Shiva (/ˈʃiːvə/; Sanskrit: शिव [ɕɪʋɐ], IAST: Śiva, ISO: Śiva, About this soundlisten (help·info), lit. 'the advantageous one'), additionally accepted as Mahadeva (lit. 'the abundant god'),[9][10][11] is one of the arch deities of Hinduism. He is the complete actuality aural Shaivism, one of the above traditions aural abreast Hinduism.[12][13]
Shiva is accepted as "The Destroyer" aural the Trimurti, the Hindu leash that includes Brahma and Vishnu.[1][14] In Shaivism tradition, Shiva is one of the complete beings who creates, protects and transforms the universe.[9][10][11] In the Shaktism tradition, the Goddess, or Devi, is declared as one of the supreme, yet Shiva is admired forth with Vishnu and Brahma. A goddess is declared to be the activity and artistic ability (Shakti) of each, with Parvati (Sati) the according commutual accomplice of Shiva.[15][16] He is one of the bristles agnate deities in Panchayatana puja of the Smarta attitude of Hinduism.[12]
According to the Shaivism sect, the accomplished anatomy of Ishvar is formless, limitless, complete and abiding complete Brahman,[17] and the age-old Atman (soul, self) of the universe.[18][19][9] There are abounding both benevolent and alarming depictions of Shiva. In benevolent aspects, he is depicted as an all-seeing Yogi who lives an abstinent activity on Mount Kailash[1] as able-bodied as a aborigine with wife Parvati and his two children, Ganesha and Kartikeya. In his angry aspects, he is generally depicted annihilation demons. Shiva is additionally accepted as Adiyogi Shiva, admired as the angel god of yoga, brainwork and arts.[20][21][22]
The iconographical attributes of Shiva are the serpent about his neck, the adorning bow-shaped moon, the angelic river Ganga abounding from his disordered hair, the third eye on his forehead, the trishula or trident, as his weapon, and the damaru drum. He is usually admirable in the aniconic anatomy of lingam.[2] Shiva is a pan-Hindu deity, admired broadly by Hindus, in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.Etymology and added names
Main article: Shiva Sahasranama
An age-old carve of Shiva at the Elephanta Caves, Maharashtra
A carve of Shiva with Moustache at Archaeological Museum, Goa
The Sanskrit chat "śiva" (Devanagari: शिव, additionally transliterated as shiva) means, states Monier Monier-Williams, "auspicious, propitious, gracious, benign, kind, benevolent, friendly".[25] The roots of śiva in folk ancestry are śī which agency "in whom all things lie, pervasiveness" and va which agency "embodiment of grace".[25][26]
The chat Shiva is acclimated as an adjective in the Rig Veda (approximately 1700–1100 BC), as an appellation for several Rigvedic deities, including Rudra.[27] The appellation Shiva additionally connotes "liberation, final emancipation" and "the advantageous one", this adjective faculty of acceptance is addressed to abounding deities in Vedic layers of literature.[25][28] The appellation acquired from the Vedic Rudra-Shiva to the noun Shiva in the Epics and the Puranas, as an advantageous celestial who is the "creator, reproducer and dissolver".[25][29]
Sharva, sharabha presents addition ancestry with the Sanskrit basis śarv-, which agency "to injure" or "to kill",[30] interprets the name to betoken "one who can annihilate the armament of darkness".[31]
The Sanskrit chat śaiva agency "relating to the god Shiva", and this appellation is the Sanskrit name both for one of the arch sects of Hinduism and for a affiliate of that sect.[32] It is acclimated as an adjective to characterize assertive behavior and practices, such as Shaivism.[33]
The Vishnu sahasranama interprets Shiva to accept assorted meanings: "The Pure One", and "the One who is not afflicted by three Guṇas of Prakṛti (Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas)".[34][35]
Shiva is accepted by abounding names such as Viswanatha (lord of the universe), Mahadeva, Mahandeo,[36] Mahasu,[37] Mahesha, Maheshvara, Shankara, Shambhu, Rudra, Hara, Trilochana, Devendra (chief of the gods), Neelakanta, Subhankara, Trilokinatha (lord of the three realms),[38][39][40] and Ghrneshwar (lord of compassion).[41] The accomplished admiration for Shiva in Shaivism is reflected in his epithets Mahādeva ("Great god"; mahā "Great" and deva "god"),[42][43] Maheśvara ("Great Lord"; mahā "great" and īśvara "lord"),[44][45] and Parameśvara ("Supreme Lord").[46]
Sahasranama are medieval Indian texts that account a thousand names acquired from aspects and epithets of a deity.[47] There are at atomic eight altered versions of the Shiva Sahasranama, angelic hymns (stotras) advertisement abounding names of Shiva.[48] The adaptation actualization in Book 13 (Anuśāsanaparvan) of the Mahabharata provides one such list.[49] Shiva additionally has Dasha-Sahasranamas (10,000 names) that are begin in the Mahanyasa. The Shri Rudram Chamakam, additionally accepted as the Śatarudriya, is a angelic aria to Shiva acclamation him by abounding names.[50][51]
Historical development and literature
See also: History of Shaivism
The Shiva-related attitude is a above allotment of Hinduism, begin all over the Indian subcontinent, such as India, Nepal, Sri Lanka,[23][24] and Southeast Asia, such as Bali, Indonesia.[52] Scholars accept interpreted aboriginal aged paintings at the Bhimbetka bedrock shelters, carbon anachronous to be from pre-10,000 BCE period,[53] as Shiva dancing, Shiva's trident, and his arise Nandi.[3][54][55] Bedrock paintings from Bhimbetka, depicting a amount with a trishul, accept been declared as Nataraja by Erwin Neumayer, who dates them to the mesolithic.[56]
Assimilation of traditions
See also: Roots of Hinduism
The amount of Shiva as we apperceive him today may be an amalgamation of assorted earlier deities into a distinct figure.[24][57] How the persona of Shiva converged as a blended celestial is not understood, a claiming to trace and has admiring abundant speculation.[58] According to Vijay Nath, for example:
Vishnu and Siva [...] began to blot endless bounded cults and deities aural their folds. The closing were either taken to represent the assorted facets of the aforementioned god or abroad were declared to denote altered forms and appellations by which the god came to be accepted and worshipped. [...] Siva became articular with endless bounded cults by the arduous suffixing of Isa or Isvara to the name of the bounded deity, e.g., Bhutesvara, Hatakesvara, Chandesvara."[59]
An archetype of assimilation took abode in Maharashtra, area a bounded celestial alleged Khandoba is a angel celestial of agriculture and herding castes.[60] The foremost centermost of adoration of Khandoba in Maharashtra is in Jejuri.[61] Khandoba has been alloyed as a anatomy of Shiva himself,[62] in which case he is admirable in the anatomy of a lingam.[60][63] Khandoba's assorted associations additionally accommodate an identification with Surya[60] and Karttikeya.[64]
Indus Basin elements
Main article: Pashupati seal
The Pashupati allowance apparent during blasting of the Indus Basin archaeological armpit of Mohenjo-Daro and assuming a accessible representation of a "yogi" or "proto-Shiva" amount as Paśupati (= "Lord of the Animals"). Circa 2350-2000 BCE.
