1. Celebrating the Night of Lord Shiva……
Gulab

2. Lord Shiva represents the
aspect of the Supreme Being
(Brahman of the Upanishads)
that continuously dissolves to
recreate in the cyclic process
of creation, preservation,
dissolution and recreation of
the universe.
Lord Shiva is the third member
of the Hindu Trinity, the other
two being Lord Brahma and
Lord Vishnu.
Gulab

3. Lord Shiva is the Lord of mercy and
compassion. He protects devotees from evil
forces such as lust, greed, and anger.
He grants boons, bestows grace and awakens
wisdom in His devotees. The symbolism
discussed below includes major symbols that
are common to all pictures and images of
Shiva venerated by Hindus.
Since the tasks of Lord Shiva are numerous, He
cannot be symbolised in one form. For this
reason the images of Shiva vary significantly in
their symbolism.
Gulab

4. Gulab

5. Gulab

6. Shiva Lingam is the holy
symbol of Lord Shiva that is
considered quite sacred
and worshipped with
devotion by the devotees.
The sanskrit word li.ngam
means symbol, so Shiva
lingam means symbol of
Shiva.
It is considered the foremost
sacred symbol for
shaivaites and has been
worshiped for ages.
Gulab

7. Gulab

8. Gulab

9. CROSS SECTION
SHIVA
SHIVA
VISHNU
BRAHMA
Gulab

10. The first one third of the base stands for
Brahma - the aspect of creation in the cosmos.
As the creation brings things into the
existence, naturally the process is directed
outward (i.e. towards the object of creation).
Since the creation is going on endlessly, the
four directions represent this concept.
One can move in each direction without
reaching the end. This aspect of the Lord is
called Brahma - the Lord as the Creator and is
represented by the square cross section
standing for four directions. Gulab

11. The middle one third represents Vishnu
- the one that pervades everything in the
creation. The four directions and four
corners totaling to eight along with up
and down directions cover everything and
it is indicated by the octagonal middle
cross section.
Gulab

12. The top one third represents the Shiva aspect by
the circular cross section indicating the
Limitlessness. Though there are three aspects
indicated, the Shiva Linga is one alone and when
worshiped all three inseparable aspects are
worshiped.
Thus SHIVA and VISHNU are no two different
entities!! It is one Limitlessness viewed from
different aspects so mind has a direction to
contemplate. Vishnu is also worshipped and invoked in
the form of Shaligrama (a spherical shape) standing
for the Limitlessness as so is Shiva...
Gulab

13. Gulab

14. The significance of the Nataraja
sculpture is said to be that Shiva is
shown as the source of all
movement within the cosmos,
represented by the arch of flames. Shiva as Nataraja
The purpose of the dance is to release men
from illusion of the idea of the "self" and of
the physical world. The gestures of the dance
represent Shiva's five activities, creation
(symbolized by the drum), protection (by
the "fear not" hand gesture), destruction
(by the fire), embodiment (by the foot
planted on the ground), and release (by the
foot held aloft).
Gulab

15. A QUIZ
ON SWAMI'S
DIVINE
SHIVARATHRI
DISCOURSES
Gulab

16. 1. There are many different stories to explain the origin of the Shivaraathri
Festival. As we all know, Lord Shiva offered to drink the poison and save the
world. His throat is blue ever since, for the poison has pervaded the area.
In His 1959 Divine Shivaraathri Discourse, Swami explained further: “One of
the stories is that when He [Lord Shiva] consumed the Haalahaala (death-
dealing poison) that emanated from the Ocean of Milk, in response to the
prayers of the Worlds, which it threatened to destroy, the heat of the fumes
was well nigh unbearable, even for Him.”
According to the scriptures, what relief measure was taken to cool Lord
Shiva down?
A.He had to swim in the Ocean.
B. All the Gods united and blew strong winds.
C.River Ganga was poured on His matted locks.
D.Lord Shiva went into meditation for several
H2H
years. Gulab

