Shiva – The Immortal Bliss

Last year I went to Triambakeshwara, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas in India, and needless to mention here that it was truly enlivening! It is said that” there is no sacred place like Triambakeshwara, no river like Godavari, and no mountain like Brahmagiri”. I have literally experienced the godliness in the holy shrine. The pious air and chanting of mantras had a strange demystifying calmness! A calmness that cleanses your soul, and purifies your heart with the reiteration of “Om Namah Shivay”…

Triambkeshwar Temple

The highlight of this Jyotirlinga, is its three faces embodying Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Rudra. The Lingas at Trimbakeshwara are covered by a jeweled crown which is placed over the Gold Mask of Tridev (Brahma Vishnu Mahesh). I was lucky to have been there in the auspicious month of “Savana” accompanying a vibrant and rare species of true “Yogis”. Now that the “Mahashivaratri” is here, I thought to pen down the embellishments of the “Sahastranama”

Shiv Linga at Triambakeshwara

The god of the yogis, the self-controlled and celibate destructor, the follower of Brahma the creator and Vishnu the preserver, there are many ways to describe the omnipresent and ubiquitous truth “Lord SHIVA”.

Shiva is in the Destruction

Shiva is in the conscientious for transformation of death and destruction; he is in the affirmative sense of destroying the ego, and in negating the “CHAKRAS” of “Moh and Maya” (worldly pleasures and obsession). He is the destroyer, with albeit power that purifies the physical and psychological drudgeries of a restless soul, for there’s nothing that’s destroyed except the self-proclaimed illusion. The Mahamrityunjaya form of Shiva is the great conqueror of death, and this mantra is one of the two foundation mantras of the Vedas, next to the Gayatri mantra.

Shiva is in the Eternal Beauty

With “Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram”, Shiva represents the most essential distillation of the truth, integrity and the Beauty. The mool (base) mantra “Om Namah Shivay”, (Panchakshara Stotram) takes you through deeper aspect of the “three-eyed-god”, with each word being a “Beej Mantra”, invigorating another mantra. Na Ma Shi Va ya

Nagendra haraya Trilochanaya,
Bhasmanga ragaya maheswaraya,
Nithyaya shudhaya digambaraya,
Tasmai nakaraya namashivaya.

Mandakini salila chandana charchithaya,
Nandeeswara pramadha natha maheswaraya,
Mandra pushpa bahu pushpa supoojithaya,
Tasmai makaraya namashivaya.

Shiva

Shivaaya gowri vadanara vrinda,
Sooryaya daksha dwara naasakaya,
Sri neela kantaya vrisha dhwajaya,
Tasmai sikaraya namashivaya.

Vasishta kumbhodhbhava gowthamadhi.
Munendra devarchitha shekaraya,
Chandrarka vaiswanara lochanaya,
Tasmai vakaraya namashivaya.

Yaksha swaroopaya jata dharaya,
Pinaka hasthathaya sanathanaya,
Divyaya devaaya digambaraya,
Tasmai yakaraya namashivaya.

Phalasruthi

 
Panchaksharamidham punyam,
Ya padeth Shiva sannidhou,
Shivaloka maapnothi,
Shive na saha modathe.

The mool mantra describes “Lord Shiva” in varied ways, recounting the garland of snakes, smeared ashes, sandal paste, and the Sacred Ganges. It describes the divine domicile of the almighty as the most polite and selfless, and yet the most destructive!! The first letter ”Om” is a revolution and the most powerful scripture. The depth of the word can delegate a celestial experience, try it! Just close your eyes, take a deep breath and chant “Om”, you’ll feel the sensations riveting through your body. The word “Namah” means to worship, and the word “Shivay”, itself is the universe!

Shiva is in the Unification of Diversity

The path of Lord Shiva is the path of the ascetic yogi. Shiva has many forms, which are visible in his Panchavaktra form with 5 heads, a combination of all Shiva energies: Aghora (resides in the cremation grounds), Ishana which most often appears as the Shiva lingam (envisaged in his unborn, invisible form, representing his creative energy), Tat Purusha (meditating), Varna Deva (the eternal Shiva) and Saddyojat or Braddha Rudra (the old wrathful form). The last also forms the connection to the Rudraksha – the tears of “Lord Shiva” (“Rudra” means Shiva and “Aksha” means tears)

Shiva is in the Artifact of Dance

Lord of Dance

Shiva’s most enchanting form is the Nataraj (“Nata” means dance and “Raj” means king), the dance symbolizes both the destruction and the creation of the universe and reveals the cycles of death, birth and rebirth.

