SHIVA

"Om Namah Shivaya"

Shiva can be split as Sha+ee+va where  

• Sha stands for shareeram or body  
• Ee stands for eeshwari or life-giving energy 
• Va stands for vayu or motion 

Thus Shiva represents the body with life and motion. 

If the 'ee' is removed from Shiva, it gets reduced to sha+va or Shava which means a lifeless body. 

Anything with Shiva is with life, and anything without Shiva is Shava, or without life. So Shiva is auspicious, Shiva is potential, and Shiva is life. 

Shiva is all-encompassing - the universal soul or consciousness. 

Realizing this Shiva Tattva leads to Ananda (bliss).

सत्यम्, शिवम् सुंदरम्।

These three words are the root of life. This trinity is dear to Lord Shiva. Is Shiva there? Shiva is all around us. Whatever we conduct, whatever we behave, whatever actions we perform, whatever we suffer, whatever we live, whatever we die, the root of all this is Shiva.

No worship without Shiva. No nature without Shiva. Not a trend. Not life Not even death. Shiva is our bodily, divine, and material power. Shiva is in our particle. Shiva eternal and are infinite. Shiva is our social reputation. Shiva is our political power. Shiva is our light. Shiva is our planet. Shiva is our pillar in nature. Lord Shankar has two forms. He is also formless and also real. There are no two forms of any other deva. The form of realization is worshiped in the month of Shravan. Shravan Shivaratri is the eclipse celebration of Lord Shankar and Gauri. Worship of the formless form on the Mahashivaratri of Falgun month. This is the one at Ahoratri. Osho has written in his book, In Search of God, that we see God in the same color as the concept we are in ourselves.

It is a broad social vision. From this point of view, Lord Shankar is the closest and most acceptable to us. But this is a half-truth. The absolute truth is that Lord Shankar teaches us to live and die. He explains the use of natural resources. They teach not to exploit nature. He takes us away from the definition of polytheism. And say... God is one. It has no color, form, and shape. There is only one Rudra. None other. Go to the refuge of only one God. Just as the Sun, Moon, Sky, Earth, and Hades are one. In the same way, I am also one. I see you differently but I am one.

See the form of Bhole Shankar

• Significance of Crescent Moon

• Significance of Lord Shiva’s Damru

• Significance of Serpent around Lord Shiva’s Neck

• Significance of Lord Shiva’s Trishul (Trident)

• Significance of Nandi (Bull)

• Significance of River Ganga flowing from Lord Shiva’s Head

• Significance of Lord Shiva’s Third Eye

• Significance of  Rudraksha Beads 

• Significance of  Tiger Skin

• Significance of  Kmandal

• Significance of  Kundals

• Significance of  Blue body & throat

Mount Kailash is not Shiva’s real Avasyam!

As it is commonly believed that Shiva’s abode is Mount Kailash, but it is not so! Shiva’s abode is situated at a place called Manomaya, which is at the very boundary of the universe, where matter and anti-matter coexist.


Mount Kailash is like a summer retreat from where Shiva could keep an eye on the humans.


It is believed that when Shiva is meditating, he is actually residing in the Manomaya (which means tremendous willpower).

Shiva’s androgynous form

According to the Shiva Purana, lord Brahma-the the creator created all male beings and asked them to regenerate. However, they were unable to do so. And so Brahma confronted Lord Shiva for help.

In order to enlighten Brahma, Shiva appeared before him as Ardhanarishvara (half male-half female). Lord Brahma prayed to the female half of Shiva to him a female to continue the process of regeneration. The goddess agreed to Brahma and created various female powers from her body.

Ardhanarishvara is a composite androgynous form of Lord Shiva and his wife Parvati. The right half is usually the male Shiva. It represents the unity of opposites.

Wives of Lord Shiva

Shiva is the primary deity in the Shaivism tradition of Hinduism. He is one of the Holy Trinity. He is the destroyer of the evil, the one who brings awakening, and the one who blesses his devotees with enlightenment. 

