Shiva has three lines of ash smeared on his forehead in a horizontal orientation. The lines represent the destruction of the three worlds of Hinduism. It suggests inertia and lack of…
Shiva is smeared with ash. It is a symbol of destruction as well as permanence for it is created by burning things but cannot be burnt itself. It is a…
According to Devdutt Pattanaik, in Epified, Shiva is naked and sports an erect phallus in almost all the stories. It is to save the public from discomfort that he clothes…
Surabhi, the mother of all cows started giving birth to a lot of cows, and the cows started flooding Kailash with their milk. Furious at this, Shiva used his third…
Often cited as an example of perfect marriage, Shiva along with his consort Parvati is represented in the Ardhanarishwar form – which is a half male and half female icon. It…
the dwarf demon ‘Apasmara’, who represented ignorance challenged Lord Shiva. It was then that Lord Shiva took the form of Nataraja and performed the famous Tandava or the dance of…
On the auspicious day of Shivaratri, the Shaivites, a sect of followers, consume Bhang (a beverage prepared from cannabis) and smoke weed. Popular among the followers, this is one hell…
The Trident or Trishul of Lord Shiva unites the three worlds a human being is associated with – his inside world, the immediate world around him and the broader world….
The mountains, snow and the snake around Lord Shiva’s neck is a symbol representing his sense of calmness. Self-contained and content, Shiva is a symbol of calm and peace.
Sati, and not Parvati, (as most of us may not know), was the first wife of Shiva and was very fond of him. The daughter of a priest, her father…
