The ash Shiva is smeared with symbolizes permanence and destruction
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…
Tag:
Shiv
23 Articles
23
In stories, Lord Shiva is naked and sports an erect phallus
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…
Shiva accepted Nandi, who was offered to Him by other Gods, as his doorkeeper and his vehicle
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…
Ardhanarishwar is Shiva’s androgynous form
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…
Shiva takes the form of Nataraja to suppress Apasmara – the symbol of ignorance
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…
Ganja/Cannabis is one of the primary offerings in Shiva’s worship
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…
Shiva’s Trishul or Trident symbolizes the unity of three worlds
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 snake around Shiva’s neck reinforces a sense of stillness
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.
Lord Shiva’s first wife Sati killed herself because she was frustrated with her father who insulted Shiva. Shiva took his revenge and how
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…
Even Kamadeva, the Hindu God of love and Cupid’s equivalent, could not distract Shiva successfully with his tricks. He had to face the consequence when he tried to
When Devas were waging a war against Tarakasur, they needed Shiva’s help but Shiva was busy meditating. So the Devas asked Kamadeva to pierce Shiva with his love arrows. But…