Of several Indus basin seals that appearance animals, one allowance that has admiring absorption shows a ample axial figure, either horned or cutting a horned chaplet and possibly ithyphallic,[65][66][67] built-in in a aspect evocative of the Lotus position, amidst by animals. This amount was alleged by aboriginal excavators of Mohenjo-daro as Pashupati (Lord of Animals, Sanskrit paśupati),[68] an appellation of the after Hindu deities Shiva and Rudra.[69][70][71]
Sir John Marshall and others adapted that this amount is a ancestor of Shiva, with three faces, built-in in a "yoga posture" with the knees out and anxiety joined.[72] Semi-circular shapes on the arch were interpreted as two horns. Scholars such as Gavin Flood, John Keay and Doris Meth Srinivasan accept bidding doubts about this suggestion.[73][74][75]
Gavin Flood states that it is not bright from the allowance that the amount has three faces, is built-in in a yoga posture, or alike that the appearance is advised to represent a beastly figure. He characterizes these angle as "speculative", but adds that it is about accessible that there are echoes of Shaiva iconographic themes, such as arch shapes akin the horns of a bull.[72][76] John Keay writes that "he may absolutely be an aboriginal appearance of Aristocrat Shiva as Pashu-pati", but a brace of his specialties of this amount does not bout with Rudra.[77] Writing in 1997, Srinivasan interprets what John Marshall interpreted as facial as not beastly but added bovine, possibly a all-powerful buffalo-man.[75]
The estimation of the allowance continues to be disputed. McEvilley, for example, states that it is not accessible to "account for this aspect alfresco the yogic account".[78] Asko Parpola states that added archaeological finds such as the aboriginal Elamite seals anachronous to 3000-2750 BCE appearance agnate abstracts and these accept been interpreted as "seated bull" and not a yogi, and the bovine estimation is acceptable added accurate.[79] Gregory L. Possehl in 2002, associated it with the baptize buffalo, and assured that while it would be adapted to admit the amount as a deity, and its aspect as one of ritual discipline, apropos it as a proto-Shiva would "go too far".[80]
Vedic elements
The Vedic abstract refers to a accessory atmospheric deity, with alarming admiral alleged Rudra. The Rigveda, for example, has 3 out of 1,028 hymns committed to Rudra, and he finds casual acknowledgment in added hymns of the aforementioned text.[81] The appellation Shiva additionally appears in the Rigveda, but artlessly as an epithet, that agency "kind, auspicious", one of the adjectives acclimated to alarm abounding altered Vedic deities. While angry adamant accustomed abnormality and storm-related Rudra is feared in the hymns of the Rigveda, the benign rains he brings are accustomed as Shiva aspect of him.[82] This healing, nurturing, life-enabling aspect emerges in the Vedas as Rudra-Shiva, and in post-Vedic abstract ultimately as Shiva who combines the annihilative and effective powers, the agitating and the gentle, as the ultimate recycler and rejuvenator of all existence.[83]
The similarities amid the iconography and theologies of Shiva with Greek and European deities accept led to proposals for an Indo-European articulation for Shiva,[84][85] or crabbed exchanges with age-old axial Asian cultures.[86][87] His allegory aspects such as actuality alarming or beatific depending on the situation, are agnate to those of the Greek god Dionysus,[88] as are their iconic associations with bull, snakes, anger, bravery, dancing and airy life.[89][90] The age-old Greek texts of the time of Alexander the Great alarm Shiva as "Indian Dionysus", or alternatively alarm Dionysus as "god of the Orient".[89] Similarly, the use of phallic attribute as an figure for Shiva is additionally begin for Irish, Nordic, Greek (Dionysus[91]) and Roman deities, as was the abstraction of this aniconic cavalcade bond heaven and apple amid aboriginal Indo-Aryans, states Roger Woodward.[84] Others challenge such proposals, and advance Shiva to accept emerged from aboriginal pre-Aryan affiliated origins.[92]
Rudra
Three-headed Shiva, Gandhara, 2nd aeon AD
Shiva as we apperceive him today shares abounding appearance with the Vedic god Rudra,[93] and both Shiva and Rudra are beheld as the aforementioned personality in Hindu scriptures. The two names are acclimated synonymously. Rudra, the god of the roaring storm, is usually portrayed in accordance with the aspect he represents as a fierce, annihilative deity.[94]
The oldest actual argument of Hinduism is the Rig Veda, which is anachronous to amid 1700 and 1100 BC based on linguistic and philological evidence.[95] A god alleged Rudra is mentioned in the Rig Veda. The name Rudra is still acclimated as a name for Shiva. In RV 2.33, he is declared as the "Father of the Rudras", a accumulation of storm gods.[96]
The aria 10.92 of the Rigveda states that celestial Rudra has two natures, one agrarian and atrocious (Rudra), addition that is affectionate and agreeable (Shiva).[97] The Vedic texts do not acknowledgment balderdash or any beastly as the carriage agent (vahana) of Rudra or added deities. However, post-Vedic texts such as the Mahabharata and the Puranas accompaniment the Nandi bull, the Indian zebu, in particular, as the agent of Rudra and of Shiva, thereby clearly bond them as same.[98]
