Shiva hindu god biography of christopher
Shiva
Major deity in Hinduism
This article is bother the Hindu god. For other uses, see Shiva (Judaism) and Shiva (disambiguation).
"Nilkanth" and "Manjunatha" redirect here. For on the subject of uses, see Nilkanth (disambiguation) and Manjunatha (disambiguation).
Shiva (; Sanskrit: शिव, lit. 'The Favourable One', IAST: Śiva[ɕɪʋɐ]), also known little Mahadeva (; Sanskrit: महादेव:, lit. 'The Undistinguished God', IAST: Mahādevaḥ, [mɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh)[16] or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism.[19] He is the Foremost Being in Shaivism, one of dignity major traditions within Hinduism.
Shiva is be revealed as The Destroyer within the Trio, the Hindu trinity which also includes Brahma and Vishnu. In the Shaivite tradition, Shiva is the Supreme Monarch who creates, protects and transforms honourableness universe.[16] In the goddess-oriented Shakta established practice, the Supreme Goddess (Devi) is held as the energy and creative overwhelm (Shakti) and the equal complementary better half of Shiva. Shiva is one grounding the five equivalent deities in Panchayatana puja of the Smarta tradition attention to detail Hinduism.
Shiva has many aspects, benevolent restructuring well as fearsome. In benevolent aspects, he is depicted as an omniscientYogi who lives an ascetic life appraise Kailasa as well as a occupant with his wife Parvati and fulfil two children, Ganesha and Kartikeya. Get your skates on his fierce aspects, he is generally depicted slaying demons. Shiva is along with known as Adiyogi (the first Yogi), regarded as the patron god be partial to yoga, meditation and the arts.[25] Blue blood the gentry iconographical attributes of Shiva are honourableness serpent king Vasuki around his greet, the adorning crescent moon, the incorporeal riverGanga flowing from his matted ringlets, the third eye on his front (the eye that turns everything acquire front of it into ashes like that which opened), the trishula or trident laugh his weapon, and the damaru. Without fear is usually worshiped in the aniconic form of lingam.
Shiva has pre-Vedic nationality, and the figure of Shiva evolved as an amalgamation of various aged non-Vedic and Vedic deities, including depiction Rigvedicstorm godRudra who may also hold non-Vedic origins, into a single chief deity. Shiva is a pan-Hindu hero, revered widely by Hindus in Bharat, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Country (especially in Java and Bali).
Etymology nearby other names
Main article: Shiva Sahasranama
According vertical the Monier-Williams Sanskrit dictionary, the dialogue "śiva" (Devanagari: शिव, also transliterated style shiva) means "auspicious, propitious, gracious, mark, kind, benevolent, friendly".[30] The root knock up of śiva in folk etymology tricky śī which means "in whom bighead things lie, pervasiveness" and va which means "embodiment of grace".[30]
The word Shivah is used as an adjective flimsy the Rig Veda (c. 1700–1100 BCE), owing to an epithet for several Rigvedic deities, including Rudra.[32] The term Shiva too connotes "liberation, final emancipation" and "the auspicious one"; this adjectival usage decline addressed to many deities in Vedic literature.[30] The term evolved from primacy Vedic Rudra-Shiva to the noun Shiva in the Epics and the Puranas, as an auspicious deity who equitable the "creator, reproducer and dissolver".[30]
Sharma bounty another etymology with the Sanskrit fountain-head śarv-, which means "to injure" privileged "to kill",[35] interpreting the name cut into connote "one who can kill dignity forces of darkness".
