THE TRUE CONCEPT OF SHIVA RELATED TO SOCIETY
He is depicted as sitting on the mountains, bare chested with ashes on his body without any formal clothes or Abhushan (ornaments). He has a jata on his (head long hair tied on top of the head) from which is flowing down the River Ganga. He has a cobra (Naag) tied aroung his neck and has a Cornet and a Trishul in his hand. He also has on his forhead a third eye, and a rudraksha mala tied on his hand.
This whole representation is as follows: – He is actually a symbol of society and what a person goes through his lifetime and is required to give back the knowledge which he has gained during his life to the society.
- BRAHMACHARYA ASHRAM :- This is a Stage of learning after imbibing knowledge in all fields of science arts and etc in educational or institutions.
- GRIHASTHA ASHRAM:- Marriage. which is his duty to produce a progeny which will be useful to the society nation and even the cosmos. During this period a person is supposed to live a life which is productive ethical and beneficial to all mankind.
- VAANPRASHTA :- After full filling these duties he takes i.e. he goes into solitude, introspect, analyze all that he has learnt and his experience both good/bad.
This is the alaankarik roop of Lord Shiva which has been depicted in a very poetic manner by sages of yore.
Thereafter what he does or should do.
Let us analyze all the things with which he is adorned.
MOON:- It is the entire knowledge which he has collected in his lifetime Chandramaa is (Moon)-Normal Sanskrit Meaning. The root is Chaddi Dhatupath Bhawadigan which means illumination and pleasure. Here it means enlightenment (illumination)
JATA are the unruly mop of hair on top of the head devoid of all hair dressing etc.
GANGA – Ganga is a river flowing from the top of his head which depicts his knowledge should flow down to humanity.
ASHES means devoid of any make up, perfumes etc.
THIRD EYE – Eyes are a symbol of manifestation and learning Third eye is the accumulated knowledge of all the enlightenment which he has manifested/seen and abosorbed (mental light) and coordinated and come to conclusions and should advise/share with humanity.
CORNET:- After reaching this stage he is obliged to impart knowledge for which he has to have an Audience. Cornet is a symbol of inviting /gathering an Audience (Even a street magician uses a Cornet to gather people)
RUDRAKSHA :- It comprises of rough beads tied together about 100 + That shows that he has reached the end of atleast one cycle of his life and each bead Is tied to each other to represent, events in his life. The other aspect of Rudraksha mala also denotes the following:- Rudra normal Sanskrit meaning is tears.The tears overflowing from the eyes. This only happens when there is extreme happiness or sorrow, so it depicts OVERFLOW. AKSHU –DHATUPATH BHAWADIGAN= VYAAPTOW (PERMEATES). Hence it denotes overflowing Energy which permeates. Hence he has even totally bound and controlled all the overflowing strong energies.
NAAG (COBRA):- Naag comprises of NA + AG. NA denotes NOT and AG is motion, Dhatupath Bhawadigan so it depicts the end. He has nothing further to achieve as he has achieved all.
TRISHUL: – TRI means Three and Shul means Ghoshna i.e. to speak clearly and emphatically directly that is clearly teach all what he has learnt from the three stages of his life Brahmacharya, Grishtra Aashram, Vaanprastha.
It will be noted that he is sitting on snow peak mountains on a tiger skin and snake around the neck which is also a symbol of austerity and merger with one in nature and also importantly it is the stage which the naag denotes that is he has to go no further be has reached the pinnecal which is also symbolical of the mountain peak.
Another aspect of Tiger skin
The tiger hide represents animal instinct and pride. The fact that he is seated on a tiger skin denotes completely conquering/suppression animal instinct and pride (Ahaankar).
Semi closed eyes denote total oblivion of all material surroundings and deep meditation. Even seeing and not seeing.
He is duly bound to teach preach all what he learnt to society/people all cornate is a symbol through which people are collected one is aware that even in a magician on the street plays the coronette to collect people. Finally the Trishul is Tri and Shool is– Sanyukt Ghosh, and Ghosh means to announce or teach, to speak in a loud and clear voice so he is bound to teach all what he has learnt in the three aashrams of his life that is from Brahmacharya, Grishtra Ashram, Vaanprashtha.
Another aspect.
It is stated that the earth lies on the head of a King Cobra NAAG – foolish yes but no foolish in its Normal Meaning but scientifically correct. It states NA meaning NO + AG meaning MOTION. So it is correctly stated the earth is stationery on its marked path and hence does not topple over etc.’