Agni
Rudra and Agni accept a abutting relationship.[99][100] The identification amid Agni and Rudra in the Vedic abstract was an important agency in the action of Rudra's bit-by-bit development into the after appearance as Rudra-Shiva.[101] The identification of Agni with Rudra is absolutely acclaimed in the Nirukta, an important aboriginal argument on etymology, which says, "Agni is additionally alleged Rudra."[102] The arrangement amid the two deities are complex, and according to Stella Kramrisch:
The blaze allegory of Rudra-Śiva plays on the accomplished area of fire, account all its potentialities and phases, from blaze to illumination.[103]
In the Śatarudrīya, some epithets of Rudra, such as Sasipañjara ("Of aureate red hue as of flame") and Tivaṣīmati ("Flaming bright"), advance a fusing of the two deities.[104] Agni is said to be a bull,[105] and Aristocrat Shiva possesses a balderdash as his vehicle, Nandi. The horns of Agni, who is sometimes characterized as a bull, are mentioned.[106][107] In medieval sculpture, both Agni and the anatomy of Shiva accepted as Bhairava accept ablaze beard as a appropriate feature.[108]
Indra
Vima Kadphises with ithyphallic Shiva.
Coin of the Kushan Empire (1st-century BCE to 2nd-century CE). The appropriate angel has been interpreted as Shiva with trident and bull.[109]
According to Wendy Doniger, the Puranic Shiva is a assiduity of the Vedic Indra.[110] Doniger gives several affidavit for her hypothesis. Both are associated with mountains, rivers, macho fertility, fierceness, fearlessness, warfare, the breach of accustomed mores, the Aum sound, the Supreme Self. In the Rig Veda the appellation śiva is acclimated to accredit to Indra. (2.20.3,[111] 6.45.17,[112][113] and 8.93.3.[114]) Indra, like Shiva, is likened to a bull.[115][116] In the Rig Veda, Rudra is the ancestor of the Maruts, but he is never associated with their aggressive exploits as is Indra.[117]
The Vedic behavior and practices of the pre-classical era were carefully accompanying to the hypothesised Proto-Indo-European religion,[118] and the pre-Islamic Indo-Iranian religion.[119] The age-old iconic artworks of Shiva may be from Gandhara and northwest genitalia of age-old India. There is some ambiguity as the artwork that has survived is damaged and they appearance some overlap with attentive Buddha-related artwork, but the attendance of Shiva's trident and phallic apologue in this art suggests it was acceptable Shiva.[120] Numismatics analysis suggests that abundant bill of the age-old Kushan Empire that accept survived, were images of a god who is apparently Shiva.[121] The Shiva in Kushan bill is referred to as Oesho of cryptic ancestry and origins, but the accompanying attendance of Indra and Shiva in the Kushan era artwork advance that they were admired deities by the alpha of the Kushan Empire.[122][123]
The texts and artwork of Jainism appearance Indra as a dancer, although not identical about akin the dancing Shiva artwork begin in Hinduism, decidedly in their corresponding mudras.[124] For example, in the Jain caves at Ellora, all-encompassing carvings appearance dancing Indra abutting to the images of Tirthankaras in a address agnate to Shiva Nataraja. The similarities in the ball iconography suggests that there may be a articulation amid age-old Indra and Shiva.
Shaivism is one of the four above sects of Hinduism, the others actuality Vaishnavism, Shaktism and the Smarta Tradition. Followers of Shaivism, alleged "Shaivas", admire Shiva as the Supreme Being. Shaivas accept that Shiva is All and in all, the creator, preserver, destroyer, revealer and concealer of all that is.[10][9] He is not alone the architect in Shaivism, but he is additionally the conception that after-effects from him, he is aggregate and everywhere. Shiva is the age-old soul, the authentic alertness and Absolute Reality in the Shaiva traditions.[9]
The Shaivism canon is broadly aggregate into two: the accepted canon afflicted by Shiva-Rudra in the Vedas, Epics and the Puranas; and the abstruse canon afflicted by the Shiva and Shakti-related Tantra texts.[147] The Vedic-Brahmanic Shiva canon includes both monist (Advaita) and angelic traditions (Dvaita) such as Tamil Shaiva Siddhanta and Lingayatism with temples featuring items such as linga, Shiva-Parvati iconography, balderdash Nandi aural the premises, abatement artwork assuming mythologies and aspects of Shiva.[148][149]
The Tantric Shiva attitude abandoned the mythologies and Puranas accompanying to Shiva, and depending on the sub-school developed a array of practices. For example, actual annal advance the tantric Kapalikas (literally, the 'skull-men') co-existed with and aggregate abounding Vajrayana Buddhist rituals, affianced in abstruse practices that admired Shiva and Shakti cutting skulls, begged with abandoned skulls, acclimated meat, alcohol, and female as a allotment of ritual.[150] In contrast, the abstruse attitude aural Kashmir Shaivism has featured the Krama and Trika sub-traditions.[151] The Krama sub-tradition focussed on abstruse rituals about Shiva-Kali pair.[152] The Trika sub-tradition developed a canon of triads involving Shiva, accumulated it with an abstinent affairs absorption on claimed Shiva in the following of monistic cocky liberation.
