|| OM NAMAH SHIVAYA ||
Spiritual Significance of Lord Shiva
Spiritual Significance of Lord Shiva
DEPICTION OF LORD SHIVA'S APPEARANCE
Lord Shiva is reckoned among the Tridevas (trimity). Brahma is the
creator, Lord Vishnu is the preserver and Lord Shiva is the
destroyer. Shiva is the lord of Shakti also.
SCRIPTURAL APPEARANCE
VAMANGE CHAVIBHATI BHUDHARASUTADEVAYAGAMASTAKE |
BHALE BALA VIDHURGALE CHA GARALAM YASYORASIVYALARATA||
SOAYAMAM BHUTI VIBHUSHANAH SURA
VARAMSARVADHIYAH SARVADA,
SHARVAH SAVAGATAH SHIVAM SHASHINIMAH
SHRI SHANKARH SHATUMAM ||
Meaning : That Lord Shiva who has on his left side Mother Parvati,
who has Ganges and moon on his forehead, who has poison in the
throat and cobras on the chest, such an ommipresent greater than the
gods, Lord Shiva may protect me.
Now, let us consider this scriptural form of Lord Shiva, with
scientific view and see what does God want to preach the common
people.
WHY JAGDAMBA PARVATI IS PRESENT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF SHIVA
Jagdamba Parvati is the form of power. Lord Shiva always keeps her
on to his left side, because, he himself remains in a state of
Tapasya (meditation). People and scriptures too, assume that the
left part of the males is inauspicious and trouble-causing. Where as
Parvati is the form of power and thus always auspicious. Hence, in
order to destroy all the inauspiciousness and obstacles, Lord Shiva
keeps Parvati on his left side. Besides, Lord Shiva is himself a
form of inauspiciousness as :
AMANGALYAM SHEELAM TAVABHAVATU NAMAIVAMAKHILAM |
TATHAPI SMARTRINAMA VARADA PARAMAM MANGAMASI ||
Meaning : It is famous in the whole world that Lord Shiva is
inauspicious,but a giver of all kinds of auspiciousness.
Nevertheless, He is the giver of all kinds of auspiciousness for
those who remember him. This virtue is because of Parvatis presence
with him.
Thus acting on the principle :
NARYASTU YATRA PUJYANTE RAMANTE TATRA DEVATAH
That is where the womanfolk is worshipped, the gods stays there,
Lord Shiva preaches the same to his devotees, that if they respecta
woman, all the inauspiciousness all the hurdles, would be removed
automatically.
WHY MOTHER GANGA ON THE HEAD
The Ganges, the most sacred river in India, shows coolness, holiness
and serenity. Lord Shiva holds her on his head, thus preaching the
devotees that if they bear coolness, holiness and serenity in their
head i.e. if they give up anger, envy and disturbance that haunts
their mind they will achieve all kinds of perfections and successes.
WHY THE NEW MOON ON THE FOREHEAD
The moon is shinning but cool celestial body. Lord Shiva wears it on
his forehead, thus preaching for peaceful mind and forsightedness.
If decision is taken with cool peaceful mind and far sightedness,
all the tasks will be completed successfully and an increment occurs
in one's honour.
MEANING OF POISON IN THE THROAT
When the Gods and Demons unitedly churned the sea, it was the poison
that came out first. Seeing the lethal poison, both the gods and the
demons got nervous and reached to Lord Shiva and prayed him to hold
it. Lord Ashutosh (Shiva) agreed to their prayers and swallowed the
deadly poison. That poison, however, did not reach God's stomach,
instead it stuck in the throat turning it blue.
Thus, holding the poison in the neck, Lord Shiva preaches that one
should not contain poison in his belly for the other. It also means
that one should not even wish ill for the others, leave apart doing.
Speaking harsh words is however other thing, but one should not
cultivate the feelings of envy and enemity for the others.
WHY IS THE SNAKE ON THE CHEST ?
It is very strange that people are usually scared of snakes because
these are poisonous creatures. In scriptures and in practical life,
snake is given a name Kaala i.e. the death. But Lord Shiva bears
snakes on his chest. Thus he preaches the people that if they do not
engage their mind and intellect in the worship of God, death is
always facing them. If you keep your mind and intellect busy in
prayers and worship, even death can do no harm to you. Instead it
would become a means to adorn you.
The reason of having a snake around his chest is that, VISHASYAA
VISHAMAUSHDHAMA, i.e. the best antidote for poison is poison itself.
