Shiva, Lord of spirits

[Vinayaka]

I have also heard this I must say (though again, maybe a bad source?)

Could be true within aghori sects, or Saiva wandering sadhus especially in the North around Ganga, but they are less than 1%of all Shaivas. The main ingredient in vibhuthi is fine ash from cow dung.

 

[dyanaprajna2011]

I've been wanting to ask the Hindus here a question, but I've refrained from doing so, because I feel kind of silly asking. But, for a little while, not too long, I've felt a kind of draw toward Shiva, and I'm not quite sure why. I'm not sure if it's something just intellectual, or that I see him as an interesting deity, or if it's something deeper. And a thread about Shiva seemed like the right place to ask it. Just wanting to see some thoughts on it.

 

[Vinayaka]

I've been wanting to ask the Hindus here a question, but I've refrained from doing so, because I feel kind of silly asking. But, for a little while, not too long, I've felt a kind of draw toward Shiva, and I'm not quite sure why. I'm not sure if it's something just intellectual, or that I see him as an interesting deity, or if it's something deeper. And a thread about Shiva seemed like the right place to ask it. Just wanting to see some thoughts on it.

This is a good place to ask. To determine how strong this 'draw' is, I would highly recommend you pop over to Atlanta and wander into the Hindu Temple of Atlanta Siva temple. (They recognise the difference, and constructed two temples on the same property). Since this sort of draw is 'of the gut' and not an intellectual thing, that's what I'd recommend. It may very well tell you within a few minutes whether or not your thinking has substantial basis. My guess is you'll either feel a whole lot of energy, or not much at all.

For American English clear stuff on Siva, I would recommend Subramuniyaswami's long trilogy available on line at Himalayan Academy.

 

[Jainarayan]

I've been wanting to ask the Hindus here a question, but I've refrained from doing so, because I feel kind of silly asking. But, for a little while, not too long, I've felt a kind of draw toward Shiva, and I'm not quite sure why. I'm not sure if it's something just intellectual, or that I see him as an interesting deity, or if it's something deeper. And a thread about Shiva seemed like the right place to ask it. Just wanting to see some thoughts on it.

I can't explain it either. I've been very drawn to Him also, saying more prayers and mantras to Him and to Maa Parvati. The only thing I can think of in my case is because He is said to be the most devoted Vaishnava. Through Lord Shiva we can become greater devotees of Krishna. He is also auspicious, the destoyer of negativity and what is old and worn out, and a householder. That may explain it in my case. But He is indeed a very interesting and attracting Lord. He is known to draw people to Himself.

 

[dyanaprajna2011]

Does anyone know where I can download texts relating to Shiva and Saivism in English?

 

[Me Myself]

Does anyone know where I can download texts relating to Shiva and Saivism in English?

Let me now when you find out.

specialy if you find shiva purana

 

[dyanaprajna2011]

Here's one by Swami Sivananda about Shiva Puja, which contains the Shiva Upanishads. It's in PDF format, so make sure you have Adobe Acrobat Reader.

 

[Vinayaka]

Does anyone know where I can download texts relating to Shiva and Saivism in English?

Dancing with Siva, Hinduism's Contemporary Catechism

 

[sentry]

from what i understand shiva and ganapati are surrounded/served by ganas
ganapati, gana + pati i.e. chief of the ganas
ganas meaning what, i don't know, one translation of gana is troop
but there is a difference between ganas and asuras: i read somewhere that ganapati or was it his brother, karthik, i'm not sure, led the ganas to war against the asuras

another thought - shiva is bholenath, one who is easily pleased by worship, he treats everyone equally no matter who you are
for this reason we know that even immoral beings craving for power worship him, for example ravan, who was a big shiv bhakt

another thought - these ganas are there to test the courage of shiv bhakts; it would be pretty hard to sit still and try to concentrate/meditate when you're alone in a graveyard at night
maybe a test of mental power...

just guessing...

 

[DreadFish]

I've been wanting to ask the Hindus here a question, but I've refrained from doing so, because I feel kind of silly asking. But, for a little while, not too long, I've felt a kind of draw toward Shiva, and I'm not quite sure why. I'm not sure if it's something just intellectual, or that I see him as an interesting deity, or if it's something deeper. And a thread about Shiva seemed like the right place to ask it. Just wanting to see some thoughts on it.

Im with you on this as well. When I first was introduced to Dharmic religions, I specifically felt drawn to Shiva, but, while I really liked Shiva, the ontology of the monistic Shavism scared the crap out of me. The idea that I was God really bothered me and made me feel lonely.

Looking back now, I believe I approached it the wrong way, because when I considered the idea that I was God, I was still seeing through the lenses of being very attached to my individual ego, so the "I" that was Shiva was only the relative "Jonathan" (my name), the ego that I thought I was.

Now, having loosened the attachment to the "I" thought to the point that the feeling of "me" is very vague, I can understand more properly what is implied by Shiva being the Self and all things being Shiva, its something that's isn't the same kind of "self" that I used to think it was. It's a so-called "self" that is beyond the idea of "me" or "you." Likewise, I understand now that monism is a fallacy as much as dualism, and the actual nature of things really must lie in between as simple "non-dualism." Very interesting.

Its very possible that Shiva made me face the things that terrified me. Though I over came these fears through practicing Buddhadharma, I was introduced to them through Shiva.
Along these lines I also find it interesting that I read Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) was a Shivite before he learned Buddhadharma.

Anyway, this was not meant to be nearly as long as it is, it just kinda happened


tl;dr: I also like Shiva, he was my favorite form of God when I explored Sanatana Dharma and I still really like him. In some way, I aspire to be like Shiva

 

[dyanaprajna2011]

Im with you on this as well. When I first was introduced to Dharmic religions, I specifically felt drawn to Shiva, but, while I really liked Shiva, the ontology of the monistic Shavism scared the crap out of me. The idea that I was God really bothered me and made me feel lonely.

Looking back now, I believe I approached it the wrong way, because when I considered the idea that I was God, I was still seeing through the lenses of being very attached to my individual ego, so the "I" that was Shiva was only the relative "Jonathan" (my name), the ego that I thought I was.

Now, having loosened the attachment to the "I" thought to the point that the feeling of "me" is very vague, I can understand more properly what is implied by Shiva being the Self and all things being Shiva, its something that's isn't the same kind of "self" that I used to think it was. It's a so-called "self" that is beyond the idea of "me" or "you." Likewise, I understand now that monism is a fallacy as much as dualism, and the actual nature of things really must lie in between as simple "non-dualism." Very interesting.

Its very possible that Shiva made me face the things that terrified me. Though I over came these fears through practicing Buddhadharma, I was introduced to them through Shiva.
Along these lines I also find it interesting that I read Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) was a Shivite before he learned Buddhadharma.

Anyway, this was not meant to be nearly as long as it is, it just kinda happened


tl;dr: I also like Shiva, he was my favorite form of God when I explored Sanatana Dharma and I still really like him. In some way, I aspire to be like Shiva

That's interesting. The idea that the subjective, illusory "I" is God, never really bothered me, and as I've grown in the knowledge of Buddhadharma, I understand why. What I'm wondering, is if there is any real difference between the non-dualistic Shaivism, where we are all part of Shiva, and the Tathagatagarbha/Dharmakaya in Buddhism, where we are all Buddha. From what I understand, Shiva is Ultimate Reality, called God only because that's really the best word for it, but not to be understood as "God" as outside ourselves, something transcendent, "out there" somewhere, but our very being. To me this resonates with the idea that we are all Buddha, that Buddha is not some far off being, waiting on our worship and prayers, but who we are in a very real and concrete sense, that who we think we are is just an illusion, that we are really "Buddha" in a type of pantheistic sense. The only real difference, from what I can tell, is just that Buddhists use the word Buddha, and Shaivites use the word Shiva. Other than that, there's no real difference. Or maybe I'm just being idealistic about it.

EDIT: I didn't know that Padmasambhava was a Shaivite before coming to Buddhism. That's interesting.

