The Shiva tattva शिव तत्व
could be succinctly summarized as षड्
विकार रहित meaning beyond six
modifications. The six modifications:
at the level of body it is fear of disease, old age and death जरा मरणम् At level of prana, it is fear of being
hungry, thirsty क्षुत पिपास At level of mind,
intellect it is fear of sorrow and delusion शोक
मोह. Sage Duurvasa is a prime example of this. Even though Sage
Duurvasa is sometimes depicted as angry sage, it is said that his conduct is
beyond the six changes. All his interactions are ultimately to uphold dharma.
In Ramayana, he is depicted as a sage that is responsible for Lakshmana's
departure since the time has come Lord Rama's ascent. In Mahabharatha he is
depicted as a sage who gets angry quickly, his purpose being to show victory of
Dharma. It is said that one who is above the six changes is one with Lord Shiva.
षड् विकार रहिताय नमः
षड् विकार रहिताय नमः
Story of Pippalada
Etymolgically speaking, शिव comes from root word शं meaning bliss. Siva meaning one who bestwos auspicious ness. शनि Saturn takes away शं when gods lose their Guru Brihaspati, they appoint Viswarupa who cheats them. Vritasura is his brother and fight ensues between Vrita and Indra.
To kill Vrita Gods need a weapon that Dadhichi provides. Pippalada is fruit of this worship. Siva purana says cultivating detachment helps deal with effects of Saturn.
षोडशाब्दावधि नृणां न भवेत्
तथा च शिव भक्तानं
Pippalada says first 16 years Sani has no effect and Siva devotee that is a person who develops शम faces no effect either.
ॐ नमः शिवाय ॥
In शिव
अष्टोत्तर शतनामावलि, Lord Siva is called शितिकण्ठ
one with black neck. Devas and Danavas collaborate to extract nectar from holy
waters using Vasuki and the mountain Manthara. मन्दगामि तु मन्थरः the mountains moves very
slowly and does not create enough force to extract nectar. Vasuki is used as a
rope and to keep the mountain afloat Lord Vishnu takes form of a Tortoise कूर्म.
The mountain starts growing; the Lord then presses it down. Now the mountain is
firmly in place but devas and danavas
get tired. Lord provides a small part of his energy for work to be done. King
Bali takes horse and Indra takes Elephants that come out of churning. When
poison comes out, no one wants it. Lord takes the poison and holds it in his
neck. Mother Lakshmi goes with Lord Vishnu as wealth is needed to maintain the
world. Lord provides energy for churning and holds mountain is in place. Nectar is for
everyone’s consumption but Lord tests as Mohini to see if one is ready.
Physicists
say that universe is interplay between visible matter and dark matter. If matter and antimatter are equal the world is no more. In
Purusha Suuktam, the Lord says one part
of Him is visible and world is created out of it. 3 parts are not visible. The
twelve Aadityas and the eleven Rudras dance and the world appears. When number
of Rudras increases the world disappears.. Nectar is knowledge for one’s
evolution and is available if one is inclined. Hard work is needed but there are many tests. Mohinis test you.
ॐ शितिकण्ठाय नमः
त्रिपुरान्तक
:
He slays three cities or citizens thereof. One meaning is He slays the ego
present in sheaths of body, mind,
intellect. Another meaning is ego driven thoughts or samskara are present while
one is awake प्रज्ञ
when in dream sleep स्वप्न
and while in deep sleep सुप्त. Those are extinguished. Shiva purana talks about the three demons तारकाक्ष, कमलाक्ष
, विद्युन्मालि heavily
fortified in three worlds heaven, sky, earth. Three demons need to be killed at
the same time. As long as they follow Dharma, they are invincible. Because the
demons become powerful they also become arrogant. they were noble, due to
getting bad advice they change their ways and
lose nobility. Intellect needs to be aware, lest one may lose the way.
Shiva kills the ego even in the most powerful.
