Lord Shiva is everything and exists in everything. He is the Supreme Being, with no equal. Lord Shiva has five main powers: to create, preserve, destroy, hide, and reveal (bless).

Lord Shiva is one, but we understand Him in three ways:

1. Absolute Reality (Nirguna Shiva):

Shiva, as Absolute Reality, goes beyond what we can see or touch. He is the ultimate truth that exists everywhere but has no specific form.

There’s a story in the Shiva Purana where Brahma and Vishnu were arguing about who was more powerful. Suddenly, a huge pillar of light appeared that had no beginning or end. They tried to find the top and bottom but failed. This pillar was Shiva, showing that He is beyond all forms and cannot be measured.

2. Pure Consciousness (Saguna Shiva):

Shiva, as Pure Consciousness, is the energy and intelligence that moves through everything in the universe. He is the love and light that keeps everything alive and working.

Shiva is often shown as Nataraja, the Lord of Dance. In this form, He dances to keep the universe in motion. His dance represents the cycles of creation, preservation, and destruction, showing that He is the power behind all changes in the world.

3. Primal Soul (Panchamukha Shiva):

Shiva, as the Primal Soul, appears in different forms to carry out different tasks in the universe. He creates, preserves, destroys, hides, and reveals the truth.

In the Scriptures, Shiva is said to have five faces, each representing a different power:

• Brahma: The face that creates the world.
• Vishnu: The face that preserves the world.
• Rudra: The face that destroys the world.
• Maheshvara: The face that hides the truth about the real nature of the world.
• Sadasiva: The face that reveals the truth about the real nature of the world.

In one legend, during a great battle, Shiva took on the fierce form of Rudra to destroy the demons. But when the battle was over, He became Maheshvara, hiding the truth from the world so that people could continue their lives without fear. Later, He revealed the truth as Sadasiva, allowing His devotees to see the divine light.

Shiva is everything and is present in everything. He creates, sustains, and destroys the universe, guiding us like a parent, hiding the truth about him when we are not ready, and revealing it when we are.

Knowledge Bank

How many Gods are there?

In the court of the illustrious king-sage Janaka, a debate among scholars took place. Vidagdha Sakalya questioned Yajnavalkya, 'How many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?' Yajnavalkya replied with a list from the Nivid, 'There are 303 and 3003 gods.' Sakalya then asked, 'How many are there truly?' Yajnavalkya said, 'There are thirty-three.' Sakalya continued, 'How many are there in essence?' Yajnavalkya answered, 'There are six.' When Sakalya asked, 'How many are there in reality?' Yajnavalkya replied, 'There is only one.' Finally, when asked to identify these thirty-three gods, Yajnavalkya explained, 'They are expressions of the greatness of the one Rudra.'

Mount Kailasa: A Sacred Symbol Across Cultures

Mount Kailasa is revered as a sacred spiritual center by multiple ethnicities and religions, particularly those around the Himalayas. Hindus across India and Nepal worship it as the abode of Lord Shiva, making it a significant pilgrimage site. Tibetan Buddhists, along with Buddhists from Bhutan, Mongolia, and parts of China, regard it as Kang Rinpoche, the home of Buddha Demchok, and a place of immense spiritual power. Jains honor it as the site where their first Tirthankara, Rishabhadeva, attained Nirvana. The Bön religion of Tibet considers Kailasa a center of spiritual energy. Local Himalayan ethnic groups, including those from Tibet, Nepal, and India, also hold Mount Kailasa in high cultural and spiritual regard, integrating it deeply into their traditions, folklore, and rituals.