HINDU ENCYCLOPEDIA

सनातन धर्म भूमिका

Meaning of "Siva"

Word

Siva

Sanskrit

शिव

IAST

śiva

In General

Lord Siva is one of the Trimurti. Brahma do the creation, Visnu is the force that maintain the creations. Siva, do the transformation or annihilation of the whole creation so that the cycle of creation is completed.

The literal meaning of Shiva is auspicious. Siva symbolizes the dormant auspicious energy which transform into various forms during the creation. Creation involves rhythm and destruction of old forms. The creation-destruction or transformation of matter is a continuous process which takes place always and in every being. The process take place in time so Siva is also called Kala Rudra.

Veda

Siva is the great Creative Energy that helps you to develop into higher lever. In the course of development the Great Lord transforms yourself and you are forced to shed the old forms. Siva is the a destroyer of your old forms. Siva-Rudra is thus playing the dual role of creator and destroyer. This may look like a paradox, but actually creation and destruction are complimentary to each other. The main aspect of maintenance of this world is by the rhythm achieved by creation and destruction. Siva is thus the great dancer, the Nataraja. The concept of Nataraja, the rhythmic dance of Siva is the best imagination for the Harmony in Nature. This has amazed many a scientists and philosophers; Frijof Capra, Coomaraswamy, Vilayanur s Ramachandran are few among them.

Dr R L Kashyap a Scientist turned Vedic Scholar further develop this concept to the new heights and comments that Siva-Rudra is the synthesizing force in the creation. Creation of Universe by the divine is a perpetual act and not a few days affair like constructing a house. All living things follow this principle. For example, Creation of a bird does not end up when it come out from the egg. Its evolution to develop body, wings, growing strong, then an old age and even death is part of creation. This is why Hindus says birth and death are two sides of same coin.

Veda use the word Rudra than Siva to address the creative energy. The Rudra Namaka and Chamaka are the most prominent hymns chanted in prise of Rudra. It is from Yajurveda. The Siva Panchakshara mantra(Namasivaya) is from Rudra Namaka

Purana

At the beginning of the Kalpa, while Brahma was meditating upon the birth of a son like himself, a child deep blue in colour, appeared on his lap, and the child began running about crying aloud. Brahma named him Rudra. At the request of Brahma, Rudra dismantled his female part and this resulted into the creation of two distinct forms - one male and the other female. Later on, ten more Rudras manifested from the male form; collectively there were Eleven Rudras, viz. Maha Deva, Shiva, Maha Rudra, Shankara, Neelalohita, Esana Rudra, Vijaya Rudra, Bheema Rudra, Deva Deva, Bhavodbhava and Adityatmika Sri Rudra; their corresponding consorts were Dhee Devi, Dhriti Devi, Ushna or Rasala Devi, Uma Devi, Neeyut Devi, Sarpi Devi, Ela Devi, Ambika Devi, Iravati Devi, Sudha Devi and Deeksha Devi

Two sons called Subrahmanya and Ganapati were born to Siva of Parvati, and they are his actual sons. Some other sons also were born to him in his assumed forms and by other women. Such have been Indrajit, Hanuman and others.

Churning of Ksirabdhi (ocean of milk) was commenced by Devas and Asuras to get Amrut. Vasuki, the snake, was used as cord to rotate mount Mandara, which was used as the churning rod. When the churning became very intense, a daring poison, Kalakuta emerged out of Vasuki's mouth. On the whole it appeared as though the entire world would be reduced to ashes. At this critical moment, Siva, reputed for his reckless daring, put all the Kalakuta into his mouth. Frightened at it Parvati held Siva's throat by her hands so that the poison did not enter his stomach. At the same time Mahavisnu covered with his hands Siva's mouth so that the poison was not spitted out. Kalakuta thus prevented from going down into the stomach or being vomited from Siva's throat got itself localized in the throat giving it a blue colour. Thus Siva become Nilakantha (of the blue throat). Visnu and Parvati who were affected by the flames of the poison became Nllavarna and Kali respectively.

Brahma took his birth in the lotus that originated from the navel of Visnu. Brahma trying to know the source of the lotus saw Visnu only. He asked, 'Who are you?' and was answered 'I am Visnu, your father'. That answer did not satisfy Brahma and a quarrel ensued between him and Visnu which ended in fighting. While they argue and fight a huge Sivalinga appeared between the two. To find the ends Brahma went upwards and Visnu downwards. Though they travelled a great distance they could not find out the ends, and, so, returned to their old seats and eulogized Siva. the day Siva appeared before Brahma and Vishnu is celebrated as Maha Sivaratri

Related entries found !

Word Sanskrit IAST In General Veda Purana
Siva Lingaशिव लिङ्गśiva liṅga

The literal meaning of Shiva is auspicious and Sivalinga is a representation of Siva and...

Siva or Rudra is a Vedic Devata. During Vedic period there was no idolatory worship and...

There are many stories in purana regarding origin or Sivalinga. One such story from Linga...

Read More
Siva Maha Puranaशिव मह पुराणśiva maha purāṇa

Siva Mahapurana as its name suggest is a holy text dedicated to and glorify Lord Siva. Siva...

The mantra Om Nama Siva or the Shiv Panchakshari Mantra is first told in Yajurveda Samhita...

Contents of Shiva Mahapurana

The contents of Shiva Mahapuran are separated into...

Read More
Siva Panchakshari mantraशिव पञ्चाक्षरी मन्त्रśiva pañcākṣarī mantra

The five lettered mantra, Om Namah Sivaya or the Shiv Panchakshari Mantra is from...

Rudra begins his work upon earth and give effect to the sacrifice on the five planes of...

Om Namah Sivaya consists of the five letters Na,Ma,Shi,Va,Ya, or in Sanskrit “न”...

Read More
Siva Sutraशिवा सूत्रśiva sūtra

Siva sutra is a Kashmiri Saivite text on Yoga. Siva sutras are considered reveled from...

Tantra

Siva sutra come under Agama or Tantra literature. The text is divided into three...

Read More
Siva Upapuranaशिव उपपुराणśiva upapurāṇa

This is a fairly big work where the worshiping of Siva in the form of Sivalinga is...

Read More
Siva, various symbols with himशिवśiva

Matted Hair: The matted hair represents Lord Shiva’s connection with Vayu or air....

Read More
Sivakumara swami (1907-2019)

A Famous spiritual luminary from Karnataka. He was head of Siddaganga math,...

Read More
Sivaratriशिवरात्रिśivarātri

Maha Sivaratri is a holy day observed on the eve of 13th night (waning moon) and 14th day...

Veda use the word Rudra than Siva to address the creative energy. The Rudra Namaka and...

Brahma took his birth in the lotus that originated from the navel of Visnu. Brahma trying...

Read More
Sivasvaminशिवस्वमिनśivasvamin

A gifted Sanskrit poet in the court of king Avantivarman who ruled Kashmir during the period...

Read More
Kaksivanta Athervaveda name Kaksivanta as a renowned Rishi Read More