Brahma and Vishnu were once arguing who is superior. Shiva manifested as an unending column of light. He proclaimed that whoever reaches the end of the column will be superior. Brahma took the form of swan and flew up. Vishnu took the form of a boar and went into the earth.

Neither Brahma nor Vishnu could reach the end of the column of light. But Brahma had met a flower that was dropping from the Jatamudi of Shiva and claimed he had reached the top. He produced the flower as a witness. Vishnu accepted that he had failed. Shiva knew the truth of course and cursed both Brahma and the flower. Brahma would not be worshipped in temples and the thazhampoo would not adore Shiva henceforth.

The deity of Lingodbhava has four arms. The upper hands carry an axe and an antelope. The forehands are in the gesture of protecting and gracing the devotees. Lingodbhava can be seen on the outer walls of the Garbhagrihas in many temples. This picture is from Darasuram in Tamil Nadu which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Picture Credit:
SSriram Wikimedia Commons

Shiva adorned Chandra to console him and to absolve him of a curse.

Chandra had married twenty seven daughters of Daksha, the son of Brahma. But he was partial to two of them. The rest of the daughters complained to Daksha. An infuriated Daksha cursed that Chandra would lose his brightness. Chandra repented his actions but Daksha would not forgive him. Chandra surrendered to Shiva who then adorned him in his head. Shiva also ordained that instead of losing the brightness forever, Chandra would wax and wane.

This beautiful bronze deity is unfortunately in Brooklyn museum.

Picture Credit: Brooklyn Museum

Once when Vishnu was sleeping, four sages demanded entry into Vaikunta. The dwara palakas were in a dilemma. They can neither refuse the sages nor let Vishnu get disturbed. Finally they refused entry to the sages because their duty is to Vishnu. The sages were upset and they cursed the dwara palakas. They have to take birth a hundred times in earth and only then come back to Vaikunta.

Vishnu woke up and understood what had happened. He forgave the dwara palakas and declared that they had to be reborn only thrice. Vishnu was also upset that the learned sages could not control their emotion and ego. He said, “You have betrayed yourselves by losing your temper. You will hasten to earth and take refuge at the feet of Dakshinamurti, the mighty conqueror of senses and the very symbol of knowledge and wisdom.”

The sages reached the hermitage of Dakshinamurti on earth. He guided them into the knowledge of self. Control of senses is an incidental learning in the knowledge of self.

The deity of Dakshinamurti is enshrined in Shiva temples in the prahara facing south. Dakshinamurti is represented as a handsome youth seated beneath a banyan tree and preaching to the aged sages. His right leg is dangling down vertically and is placed on the demon Apasmara. His left leg is bent across the right thigh. He has four hands. The rear ones hold a snake and a trident. The right fore arm is in the form of Chinmudra. It represents Jiva and Brahman. The left forehand holds palm leaves.

Dakshinamurti has a pleasing personality. He exudes calm and peace. The Great Teacher enlightens the sages by Divine Silence. Silence is more eloquent than speech.

Picture Credit: Srinivasan GS Flickr

Shiva, Parvati and Skanda (Subramanya) are worshipped as Somaskanda. Skanda stands between the divine mother and divine father.

Surapadma was once creating terror in Devaloka. The devas approached Shiva and sought help. Shiva agreed to help them. He then fell into a trance. During the trance his third eye opened and six sparks sprang forth. They were carried by Vayu to Saravana Poigai (divine waters). They were transformed into babies. Uma and Shiva came to Saravana Poigai. Uma clasped the babies to her bosom. All the babies became united by her divine touch. Uma placed the baby, Skanda between her and Shiva. Skanda would kill the entire group of Surapadma.

This beautiful Somaskanda deity is in Salar Jung museum in Hyderabad.

Picture Credit: Saiiko Wikimedia Commons

Ardhanariswara represents the blending of force and grace that contributes to the creation of life. They are complementary and not contradictory.

