further from material reality.

‘Janeo’- the sacred thread he wears over the left shoulder is indicative of his Vedic wisdom.

‘Mountains’ – Shiva is surrounded by ice-covered mountains as all heat is locked within Shiva’s body following his withdrawal from the surrounding material world.

SHIVA IS KNOWN BY VARIOUS NAMES

"Pashupati" Shiva reveals the power of higher brain over the animal brain thus called Pashupati, master of animal instincts.

"Yamantaka" Shiva is Yamantaka, the killer of Yama- who supervises the death and birth of man so Shiva wants nothing. By destroying Yama he destroys Karma, that which rotates the wheel of life. No death, no rebirth.

‘Kamantaka’ – Siva is the destroyer of Karma-the god who provokes in us desire for things.

‘Tripurantaka’ – The destroyer of three subjective worlds- the earth, atmosphere, and sky.

"Mrityunjaya" he is mrityunjaya , one who helps to overpower death.

"Yogeshwar" chanting of Om Namah Shivaya bequeaths health and stability. Thus Shiva called Yogeshwar. Master of the serpent, also known by name of Patanjali who wrote 'Yogsutra'.

"Ardhanareshwar" Shiva's body is merged with Shakti ( Parvati) so Shiva is a half woman.

"Bhole Nath" a simpleton sage who has no guile.

‘Neelkanth’- Lord Shiva as ‘Shankara’ the householder restricts the poison’ Halahal’ (he consumed to save the world that erupted after, ‘Samundra Manthan’) to the throat area which turned his throat blue. Thus called Neelkanth.

‘Natraja’- Shiva is the Lord of dance and theater.

-He performs ‘Tandava’(aggressive masculine dance) in an angry state of mind when sages attacked him after watching him naked.

-He raised left foot above the ground pointing to the moving left foot with his hand draws attention to the impermanent existence of material world.

-Shiva is ‘Ekpada’ who balances himself firmly on one- ( right leg). The right side represents still and stable spiritual reality. He points towards the futility of transient material reality that breeds fears and insecurities.

-His raised right hand signifies fearlessness. 

BENEFITS OF WORSHIPPING SHIVA

-Worshipping Shiva assures deliverance from all ailments, stresses and negativity.

- Destroyed Maya and promotes vairagya (detachment).

- He offers wisdom to outgrow all fears and grant libration ( The Moksha).

Suggested Religious Literature

1- By Shiv Tandav Stotra

Jatatavigalajjala pravahapavitasthale Galeavalambya lambitam bhujangatungamalikam Damad damad damaddama ninadavadamarvayam Chakara chandtandavam tanotu nah shivah shivam II1II

Jata kata hasambhrama bhramanilimpanirjhari Vilolavichivalarai virajamanamurdhani Dhagadhagadhagajjva lalalata pattapavake Kishora chandrashekhare ratih pratikshanam mama II2II

Dharadharendrana ndinivilasabandhubandhura Sphuradigantasantati pramodamanamanase Krupakatakshadhorani nirudhadurdharapadi Kvachidigambare manovinodametuvastuni II3II

Jata bhujan gapingala sphuratphanamaniprabha Kadambakunkuma dravapralipta digvadhumukhe Madandha sindhu rasphuratvagutariyamedure Mano vinodamadbhutam bibhartu bhutabhartari II4II

Sahasra lochana prabhritya sheshalekhashekhara Prasuna dhulidhorani vidhusaranghripithabhuh Bhujangaraja malaya nibaddhajatajutaka Shriyai chiraya jayatam chakora bandhushekharah II5II

Lalata chatvarajvaladhanajnjayasphulingabha Nipitapajnchasayakam namannilimpanayakam Sudha mayukha lekhaya virajamanashekharam Maha kapali sampade shirojatalamastu nah II6II

Karala bhala pattikadhagaddhagaddhagajjvala Ddhanajnjaya hutikruta prachandapajnchasayake Dharadharendra nandini kuchagrachitrapatraka Prakalpanaikashilpini trilochane ratirmama II7II

Navina megha mandali niruddhadurdharasphurat Kuhu nishithinitamah prabandhabaddhakandharah Nilimpanirjhari dharastanotu krutti sindhurah Kalanidhanabandhurah shriyam jagaddhurandharah II8II

Praphulla nila pankaja prapajnchakalimchatha Vdambi kanthakandali raruchi prabaddhakandharam Smarachchidam purachchhidam bhavachchidam makhachchidam Gajachchidandhakachidam tamamtakachchidam bhaje II9II

Akharvagarvasarvamangala kalakadambamajnjari Rasapravaha madhuri vijrumbhana madhuvratam Smarantakam purantakam bhavantakam makhantakam Gajantakandhakantakam tamantakantakam bhaje II10II

Jayatvadabhravibhrama bhramadbhujangamasafur Dhigdhigdhi nirgamatkarala bhaal havyavat Dhimiddhimiddhimidhva nanmrudangatungamangala Dhvanikramapravartita prachanda tandavah shivah II11II

Drushadvichitratalpayor bhujanga mauktikasrajor Garishtharatnaloshthayoh suhrudvipakshapakshayoh Trushnaravindachakshushoh prajamahimahendrayoh Sama pravartayanmanah kada sadashivam bhaje II12II

Kada nilimpanirjhari nikujnjakotare vasanh Vimuktadurmatih sada shirah sthamajnjalim vahanh Vimuktalolalochano lalamabhalalagnakah Shiveti mantramuchcharan sada sukhi bhavamyaham II13II

Imam hi nityameva muktamuttamottamam stavam Pathansmaran bruvannaro vishuddhimeti santatam Hare gurau subhaktimashu yati nanyatha gatim Vimohanam hi dehinam sushankarasya chintanam II14II