Vaishnavism
The Vaishnava (Vishnu-oriented) abstract acknowledges and discusses Shiva. Like Shaiva abstract that presents Shiva as supreme, the Vaishnava abstract presents Vishnu as supreme. However, both traditions are pluralistic and admire both Shiva and Vishnu (along with Devi), their texts do not appearance exclusivism, and Vaishnava texts such as the Bhagavata Purana while praising Krishna as the Ultimate Reality, additionally present Shiva and Shakti as a alone anatomy an agnate to the aforementioned Ultimate Reality.[155][156][157] The texts of Shaivism attitude analogously acclaim Vishnu. The Skanda Purana, for example, states:
Vishnu is no one but Shiva, and he who is alleged Shiva is but identical with Vishnu.
— Skanda Purana, 1.8.20–21[158]
Mythologies of both traditions accommodate legends about who is superior, about Shiva advantageous admiration to Vishnu, and Vishnu advantageous admiration to Shiva. However, in texts and artwork of either tradition, the alternate salutes are apologue for complementarity.[159] The Mahabharata declares the abiding Ultimate Reality (Brahman) to be identical to Shiva and to Vishnu,[160] that Vishnu is the accomplished appearance of Shiva, and Shiva is the accomplished appearance of Vishnu.Shaktism
Ardhanarishvara sculpture, Khajuraho, depicting Shiva with goddess Parvati as his according half.[162] In the Ardhanarisvara concept, the figure is presented as half-man and bisected woman.
The goddess-oriented Shakti attitude of Hinduism is based on the apriorism that the Supreme Principle and the Ultimate Reality alleged Brahman is changeable (Devi),[163][164][165] but it treats the macho as her according and commutual partner.[15][16] This accomplice is Shiva.[166][167]
The ancient affirmation of the attitude of admiration for the feminine with Rudra-Shiva context, is begin in the Hindu scripture Rigveda, in a aria alleged the Devi Sukta:[168][169]
3. I am ruler, assembler of goods, eyewitness foremost amid those admirable the sacrifice.
Me accept the gods broadcast in abounding places—so that I accept abounding stations and account abounding things to access (me).
4. Through me he eats food—whoever sees, whoever breathes, whoever hears what is spoken.
Without cerebration about it, they alive on me. Listen, o you who are listened to: it’s a accurate affair I acquaint you.
5. Aloof I myself say this, savored by gods and men:
"Whom I love, aloof him I accomplish formidable, him a formulator, him a seer,
him of acceptable wisdom".
6. I amplitude the bow for Rudra, for his arrow to accident the cynic of the
angelic formulation.
I accomplish action for the people. I accept entered Heaven and Earth.
7. I accord bearing to Father (Heaven) on his (own) arch [Agni]; my abyss is in the waters, in the sea.
Thence I advance alternating above all worlds, and away heaven with its acme I touch.
8. I, aloof like the wind, draft forth, acquisitive at all worlds,
above heaven, above this apple here—of such admeasurement in my greatness
accept I appear into being.
— Devi Sukta, Rigveda 10.125.3 – 10.125.8,In the Smarta attitude of Hinduism, Shiva is a allotment of its Panchayatana puja.[177] This convenance consists of the use of icons or anicons of bristles deities advised equivalent,[177] set in a quincunx pattern.[178] Shiva is one of the bristles deities, others actuality Vishnu, Devi (such as Parvati), Surya and Ganesha or Skanda or any claimed god of devotee's alternative (Ishta Devata).[179]
Philosophically, the Smarta attitude emphasizes that all idols (murti) are icons to advice focus on and anticipate aspects of Brahman, rather than audible beings. The ultimate ambition in this convenance is to alteration accomplished the use of icons, admit the Absolute adumbrated by the icons,[180] on the aisle to acumen the nondual character of one's Atman (soul, self) and the Brahman.[181] Popularized by Adi Shankara, abounding Panchayatana mandalas and temples accept been baldheaded that are from the Gupta Empire period, and one Panchayatana set from the apple of Nand (about 24 kilometers from Ajmer) has been anachronous to accord to the Kushan Empire era (pre-300 CE).[182] The Kushan aeon set includes Shiva, Vishnu, Surya, Brahma and one celestial whose character is unclear.
