Jai Bhole Bhandari... Jai Shiv Shankar...

Om Jai Shiv Omkara ( Lyrics & Meaning ) | Most Popular Devotional Aarti

Om Shiv Omkara is a prayer song made to Lord Shiva. The meaning of the song is also displayed for convenience. Listen to this devotional song and sing along.

LORD SHIVA AND MAA PARVATI

Shiva Shakti...

Shiva is the cause; Shakti is the action.
Shiva plans; Shakti executes.
Shakti is the conscious mind; Shiva is Subconscious mind.
Shakti is brain; Shiva is the heart.
Shiva is Brahma; Shakti is Sharaswati.
Shiva is Vishnu; Shakti is Laxmi.
Shiva is Mahadevaa; Shakti is Parvati.
Shiva is water in ocean; Shakti is the wave.

शरीर पर भस्म क्यों लगाते हैं शिव?

शरीर पर भस्म क्यों लगाते हैं शिव?



भस्म शिव का प्रमुख वस्त्र है। शिव का पूरा शरीर ही भस्म से ढंका रहता है। संतों का भी एक मात्र वस्त्र भस्म ही है। अघोरी, सन्यासी और अन्य साधु भी अपने शरीर पर भस्म रमाते हैं।


क्या यह सिर्फ आडंबर है या इसके पीछे कोई महत्वपूर्ण विज्ञान है। भस्म हमारे शरीर के लिए किस तरह फायदेमंद हो सकती है।

भस्म की एक विशेषता होती है कि यह शरीर के रोम छिद्रों को बंद कर देती है। इसका मुख्य गुण है कि इसको शरीर पर लगाने से गर्मी में गर्मी और सर्दी में सर्दी नहीं लगती। भस्मी त्वचा संबंधी रोगों में भी दवा का काम करती है।


भस्मी धारण करने वाले शिव यह संदेश भी देते हैं कि परिस्थितियों के अनुसार अपने आपको ढ़ालना मनुष्य का सबसे बड़ा गुण है।

शिव पूजा में जल का महत्व

शिव पूजा में जल का महत्व

पवित्र श्रावण माह शुरु हो गया है। इस माह में भगवान भोलेनाथ की आराधना का विशेष महत्व है। शिव मंदिरों में भक्तों का ताँता और 'बम भोले' के जयकारे गूँजने लग गए हैं। श्रावण माह के विशेष दिनों में भगवान शिव का विविध रूपों में श्रृंगार होगा। इन दिनों श्रद्धालु व्रत-उपवास रख शिव आराधना में लीन रहेंगे। साथ ही कावड़ यात्रा का दौर भी शुरू हो जाएगा।

श्रावण माह का महत्व : पौराणिक कथाओं के अनुसार श्रावण माह में ही समुद्र मंथन किया गया था। मंथन के दौरान समुद्र से विष निकला। भगवान शंकर ने इस विष को अपने कंठ में उतारकर संपूर्ण सृष्टि की रक्षा की थी। इसलिए इस माह में शिव-उपासना से उनकी विशेष कृपा प्राप्त होती है।

जल चढ़ाने का महत्व : भगवान शिव की मूर्ति व शिवलिंग पर जल चढ़ाने का महत्व भी समुद्र मंथन की कथा से जुड़ा हुआ है। अग्नि के समान विष पीने के बाद शिव का कंठ एकदम नीला पड़ गया था। विष की ऊष्णता को शांत कर भगवान भोले को शीतलता प्रदान करने के लिए समस्त देवी-देवताओं ने उन्हें जल-अर्पण किया। इसलिए शिव पूजा में जल का विशेष महत्व माना है।

शिव स्वयं जल हैं : शिवपुराण में कहा गया है कि भगवान शिव ही स्वयं जल हैं।

संजीवनं समस्तस्य जगतः सलिलात्मकम्*।

भव इत्युच्यते रूपं भवस्य परमात्मनः ॥

अर्थात्* जो जल समस्त जगत्* के प्राणियों में जीवन का संचार करता है वह जल स्वयं उस परमात्मा शिव का रूप है। इसीलिए जल का अपव्यय नहीं वरन्* उसका महत्व समझकर उसकी पूजा करना चाहिए।

