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SIGNIFICANCE OF LORD SIVA
Invocation to Lord Vinayaka:
O Lord Ganesa, your holy feet took a special place in my
consciousness. You have five arms: four feet and a trunk; your
face bears the majesty of an elephant; your one tusk exceeds the
beauty of the waxing crescent moon. Your wisdom is pure and
without par; you are the dear child of Nandi. (Nandi is the
Vahana or the living transport of Lord Shiva. It is a white bull
with a black tail. As a matter of submission and humility, the
tail is tucked in, and the feet and face are in repose. It is a
charging bull made tame by Lord Shiva. Nandi represents a devotee
(of Shiva) whose passions are under control and whose devotion to
Shiva is perfect. Some postulate Nandi was Shiva in animal form
(theriomorphism) and when Shiva assumed a human form
(anthropomorphism), Nandi transformed to its innate state. Animal
form shows more authenticity in its representation of certain
qualities than a human form and thus Nandi is important in that
respect. Indus valley excavations bore many seals, gracing bulls
on their face.
Yama, the god of death, treats Siva and his devotees with
extreme deference ever since his minions (yama dutas) came to
capture Siva´s devotee, Markendeya, the likes of who are
under the protection of Lord Siva who is Supreme to all gods.
There is no God like lotus-like Siva, whose matted hair shines
in splendor. Without him, there will be no celestials, no
austerity, and no liberation. He is the father, the mother and
the guru. He is Nandi, the bull, who is regarded as the formless
form of Siva. He holds the worlds in their spheres in the high
Heavens, and he is the Fire, the Sun, the Moon, the Mother of
rain clouds, the mountains and the oceans. Men and gods come and
go, Siva is eternal. Why do the celestials, gods and men go after
the transient gods? He, with the third eye, is the Supreme, and
he is mainly concerned with his devotees. Mal (Vishnu) who strode
the earth in one pace, Brahma who sits on the Lotus seat and the
gods who know heaven, have not found the ends and depths of him.
He transcends them all and his glance is his Grace. He transcends
the Mayan, Vishnu, Brahma, and his own forms Isan (Rudra), Hara,
and Mahesvara. He is Brahma, Vishnu and Hara and sits in the
heart of all souls where his divine splendor knows no
contraction.
His abode is the holy mountain of Kailas that reverberates
with thunder and pervades with the fragrance of flowers. He
confers wealth to Kubera, kills the elephant-monster Gaja
Mukhsura, who had the temerity to challenge the Supreme Lord, and
confers freedom from birth to Vishnu, Brahma and other
celestials. He seeks those who seek him and saves their souls. He
controls the god of Fire who once was put down and put out by the
Lord in the Northern seas, when his rage was consuming the world.
He stands by those who sing his praises and seek his feet as
their refuge. He gives refuge to those who shake off their faulty
perceptions and thoughts and stands by them with kindness. Maya
comes to nothing to those who kneel before him who is birthless
and deathless and who never lets down those who seek him. He
becomes visible in the guise of a guide to those who give their
body, mind and soul to the Lord. Tirumular: 'He is the kin that I
wait to see and clutch his feet and he is the axle-rod that holds
the wheels together firmly in my heart. I seek knowledge from
him, just like a calf seeks milk from the cow.´ He shows
the path when we follow his path of goodness, sing his praise,
and adore him. Those, who worship the Lord of the soul will break
their bonds, cross the ocean of Samsara , and reach the other
shore (become one with Pati.)
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