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'''Shiva''' is one of the most popular deities in India. Along with [[Special:MyLanguage/Brahma|Brahma]] and [[Special:MyLanguage/Vishnu|Vishnu]], he is part of the Hindu triad, the trimurti. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are understood to be three manifestations of the One Supreme Being. They are the “three in one,” corresponding to the Western Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Brahma personifies the creator aspect of God, Vishnu the preserver and protector and Shiva the destroyer or dissolver. Shiva embodies all these aspects to Hindus who select him as their chosen deity. | '''Shiva''' is one of the most popular deities in India. Along with [[Special:MyLanguage/Brahma|Brahma]] and [[Special:MyLanguage/Vishnu|Vishnu]], he is part of the Hindu triad, the trimurti. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are understood to be three manifestations of the One Supreme Being. They are the “three in one,” corresponding to the Western Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Brahma personifies the creator aspect of God, Vishnu the preserver and protector and Shiva the destroyer or dissolver. Shiva embodies all these aspects to Hindus who select him as their chosen deity. | ||
Shiva’s devotees revere him as the supreme Reality, the total Godhead. They see him as the Guru of all gurus, the destroyer of worldliness, ignorance, evil and evildoers, hatred and disease. He bestows wisdom and long life, and he embodies renunciation and compassion. | Shiva’s devotees revere him as the supreme Reality, the total Godhead. They see him as the Guru of all gurus, the destroyer of worldliness, ignorance, evil and evildoers, hatred and disease. He bestows wisdom and long life, and he embodies renunciation and compassion. | ||
== Hindu beliefs == | == Hindu beliefs == | ||
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Pashupati is another epithet, which means “lord of cattle.” As Lord of Cattle, Shiva is the herdsman or shepherd of souls. Shiva is portrayed riding a white bull named (“joyful”). According to Hindu tradition, he was one of Shiva’s devotees who assumed the form of a bull because the human body was not strong enough to contain his devotional ecstasy for Shiva. Nandi the bull is depicted in most Shiva temples. He is usually seated, facing the figure of Shiva. Nandi symbolizes the soul of man longing for God. He also represents the soul who is in deep contemplation of Shiva as the supreme Reality. Shiva will help you to unlock your supreme Reality. | Pashupati is another epithet, which means “lord of cattle.” As Lord of Cattle, Shiva is the herdsman or shepherd of souls. Shiva is portrayed riding a white bull named (“joyful”). According to Hindu tradition, he was one of Shiva’s devotees who assumed the form of a bull because the human body was not strong enough to contain his devotional ecstasy for Shiva. Nandi the bull is depicted in most Shiva temples. He is usually seated, facing the figure of Shiva. Nandi symbolizes the soul of man longing for God. He also represents the soul who is in deep contemplation of Shiva as the supreme Reality. Shiva will help you to unlock your supreme Reality. | ||
== Devotion to Shiva == | == Devotion to Shiva == | ||
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[[File:Hindukailash.JPG|thumb|upright=1|Shiva, Parvati and their sons at Mount Kailas (18th century)]] | [[File:Hindukailash.JPG|thumb|upright=1|Shiva, Parvati and their sons at Mount Kailas (18th century)]] | ||
== Attributes of Shiva == | == Attributes of Shiva == | ||
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According to Hindu belief, Shiva performs a variety of dances. One of his dances is called the Tandava. This is his dance of creation and destruction. Shiva dances the universe into being, sustains it and then dances it out of existence at the end of an age. The most celebrated representation of Shiva is that of Nataraja, the King of Dancers, or Lord of the Dance. The place of Nataraja’s dance is the golden hall at the center of the universe. This golden hall represents the heart of man. One Hindu hymn that celebrates Shiva’s dance says that “as he dances, he appears in the immaculate lotus of the heart.”<ref>Ibid., pp. 439–40.</ref> | According to Hindu belief, Shiva performs a variety of dances. One of his dances is called the Tandava. This is his dance of creation and destruction. Shiva dances the universe into being, sustains it and then dances it out of existence at the end of an age. The most celebrated representation of Shiva is that of Nataraja, the King of Dancers, or Lord of the Dance. The place of Nataraja’s dance is the golden hall at the center of the universe. This golden hall represents the heart of man. One Hindu hymn that celebrates Shiva’s dance says that “as he dances, he appears in the immaculate lotus of the heart.”<ref>Ibid., pp. 439–40.</ref> | ||
== Mount Kailas == | == Mount Kailas == | ||
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Mount Kailas is Shiva’s throne and the location of his paradise. This majestic mountain is the highest point of the Kailas mountain range in the Tibetan Himalayas. Hindus revere Kailas as the most holy mountain in the world and make pilgrimages there. | Mount Kailas is Shiva’s throne and the location of his paradise. This majestic mountain is the highest point of the Kailas mountain range in the Tibetan Himalayas. Hindus revere Kailas as the most holy mountain in the world and make pilgrimages there. | ||