Hence to cancel the effect of the poison Lord Shiva has worn
poisonous snakes around his shoulders.
WHY IS THE OX THE VEHICLE OF LORD SHIVA ?
Scriptures assume the ox as an incarnation of Dharmraj as is
mentioned in Parikshita Kaliyugaprasanga that Kaliyuga is killing
the Dharma which is in oxen form.Sage Manu also writes :
VRISHO HIBHAGAWANA DHARMASTASYAYAHKURUT ALUM |
VRISHANAM TAM VIDURDE VASTASMADDHAMA NA LOPAYETA ||
Meaning : An Ox is a different incarnation of the Dharma god,
whoever kills it must be taken as a sinner. Hence, one must not
cause the disappearance of Dharma. Riding the Ox, Lord Shiva
preaches the people that -
DHARMO RAKSHATI RAKSHITAH
Meaning : The protected religion protects the follower. Hence,
follow the religious path, no shield is better than it.
DESCRIPTION OF SHIVA PARIVARA
Shiva-Parivara is a conglomerate of strange things. Lord Shiva has
Ox as his vehicle and snake as garland. As against it, Parvati, who
is the form of Shakti (power) has lion as vehicle. Lion is a natural
enemy of OX. Kartikeya's vehicle is a Peacock,who is an ememy of the
snakes who adorns Lord Shiva's chest.Ganesh has the mouse as his
vehicle. The mouse is a natural prey of the snake.
But amidst these strange diversities Lord Shiva remains submerged in
his Sadhana with full concentration. In the world created by Lord
Brahma, all the creatures are different from one another. Hence, it
is natural that their intellect and thoughts, would be different as
well. Thus if unity is maintained in a combined family despite
myriad diversities and controversies. The family would never face
any wrath on the purpose of(Sadhana) and the means (Sadhan) to
achieve it.
Secondly, even the naturally violent animals give up their instincts
in an environment where penance and spiritual Sadhana are performed.
It preaches then that if one wishes to live peacefully amidst the
diversity of the world. Penance and Sadhana are must.
Apart from Shiva-Parivara many sages also put beautiful examples of
the above-mentioned unity in diversity. Those sages and hermits used
to live and penance in the huts made in and surrounded by the
jungles. With the effect of their penance, it was said the violent
animals also used to abandon their natural instinct of violence and
all of them then used to roam freely without fear.
From: www.urday.com/shivg.htm and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/om_namah_shivaya_group
Lord Shiva is reckoned among the Tridevas (trimity). Brahma is the
creator, Lord Vishnu is the preserver and Lord Shiva is the
destroyer. Shiva is the lord of Shakti also.
SCRIPTURAL APPEARANCE
VAMANGE CHAVIBHATI BHUDHARASUTADEVAYAGAMASTAKE |
BHALE BALA VIDHURGALE CHA GARALAM YASYORASIVYALARATA||
SOAYAMAM BHUTI VIBHUSHANAH SURA
VARAMSARVADHIYAH SARVADA,
SHARVAH SAVAGATAH SHIVAM SHASHINIMAH
SHRI SHANKARH SHATUMAM ||
Meaning : That Lord Shiva who has on his left side Mother Parvati,
who has Ganges and moon on his forehead, who has poison in the
throat and cobras on the chest, such an ommipresent greater than the
gods, Lord Shiva may protect me.
Now, let us consider this scriptural form of Lord Shiva, with
scientific view and see what does God want to preach the common
people.
WHY JAGDAMBA PARVATI IS PRESENT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF SHIVA
on to his left side, because, he himself remains in a state of
Tapasya (meditation). People and scriptures too, assume that the
left part of the males is inauspicious and trouble-causing. Where as
Parvati is the form of power and thus always auspicious. Hence, in
order to destroy all the inauspiciousness and obstacles, Lord Shiva
keeps Parvati on his left side. Besides, Lord Shiva is himself a
form of inauspiciousness as :
AMANGALYAM SHEELAM TAVABHAVATU NAMAIVAMAKHILAM |
TATHAPI SMARTRINAMA VARADA PARAMAM MANGAMASI ||
Meaning : It is famous in the whole world that Lord Shiva is
inauspicious,but a giver of all kinds of auspiciousness.
Nevertheless, He is the giver of all kinds of auspiciousness for
those who remember him. This virtue is because of Parvatis presence
with him.
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NARYASTU YATRA PUJYANTE RAMANTE TATRA DEVATAH
That is where the womanfolk is worshipped, the gods stays there,
Lord Shiva preaches the same to his devotees, that if they respecta
woman, all the inauspiciousness all the hurdles, would be removed
automatically.