Lord Shiva is the invincible sage, who conquered death and attained supreme knowledge. He is depicted as the supreme lord of destruction, the lord of dance, and the lord of meditation in various ancient, historic and artistic depictions. 

Our scriptures provide details of the legends of Lord Shiva: how he came into existence, what all forms he took birth in, and how he protected the universe from the demons many times. Today, we have brought to you the information about the wives of Lord Shiva. 

Shiva's main consort is Goddess Sati, who incarnated as various other Goddesses, which were known to be his other wives. Let us know more about them. 

Goddess Sati 

Goddess Sati is the daughter of Daksha Prajapati. She is considered as the Goddess of marital felicity and longevity. She is the first consort of Lord Shiva. When Queen Prasuti, the wife of Daksha, wanted a daughter, Lord Brahma advised her to worship Adi Parashakti.

Goddess Sati used to adore Lord Shiva since she used to hear stories about him from Narad Muni. She undertook hard penance to please Lord Shiva. She subsisted to one leaf a day and left even that later. 

That is why she is also known as Aparna. Sati had left her father's palace and the associated luxuries in order to win the regard of Lord Shiva. She disliked the idea of marrying anyone else. Pleased by her devotion and penance, Lord Shiva married her. 

Goddess Parvati 

The second consort of Lord Shiva and the Goddess of fertility, love, and devotion, Goddess Parvati is believed to be the reincarnation of Goddess Sati. She was the daughter of the mountain king Himavan and his wife Meena. Much similar to Goddess Sati, she too adored Lord Shiva since childhood. 

When she grew up, she developed the desire to marry him. She undertook a deep penance and left food as well. She stood firmly on her decision, despite the continuous advice she got against marrying Shiva, who was a homeless ascetic. But the love in her heart would not let her drop the idea.

After all, she was the reborn form of Sati, and Shiva had been her husband already in the past life. Later, Shiva was pleased by her hard penance and married her after realizing that she was the incarnation of Sati. 

She succeeded in achieving the love of Shiva, despite her father not being happy about her decision initially. Goddess Parvati is also known as Uma, the daughter of the Himalayas. 

Son/Daughters of shiva 

1.KHUJA /MANGAL

Lothiang was the ‘ansh’ of lord shiva and was born from the ‘Shwet bund’ perspiration and sweat of Lord Shiva when he was performing tandav.

2.ANDHAKA

His story finds mention in various Hindu texts, including the Matsya Purana, the Kurma Purana, the Liṅga Purana, and the Siva Purana. He is believed to have one thousand heads, and one thousand arms, thus having two thousand eyes, arms, and feet. In another version, he has two thousand arms and two thousand legs.

In some versions of his story, Andhaka is sometimes described as a son of Shiva and Parvati.

3.KARTIKEYA

Also known as Skanda, Kumara, Murugan, and Subrahmanya, is the Hindu god of war. He is the son of Parvati and Shiva, brother of Ganesha, and a god whose life story has many versions in Hinduism. An important deity around South Asia since ancient times, Kartikeya is particularly popular and predominantly worshipped in South India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Malaysia as Murugan.

4.LORD AYYAPPAN

Lord Ayyappan or Ayyappa, is a popular Hindu deity mainly worshiped in South India. Ayyappa is believed to be born by the union of Lord Shiva and the mythical enchantress, Mohini, who is an avatar of Lord Vishnu.

Therefore, Ayyappa is also known as Hariharan Puthiran, which literally means the son of Hari or Vishnu and Haran or Shiva.

5. SHRI GANESHA

Also known as Ganapati and Vinayaka, is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Thailand, Mauritius, Bali (Indonesia), Bangladesh and Trinidad and Tobago. Hindu denominations worship him regardless of affiliations. Devotion to Ganesha is widely diffused and extends to Jains and Buddhist

Though Ganesha is popularly held to be the son of Shiva and Parvati, the Puranic myths give different versions about his birth. In some he was created by Parvati, in another he was created by Shiva and Parvati, in another he appeared mysteriously and was discovered by Shiva and Parvati or he was born from the elephant-headed goddess Malini after she drank Parvati's bath water that had been thrown in the river.

