Decoding Shiva!

Shiva, Rudra, Pashupati, Mahadev and Mahesh, he is known by all these names. All the religions, sects and races have worshipped him by some of these names or some other name through all the ages. He is the most prominent figure in the Hinduism, which is bsically ollective form of varied beliefs of Indian subcontinent. Even the Scriptures of Upnishads idetify him as 'Brahma' ( The supreme soul and not one of the triad) and the 'Onkar'. Tantra also combine Shiva, Om and Ajna chakra.

Of his many forms and formless presence throghout human history of this subcontinent, the most prominent, well known and universal picture of him is attached below.
However, a closer inspection by an open mind reveals a completely different picture and concept coded inside this picture.

 My own observations are added below: 

 1. Snake - The snake on the shoulders is nothing but the 'Awakened kundalini'. The kundalini power which rises through the seven chakras elevates the Consciousness through different levels of awareness upto the highest level of Enlightenment. Kundalini has always been depicted as a coiled snake. This depiction shows the path of soul to sepersoul through awakening the Kundalini. 

 2. Third Eye-' The Third eye' of Shiva is not the eye of the destruction of the world, but it is the 'Ajna Chakra' itself. The Ajna chakra, which lies in the center of the forehead, is one of the most powerful chakras and when it awakens, the eye of the true knowldge opens. This eye sees through all space and time and this eye when opened destroys the clouds of Ignorance, which make us completely blind to the truth. Third eye is the inner eye and the all seeing eye of the Ajna chakra of liberation. 

3. Ashes, matted hair, Tiger Skin- They depict the detachment to the material desires. The annihilation of desire and the triumph of the divine body above the primitive desires of this animal body. The tale of the burning of 'Kamdeva' by the third eye of Shiva is the literal depiction of the death of desires by the opening of the inner all seeing eye of knowledge.

 4. The Lotus posture is the favoured meditative of yogi since forever. 

 5. The poison held in the throat- The poison held in the throat of the lord Shiva clearly depicts the liberation of the soul from the birth and death cycles. For the awakened soul of the yogi there is no death. 

 6. The ganga originating from the head of lord Shiva is the stream of knowledge. 

 7.Damaru- Symbol of the supreme sound of 'Om'. besides the above,

 the other pictures of Lord shiva also depict thd following: 

1. Parvati - The consort of lord Shiva, is the depiction of the secret knowledge of the duality of the unity and the unity of the duality. She is the 'Yin' of the Yang of Shiva. They are also worshipped together as 'Ardhanarishwara' as the Yin-Yang combination. The Ardhanarishwara inside the Shivling is the symbol mediated upon for awakening the Ajna Chakra and the mantra is 'Om'.

 Natraja- look again the posture is nothing but the shape of 'Om'! 

The above depiction seems to the secret coded knowledge in form of message between yogis. The summarized knowledge seems to be that, " The journey of Enlightment from soul to supersoul is through the true nowledge gained from awakening the inner eye through meditation and detachment."

Shiva & Mahashivratri

Is Mahashivratri the marriage anniversary of Shiva and Parvati? Is it just a festival on a tale? Or is it something else?

Shiv and Shakti are symbols of Consciousness and Energy. It's often said that Shiv is Shav (corpse) without Shakti.

On spiritual plane of human evolution Mahashivratri has a different meaning.

Shiv is the state of self realized soul as indicated by:

Third eye open: Means Ajna Chakra activated(Ajna chkr symbol is like an eye)

Holding poison in the throat : Beyond cycle of Birth-Death by Moksha through self realization.

2.5 coiled Serpent : Kundlaini activated

Closed eyes, dhyan posture, padmasan: Yogi, Shiv is called Adiyogi, as creator of Yoga, too.

Jata joot, Tiger skin, Bhasm : Detachment

Natraj : Shiv in Om posture, om being the mantra for activation of the Ajna Chakra.

Mahashivratri :

Its a night of annual planetary position which assists in upward movement of Kundalini to activate chakras, taking shakti to consciousness centers ie chakras, thereby union of Shiv and shakti. So the sadhaks meditate all night.

The common masses use that night in devotion to Shiva, devotion being the other path to same end for the common and un-initiated.

The planetary positions on this night, which is also the darkest night of the year, are such that there is a natural upsurge of energy in the human system. It is enormously beneficial for one’s physical and spiritual wellbeing to stay awake and aware in a vertical posture throughout the night.

Moon has been associated with mental functions since long. The highetened mental activity on full moon nights, especially of those suffering from insanity, was observed long time ago and hence the term 'Lunatics', (Luna being Moon) was coined.

In Indian astrology also Moon has been considered as having major influence on Mental faculties.

While shivratri is observed on the 14th night of waning moon of every lunar month of Indian solar-lunar calendar, Mahashivratri is observed in the 14th night of Krishna Paksha of Waning moon of Month Magh of Indian almanac.

Phases of moon also correlates with phases of mental faculties as seen above and moon being at its weakest, the mind (ie Ego) presents least resistance to the vertically rising Shakti.

The planetary configuration in the particular night of Mahashivratri is unique.

The planetary position shows that Moon is in 3rd Bhav, in capricorn sign with sun in Aquarius in 4 the Bhav.

the Moon is sharing house in between two malefic planets. Hence at its weakest state of the year,

With astrological calculation strength Of Moon at "0".

Jupiter (spiritual guru, grounded in Virgo) aspects the moon by 5th dristhi, sight, and lends energy for spiritual effort at this time. Jupiter is in the 12th house, auspicing detachment from material matters and reflection, awareness of the journey through life, toward the goal of life ie release from the cycle of birth-death-birth again.

On the other hand mediation in full moon nights has a different effect, when energy moves subdued and with greater control, unlike no moon nights when it leaps and jumps in force.

This esoteric knowledge of secrets of spiritual evolution have been known to mystic schools within most religions. Jewish Kabalah & Islamic Sufis both know the secret of Meditations per the phase of moon, as well as the Taoists and maybe the Alchemists too. Buddhist, jains, Sikhs of being from the same Dharmic roots already follow these aspects.

As seen above, the tale of Mahashivratri is an allegorical tale covering the esoteric knowledge of occult and useful in both forms to different sets of peoples, the beauty of the complex construct of Hinduism, which, while in pieces presents confusing perspectives making little sense and then making all sense from a different perspective, a few decades later (as in the case of the writer).

In fact, the moon on the head of Shiva (near his mind) is also shown at it's minimum shape during waning which can be represented In a painting, which may indicate both : wekaest moon, weakest mind (ego) or both.

Further using Newton's law of gravitation, one deduces that Moon's pull is weaker, on moonless nights, by 22% at top of Mt Kailash and by 13% in Kedarnath. On the other hand it shall be 19% & 32% more on full moons.

May your meditation during next Shivaratris, Mahashivratri and otherwise also be most fruitful. 🙏.