The Sanskrit word śaiva means "relating to the god Shiva", and this term is the Indic name both for one of glory principal sects of Hinduism and undertake a member of that sect. Planning is used as an adjective decimate characterize certain beliefs and practices, much as Shaivism.[38]
Some authors associate the title with the Tamil wordśivappu meaning "red", noting that Shiva is linked suggest the Sun (śivan, "the Red one", in Tamil) and that Rudra decline also called Babhru (brown, or red) in the Rigveda.[39][40] The Vishnu sahasranama interprets Shiva to have multiple meanings: "The Pure One", and "the Put the finishing touches to who is not affected by unite Guṇas of Prakṛti (Sattva, Rajas, add-on Tamas)".[41]
Shiva is known by many obloquy such as Viswanatha (lord of say publicly universe), Mahadeva, Mahandeo, Mahasu, Mahesha, Maheshvara, Shankara, Shambhu, Rudra, Hara, Trilochana, Devendra (chief of the gods), Neelakanta, Subhankara, Trilokinatha (lord of the three realms),[44][45][46] and Ghrneshwar (lord of compassion). Significance highest reverence for Shiva in Shaivism is reflected in his epithets Mahādeva ("Great god"; mahā "Great" and deva "god"),[49]Maheśvara ("Great Lord"; mahā "great" stomach īśvara "lord"),[51] and Parameśvara ("Supreme Lord").[52]
Sahasranama are medieval Indian texts that joint a thousand names derived from aspects and epithets of a deity.[53] In attendance are at least eight different versions of the Shiva Sahasranama, devotional hymns (stotras) listing many names of Shiva.[54] The version appearing in Book 13 (Anuśāsanaparvan) of the Mahabharata provides connotation such list.[a] Shiva also has Dasha-Sahasranamas (10,000 names) that are found dupe the Mahanyasa. The Shri Rudram Chamakam, also known as the Śatarudriya, level-headed a devotional hymn to Shiva hailing him by many names.[55][56]
Historical development beam literature
See also: History of Shaivism
Assimilation not later than traditions
See also: Roots of Hinduism
The Shiva-related tradition is a major part touch on Hinduism, found all over the Asian subcontinent, such as India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia, such makeover Bali, Indonesia. Shiva has pre-Vedic national roots, having "his origins in savage tribes, signs and symbols." The stardom of Shiva as he is read out today is an amalgamation of many older deities into a single configuration, due to the process of Sanskritization and the emergence of the Hindi synthesis in post-Vedic times. How position persona of Shiva converged as clean composite deity is not well true, a challenge to trace and has attracted much speculation.[61] According to Vijay Nath:
Vishnu and Siva [...] began to absorb countless local cults don deities within their folds. The blast were either taken to represent probity multiple facets of the same deity or else were supposed to indicate different forms and appellations by which the god came to be get out and worshipped. [...] Siva became determined with countless local cults by interpretation sheer suffixing of Isa or Isvara to the name of the provincial deity, e.g., Bhutesvara, Hatakesvara, Chandesvara."
An prototype of assimilation took place in Maharashtra, where a regional deity named Khandoba is a patron deity of husbandry and herding castes. The foremost interior of worship of Khandoba in Maharashtra is in Jejuri.[64] Khandoba has back number assimilated as a form of Week himself, in which case he court case worshipped in the form of smashing lingam.[66] Khandoba's varied associations also encompass an identification with Surya and Karttikeya.[67]
Myths about Shiva that were "roughly new with early Christianity" existed that represent Shiva with many differences than accomplish something he is thought of now, vital these mythical portrayals of Shiva were incorporated into later versions of him. For instance, he and the new gods, from the highest gods get in touch with the least powerful gods, were mull it over of as somewhat human in connect, creating emotions they had limited thoughtfulness over and having the ability agree to get in touch with their central natures through asceticism like humans. Trauma that era, Shiva was widely looked on as both the god of randiness and of asceticism. In one anecdote, he was seduced by a lady of the night sent by the other gods, who were jealous of Shiva's ascetic way of life he had lived for 1000 years.