ॐ त्रिपुरान्तकाय नमः सोम (soma) One meaning is सः उम meaning उमा सहित. Three syllables of u m a constitute form letters of Vedic aum ॐ. Uma is prakriti or pradhana, this is but a rearrangement of ॐ aum. Therefore soma means His manifestation. In Vishnu Sahasranama this is communicated through mantra प्रधान पुरुषेश्वर same as soma. Another way to look at is: soma as son of Atri and Anasuya. Atri rishi is a symbolism of an ideal that is beyond three त्रि gunas when this ideal comes in contact with lack of jealousy अनसूयः soma is born. Here soma indicates lord dattatreya. Also indicates universal mind.
In Siva Namavali शिव अष्टोत्तर शतनामावलि, Lord Siva is eulogized as svaramaya स्वरमय. The first of five primitive elements (पञ्च तन्मात्रा : ) is space and the second created primitive element is air. For the sound to travel, we need space and a medium. In the Vedic Nasadeeya Sukta नासदीय सुक्त, the one (एकः) wanted a second. The Rigveda sukta says that nothing existed or nothing did not exist ; there is no day or night nor light nor darkness. Only sound is heard. So sound is first element according to Veda.
In Siva Purana this is indicated by appearance of
Sabda Brahma शब्दब्रह्म. The face of the being consisted of vowels (स्वर) for
example letter अ is head and letter आ is
forehead. Letters इ ई are eyes. Letters उ
ऊ are ears. Nostrils are represented by ऌ ॡ. Lips are ए ऐ. All vowels describe
face and consonants व्यञ्जन starting from letter k (क) are various body parts
with semi vowels (य र ल व श ष स) representing seven dhatus (blood, bones, marrow,
flesh etc.) In other words all letters describe the alphabet which are expressions of
sound and it follows that sound is substratum of creation. All consonants refer to Lord Brahma. Our body kayam कायम् meaning "kasya Idam कस्य इदम्" (whose body it is): all bodies belong to Lord Brahma.
We bow to Sabda Brahma who manifested first and who is creator of creators.
ॐ स्वरमयाय नमः
अहये बुध्नाय नमः The word अहि means a snake or an obstacle. अहयः सविषय निर्विषा डुंडुमा Both snakes of poisonous nonpoisonous nature are included. Sometimes when one looks at an obstacle one does not know if really it is obstacle. In this one's own samskara comes into play. Lord Hanuman on travelling to Lanka sees Mainaka and proceeds without stopping. He does not fight with Surasa even though she stops him. Lord does engage Simhika because she tries to devour him. So we need constant discrimination. बुध means wise or discrimination. बुध्न means dull witted. Here forgetfulness is being talked about. In Sri Rudram lord is compared to an obstacle that robs one's intellect. He is called तस्कराणां पति. Further it says नमो वञ्चते परिवञ्चते स्तायूनां पतये नमः The mind is like a thief that makes you forget. Here devotee is asking Lord to remove forgetfulness of who you are as it is the true obstacle.
ॐ अहये बुध्नाय नमः
शिवाप्रिय
. शिवा here indicates
of feminine form of शिव.
Shiva purana talks about manifestation व्यक्तम्
at five levels . The word प्रपंच
means projection of five. The five levels are
सृष्टि
स्तिति लय तिरोधान अनुग्रह
. Any manifestation of parabrahma is in
one of the levels. It is only through शिवा
that शिव is expressed.
Mother is called तिरोधान
करीस्वरी in Lalita
Sahasranama. Here concealement is pointed out that comes after laya लय. At this fourth stage
time is transcended. She is lord of कालचक्र.
सदाशिव and शिवा reign this stage. The
subtlest level is अनुग्रह
where deity is शिव and
महत् Here the deity is
beyond space and time. The grossest level is सृष्टि
where all five elements are needed and this is presided by lord ब्रह्म and mother सरस्वति . A body is called कायम् meaning कस्य इदम् . क
is first consonant of samskritam and also means Brahmaji. A consonant only is
inert without vowel similarly body is inert without शिव being present. Now meditate on
ॐ शिवाप्रियाय नमः
ॐ कालकालाय नमः
सात्विक
the one who has preponderance of sattva quality सत्व
गुण. Each being
including human being has a mixture of सत्व
रजस् तमस् qualities. A tree has
low rajas but it wants to survive and fights through its roots. A tiger has
high rajas रजस् and
low sattva. A human being with high तमस्
is one who sleeps when he has other important work like कुम्भकर्ण in Ramayana. Gandhi is an example of
high Rajas and high Sattva which is rare. Lord Shiva is high Sattva and He
needs a little rajas else there is no creation. That is why he is depicted as
in meditative pose with eyes very slightly open. Complete closure implies
dissolution. Lord takes various avatars to teach to rescue to show His लील According to Vedanta a
purpose of human life is to lessen रजसिक
तमसिक qualities and
operate from सत्व
quality . How does this look like? The
3rd chapter of भगवद्गीता
has a lot to say. We take one example 3:30
मयि
सर्वाणि कर्माणि संन्यस्य आध्यात्मचेतसा ।
निराशिः
निर्ममो भूत्वा युध्यस्य विगतज्वरः ॥
Renounce all actions in me, with thoughts resting on Lord,
free from hope and attachment fight without fever.