17. Correct Answer :
C. River Ganga was poured on His matted locks.
Swami further explained: "So, it is said, Ganga was poured
uninterruptedly on His matted locks - this is the explanation
for the Abhisheka (ceremony of pouring consecrated water,
oil, milk, etc., on the idol) which is offered in all Shiva
temples for hours on end, and in some places,
uninterruptedly - but Shiva was only partly relieved. So the
cool Moon was placed on the head; that gave some relief.
Then, Ganga was placed on the matted locks. That was of
great help. After this, Shiva danced with all the Gods, the
Taandava dance. That is the story but all this did not happen
on a particular day and so Shivaraatri cannot be said to
commemorate that day."
H2H Gulab

18. 2. In His 1965 Divine Shivaraathri Discourse, Swami reminds us:
“Do not treat a holy day like Shivaraathri as a holiday, set apart
for picnics, cinema, card-games, revelry, rivalry and fun. The
rishis (sages) fixed these days in the calendar for the
contemplation of God and the service of God in man, for the
removal of the weeds of vices and weakening habits.”
How does Swami want us to utilize the opportunity of this
holy day?
A. By reading stories of Lord Shiva.
B. Going on pilgrimages.
C. By being in isolation and on fast.
D. For self-improvement.
H2H Gulab

19. Correct Answer :
D. For self-improvement.
Swami lovingly guides us: "Do not waste the few
days that you are bent on spending at the Prashanti
Nilayam, in days of hectic chatter, vain disputation,
idle curiosity or restless wandering. Learn the
discipline of the place and limit your talk, your
association, your comfort, so that you may live in
thoughts Divine, not merely in this atmosphere but
later, in your own homes. Take delight in the Shanti
(peace) of this place; do not disturb it by thought,
word or deed. Utilize this rare chance, this unique
opportunity, secured by the merit of many births, for
self-improvement."
H2H Gulab

20. 3. We all know about the importance of observing a fast and
keeping a night-long vigil on the Auspicious Shivaraathri Day. But
do we know the inner meaning and the significance of it? In His
1969 Divine Shivaraathri Discourse, Swami uplifts our
consciousness by enlightening us: “Relying on the merely literal
meaning of the words, people wait a whole year for this
particular holy day to come, in order to miss a meal and call it a
fast, to miss a night's sleep and call it a vigil!”
What do you think is His say on the true significance of
observing a ‘fast’?
A. Living with God.
B. Control of our palate.
C. Giving our body a rest.
D. Speaking sweetly and softly.
H2H Gulab

21. Correct Answer :
A. Living with God.
Swami teaches us further: "The fast is called in Sanskrit as Upavaasa and it
means something far more significant than missing a meal! It means (Upa -
near; Vaasa - living) Living with, or Living near. With whom? Near whom?
Near and with God. Upavaasa means living in the unbroken constant
presence of the Lord, by Naamasmarana (remembrance of Divinity); that is
the real fast, holding fast to Him.
And, Jaagarana (Vigil)! It means keeping awake, shaking off the sleep of
the senses and being fully aware of the Light of Love that is the Divine
essence, in all. It means, shaking off the drowsiness and laziness, and
deep concentration in meditation and sadhana. Look at the word for heart in
Sanskrit: hrudayam. It means Hrudi-ayam that is to say, "The Divine Heart";
the place where He resides, where He is installed. By vigilance and the
practice of the constant presence of God, you must install Him in your heart
and see Him as installed in all other beings as well. That is the main
purpose of these holy days and the regulations laid down for their
observance."
H2H Gulab

22. 4. Through the years, Swami has demonstrated the Shiva aspect
of His Advent as Avatar by blessing us several times with Divine
Manifestations of Lingams from His Auspicious Body, called as
Lingodhbhavam. On one such 1971 Divine Shivaraathri
Discourse, Bhagavan clarifies: “People ask, „Why does Swami
produce the Lingam (Formless Form of God) from within Himself
on this day?‟
What reason does Bhagavan reveal for such a formidable
act of His?
A. To worship Lord Shiva more devotedly.
B. To remind us that Divinity is amidst us.
C. To continue our fasting every year.
D. To amaze us about His powers.
H2H Gulab