6. Ashok Sundari 

Famous theist Devdutt pattanaik said that the story of Ashok Sundari comes from the vrat-kathas of Gujurat and neighboring areas. Her birth is recorded in detail in the religious scripture, ‘Padma Purana’.

Since Parvati used to feel lonely she created Ashok Sundari from a tree. Her name was Ashok since her presence removed all the sorrows and Sundari since she is said to be quite beautiful. She is said to be associated with salt since she hid behind a sack of salt when Ganesha was beheaded by Lord Shiva. She is mainly worshiped in Gujarat.

7.Mansa

Manasa is known among people to be the Goddess who cures snakebites. She is said to be born when Lord Shiva’s semen touched a statue carved by the mother of snakes ‘Kadru’. This incident gave birth to her as Shiva’s daughter but not Parvati’s. She was the one who saved Lord Shiva when he drank poison during the “Samandar Manthan” or “Amrit Manthan”.

It is said that she was ill-treated by Parvati since she thought her to be Shiva’s secret wife. The myth also says that she was bad-tempered due to rejection by her father, husband, and step-mother.

She is majorly worshipped in Bengal. There’s no particular idol representing her, instead, she is worshipped in the form of a branch of a tree, an earthen pot, or snake. She is worshipped mostly during the rainy season when snakes are seen abundantly. She is believed to cure snake bites and infectious diseases like chickenpox.

Mythology is vast and has many hidden stories associated with it. The way we happened to discover the existence of the ultimate God’s daughters, there may be many more lying under the abode of this universe.

8.Jyoti

She was born from the aura of light of Lord Shiva and hence is named Jyoti. She is the complete representation of the grace Lord Shiva possessed. She is known to the people as the Hindu Goddess of light. She is also termed as Goddess Rayaki who is associated with the Vedic Raka, and also as Goddess Jwalaimukhi in North India.

She is majorly worshipped in quite a lot of temples in Tamil Nadu.

MANTRA

Mantras are those sounds that you hear from deep within during meditation, and the aim of any mantra is to bring you back to the source.

Chanting in Sanskrit is beneficial because Sanskrit is the oldest language known to mankind, and so it has a deep impact on consciousness. 

"Om Namah Shivaya/Panchakshari Shiva Mantra"

Om Namah Sivaya is an ancient mantra used to awaken higher states of consciousness? 

Om Namah Shivaya is one of the most powerful mantras, 
The literal translation os these Sanskrit words means "I bow to Shiva".

Shiva is regarded as the manifestation of the Divine and the symbol for the inner Self, so Om Namah Shivaya essentially means: I vow to my inner self. 

Rudraksha beads

This mantra is repeated verbally or mentally, drawing the mind in upon itself to Lord Shiva's infinite, all-pervasive presence. Traditionally it is repeated 108 times a day while keeping count on a strand of rudraksha beads. 

It is freely sung and chanted by everyone, but it is most powerful when given by one's guru. Before this initiation which is called mantra Diksha.

Repetition of the mantra, known as Japa, holds our mind to this core truth, that God dwells within us - like us. It brings great calmness and peace and keeps the mind occupied with loftier aspirations.

