Many-armed God Shiva. God Shiva: history

India is still venerated Shiva. God is eternal, symbolizing the beginning of everything. It is considered the oldest religion in the world. Then the masculine was considered passive, eternal and static, and women – active and material.

In our article we take a closer look at the image of that ancient deity. Many have seen his image. But only few people in Western cultures know the details of his life.

Historical data

Researchers believe that the story of Lord Shiva is rooted in the Harappan civilization. This is the culture of the ancient Indians who lived in the lands of Northern India. They were later replaced by the Aria, which came in the third Millennium BC in the Indus river valley. Today, the ruins of their cities found in the upper reaches, in Pakistan.

We know the pashupati seal and some of the lingams (the meaning of this word later) of this period. They were among the finds in Manchego-Daro and Harappa.

With the arrival of the Aryans there is the emergence of a new religion. This process is comparable to the planting of Christianity to the Gentiles in the first century of our era. Now there is a new way which merges the Shiva - God Rudra, the violent and brutal the patron of storms, war and destruction.

Isn't it, history tends to repeat itself? Good pagan divinities, like the Greek pan and the satyrs, become the evil spirit in a new and bright religion. Arias believed that it is not sinful to kill “the worshippers of the lingam”.

In the Vedas Shiva is mentioned in rig Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda. In total, the name Rudra has more than five hundred repetitions.

However, there were also the supporters of the old traditions, which was joined by opponents brahminical difficulties. The point was to worship all his life to the gods, if you did not receive the award even in the next rebirth? Because in the Vedas it is said that only Brahmins can achieve salvation.

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In one of the Upanishads (commentaries on the Vedas) is the most complete and systematized the contents of the philosophy of shaivism. This treatise consists of one hundred and thirteen texts called “sequence”.

Picture

How is Shiva portrayed? God, in his earliest incarnation had the form of a lingam with tripundra (three white horizontal stripes). This sign stands for three of the prison of the human soul or three guṇas, the constituents of the Mayan world.

Later, Shiva began to portray sitting in the Lotus position or dancing.
In the first version he had pale skin, was with a blue neck and four arms. God usually sits in the Lotus position on a tiger-skin, and on his shoulders the skin of an elephant or a tiger. Always in the forehead he opened the third eye. In addition, when it is a snake. She's right shoulder and hangs on the neck or as bangles on the arms and legs. Shiva has two different earrings. In one ear the male and the second female.

The Second option – dancing Shiva. Nritya-Murti (statue) may have a different number of hands to be armed or peaceful, but always under the feet of the dancing God is the fallen dwarf. It is a demon Apasmara-Purusha, symbolizing the illusory world in which we live.

Attributes

Like many other gods of the Hindu Pantheon, Shiva has many attributes. Traveling through this country you will see various images of the deities. In order to better understand the culture of India, it is necessary to understand its symbolism.

Shiva has many weapons – Udagawa (especially onions), Bandipora (dart), reptile (rod), Khadga (sword), Khatvanga (a club with skull) Chetaka (shield) and many others.

Also an important attribute is the Trident of Lord Shiva-Trishul. It symbolizes the three stages of evolution, the three gunas, the three faces of time and other concepts.

There are a number of ritual objects. Chillum (special pipe), Shankha (shell), Mudra (position of hands), Kaumudi (nectar of immortality), Dripping (bowl in the shape of a skull), Damaru (a drum symbolizing the first vibration of the Universe, from which everything happened), Akshamala (special rosary).

Shiva Also has a number of energies: Agni (fire), Ganga (the river of heaven, which he pacified) and Shakti (power). And some animals: Naga (serpent), the skins of the elephant and the tiger, Nandin (the white bull), Krishnaraja (DOE) and Ankusha (elephant goad).

Thus, we see that Shiva possesses the attributes of spheres of knowledge which are designed to lift a person from our world into the highest.

Family

Indian God Shiva originally married to Sati or Shakti, the daughter of Daksha. But there is a legend that a girl committed self-immolation out of anger at his father.

But after she is reborn in a new incarnation. Now her name is Parvati (the mountain girl) and her father – the mountain range of the Himalayas. She is most often depicted as the wife of the God Shiva.

They Have two sons-Ganesha (konovalovy the God of wisdom) and Skanda (God of war who has six heads and twelve arms and legs), and daughter, Manasi.

Names

In the Western tradition, Indian God Shiva is known only under that name. However, Hindus know more than thousands of words which are epithets of the deity.

Among them is the “Awful” and “Wonderful”, “Majestic” and “Rat”, “the King of lingam”, “Conquering death”,“Lord of creatures" and many others.