Shiva is in the Depth of Love

Ardhnarishwara, (half Shiva, half Shakti) relates to the pandemonium balance between male and female, where both partners complement each other to form an ultimate oneness. “Shiva Purana” describes this as “when Shiva does his destructive Tandava dance, Parvati is said to complement him with a slow, creative step of her own, calming him with her soft glances”.

Shiva is in the Sacrifice

Sahastranama

To respect Shiva as a true karma yogi, you have to learn to disown materialization, as the “Shiva Purana” says “by the understanding, a true karma yogi will never take the credit for his acts, as they would otherwise not be entirely selfless”!

He enlightens the restless soul with a new path for creation of the universe, a new opportunity to unfold the magnificence and drama of celestial illusion!

 

OM NAMAH SHIVAY….

Published by

Piyush Kaushal

Naive and Untamed!

63 thoughts on “Shiva – The Immortal Bliss”

  2. You have described the “Mool Mantra” in a perfect manner. Through a small blog, you have covered this vast topice really very well!

    “He enlightens the restless soul with a new path for creation of the universe, a new opportunity to unfold the magnificence and drama of celestial illusion!” Just loved this line…good work

  3. Om Namah Shivaya!!
    🙂
    I am starting a great day ahead reading this blog. Never thought “Na Ma Shi Va ya” has got such divine meaning. The way you have portrayed “Ardhnarishwara”, is commendable.. 😀
    Needless to mention here that even the pictures that you have chosen adds to the beauty of it all. So calm and peaceful, yet full of shakti..
    The combination definitely reflects your dedication to Lord Shiva.

    *** Would want to visit Triambakeshwara, sometime soon 😀

    and as you mentioned– May Shiva bless all.. 🙂
    Great!!

  4. i have been to triambakeshwara, and agree to each line u’ve mentioned, the place is just exquisite. Tha way you have defined different forms of Lord Shiva, is just stupendous. Very-2 well written! Har har mahadev

  8. first of all i must say that you’ve done really well in explaining Lord Shiva in various cycles and moods.. Second thing i just loved the image selection…and last but not the least, i quite liked your way of writing and word identification.. and as you say Har Har Mahadev!!

  12. Kya baat hai…bahut hi prasannachit aur Shiva Shakti ko ujagar karne wala post hai…hindi mein hota to aur achha hota. Baki likha bahut hi badhiya hai…OmShivam

  13. interesting and very informational post.. I got some quality insights on the indian deity…
    a beautiful amalgamation of pictures and words..thumbs up!!

  15. I haven’t seen many blogs like this. Surprisingly I have toyed with the idea of trying to create one something like this as well, but have never been able to do so. Writing about such vast topic in few words is actually quite commendable… good job!!

  21. I am impressed with this blog. Actually I have toyed with the idea of trying to make one similar to this as well, however I am not sure how to do it. Can it be meshed into a present website?

    Your writing skills are the highlight here, really very well written!

  22. That was an interesting post sir, and quite well presented too! but i would have loved more detailed emphasis on Shiva Linga too! but then it’s not possible to put in everything!

    Would be following your blog for more such posts on Sanatan Dharma

    by the way you have an engaging style of writing!!

  23. Hi indingnou, nice blogging, keep it up!
    I like your photo of Lord Rudra! I want to know if is possible that I can use it as reference for a Sri Rudram’s CD artwork that I’m designing. If you want I will send you my design for your autorization. And of course I will put your credit on it. Please let me know. Thanks!

        1. Hey Carlos,

          You’ve done a fantastic work here on the graphic part, although i haven’t heard the composition, i am sure it would be great!

          and yes i would surely be in touch, in case i have something to my favor. 🙂

          Thanks again,
          Regards,
          Piyush

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