WHY MOTHER GANGA ON THE HEAD
The Ganges, the most sacred river in India, shows coolness, holiness
and serenity. Lord Shiva holds her on his head, thus preaching the
devotees that if they bear coolness, holiness and serenity in their
head i.e. if they give up anger, envy and disturbance that haunts
their mind they will achieve all kinds of perfections and successes.
WHY THE NEW MOON ON THE FOREHEAD
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The moon is shinning but cool celestial body. Lord Shiva wears it on
his forehead, thus preaching for peaceful mind and forsightedness.
If decision is taken with cool peaceful mind and far sightedness,
all the tasks will be completed successfully and an increment occurs
in one's honour.
MEANING OF POISON IN THE THROAT
When the Gods and Demons unitedly churned the sea, it was the poison
that came out first. Seeing the lethal poison, both the gods and the
demons got nervous and reached to Lord Shiva and prayed him to hold
it. Lord Ashutosh (Shiva) agreed to their prayers and swallowed the
deadly poison. That poison, however, did not reach God's stomach,
instead it stuck in the throat turning it blue.
Thus, holding the poison in the neck, Lord Shiva preaches that one
should not contain poison in his belly for the other. It also means
that one should not even wish ill for the others, leave apart doing.
Speaking harsh words is however other thing, but one should not
cultivate the feelings of envy and enemity for the others.
WHY IS THE SNAKE ON THE CHEST ?
these are poisonous creatures. In scriptures and in practical life,
snake is given a name Kaala i.e. the death. But Lord Shiva bears
snakes on his chest. Thus he preaches the people that if they do not
engage their mind and intellect in the worship of God, death is
always facing them. If you keep your mind and intellect busy in
prayers and worship, even death can do no harm to you. Instead it
would become a means to adorn you.
The reason of having a snake around his chest is that, VISHASYAA
VISHAMAUSHDHAMA, i.e. the best antidote for poison is poison itself.
Hence to cancel the effect of the poison Lord Shiva has worn
poisonous snakes around his shoulders.
WHY IS THE OX THE VEHICLE OF LORD SHIVA ?
Scriptures assume the ox as an incarnation of Dharmraj as is
mentioned in Parikshita Kaliyugaprasanga that Kaliyuga is killing
the Dharma which is in oxen form.Sage Manu also writes :
VRISHO HIBHAGAWANA DHARMASTASYAYAHKURUT ALUM |
VRISHANAM TAM VIDURDE VASTASMADDHAMA NA LOPAYETA ||
Meaning : An Ox is a different incarnation of the Dharma god,
whoever kills it must be taken as a sinner. Hence, one must not
cause the disappearance of Dharma. Riding the Ox, Lord Shiva
preaches the people that -
DHARMO RAKSHATI RAKSHITAH
Meaning : The protected religion protects the follower. Hence,
follow the religious path, no shield is better than it.
DESCRIPTION OF SHIVA PARIVARA
Shiva-Parivara is a conglomerate of strange things. Lord Shiva has
Ox as his vehicle and snake as garland. As against it, Parvati, who
is the form of Shakti (power) has lion as vehicle. Lion is a natural
enemy of OX. Kartikeya's vehicle is a Peacock,who is an ememy of the
snakes who adorns Lord Shiva's chest.Ganesh has the mouse as his
vehicle. The mouse is a natural prey of the snake.
But amidst these strange diversities Lord Shiva remains submerged in
his Sadhana with full concentration. In the world created by Lord
Brahma, all the creatures are different from one another. Hence, it
is natural that their intellect and thoughts, would be different as
well. Thus if unity is maintained in a combined family despite
myriad diversities and controversies. The family would never face
any wrath on the purpose of(Sadhana) and the means (Sadhan) to
achieve it.
Secondly, even the naturally violent animals give up their instincts
in an environment where penance and spiritual Sadhana are performed.
It preaches then that if one wishes to live peacefully amidst the
diversity of the world. Penance and Sadhana are must.
Apart from Shiva-Parivara many sages also put beautiful examples of
the above-mentioned unity in diversity. Those sages and hermits used
to live and penance in the huts made in and surrounded by the
jungles. With the effect of their penance, it was said the violent
animals also used to abandon their natural instinct of violence and
all of them then used to roam freely without fear.
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From: www.urday.com/shivg.htm and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/om_namah_shivaya_group
# posted by devishakti_india @ 3:45 AM 
