Lakshmana Rao U
In the sacred verses of the Śruti and the Upaniṣads, Śiva is extolled as one of the primordial forces governing the cosmos. Though later adorned as the cosmic Yogi, his essence remains undiminished, pervading all existence.
Revered as the Destroyer, he first emerged as Rudra, the tempestuous lord of storms, evoking both fear and awe. Over time, his manifestation grew complex—embodying both annihilation and regeneration, ascetic renunciation and supreme consciousness. The ancients beheld him as Rudra, the sovereign of tempests, disease, and healing. His nature is twofold—wrathful and yet compassionate.
The Yajur, Sāma, and Atharva Vedas hail Rudra as the sovereign of healing herbs, protector of beasts, and wielder of divine forces. Thus, he is all-encompassing, merging into the Supreme Being. The Ṛgveda proclaims Rudra as the ultimate, attributeless Brahman, rendering him central to Śiva traditions.
During the churning of the ocean, the first to emerge was deadly poison—capable of destroying all creation. Gods and demons alike turned to Śiva, who, in an act of supreme sacrifice, swallowed it in a single draught, holding it within his throat. Such was the potency of the venom that his throat turned deep blue, earning him the name Nīlakaṇṭha. Though he suppressed its outward effects, the inner turmoil momentarily overwhelmed him, causing him to faint. Yet, his boundless cosmic energy purified the poison within, keeping it in his ascetic control. As a remedy, he placed the crescent moon upon his locks and ensnared the sacred Gaṅgā within his matted tresses—symbols of cooling grace and celestial radiance. To this day, his anointment with pure water and bilva leaves is performed in remembrance of his sacrifice, his brief affliction, and his triumphant resurgence.
Ever adorned with a serpent coiled about his neck, Śiva signifies a profound truth—the shedding of the snake’s skin symbolizes the eternal cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. It denotes his mastery over time and mortality itself. In the realm of yogic disciplines, the coiled serpent mirrors the dormant Kuṇḍalinī energy, which, under Śiva’s dominion as Ādiyogi, ascends the spine to enlightenment. Serpents, creatures that inspire dread, serve as his ornaments—signifying his transcendence over fear and worldly perils.
Mythology tells of Vāsuki, the king of serpents, who was used as a churning rope during the great Samudra Manthana, further entwining Śiva with the cosmic equilibrium of dissolution and renewal. In that event, as the ocean yielded forth the deadly poison, Śiva contained it in his throat rather than letting it seep into creation, thus turning his neck sapphire-blue. This act cemented his role as the supreme protector, bearing the burdens of existence to uphold cosmic harmony. His ability to hold the venom without succumbing to it speaks of his unparalleled control—over emotions, desires, and suffering. The blue hue itself signifies the vastness of the cosmos, aligning Śiva with the infinite and boundless.
The waxing and waning of the moon upon his brow mirror the cycles of time and the ceaseless fluctuations of the mind. Yet, as the supreme Yogi, Śiva governs both—stilling the restless tides of thought. In Vedic lore, nectar is linked to immortality, and Soma—the celestial elixir—is associated with the moon. By adorning it upon his crown, Śiva becomes synonymous with wisdom, transcendence, and eternal consciousness. The moon’s gentle glow softens his fierce Rudra aspect, illustrating the seamless balance between destruction and serenity.
He is also depicted as Ardhanārīśvara—half male, half female—symbolizing the inseparable union of Śiva and Śakti. This duality affirms that creation springs forth only from harmony, as celebrated in both Dakṣiṇa and Vāmācāra traditions, where their union signifies awakening and liberation. Pārvatī, his consort, embodies devotion, wisdom, and power, tempering his austere asceticism with the warmth of divine love.
In Vedic hymns, Śiva is not a distant deity but one who intimately perceives the needs of his devotees. He bestows boons without solicitation—granting Vibhīṣaṇa immortality unasked and, to Rāvaṇa, a measured eternity upon request. Ancient traditions revere him as the innocent, impartial giver, ever attuned to the unspoken desires of the faithful. Such impartiality, however, led to the bestowal of formidable boons upon even the most fearsome demons, for Śiva’s neutrality is unwavering.
Each of his divine symbols conveys profound truths: the serpent signifies mastery over fear and time, the blue throat denotes sacrifice and detachment, the crescent moon reflects control over the mind, while Śakti embodies his dynamic cosmic force. The sacred Gaṅgā, enshrined in his locks, signifies divine grace, purity, and the life-bestowing power of wisdom. As her waters cascade from his crown, they bring purification to the world, illustrating that true knowledge alone can cleanse and uplift the soul.
Thus, Śiva stands beyond all dualities—beyond birth and death, beyond destruction and creation—abiding eternally in the stillness of absolute consciousness.