Shiva: Difference between revisions

* '''Third eye:''' (Trilochana) Shiva is often depicted with a [[third eye]], with which he burned Desire ({{IAST|[[Kāma]]}}) to ashes,<ref>For Shiva as depicted with a third eye, and mention of the story of the destruction of Kama with it, see: Flood (1996), p. 151.</ref> called "Tryambakam" (Sanskrit: ''त्र्यम्बकम् '')(Tamil :''நெற்றிக்கண்''), which occurs in many scriptural sources.<ref>For a review of 4 theories about the meaning of ''tryambaka'', see: Chakravarti, pp. 37-39.</ref> In classical Sanskrit, the word ''ambaka'' denotes "an eye", and in the ''Mahabharata'', Shiva is depicted as three-eyed, so this name is sometimes translated as "having three eyes".<ref>For usage of the word ''ambaka'' in classical Sanskrit and connection to the Mahabharata depiction, see: Chakravarti, pp. 38-39.</ref> However, in Vedic Sanskrit, the word ''{{IAST|ambā}}'' or ''{{IAST|ambikā}}'' means "mother", and this early meaning of the word is the basis for the translation "three mothers".<ref>For translation of Tryambakam as "having three mother eyes" and as an epithet of Rudra, see: Kramrisch, p. 483.</ref><ref>For vedic Sanskrit meaning Lord has three mother eyes which symbolize eyes are the Sun, Moon and Fire.</ref> These three mother-goddesses who are collectively called the {{IAST|Ambikās}}.<ref>For discussion of the problems in translation of this name, and the hypothesis regarding the {{IAST|Ambikās}} see: Hopkins (1968), p. 220.</ref> Other related translations have been based on the idea that the name actually refers to the oblations given to Rudra, which according to some traditions were shared with the goddess {{IAST|Ambikā}}.<ref>For the {{IAST|Ambikā}} variant, see: Chakravarti, pp. 17, 37.</ref> It has been mentioned that when Shiva loses his temper, his third eye opens which can destroy most things to ashes.

* '''Blue throat:''' The epithet {{IAST|Nīlakaṇtha}} (Sanskrit {{lang|sa|नीलकण्ठ}}; ''nīla'' = "blue", ''{{IAST|kaṇtha}}'' = "throat").<ref>{{Harvnb|Sharma|1996|p=290}}</ref><ref>See: name #93 in Chidbhavananda, p. 31.</ref> (Tamil: [நீலகண்டன்];NeelaKandan) (Kannada: [ನೀಲಕಂಠ];NeelaKantha)Since Shiva drank the [[Halahala]] poison churned up from the Samudra Manthan to eliminate its destructive capacity. Shocked by his act, Goddess Parvati strangled his neck and hence managed to stop it in his neck itself and prevent it from spreading all over the universe, supposed to be in Shiva's stomach. However the poison was so potent that it changed the color of his neck to blue.<ref>For Shiva drinking the poison churned from the world ocean see: Flood (1996), p. 78.</ref><ref name="Kramrisch, p. 473">Kramrisch, p. 473.</ref> (See [[Maha Shivaratri]].)

* '''{{IAST|Nandī}}''': (The epithet "Nandi Vaahana").[[Nandi (bull)|Nandī]], also known as Nandin, is the name of the [[Bull (mythology)|bull]] that serves as Shiva's mount (Sanskrit: ''[[Vahana|{{IAST|vāhana}}]]'').<ref>For a review of issues related to the evolution of the bull (Nandin) as Shiva's mount, see: Chakravarti, pp. 99-105.</ref><ref>For spelling of alternate proper names {{IAST|Nandī}} and Nandin see: Stutley, p. 98.</ref> Shiva's association with cattle is reflected in his name {{IAST|Paśupati}}, or [[Pashupati]] (Sanskrit: ''पशुपति''), translated by Sharma as "lord of cattle"<ref>{{Harvnb|Sharma|1996|p=291}}</ref> and by Kramrisch as "lord of animals", who notes that it is particularly used as an epithet of Rudra.<ref>Kramrisch, p. 479.</ref> Rishabha or the bull represents Dharma Devata. Lord Siva rides on the bull. Bull is his vehicle. This denotes that Lord Siva is the protector of Dharma, is an embodiment of Dharma or righteousness.