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Symbolism of Shiva

Hindu gods are typically radiant, beautiful beings – all except Shiva. His dreadlocks, animal-skin loincloth, long periods of meditation and habit of wandering around in cremation grounds place him in a category of one. Why does he have a blue throat? What’s the significance of his third eye? The symbolism that surrounds this strangest of gods is one way, albeit incomplete, to understanding Shiva.

The moon and the celestial river
The crescent moon glittering in Shiva’s locks is Soma, whom the gods threw into the primordial ocean for a minor indiscretion. In the myth of the churning of the ocean, Shiva rescues Soma and gives him pride of place on his brow. Soma represents the faculty of intuition. Shiva is named Chandrasekhara in this aspect (Chandra = moon).

The divine river goddess Ganga, who flows from Shiva’s locks came down to earth in acquiescence to King Bhagiratha’s plea. The earth could not withstand the force of the waters until Lord Shiva tamed the river in his locks, thereby regulating its flow. An imaginative myth from ancient environmentalists, for what are Shiva’s matted locks but the forested slopes of the Himalayas that prevent the turbulent Ganges from eroding it! Shiva’s name, Gangadhara, derives from this legend. Ganga also symbolizes the ceaseless flow of time and the eternal life-force, over which Shiva rules.

Shiva’s iconography
Shiva is white-skinned, denoting his association with purity and the snow-capped Himalayas. Only his throat is blue, thanks to the poison he swallowed when it emerged during the churning of the primordial ocean. This gives him the name of Neelakanta.

Shiva’s trishul (trident) represents the holy trinity. With pashupata, his spear, he dissolves the universe at the end of each yuga, or ordained time-cycle.

The ashes smearing his body are a reminder of Death, the ultimate reality. A tiger is the symbol of lust. Shiva sitting on a tiger skin represents the conquest of desire. The serpents adorning his frame symbolize eternity.

As Trinetra, Shiva is the Three-eyed One. His “third eye” at the center of his of his forehead is usually turned inward, an organ of inner perception. When turned outward, the object of its gaze is reduced to ash. That fate befell Kama, god of love, when he disturbed Shiva during meditation.

Erotic or ascetic?
Paradox is the essence of Shiva! Mythology abounds with stories of Shiva’s frequent retreats into meditation for millennia. Yet, there are other stories, of how the wives of great sages, upon encountering this naked, fearsome ascetic, lost all their inhibitions and fell upon him with uncontrollable desire!

 He is famously worshiped in the form of a lingam or phallus-shaped stone. The Vedic, or mainstream school of thought has it that the lingam is an iconic representation of Shiva, the Formless One, which in one sense is true as Shiva is the conqueror of desire, rather than an erotic deity.

However, followers of darker schools of Tantric thought like the Aghora, Agama and Kapalika practice esoteric rituals in Shiva’s name from necrophilia to consuming intoxicants and meditating upon corpses. Their philosophy arises from the belief that as Shiva embodies perfection, nothing in his creation is imperfect or taboo. Spiritual liberation, they say, is to be attained only through exploring and conquering the senses.

 

Pictured Above: Brass Natraj Statue from Om Etc.

 

Lakshmi - Ganesh - Saraswati

- By Shyam Banerji in his book Hindu Gods and Temples

 

In a culture where different regional traditions add color to the religious fabric, Gods and Goddesses are worshiped individually and in combinations in many different ways.

Though the measure may vary from person to person, “Sukh” (physical comfort), “Shanti” (peace of mind) and “Ananda” (intrinsic bliss) have been identified in Hindu scriptures as the three prime motivations and objectives of life. The worship of Saraswati, Ganesha and Lakshmi reflects this innate philosophical connectivity. The combined imagery, and the cardinal lesson it holds, actually teaches the beholder the art of living.

Learning makes a person knowledgeable and wise. The wisdom he gains enables him to control his senses. By doing so he can enrich his productivity by overcoming obstacles. Such a person is generally blessed with the immeasurable wealth of prosperity and happiness. In other words, without knowledge there can be no progress. Without wisdom, wealth cannot be earned, retained or enriched. To the enlightened devotee, this “wealth” of prosperity and happiness means being at peace with one’s senses, ones duties, one’s yearnings and desires. To the average individual, quite appreciably, it stands for financial gain and familial well-being.

The mind is the seat of Saraswati and she resides there in the form of knowledge. Lakshmi also like to stay in home where people work and pray with pure, unblemished minds. Ganesha removes all obstacles from the paths of such people.


