23" Nataraja statue

“SHIVA” means the auspicious one. It is humanly impossible to explain Shiva. Just as it is impossible to explain universe. From simple human intellect, Shiva is the one from whom the Brahman emerges, in whom it stays and within whom it goes back. Lord Mahadev is the ultimate reality. He is the supreme God given a form to be adored by the devotees. Shiva is a yogi, a cosmic dancer, a family man, an ascetic. He cannot be symbolized in one form. For this reason the images of Shiva vary significantly in their symbolism. But most of the times you’ll see Shivji with these attributes around him, matted locks which represents him as a yogi, River Ganga flowing from his head in the form of purity and knowledge, a crescent moon which represents Shiva as eternal- the beginning and the ends, snake around his neck depicts yogic power as a snack venom too in his neck, he also wears rudraksha mala- which has 108 beads symbolizes the elements used in the creation of world, him with the trishul defines shakti, ichha, kriya and jnana. The damru makes a sound known as Nada- cosmic sound of Aum. Tiger skin defines the victory of divine force. So many more elements are related with Shiva with deep meanings to it. All glories to Lord Shiva is easily pleased and is known to grant boons. He is also called Bholenath the innocent one, because he is pure in heart and easy to please and you can be sure of his love upon you.

INTRESTING FABLE-

Surabhi the original mother of all cows began to give birth to a lot of cows and the milk of these cows flooded Shiva’s meditation area. Angry at this disturbance, he struck the cows with fire from his third eye. Seeing this disaster, the Gods tried to calm Mahadev by offering him a magnificent bull- Nandi, son of Surabhi and Kasyapa which he made his ride.