Lord Shiva Greatest Guru/Mahakal Guru (शिवोऽम): In the Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva is the Destroyer and the most important one in the Holy Trinity, the other two being Brahma the Creator and Vishnu the Protector. Lord Shiva has always fascinated his followers by his unique appearance he has not two but three eyes, has ash smeared all over his body, has snakes coiled up around his head and arms, wears tiger and elephant skin, leads a wild life in the cremation grounds far removed from social pretences, and is known for his proverbial anger. (Mahakal Guru)
There is a very interesting story behind the birth of Lord Shiva(Mahakal Guru). One day, Brahma and Vishnu were both arguing about which of them was more powerful and important. Right then amidst the heated discussion, an inexplicable blazing pillar appeared in front of them, whose root and tip were not to be seen.
The roots seemed to penetrate deep into the earth with the tip piercing into the skies beyond eternity(Mahakal Guru). Amazed by the view of this pillar, now both of them wondered which could be this third entity that landed there instantly in a way challenging both of their supremacy. Now their arguments over their supremacy subdued and they started wondering who this entity could be.
Both Brahma and Vishnu set out to locate the start and end of that pillar(Lord Shiva The Greatest Guru). Brahma turned into a goose and flew up to find the top of the pillar, while Vishnu turned into a boar and dug into the earth to look for its roots. The process of search happened for ages and the outcome proved futile both of them not being able to succeed in their mission. (Mahakal Guru)
After their unsuccessful attempt, both of them felt humbled and came back to their original place only to find Lord Shiva manifesting in front of them in a form they could comprehend and understand(Lord Shiva Greatest Guru). Now they felt Shiva’s power and cosmic existence is much beyond their understanding and in fact it was Mahakal Guru who was more powerful than both of them. Thus the divine play of Lord Shiva made them understand that there was this mightier third power that ruled over the universe. (Mahakal Guru)
Mahakal Guru is no ordinary god; He is very mysterious and his ways can never be interpreted by the earthly norms and definitions. He performs multiple roles and wields a mighty power over the universe(Lord Shiva The Greatest Guru). He takes delight in occupying the crematory ground s and the favourite dress code of Lord Shiva is animal skin and skull garlands. (Mahakal Guru)
He is always accompanied by a large battalion of fierce looking demons which are also blood thirsty and can devastate anything with a sweeping operation. (Mahakal Guru) The entire troop of Lord Shiva and his army are so strange and are constantly engaged in carrying out the multifaceted mission of the Lord in all the known worlds and also beyond. (Mahakal Guru)
Lord Shiva Greatest Guru: Though Lord Shiva is known better to most people as a ferocious god, he has another mysterious side too – he is known to spend long periods of time in deep meditation in the lofty Himalayas(Lord Shiva Greatest Guru). This absolute silence and stillness on one hand and the vibrant and ferocious exploits on the other hand make is very hard to understand what His original nature is. Thus, looking from several angles, we are always struck with wonder that overtakes any attempt of explaining his ways and nature.
When Shiva is found engaged in his Shiv Tandav, the cosmic dance, it is symbolic of the triumph of Truth over ignorance and impermanence. This eternal dance is so elevating and energizing the entire universe setting every created particle into a strong vibration, thus adding life into matter. Lord Shiva’s dance dispels the clouds of ignorance and instils a faith, hope and wisdom. It banishes the sufferings of his followers and makes them find the light inside their beings.
When Lord Shiva is found engaged in his divine cosmic dance, he projects all the five elements with him including the earth, water, fire, air and the sky depicted respectively in the form of the seat of his dance, the flowing Ganges, the fire teeming up from his palm, the deer symbolizing the air and the cosmic space in which he executes his ecstatic dance.
Once, Lord Shiva saved the gods, demons and the world from destruction by swallowing the poison called Halahala that emanated from the oceans while they churned it together in pursuit of the ambrosia that would bestow immortality(Lord Shiva Greatest Guru). When the fumes of the deadly poison started scorching all that was around, Lord Shiva effortlessly deputed one of his manifestations to collect the poison and immediately swallowed it thereby saving the worlds.
Thus, Lord Shiva is shown as the most compassionate one who is always bent upon ensuring the safety and security of the created universe.
Lord Shiva is also known by the name of “Nīlakantha”, which literally means the blue-throated. When Lord Shiva swallowed the most deadly poison to save the worlds, Goddess Parvati was taken aback and feared the safety of her Master(Lord Shiva Greatest Guru). Therefore she rushed in to hold his neck before the poison could descend down further downwards. This incident made the Lord’s neck turn blue and this is duly depicted in art and the representations of Lord Shiva’s form in different mediums.
One of Shiva’s greatest services to the world was to tame the mighty Ganga river. Once upon a time, the Ganga used to traverse through the heavens only, leaving the earth parched and dry. When a wise man changed the course of the river, it threatened to become a raging torrent which would certainly flood the earth. However, Shiva stood in the way of the heavens and the earth and captured Ganga in his thick locks, thereby stemming its flow.
Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of the linga – some of which are Jyotirlingas – at numerous places across India. The Linga, a sign of masculinity, symbolises Shiva’s role in the creation, sustenance and withdrawal of the Universe.
Lord Shiva, similar to Lord Vishnu, had many avatars. It was Virabhadra, an avatar of Lord Shiva, who disrupted Daksha’s Yajna and cut off his head. His Bhairava avatar, also known as Kaal Bhairava, was created to protect the Sati Pind. His Durvasa avatar was famous for his short temper. Khandoba was another avatar of Shiva known in Maharashtrian and Kannada cultures. Finally, Hanuman avatar is known as the eleventh Rudraavtaar of Lord Shiva in the era of Lord Rama!