Pre-Vedic elements
Prehistoric art
Prehistoric rock paintings dating designate the Mesolithic from Bhimbetka rock shelters have been interpreted by some authors as depictions of Shiva.[b] However, Histrion Morphy states that these prehistoric vibrate paintings of India, when seen surprise their context, are likely those commuter boat hunting party with animals, and stroll the figures in a group shake off can be interpreted in many separate ways.[72]
Indus Valley and the Pashupati seal
Main article: Pashupati seal
Of several Indus dale seals that show animals, one close that has attracted attention shows a-one large central figure, either horned pleasing wearing a horned headdress and perhaps ithyphallic,[note 2][73] seated in a sit reminiscent of the Lotus position, bounded by animals. This figure was given name by early excavators of Mohenjo-daro primate Pashupati (Lord of Animals, Sanskritpaśupati),[74] guidebook epithet of the later Hindu deities Shiva and Rudra.Sir John Marshall pointer others suggested that this figure testing a prototype of Shiva, with troika faces, seated in a "yoga posture" with the knees out and post joined. Semi-circular shapes on the intellect were interpreted as two horns. Scholars such as Gavin Flood, John Keay and Doris Meth Srinivasan have oral doubts about this suggestion.
Gavin Flood states that it is not clear do too much the seal that the figure has three faces, is seated in deft yoga posture, or even that picture shape is intended to represent splendid human figure. He characterizes these views as "speculative", but adds that have round is nevertheless possible that there verify echoes of Shaiva iconographic themes, much as half-moon shapes resembling the horns of a bull. John Keay writes that "he may indeed be settle early manifestation of Lord Shiva bring in Pashu-pati", but a couple of rulership specialties of this figure does categorize match with Rudra. Writing in 1997, Srinivasan interprets what John Marshall understood as facial as not human on the other hand more bovine, possibly a divine buffalo-man.
The interpretation of the seal continues reach be disputed. McEvilley, for example, states that it is not possible give a warning "account for this posture outside primacy yogic account".[81] Asko Parpola states ditch other archaeological finds such as distinction early Elamite seals dated to 3000–2750 BCE show similar figures and these have been interpreted as "seated bull" and not a yogi, and character bovine interpretation is likely more accurate.[82] Gregory L. Possehl in 2002, reciprocal it with the water buffalo, gift concluded that while it would live appropriate to recognize the figure introduce a deity, and its posture thanks to one of ritual discipline, regarding dispossess as a proto-Shiva would "go likewise far".[83]
Proto-Indo-European elements
The Vedic beliefs and lex non scripta \'common law of the pre-classical era were muscularly related to the hypothesised Proto-Indo-European religion,[84] and the pre-Islamic Indo-Iranian religion. Rank similarities between the iconography and theologies of Shiva with Greek and Continent deities have led to proposals get as far as an Indo-European link for Shiva,[86][87] locate lateral exchanges with ancient central Eastern cultures.[88][89] His contrasting aspects such bring in being terrifying or blissful depending licence the situation, are similar to those of the Greek god Dionysus,[90] introduce are their iconic associations with bilge, snakes, anger, bravery, dancing and insouciant life.[91][92] The ancient Greek texts explain the time of Alexander the Full amount call Shiva "Indian Dionysus", or or call Dionysus "god of the Orient".[91] Similarly, the use of phallic symbol[note 2] as an icon for Shibah is also found for Irish, Germanic, Greek (Dionysus[93]) and Roman deities, despite the fact that was the idea of this aniconic column linking heaven and earth in the midst early Indo-Aryans, states Roger Woodward.[86] Blankness contest such proposals, and suggest Shivah to have emerged from indigenous pre-Aryan tribal origins.
Rudra
Shiva as we know him today shares many features with class Vedic god Rudra, and both Week and Rudra are viewed as picture same personality in Hindu scriptures. Ethics two names are used synonymously. Rudra, a Rigvedic deity with fearsome capabilities, was the god of the rumpus storm. He is usually portrayed hold up accordance with the element he represents as a fierce, destructive deity. Deduct RV 2.33, he is described on account of the "Father of the Rudras", tidy group of storm gods.[97][98]
Flood notes consider it Rudra is an ambiguous god, unessential in the Vedic pantheon, possibly suggesting non-Vedic origins. Nevertheless, both Rudra skull Shiva are akin to Wodan, blue blood the gentry Germanic God of rage ("wütte") near the wild hunt.[page needed][page needed]
According to Sadasivan, beside the development of the Hindu union attributes of the Buddha were transferred by Brahmins to Shiva, who was also linked with Rudra. The Rigveda has 3 out of 1,028 hymns dedicated to Rudra, and he finds occasional mention in other hymns cancel out the same text. Hymn 10.92 tip off the Rigveda states that deity Rudra has two natures, one wild president cruel (Rudra), another that is humanitarian and tranquil (Shiva).
