Ravi Speaks:
Ten Interesting Facts About Shiva We Should Know
This year, the Mahashibaratri takes place on February 28th and March the Ist.
Some celebrate Mahashivaratri during the day, while others organize a series of jaagrans and pooja to celebrate it at night.
Mahashivaratri is considered the most auspicious. On this day, followers of Lord Shiva sing prayers, perform special puja rituals, and observe fasts. People also meditate and do yoga. But while a lot is said and written about the festival, people, especially youngsters, often do not hear of the interesting facts of Lord Shiva.
Here are more interesting facts about the lord that every devotee should know.
Before we delve into that, here is a quick note on why Mahashivratri is celebrated.
As always, the myth offers several versions of why Mahashivaratri is celebrated.
According to one version, Shivaratri is celebrated as the day Shiva saved the world from a pot of poison that came out of the sea during Samudra Manthana.
Because of this, Shiva is known as Nilkanth (the blue-necked person).
Another version says that Shivratri is celebrated as a day when Brahma and Vishnu quarreled over each other’s superiority. The enraged god Shiva punished them by taking the form of a great fire that spread throughout the universe.
People also say that Maharashvaratri celebrates the wedding of the god Shiva with the goddess Parvati.
Here are 10 interesting facts about Lord Shiva.
1. His Clothing:
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| Clothing of Shiva. |
2. His Blue Throat:
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| Blue Throat with Poison. |
During the Samundra-Manthan -Shiva chose to consume the poison and thus drank it. His wife, the goddess Parvati, was alarmed, as she gripped her husband’s neck with both hands to stop the poison, thus earning him the name Viṣakaṇṭha (the one who held poison in his (Shiva’s) throat). The poison turned his throat blue like a bruise.
Shiva always has a snake around his neck-which people believe keeps his throat cool from the `Halahala poison` taken during the churning of the milky ocean. Most importantly- Shiva wearing a Snake represents fearlessness and power. Snakes are always feared for their venom and are thus powerful. So, Shiva having a snake on his body and neck shows that He would take away all the fears and weaknesses, and protects his devotees.
3. 108 Names:
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| 108 names of Shiva |
From Mahadev, Nilkantha, and Shiva to Mahakala, Srikantha, Triolokesh, Lord Shiva has over 108 names. Interestingly, each of his names emphasizes certain attributes, traits, or mythical events. God Shiva prays as the creator, preserver, and destroyer of our world. The number 108 is considered an important number in Hinduism.
4. Serenity and Fury:
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| Nataraja roopa |
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| Serenity in Shiva |
The mountains, snow, and snakes around the neck of Shiva are symbols of his serenity. It is considered a sign of peace and serenity. At the same time, we all know about the wrath of the god Shiva. It is believed that Lord Shiva took the form of Nataraja and performed the famous Tandava or the dance of destruction to crush the arrogant Apasmara under his right foot. Shiva`s Nataraja avatar is a message that ignorance can only be overcome with knowledge, music, and dance.
5. Ashes and the Third Eye:
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| Third Eye Of Shiva |
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| Furious Third Eye Prakopa |
6. Cannabis:
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| Shiva Taking Marijuana |
On Shivaratri, the Shaivites, a sect of followers, consume Bhang (a beverage prepared from cannabis) and smoke weed. This offer is quite popular among subscribers. According to mythology, the god Shiva smokes various forms of marijuana. However, in his defense, it is believed that this is done only to survive in the extreme climates of the mountains.
7. Ardhanareshwar:
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| Ardhnareshwar roopa |
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| Depiction of Ardhnareshwar |
Shiv-Parvati is cited as an example of an ideal marriage, like Ram Lord and Goddess Sita. Lord Shiva is represented in the Ardhanarishwar form – which is a half male and half female icon. It is often said that this androgynous form shows the masculine energy (Purusha) and feminine energy (Prakrithi) of the universe in a synthesis.
8. Lord Shiva punished one crore gods:
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| Shiva punished the gods |
Hindu mythology states that once, Lord Shiva was on his way to Kashi along with one crore gods and goddesses. And he asked all of them to wake up before sunrise the following day, before taking a night`s rest in Unakoti, Tripura. But in the morning, no one except Shiva woke up. Furious, Shiva set out for Kashi on his own, cursing the others to become stone images.
9. The legend of Ganga:
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| The Ganges praying to the lord |
Mythology states that Bhagiratha asked Brahma to bring the river Ganges down to earth so that he could perform a ceremony for his ancestors. Brahma directed Bhagiratha to Lord Shiva, as only he could break Ganga`s landfall. It is said that the river arrogantly flew to the ground, but Shiva calmly pulled his hair and released it into a small stream.
10. Shivlings:
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| Shivling |
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| Shivling at Amarnath-Gufa |
Shivlings are a unique expression of Lord Shiva. Shivlings are said to show the shapeless side of Shiva. It states that Lord Shiva has no beginning or end. The scriptures state that Shivlings are the origin and goal of the entire universe. The word lingam consists of two sounds: “Liyate” or “Li” for the origin and “Game” or “Ga” for the ultimate goal.
Mahashivratri is celebrated with fanfare and enthusiasm by the Hindu community throughout India and parts of Nepal. Festivals are celebrated differently throughout the country. In South Karnataka, children play tricks and demand punishment (a symbol of Shiva’s false punishment of Brahma).
Meanwhile, Kashmiri Brahmin celebrate the marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvati during these days. For them, this is the main festival out of a whole lot of religious days.
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| Shivratri-Pooja performed by Kashmiri Pundits |
Mahashivratri is reportedly celebrated also in parts of western India, with more than 400 temples nationwide.
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