Pictured Above: Set of Lakshmi Ganesh Saraswati Statues from Ganesh Mall

 

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What is a Shivling?

Images of Hindu deities are typically anthropomorphic, Lord Shiva being the exception. The Puranas contain a legend in which Brahma and Vishnu once fought each other for supremacy. To end this and establish His pre-eminence in the trinity, Shiva manifested as a pillar of fire whose dimensions were unfathomable. This towering effulgence, without beginning or end is the lingam (shivling), the abstract, aniconic form of Shiva. Devotees believe that Shiva exists in their hearts in the form of a constant flame.

In sculpture, the lingam is shown as arising from a repository called the yoni. Together, they are said to symbolize the indivisibility of the male-female principles (the yoni being representative of Devi, the Mother Goddess).

Western scholars and philosophers have opined that the lingam is a phallic symbol. This however, is disputed by Indian philosophers and religious figures like Swami Vivekananda and Swami Sivananda who point to the absence of such interpretations in Vedic literature.

Famous shrines dedicated to Shiva are the twelve “Jyotirlingams” (lingams of fire) scattered across India. At Amarnath, in the remote reaches of the Western Himalayas, a stalagmite in the shape of a lingam, formed from ice dripping onto the floor of a cave, is a revered pilgrimage site.

Pictured Above: Ganesh on Shivling Statue by Om Etc.

Hindu God Krishna

 

Adorable child.  Irresistible lover. A reliable friend, pragmatic advisor and the Supreme Being!  Krishna fills the mind and heart with his rainbow personality. Dark as a raincloud, his complexion is set off by bright yellow robes. The peacock feather adorning his head and his bewitching flute complete this arresting image.

Classic Hindu poetry, literature, art and mythology are suffused with the brilliance of Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Vishnu. Unlike previous avatars, Krishna’s widespread appeal lies in his ability to bridge the gap between mortal and divine. His innocent childhood pranks make for delightful storytelling, even as they are layered with multiple meaning. Krishna as divine lover inspired the medieval Sanskrit poem Gita Govinda by Jayadeva. Filled with sensuous imagery, this work is about Krishna’s relationship with his lover Radha, their passion a metaphor for the individual soul’s longing for union with the divine.

Playful, charming, protective, complex (some would say duplicitous too), Krishna is a personal god rather than a remote deity on a pedestal. This is best exemplified in the epic Mahabharata where those who are close to Krishna repeatedly turn to him when in trouble. Above all, he is the author of the Bhagawad-Gita, a treatise on right living delivered to Arjuna, the epic’s great warrior, whose moral dilemma on the battlefield renders him incapable of leading the war. In an electrifying passage, the normally affable Krishna reveals himself to Arjuna as the Supreme Being who contains all universes, past, present and future.

Krishna’s birthday is celebrated during August-September as the Janmashtami festival. He was born at midnight, hence the celebrations are held late. Offerings of his favorite childhood foods – butter, yogurt and milk and sweets –   are made with great affection and reverence. In homes, little children are often dressed as Krishna and Radha.

Pictured Above: Brass Krishna Statue from Om Etc.

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Hindu God Hanuman

The epic Ramayana would not be half as engrossing and entertaining as it is without the simian god, Hanuman!

Hanuman is thought to be an avatar of Shiva, born to Anjana, a beautiful monkey maiden and Vayu the Wind God. Even as a baby, Hanuman was blessed with phenomenal strength. Once, the playful, energetic child mistook the sun to be a ripe mango and chased it across the heavens and could be stopped in his tracks only by a thunderbolt from the god Indra!

Hanuman is revered and worshipped as a symbol of devotion to Lord Rama, Lord Vishnu’s avatar and the protagonist of the Ramayana. Thanks to his physical strength and ability to fly, Hanuman is assigned the task of locating the whereabouts of Rama’s wife Sita, in the epic. He also possesses the power to increase or decrease his size at will. The Ramayana is filled with colorful vignettes of his perseverance, courage, intelligence, gentleness and nobility as he goes about vanquishing the forces of evil in the service of his beloved Lord.

The Hanuman Chalisa is a prayer that enumerates his manifold virtues and exploits. Hindus believe that reciting the prayer every day bestows mental strength and confidence, negates dark forces, heals sickness and removes suffering. Tuesdays and Saturdays are dedicated to Hanuman, when worshippers visit his temple and offer prayers. In April, the festival of Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated to honor his birth.