23. Correct Answer :
B. To remind us that Divinity is amidst us.
Swami confirms: "Let Me tell you, it is impossible for you to understand the attributes
of the Divine and to measure its potentialities, or, to gauge the significance of the
Manifestation of Divinity. It is agamya (unreachable) and agochara (un-
understandable, mysterious). Therefore, in order to bear witness to the fact that the
Divinity is amidst you, it becomes necessary to express this attribute. Or else, the
atmosphere of hatred, greed, cruelty, violence and irreverence will overwhelm the
good, the humble and the pious.
The Linga is just a symbol, a sign, an illustration, of the beginningless, the endless,
and the limitless - for it has no limbs, no face, no feet, no front or back, no beginning
or end. Its shape is like the picture one imagines the Niraakaara (Formless) to be. As
a matter of fact, linga means -leeyate (that in which all forms and names merge) and
gamyate (that towards which all names and forms are proceeding, to attain
fulfillment). It is the fittest symbol of the All-pervasive, the All-knowing, and the All-
powerful. Everything is subsumed in it; everything starts from it; from the Lingam
arises Jangam (Universe), from the Jangam arises sangam (association,
attachment, activity) and as a result of the sangam, one realizes the lingam
(attributeless Aatma). Thus, the circle is completed - from the Beginningless to the
Beginningless. This is the lesson that Lingodbhavam (emergence of the Linga)
teaches. The lingashareera (the physical body) that is inhabited by the Aatma is but
a vesture worn for this particular sojourn! Many a vesture has this Soul worn, though
its reality is Eternal!"
H2H Gulab

24. 5. In His 1973 Divine Shivaraathri Discourse, Swami brings to
our light the significance of the various names that Lord Shiva is
adored with: “Consider the significance of the Form that Shiva
has assumed for human adoration: In His throat, He has the
holocaust-producing poison, Haalahaala that can destroy all life
in a trice. On His head, He has the sacred Ganga River, whose
waters can cure all ills, here and hereafter. On His forehead, He
has the eye of Fire. On His head, He has the cool comforting
Moon. On His wrists, ankles, shoulders and neck He wears
deadly cobras, which live in life-giving breath of air.”
One among the many of Lord Shiva’s Names is
Mrithyunjaya. It means He who vanquishes...?
A. Ego
B. Anger
C. Greed
H2H
D. Death Gulab

25. Correct Answer :
D. Death
Swami adds: "Shiva, again, is said to go about with a begging
bowl. He teaches that renunciation, detachment, indifference
to good fortune or bad, are the paths to attain Him. Shiva is
known as Mrithyunjaya (He who vanquishes death). And, He
is also the Kaamaari (the destroyer of Desire). These two
Names show that he who destroys desire can conquer Death,
for desire breeds activity, activity breeds consequence,
consequence breeds bondage, bondage results in birth and
birth involves death. Shiva means, Graciousness,
Auspiciousness, Mangalam. He is all Graciousness, ever
Auspicious, Sarva Mangalam."
H2H Gulab

26. 6. In His 1978 Divine Shivaraathri Discourse, Swami reveals to
us that: “Shivaraathri is a very auspicious day for all. It is the
fourteenth day of the lunar fortnight, when the Moon is waning
and the Sun is in the sign of Aquarius. The festival is, however,
related to the Moon rather than the Sun. That is the reason why
it is called Shivaraathri (the night of Shiva). Unlike other nights,
this particular night is the night of consecration, of dedication, of
illumination.”
Which part of human body is intimately associated with the
Moon?
A. Our Love filled Heart.
B. Our Powerful Mind.
C. Our Innately Pure Soul.
D. Our God-gifted physical Body.
H2H Gulab

