Question

essay on lord shiva 100 words

Answer 1

In the Hindu religion there are three main gods, apart of the triumvirate, and those are: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. The god Shiva is important in this triumvirate because he is the destroyer of the world. Shiva is the destroyer, but he also has many other complex roles and many of those roles tend to contradict each other. The god Shiva has many names and is the god of various aspects of life including yoga and dance. Shiva has gained a large following in the Hindu religion and those that follow him are called Shaivas. 
Shiva is known as the destroyer of the world, but he also has many other roles. According to The Hindu Traditions Shiva is the; creator and destroyer, movement and tranquility, light and dark, and man and woman. These roles tend to be contradicting but Shiva has these roles in order to show that these things are more closely related than they appear to be. There are four main images of Shiva and they include: Mahayogi, Nataraja, Ardhaharishvara, and lingam. The four images of Shiva represent his different roles. The image of Shiva as the Mahayogi presents him in meditation and in a serene state. In this state Shiva is wearing animal skins and his eyes are only half open. The animal skin is a representation of being in touch with nature and his eyes are symbolizing that he is only partially in the world according to The Hindu Tradition’s. In the Mahayogi image he also tends to have a three prong trident that represents dominance over intelligence, mind and body. The cobra wrapped around his neck is his power over ego and in his hair is where the goddess Ganga lives. The image of Nataraja is one of the more famous images of Shiva and it displays him dancing. He is famous for his dancing and is often referred to a...


... middle of paper ... 


...is a huge part of the Hindu culture and many people make the choice to worship him. He plays many different roles and is relatable to numerous people due to his roles and personality traits. The people who worship Shiva devote themselves to him and spend their lives understanding him and trying to grow in order to prosper in eternity. 



Works Cited 

1.) Cartwright, Mark. "Shiva." Ancient History Encyclopedia. N.p., 20 Nov. 2012. Web. 10 Mar. 2014. 
2.) "Learn the Worship of Lord Shiva." Devi Mandir. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2014. 
3.) Muesse, Mark W. The Hindu Traditions: A Concise Introduction. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2011. Print. 
3.)"Shiva." BBC News. BBC, 24 Aug. 2009. Web. 09 Mar. 2014. 
4.) "Shiva." Hindu God : (Shiv). N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2014. 
5.) "Significance of Lord Shiva in Hinduism." Lord Shiva in Hinduism. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2014. 

Answer 2

Shiva is the "destroyer of evil and the transformer" within the Trimurti, the Hindu trinity that includes Brahma and Vishnu.[1][12]In Shaivism tradition, Shiva is the Supreme being who creates, protects and transforms the universe.[13][14][15] In the goddess tradition of Hinduism called Shaktism, the goddess is described as supreme, yet Shiva is revered along with Vishnu and Brahma. A goddess is stated to be the energy and creative power (Shakti) of each, with Parvati the equal complementary partner of Shiva.[9][16] He is one of the five equivalent deities in Panchayatana puja of the Smarta tradition of Hinduism.[10]

According to the Shaivism sect, the highest form of Shiva is formless, limitless, transcendent and unchanging absolute Brahman,[17] and the primal Atman (soul, self) of the universe.[18][19][13] Shiva has many benevolent and fearsome depictions. In benevolent aspects, he is depicted as an omniscient Yogi who lives an ascetic life on Mount Kailash[1] as well as a householder with wife Parvati and his two children, Ganesha and Kartikeya. In his fierce aspects, he is often depicted slaying demons. Shiva is also known as Adiyogi Shiva, regarded as the patron god of yoga, meditation and arts.[20][21][22]