An enduringly popular image of Hanuman has him kneeling before Lord Rama and Sita, in eternal devotion. Another frequently seen image, taken from the Ramayana, is of the god flying across the skies, bearing aloft a mountain.  Assigned the task of fetching a life-saving Himalayan herb to revive Lord Rama’s brother Lakshmana, Hanuman uprooted the entire mountain and flew it back to his master, as he was unable to quickly identify the herb.

Hanuman symbolizes the tremendous physical and spiritual potential that lies untapped within us. His unswerving devotion to Lord Rama uplifted and enabled him to get past all obstacles, a reminder to mortals to live in the service of the divine.

Pictured Above: Hanuman Statue from Om Etc.

 

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Hindu Goddess Durga

Eight or Eighteen-armed and 1008-named Durga blazes a trail of magnificence through Hindu mythology. Durga frequently appears as Shiva’s consort in legend. However, in the popular imagination she is a powerful, independent figure, and a revered symbol of female energy.

Devimahatmyam, the sacred text dedicated to the worship of Devi, the Great Goddess in her manifold aspects describes Durga as a deity created by the unified energies of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. She was born primarily to rid the three worlds of the evil demon, Mahishasasura. In these passages, she is described in awe-inspiring terms as a golden-skinned, militant beauty clad in red. Her multiple arms hold a dazzling display of weaponry contributed by the gods – Vishnu’s discus, Shiva’s trident, Agni’s spear, Indra’s thunderbolt and Varuna’s noose among others. Vishwakarma, the divine architect gifted her with an axe, Himavat, king of the mountains, gave her a lion for a vehicle while lesser gods embellished her form with glittering jewels. When complete, Durga was an awesome figure whose mighty roar of laughter caused the worlds to quake and the oceans to churn.

The fierce and bloody war that blazed across the universe between Durga and Mahishasura, the goddess’s fury and ruthless decimation of all those who opposed her is retold every year during the celebration of Durga Puja that forms part of the nine-day autumnal festival of Navratri. In West Bengal, exquisite, life-size papier-mâché statues of the goddess are created for public worship and consigned to the river or sea on the last day of Navratri.

Pictured Above: Colorful Durga Statue from Om Etc.

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Hindu Goddess Kali

Wild-eyed, naked and disheveled Kali is often known as Adi-Shakti – ineffable, unmanifest energy – one who will continue to be, long after the known universe ceases to exist. Kali’s name is associated with “Kala” which at once means time, death and the color black.

Kali first appeared as a war Goddess in scriptures around 600 CE. She is also a predominant figure in Tantric texts where she is praised as the ultimate reality from whom all other deities arise.

She is typically depicted either as four-armed and single-headed or as the ten-armed, ten-headed Mahakali. She is black or blue-skinned and her large eyes glare with rage. She wears a skirt of human limbs; around her neck dangles a long garland of human heads. She is otherwise naked, as one who embodies pure being, beyond conventional norms.

Kali’s terrifying visage reflects Death, the one reality that no being escapes. In her most famous legend, Durga calls upon her (alternatively, she emerges from Durga’s forehead) to vanquish the demon Raktabija, who produces clones from every drop of his blood that spills to the ground. In battle, Kali opens her huge mouth and drinks his blood – hence the bloody, lolling tongue of popular iconography. Descriptions and art forms of Kali dancing upon the battlefield of corpses are the stuff of gripping tales in popular culture. In another myth, she is so intoxicated by her victory that she cannot stop dancing. The earth shudders and it is left to Shiva, to lie upon the battleground and absorb the shock. Kali ceases to dance only when she realizes she has stepped upon him.

In later mythology, Kali developed an occasionally benign aspect. Despite her fearsome reputation, she is worshiped as Ma Kali, the Supreme Mother whom all must bow to.

Pictured Above: Goddess Kali Statue from Om Etc.

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Hindu Goddess Saraswati

Saraswati is the Goddess of Knowledge. Her origin though, is as a river goddess; the Vedas speak of her association with the river Saraswati. Later, she began to be known as Vagdevi, the goddess of speech. Gradually, her influence extended to include music, poetry, the creative arts and all manner of intellectual activity. She is the repository of wisdom, the originator of the Vedas and the inventor of Devanagri, the script used to write Sanskrit and several other Indian languages. Many educational institutions begin their day with a special prayer to Saraswati.

In art, Saraswati is a serenely smiling figure clad in white. One hand holds a book, the symbol of learning while another bears the veena, a stringed instrument. Her third and fourth hands hold a rosary of pearls and a water pot, used in rites of worship. In another popular depiction, Saraswati sits on a lotus, playing the veena. Her divine vehicle is a white swan that matches her untainted beauty.

