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Shiva represents one of the most important hindu deities in the Hindu pantheon, and he is a representative of Hinduism's triune god, together with Brahma and Vishnu. He is a fascinating character who could really portray goodness, generosity of spirit, and behave as the Protector. He is also connected to Time, particularly as the destroyer and originator of any and all items.
At the conclusion of every cycle, Shiva demolishes the universe, enabling for a new Existence. Shiva also serves as the wonderful monk, refraining from all aspects of pleasure and sheer delight in order to attain flawless contentment through mindfulness. He also possesses a nasty side as the maestro of robbers, bad guys, and paupers, in addition to being the chief of demonic spirits and supernatural beings.
Nataraja: Shiva Nataraja is a magnificent innovation as an emblem. It incorporates Shiva's role and responsibilities as founder, sustainer, and destroyer of the world in a single view and expresses the Indian notion of the endless loop of time. The damaru is carried by the god in his top right hand. He continues to perform abhaya mudra with his bottom right hand.
The front left hand of Shiva, referring to his elevated left foot, symbolises safe haven for the tortured soul. His hair travels to the sides as a direct consequence of the power of his waltz. The emblems appear to suggest that Shiva's worshippers can achieve enlightenment by having faith in him.
Shiva Linga: Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu once tried to argue over who would be the supreme creator. To resolve this dispute, Lord Shiva emerged as a gigantic cornerstone of illumination and questioned people to locate its end. None of us could locate the end.
The jyotirlinga temples, at which Lord Shiva embodied as a linga of illumination, lend credence to the aforementioned myth of a cornerstone of illumination. There seem to be 12 jyotirlingas in the nation, all of which are holy Hindu spots.Almost every jyotirlinga has a compelling story concerning how it originated. Each one has a Sthala Purana (local fables or myth) affiliated with all of it.
Nandi: Nandi serves as one of Shiva's principal helpers and is occasionally viewed as a bull-headed midget figure in carvings. Nandi is also known as Nandikeshvara or Adhikarana Din in a completely humanoid version. Mortal carvings of him, discovered at the entryways of several Shaivite shrines in South India, are regularly confused with photos of the divinity since they share archetypal characteristics such as the crown chakra, crescent moon in the tangled tresses,etc. Nandi's hands are most often pushed with each other in love and admiration, this being a distinguishing factor.
Ardhanarishwara: By most authorities, the statue's metaphorical meaning is to demonstrate the indivisibility of the male and female doctrines. The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad acknowledges a founding father of Ardhanarishvara, declaring that the initial life form "was of the exact same magnitude and kind as a man and woman intimately incorporating.
"He exacerbated himself to split into two parts, and out of him a husband and wife were conceived." As stated in the Shiva-purana, a selection of folklore, the deity Brahma formed male life forms and commanded them to create others, but they were incapable of doing so. When Shiva emerged in genderless version before him, Brahma noticed his lack and generated females.
Shiva is frequently represented as white due to the embers of dead bodies splattered on his body, with a blue neck due to toxin in his neck.
Lord Shiva is the magnanimous cattle rancher, at times, the remorseless ruthless killer of the "monsters" that comprise the sentient souls in his care—as Lord of Cattle (Pashupata). Lord Shiva is the wild matted-haired ascetic, yet he is also the ideal family man and householder with a wife, goddess Parvati, and their two sons Ganesha and Karttikeya.
Shiva contains within himself all opposites, and is even described as half male and half female (Ardhanarishvara). He is sometimes described as the god of destruction, part of the ‘Hindu trinity’ with Brahma as creator and Vishnu as sustainer, but for his devotees he is the supreme Lord who creates, maintains and destroys the cosmos.
He conceals his true nature from humanity, yet, at the same time, can reveal his nature as an act of grace. Shiva is especially worshipped and popularly depicted in the following forms:
1). As the Lord of Yoga meditating on Mount Kailasha in the Himalayas. Often in sculptures, the Mt. Kailasha is depicted in a symbolic manner. He is portrayed with a third eye with which he burned Desire (Kama), with his matted locks in a chignon, a crescent moon in his hair, the Ganges pouring from his locks, garlanded by a snake and sacred Rudraksha beads, seated upon a tiger skin and holding a trident.
2). Shiva as the family man with his wife, the goddess Parvati, and their two sons, Karttikeya and the elephant-headed Ganesha, with the sacred bull Nandi, standing nearby.
3). Shiva as Nataraja, the Lord of the Dance, who, in his awesome dance which expresses his boundless energy, creates, maintains and destroys the cosmos. In such sculptures, Shiva is four-armed, dancing upon the dwarf of ignorance (Apasmara) within a circle of flames.
4). As the aniconic Shiva linga found in most Hindu temples. The linga is symbolic of the union of Shiva with his dynamic energy or Shakti.
As per Hindu ritual and Vastu rule, installation should be done in the northeastern corner of the house (Ishan corner) on the altar table of Puja rooms. The favorite direction of Lord Shiva where lies his abode, i.e. Mount Kailash is north. Applying a picture of Lord Shiva in the North direction of the house gives auspicious results.
But any area where no nearby objects would be too close to the statue is appropriate as well. Should not place it at the bed ends or washing lines. Placing Shiva means placing energy full of power and dynamism.
As far as the placing of the Shiva statue is concerned, according to Vastu, the north-eastern corner, or Ishan corner of the house, is an ideal position for placing the Shiva statue. Then the Shiva would face the opposite direction, i.e.; southwest, if we place it north or east-then he will face south or west. Placing the Shivling on the Northern or the eastern side is considered auspicious.
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