The Most significant and well-known 108 of them. They are pronounced in the form of prayers and are meant to clear the mind asking, but also contribute to his exaltation.

Functions, rituals, holidays

The many-armed God Shiva is the Supreme deity in shaivism. He is revered as the Trinity of the universe evolution-the birth, growth and death. It is also believed that he will destroy the present world at the end of Mahagi, in its place was created a new one.

It protects the healers gave people the mantra Om and the Sanskrit. In addition, Shiva is always accompanied by a retinue of demons and spirits.

The Two main ritual associated with this God, called Panaroma mantra and the Rudra-sukta. They are held in the most significant holiday of the year, dedicated to Shiva. The festival of mahashivarathri is celebrated at the end of February and is the night of the wedding of Shiva and Parvati.

The Most famous temple

In the town of Baijnath in the early thirteenth century was built the temple of Lord Shiva. He called one of his names – Vaidyanath (patron of healers).

On this spot Once stood the sanctuary of God, but the local merchants decided to immortalize their names, are erecting a magnificent building. The names of the vendors Ahuka and Manuk.

Today, this temple is the main tourist attraction of the town. It is built in the best traditions of Nagara (North Indian architectural school). The building is surrounded by a wall and has two entrances.

Usually many-armed God Shiva inside the temple is depicted only in the form of lingam. Moreover, it is considered to be swayambhu (“slovesnik”). On the walls are bas-reliefs of many deities, demons and other characters of the Hindu Pantheon.

The entrance is a statue of Nandi, the white bull. This animal is one of the most common vehicles of Shiva. It symbolizes the pure Dharma, as well as sincerity, loyalty and courage.

Today, the temple Vaidyanath attracts many millions of pilgrims and tourists.

A Symbol of God

We have many times mentioned the word "lingam". That is associated with Shiva. God often just designated this concept. What is it?

Lingam in Sanskrit means “sign, mark”. This cylindrical sculpture with round, rarely hemispherical top. Many researchers are inclined to see in it the symbol of the erect phallus. The ancient Indians believed lingam the abstract image of the deity.

Often it is not by itself, but paired with a circle or square that indicates "Yoni" (vagina, womb). Today it is customary to consider these two items the most ancient mention of the unity of male and female. Only in Hinduism men was eternal and static, while female temporary, changeable and material.

Some scientists see the lingam prototype stambha, the sacrificial post special. To it was tied the cattle prepared for slaughter.

There is a special ritual which involves bathing of the lingam, and the recitation of mantras and the sacrificial offering of fruit, flowers, incense, and other permitted items.

The Marriage of Shiva and Parvati

There is a legend that the first wife of God Shiva Shakti dies. This was due to rejection by her father.

The Legend says the following. Once returned divine couple with one of the Ashram. Siva in the forest bowed to a commoner. The wife was surprised by his behavior. Then God explained that it was a reincarnation of Vishnu. Shakti, to verify this, takes the form of SITA, the wife of this peasant, and goes to him. Rama acknowledges her as a goddess.

Seeing a new image of Shakti, Shiva cease to perceive her as a wife because she reminded him of his mother. The girl is sad and they do a disagreement.

Just at this time father Shakti picks the festival, invites young but not because of disagreements with Shiva. She decides to go there herself. But Daksha turns away from her. Grief Shakti was thrown into the fire and dies.

Enraged Shiva takes her body and begins to do his dance of destruction. If he didn't stop Vishnu, it would have destroyed the universe.

After a period of mourning, God is an ascetic in the Himalayas, Shakti is reborn in the image of Parvati, daughter of mountain God. In the end, the girl manages to convince Shiva, and they were married.

In Hinduism, this festival is called the festival of mahashivarathri is celebrated and every year.

The God of gods

As you can see, the person that we're talking about in this article, a lot of names. Among them is the God of gods, Mahadev, Shiva. The first two in December 2011 was chosen as the name for a television series. His series shot in India today.

The plot of the episodes is based on myths, legends, and passages from the Upanishads. The main events are taken from the Puranas. In addition, when writing the script was used work Devdatt pattanaik the famous Indian mythologist and religious scholar.

The Series was translated into several languages in South India. Today they are taken for more than a hundred and fifty episodes. Music to them was written by the brothers Bavra.

“Devon ke Dev…Mahadev” known in Russia. Fans of Indian culture can enjoy the series with subtitles.

So, today we met with one of the oldest deities in history. Learned attributes, names and other interesting details about Shiva.

Good Luck, friends!Travel more often!