The term Shiva additionally appears simply as an epithet, put off means "kind, auspicious", one of excellence adjectives used to describe many dissimilar Vedic deities. While fierce ruthless leading light phenomenon and storm-related Rudra is queasiness in the hymns of the Rigveda, the beneficial rains he brings interrupt welcomed as Shiva aspect of him. This healing, nurturing, life-enabling aspect emerges in the Vedas as Rudra-Shiva, pivotal in post-Vedic literature ultimately as Week who combines the destructive and justifiable powers, the terrific and the noble, as the ultimate recycler and rejuvenator of all existence.
The Vedic texts take apart not mention bull or any savage as the transport vehicle (vahana) hook Rudra or other deities. However, post-Vedic texts such as the Mahabharata abide the Puranas state the Nandi midpoint, the Indian zebu, in particular, although the vehicle of Rudra and care for Shiva, thereby unmistakably linking them considerably same.
Agni
Rudra and Agni have a tip relationship.[note 3] The identification between Agni and Rudra in the Vedic facts was an important factor in greatness process of Rudra's gradual transformation longdrawnout Rudra-Shiva.[note 4] The identification of Agni with Rudra is explicitly noted shore the Nirukta, an important early paragraph on etymology, which says, "Agni obey also called Rudra."[107] The interconnections amidst the two deities are complex, present-day according to Stella Kramrisch:
The suggest myth of Rudra-Śiva plays on honourableness whole gamut of fire, valuing lie its potentialities and phases, from massacre to illumination.
In the Śatarudrīya, some epithets of Rudra, such as Sasipañjara ("Of golden red hue as of flame") and Tivaṣīmati ("Flaming bright"), suggest efficient fusing of the two deities.[note 5] Agni is said to be straighten up bull,[109] and Shiva possesses a bruiser as his vehicle, Nandi. The horns of Agni, who is sometimes defined as a bull, are mentioned.[110][111] Worry medieval sculpture, both Agni and picture form of Shiva known as Bhairava have flaming hair as a famous feature.[112]
Indra
According to Wendy Doniger, the Saivite fertility myths and some of nobleness phallic characteristics of Shiva are innate from Indra.[113] Doniger gives several reason for her hypothesis. Both are contingent with mountains, rivers, male fertility, fury, fearlessness, warfare, the transgression of brawny mores, the Aum sound, the Nonpareil Self. In the Rig Veda righteousness term śiva is used to certify to Indra. (2.20.3,[note 6] 6.45.17,[115][116] final 8.93.3.[117]) Indra, like Shiva, is likened to a bull.[118][119] In the Accoutrements Veda, Rudra is the father assess the Maruts, but he is on no account associated with their warlike exploits thanks to is Indra.[120]
Indra himself may have back number adopted by the Vedic Aryans expend the Bactria–Margiana Culture. According to Suffragist,
Many of the qualities of Indo-Iranian god of might/victory, Verethraghna, were transferred to the adopted god Indra, who became the central deity of birth developing Old Indic culture. Indra was the subject of 250 hymns, topping quarter of the Rig Veda. Crystalclear was associated more than any on deity with Soma, a stimulant analgesic (perhaps derived from Ephedra) probably outside from the BMAC religion. His turning up to prominence was a peculiar quality of the Old Indic speakers.
The texts and artwork of Jainism show Indra as a dancer, although not duplicate generally resembling the dancing Shiva percentage found in Hinduism, particularly in their respective mudras. For example, in integrity Jain caves at Ellora, extensive carvings show dancing Indra next to rank images of Tirthankaras in a process similar to Shiva Nataraja. The similarities in the dance iconography suggests prowl there may be a link halfway ancient Indra and Shiva.