Next time you need to do something difficult you may very well
practise this teaching.
ॐ सात्विकाय नमः
शिपिविष्ट
the one without hair as opposed to कपर्दिन्
the one with braided hair. It is said that each strand of hair represents a
universe or a manifestation. There would be as many manifestations as that of
Shiva's hair. He is also without hair indicating He is beyond duality. Time will march on creating and destroying.
Shiva incarnates as Mahesha who is lord of time who is beyond सृष्टि स्तिति लय and manifests with help
of the consort Maya.
May He give us grace so that we can make best use of our
time. Eschew blaming others and act.
ॐ शिपिविष्टाय नमः
गिरिधन्वने
meaning गिरि धनु अन. Sri Sankaracharya says गिरिजा मतिः meaning a purified mind
is indicated by a mountain गिरि.
In Kenopanishad, victorious devas are instructed on nature of Brahman by Uma
who comes from mountains.
धन्वने to
these two bows meaning a purified mind can see beyond the two द्वयं Hence गिरिधन्वन means an evolved
mind. In Ramayana, this is indicated by Lord Ram breaking Shiva धनुस् indicating he purified
his mind and ready to face his battles with this mind. Faces Ravana that is a
proxy for highly Rajasic and Tamasic characteristics inherent in me and you.
Shiva indicates this purified mind.
ॐ गिरिधन्वने नमः
In शिव
अष्टोत्तर शत नामावळि, Lord Shiva is called कृत्तिवास. कृत्ति means house or
covering or skin. It also indicates a lunar mansion कृत्तिक . In Sri Rudram, He is called सभापति here सभ indicating assembly of
insentient organs. In a house there is a study room, kitchen, bed room all to
serve owner and dependents. Conciousness makes the organs of body shine and
they appear live. If conciousness is not expressed through a defect in organ,
assembly of organs is no more. In Vaishnva saampradaya, He is called वासुदेव the ONE who resides
(वसति) in each house
or a body.
In नारायण
सूक्तम्, this is
clearly articulated: पद्मकोश
प्रतीकाशं हृदयं चाप्यथोमुखम् ...
ज्वालमालाकुलं
भाती विश्वस्यातनं
महत्
The One lotus that stands upside down is in center of body
and The One pervades, shines within and without. Meditate on The One
ॐ कृत्तिवाससे नमः
In शिव
अष्टोत्तर शत नामावळि we see भग
नेत्र भिद् as a description of शिव
During the यज्ञ
of दक्ष Lord Shiva is
insulted and the mother Sati dies. Lord भग
is one of 12 aadityas and he loses eyes and has to see through eyes of Mitra - another of 12 aadityas.
Any creation involves elements of Rajas and Tamas रजः तमस् Therefore creation can not be 100% sattva.
Hence there would be friction between creator's मोह
and the lord. Lord Daksha and Bhaga are masters of creation and are proud of
creation and hence may be temporarily deluded.