27. Correct Answer :
B. Our Powerful Mind.
Swami reiterates: "The mind is intimately associated with the
Moon. Chandra (the deity of the Moon), is the presiding deity
of the mind. He loses one sixteenth of his brilliance every day
after the Full Moon day and continues waning until on this
night he is left with just one sixteenth of his power. The
waned Moon may be taken to stand for the mind with all its
vagaries and waywardness reduced after it has been
conquered by sadhana (spiritual discipline). On this night
there is just a minute part of the mind left to be conquered
and that can be done by keeping vigil and dwelling on the
Glow of God."
H2H Gulab

28. 7. In His 1978 Divine Shivaraathri Discourse, once again, Swami
reveals a very interesting aspect to the meaning of the word
„Shivaraathri‟ itself! He says: “According to numerology, the first
three syllables of the word Shivaraathri - shi, va and raa -
connote the numbers 5, 4 and 2, and the fourth syllable, thri,
means 'three.' 5, 4 and 2 make one whole, one composite
picture of the eleven rudras. Rudra means, „The one who makes
man weep.‟ The eleven rudras are: the five senses of perception,
the five senses of action, and the mind. These, by leading him
astray in pursuit of trivial and transitory pleasures, ruin him and
make him weep. But the ____, if it is sought and relied upon,
sheds its rays on the eleven and makes them meaningful
partners in the progress of man towards self-realization.”
What is Bhagavan teaching us to rely on here?
A. Righteousness
B. Heart
C. Goodness
D. Aatma (Soul)
H2H Gulab

29. Correct Answer :
D. Aatma (Soul)
Swami reconfirms: "The rays from the Aatma
illumine the intelligence, the illumined intelligence
alerts the mind and the alerted mind gets control of
the senses, making the path clear for the person to
proceed through knowledge to wisdom."
H2H Gulab

30. 8. In His 1978 Divine Discourse, clarifying some of the doubts of
devotees, Swami says: “You might ask, „Swami has often declared
that all days are holy days, that there is no special rite or ritual that
has to be observed on any single day; but, Swami Himself is
pouring vibhuuthi (holy ash) on the Idol and calling it abhisheka
(anointing the idol); is this right?‟ Swami is doing so, to teach you
a lesson.
The Vibhuti Abhisheka has a potent inner meaning which Swami
wants you to grasp. The Vibhuti is the most precious object, in the
truly spiritual sense. You know that Shiva burnt the God of Desire
or Kaama, called Manmatha (for he agitates the mind and
confounds the confusion already existing there) into a heap of
ashes. Shiva adorned Himself with that ash, and thus He shone in
His Glory, as the Conqueror of Desire. When Kaama was
destroyed, ___ reigned supreme.” A. Peace
B. Unity
C. Love
What was He referring to? D. Non-Violence
H2H Gulab

31. Correct Answer :
C. Love
Swami guides us further with His Divine Knowledge: "When
Kaama was destroyed, Prema (Love) reigned supreme. When
there is no desire to warp the mind, Love could be true and
full. What greater offering can you give God to glorify Him than
the ash signifying your triumph over tantalizing Desire? Ash is
the ultimate condition of things; it cannot undergo any further
change. The Abhisheka with Vibhuuthi is done to inspire you to
give up desire and offer Shiva the ashes of its destruction as
the most valuable of all the articles you have earned. Ash
cannot fade as flowers do in a day or two; it does not dry and
disappear or get soiled and unpotable as water does; it will not
lose colour as leaves do, in a few hours; it does not rot as
fruits do in a few days. Ash is ash for ever and ever. So, burn
your vices, and your bad habits; worship Shiva, rendering
yourselves pure in thought, word and deed."
H2H Gulab

32. 9. In order to develop purity and sacredness in us, Swami has
been guiding us tirelessly! On one such 1985 Divine Shivaraathri
Discourse, Swami helps us achieve this goal: “This Shivaraathri
is a day when one tries to establish friendship between mind and
God. Shivaraathri makes one aware of the fact that the same
Divinity is all-pervasive and is to be found everywhere. It is said
that Shiva lives in Kailasa. But where is Kailasa?”
What answer did Swami give us?
A. In the Himalayas.
B. In our own state of bliss.
C. In service to mankind.
D. In observing spiritual discipline.
H2H Gulab