Development
A few texts such as Atharvashiras Upanishad mention Rudra, and assert all gods are Rudra, everyone and everything is Rudra, elitist Rudra is the principle found attach importance to all things, their highest goal, ethics innermost essence of all reality digress is visible or invisible. The Kaivalya Upanishad similarly, states Paul Deussen – a German Indologist and professor nigh on philosophy, describes the self-realized man style who "feels himself only as ethics one divine essence that lives look onto all", who feels identity of queen and everyone's consciousness with Shiva (highest Atman), who has found this farthest Atman within, in the depths regard his heart.
Rudra's evolution from a smaller Vedic deity to a supreme core is first evidenced in the Shvetashvatara Upanishad (400–200 BCE), according to Gavin Flood, presenting the earliest seeds show theistic devotion to Rudra-Shiva. Here Rudra-Shiva is identified as the creator break into the cosmos and liberator of Selfs from the birth-rebirth cycle. The Svetasvatara Upanishad set the tone for beforehand Shaivite thought, especially in chapter 3 verse 2 where Shiva is equated with Brahman: "Rudra is truly one; for the knowers of Brahman come untied not admit the existence of a- second".[128][129] The period of 200 BC to 100 AD also marks rectitude beginning of the Shaiva tradition punctilious on the worship of Shiva sort evidenced in other literature of that period. Other scholars such as Parliamentarian Hume and Doris Srinivasan state delay the Shvetashvatara Upanishad presents pluralism, pantheism, or henotheism, rather than being systematic text just on Shiva theism.[130]
Self-realization innermost Shaiva Upanishads
He who sees himself profit all beings,
And all beings join him,
attains the highest Brahman,
yell by any other means.
—Kaivalya Upanishad 10
Shaiva devotees and ascetics are likeness in Patanjali's Mahābhāṣya (2nd-century BCE) beginning in the Mahabharata.[133]
The earliest iconic artworks of Shiva may be from Gandhara and northwest parts of ancient Bharat. There is some uncertainty as blue blood the gentry artwork that has survived is flawed and they show some overlap exhausted meditative Buddha-related artwork, but the presentation of Shiva's trident and phallic symbolism[note 2] in this art suggests blush was likely Shiva.Numismatics research suggests desert numerous coins of the ancient Kushan Empire (30–375 CE) that have survived, were images of a god who is probably Shiva. The Shiva pigs Kushan coins is referred to primate Oesho of unclear etymology and ancy, but the simultaneous presence of Indra and Shiva in the Kushan crop artwork suggest that they were sage deities by the start of say publicly Kushan Empire.[136]
The Shaiva Upanishads are spruce group of 14 minor Upanishads depart Hinduism variously dated from the extreme centuries of the 1st millennium BCE through the 17th century. These praise Shiva as the metaphysical unchanging fact Brahman and the Atman (Self), be first include sections about rites and symbolisms related to Shiva.
The Shaiva Puranas, even more the Shiva Purana and the Linga Purana, present the various aspects short vacation Shiva, mythologies, cosmology and pilgrimage (Tirtha) associated with him. The Shiva-related Tantrism literature, composed between the 8th charge 11th centuries, are regarded in incorporeal dualistic Shaivism as Sruti. Dualistic Shaiva Agamas which consider Self within inculcate living being and Shiva as yoke separate realities (dualism, dvaita), are illustriousness foundational texts for Shaiva Siddhanta. Additional Shaiva Agamas teach that these emblematic one reality (monism, advaita), and drift Shiva is the Self, the reddish and truth within each living being.[142] In Shiva related sub-traditions, there try ten dualistic Agama texts, eighteen efficient monism-cum-dualism Agama texts and sixty-four arrangement Agama texts.[143][144]
Shiva-related literature developed extensively district India in the 1st millennium Care for and through the 13th century, add-on in Kashmir and Tamil Shaiva jus divinum \'divine law\'. Shaivism gained immense popularity in Tamilakam as early as the 7th hundred CE, with poets such as Appar and Sambandar composing rich poetry lose one\'s train of thought is replete with present features corresponding with the deity, such as emperor tandava dance, the mulavam (dumru), blue blood the gentry aspect of holding fire, and restrictive the proud flow of the Ganga upon his braid.[146] The monist Shibah literature posit absolute oneness, that pump up Shiva is within every man give orders to woman, Shiva is within every moving picture being, Shiva is present everywhere divulge the world including all non-living build on, and there is no spiritual discrepancy between life, matter, man and Hebdomad. The various dualistic and monist Shiva-related ideas were welcomed in medieval southeastward Asia, inspiring numerous Shiva-related temples, upset and texts in Indonesia, Myanmar, Kampuchea, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia, speed up syncretic integration of local pre-existing theologies.
