Shiva, the Destroyer, also known as Rudra, among other names, is one of the three primary deities of Hinduism, along with Vishnu and Brahma. He is considered to be a powerful god who removed obstacles and is capable of destroying evil. Shiva is generally depicted in art as having blue skin, four arms, long hair, and around his neck; he wears a garland made up of skulls representing his power over death and destruction. He rides Nandi (the sacred bull) or Virabhadra (his warrior manifestation), representing his virility and masculine energy.
The story of Shiva’s birth
Lord Shiva plays a pivotal role in the Holy Trinity. While Lord Brahma plays the Creator and Lord Vishnu plays the Preserver, Lord Shiva is essentially the Destroyer. These three Lords symbolize nature’s rule that everything created is ultimately destroyed.
In spite of many purans believing that Brahma and Vishnu were born of Shiva, there is no concrete evidence to support that claim.
God Shiva is often considered a Sayambhu, meaning he was created automatically. He is present even in the midst of destruction because He was there when everything was destroyed. That is why; Hinduism is known as the ‘Oldest God’, the Adi-Dev.
The stories also suggest that this mighty Lord was created as a result of an argument between Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu. Both Lords seemed to be arguing over who was superior to the other.
Out of nowhere, Lord Vishnu saw a blazing pillar. The top and the root of the pillar were invisible. Both Gods heard an oracle that asked them to compete. Both had to find the start and end of the blazing pillar.
In order to find this answer, Lord Brahma converted Himself into a goose and flew upward to find the top of the pillar. Lord Vishnu, transformed into a boar, dug into the earth to find the bottom of the pillar. They attempted to reach the top & the bottom, and neither one of them could do either. Then God Shiva waited for them when they both gave up. It made them realize that there is another ultimate power that rules this universe: God Shiva!
In actuality, the eternity of the pillar symbolizes God Shiva’s never-ending eternity.
His birthplace is still unknown, and His avatars also bring questions with them for their strangeness. For on the one hand, He became Virabhadra in order to destroy violently, but on the other, He became Kaal Bhairava to guard and protect Mata Sati on Earth.
God Shiva is also worshiped in the form of the Lingam.
– it stretches across our country, throughout its length and breadth, in the form of thousands of Jyotirlingas
– symbolizing masculinity and personifying life-creation.
Shiva’s role is important in the creation, sustaining, and ending of the Universe.
In Hinduism, Lord Shiva is thought to have created himself out of the energy of all time and existence; therefore, he was never born in any meaningful sense.
The many forms of Shiva
Lord Shiva, also known as Mahadeva, Shiva is one of the three major gods in Hinduism, and his depictions can be seen all over India. He is known as a destroyer god because he destroys things to create something new and gives life by creating. The many forms of Shiva include Nataraja, lord of the dance; Pashupati, lord of animals; and Dakshinamurti, the teacher always looking South.