Saraswati is worshiped for three days during the nine day festival of Navaratri. Students seek her blessings upon their books and writing implements.

Early myths describe Saraswati as one of Vishnu’s consorts, besides Lakshmi and Ganga (in later mythology, she became the wife of Brahma the Creator). Legend says Saraswati was extremely jealous of Vishnu’s other wives. After a particularly vicious quarrel, Ganga cursed Saraswati to flow as a river in the dark crevices of earth. Saraswati retaliated, cursing Ganga to become a river in which men would forever wash their sins.

Pictured here: Hindu Goddess Saraswati Statue from Om Etc.
Click here to view the statue.

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Hindu Goddess Lakshmi (Laxmi)

Lovely Lakshmi...who doesn’t want her? Also known as Sri, she is the Goddess of fame and wealth, the consort of Vishnu the Preserver. Lakshmi embodies plenitude; in the Rig-Veda, a hymn in her praise describes her as bestowing gold, horses, cattle and an abundance of food upon her devotees.

Lakshmi is a glorious sight to behold. She shimmers with the soft luster of the moon; her body is adorned with exquisite gold and silver jewelry. Lakshmi is said to have emerged out of the primordial ocean seated inside a lotus. One of her names is Parma (“lotus flower”). Her iconography typically has her standing in a large lotus while her open palm showers gold coins. In another popular depiction, she sits in a lotus, with elephants on either side sprinkling water upon her from their trunks.
 
Lakshmi presides over all social realms. As Rajyalakshmi, she symbolizes royal power. She is revered in homes as Grihalakshmi, the embodiment of wifely virtue and devotion. A new bride is referred to as “Lakshmi”, who it is hoped will bring prosperity to her new household.
 

Lakshmi visits earth once a year during Deepavali, the Festival of Lights. Hindu homes glow with tiny diyas (oil lamps) to light her way. For trading and business communities, this is the most important festival in the year. Celebrations often include gambling sessions that extend into the wee hours, in the hope that the Goddess’s legendary generosity will befall the many hopefuls. Not unnaturally, Lakshmi also has a reputation for fickleness!

Pictured above: Lakshmi Statue from Om Etc.

Hindu God Shiva

No God in the Hindu pantheon fires the imagination quite like Shiva does!  He is an extraordinarily complex figure, whose essence is, in truth, unknowable. His 1008 names describe manifold, deeply polarized attributes. He is awe-inspiring Adi Nath, the Primordial Lord. As Bhuteshvara, he rules over the elements. But he is also Ajagandhi, who smells like a goat; as Bhasmeshvar, he is the ash-smeared one who roams around graveyards.

Among the holy triad of Hindu gods, Shiva is the Destroyer. His power to obliterate the universe however, is not to be interpreted as nihilism. Creation flourishes when the law of dharma prevails and there is equilibrium between the positive and negative. When dark forces prevail, Shiva steps in and destroys everything, thus allowing for a new cycle of regeneration. Shiva is spectacularly represented in this aspect as Nataraja, the Cosmic Dancer, framed by a circle of fire. One raised arm holds the fire that destroys the universe. The other holds a damaru – a small, hourglass shaped drum from which issues Nada, the primordial sound from which creation originates. Shiva’s third hand points down to his raised foot signifying spiritual liberation. Beneath the other foot lies a squirming demon, popular symbol of ignorance.

He is the Wrathful One whose fierce glare once reduced the hapless Kama, God of Love, to ash; his quick temper also resulted in his unknowingly beheading his own son, Ganesha. At the core of Shiva however, is a deep simplicity. One of his names is Bholenath, the Innocent One. As Ashutosh, he is easily pleased by devotees. Mythology abounds with tales of assorted demons and evildoers who worshipped him and in return received extraordinary powers which they proceeded to misuse!

Shiva’s iconography is rich in symbolism. He wears a crescent moon – the symbol of intuitive powers – upon his forehead. The sacred Ganges flowing from it is the eternal life-force. Two hands hold a weapon each – the trident and the axe. The other two hands are held in mudras or stylized gestures indicating protection to devotees against fear and the giving of boons. His third eye is usually turned inwards (a symbol of spiritual knowledge). The ashes smeared on his body represent the inevitability of death in all life forms.

Shiva’s consort is Parvati or Shakti, the female principle. His divine vehicle is Nandi the Bull. Mahashivaratri, during January-February, is the festival dedicated to Shiva, when devotees fast all day and pray to him at night to be absolved of all their sins.