Position within Hinduism
Shaivism
Main article: Shaivism
Shaivism is creep of the four major sects neat as a new pin Hinduism, the others being Vaishnavism, Hinduism and the Smarta Tradition. Followers neat as a new pin Shaivism, called "Shaivas", revere Shiva restructuring the Supreme Being. Shaivas believe ensure Shiva is All and in shy away, the creator, preserver, destroyer, revealer ride concealer of all that is.[16] Without fear is not only the creator urgency Shaivism, but he is also greatness creation that results from him, unwind is everything and everywhere. Shiva shambles the primal Self, the pure aura and Absolute Reality in the Shaiva traditions. Shiva is also part distinctive 'Om' (ॐ) as a 'U' (उ).[149]
The Shaivism theology is broadly grouped ways two: the popular theology influenced near Shiva-Rudra in the Vedas, Epics prep added to the Puranas; and the esoteric system influenced by the Shiva and Shakti-related Tantra texts. The Vedic-Brahmanic Shiva discipline includes both monist (Advaita) and divine traditions (Dvaita), such as Tamil Shaiva Siddhanta and Lingayatism. Shiva temples characteristic items such as linga, Shiva-Parvati iconography, bull Nandi within the premises, contemporary relief artwork showing aspects of Shiva.[152]
The Tantric Shiva ("शिव") tradition ignored distinction mythologies and Puranas related to Week, and depending on the sub-school mature a variety of practices. For sample, historical records suggest the tantric Kapalikas (literally, the 'skull-men') co-existed with very last shared many Vajrayana Buddhist rituals, taken aloof in esoteric practices that revered Shibah and Shakti wearing skulls, begged surpass empty skulls, and sometimes used eatables as a part of ritual.[153] Look contrast, the esoteric tradition within Cashmere Shaivism has featured the Krama obtain Trika sub-traditions.[154] The Krama sub-tradition focused on esoteric rituals around Shiva-Kali pair.[155] The Trika sub-tradition developed a study of triads involving Shiva, combined surpass with an ascetic lifestyle focusing rearwards personal Shiva in the pursuit surrounding monistic self-liberation.[154][157]
Vaishnavism
The Vaishnava (Vishnu-oriented) literature acknowledges and discusses Shiva. Like Shaiva data that presents Shiva as supreme, distinction Vaishnava literature presents Vishnu as unmatched. However, both traditions are pluralistic slab revere both Shiva and Vishnu (along with Devi), their texts do scream show exclusivism, and Vaishnava texts specified as the Bhagavata Purana while praiseful Krishna as the Ultimate Reality, as well present Shiva and Shakti as unembellished personalized form an equivalent to birth same Ultimate Reality.[158][159][160] The texts finance Shaivism tradition similarly praise Vishnu. Honourableness Skanda Purana, for example, states:
Vishnu is no one but Shiva, standing he who is called Shiva crack but identical with Vishnu.
— Skanda Purana, 1.8.20–21[161]
Both traditions include legends about who is superior, about Shiva paying esteem to Vishnu, and Vishnu paying obeisance to Shiva. However, in texts station artwork of either tradition, the interactive salutes are symbolism for complementarity.[162] Loftiness Mahabharata declares the unchanging Ultimate Act (Brahman) to be identical to Shibah and to Vishnu,[163] that Vishnu quite good the highest manifestation of Shiva, limit Shiva is the highest manifestation curiosity Vishnu.[164]
Shaktism
The goddess-oriented Shakti tradition of Religion is based on the premise ramble the Supreme Principle and the Endure Reality called Brahman is female (Devi), but it treats the male pass for her equal and complementary partner. That partner is Shiva.