इन दिनों सभी शिव मंदिरों के आसपास पूजन सामग्रियों की दुकानें सजने लगती है। भगवान भोलेनाथ के प्रिय बिल्व पत्र से लेकर धतूरा और तरह-तरह के पुष्पों की मालाएँ लेकर भक्त पूजा के लिए तैयार हैं। पूजा में रुद्राक्ष का भी विशेष महत्व है। पुराणों के अनुसार भगवान रूद्र की आँखों से गिरे आँसू से रुद्राक्ष का जन्म हुआ इसलिए रुद्राक्ष भोलेनाथ को अत्यंत प्रिय है।

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कैसे करें सावन सोमवार?

कैसे करें सावन सोमवार?


सावन सोमवार के व्रत में भगवान शिव और देवी पार्वती की पूजा की जाती है। प्राचीन शास्त्रों के अनुसार सोमवार के व्रत तीन तरह के होते हैं। सोमवार, सोलह सोमवार और सौम्य प्रदोष। सोमवार व्रत की विधि सभी व्रतों में समान होती है। इस व्रत को सावन माह में आरंभ करना शुभ माना जाता है।


सावन सोमवार व्रत सूर्योदय से प्रारंभ कर तीसरे पहर तक किया जाता है। शिव पूजा के बाद सोमवार व्रत की कथा सुननी आवश्यक है। व्रत करने वाले को दिन में एक बार भोजन करना चाहिए।



सावन सोमवार को ब्रह्म मुहूर्त में सोकर उठें।
पूरे घर की सफाई कर स्नानादि से निवृत्त हो जाएँ।
गंगा जल या पवित्र जल पूरे घर में छिड़कें।
घर में ही किसी पवित्र स्थान पर भगवान शिव की मूर्ति या चित्र स्थापित करें।




पूरी पूजन तैयारी के बाद निम्न मंत्र से संकल्प लें- सावन सोमवार के व्रत में भगवान शिव और देवी पार्वती की पूजा की जाती है। प्राचीन शास्त्रों के अनुसार सोमवार के व्रत तीन तरह के होते हैं। सोमवार, सोलह सोमवार और सौम्य प्रदोष। इस व्रत को सावन माह में आरंभ करना शुभ माना जाता है।


'मम क्षेमस्थैर्यविजयारोग्यैश्वर्याभिवृद्धयर्थं सोमव्रतं करिष्ये'


इसके पश्चात निम्न मंत्र से ध्यान करें-
'ध्यायेन्नित्यंमहेशं रजतगिरिनिभं चारुचंद्रावतंसं रत्नाकल्पोज्ज्वलांग परशुमृगवराभीतिहस्तं प्रसन्नम्*।
पद्मासीनं समंतात्स्तुतममरगणैर्व्याघ्रकृत्तिं वसानं विश्वाद्यं विश्ववंद्यं निखिलभयहरं पंचवक्त्रं त्रिनेत्रम्*॥


ध्यान के पश्चात 'ऊँ नमः शिवाय' से शिवजी का तथा 'ऊँ नमः शिवायै' से पार्वतीजी का षोडशोपचार पूजन करें।


पूजन के पश्चात व्रत कथा सुनें।


तत्पश्चात आरती कर प्रसाद वितरण करें।


इसकें बाद भोजन या फलाहार ग्रहण करें।




सावन सोमवार व्रत फल

सोमवार व्रत नियमित रूप से करने पर भगवान शिव तथा देवी पार्वती की अनुकम्पा बनी रहती है।


जीवन धन-धान्य से भर जाता है।


सभी अनिष्टों का भगवान शिव हरण कर भक्तों के कष्टों को दूर करते हैं।
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ऐसे करें भगवान शिव की पूजा

भगवान शिव की पूजा-अर्चना का महीना श्रावण

ऐसे करें भगवान शिव की पूजा

भगवान शिव की पूजा-अर्चना का महीना श्रावण मास शुरू हो गया है। शिवालयों में इसके लिए विशेष तैयारियाँ की गई हैं। सोमवार को अलसुबह से ही शिवालयों में श्रद्धालुओं की भीड़ उमड़ने लगेगी तथा बम-बम भोले से मंदिर गुंजायमान होंगे।

