Introduction to Lord Shiva
Lord Shiva is one of the most popular and revered deities of Hinduism. He is known as the destroyer god in the Trimurti, while Lord Brahma is considered the creator and Lord Vishnu is considered the preserver. Lord Shiva is known by many sacred names such as Mahadev, Bholenath, Shambhu, Shankar, Vishwanath, Pashupati and Nataraja. He is considered to be the symbol of the pure and infinite form of the Supreme Being.
Abode of Lord Shiva
According to mythological beliefs, Lord Shiva resides on the sacred Mount Kailash in the Himalayas. He is famous as the god of yogis and the original yogi. Lord Shiva is depicted living an ascetic life and sits on Kailash in a meditative state.
Shiva Family
Lord Shiva's divine family includes Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya. Goddess Parvati is the consort of Lord Shiva. Lord Ganesha is worshipped as the remover of obstacles and Kartikeya as the god of war. According to mythology, Lord Shiva married Goddess Sati before Goddess Parvati.
Lord Shiva's vehicle is the sacred bull named Nandi, which is considered a symbol of devotion and power.
Description of Lord Shiva's form
Lord Shiva's form is very divine and unique. He has long locks on his head, in which the crescent moon adorns and the holy river Ganges emerges from his locks. He is depicted with snakes coiled around his neck and hands and is known as the Neelkanth form.
Lord Shiva holds a trident in his hand and a damru is tied on it. He sits on a tiger skin and wears a garland of Rudraksha. His Digambar body is smeared with ash. The third divine eye is also depicted on Lord Shiva's head, which is a symbol of knowledge and power.
Lord Shiva and Nataraja form
Lord Shiva is also known as Nataraja, who is considered the god of dance. His Tandava dance is considered a symbol of creation, maintenance and destruction of the universe. The Nataraja form of Lord Shiva holds a special place in Indian culture and spirituality.
Importance of Maha Shivratri
Maha Shivratri is considered the most important festival of Lord Shiva. This holy festival is celebrated on the Chaturdashi Tithi of Krishna Paksha of the month of Phalgun. On this day, devotees observe fast and perform special worship of Lord Shiva and perform night vigils.
It is believed that Lord Shiva protects his devotees from evil forces and gives them the power to overcome negative emotions like lust, anger and greed. Maha Shivratri is considered especially auspicious for women. Married women pray for the happiness and security of their husbands, while unmarried girls pray for an ideal spouse like Lord Shiva.
Mantras of Lord Shiva
Chanting the mantras of Lord Shiva brings peace of mind, spiritual strength and positive energy. The most famous and powerful Panchakshari mantra of Lord Shiva is as follows.
॥ ॐ ओम नमह शिवाय ॥
Temples and Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva
There are many famous temples of Lord Shiva in India. Twelve Jyotirlingas are considered the most sacred. Jyotirlingas like Kashi Vishwanath, Somnath, Mahakaleshwar, Kedarnath, Bhimashankar and Omkareshwar are the centers of special faith among the devotees.
Importance of Lord Shiva
Lord Shiva is considered the god of compassion, renunciation, destruction and spiritual power. As Bholenath, he is quickly pleased with the devotion of his devotees. By worshipping Lord Shiva, the devotees attain peace, devotion, fearlessness and spiritual power.