 

[DreadFish]

What I'm wondering, is if there is any real difference between the non-dualistic Shaivism, where we are all part of Shiva, and the Tathagatagarbha/Dharmakaya in Buddhism, where we are all Buddha. From what I understand, Shiva is Ultimate Reality, called God only because that's really the best word for it, but not to be understood as "God" as outside ourselves, something transcendent, "out there" somewhere, but our very being. To me this resonates with the idea that we are all Buddha, that Buddha is not some far off being, waiting on our worship and prayers, but who we are in a very real and concrete sense, that who we think we are is just an illusion, that we are really "Buddha" in a type of pantheistic sense. The only real difference, from what I can tell, is just that Buddhists use the word Buddha, and Shaivites use the word Shiva. Other than that, there's no real difference. Or maybe I'm just being idealistic about it.

EDIT: I didn't know that Padmasambhava was a Shaivite before coming to Buddhism. That's interesting.

Yeah, I also considered that and it makes sense. Shiva is the true Self of all things. I think it goes along the same lines as what zen calls our "original face." Also, Ramana Maharshi, who was non-sectarian, did write a hymn in praise of Shiva. Im sure he wasn't writing it in praise of the "deity" Shiva.

Yeah, I have only read the things about Padmasambhava in one location and cant find it anywhere else, but this website has proven to be accurate in other instances, so I can only trust it.

Staff and Trident <The website is a Vajrayana website. It talks about it in the 2nd paragraph titled "Symbol of Guru Rinpoche." It says that is why he is depicted with the trishul that a Shivite sadhu carries around.

 

[atanu]

That's interesting. The idea that the subjective, illusory "I" is God, never really bothered me, and as I've grown in the knowledge of Buddhadharma, I understand why. What I'm wondering, is if there is any real difference between the non-dualistic Shaivism, where we are all part of Shiva, and the Tathagatagarbha/Dharmakaya in Buddhism, where we are all Buddha. From what I understand, Shiva is Ultimate Reality, called God only because that's really the best word for it, but not to be understood as "God" as outside ourselves, something transcendent, "out there" somewhere, but our very being. To me this resonates with the idea that we are all Buddha, that Buddha is not some far off being, waiting on our worship and prayers, but who we are in a very real and concrete sense, that who we think we are is just an illusion, that we are really "Buddha" in a type of pantheistic sense. The only real difference, from what I can tell, is just that Buddhists use the word Buddha, and Shaivites use the word Shiva. Other than that, there's no real difference. Or maybe I'm just being idealistic about it.

EDIT: I didn't know that Padmasambhava was a Shaivite before coming to Buddhism. That's interesting.

Most schools of Hinduism still believe in Immanent and Transcendental together. For example, air is within everything, yet it is a distinct entity from all things that it pervades.

Only when the boundaries are also seen as Shiva, all distinctions lost.

 

[Don Penguinoini]

You'll find in Hinduism, that everything symbolises just about everything. It's up to you to decide what you find important and what is relevant to you.

 

[Me Myself]

My super gf gave me an awesome christmass present and I wanted to share ^0^

Some months ago she saw me gazing a bigger Nataraja I wanted to have. So she bought me a smaller version. And I feel really lucky and awesome now! ^0^

Its a little bit bigger than the Ganesha one

edit: actually, around two of the Ganesha one in height

 

[Jainarayan]

I have always wanted one! I've seen them on-line, but most of them are too big. I'm still looking.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Vinayaka]

My super gf gave me an awesome christmass present and I wanted to share ^0^

Some months ago she saw me gazing a bigger Nataraja I wanted to have. So she bought me a smaller version. And I feel really lucky and awesome now! ^0^

Its a little bit bigger than the Ganesha one

edit: actually, around two of the Ganesha one in height

Nice... reminds me of some time, somewhere.

 

[DreadFish]

My super gf gave me an awesome christmass present and I wanted to share ^0^

Some months ago she saw me gazing a bigger Nataraja I wanted to have. So she bought me a smaller version. And I feel really lucky and awesome now! ^0^

Its a little bit bigger than the Ganesha one

edit: actually, around two of the Ganesha one in height

Ah, very nice

 

[Me Myself]

Thanks (how did I only noticed your answers here now? )

 

[Vinayaka]

Thanks (how did I only noticed your answers here now? )

One of Shiva's powers is as 'the great eraser' of the mind. For meditators trying to still the mind, and get rid of rushing thoughts, this is indeed a great boon. Perhaps you just tuned into that part.