इस बार सावन के पाँच सोमवार पड़ने से सावन मास का विशेष महत्व और भी बढ़ गया है। जिसमें तीन कृष्ण पक्ष और दो शुक्ल पक्ष में होंगे। ज्योतिर्विद हिंगे के अनुसार शिव के त्रिशूल की एक नोक पर काशी विश्वनाथ की नगरी का भार है। उसमें श्रावण मास भी अपना विशेष महत्व रखता है। इसलिए श्रावण का महीना अधिक फल देने वाला होता है।

इस मास के प्रत्येक सोमवार को शिवलिंग पर शिवामुट्ठी चढ़ाई जाती है। जिसमें प्रथम सोमवार को कच्चे चावल एक मुट्ठी, दूसरे सोमवार को सफेद तिल्ली एक मुट्ठी, तीसरे सोमवार को खड़े मूँग की एक मुट्ठी, चौथे सोमवार को जौ एक मुट्ठी और पाँचवें सोमवार को सतुआ चढ़ाने जाते हैं।

पं. हिंगे के अनुसार महिलाएँ श्रावण मास में विशेष पूजा-अर्चना एवं व्रत अपने पति की लंबी आयु के लिए करती हैं। सभी व्रतों में सोलह सोमवार का व्रत श्रेष्ठ है। इस व्रत को वैशाख, श्रावण, कार्तिक और माघ मास में किसी भी सोमवार से प्रारंभ किया जा सकता है। इस व्रत की समाप्ति सत्रहवें सोमवार को सोलह दंपति को भोजन व किसी वस्तु का दान देकर उद्यापन किया जाता है।

श्रावण माह में एक बिल्वपत्र शिव को चढ़ाने से तीन जन्मों के पापों का नाश होता है। एक अखंड बिल्वपत्र अर्पण करने से कोटि बिल्वपत्र चढ़ाने का फल प्राप्त होता है।

भगवान शिव की पूजा-अर्चना करने के लिए शिव को कच्चा दूध, सफेद फल, भस्म तथा भाँग, धतूरा, श्वेत वस्त्र अधिक प्रिय है। श्रावण मास में शिवभक्तों द्वारा शिवपुराण, शिवलीलामृत, शिव कवच, शिव चालीसा, शिव पंचाक्षर मंत्र, शिव पंचाक्षर स्त्रोत, महामृत्युंजय मंत्र का पाठ एवं जाप किया जाता है। श्रावण मास में इसके करने से अधिक फल प्राप्त होता है।

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The Powerful God - Shiva

The Powerful God:

Shiva is ‘shakti’ or power, Shiva is the destroyer, the most powerful god of the Hindu pantheon and one of the godheads in the Hindu Trinity. Known by many names – Mahadeva, Mahayogi, Pashupati, Nataraja, Bhairava, Vishwanath, Bhava, Bhole Nath – Lord Shiva is perhaps the most complex of Hindu deities. Hindus recognize this by putting his shrine in the temple separate from those of other deities.

Shiva As Phallic Symbol:

Shiva, in temples is usually found as a phallic symbol of the ‘linga’, which represents the energies necessary for life on both the microcosmic and the macrocosmic levels, that is, the world in which we live and the world which constitutes the whole of the universe. In a Shaivite temple, the ‘linga’ is placed in the center underneath the spire, where it symbolizes the naval of the earth.

A Different Deity:

The actual image of Shiva is also distinct from other deities: his hair piled high on the top of his head, with a crescent tucked into it and the river Ganges tumbling from his hairs. Around his neck is a coiled serpent representing Kundalini or the spiritual energy within life. He holds a trident in his left hand in which is bound the ‘damroo’ (small leather drum). He sits on a tiger skin and on his right is a water pot. He wears the ‘Rudraksha’ beads and his whole body is smeared with ash.

The Destructive Force:

Shiva is believed to be at the core of the centrifugal force of the universe, because of his responsibility for death and destruction. Unlike the godhead Brahma, the Creator, or Vishnu, the Preserver, Shiva is the dissolving force in life. But Shiva dissolves in order to create, since death is the medium for rebirth into a new life. So the opposites of life and death and creation and destruction both reside in his character.