Lord Shiva is a part of Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh and is associated with Moksha this is relief from the cycle of birth and death.
By Moksha, He is actually taking us out from the illusionary world of Kama, Krodha, Moha, Mada and Lobha and making us realize who we are and what is our true purpose of existence. Thus the power of destruction of Lord Shiva has a great purifying power on a universal level. The destruction opens the path for a new creation of the universe, a new opportunity for the beauty and drama of universal illusion to unfold. Being Satyam, Shivam and Sundaram which denotes the Truth, Goodness and Beauty, Lord Shiva represents the essence of impeccable goodness and godliness. Shivaratri puja performed on the Festival called Maha Shivaratri invites the blessings of Lord Shiva and His divine consort, Goddess Parvati.
His favourite ornament is Rudraksha which He wears on his arms, wrists, neck, waist and hair mat. He holds a snake coiled around His neck, a Trishul, drum and Kamdalu in hand and wears a tiger skin. His body is smeared with ash.
In Hindu mythology there are various forms of meditations and different paths for yogis but Shiva represents the art of meditation in its most absolute form. In meditation, not only mind is made still but everything is dropped.(Lord Shiva Greatest Guru) In deep meditation or Samadhi, even the object of the meditation (like a mantra, Tantra or Yantra) is transformed into its formless essence, which is the essence of absoluteness and “Purna“(completeness). Thus Shiva stands for letting go everything in the world of forms. The path of Lord Shiva is undoubtedly the path of the ascetic yogi.
Forms of Shiva:
Shiva has different forms: The first being Aghor (which resides in the cremation grounds), then Ishana (most often appears as the Shivalingam), the third being “Tat Purusha” where He is meditating, then Varna Deva (Lord Shiva Greatest Guru) and then Sadyojat or Briddha Rudra (the old wrathful form). The last also a form of the Lord has the deepest connection to the Rudraksha and Rudraksha mala – a rosary made of the dried fruits of the Rudraksha tree.
Yet another form is the Nataraj, where the Lord Shiva Nataraj’s dance implies both the destruction and the creation of the universe and reveals the cycles of death, birth and rebirth. His Dance of Bliss is for the welfare of the world. In the pose of Nataraj, the King of Dance is giving darshan to his beloved devotees within the “Hall of Consciousness“, which is the heart of the human. Under his feet, Shiva crushes the demon of ignorance called Apasmara Purusha, caused by forgetfulness. One hand is stretched across his chest and points towards the uplifted foot, indicating the release from earthly bondage of the devotee. The fire represents the final destruction of creation, but the dance of the Nataraj is also an act of creation, which arouses dormant energies and scatters the ashes of the universe in a pattern that will be the design of the ensuing creation.
Then in His Mahamrityunjay form, Lord Shiva is depicted as the great conqueror of death and giver of immortality. The Mahamrityunjay mantra is one of the two main mantras of the Vedas, next to the Gayatri mantra. It is chanted to eradicate death and disease.
Another main form of Shiva is Ardhnareshwar, half Shiva, half Shakti.
The Shiva’s main attributes are:
- The trident that represents the three gunas.
- The snakes that show he is beyond the power of death and poison and also stand for the Kundalini energy.
- The sound of Shiva’s two-sided drum maintains the rhythm of the heartbeat and creates the sound AUM in the overtones.
- The vehicle of Shiva is the white bull called Nandi (which means the joyful).
- Shiva is seated on a tiger skin or wears a tiger skin.
- The tiger represents the mind. Shiva lives on Mount Kailasha in the Himalayas.
- His third eye symbolizes the all-knowing awareness of the very Brahman.
Relationships:
The power or energy of Shiva is Parvati. Shiva’s first wife was Sati and his second wife was Parvati. Both are the forms of Adi Shakti. They are also known by many other names, such as Uma, Gauri, Durga, Kali, Annapurna and Shakti(Lord Shiva Greatest Guru). He is known by many names and tittles. As a god of anger, He is Rudra, the Red One, feared by one and all. As Kailasapati, He is the Lord of Kailas, His Abode in the Himalayas. As Purusha, He is Ishwara Himself. As the Lord of the beings, He is known as Pasupatinath. His sons are Ganesha and Kartikeya. Shiva taught Parvati, Vedanta (transcendent knowledge), while Parvati taught him Sankhya (cosmological knowledge). Both are perfected yogis.
The Shiva Lingam:
Lord Shiva is conceived in his unborn, invisible form as the Shiva Lingam. The Lingam represents the male creative energy of Shiva. This main symbol of Shiva is worshipped in virtually every Hindu temple and home. Through profound understanding of this symbol, the mystery of creation can be understood as an act of love.
When Ganga incarnated on Earth, Lord Shiva captured her in His hair mat to stop her from flooding the earth. As the bearer of the sacred river Ganges, He is known as Ganagadhar. Because of His matted hair, He is dearly called as Jatadhari, by His ascetic followers. As a perfect being He is Siddheshwar. With His Trident in His hands, He became popular as heroic and fearless Trisuladhari(Lord Shiva The Greatest Guru). As the world teacher, He was eulogized as Dakshinamurthy by Adi Shankara in his famous book, “Hymns to Dakshinamurthy“. The fact that a great mass of heterogeneous cults and practices came to be associated with Him, suggests that in His unlimited wisdom and boundless love as a World Teacher and Father of all, Lord Shiva, gives immense freedom to His followers to choose whatever path they want to follow for their self-realization.
Shiva worshippers (Shaivites) are among India’s most ascetic Sadhus and yogis, their body smeared with ashes, dressed in saffron colours and wearing a Rudraksha mala. The path of Shiva can thus be seen as the inward-going path, the great journey to find the inner self and self-realization.