Benefits of chanting Om Namah Shivaya:

• The Mantra is Moksha Giver and stabilizes your thoughts.
• Mantra makes you feel Light.
• A significant vibration originates in the subconsciousness part of the mind which gives the feeling of internal ecstasy.
• Om Namah Shivaya helps in controlling Senses and anxieties.
• Om Namah Shivaya gives calmness to your mind.
• Om Namah Shivaya increases the happiness chemical which is known as GABA chemical. Lack of Gaba chemical reduces the natural sleep within humans. People who lack such chemicals always feel exhausts.
• Students get the immense benefit of improving memory power.
• Chanting Om Namah Shivaya mantra gives you eternal joy.
• Shiva becomes your protector.
• Om Namah Shivaya mantra makes you free from your animal passion and rude behavior. It grows positive energy in you which improves your body metabolism and reduces the toxicity of the body.
• The Continuous 108-time repetition is more beneficial to get Siddhis (Urza or strength). It is helpful in awakening Kundalini Yoga Shakti.
• Health Benefits of Om Namah Shivaya Om Namah Shivaya mantra chanting improves your blood circulation and stabilizes heartbeat. Mantra can even enhance your blood purification system.
• It also reduces the chances of heart strokes and organ failure.
• The Power of Om Namah Shivaya is that it can free you from your past sins.

"Rudra Mantra or Mahamirtyunjaya Mantra"

ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् |

उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माऽमृतात् ||

• ॐ aum = is a sacred/mystical syllable Aum in Hinduism,    Jainism, Buddhism     & Sikhism
• त्र्यम्बकम् tryambakam = the three-eyed one 
• त्रि tri = "three" अम्बक ambaka = "eye"
• यजामहे yajāmahe = "we worship, we sacrifice"
• सुगन्धिम् sugandhim = "the fragrant, the virtuous, the supreme being"
• पुष्टिवर्धनम् puṣṭi + vardhanam = "the bestower of nourishment, wealth, perfection" 
• पुष्टि puṣṭi = "nourishment, increase, wealth, perfection"वर्धन vardhana = "increase, growth"
• उर्वारुकम् urvārukam = "fruit, a kind of cucumber" 
• इव iva = "as"
• बन्धनान् bandhanān = "from bondage, from the stalk/stem"
• मृत्योः mṛtyoḥ = "from death" 
• मुक्षीय mukṣīya = "may I be freed/released"
• मा ऽमृतात् mā 'mṛtāt = "not (mā) from immortality  (amṛtāt)"

According to a legend, Markandeya was the only one on the earth who knew this mantra. The Moon was once in trouble when cursed by King Daksha. Markandeya gave the Mahamritryunjaya Mantra to Sati, Daksha's daughter, for the Moon.

This mantra is also called the Rudra mantra, referring to the furious aspect of Shiva; the Tryambakam mantra, alluding to Shiva's three eyes.

The last letter of this Mahamantra should be read carefully. As is also clear in the sense, this mamrita(मा ऽमृतात्) will be read-only when salvation is not being attained.

This Mahamantra has 32 words. Applying ॐ 'makes 33 words.

It is also called 'Trayastrishakshari or thirty-three Akshari Mantras.

Muni Vashistha has defined 33 deities of these 33 words ie Shaktis.

This mantra has eight Vasus, 11 Rudras, 12 Adityas, and a Vasht.

Who & how to read Mahamrityunjaya mantra

Mahamrityunjaya has different mantras. You can choose whichever mantra as per your convenience and use it in regular lessons or in times of need. Following are the mantras:-

1.तांत्रिक बीजोक्त मंत्र (Tantric bijokta mantra):

  ॐ भूः भुवः स्वः। ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्‌। उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय     माऽमृतात्‌। स्वः भुवः भूः ॐ ॥ (For seekers)

2.संजीवनी मंत्र (Sanjeevani Mantra):

  ॐ ह्रौं जूं सः। ॐ भूर्भवः स्वः। ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्‌। उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनांन्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माऽमृतात्‌। स्वः भुवः भूः ॐ। सः जूं ह्रौं ॐ॥ (Special fruitful for businessmen, students and employed people)

3.कालजयी मंत्र (kaalajayee mantra):

 ॐ ह्रौं जूं सः। ॐ भूः भुवः स्वः। ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्‌। उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माऽमृतात्‌। स्वः भुवः भूः ॐ। सः जूं ह्रौं ॐ ॥ (For all householders. Especially for freedom from diseases and sufferings)