The Most Fascinating of Gods:

He is also often portrayed as the supreme ascetic with a passive and composed disposition. Sometimes he is depicted riding a bull called Nandi decked in garlands. Although a very complicated deity, Shiva is one of the most fascinating of Hindu gods.

The God Who’s Always High!:

Since Shiva is regarded as a mighty destructive power, to numb his negative potentials he is fed with opium and is also termed as ‘Bhole Shankar’, one who is oblivious of the world. Therefore, on Maha Shivratri, the night of Shiva worship, devotees, especially the menfolk, prepare an intoxicating drink called ‘Thandai’ (made from cannabis, almonds, and milk) sing songs in praise of the Lord and dance to the rhythm of the drums.

Lord Shiva is the Lord of Mercy.

According to one legend, shiva initial materialize when Brahma and Vishnu were arguing regarding which of them was more powerful. Their quarrel was interrupted by the unexpected look of a large burning pillar whose roots and branches complete outside sight into the earth and sky. Brahma became a goose and flew up to locate the top of the pillar, even as turned into a boar and dug in to the ground to appear for its roots. Unsuccessful in their search, the two god’s arrival and saw Shiva surface from an opening in the support. Recognize Shiva’s huge power, they established him as the third ruler of the universe.

Lord Shiva-God of formation of universe and he is as well referred has destructor. His huge position is to balance the good and evil events. Though this balance gets disturb he destroys the creation for the formation of next cycle. He is a deity of exercise in the cyclic practice of formation.

Lord Shiva is the lord of mercy. He guards the devotees since evil forces, trouble and suffering of their devotees.

He materialize with unclad body through tiger skin in his body, three matted locks on his head, Goddesses Ganga on his chief and he has a third eye and has a snake on his correct shoulder and he wear Kundalas, Rudraksha necklace.

He materialize with unclad body through tiger hide in his body, present matted locks on his skull, Goddesses Ganga on his skull and he has a third eye and has a snake on his correct accept and he wears kundalas, Rudraksha necklace.

His exterior symbolizes his behavior. The unclad body shows that he is a resource of whole universe. 3 metted locks are the integration of material, mental and spiritual energies. Goddesses Ganga shows destruction of sin, knowledge and bestows with information, peace and cleanliness. The third eye indicates the religious information and power. While he opens the third eye, the rotation of construction starts. The 108 beads represent the elements used in making of the earth. The tiger skin represents his potential power.

Lord Shiva has 1,008 names, including Mahadeva, Mahesh, Rudra, Neelkantha, and Ishwar. He is also called Mahayogi, or the huge ascetic, who represent the main form of serious penance and abstract thought, which results in salvation Shiva is supposed to survive in many variety. His mainly regular illustration is as a dark-skinned severe with a blue throat. Typically seated cross-legged on a tiger skin, Shiva’s hair is matted and coiled on his chief, adorned with a snake and a crescent moon. Ganga is forever depicted smooth out of his topknot.

Shiva has four arms and three eyes. The third eye, in the center of his forehead is forever closed and simply opens to destroy an evil doer. A garland of skulls, rudraksha bead, or a snake hangs from his neck. Lord Shiva also carries snakes as armlets and bracelets. The serpent, contest, despised and fear by all further creatures, establish a place of honour on Shiva’s holy being, just because he was enthused by their plight.

In single offer, Shiva hold his trishul, the Pinaka the trishul regularly has a damaru or wait beat joined to it. In a different hand, he holds a conch defense, and in the third, a rudraksha rosary, a club, or a bow. Individual hands are typically empty, raised in an indication of approval and defense. The added points to his foot, anywhere the devotee is certain of salvation. He carries a tiger or leopard skin around his waist, and his high body is typically bare, but dirty with ashes, as befits an ascetic.

His third eye is supposed to have emerged when Parvati, in a playful mood, covered his eyes with her hands. At once, the universe was plunged into darkness and there was chaos. To restore arrange, Shiva created a different eye on his forehead, from which emerged fire to return light.

The light from this eye is supposed to be extremely influential, and as a result destructive. Shiva opens his third eye only in anger, and the criminal is burnt to cinders.