33. Correct Answer :
B. In our own state of bliss.
Swami helps us learn the true meaning of Kailasa: "Kailasa is
our own joy, our own bliss. It means that Easwara lives in the
Kailasa of delight. If we can develop that sense of joy and
delight in our mind, that itself is Kailasa. How can one get this
joy? It comes when we develop purity and steadiness and
sacredness. Then the heart becomes filled with peace and
bliss. Then your heart itself will be Kailasa and Shiva will be
there in the sanctum sanctorum of your heart, within the
temple which is your body."
H2H Gulab

34. 10. Swami has taught us that if during Shivaraathri, one
meditates on God, one can achieve nearness to the Divine. The
Supreme sacredness of Shivaraathri consists in realizing
oneness with the Divine through meditation on God. The world
may change, but the Shiva principle is unchanging. The same
union of Shiva-Shakti as the Universal Divine Mother and Father
is represented by the Name and Form of 'Sai Baba.'
On revealing the meaning of the worship of Shiva, according
to Swami, what is the most sublime aspect of the night of
'Shiva raathri'?
A. Lord Shiva's Auspiciousness.
B. Lord Shiva's Uniqueness.
C. Lord Shiva's Immortality.
D. Lord Shiva's Transcendental Nature.
H2H Gulab

35. Correct Answer :
A. Lord Shiva's Auspiciousness.
In His 1983 Divine Shivaraatri Discourse, Swami has explained: "Whether
one does good or bad acts, there is no escape from their consequences.
Knowing this, our ancients always sought what was good and auspicious.
This is the meaning of the worship of Shiva. When we speak of Shiva
Raatri, we refer to the night that is associated with Shiva, that is, an
auspicious night. Shivam means that which is auspicious. The Shiva
principle is totally free from anything that is inauspicious or unholy in any
circumstance. When incarnations like Rama and Krishna appear in human
bodies, they have some inauspicious associations related to their bodies.
Although they incarnate for the purpose of saving the world, protecting the
devotees and uplifting humanity, they have to shed their bodies sometime
or other. Hence in the name of such Avatars, the honorific 'Sri' is prefixed
to indicate the sacredness of their Advent. But for Shiva, no such
appellation is needed because Shiva transcends corporeal limitations.
Unlike Sri Rama or Sri Krishna there is no "Sri Shiva" or "Sri Shankara".
Shiva or Shankara is always auspicious. The realization of oneness with
Shiva means the attainment of immortality."
H2H Gulab

36. H2H Gulab

37. SHIVARATHRI 2002
H2H Gulab

38. H2H Gulab

39. Gulab

40. •The unclad body covered with ashes: the unclad
body symbolises the transcendental aspect of the
Lord. Since most things reduce to ashes when
burned, ashes symbolise the physical universe.
The ashes on the unclad body of the Lord signify
that Shiva is the source of the entire universe
which emanates from Him, but He transcends the
physical phenomena and is not affected by it.
•Matted locks: Lord Shiva is the Master of yoga.
The three matted locks on the head of the Lord
convey the idea that integration of the physical,
mental and spiritual energies is the ideal of yoga.
Gulab

41. •Ganga: Ganga (river Ganges) is associated with
Hindu mythology and is the most sacred river of
Hindus. According to tradition, one who bathes in
Ganga (revered as Mother Ganga) in accordance
with traditional rites and ceremonies on religious
occasions in combination with certain astrological
events, is freed from sin and attains knowledge,
purity and peace. Ganga, symbolically
represented on the head of the Lord by a female
(Mother Ganga) with a jet of water emanating
from her mouth and falling on the ground,
signifies that the Lord destroys sin, removes
ignorance, and bestows knowledge, purity and
peace on the devotees.
Gulab