No matter what my station is i am not immune from pride and
arrogance. The prajapati दक्ष
is not. Bhaga as an aaditya thinks he knows and pays a price of not able to see
or becomes deluded. Lord Shiva is easy to please. Rescues from delusion
ॐ भग नेत्र भिदे
नमः
In शिव अष्टोत्तर शत नामावलि, Lord Siva is eulogised as vamadeva वामदेव. This is a upasana mantra. Linga Mahapurana says that Lord Brahma meditates on शिव , a boy with reddish color appears before him and he is called वामदेव and instructs Brahmaji that he is born in every kalpa and could be meditated as ब्राह्मणा वामदेवाय. Reddish color indicates activity to start creation
वाम means left side and therefore अर्थनारीश्वर form is being talked about. Lord Siva feminine form of Shivaa. He gets four sons all indicating activity. वीराजस् विबाहु , विशोक, विश्वभावन all names indicate activity. They have red costumes and red paste. The Markandya purana states that शिव and विष्णु are two forms in the अर्थनारीश्वर manifestation. विष्णु being the feminine form. Meditate on the names of four sons as उपासन
ॐ वामदेवाय नमः
In शिव अष्टोत्तर शतनामावळि, Lord Shiva is called भव
ॐ भवाय नमः
Here भव means existence or manifestation. भाव feeling comes from भव . Sri Kalidasa the poet, uses analogy of sound and meaning वागर्थ to indicate that existence and conciousness are one and the same as the latter is substratum on which existence rests. Sri Tyagaraja in his song "Raamaa, Nannu brovara" says that Lord Raam is present in all beings from an ant to Lord Brahma. Here he clearly means consciousness when he speaks of Lord Raam. It follows that each being exists due to same principle. Therefore Lord Krishna says in Geeta to treat a dog, dog eater, a Brahmana who is a scholar same. समत्वम् is emphasized for शान्ति
Please meditate with this understanding
ॐ भवाय नमः
In शिव अष्टोत्तर शत नामावलि, Lord Shiva is called दिगम्बर the who has directions and space as His clothes. In Dharmic cosmology, He creates space first. This is first primive that is created. The four additional तन्मात्र are subsequently created. Air, fire, water, earth. We are but an intermixture of the five elements. The तैत्तिरीय upanishad says He enters this five folded universe. तत् एव अनुप्राविशत् 2:6
Therefore some recommend space as upasana since it is first created.
ॐ दिगम्बराय नमः
ॐ तत् सत्
In शिव अष्टोत्तर शत नामावलि, Lord Shiva is called अनीश्वर. Meaning opposite of ईश्वर who is material cause of Universe. Vedanta says that this world is a projection of conciousness ब्रह्मन् and is real in transactional level but fleeting at higher level. If i get a tooth ache and needs a dentist, the pain is real as far as i am concerned transactional or not. Vedanta does say this is true, but you a manifest of ब्रह्मन् are limited by time. From that perspective it is fleeting.
Indian tradition says that the body of gunas त्रिगुणितः operates with other bodies of gunas. Geeta says that guna plays with guna. गुणाः गुणेषु वर्तन्त this is done by senses through sense objects.
The teaching here is that too much attachment to your current station is harmful as it is subject to change
ॐ अनीश्वराय नमः
ॐ अपवर्गप्रदाय नमःIn शिव अष्टोत्तर शत नामावळि Lord Shiva is called अपवर्गद. Meaning one gives knowledge for knowing ब्रह्मन्
The preparatory steps are explained by Sruthi. The Upanishads talk about purifying जीव through unattached exercise of duty, charity, transforming mind through right action and japam. Sri Krishna says differentiating from action कर्म no action अकर्म and forbidden action विकर्म are difficult. But Sruthi is a guide He says. The pa class five letters are
pa, pha, ba, bha, ma (पवर्ग पञ्चाक्षर: प फ ब भ म) He is beyond pa varga. Siva Purana says
पकार उदरं तस्य फकार पार्श्व उच्यते
बकारो वाम पार्श्वस्तु भकार स्कन्ध उच्यते
मकारो हृदयं शम्भोः महादेवस्य योगिनः
Letter pa stands for his belly, pha stands for right side, letter ba stands for leftside and letter bha stands for shoulders.
Letter ma stands for His heart. He is beyond heat and more broadly all consonants beginning with letter ka क
Universe originating from space is possible by combination of vowels (starting from a A अ आ ) and consonants (letters from ka क)
ॐ अपवर्गप्रदाय नमः
ॐ पूषदन्तभिदे नमः
King Chitraratha is a devotee and he had a garden full of flowers. Pusadanta who is invisible gandharva used to pluck interrupting king's puja. King uses bilva leaves and when the invisible gandharva walks on them, Pusadanta gets caught.
