The Indian civilization, one of the oldest civilizations on earth, has a polytheistic culture and religious understanding. God Shiva (Shiva) is also one of the important symbols of this vast civilization. It takes place in the Texts Period, which is the last of the “Vedas Period”, “Epic Period” and “Texts Period” stages of Indian literature. We have compiled and collected information about this intriguing, resplendent God Shiva.
Who is the god Shiva?
Shiva is the last of the three gods known as the “Hindu trinity”. Others; Brahma and Vishnu. The belief is that this trio is responsible for the creation, functioning and destruction of the world. Brahma is known as the creator of the universe and Vishnu as its protector. The task of Shiva in our focus is to destroy the universe in order to recreate it.
According to the Hindu belief, which sees it as necessary to destroy and reconstruct the world in order to eliminate the faults and imperfections, Shiva’s destruction is necessary and in a way restorative. The name of Shiva’s wife is Parvati. He has two sons, Ganesha and Kartikeya, and a daughter, Ashoka, from the goddess.
Interesting features of Shiva
God Shiva can appear in many different ways. You can see him as a caring family man or as a cruel, cruel person. He carries a trident. This represents the Hindu trinity. The third eye on his forehead is the symbol of his wisdom, as well as the source of his immense power and energy. The cobra necklace around his neck represents Shiva’s power of destruction and change, if we take into account the skin changes of snakes. His body is stained with ashes and his hair is messy. Described as the “great teacher” in Hindu belief, Shiva is usually shown with four arms.
Lingam, the important symbol of Shiva
One of the important symbols associated with the god Shiva is the Lingam. The common belief is that Shiva represents the phallus, which symbolizes masculinity and generative power in nature. Lingam symbolizes the genitals of Lord Shiva. Phallus, Shiva and Lingam appear as symbols of reproduction. As seen in many places of worship and houses, Lingam is frequently seen in shops and tradesmen that require abundance and income.
Shiva, lord of dance
Dance is very important in Indian culture, as you know from the movies. Shiva is believed to be the chief master of this art. His most important and sacred dance is Tandava. This dance is the dance performed by Shiva when the universe will be destroyed. It is also said that while Shiva was performing this destructive dance, he calmed down with the gaze of his wife Parvati and ended the dance in a slower rhythm. In this respect, it is known as “Nataraja”.
Half woman half man
Shiva is also depicted as one body with his wife, Parvati. Half is his body, half is Parvati’s body. As seen in many Indian sculptures, the right half of the figure is male, namely Shiva, and the left half is female, namely Parvati. The snake on the neck is more decorated on the right (male) side of the figure. On the left (female) part, a woman’s breast and a silk dress are seen. This integrity; It symbolizes that men and women are inseparable. This feature earns her the title of Ardhanarishvara (half woman half man).
Siva’s stance
The god Shiva is often portrayed in a yoga position, that is, as a yogi. This is a stance that Hindus are familiar with. In addition to this, he is also known and portrayed with his dancing postures. When she dances, she appears as a symbol of harmony and rhythm.
The different personalities of Shiva
We have said that Shiva can appear in more than one character or image. The most famous of these are: Anugrahamurthy; It shows the more peaceful and smiling side of Shiva between his wife and family members. Ugramurthy, on the other hand, is the aspect of Shiva that emerges during his role to destroy evil or evil. It has many different names according to the situations where he dances, gets along well with Vishnu, and is described as a universal teacher.
The famous story of the Hindu trinity
The story of Shiva, one of the greatest Gods of Indian culture, with the other two giant Gods that make up the Hindu triad. According to the legend; Brahma and Vishnu, the other members of the Hindu trinity, one day get into an argument over who is holier and greater. They both feel that they are higher. Thereupon, the Lingam appears with an eternal light. Impressed by this image, Brahma becomes a swan and flies into the sky, and Vishnu turns into a pig. Shiva, who suddenly appears, indicates that he is the forerunner of both Brahma and Vishnu.
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