The name Lord Shiva does not emerge in the Vedas. Though he is recognized with the Vedic god Rudra, lord of songs, sacrifice, and nourishment, the healer of diseases and provider of property. According to the Shiva Purana Shiva is said to contain five faces, related to his five tasks, the panchakriya formation, organization, destruction, awareness, and grace. His five faces are related with the formation of the holy syllable Om.

Shiva is supposed to live o Mount Kailash, a mountain in the Himalayas. His vehicle is Nandi the bull and his weapon, the trishul. Shiva’s wife is Parvati, who is as well thought to be a part of Shiva. One of the mainly well-liked forms of Shiva is that of Ardhanarishvara.

According to a legend in the Puranas, Brahma was ineffective of making. He propitiated Shiva who catch this form and separated Parvati from his body. Parvati has numerous incarnations, like Kali, Durga, and Uma. Their sons are Kartikeya and Ganesh.

Bhagwan God Shiva is invented to contain a huge number of attendants, called ganas. These mythological beings have human bodies with animal heads. Bhagwan Shiva’s son Ganesha is the head of the ganas.

Across the state, present are hundreds of holy place and shrines devoted to shiva. He typically worshipped in the structure of a Shivalinga, and also as a deity. He is worshipped by offering flowers, except the Ketaki Brahma Bel trees, milk, and sandalwood attach are also nice to him. Present is a particular arati to shiva and numerous hymns and poems in his praise.

Present there is lot of stories in the Puranas about the origin of Shiva According to the Vishnu Purana, at the establishment of this kalpa Brahma required a child and meditated for one. At present, a child appeared on his lap and started crying. While asked by Brahma why he was crying, the child replied that it was because he did not have a name Brahma then named him Rudra, meaning “howler”.

Though the child cried seven added times and was given seven more names. Shiva as a result has eight forms: Rudra, Sharva, Bhava, Ugra, Bhima, Pashupati, Ishana, and Mahadeva, which, according to the Shiva Purana, write to the earth, water, fire, wind, sky, a yogi called Kshetragya, the sun, and the moon respectively. Throughout the samudra manthan, when poison was churn out of the ocean, Shiva is said to have swallowed it to save the planet from destruction. Since he drank the poison, Parvati clasped his throat securely so that the poison was churned out of the ocean, Because of this, he is known as Neelkantha, the blue-necked one.

Bhagwan Shiva decided an irregular boon to a demon called Bhasmasura who wish that if he situated his hand on anyone’s leader, that person would turn to ashes. No earlier was his need resolute than he menaced Shiva himself, who took to his heels and was saved by Vishnu in the form of Mohini, mutual their energies and formed Hari-hara putra later, recognized with Sasta or Aiyappa, a celibate tribal deity in kerala, whose cult is currently huge in India. He lives on in Mohiniattam, the feminine equal of Kerala’s dance theatre, Kathakali.

Bhagwan Shiva is the maker of dance and of the initial 16 rhythmic syllables still uttered, since which the Sanskrit language was born. His dance of anger is called the Roudra Tandava and his dance, and they begged him to dance over. Lord Shiva promised to do so in the heart of his devotees and in a blessed grove in Tamil Nadu, everywhere the great temple of Chidambaram was build, the merely one in all Indian devoted to Shiva as Nataraja, the lord of dance. It is supposed that on the 13th day of every bright lunar fortnight after 6 o’clock in the evening, falls a blessed hour called Pradosha Worshipping Lord Shiva at this time is akin to worshipping all the powers.

Shivshakti Ardhnareshwara

Ardhanareswara means union of shiva (pure consciousness) and shakthi (famine energy). The concept behind this Ardhanaerswara is modern and scientific. It represents saguna (active) and nirguna (inactive) nature of creator. God is the latent energy in all living and non living in the universe. Our universe is the manifestation of God.

The saguna and nirguna nature is present in every creature and object in the universe. Shiva means pure conciousness, which is inactive, innocent, unself, amorphous. And Shakthi represents the active, quality and manifesting side of God. SHAKTHI is the self awareness in SHIVA. Without Shakthi Shiva is not even able to move. In fact Shiva and Shakthi are one. They are not separable.

