Shiva Bhagwan

Lord Shiva is one of the main deities of Hinduism and is known as the destroyer among the trinity of Gods. Shiva is also worshipped by many other names like Mahadev, Bholenath, Shankar, Rudra, Neelkanth, and many more. Shiva is regarded as the ultimate yogi, compassionate, and a god endowed with immense powers, who is revered by everyone, from ordinary devotees to sages.

Lord Shiva's Form

Lord Shiva's form is very distinctive and symbolic, symbolizing his unique personality and powers:

Three Eyes: Shiva is Trinetradhari. His third eye is a symbol of wisdom and power, and is also the source of destructive fire.

Jatajuta: His matted locks hold the holy river Ganges, which descended to earth by Shiva's grace.

Moon: Shiva's head is adorned with a crescent moon, symbolizing his cool nature and the eternal time cycle.

Neelkanth: Shiva's throat turned blue after drinking the poison that came out during the churning of the ocean, which is why he is also known as Neelkanth. It is a symbol of his sacrifice and compassion.

Trishul: The trident is a symbol of his three main powers—creation, preservation, and destruction.

Damaaru: Shiva holds a damaru, which symbolizes the Anahata sound of creation and represents the eternal nature of creation.

Vrishabh (Nandi): His vehicle is Nandi, a bull, who is a symbol of Dharma and Shakti.

Major stories related to Lord Shiva

Shiva and Parvati: Shiva's consort is Parvati, who is also worshipped as Sati and Durga. Their story is a symbol of their intense love and sacrifice. Kartikeya and Ganesha, sons of Shiva and Parvati, are also revered deities.

Samudra Manthan: When the gods and demons churned the ocean to obtain nectar, the poison Halahal came out. By drinking this poison, Shiva saved the world from destruction. For this reason he was called Neelkanth.

Shiva Tandava: Shiva is considered the lord of the Tandava dance, which symbolizes his fierce form and destructive power. Through Tandava, he shows the infinity and changeability of the universe.

Shivling: Shiva is worshiped in the form of Shivling, which is his formless form. Shivling is a symbol of creation, preservation, and destruction. Shiva lingam is specially worshipped on festivals like Shivaratri and Mahashivratri.

Shiva Puja and Importance

Lord Shiva is worshipped throughout India and especially on the occasion of Shivaratri. He is worshipped by offering water, milk, bel leaves, and dhatura on the Shiva lingam. In Shiva bhakti, seekers strive to obtain the blessings of Shiva through meditation, yoga, and sadhana. Shiva is named "Bholenath" because he is considered to be easily pleased and to give blessings to his devotees. His devotees remember him with love and devotion, and they consider him to be the liberator of all kinds of sorrows. Shiva's personality is a symbol of depth, wisdom, and infinite power, and he represents the continuous process of preservation, destruction, and creation of the entire universe.