The beetle is connected to the origin of Ardhanariswara. Once a sage was very devoted to worshipping Shiva. He was so devoted that he refused to worship Shakti. Shiva wanted to correct his views and show that both him and Shakti are one only. He made Shakti sit very close to him so that the sage has to worship both. But the sage outwitted Shiva by taking the form of a beetle (Bringa) and entering through the small gap between Shiva and Shakti.

Shiva then shared his body with Shakti. The sage now realized that Shiva and Shakti are one only. He begged forgiveness. Shiva and Shakti welcomed him to Kailasa. Since the sage took the form of Bringa (beetle) he came to be called Bringi.

This beautiful bronze deity is in Chennai Egmore museum.

Picture Credit: SR Ramanujam

Gangadhara is associated with the perseverance of Bhagiratha. Siva is depicted bearing and sustaining the furious torrents of the river Ganga, as she descends from heaven to grace Bhagiratha.
Bhagiratha had undertaken a penance to seek Ganga to come to earth. His sixty thousand ancestors had been burnt to ashes by Sage Kapila. His ancestors had wrongly assumed that Sage Kapila had stolen their father’s horse. In reality it was Indra who was jealous of King Sakara. Indra had tied the horse to a tree in the ashram of Sage Kapila. The ancestors would attain redemption only when Gangaji washed their ashes.

Even though Bhagiratha managed to convince Ganga to come to earth, someone had to stop the fury of Ganga as she descends from heaven. So Bhagiratha prayed to Shiva and convinced him to absorb the fury of Gangaji. As Gangadhara, Shiva stood astride with his feet firmly on the ground. He untied his plait of hair and loosened it so as to bear the mighty torrents of Ganga.

Bhagiratha’s troubles were not over yet. Gangaji had inundated the hermitage of Sage Janhu who then swallowed all the flow of Ganga. Bhagiratha then begged forgiveness from Sage Janhu who then let out Gangaji through his ears. She would eventually reach the ashram of Sage Kapila and washed the ashes of Bhagiratha’s ancestors.

Bhagiratha thus stands as a symbol of perseverance. He is endowed with courage, confidence, determination, endurance, tenacity of purpose, holy mission and a holy vision. He is a hero bearing an exemplary character to be emulated by everyone on earth.

This is in Elephanta island off Mumbai.

Picture Credit: Rangan Datta

The sages of Dharukavana were conceited. They thought Karma is everything and there is no need for God. They were also infuriated with Shiva as he distracted their wives. They performed a sacrifice known as Abhichara Yagna. They raised a huge and disastrous fire swearing vengeance on Shiva. Several ghosts, demons, snakes and monstrous animals came forth from the fire. A mighty and monstrous elephant emerged from the fire followed by snakes, a terrifying tiger and wild antelope. This was followed by a demon.

As a Yogi, Shiva was calm and collected. As the elephant charged at him, he assumed a miniature form and entered the body of the elephant. Shiva then tore open the body of the elephant and reappeared. He stood on the head of the animal and held its skin in his hands. He adorned other creatures as ornaments and snakes as garlands. He subdued the demons. The form of Shiva as Gajasamharamurti depicts his tearing the monstrous elephant and wearing its hide as his attire.

The rishis of Darukavana realized the futility of their thoughts. They were now convinced that Karma alone cannot be everything and that there is a need of the dispenser God.

Sankaracharya admires Gajasamharamurti in his Sivananda Lahari. He compares the human mind with a wild elephant running amok. It has to be tamed like a mahout does. This great truth is symbolically shown in the form of Gajasamharamurti.

This sculpture is in Belur, Karnataka.

Picture Credit: BY SA Wikimedia Commons

Daksha was the Son of Brahma. His daughter Sati was married to Shiva, Rudra. Daksha was performing a great yagna lasting many many years. Daksha felt offended as Rudra did not pay respects to him during the yagna. Since then Rudra and Daksha were not in good terms. Daksha continued the Yagna. As the Yagna was nearing culmination, several Devas were headed there. Sati heard about this and wished to go to her father’s house. She told Rudra that the rightful place for a daughter then is to be at her father’s place. Rudra advised her against going citing that Daksha would not respect her. Sati did not pay heed and went to the Yagna without Rudra.

