Shiva
The Shiva-Shakti Pattern:
an unfinished manuscript
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Shiva
Lord Shiva is the Destroyer God of the Trimurti. He destroies the world at the
end of each Kalpa. Shiva is the great ascetic whose meditation keeps
the world in existence, is also the protector of animals. Lord Shiva
appears in a meditating posture, ashes all over his body. He has matted
hair which holds the flowing Ganga and a crescent Moon, on the front
are the Third Eye and the symbols of Shivaism. A serpent coiled is
around his neck, in one hand he carries a trishula (trident), in his
other hand he plays damaru (a two sided finger drum). His body is
adorned with garlands of naga (snake). He is the Lord of Procreation,
and the Shiva-Lingam, the phallus of the Lord, is adored instead of
him. Shiva represents the supreme consiusness as well the male principle,
which acquire the power to create and destroy the elements only in
conjuntion with Shakti, the female principle. Shiva's consort is kown
as Parvati, Shakti, or Kali, and personified
the divine power of feminility. His Vahana (vehicle) is Nandi, a bull.
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