His image in deep meditation emanates such calmness and dignity that it is hard to believe that he is a god with a hot temper and strange lifestyle. One can never easily understand why a personality so magnificent leads an austere life, with no fizz whatsoever. The ascetics of Shiva talks for key spiritual idea of Hinduism, renunciation from the material world and union with God. With thousands of names attributed to him, I found the title MAHAYOGI suits him the best. Shiva is an abstraction of Hindu spiritual ideology, every object associated with him symbolizes the yogi’s journey.As Popular in Hinduism, at the beginning of this creation the supreme consciousness took the form of the first and original vibration manifesting as sound “AUM”, the Vibrations from “AUM” activate the Agya chakra . The Panchaskhari “Na Ma Si Va Ya” activates the manipuraka, visudhi, Muladhara, swadishtana, and anahata chakras in the same order. When these chakras are activated they open up to the dormant kundalini energy (psychic power). The kundalini which is coiled in the Muladhara should rise through these six chakras and reach the sahsrara through the sushumna channel. The sahsrara represented as the Lotus with thousand petals integrates the other six chakras with their characteristics, and this union with sahsrara is the realization of the absolute and the true meaning of Yoga. Chanting “AUM NAMASIVAYA” is not just a way of dwelling on Shiva, but one of the paths to awaken the kundalini energy and welcome oneness with the supreme.
The tale of how River Ganges was brought to earth by Bhagiratha for the salvation of his ancestors is very well known. It is during this effort of Bhagiratha that Shiva had to stage Ganga on his head and then direct it to the Earth. It is very interesting how Shiva holds Ganga at the Sahsrara Chakram. Ganga being the divine consciousness made her entry into the Human life from the Sahsrara. She passed through the seven chakras as the kundalini energy and coiled like as snake at the muladhara. The yogi in his spiritual journey awakens the kundalini to retrace this path from the muladhara to the sahsrara and reunites with the divine consciousness.
“Tridalam Trigunakaram trinetram cha triayudham”- three must definitely be Shiva’s favorite number, but number three has more spiritual significance than what we usually know. The three Gunas –satwa, tamas and rajas, the three shaktis- kriya, gyana and satva, the three main nadis –Ida, pingala, and sushumna are quoted as the reason behind this association. The three petals of the bilva leaf, the trident, and the three eyes are symbols of this association. The three eyes of Shiva watch the three kalas (time periods) past, present and future. The third eye is generally spoken of as a sign of terror but it is less known that the third eye represents the eye of intuition (mind’s eye) or the gyana netra. Only the yogis of the highest order are constantly aware of the third eye, Shiva’s third eye stands for the same. The Third eye is where the Agya chakram is located. The Ida, pingala and sushumna nadis unite at the Agya chakra. It is only when Ida and Pingala are properly balanced the sushumna nadi begins to flow. When sushumna flows, kundalini can rise to Sahsrara Chakra. The Ida nadi is located on the sympathetic and Pingala on the parasympathetic nervous system. (The sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves stimulate and inhibit the involuntary organs (heart, lungs etc.) respectively.) The balance of these two nervous systems is symbolized by the Damarukam. The rudraksha is said to be the tear drop from Shiva’s eyes that fell on earth (killing the demon tripurasura). It is said that wearing rudraksha helps in awakening the Kundalini. And the Jatajutam has more significance to it than just holding Ganga. For any yogi, long hair extending to the spine (called the Jatajutam) acts as padding to the seven chakras starting from the head to the end of the spine. It is also scientifically proven that hair acts as an insulator because it increases the surface area and retains the warmth.
The Hindu traditions have associated certain qualities to certain elements of nature. For example, the Swan (called the Hansa in Hindi) that swallows milk can separate the water from it. The title “Paramahansa” is given to all the enlightened gurus who can separate truth from the delusion. In the same way, the peacock is a symbol of purification. It is said that the peacock has the ability to turn poison into its beautiful colors. Shiva’s title of Garalkanth is supposed to be derived from the peacock’s blue throat. However, it is also believed that Shiva’s Blue throat signifies his unity with all creation. This is because the Vishudhi chakra is located at the throat, the color associated with this chakra is blue. The Kundalini when touches the Vishudhi chakra, the yogi experiences oneness with all human beings and the great circle of life. On the same lines, the snakes Shiva has around him symbolize his adeptness in the Khechari Vidya. It is believed that Yogis have learnt to survive on little breath from snakes going in hibernation for long periods of time; this is called the Khechari Vidya. In Hindu tradition, a tiger symbolizes Kriya Shakti; Shiva wearing and sitting on tiger skin symbolizes his control on Kriya Shakti. In Hindu astrology the moon rules the mind. The crescent moon on Shiva’s forehead symbolizes a yogi’s control over the mind. Symbols are open ended and I guess that is the beauty of symbolism. Shiva appeals differently to different people. I have personally loved how Shiva is described as a warrior in the Shiva trilogy written by Amish Tripathi. Since Kriya yoga makes a lot of sense to me, I like to visualize him as a yogi, the MAHAYOGI.