As predicted by Rudra, she was humiliated at the Yagna. Unable to bear this, she gave up her life in the Yagna. Rudra became ferocious on hearing this news. He took the form of Veerabhadra. His head touched the skies. His three eyes resembled three suns. He wore a garland of skulls. He reduced the place of Yagna to ashes. He then beheaded Daksha.

He picked up the body of Sati and started Tandava, the dance of destruction. Frightened by the Tandava the Devas pleaded to Vishnu to stop the destruction. Vishnu cut off the body of Sati into several parts with his Sudarshana Chakra so that Rudra would eventually stop the Tandava. The body parts of Sati fell into 51 sacred tirthas all over India which are called Shakti Peeths.

The site of Yagna is in Kankhal close to Haridwar in Uttarakhand. The picture is of the Daksheshwara temple in Kankhal.

Picture Credit: SR Ramanujam

Bhairava is endowed with projecting tusks and protruding eyes. He commands awe and veneration instilling a sense of fear. He is adored as the guardian deity of settlements. He carries a Damaru, an Ankusa and a skull. The dog accompanies him as Vahana. He is glorified as Kshetrapala (Protector of Earth). He sports matted lock of scarlet color and is adorned with garlands of snakes and skulls.

Andhaka was the son of Hiranyaksha who was a votary of Shiva. With his invincible might and power granted by Shiva, he started oppressing and harassing the celestials. Unable to bear the unending atrocities, the celestials prayed to Shiva for help. Provoked by the insolence of Andhaka, Shiva opened his third eye. From the flames of the third eye Bhairava emerged with projecting tusks and protruding eyes accompanied by a horrifying hunting sound.

Bhairava and Andhaha engaged in a fierce battle. Bhairava pounced on Andhaka and plunged his trident into his head. At the time of death, Bhairava realized his heinous acts and repented them. Lord Shiva revived his life and also took him up as the chief of his retinue.

There are eight forms of Bhairava in the city of Kashi itself. Bhairava is very popular in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh also.

This is Bhairava guarding Sringeri in Karnataka.

Picture Credit: Sringeri Mutt

Sage Mrikandu and his wife Maruthavathi were blessed with a Son by Shiva but he imposed a condition. They could have a bad Son who would live long or a brilliant Son who would live only for 16 years. They preferred a brilliant Son and Shiva fulfilled their desire. Markandeya was born to them. He grew up as a wise Son and became a votary of Shiva. As the years rolled by and he reached 16 years of age, he wished to worship Shiva in a temple. His parents agreed. As Markandeya was praying, Yama threw his noose around his neck. Markandeya hugged the Shiva Linga but Yama would not let go. He claimed Markandeya’s life as he had already lived the 16 years he was destined for.

At this instant, Shiva emerged from the Linga as Kalasamharamurti and knocked down Yama. The life of Markandeya was saved.

Tirukadaiyur in Tamil Nadu has the famous deity of Kalasamharamurti. Markandeya is believed to have visited Tirukadaiyur. The fiery third eye is well marked in the deity here.

This is Kalasamharamurti in Nanjangud, Karnataka.

Picture Credit: Ugra Twitter

Nataraja is the most aesthetic form of Shiva, blending force and grace. According to Hindu belief, all life is a part of the great rhythmic process of creation and destruction. Shiva’s dance symbolizes the eternal life-death rhythm going on in an endless cycle.

Shiva is the presiding deity of Bharatanatya, the art and science of dancing. He has danced all the hundred and eight kinds of dances the Bharatanatya talks about.

The most adorned temple for Nataraja is in Chidambaram. Beautiful deities of Nataraja are also seen near Kancheepuram. Several temples in Tamil Nadu have a shrine dedicated to Nataraja.

This bronze sculpture is in Chennai Egmore museum. It is set against an artificial backdrop of the cosmos.

Picture Credit: SR Ramanujam