Mahamrityunjaya Mantra: Keep caution

1. Keep the pronunciation of Mahamantra pure

2. Chant a certain number (108 times).

3. Chant the mantra mentally.

4. Chant with complete rituals and incense lamps

5. Chant only on the rosary of Rudraksha.

6. Place the garland in the Gomukhi.

7. Worship the Mahamrityunjaya Yantra during the chanting period.

8. Chant Mahamrityunjaya while sitting on the seat of Kusha.

9. During the chanting period, anoint Shiva with a mixture of water and milk.

10. Chant Mahamrityunjaya Mantra only by facing towards east.

Shiva the origin of yoga

Lord Shiva is considered the Adi Yogi that is the father and founder of Yoga. He is the foremost among the yogis and the first teacher of the science of Yoga. He is the representation of flawless meditation and spirituality. Lord Shiva is always seen meditating in the silence of the mountains of Kailash and sitting in a lotus pose. His meditating and yogic energies are so high that he controls the entire functioning of the universe in his subconscious mind.

Shastras say that Lord Shiva first imparted his knowledge on Yoga and meditation to his wife Parvati. It is only after this that the cosmic joining of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati happened. On the night of their union, Shiva and Parvati started the dance of mystic love. It is described as “ujyate anena iti yogah” which means One that joins is yoga.

“ujyate anena iti yogah”

The story

On the night when Lord Shiva for the first time shared the secrets of Yoga to his wife, he became the Adi Guru of Yoga. He taught Parvati 84 Asanas of Yoga which belong to the Vedic parampara. These 84 Asanas have the power to give the person the best of the Rajyoga. Now, what Rajyoga is? Basically, these Yogic positions eradicate the doshas in a person’s life and confer their most auspicious results. This enables the person to remain healthy, wealthy, happy, and successful.

The eternal love Shiva had for Parvati was so strong that he never wanted to share these Yogic secrets with anyone else except her. However, Goddess Parvati being the symbol of care and affection could not take the sufferings of the people and wanted to share this miraculous secret with them. She believed that the introduction of Vedic Yoga in a proper manner will rectify many miseries of the world.

Lord Shiva was quite reluctant about this act of spreading knowledge. He thought that mankind does not have the understanding to respect these cosmic powers. But, with her loving approach Parvati persuaded God for the same.

Then came the creation of Sapt Rishis (The earliest list of the Seven Rishis is given by Jaiminiya Brahmana 2.218-221: Agastya, Atri, Bhardwaja, Gautam, Jamadagni, Vashistha, and Vishvamitra followed by Brihadaranyaka Upanisad 2.2. 6 with a slightly different list: Gautama and Bharadvaja, Shandilya and Jamadagni, Vashistha and Kashyapa and Atri, Bhrigu).who were trained and prepared to spread it further. Lord Shiva himself took the initiative and made the Rishis attain 18 Siddhas. These 18 Siddhas imparted the divine knowledge to us earthlings. It is believed that this teaching of the 7 Rishis happened on the banks of Kanti Sarovar, near Kedarnath.

Rishis attain 18 Siddhas

This night is celebrated today as Mahashivratri. On this night the planetary positions in the northern hemisphere are such that there is a natural upsurge of energies. If one just stays awake and keeps one’s spine erect throughout the night, it naturally pushes a person towards his spiritual peak.

So, you read what Mythology has to say about Yoga? In short, it is described as cosmic energy that has supernatural powers to make a person attain a spiritual peak. Let’s discover these amazing powers and make the world a much better place to live in.

Jyotirlinga

There are twelve Jyotirlingas and they are the major places of worship of Shiva. They materialized in a radiant form. The thirteenth pinda is known as the kalpinda. The pinda (Subtle body) which has crossed the limits of Kal (Time), is known as kalpinda. The names of twelve Jyotirlingas are provided ahead.