Both Chitraratha and Pusadanta are facets of self. Chitraratha means wonderous body. Invisible Gandharva is mind. Mind is difficult to comprehend.
Fallen bilva leaves represent cut three gunas. Cutting is only possible due to His grace.
ॐ पूषदन्तभिदे नमः
In Siva Astottara शिव अष्टोत्तर शत नामावलि Lord Siva is called पुराराति. puram पुरम् means city. another meaning is human body. In Geeta Sri Krishna calls the body a city of nine gates. नव द्वार पुरे देहि gates need to be under control of mind or intellect . if i watch too much TV neglecting others then sight is in control not intellect. Krishna says proper regulation of gates (senses) is needed. This idea also appears in कथोपनिषद् where boy Nachiketa is told about nature of Self.
राति meaning joy. राम or रम have similar meanings.
पुराराति then means one who gives bliss to embodied.
ॐ पुरारातये नम़ः
Lord Siva is called तारक. The Sanskrita root word is तॄ meaning to carry over or to save, that is, तरति tarati. The causative verb is taarayati तारयति one who helps in crossing over. Crossing a water body is often a proxy to cross this phenomenal world (सम्सार). Lord helps those who sincerely try. Sri Rudram 8th anuvaka says:
नमः तीर्थ्याय च कूल्याय च
Rudras are said to be present at holy pilgrimages are being saluted. Rudras at river banks are being saluted.
नमः पार्याय च अवर्याय च
In our scriptures, spiritual evolution is compared to crossing of a river from one bank of the river to the other bank/side. पार्य and अवर्य refer to these banks. Rudras are present on either bank and they are being saluted.
नमः प्रतरणाय च उत्तरणाय च
प्रतरण wanting to cross a water/ocean; उत्तरण crossing a river/ocean
ॐ तारकाय नमः
ॐ तत् सत्
ॐ तत् सत्
In शिव अष्टोत्तर शत नामावलि, Lord Siva is eulogised as vamadeva वामदेव. This is a upasana mantra. Linga Mahapurana says that Lord Brahma meditates on शिव , a boy with reddish color appears before him and he is called वामदेव and instructs Brahmaji that he is born in every kalpa and could be meditated as ब्राह्मणा वामदेवाय. Reddish color indicates activity to start creation
वाम means left side and therefore अर्थनारीश्वर form is being talked about. Lord Siva feminine form of Shivaa. He gets four sons all indicating activity. वीराजस् विबाहु , विशोक, विश्वभावन all names indicate activity. They have red costumes and red paste. The Markandya purana states that शिव and विष्णु are two forms in the अर्थनारीश्वर manifestation. विष्णु being the feminine form. Meditate on the names of four sons as उपासन
ॐ वामदेवाय नमः
In शिव अष्टोत्तर शतनामावळि, Lord Shiva is called भव
ॐ भवाय नमः
Here भव means existence or manifestation. भाव feeling comes from भव . Sri Kalidasa the poet, uses analogy of sound and meaning वागर्थ to indicate that existence and conciousness are one and the same as the latter is substratum on which existence rests. Sri Tyagaraja in his song "Raamaa, Nannu brovara" says that Lord Raam is present in all beings from an ant to Lord Brahma. Here he clearly means consciousness when he speaks of Lord Raam. It follows that each being exists due to same principle. Therefore Lord Krishna says in Geeta to treat a dog, dog eater, a Brahmana who is a scholar same. समत्वम् is emphasized for शान्ति
Please meditate with this understanding
ॐ भवाय नमः
In शिव अष्टोत्तर शत नामावलि, Lord Shiva is called दिगम्बर the who has directions and space as His clothes. In Dharmic cosmology, He creates space first. This is first primive that is created. The four additional तन्मात्र are subsequently created. Air, fire, water, earth. We are but an intermixture of the five elements. The तैत्तिरीय upanishad says He enters this five folded universe. तत् एव अनुप्राविशत् 2:6
Therefore some recommend space as upasana since it is first created.