Lord Shiva

Lord Shiva represents the aspect of the Supreme Being (Brahman of the Upanishads) that continuously dissolves to recreate in the cyclic process of creation, preservation, dissolution and recreation of the universe. As stated earlier, Lord Shiva is the third member of the Hindu Trinity, the other two being Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu.

Owing to His cosmic activity of dissolution and recreation, the words destroyer and destruction have been erroneously associated with Lord Shiva. This difficulty arises when people fail to grasp the true significance of His cosmic role. The creation sustains itself by a delicate balance between the opposing forces of good and evil. When this balance is disturbed and sustenance of life becomes impossible, Lord Shiva dissolves the universe for creation of the next cycle so that the unliberated souls will have another opportunity to liberate themselves from bondage with the physical world. Thus, Lord Shiva protects the souls from pain and suffering that would be caused by a dysfunctional universe. In analogous cyclic processes, winter is essential for spring to appear and the night is necessary for the morning to follow. To further illustrate, a goldsmith does not destroy gold when he melts old irreparable golden jewelry to create beautiful new ornaments.

Lord Shiva is the Lord of mercy and compassion. He protects devotees from evil forces such as lust, greed, and anger. He grants boons, bestows grace and awakens wisdom in His devotees. The symbolism discussed below includes major symbols that are common to all pictures and images of Shiva venerated by Hindus. Since the tasks of Lord Shiva are numerous, He cannot be symbolized in one form. For this reason the images of Shiva vary significantly in their symbolism.

The unclad body covered with ashes: the unclad body symbolizes the transcendental aspect of the Lord. Since most things reduce to ashes when burned, ashes symbolize the physical universe. The ashes on the unclad body of the Lord signify that Shiva is the source of the entire universe which emanates from Him, but He transcends the physical phenomena and is not affected by it.

Matted locks: Lord Shiva is the Master of yoga. The three matted locks on the head of the Lord convey the idea that integration of the physical, mental and spiritual energies is the ideal of yoga.

Ganga: Ganga (river Ganges) is associated with Hindu mythology and is the most sacred river of Hindus. According to tradition, one who bathes in Ganga (revered as Mother Ganga) in accordance with traditional rites and ceremonies on religious occasions in combination with certain astrological events, is freed from sin and attains knowledge, purity and peace. Ganga, symbolically represented on the head of the Lord by a female (Mother Ganga) with a jet of water emanating from her mouth and falling on the ground, signifies that the Lord destroys sin, removes ignorance, and bestows knowledge, purity and peace on the devotees.

The crescent moon: is shown on the side of the Lord's head as an ornament, and not as an integral part of His countenance. The waxing and waning phenomenon of the moon symbolizes the time cycle through which creation evolves from the beginning to the end. Since the Lord is the Eternal Reality, He is beyond time. Thus, the crescent moon is only one of His ornaments, and not an integral part of Him.

Three eyes: Lord Shiva, also called Tryambaka Deva (literally, "three-eyed Lord"), is depicted as having three eyes: the sun is His right eye, the moon the left eye and fire the third eye. The two eyes on the right and left indicate His activity in the physical world. The third eye in the center of the forehead symbolizes spiritual knowledge and power, and is thus called the eye of wisdom or knowledge. Like fire, the powerful gaze of Shiva's third eye annihilates evil, and thus the evil-doers fear His third eye.

Half-open eyes: when the Lord opens His eyes, a new cycle of creation emerges and when He closes them, the universe dissolves for creation of the next cycle. The half-open eyes convey the idea that creation is going through cyclic process, with no beginning and no end. Lord Shiva is the Master of Yoga, as He uses His yogic power to project the universe from Himself. The half-open eyes also symbolize His yogic posture.

Kundalas (two ear rings): two Kundalas, Alakshya (meaning "which cannot be shown by any sign") and Niranjan (meaning "which cannot be seen by mortal eyes") in the ears of the Lord signify that He is beyond ordinary perception. Since the kundala in the left ear of the Lord is of the type used by women and the one in His right ear is of the type used by men, these Kundalas also symbolize the Shiva and Shakti (male and female) principle of creation.

Snake around the neck: sages have used snakes to symbolize the yogic power of Lord Shiva with which He dissolves and recreates the universe. Like a yogi, a snake hoards nothing, carries nothing, builds nothing, lives on air alone for a long time, and lives in mountains and forests. The venom of a snake, therefore, symbolizes the yogic power.