The relationship of Shiva with his devotees is an intensely personal one. Although he resides at Kailas, his favorite home is in the heart of his devotees. | The relationship of Shiva with his devotees is an intensely personal one. Although he resides at Kailas, his favorite home is in the heart of his devotees. | ||
== The Ganges River == | == The Ganges River == | ||
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[[File:Shiva.jpg|thumb|Shiva]] | [[File:Shiva.jpg|thumb|Shiva]] | ||
== His teaching == | == His teaching == | ||
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Shiva’s role parallels that of the Holy Spirit in the Western Trinity. Shiva teaches that the [[Special:MyLanguage/threefold flame|threefold flame]] in your heart is the personification of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. He says: | Shiva’s role parallels that of the Holy Spirit in the Western Trinity. Shiva teaches that the [[Special:MyLanguage/threefold flame|threefold flame]] in your heart is the personification of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. He says: | ||
<blockquote>You can see those three plumes as ourselves personified. Then you may talk to us. We are not a three-headed god, but Three-in-One, for we also have a threefold flame.... | <blockquote> | ||
You can see those three plumes as ourselves personified. Then you may talk to us. We are not a three-headed god, but Three-in-One, for we also have a threefold flame.... | |||
It is well for a time to visualize us personally rather than simply as an impersonal flame that is burning. Meditate upon us not as statues or pagan gods but as the very fire and the replica of the Godhead that has been placed in your heart. | |||
</blockquote> | |||
Shiva says that he is always near at hand to answer your prayers. | Shiva says that he is always near at hand to answer your prayers. | ||
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Lord Shiva encourages us to try an experiment for overcoming negative habits. He says: | Lord Shiva encourages us to try an experiment for overcoming negative habits. He says: | ||
<blockquote>Give yourself a cycle to rise to a plane of greater dominion. Make a God-determination. Think now of a very certain condition within your consciousness that you know absolutely must go. Think of that human consciousness. Think of that problem or habit that has gnawed at you and kept you from your eternal salvation. | <blockquote> | ||
Give yourself a cycle to rise to a plane of greater dominion. Make a God-determination. Think now of a very certain condition within your consciousness that you know absolutely must go. Think of that human consciousness. Think of that problem or habit that has gnawed at you and kept you from your eternal salvation. | |||
Now, beloved ones, I ask you, be a scientist of the New Age and try this one experiment for the next forty-eight hours: Each time you face that momentum—that memory, that consciousness, that habit or that desire, whatever it is that you long to see put into the flame—each time it crosses the line of the mind, the desire body, or your big toe, each time it comes into the memory, speak into it with the full ferocity of your voice: “Shiva! Shiva! Shiva! Shiva!”<ref>Lord Shiva, “The Touch of Shiva: The Initiation of Love,” Part 2, {{POWref|21|47|, November 19, 1978}}</ref> | |||
</blockquote> | |||
== Feminine counterparts == | == Feminine counterparts == | ||
In Hindu tradition, every masculine personification of God has a feminine counterpart, or [[Special:MyLanguage/shakti|shakti]]. The masculine creative power is activated by this feminine principle. Thus, Shiva’s action is crystallized in the world of form through his female counterpart. His hidden nature is made visible through her. Shiva’s shakti appears in three primary forms—as [[Special:MyLanguage/Parvati|Parvati]], [[Special:MyLanguage/Durga|Durga]] and [[Special:MyLanguage/Kali|Kali]]. | In Hindu tradition, every masculine personification of God has a feminine counterpart, or [[Special:MyLanguage/shakti|shakti]]. The masculine creative power is activated by this feminine principle. Thus, Shiva’s action is crystallized in the world of form through his female counterpart. His hidden nature is made visible through her. Shiva’s shakti appears in three primary forms—as [[Special:MyLanguage/Parvati|Parvati]], [[Special:MyLanguage/Durga|Durga]] and [[Special:MyLanguage/Kali|Kali]]. | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
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[[Special:MyLanguage/Kali|Kali]] | [[Special:MyLanguage/Kali|Kali]] | ||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
{{MTR}} | {{MTR}}, s.v. “Shiva, Parvati, Durga and Kali.” | ||
, s.v. “Shiva, Parvati, Durga and Kali.” | |||
''Shiva! Sacred chants from the heart of India'', audio album, liner notes. | ''Shiva! Sacred chants from the heart of India'', audio album, liner notes. | ||
[[Category:Heavenly beings]] | |||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
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