Vande Devam Sloka-fr-te

Shiva, Auspicious one

God creates and sustains the universe and dissolves it into elementary condition.

Shiva is the facet of the Divine, representing the powers of disintegration and dissolution.

He is the Vairaagya aspect of God, totally detached. The Lord, who has projected the cosmos by His own will, does not crave even for a fraction of His own creation.

He is called Shiva, the Auspicious One. He is the destroyer of all that takes us away from God’s love, peace and strength; i.e. He destroys the inner enemies of man like delusion, greed, pride, jealousy and anger and confers auspiciousness.

He resides in kailas, the Abode of Light, Purity and Bliss.

Symbolisms

The Sanyasi Rupa denotes Vairaagya, complete non-attachment.

The Third Eye denotes the Eye of Wisdom.

The Lord is Sarvannya, Sarvasaakshim, omniscient and all witnessing.

Body smeared with ashes: Renders to ashes the sins of His devotees and adorns Himself with them.

The Snakes symbolise Spiritual Power.

The Ganga emanating from His matted locks, symbolises the Jnaana Ganga, the fount of Wisdom flowing from the sages. A dip in this washes away the sins of many births, and confers auspiciousness.

The Trishul denotes He is the Master of Time, Past, Present and future, Master of the three dimensions of space –Bhu (gross), Bhuvah (subtle), svaha ( casual) Lokas, Master of the three gunas -Sathva (state of equanimity, serenity and poise), Rajas (state of passion, ambition, desire and restlessness) and Tamas (state of ignorance, inertia and dullness) that govern prakriti (nature).

The begging bowl: Though He is the Lord of the Universe, He is a mendicant with a begging bowl, clamouring for the alms of Love from every human heart.

Tiger skin: The ferocious tiger represents animal tendencies. Shiva has Killed the tiger and wears its skin as His apparel. This indicates complete mastery over animal tendencies.

Crescent Moon stands for the Mind. He is the Master of the Mind.