| Lord
Shiva is the
third god in the Hindu trinity. This triumvirate consists of three
gods who are responsible for the creation, upkeep and destruction of
the world. The other two gods are Brahma and Vishnu.
Brahma is the
creator of the universe while Vishnu is the preserver of it. Shiva's
role is to destroy the universe in order to re-create it.
Thus Shiva is
responsible for change, both in the form of death and destruction and
in the positive sense of destroying the ego, the false identification
with the form. This also includes the shedding of old habits and
attachments.
He has many forms,
including Panchavaktra (with 5 heads, a combination of all Shiva
energies), Aghora (who resides in the creamation grounds),
Ishana (who most often appears as the shiva lingam), Tat
Purusha (meditating), Varna Deva (the eternal Shiva) and
Saddyojat or Braddha Rudra (the old wrathful form), which also
forms his connection to the Rudraksha
mala.
Another well-known
manifestation of Shiva is Nataraja, the
lord of the dance. Yet another form is Hanuman, the ultimate karma
yogi, while the Mahamrityunyaya form of Shiva is the great conqueror
of death.
Lord Shiva has
authority over death, rebirth and immortality. He is also the father
of Ganesha and Murugan.
It is Shiva's
relationship with his wife, Parvati which brings him balance. Hindus
believe Shiva and Parvati live in the Kailash mountains in the
Himalayas.
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