Lord Shiva facts
5 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT LORD SHIVA YOU MAY NOT KNOW
Shiva, the one-third of the holy trinity of Hindu dharma is often the subject of folklore, mysticism, simple living and of course- anger. Lord Shiva can be described as the beginning, the blackness and void from where everything started and everything will eventually culminate into. Shiva has long been described as an ascetic, a yogi or even Adiyogi. Known for his generous boons, forgiving nature, simple living as well as feared for his anger Shiva is a complex entity.
Shiva is considered to be the origin of everything. SHIVA is described as ‘Tatwaateetaha Paraatmaham, Mayaateetaha Paraha Shivaha, Mayaateetaha Paramjyotir, Ahame Vaaham Avyayaha’ literally meaning, ‘ I am beyond all philosophies, beyond the Universe, I am an Eternal Light, I am inexhaustible forever’.
1. Origin of Shiva
According to Shiva Purana, after the creation of the world and Bhramanda, Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu were both arguing about their powers. Both of them wanted to prove that one is mightier than the other. Right then, amidst the heated discussion, an inexplicable blazing pillar appeared in front of them, whose roots and tip were not visible. The roots seemed to penetrate deep into the earth with the tip piercing into the skies beyond eternity. Amazed by the view of this pillar, both the Lords wondered about this third entity that stood there, challenging both of their supremacy. Now their argument had subdued and they started discussing how to find out more about this new entity. Both Brahma and Vishnu set out to locate the start and end of that pillar.
2. Shiva – The first Yogi
Many, like Sadhguru, believe Shiva was the Adiyogi. Yoga being the science and technology to know the essential nature of how this life is created and how it can be taken to its ultimate possibility. Sadhguru says “This first transmission of yogic sciences happened on the banks of Kanti Sarovar, a glacial lake a few miles beyond Kedarnath in the Himalayas, where Adiyogi began a systematic exposition of this inner technology to his first seven disciples, celebrated today as the Saptarishi. This predates all religions. Before people devised divisive ways of fracturing humanity to a point where it seems almost impossible to fix, the most powerful tools necessary to raise human consciousness were realized and propagated.”
3. Shiva exists in 3 states
1.Nirgun: In this state he is formless, and the whole universe and creation lie in the pervasiveness of Shiva.
2.Saguna: In the Saguna state Shiva is the entire universe and his “ansh” is present in the tree, the insect, the animal, male, female and the whole creation. In this state though all forms arise out of him yet, no form can describe him.
3.Nirgun-Sagun: In the Nirgun-Sagun state Shiva is worshiped as the Shivalingam. The word Shivalingam has been derived from Sanskrit roots Shiva (Lord) + Lingam (Mark/Chinha/Symbol). Hence, Shivalingam is the mark of lord within its creation. Everything in the world arises out of a dome/a ball/ a pindi. Be it a tree which comes from a seed which is round, a child which comes from a cell which is round, all heavenly bodies are round, the minutes of cells are round and our very earth is round. Everything being round is a mark of the Lord/Shiva. Since Shiva can’t be comprehended, we worship his mark or we worship the whole Brahmman in a Shivalingam.
4. Avatars of Shiva
Lord Shiva is believed to have 19 avatars. Nandi, Rishi Durvasa, Lord Hanuman and Ashwatthama are few lesser-known Avatars of Lord Shiva.
5. Shiva and Samudra Manthan
During the divine churning of the ocean, a ply to bring the Gods into power and overthrow the Asuras, Amrita, the great nectar of Immortality was produced. Samudra Manthan began, using Mount Mandara as a churning stick and the serpent Vasuki as the churning rope, they carried out the order of the Lord. Vishnu appeared as a turtle and acted as the pivot for Mount Mandara.
While we know nature has a way of maintaining balance, Halahal the great poison of Samudra-Manthan was produced to balance Amrit generated from Manthan. When the uncontrollable poison was forcefully spreading up and down in all directions, all the demigods approached Lord Shiva, seeking shelter in him and praying for his protection.
Being compassionate and dedicated to auspicious, benevolent work, Lord Shiva agreed to drink all the poison. Goddess Parvati, the wife of Shiva, being aware of her Lord’s capabilities and strength, gave her consent.
Shiva reduced the vast slick of poison it to a small quantity that he could hold in the palm of his hand. While he was drinking it, a few drops fell from his hand and was immediately consumed by poisonous snakes, scorpions, toxic plants and other venomous creatures of the world.
After Lord Shiva drank the poison, his neck became bluish, enhancing his beauty. One of his names is, therefore, Nilakantha – ‘one with a bluish neck’. Impressed by this act of snakes, Shiva accepted Vasuki (king of snakes) around his neck.
In the Bhagavat Purana, there is an instructive verse regarding Shiva’s compassionate act, as follows: “It is said that great personalities almost always accept voluntary suffering because of the suffering of people in general. This is considered the highest method of worshiping the Supreme Lord, who is present in everyone’s heart.”