ॐ दिगम्बराय नमः
ॐ तत् सत्
In शिव अष्टोत्तर शत नामावलि, Lord Shiva is called अनीश्वर. Meaning opposite of ईश्वर who is material cause of Universe. Vedanta says that this world is a projection of conciousness ब्रह्मन् and is real in transactional level but fleeting at higher level. If i get a tooth ache and needs a dentist, the pain is real as far as i am concerned transactional or not. Vedanta does say this is true, but you a manifest of ब्रह्मन् are limited by time. From that perspective it is fleeting.
Indian tradition says that the body of gunas त्रिगुणितः operates with other bodies of gunas. Geeta says that guna plays with guna. गुणाः गुणेषु वर्तन्त this is done by senses through sense objects.
The teaching here is that too much attachment to your current station is harmful as it is subject to change
ॐ अनीश्वराय नमः
ॐ अपवर्गप्रदाय नमःIn शिव अष्टोत्तर शत नामावळि Lord Shiva is called अपवर्गद. Meaning one gives knowledge for knowing ब्रह्मन्
The preparatory steps are explained by Sruthi. The Upanishads talk about purifying जीव through unattached exercise of duty, charity, transforming mind through right action and japam. Sri Krishna says differentiating from action कर्म no action अकर्म and forbidden action विकर्म are difficult. But Sruthi is a guide He says. The pa class five letters are
pa, pha, ba, bha, ma (पवर्ग पञ्चाक्षर: प फ ब भ म) He is beyond pa varga. Siva Purana says
पकार उदरं तस्य फकार पार्श्व उच्यते
बकारो वाम पार्श्वस्तु भकार स्कन्ध उच्यते
मकारो हृदयं शम्भोः महादेवस्य योगिनः
Letter pa stands for his belly, pha stands for right side, letter ba stands for leftside and letter bha stands for shoulders.
Letter ma stands for His heart. He is beyond heat and more broadly all consonants beginning with letter ka क
Universe originating from space is possible by combination of vowels (starting from a A अ आ ) and consonants (letters from ka क)
ॐ अपवर्गप्रदाय नमः
ॐ पूषदन्तभिदे नमः
King Chitraratha is a devotee and he had a garden full of flowers. Pusadanta who is invisible gandharva used to pluck interrupting king's puja. King uses bilva leaves and when the invisible gandharva walks on them, Pusadanta gets caught.
Both Chitraratha and Pusadanta are facets of self. Chitraratha means wonderous body. Invisible Gandharva is mind. Mind is difficult to comprehend.
Fallen bilva leaves represent cut three gunas. Cutting is only possible due to His grace.
ॐ पूषदन्तभिदे नमः
In Siva Astottara शिव अष्टोत्तर शत नामावलि Lord Siva is called पुराराति. puram पुरम् means city. another meaning is human body. In Geeta Sri Krishna calls the body a city of nine gates. नव द्वार पुरे देहि gates need to be under control of mind or intellect . if i watch too much TV neglecting others then sight is in control not intellect. Krishna says proper regulation of gates (senses) is needed. This idea also appears in कथोपनिषद् where boy Nachiketa is told about nature of Self.
राति meaning joy. राम or रम have similar meanings.
पुराराति then means one who gives bliss to embodied.
ॐ पुरारातये नम़ः
Lord Siva is called तारक. The Sanskrita root word is तॄ meaning to carry over or to save, that is, तरति tarati. The causative verb is taarayati तारयति one who helps in crossing over. Crossing a water body is often a proxy to cross this phenomenal world (सम्सार). Lord helps those who sincerely try. Sri Rudram 8th anuvaka says:
नमः तीर्थ्याय च कूल्याय च
Rudras are said to be present at holy pilgrimages are being saluted. Rudras at river banks are being saluted.
नमः पार्याय च अवर्याय च
In our scriptures, spiritual evolution is compared to crossing of a river from one bank of the river to the other bank/side. पार्य and अवर्य refer to these banks. Rudras are present on either bank and they are being saluted.
नमः प्रतरणाय च उत्तरणाय च
प्रतरण wanting to cross a water/ocean; उत्तरण crossing a river/ocean
ॐ तत् सत्
ॐ तत् सत्