42. •The crescent moon: is shown on the side
of the Lord's head as an ornament, and not
as an integral part of His countenance. The
waxing and waning phenomenon of the
moon symbolizes the time cycle through
which creation evolves from the beginning
to the end. Since the Lord is the Eternal
Reality, He is beyond time. Thus, the
crescent moon is only one of His
ornaments, and not an integral part of Him.
Gulab

43. •Three eyes: Lord Shiva, also called
Tryambaka Deva (literally, "three-eyed
Lord"), is depicted as having three eyes: the
sun is His right eye, the moon the left eye
and fire the third eye. The two eyes on the
right and left indicate His activity in the
physical world. The third eye in the center
of the forehead symbolises spiritual
knowledge and power, and is thus called
the eye of wisdom or knowledge. Like fire,
the powerful gaze of Shiva's third eye
annihilates evil, and thus the evil-doers fear
His third eye.
Gulab

44. •Half-open eyes: when the Lord opens His
eyes, a new cycle of creation emerges and
when He closes them, the universe
dissolves for creation of the next cycle. The
half-open eyes convey the idea that creation
is going through cyclic process, with no
beginning and no end. Lord Shiva is the
Master of Yoga, as He uses His yogic power
to project the universe from Himself. The
half-open eyes also symbolize His yogic
posture.
Gulab

45. •Kundalas (two ear rings): two Kundalas,
Alakshya (meaning "which cannot be
shown by any sign") and Niranjan
(meaning "which cannot be seen by mortal
eyes") in the ears of the Lord signify that
He is beyond ordinary perception. Since
the kundala in the left ear of the Lord is of
the type used by women and the one in His
right ear is of the type used by men, these
Kundalas also symbolise the Shiva and
Shakti (male and female) principle of
creation.
Gulab

46. •Snake around the neck: sages have used
snakes to symbolize the yogic power of
Lord Shiva with which He dissolves and
recreates the universe. Like a yogi, a snake
hoards nothing, carries nothing, builds
nothing, lives on air alone for a long time,
and lives in mountains and forests. The
venom of a snake, therefore, symbolises
the yogic power.
Gulab

47. •A snake (Vasuki Naga): is shown curled three
times around the neck of the Lord and is
looking towards His right side. The three coils
of the snake symbolise the past, present and
future - time in cycles. The Lord wearing the
curled snake like an ornament signifies that
creation proceeds in cycles and is time
dependent, but the Lord Himself transcends
time. The right side of the body symbolizes the
human activities based upon knowledge,
reason and logic. The snake looking towards
the right side of the Lord signifies that the
Lord's eternal laws of reason and justice
preserve natural order in the universe.
Gulab

48. •Rudraksha necklace: Rudra is another name of
Shiva. Rudra also means "strict or
uncompromising" and aksha means "eye."
Rudraksha necklace worn by the Lord illustrates
that He uses His cosmic laws firmly - without
compromise - to maintain law and order in the
universe. The necklace has 108 beads which
symbolize the elements used in the creation of
the world.
•Varda Mudra: the Lord's right hand is shown in
a boon- bestowing and blessing pose. As stated
earlier, Lord Shiva annihilates evil, grants boons,
bestows grace, destroys ignorance, and awakens
wisdom in His devotees.
Gulab

49. •Trident (Trisula): a three-pronged trident
shown adjacent to the Lord symbolises His
three fundamental powers (shakti) of will
(iccha), action (kriya) and knowledge
(jnana). The trident also symbolises the
Lord's power to destroy evil and ignorance.
Gulab

50. •Damaru (drum): a small drum with two
sides separated from each other by a thin
neck-like structure symbolises the two
utterly dissimilar states of existence,
unmanifest and manifest. When a damaru
is vibrated, it produces dissimilar sounds
which are fused together by resonance to
create one sound. The sound thus produced
symbolizes Nada, the cosmic sound of
AUM, which can be heard during deep
meditation. According to Hindu scriptures,
Nada is the source of creation.
Gulab