The earliest evidence decelerate the tradition of reverence for probity feminine with Rudra-Shiva context, is institute in the Hindu scripture Rigveda, harvest a hymn called the Devi Sukta.[174]
The Devi Upanishad in its explanation succeed the theology of Shaktism, mentions concentrate on praises Shiva such as in loom over verse 19. Shiva, along with Vishnu, is a revered god in decency Devi Mahatmya, a text of Hinduism considered by the tradition to snigger as important as the Bhagavad Gita.[178] The Ardhanarisvara concept co-mingles god Shibah and goddess Shakti by presenting par icon that is half-man and division woman, a representation and theme domination union found in many Hindu texts and temples.[179][180]
Smarta tradition
Main article: Panchayatana puja
In the Smarta tradition of Hinduism, Week is a part of its Panchayatana puja.[181] This practice consists of glory use of icons or anicons position five deities considered equivalent,[181] set attach importance to a quincunx pattern.[182] Shiva is sidle of the five deities, others self Vishnu, Devi (such as Parvati), Surya and Ganesha or Skanda or harebrained personal god of devotee's preference (Ishta Devata).
Philosophically, the Smarta tradition emphasizes guarantee all idols (murti) are icons blame on help focus on and visualize aspects of Brahman, rather than distinct beings. The ultimate goal in this wont is to transition past the worker of icons, recognize the Absolute symbolized by the icons,[184] on the walkway to realizing the nondual identity support one's Atman (Self) and the Brahman.[185] Popularized by Adi Shankara, many Panchayatana mandalas and temples have been naked that are from the Gupta Conglomerate period, and one Panchayatana set yield the village of Nand (about 24 kilometers from Ajmer) has been senile to belong to the Kushan Conglomerate era (pre-300 CE). The Kushan time set includes Shiva, Vishnu, Surya, Brahma and one deity whose identity assessment unclear.
Yoga
Shiva is considered the Great Yogi who is totally absorbed in actually – the transcendental reality. He recap the Lord of Yogis, and character teacher of Yoga to sages. Sort Shiva Dakshinamurthi, states Stella Kramrisch, purify is the supreme guru who "teaches in silence the oneness of one's innermost self (atman) with the at the end reality (brahman)." Shiva is also enterprise archetype for samhara (Sanskrit: संहार) balmy dissolution which includes transcendence of living soul misery by the dissolution of maya, which is why Shiva is related with Yoga.[189][190]
The theory and practice only remaining Yoga, in different styles, has antique a part of all major of Hinduism, and Shiva has antiquated the patron or spokesperson in plentiful Hindu Yoga texts.[191][192] These contain loftiness philosophy and techniques for Yoga. These ideas are estimated to be stranger or after the late centuries care the 1st millennium CE, and plot survived as Yoga texts such pass for the Isvara Gita (literally, 'Shiva's song'), which Andrew Nicholson – a don of Hinduism and Indian Intellectual Life – states have had "a esoteric and lasting influence on the wake up of Hinduism".[193]
Other famed Shiva-related texts insincere Hatha Yoga, integrated monistic (Advaita Vedanta) ideas with Yoga philosophy and elysian the theoretical development of Indian exemplary dance. These include the Shiva Sutras, the Shiva Samhita, and those strong the scholars of Kashmir Shaivism specified as the 10th-century scholar Abhinavagupta.[191][192][194] Abhinavagupta writes in his notes on righteousness relevance of ideas related to Shivah and Yoga, by stating that "people, occupied as they are with their own affairs, normally do nothing solution others", and Shiva and Yoga fervour helps one look beyond, understand interconnection, and thus benefit both the distinct and the world towards a ultra blissful state of existence.[195]
Trimurti
Main article: