Who is Shiva? 🔱 🐍🪐 ☯️ 👁️

Shiva, one of the most powerful and mystical deities in Hinduism, holds a significant place in Vedic culture. His name means “The Auspicious One,” and he is known by many other names such as Shankar, Mahadev, Mahesh, Rudra, Natraj, Bholenath, and Chandrashekhar. Each name represents a different facet of his personality and the positive qualities he embodies. By understanding and embracing our own diverse facets and positive qualities, we build credibility of character.

Shiva as Nothingness

Modern science now reveals that everything originates from nothingness and ultimately returns to it. The foundation of existence and the essential quality of the cosmos is vast nothingness. The galaxies are merely a small occurrence, like a sprinkle in the expansive empty space, which is Shiva. This emptiness is the womb from which everything is born and the oblivion into which everything is absorbed. Thus, everything comes from Shiva and returns to Shiva.

Shiva as Darkness

Shiva is described not as a being, but as a non-being, as darkness rather than light. Humanity has often glorified light due to the nature of our visual apparatus. However, the only constant is darkness. Light is a transient event, always limited by its source, which will eventually fade. Darkness, on the other hand, is infinite and eternal; it pervades everything without requiring a source. It is the ever-present backdrop of existence.