Puja vasanasamaye dashavaktragitam Yah shambhupujanaparam pathati pradoshhe Tasya sthiram rathagajendraturangayuktam Lakshmim sadaiva sumukhim pradadati shambhuh II15II

In Hindi

जटाटवीगलज्जलप्रवाहपाववतस्थले

गलेऽवलम्ब्यलम्बिताांभुजङ्गतुङ्गमावलकाम्।

डमड्डमड्डमड्डमविनादवड्डमववयां

चकार चण्डताण्डवांतनोतुनः विवः विवम्॥१॥

जटाकटाहसम्भ्रमभ्रमविवलम्पवनर्वरी_

ववलोलवीवचवल्लरीववराजमानमूर्ववन ।

र्गद्धगद्धगज्जलल्ललाटपट्टपावके

किोरचन्द्रिेखरेरवतः प्रवतक्षणांमम ॥२॥

र्रार्रेन्द्रनम्बिनीववलासबन्धुबन्धुर

स्फु रविगन्तसन्तवतप्रमोदमानमानसे।

कृपाकटाक्षर्ोरणीवनरुद्धदुर्वरापवद

क्ववचविगिरेमनो ववनोदमेतुवस्तुवन ॥३॥

जटाभुजङ्गवपङ्गलस्फु रत्फणामवणप्रभा

कदिकु ङ् कु मद्रवप्रवलप्तवदग्वर्ूमुखे।

मदान्धवसन्धुरस्फुरत्त्वगुत्तरीयमेदुरे

मनो ववनोदमद्भुतांवबभतुवभूतभतवरर ॥४॥

सहस्रलोचनप्रभृत्यिेषलेखिेखर

प्रसूनर्ूवलर्ोरणी ववर्ूसराङ् विपीठभूः |

भुजङ्गराजमालया वनबद्धजाटजूटक

वियैवचराय जायताांचकोरबन्धुिेखरः ||५||

ललाटचत्वरज्वलद्धनञ्जयस्फु वलङ्गभा

वनपीतपञ्चसायकां नमविवलम्पनायकम्|

सुर्ामयूखलेखया ववराजमानिेखरां

महाकपावलसम्पदेविरोजटालमस्तुनः ||६||

करालभालपवट्टकार्गद्र्गद्र्गज्ज्वलद्_

र्नञ्जयाहुतीकृ तप्रचण्डपञ्चसायके ।

र्रार्रेन्द्रनम्बिनीकु चाग्रवचत्रपत्रक

प्रकल्पनैकविम्बल्पवन वत्रलोचनेरवतमवम ॥७॥

नवीनमेघमण्डली वनरुद्र्दुर्वरस्फुरत्_

कु हूवनिीवथनीतमः प्रबन्धबद्धकन्धरः ।

वनवलम्पवनर्वरीर्रस्तनोतुकृ वत्तवसन्धुरः

कलावनर्ानबन्धुरः वियांजगद्र्ुरांर्रः ॥८॥

प्रफु ल्लनीलपङ्कजप्रपञ्चकावलमप्रभा_

वलम्बिकण्ठकिलीरुवचप्रबद्धकन्धरम्।

स्मरम्बिदांपुरम्बिदांभवम्बिदां मखम्बिदां

गजम्बिदान्धकम्बिदांतमन्तकम्बिदांभजे॥९॥

अखववसववमङ्गलाकलाकदिमञ्जरी_

रसप्रवाहमार्ुरीववजृम्भणामर्ुव्रतम्।

स्मरान्तकां पुरान्तकां भवान्तकां मखान्तकां

गजान्तकान्धकान्तकां तमन्तकान्तकां भजे॥१०॥

जयत्वदभ्रववभ्रमभ्रमद्भुजङ्गमश्वसद्_

वववनगवमत्क्रमस्फु रत्करालभालहव्यवाट्।

वर्वमम्बद्धवमम्बद्धवमध्वनन्मृदङ्गतुङ्गमङ्गल_

ध्ववनक्रमप्रववतवतप्रचण्डताण्डवः विवः ॥११॥

स्पृषविवचत्रतल्पयोभुवजङ्गमौम्बिकस्रजोर्_

गररष्ठरत्नलोष्ठयोः सुहृविपक्षपक्षयोः ।

तृणारवविचक्षुषोः प्रजामहीमहेन्द्रयोः

समप्रवृवत्तकः कदा सदाविवांभजाम्यहम्॥१२॥

कदा वनवलम्पवनर्वरीवनकु ञ्जकोटरेवसन्

ववमुिदुमववतः सदा विरस्थमञ्जवलांवहन्।

ववमुिलोललोचनो ललामभाललग्नकः

विवेवत मन्त्रमुच्चरन्कदा सुखी भवाम्यहम्॥१३॥

इदम्वह वनत्यमेवमुिमुत्तमोत्तमांस्तवां

पठन्स्स्मरन्स्रुविरो वविुम्बद्धमेवतसांततम्।

हरेगुरौ सुभम्बिमािुयावत नान्यथा गवतां

ववमोहनांवह देवहनाांसुिङ्करस्य वचन्तनम्॥१४॥

पूजावसानसमयेदिवक्त्रगीतांयः

िम्भुपूजनपरां पठवत प्रदोषे।

तस्य म्बस्थराांरथगजेन्द्रतुरङ्गयुिाां

लक्ष्ी ांसदैव सुमुखी ांप्रददावत िम्भुः ॥१५॥

इवत िीरावण – कृ तम्विव – ताण्दव स्तोत्रम्सम्पूणवम

2- By Shiv Chalisa