HINDU GOD - SHIVA (SIVA)
GOD OF TRANSFORMATION
Shiva is the third deity of the
Hindu triad of great gods, the others
being Brahma and Vishnu.
Shiva is often referred to as the
Destroyer, however, it might be better
to think of him as the God of
Transformation, since he is often
associated with creation that comes out
of destruction. Shiva has different
aspects that appear at different times. He is often depicted
as the destroyer, and will appear as a naked ascetic
accompanied by demons, encircled with serpents and necklaces
of skulls. Sometimes Shiva wanders into crematoriums, smears
his body with ash and dances in the light of the funeral
pyres, reminding all about the transitory nature of material
things.
Sometimes the creative force of Shiva is depicted, and in
particular Shiva is represented by a phallus, known as the
linga. Other times Shiva is seen as the god of
meditation and asceticism. He will be depicted sitting
cross-legged with his eyes half-closed.
Another common form is that of Shiva Nataraja. This
is Shiva engaged in a cosmic dance. It is believed that the
energy from this dance sustains the cosmos, and when Shiva
is finished with this dance, this universe will end and a
new one will begin.
Snakes are often associated with Shiva, since they are able
to regenerate their skins by discarding their old ones.
Likewise, in southern India, deer are associated with Shiva
because their antlers re-grow after falling out. Shiva is
also associated with the rainy season, as the monsoon rains
transform the ground from desert into fertile valley. |
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