Yoga:
Shiva is advised the Great Yogi who is absolutely captivated in himself – the abstruse reality. He is the Lord of Yogis, and the abecedary of Yoga to sages.[185] As Shiva Dakshinamurthi, states Stella Kramrisch, he is the absolute authority who "teaches in blackout the absoluteness of one's centermost cocky (atman) with the ultimate absoluteness (brahman)."[186]
The approach and convenance of Yoga, in altered styles, has been a allotment of all above traditions of Hinduism, and Shiva has been the angel or agent in abundant Hindu Yoga texts.[187][188] These accommodate the aesthetics and techniques for Yoga. These account are estimated to be from or afterwards the backward centuries of the 1st millennium CE, and accept survived as Yoga texts such as the Isvara Gita (literally, 'Shiva's song'), which Andrew Nicholson – a assistant of Hinduism and Indian Intellectual History – states accept had "a abstruse and abiding access on the development of Hinduism".[189]
Other acclaimed Shiva-related texts afflicted Hatha Yoga, chip monistic (Advaita Vedanta) account with Yoga aesthetics and aggressive the abstract development of Indian classical dance. These accommodate the Shiva Sutras, the Shiva Samhita, and those by the advisers of Kashmir Shaivism such as the 10th-century academic Abhinavagupta.[187][188][190] Abhinavagupta writes in his addendum on the appliance of account accompanying to Shiva and Yoga, by advertence that "people, active as they are with their own affairs, commonly do annihilation for others", and Shiva and Yoga adherence helps one attending beyond, accept interconnectedness, and appropriately account both the alone and the apple appear a added beatific accompaniment of existence.
Trimurti
Main article: Trimurti
An art delineation of the Trimurti, with Shiva depicted on the right, at the Hoysaleswara temple in Halebidu.
The Trimurti is a abstraction in Hinduism in which the catholic functions of creation, maintenance, and abolition are embodied by the forms of Brahma the creator, Vishnu the maintainer or buoy and Shiva the boner or transformer.[192][193] These three deities accept been alleged "the Hindu triad"[194] or the "Great Trinity".[195] However, the age-old and medieval texts of Hinduism affection abounding triads of gods and goddesses, some of which do not accommodate Shiva.
Attributes
Shiva with Parvati. Shiva is depicted three-eyed, the Ganges abounding through his disordered hair, cutting ornaments of serpents and a skull garland, covered in ashes, and built-in on a tiger skin
A built-in Shiva holds an axe and deer in his hands.
Third eye: Shiva is about depicted with a third eye, with which he austere Desire (Kāma) to ashes,[197] alleged "Tryambakam" (Sanskrit: त्र्यम्बकम् ), which occurs in abounding scriptural sources.[198] In classical Sanskrit, the chat ambaka denotes "an eye", and in the Mahabharata, Shiva is depicted as three-eyed, so this name is sometimes translated as "having three eyes".[199] However, in Vedic Sanskrit, the chat ambā or ambikā agency "mother", and this aboriginal acceptation of the chat is the base for the adaptation "three mothers".[200][201] These three mother-goddesses who are collectively alleged the Ambikās.[202] Other accompanying translations accept been based on the abstraction that the name absolutely refers to the oblations accustomed to Rudra, which according to some traditions were aggregate with the goddess Ambikā.[203]
Bow-shaped moon: Shiva bears on his arch the bow-shaped moon.[204] The appellation Candraśekhara (Sanskrit: चन्द्रशेखर "Having the moon as his crest" – candra = "moon"; śekhara = "crest, crown")[205][206][207] refers to this feature. The adjustment of the moon on his arch as a accepted iconographic affection dates to the aeon back Rudra rose to bulge and became the above celestial Rudra-Shiva.[208] The agent of this bond may be due to the identification of the moon with Soma, and there is a aria in the Rig Veda area Soma and Rudra are accordingly implored, and in after literature, Soma and Rudra came to be articular with one another, as were Soma and the moon.[209]
Ashes: Shiva iconography shows his anatomy covered with ashes (bhasma, vibhuti).[210][211] The ashes represent a admonition that all of actual actuality is impermanent, comes to an end acceptable ash, and the following of abiding body and airy liberation is important.[212][213]
Disordered hair: Shiva's characteristic beard appearance is acclaimed in the epithets Jaṭin, "the one with disordered hair",[214] and Kapardin, "endowed with disordered hair"[215] or "wearing his beard anguish in a complect in a shell-like (kaparda) fashion".[216] A kaparda is a cowrie shell, or a complect of beard in the anatomy of a shell, or, added generally, beard that is furry or curly.[217]
Dejected throat: The appellation Nīlakaṇtha (Sanskrit नीलकण्ठ; nīla = "blue", kaṇtha = "throat").[218][219] Since Shiva drank the Halahala adulteration aerated up from the Samudra Manthan to annihilate its annihilative capacity. Shocked by his act, Parvati awkward his close and chock-full it in his close to anticipate it from overextension all over the universe, declared to be in Shiva's stomach. However the adulteration was so almighty that it afflicted the blush of his close to blue.[220][221]
Apperception yogi: his iconography about shows him in a Yoga pose, meditating, sometimes on a allegorical Himalayan Arise Kailasha as the Aristocrat of Yoga.[210]
Sacred Ganga: The appellation Gangadhara, "Bearer of the river Ganga" (Ganges). The Ganga flows from the disordered beard of Shiva.[222][223] The Gaṅgā (Ganga), one of the above rivers of the country, is said to accept fabricated her address in Shiva's hair.[224]
Tiger skin: Shiva is about apparent built-in aloft a tiger skin.[210]
Serpents: Shiva is about apparent garlanded with a snake.[225]
Trident: Shiva about carries a trident alleged Trishula.[210] The trident is a weapon or a attribute in altered Hindu texts.[226] As a symbol, the Trishul represents Shiva's three aspects of "creator, buoy and destroyer",[227] or alternatively it represents the calm of three Gunas of "sattva, rajas and tamas".[228]
Drum: A baby boom shaped like an alarm is accepted as a damaru.[229][230] This is one of the attributes of Shiva in his acclaimed dancing representation[231] accepted as Nataraja. A specific duke action (mudra) alleged ḍamaru-hasta (Sanskrit for "ḍamaru-hand") is acclimated to authority the drum.[232] This boom is decidedly acclimated as an adumbration by associates of the Kāpālika sect.[233]
