Shri Saibaba Sansthan Shirdi                                                                                 Shri Saileela Main Page

LORD SHIVA

     Lord Shiva is the third member of the Hindu Trinity representing Godhead in its aspect of annihilator, in charge of the ‘constructive – destruction’ in the continuous process of creation, preservation, destruction and re-creation or transformation. The divine consort of Lord Shiva i.e. Goddess Uma or Goddess Parvati, is the shakti or power, the kinetic energy that supplies the energy to static Lord Shiva.

     Lord Shiva is said to be seated in deep meditation on the top-most point of the world on mount Kailas in the Himalayas, facing the south. In  this aspect, he is known as Dakshinamoorti ‘the auspicious God facing the south’, the embodiment and dispenser of the supreme knowledge. His posture symbolises perfect inner harmony and poise, experienced by a man of realisation. He is rooted in God-consciousness. He maintains perfect serenity, equanimity and tranquility in all environments and circumstances. Meditation is the final gateway to self-realisation. The snow-white background symbolises the absolute purity of  mind. In the sattwic state when the mind is absolutely pure and steady you recognise your supreme self. That is the state of Lord Shiva in Kailas.

     Eyes are half-closed signify that his mind is absorbed in the inner self, while his body is engaged in the outer world. One aspect of his personality is ever-rooted in God-conscious-ness, while the other is dealing with his worldly duties and responsibilities.

     His third eye : Lord Shiva is said to have a third eye (in the centre of the forehead), the eye of wisdom as well as annihilation. The eye whose vision reaches beyond that of the two mortal eyes. Lord Shiva has a divine vision of reality. Your vision is confined merely to perceptions, emotions and thoughts; but when you transcend the limitations of your body, mind and intellect you gain realisation of your inner self. That is by the opening of the third eye. Three eyes also represent his capacity to see in the past, present and future. Lord Shiva as the overLord ‘sees’ everywhere, everything taking place in his manifested system in the past, present and future and can bring about any result instantaneously.

     Conquering ego : In the Hindu scriptures ego is represented as a serpent. The ego serpent harasses you with its venom of desires. Man suffers all his lifetime from the pressure of his own desires. When you conquer the ego the same ego that has degraded you into a limited existence now ‘adorns’ your personality. This idea is indicated by Lord Shiva coiling the serpent around his neck. He has total mastery over his desires, his senses, his ego.

     Carrier of Ganga : Lord Shiva is said to carry the Ganges in his locks. Ganga stands for the ultimate truth, the ultimate reality, the knowledge of the atman or the divinity in man. The knowledge of atman is symbolically represented as being located above in the heavens. Lord Shiva is reputed for his great tapas, contemplation and meditation. Such a man alone can describe the great spiritual truths. The power to understand the higher truth is limited, hence the release of the Ganges from Lord Shiva’s head in trickles. Thus by gradual and slow education spiritual knowledge is gained in this world. Ganges water stands for spiritual wisdom. Hence a dip in the Ganges is considered sacred, his union with the supreme reality.

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