Shiva, the one-third of the holy trinity of Hindu dharma is often the subject of folklore, mysticism, simple living and of course- anger. Lord Shiva can be described as the beginning, the blackness and void from where everything started and everything will eventually culminate into. Shiva has long been described as an ascetic, a yogi or even Adiyogi. Known for his generous boons, forgiving nature, simple living as well as feared for his anger Shiva is a complex entity.
Shiva is considered to be the origin of everything. SHIVA is described as ‘Tatwaateetaha Paraatmaham, Mayaateetaha Paraha Shivaha, Mayaateetaha Paramjyotir, Ahame Vaaham Avyayaha’ literally meaning, ‘ I am beyond all philosophies, beyond the Universe, I am an Eternal Light, I am inexhaustible forever’.
1. Origin of Shiva
According to Shiva Purana, after the creation of the world and Bhramanda, Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu were both arguing about their powers. Both of them wanted to prove that one is mightier than the other. Right then, amidst the heated discussion, an inexplicable blazing pillar appeared in front of them, whose roots and tip were not visible. The roots seemed to penetrate deep into the earth with the tip piercing into the skies beyond eternity. Amazed by the view of this pillar, both the Lords wondered about this third entity that stood there, challenging both of their supremacy. Now their argument had subdued and they started discussing how to find out more about this new entity. Both Brahma and Vishnu set out to locate the start and end of that pillar.
2. Shiva – The first Yogi
Many, like Sadhguru, believe Shiva was the Adiyogi. Yoga being the science and technology to know the essential nature of how this life is created and how it can be taken to its ultimate possibility. Sadhguru says “This first transmission of yogic sciences happened on the banks of Kanti Sarovar, a glacial lake a few miles beyond Kedarnath in the Himalayas, where Adiyogi began a systematic exposition of this inner technology to his first seven disciples, celebrated today as the Saptarishi. This predates all religions. Before people devised divisive ways of fracturing humanity to a point where it seems almost impossible to fix, the most powerful tools necessary to raise human consciousness were realized and propagated.”
3. Shiva exists in 3 states
1.Nirgun: In this state he is formless, and the whole universe and creation lie in the pervasiveness of Shiva.
2.Saguna: In the Saguna state Shiva is the entire universe and his “ansh” is present in the tree, the insect, the animal, male, female and the whole creation. In this state though all forms arise out of him yet, no form can describe him.
3.Nirgun-Sagun: In the Nirgun-Sagun state Shiva is worshiped as the Shivalingam. The word Shivalingam has been derived from Sanskrit roots Shiva (Lord) + Lingam (Mark/Chinha/Symbol). Hence, Shivalingam is the mark of lord within its creation. Everything in the world arises out of a dome/a ball/ a pindi. Be it a tree which comes from a seed which is round, a child which comes from a cell which is round, all heavenly bodies are round, the minutes of cells are round and our very earth is round. Everything being round is a mark of the Lord/Shiva. Since Shiva can’t be comprehended, we worship his mark or we worship the whole Brahmman in a Shivalingam.
4. Avatars of Shiva
Lord Shiva is believed to have 19 avatars. Nandi, Rishi Durvasa, Lord Hanuman and Ashwatthama are few lesser-known Avatars of Lord Shiva.
5. Shiva and Samudra Manthan
During the divine churning of the ocean, a ply to bring the Gods into power and overthrow the Asuras, Amrita, the great nectar of Immortality was produced. Samudra Manthan began, using Mount Mandara as a churning stick and the serpent Vasuki as the churning rope, they carried out the order of the Lord. Vishnu appeared as a turtle and acted as the pivot for Mount Mandara.
While we know nature has a way of maintaining balance, Halahal the great poison of Samudra-Manthan was produced to balance Amrit generated from Manthan. When the uncontrollable poison was forcefully spreading up and down in all directions, all the demigods approached Lord Shiva, seeking shelter in him and praying for his protection.
Being compassionate and dedicated to auspicious, benevolent work, Lord Shiva agreed to drink all the poison. Goddess Parvati, the wife of Shiva, being aware of her Lord’s capabilities and strength, gave her consent.
Shiva reduced the vast slick of poison it to a small quantity that he could hold in the palm of his hand. While he was drinking it, a few drops fell from his hand and was immediately consumed by poisonous snakes, scorpions, toxic plants and other venomous creatures of the world.
After Lord Shiva drank the poison, his neck became bluish, enhancing his beauty. One of his names is, therefore, Nilakantha – ‘one with a bluish neck’. Impressed by this act of snakes, Shiva accepted Vasuki (king of snakes) around his neck.
In the Bhagavat Purana, there is an instructive verse regarding Shiva’s compassionate act, as follows: “It is said that great personalities almost always accept voluntary suffering because of the suffering of people in general. This is considered the highest method of worshiping the Supreme Lord, who is present in everyone’s heart.”
HAR HAR MAHADEV!
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