Axe (Parashu) and Deer are captivated in Shiva's easily in Odisha & south Indian icons.[234]
Chaplet beads: he is garlanded with or carries a cord of chaplet chaplet in his appropriate hand, about fabricated of Rudraksha.[210] This symbolises grace, mendicant activity and meditation.[235][236]
Nandī: Nandī, (Sanskrit: नन्दिन् (nandin)), is the name of the balderdash that serves as Shiva's mount.[237][238] Shiva's affiliation with beasts is reflected in his name Paśupati, or Pashupati (Sanskrit: पशुपति), translated by Sharma as "lord of cattle"[239] and by Kramrisch as "lord of animals", who addendum that it is decidedly acclimated as an appellation of Rudra.[240]
Arise Kailāsa: Arise Kailash in the Himalayas is his acceptable abode.[210][241] In Hindu mythology, Arise Kailāsa is conceived as akin a Linga, apery the centermost of the universe.[242]
Gaṇa: The Gaṇas are associates of Shiva and alive in Kailash. They are about referred to as the bhutaganas, or apparitional hosts, on annual of their nature. About benign, except back their aristocrat is abandoned against, they are about invoked to advocate with the aristocrat on account of the devotee. His son Ganesha was called as their baton by Shiva, appropriately Ganesha's appellation gaṇa-īśa or gaṇa-pati, "lord of the gaṇas".[243]
Varanasi: Varanasi (Benares) is advised to be the burghal distinctively admired by Shiva, and is one of the holiest places of crusade in India. It is referred to, in religious contexts, as Kashi.[244]Ascetic and householder
Shiva is depicted both as an abstinent yogi, and as a aborigine with goddess Parvati.
Shiva is depicted as both an abstinent yogi and as a aborigine (grihasta), roles which accept been commonly mutually absolute in Hindu society.[259] When depicted as a yogi, he may be apparent sitting and meditating.[260] His appellation Mahāyogi ("the abundant Yogi: Mahā = "great", Yogi = "one who practices Yoga") refers to his affiliation with yoga.[261] While Vedic adoration was conceived mainly in agreement of sacrifice, it was during the Ballsy aeon that the concepts of tapas, yoga, and abnegation became added important, and the delineation of Shiva as an abstinent sitting in abstract abreast reflects these after concepts.[262]
As a ancestors man and householder, he has a wife, Parvati and two sons, Ganesha and Kartikeya. His appellation Umāpati ("The bedmate of Umā") refers to this idea, and Sharma addendum that two added variants of this name that beggarly the aforementioned thing, Umākānta and Umādhava, additionally arise in the sahasranama.[263] Umā in ballsy abstract is accepted by abounding names, including the amiable Pārvatī.[264][265] She is articular with Devi, the All-powerful Mother; Shakti (divine energy) as able-bodied as goddesses like Tripura Sundari, Durga, Kali, Kamakshi and Minakshi. The consorts of Shiva are the antecedent of his artistic energy. They represent the activating addendum of Shiva assimilate this universe.[266] His son Ganesha is admirable throughout India and Nepal as the Remover of Obstacles, Lord of Beginnings and Lord of Obstacles. Kartikeya is admirable in South India (especially in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka) by the names Subrahmanya, Subrahmanyan, Shanmughan, Swaminathan and Murugan, and in Northern India by the names Skanda, Kumara, or Karttikeya.[267]
Some bounded deities are additionally articular as Shiva's children. As one adventure goes, Shiva is absorbed by the adorableness and agreeableness of Mohini, Vishnu's changeable avatar, and procreates with her. As a aftereffect of this union, Shasta – articular with bounded deities Ayyappan and Aiyanar – is born.[268][269][270][271] In outskirts of Ernakulam in Kerala, a celestial called Vishnumaya is declared to be baby of Shiva and invoked in bounded adjournment rites, but this celestial is not traceable in Hindu pantheon and is possibly a bounded attitude with "vaguely Chinese" appearance rituals, states Saletore.[272] In some traditions, Shiva has daughters like the serpent-goddess Manasa and Ashokasundari.[273][274] According to Doniger, two bounded belief characterize demons Andhaka and Jalandhara as the accouchement of Shiva who war with him, and are after destroyed by Shiva.Iconographic forms
Chola absolutism bronze depicting Shiva dancing as Nataraja (Los Angeles County Museum of Art).
The delineation of Shiva as Nataraja (Sanskrit: naṭarāja, "Lord of Dance") is popular.[276][277] The names Nartaka ("dancer") and Nityanarta ("eternal dancer") arise in the Shiva Sahasranama.[278] His affiliation with ball and additionally with music is arresting in the Puranic period.[279] In accession to the specific iconographic anatomy accepted as Nataraja, assorted added types of dancing forms (Sanskrit: nṛtyamūrti) are begin in all genitalia of India, with abounding categorical varieties in Tamil Nadu in particular.[280] The two best accepted forms of the ball are the Tandava, which after came to denote the able and adult ball as Kala-Mahakala associated with the abolition of the world. When it requires the apple or cosmos to be destroyed, Shiva does it by the Tandava,[281][282] and Lasya, which is adroit and aerial and expresses affections on a affable akin and is advised the feminine ball attributed to the goddess Parvati.[283][284] Lasya is admired as the changeable analogue of Tandava.[284] The Tandava-Lasya dances are associated with the destruction-creation of the world.[285][286][287]
Dakshinamurthy (Dakṣiṇāmūrti)[288] actually describes a anatomy (mūrti) of Shiva adverse south (dakṣiṇa). This anatomy represents Shiva in his aspect as a abecedary of yoga, music, and acumen and giving account on the shastras.[289] This iconographic anatomy for depicting Shiva in Indian art is mostly from Tamil Nadu.[290] Elements of this burden can accommodate Shiva built-in aloft a deer-throne and amidst by sages who are accepting his instruction.[291]
An iconographic representation of Shiva alleged Ardhanarishvara (Ardhanārīśvara) shows him with one bisected of the anatomy as macho and the added bisected as female. According to Ellen Goldberg, the acceptable Sanskrit name for this anatomy is best translated as "the aristocrat who is bisected woman", not as "half-man, half-woman".[292]
Shiva is generally depicted as an archer in the act of antibacterial the amateur fortresses, Tripura, of the Asuras.[293] Shiva's name Tripurantaka (Tripurāntaka), "ender of Tripura", refers to this important story.
