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This ancient carving of Shiva sitting in the lotus position
was found in the buried ruins of lost city of Mohenjo-Daro, dating
back to 2300BC.
| Shiva, lord of the yogis, is constantly tempted away from his
ascetic goals, and much of his time in the Pine Forest is spent
vacillating between desire and denial. Often Shiva appears lustful, but is often revealed to be chaste. There are two reasons for this deception; sometimes he pretends to seduce the sages' wives in order to reduce their tapas, and sometimes in order to teach them a lesson. At other times he seems intent only on seduction: "When Shiva failed to be satisfied by making love to Gauri [his wife], he then went naked into the Pine Forest in the guise of a madman, his linga erect, his mind full of desire, wishing to obtain sexual pleasure with the wives of the sages." |
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Like Krishna, Shiva is also a Great Lover and frequently arouses
desire -
"Shiva [dressed as a beggar] went from one street to another.
The sages' wives followed him and then lost their chastity. Conception
took place in them and, without the pain of pregnancy, they gave
birth to 48,000 sons, who immediately devoted themselves to tapas
on the advice of their father."
Left: Shiva sitting before a shiva-lingum covered with offerings. |
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This is a stone that sits at the alter of nearly every Hindu temple. It acts as a symbol of Shiva and his power. It is usually made of black granite or black marble, and can appear in a variety of forms. As "Lingum" is a term for the male sex-organ, and the Yoni (its pedestal) is a term for the female organ, it is clear their union represents the creative aspect of Shiva.
About the Linga Left: Shiva beside a bull A.D.500 |
Shiva with his family (Parvati and Ganesha) |
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