Ravi Speaks:-Ten Interesting Facts About Shiva We Should Know.

Lord Shiva in-Tandav Mudra

Ravi Speaks:

Updated on 09.09.2022.

In today’s article, the ten important facts which each one of us should know about Lord Shiva. An interesting read.

Ten Interesting Facts About Shiva We Should Know

This time in the next year-2023, the Mahashivaratri takes place on February 18th.

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, rarely 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:

Ravi Speaks:-Ten Interesting Facts About Shiva We Should Know.

Lord Shiva is often depicted with a snake named Vasuki wrapped around its neck. It represents the fact that snakes control death and fear. A crescent moon adorns his head, and the holy Ganges flows from his head. The crescent moon represents the cycle of time. Trishul, or his trident, is an important part of the character he uses as a weapon. The three spikes represent the three Gunas: sattva, rajas, and tamas. Satva is the basis of creation, Raja is the continuity, and Tama is the basis of destruction. The damru is his favorite instrument. The objects held in the hands of the god Shiva represent the five elements that project God as the supreme head of creation.

2. His Blue Throat:

During the Samundra-Manthan -Shiva consumed 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.- 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 He would take away all the fears and weaknesses, and protect his devotees.

3. 108 Names:

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:

The mountains, snow, and snakes around the neck of Shiva are symbols of his serenity. It is considered a sign of peace and serenity. 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:

The three horizontal lines of ash on Lord Shiva`s forehead refer to the destruction of the three worlds of Hinduism. Another attribute that sets lord Shiva apart is the third eye on his forehead. The third eye represents the future. Therefore, He is viewed as the Lord of all three times–past, present, and future. Two eyes stand for sun and moon, the third eye stands for Agni or fire.

6. Cannabis:

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:

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:

Hindu mythology states that once, Lord Shiva was on his way to Kashi along with one crore of 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:

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:

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 Shivlings are the origin and goal of the entire universe. The word lingam comprises two sounds: “Liyate” or “Li” for the origin and “Game” or “Ga” for the 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 celebrates the marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvati during these days. For them, this is the main festival out of a lot of religious days.

Mahashivratri is reportedly celebrated also in parts of western India, with over 400 temples nationwide.

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