A snake (Vasuki Naga): is shown curled three times around the neck of the Lord and is looking towards His right side. The three coils of the snake symbolize the past, present and future - time in cycles. The Lord wearing the curled snake like an ornament signifies that creation proceeds in cycles and is time dependent, but the Lord Himself transcends time. The right side of the body symbolizes the human activities based upon knowledge, reason and logic. The snake looking towards the right side of the Lord signifies that the Lord's eternal laws of reason and justice preserve natural order in the universe.

Rudraksha necklace: Rudra is another name of Shiva. Rudra also means "strict or uncompromising" and aksha means "eye." Rudraksha necklace worn by the Lord illustrates that He uses His cosmic laws firmly - without compromise - to maintain law and order in the universe. The necklace has 108 beads which symbolize the elements used in the creation of the world.

Varda Mudra: the Lord's right hand is shown in a boon- bestowing and blessing pose. As stated earlier, Lord Shiva annihilates evil, grants boons, bestows grace, destroys ignorance, and awakens wisdom in His devotees.

Trident (Trisula): a three-pronged trident shown adjacent to the Lord symbolizes His three fundamental powers (shakti) of will (iccha), action (kriya) and knowledge (jnana). The trident also symbolizes the Lord's power to destroy evil and ignorance.

Damaru (drum): a small drum with two sides separated from each other by a thin neck-like structure symbolizes the two utterly dissimilar states of existence, unmanifest and manifest. When a damaru is vibrated, it produces dissimilar sounds which are fused together by resonance to create one sound. The sound thus produced symbolizes Nada, the cosmic sound of AUM, which can be heard during deep meditation. According to Hindu scriptures, Nada is the source of creation.

Kamandalu: a water pot (Kamandalu) made from a dry pumpkin contains nectar and is shown on the ground next to Shiva. The process of making Kamandalu has deep spiritual significance. A ripe pumpkin is plucked from a plant, its fruit is removed and the shell is cleaned for containing the nectar. In the same way, an individual must break away from attachment to the physical world and clean his inner self of egoistic desires in order to experience the bliss of the Self, symbolized by the nectar in the Kamandalu.

Nandi: the bull is associated with Shiva and is said to be His vehicle. The bull symbolizes both power and ignorance. Lord Shiva's use of the bull as a vehicle conveys the idea that He removes ignorance and bestows power of wisdom on His devotees. The bull is called Vrisha in Sanskrit. Vrisha also means dharma (righteousness). Thus a bull shown next to Shiva also indicates that He is the etemal companion of righteousness.

Tiger skin: a tiger skin symbolizes potential energy. Lord Shiva, sitting on or wearing a tiger skin, illustrates the idea that He is the source of the creative energy that remains in potential form during the dissolution state of the universe. Of His own Divine Will, the Lord activates the potential form of the creative energy to project the universe in endless cycles.

Cremation ground: Shiva sitting in the cremation ground signifies that He is the controller of death in the physical world. Since birth and death are cyclic, controlling one implies controlling the other. Thus, Lord Shiva is revered as the ultimate controller of birth and death in the phenomenal world.

SHIVA

Shiva is one of the gods in the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. In this triad, Brahma is the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer. Shiva must originally have been a tribal god during the time of the Indus Valley Civilization, well before the concepts of Brahma or Vishnu even came into existence. He is believed to be boundless and eternal.

Also known by the name Maheshwar, Shiva is represented as residing in the funeral ground, smeared all over with ashes, and wearing snakes for ornaments. He also wears tiger hide and sits on tree bark, usually in meditation. In the face of injustice and evil, a third eye on his forehead opens and the evil burns out to ashes in the fiery blaze. He is said to have reduced even gods like Kamadeva to ashes.

Shiva probably has more worshippers than any other Hindu god. He is usually worshipped in the Shivlinga form, the phallic emblem of supreme creative energy. The Nataraja, or Shiva in the cosmic dance, is also very common. Shiva is also known by the names Mrityunjay, Shankar, Mahadev, Rudra, Neelkanth, Mallikarjun, Nandikeshwar, Gaurishankar, Gangadhar, among many others.