Lingam:
Apart from animal images of Shiva, he is additionally represented in aniconic anatomy of a lingam.[295][296][297] These are depicted in assorted designs. One accepted anatomy is the appearance of a vertical angled cavalcade in the centre of a lipped, annular object, the yoni, apologue for the goddess Shakti.[298] In Shiva temples, the linga is about present in its atelier sanctorum and is the focus of addict offerings such as milk, water, annual petals, fruit, beginning leaves, and rice.[298] According to Monier Williams and Yudit Greenberg, linga actually agency 'mark, assurance or emblem', and additionally refers to a "mark or assurance from which the actuality of article abroad can be anxiously inferred". It implies the adorning all-powerful activity congenital in nature, adumbrated by Shiva.[299][300] Some scholars, such as Wendy Doniger, appearance linga alone as an amative phallic symbol,[301] although this estimation is criticized by others, including Swami Vivekananda,[302] Sivananda Saraswati,[303] and S. N. Balagangadhara.[304] According to Moriz Winternitz, the linga in the Shiva attitude is "only a attribute of the advantageous and artistic assumption of attributes as embodied in Shiva", and it has no actual trace in any atrocious phallic cult.[305]
The adoration of the lingam originated from the acclaimed aria in the Atharva-Veda Samhitâ articulate in acclaim of the Yupa-Stambha, the sacrificial post. In that hymn, a description is begin of the beginningless and amaranthine Stambha or Skambha, and it is apparent that the said Skambha is put in abode of the abiding Brahman. Just as the Yajna (sacrificial) fire, its smoke, ashes, and flames, the Soma plant, and the ox that acclimated to backpack on its aback the copse for the Vedic cede gave abode to the conceptions of the accuracy of Shiva's body, his chestnut disordered hair, his dejected throat, and the benumbed on the balderdash of the Shiva, the Yupa-Skambha gave abode in time to the Shiva-Linga.[306][307] In the argument Linga Purana, the aforementioned aria is broadcast in the appearance of stories, meant to authorize the celebrity of the abundant Stambha and the ahead of Shiva as Mahadeva.[307]
The oldest accepted archaeological linga as an figure of Shiva is the Gudimallam lingam from 3rd-century BCE.[298] In Shaivism crusade tradition, twelve above temples of Shiva are alleged Jyotirlinga, which agency "linga of light", and these are amid beyond India.
Avatars
Puranic scriptures accommodate casual references to "ansh" – actually 'portion, or avatars of Shiva', but the abstraction of Shiva avatars is not universally accustomed in Saivism.[318] The Linga Purana mentions twenty-eight forms of Shiva which are sometimes apparent as avatars,[319] about such acknowledgment is abnormal and the avatars of Shiva is almost attenuate in Shaivism compared to the able-bodied emphasized abstraction of Vishnu avatars in Vaishnavism.[320][321][322] Some Vaishnava abstract reverentially articulation Shiva to characters in its mythologies. For example, in the Hanuman Chalisa, Hanuman is articular as the eleventh avatar of Shiva.[323][324][325] The Bhagavata Purana and the Vishnu Purana affirmation academician Durvasa to be a allocation of Shiva.[326][327][328] Some medieval era writers accept alleged the Advaita Vedanta philosopher Adi Shankara an apotheosis of Shiva.
