What are the symbols of Shiva?

What are the symbols of Shiva?

He wears a garland of skulls and a serpent around his neck and carries in his two (sometimes four) hands a deerskin, a trident, a small hand drum, or a club with a skull at the end. That skull identifies Shiva as a Kapalika (“Skull-Bearer”) and refers to a time when he cut off the fifth head of Brahma.

What is a common symbol of the god Shiva?

Trident: Shiva typically carries a trident called Trishula. The trident is a weapon or a symbol in different Hindu texts. As a symbol, the Trishul represents Shiva’s three aspects of “creator, preserver and destroyer”, or alternatively it represents the equilibrium of three Gunas of “sattva, rajas and tamas”.

What does the 4 hands of Shiva represent?

The gestures of the dance represent Shiva’s five activities (panchakritya): creation (symbolized by the drum), protection (by the “fear-not” pose of the hand), destruction (by the fire), embodiment (by the foot planted on the ground), and release (by the foot held aloft).

Why does Shiva have a moon on his head?

Shiva adorns Chandrama (moon) on his forehead. Chandrama has absorbed the frequencies of Prajapat, Brahma, Vishnu, Minakshi and Shiva and imparts them to others along with energies of Indra. Chandrama means ‘The one which gives pleasure’. It gives affection, mercifulness and motherly love.

What does Shiva stand for?

Shiva (Siva) is one of the most important gods in the Hindu pantheon and is considered a member of the holy trinity (trimurti) of Hinduism with Brahma and Vishnu. A complex character, he may represent goodness, benevolence and serve as the Protector.

What does Shiva third eye mean?

The third eye can detect evil, even when it is not immediately apparent and the fire that emanates from it can annihilate evil. It also symbolises his activity in the metaphysical, spiritual world and represents the power of knowledge. This eye is seen to be the source of his untamed energy.

What does the third arm of Shiva represent?

Shiva’s third eye represents his cosmic knowledge. In one of the saint Sundarar’s hymns to Shiva, he sings of Parvati (Uma), cover- ing Shiva’s two eyes in a flirtatious game, with the universe plunging into darkness as a result.

What are Shiva’s powers?

Shiva’s role is to destroy the universe in order to re-create it. Hindus believe his powers of destruction and recreation are used even now to destroy the illusions and imperfections of this world, paving the way for beneficial change. According to Hindu belief, this destruction is not arbitrary, but constructive.

Why does Shiva wear snake on his neck?

The coiled snake around Shiva’s neck also reminds devotees to keep their ego under control. When the ego is in check, peace prevails in life forever. Interestingly, Shiva is also known as Nageshwar, meaning Lord of the snakes. There are temples dedicated to this form of the Lord across the country.

Why is Shiva holding a ball of fire?

It is also believed to be the source of his untamed energy. On one occasion, when Shiva was distracted in the midst of worship by the love god, Kama, Shiva opened his third eye in anger. Kama was consumed by the fire that poured forth, and only returned to life when Parvati intervened.

What does Shiva help with?