HINDUISM_BELIEF IN OUR GOD's: DIFFERENT FORMS OF LORD SHIVA

NATARAJA (LORD OF DANCE)

1. The two most common forms of dance are:-

(a) Tandava (Powerful and masculine dance associated with the destruction

of the world)

(b) Lasya ( graceful and delicate and express emotions on a gentle level and

is considered the feminine dance attributed to goddess Parvati).

2. These dances are associated with the destruction- creation of the world.

DAKSHINAMURTHY

1. It is the form of Shiva facing south.

2. This form represents shiva in his apsect as a teacher of yoga, music and wisdom and giving exposition on the shastras.

3. Elements of this motif can include shiva seated upon a deer throne and surrounded by sages who are receiving his instruction.

ARDHANARISHVARA

1. Representation of shiva shown in one half of the body as male and the other half as female.

2. It is used to visualize the belief that the lord had sacrificed half of his body to his shakti, the sagun swaroop of Goddess adi shakti, as a sign of this love for her.

TRIPURANTAKA

1. Shiva is depicted as an archer in the act of destroying the triple fortresses, Tripura of the Asuras.

2. After destroying Tripura, Tripurantaka Shiva smeared his forehead with three strokes of ashes.

AVATARS OF SHIVA

VIRABHADRA

Born when shiva grabbed a lock of his matted hair and dashed it to the ground. Virabhadra then destroyed Daksha's yajna (fire sacrifice) and severed his head as per Shiva's instructions.

BHAIRAVA

Fierce manifestation of Shiva associated with annihilation Bhairava is shown carrying head of Brahma.

SHARABHA

To tame Narasimha the fierce man-lion avatar of Vishnu worshipped by Vaishnava sect- into a normal pleasant form representing harmony.

NATARAJA

Lord of dance is a depiction of god shiva as the cosmic dancer who performs his divine dance who performs his divine dance to destroy a weary universe and make preparations for god Brahma to start the process of creation.