Jyotirlinga Site:-

01. Somnath Prabhasapattan,  Veraval, Sourashtra, Gujarat

02. Mallikarjun Shrishailya, Andhra Pradesh

03. Mahankal Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh

04. Omkar / Amaleshwar Omkar, Mandhata, Madhya Pradesh

05. Kedarnath Himalayas

06. Bhimashankar Dakini region, Taluka Khed, District Pune, Maharashtra

07. Vishveshwar Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

08. Tryambakeshwar Near Nashik, Maharashtra

09. Vaidyanath (Vaijanath)  Parli, District Beed, Maharashtra

10. Nagesh (Nagnath)  Darukavan, Oundh, District Hingoli, Maharashtra

11. Rameshwaram Setubandh, near Kanyakumari, Tamilnadu

12. Ghrushneshwar (Ghrushnesh) Verul, District Aurangabad, Maharashtra




The twelve Jyotirlingas are the body and the Jyotirlinga at Pashupatinath in Kathmandu (Nepal) is the head over this body.

The meaning of a Jyotirlinga:-

1. The all-pervading Brahmatmalinga or all-pervading light.

2. In the Taittiriya Upanishad, the twelve Principles of Brahma, Maya, the jiva, the mind, intellect, subconscious mind, ego, and the Panchamahabhutas have been referred to as the twelve Jyotirlingas.

3. The twelve sections of the Shivalinga.

4. In the Yadnyavedi (Pit where the ritual of sacrificial fires is performed), the shalunka represents the pit of the fire and the linga the flame of the fire.

5. A representation of the twelve Adityas (Species of Deities who are designated into groups).

6. The sites of the eruption of fire from the dormant volcanoes. Since Yama, the master of southern direction is a subordinate of Shankar, the south becomes the direction of Shankar. The Jyotirlingas are south-oriented, meaning, the opening of their shalunkas face southwards. Most temples do not face the southern direction. When the opening of the shalunka faces the south, its pinda possesses more spiritual energy; while the pinda with the opening of the shalunka facing north possesses lesser energy.

Top 10 Myths about Lord Shiva

1. It is believed that Lord Shiva has two sons, Kartikay being the older and Vinayaka being the younger one. There are 8 kids of Shiv Shakti which are namely, Kartikay, Vinayaka, Ashok Sundari, Ayyapan, Mansa, Jalandhar, Andhaka, and Jyoti.

2. Shiva is considered to be the Supreme, the god of destruction, the one with all the powers. But the reality is all his powers lie in Goddess Parvati, Shakti of Shiva.

3. People say that there is no one like Shiva. Though that’s true, Shiva’s look-alike is Jalandhar who wanted to marry Parvati and take her to the Patal Lok- House of Demons, who was later killed by Shiva himself.

4. Shiva is considered to have two wives, Sati and Parvati. But Parvati is the reincarnation of Sati and therefore the two’s existence is actually one who is called Shakti in all the antiquity books.

5. It is often mistaken that Ganga is Shiva’s second wife, which is actually not true. Though she is in love with him but had not received the right as her wife as Shiva is married only to one soul, Shakti.

6. Shiva has been given power, existence by his wife with whom he fell in love, Mahakali, and later came to be known as Mahakal, the god of all gods.

7. Shiva has made 107 attempts to bring out Mahakali from his wives. Parvati has taken 107 forms that weren’t able to convert into Adi Parashakti but Parvati was the last 108th successful attempt.

8. Shiva is worshipped with 108 Bel Patra whenever people perform rituals in his temple. That’s not just a religious fact or tradition, that’s so because Parvati while performing her Tapasya, worshipped him with Bel Patra every day.

9. Shiva uses Weed, one of the banned substances, which is actually a Myth. Shiva is considered an ideal husband and before that, a God who was never involved with the use of such stuff.

10. Not only the symbol of destruction, but Shiva is also a symbol of Calmness and Peace. And the Snake, SarpRaj Vasuki around Shiva’s neck also reinforces a sense of Stillness and Peace.

                                  "Om Namah Shivaya"