Festivals:
There is a Shivaratri in every lunar ages on its 13th night/14th day,[330] but already a year in backward winter (February/March) and afore the accession of spring, marks Maha Shivaratri which agency "the Great Night of Shiva".[4][331]
Maha Shivaratri is a above Hindu festival, but one that is austere and theologically marks a afterthought of "overcoming black and ignorance" in activity and the world,[331] and brainwork about the polarities of existence, of Shiva and a adherence to humankind.[330] It is empiric by reciting Shiva-related poems, chanting prayers, canonizing Shiva, fasting, accomplishing Yoga and apperception on belief and virtues such as self-restraint, honesty, noninjury to others, forgiveness, introspection, self-repentance and the analysis of Shiva.[331][332] The agog admirers accumulate alive all night. Others appointment one of the Shiva temples or go on crusade to Jyotirlingam shrines. Those who appointment temples, action milk, fruits, flowers, beginning leaves and sweets to the lingam.[4] Some communities adapt appropriate ball events, to mark Shiva as the aristocrat of dance, with alone and accumulation performances.[333] According to Jones and Ryan, Maha Sivaratri is an age-old Hindu anniversary which apparently originated about the 5th-century.[331]
Another above anniversary involving Shiva adoration is Kartik Purnima, commemorating Shiva's achievement on the demons Tripurasura. Across India, assorted Shiva temples are aflame throughout the night. Shiva icons are agitated in advance in some places.[334]
Thiruvathira is a anniversary empiric in Kerala committed to Shiva. It is believed that on this day, Parvathi met Aristocrat Shiva afterwards her continued absolution and Aristocrat Shiva took her as his wife.[335] On this day Hindu women performs the Thiruvathirakali accompanied by Thiruvathira paattu (folk songs about Parvati and her anxious and absolution for Aristocrat Shiva's affection).[336]
Regional festivals committed to Shiva accommodate the Chittirai anniversary in Madurai about April/May, one of the better festivals in South India, adulatory the bells of Minakshi (Parvati) and Shiva. The anniversary is one area both the Vaishnava and Shaiva communities accompany the celebrations, because Vishnu gives abroad his sister Minakshi in alliance to Shiva.[337]
Some Shaktism-related festivals admire Shiva forth with the goddess advised primary and Supreme. These accommodate festivals committed to Annapurna such as Annakuta and those accompanying to Durga.[338] In Himalayan regions such as Nepal, as able-bodied as in northern, axial and western India, the anniversary of Teej is acclaimed by girls and women in the cloudburst season, in account of goddess Parvati, with accumulation singing, dancing and by alms prayers in Parvati-Shiva temples.[339][340]
The ascetic, Vedic and Tantric sub-traditions accompanying to Shiva, such as those that became abstinent warriors during the Islamic aphorism aeon of India,[341][342] bless the Kumbha Mela festival.[343] This anniversary cycles every 12 years, in four crusade sites aural India, with the accident affective to the abutting armpit afterwards a gap of three years. The better is in Prayaga (renamed Allahabad during the Mughal aphorism era), area millions of Hindus of altered traditions accumulate at the assemblage of rivers Ganges and Yamuna. In the Hindu tradition, the Shiva-linked abstinent warriors (Nagas) get the account of starting the accident by entering the Sangam aboriginal for bathing and prayers.
Beyond Indian Subcontinent:
In Shaivism of Indonesia, the accepted name for Shiva has been Batara Guru, which is acquired from Sanskrit Bhattaraka which agency "noble lord".[346] He is conceptualized as a affectionate airy teacher, the aboriginal of all Gurus in Indonesian Hindu texts, apery the Dakshinamurti aspect of Shiva in the Indian subcontinent.[347] However, the Batara Guru has added aspects than the Indian Shiva, as the Indonesian Hindus attenuated their alcohol and heroes with him. Batara Guru's wife in southeast Asia is the aforementioned Hindu celestial Durga, who has been accepted back age-old times, and she too has a circuitous actualization with benevolent and angry manifestations, anniversary visualized with altered names such as Uma, Sri, Kali and others.[348][349] Shiva has been alleged Sadasiva, Paramasiva, Mahadeva in benevolent forms, and Kala, Bhairava, Mahakala in his angry forms.[349] The Indonesian Hindu texts present the aforementioned abstract assortment of Shaivism traditions begin on the subcontinent. However, amid the texts that accept survived into the abreast era, the added accepted are of those of Shaiva Siddhanta (locally additionally alleged Siwa Siddhanta, Sridanta).[350]
In the pre-Islamic aeon on the island of Java, Shaivism and Buddhism were advised actual abutting and affiliated religions, admitting not identical religions.[351] The medieval era Indonesian abstract equates Buddha with Siwa (Shiva) and Janardana (Vishnu).[352] This attitude continues in predominantly Hindu Bali Indonesia in the avant-garde era, area Buddha is advised the adolescent brother of Shiva.[353]
The adoration of Shiva became accepted in Central Asia through the Hephthalite Empire,[354] and Kushan Empire. Shaivism was additionally accepted in Sogdia and the Kingdom of Yutian as begin from the bank painting from Penjikent on the river Zervashan.[355] In this depiction, Shiva is portrayed with a angelic aura and a angelic cilia ("Yajnopavita").[355] He is clad in tiger bark while his associates are cutting Sogdian dress.[355] A console from Dandan Oilik shows Shiva in His Trimurti anatomy with Shakti admiration on her appropriate thigh.[355][356] Another armpit in the Taklamakan Desert depicts him with four legs, built-in cross-legged on a absorptive bench accurate by two bulls.[355] It is additionally acclaimed that Zoroastrian wind god Vayu-Vata took on the iconographic actualization of Shiva.[356]
Daikokuten, one of the Seven Lucky Gods in Japan, is advised to be acquired from Shiva. The god enjoys an astral position as a domiciliary celestial in Japan and is admirable as the god of abundance and fortune.[357] The name is the Japanese agnate of Mahākāla, the Buddhist name for Shiva.[358] Shiva is additionally mentioned in Buddhist Tantra. Shiva as Upaya and Shakti as Prajna.[359] In cosmologies of Buddhist tantra, Shiva is depicted as passive, with Shakti actuality his alive counterpart.[360] In Mahayana Buddhist cosmology, Shiva resides in Akaniṣṭha, accomplished of Śuddhāvāsa (Pure Abodes) area Anāgāmi ("Non-returners") who are already on the aisle to Arhat-hood and who will attain broad-mindedness are built-in in.
The Japuji Sahib of the Guru Granth Sahib says, "The Guru is Shiva, the Guru is Vishnu and Brahma; the Guru is Paarvati and Lakhshmi."[361] In the aforementioned chapter, it additionally says, "Shiva speaks, and the Siddhas listen." In Dasam Granth, Guru Gobind Singh has mentioned two avtars of Rudra: Dattatreya Avtar and Parasnath Avtar.
