Shiva… Lord of Yogis… destroyer of worlds
By Sheri Hooper

Lord shiva is ‘shakti’ or power, Shiva is the destroyer, the most powerful god of the Hindu pantheon and one of the godheads in the Hindu Trinity. He is also often portrayed as the supreme ascetic with a passive and composed disposition. Sometimes he is depicted riding a bull called Nandi decked in garlands. Although a very complicated deity, Shiva is one of the most fascinating of Hindu gods.

Shiva is believed to be at the core of the centrifical force of the universe, because of his responsibility for death and destruction. Unlike the godhead Brahma (the Creator) or Vishnu (the Preserver), Shiva is the dissolving force in life. But Shiva dissolves in order to create — death being the medium for rebirth into a new life. The opposites of life and death/creation and destruction both reside in his character.

Since Shiva is regarded as a mighty destructive power. To numb his negative potential he is fed with opium and is also termed as ‘Bhole Shankar’ or one who is oblivious of the world. On Maha Shivratri (the night of Shiva worship), devotees (men in particular) prepare an intoxicating drink called ‘Thandai’ (made from cannabis, almonds, and milk) and sing songs in praise of Lord Shiva while dancing to the rhythm of the drums.

The Maha Mrityunjaya MantraMaha Mrityunjaya Mantra is the powerful mantra of Lord Shiva and a call for enlightenment. Chanting this mantra purifies the karma of the soul on a deep level. The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra (Mantra of Great Victory Over Death) is one of the most ancient mantras and is well known in the Vedic canon. The mantra of lord shiva goes like this:
“Om tryambhakam yajamahe, sugandhim pushtivardhanam,
urvarukamiva bandhanan, mrityor mukshiya maamritat.”

By Sheri Hooper

Sheri is a graduate of the Feel Good Yoga Teacher Training program. To learn more about Shiva and all things yoga related, join us for our next Yoga Teacher Training program.