51. •Kamandalu: a water pot (Kamandalu)
made from a dry pumpkin contains nectar
and is shown on the ground next to Shiva.
The process of making Kamandalu has
deep spiritual significance. A ripe pumpkin
is plucked from a plant, its fruit is removed
and the shell is cleaned for containing the
nectar. In the same way, an individual must
break away from attachment to the physical
world and clean his inner self of egoistic
desires in order to experience the bliss of
the Self, symbolised by the nectar in the
Kamandalu.
Gulab

52. •Nandi: the bull is associated with Shiva
and is said to be His vehicle. The bull
symbolises both power and ignorance. Lord
Shiva's use of the bull as a vehicle conveys
the idea that He removes ignorance and
bestows power of wisdom on His devotees.
The bull is called Vrisha in Sanskrit. Vrisha
also means dharma (righteousness). Thus a
bull shown next to Shiva also indicates that
He is the eternal companion of
righteousness.
Gulab

53. •Tiger skin: a tiger skin symbolises
potential energy. Lord Shiva, sitting on or
wearing a tiger skin, illustrates the idea
that He is the source of the creative energy
that remains in potential form during the
dissolution state of the universe. Of His
own Divine Will, the Lord activates the
potential form of the creative energy to
project the universe in endless cycles.
Gulab

54. •Cremation ground: Shiva sitting in
the cremation ground signifies that He
is the controller of death in the
physical world. Since birth and death
are cyclic, controlling one implies
controlling the other. Thus, Lord Shiva
is revered as the ultimate controller of
birth and death in the phenomenal
world.
Gulab

55. Gulab

56. The significance of the Nataraja
(Nataraj) sculpture is said to be that
Shiva is shown as the source of all
movement within the cosmos,
represented by the arch of flames. Shiva as Nataraja
The purpose of the dance is to release men
from illusion of the idea of the "self" and of the
physical world. The gestures of the dance
represent Shiva's five activities, creation
(symbolized by the drum), protection (by the
"fear not" hand gesture), destruction (by the
fire), embodiment (by the foot planted on the
ground), and release (by the foot held aloft).
Gulab

57. •The upper right hand holds a small drum
shaped like an hourglass that is called a
amaru in Sanskrit. It is called Udukkai
in Tamil . A specific hand gesture
(mudra) called amaru-hasta (Sanskrit
for "amaru-hand") is used to hold the
drum.
It symbolises sound originating Creation.
Gulab

58. •The upper left hand contains Agni or fire,
which signifies destruction. The opposing
concepts in the upper hands show the
counterpoise of creation and destruction.
Gulab

59. Gulab

60. •The second right hand shows the Abhaya mudra
(meaning fearlessness in Sanskrit), bestowing
protection from both evil and ignorance to those
who follow the righteousness of dharma.
Gulab

61. •The second left hand points towards the raised foot
which signifies upliftment and salvation. The hand
also symbolises the trunk of the elephant-headed
Ganesha, son of Shiva, known as the remover of
obstacles and a symbol of strength.
Gulab

62. •His uplifted left foot, grants eternal bliss to
those who approach him. The other foot
treads firmly upon the dwarf of ignorance,
allowing the birth of knowledge.
Gulab

63. •The dwarf on which Nataraja dances is the
demon Apasmara, which symbolises Shiva's
victory over ignorance.
Gulab

64. •As the Lord of Dance, Nataraja, Shiva performs
the tandava, the dance in which the universe is
created, maintained, and resolved. Shiva's long,
matted tresses, usually piled up in a knot, loosen
during the dance and crash into the heavenly
bodies, knocking them off course or destroying
them utterly.
Gulab

65. •Nataraja wears a snake coiled around his upper arms
and neck symbolising the power He has over the most
deadly of creatures. Snakes are also used to symbolise
the Hindu dogma of reincarnation. Their natural
process of molting or shedding their skin is symbolic
of the humansouls transmigration of bodies from one
life to another.
Gulab

66. Gulab

67. Celebrating the Night of Lord Shiva……
THANK YOU
Gulab