Sunday 5 May 2013

Forms of Shiva

Photo: Forms of Shiva

Forms of Shiva are numerous, both in theory and in tradition. No one can truly enumerate how many forms there are in tradition. In Saiva Siddhanta tradition, 25 or 64 or 108 anthropomorphic (iconic) forms are highlighted. 

The 25 forms of Shiva are most significant. In ancient India, different groups came up with lists of 24 or 25 forms (probably due to competition). The Shaivas have 25 forms of Shiva, the Vaishnavas have 25 avatars of Vishnu, the Buddhists have 25 Buddhas, and the Jains have 24 Tirthankaras. 

In Sanatana Dharma, the number 25 is significant because 25 is the number of tattvas (principles of reality) in the Sankhya philosophy, and the number of Sanskrit consonants in the 5 x 5 scheme (5 sets of pentad consonants - 5 glutterals, 5 palatals, 5 cerebrals, 5 dentals, 5 labials).

Building up from the number 25, is the number 64. 64 is significant in Shaivite and Shakta Agamic traditions. There are 64 Yoginis, 64 Siddhas, 64 Bhairavas, 64 Bhairava Agamas, 64 Kaula Tantras, 64 Tantric kriyas (rites), 64 Kalas, 64 Tamil Shaivite Saints (63 Nayannars + Manikkavasagar), and thus 64 forms of Shiva are also listed, which are inclusive of the 25 forms. 64 is a holy number because it is 8 x 8. Eight, as we've already seen, is significant because it is the number of existent entities in creation, all of which are Shiva Himself. Eight is also the state of Shiva beyond the seven higher worlds of creation (bhu, bhuva, svaha, maha, jana, tapa, satya) and beyond the seven chakras (muladhara, svadhisthana, manipura, anahata, vishuddha, ajna, and saharsra).

Finally, building up from the number 64, is the number 108. 108 is significant in the Vedic tradition. There are 108 Upanishads of the Muktika canon, 108 (main) Pancharatra Agamas of the Vaishnavas, 108 Divyadeshas (holy pilgrimage spots) of the Sri-Vaishnavas, 108 beads on japa malas (chanting rosaries), 108 divisions of the eclipctic in Vedic astrology, 108 names in the ashtottarashata namavalis (list of Divine names), etc. Thus 108 forms of Shiva are also listed, which are inclusive of the 64 forms. 108 is a holy number because it represents the completeness or fullness of the manifest Divine (Virat Purusha). Note that 108 is equal to 100 + 8. 100 is the number of Rudras according to the Rudra Adhyaya of the Yajurveda, and 8 represents Shiva.

Om Namah Shivay. ***Write " Om Namah Shivay "in the comments box if you ask for God's blessing on your life today. 

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Forms of Shiva

Forms of Shiva are numerous, both in theory and in tradition. No one can truly enumerate how many forms there are in tradition. In Saiva Siddhanta tradition, 25 or 64 or 108 anthropomorphic (iconic) forms are highlighted. 

The 25 forms of Shiva are most significant. In ancient India, different groups came up with lists of 24 or 25 forms (probably due to competition). The Shaivas have 25 forms of Shiva, the Vaishnavas have 25 avatars of Vishnu, the Buddhists have 25 Buddhas, and the Jains have 24 Tirthankaras.

In Sanatana Dharma, the number 25 is significant because 25 is the number of tattvas (principles of reality) in the Sankhya philosophy, and the number of Sanskrit consonants in the 5 x 5 scheme (5 sets of pentad consonants - 5 glutterals, 5 palatals, 5 cerebrals, 5 dentals, 5 labials).

Building up from the number 25, is the number 64. 64 is significant in Shaivite and Shakta Agamic traditions. There are 64 Yoginis, 64 Siddhas, 64 Bhairavas, 64 Bhairava Agamas, 64 Kaula Tantras, 64 Tantric kriyas (rites), 64 Kalas, 64 Tamil Shaivite Saints (63 Nayannars + Manikkavasagar), and thus 64 forms of Shiva are also listed, which are inclusive of the 25 forms. 64 is a holy number because it is 8 x 8. Eight, as we've already seen, is significant because it is the number of existent entities in creation, all of which are Shiva Himself. Eight is also the state of Shiva beyond the seven higher worlds of creation (bhu, bhuva, svaha, maha, jana, tapa, satya) and beyond the seven chakras (muladhara, svadhisthana, manipura, anahata, vishuddha, ajna, and saharsra).

Finally, building up from the number 64, is the number 108. 108 is significant in the Vedic tradition. There are 108 Upanishads of the Muktika canon, 108 (main) Pancharatra Agamas of the Vaishnavas, 108 Divyadeshas (holy pilgrimage spots) of the Sri-Vaishnavas, 108 beads on japa malas (chanting rosaries), 108 divisions of the eclipctic in Vedic astrology, 108 names in the ashtottarashata namavalis (list of Divine names), etc. Thus 108 forms of Shiva are also listed, which are inclusive of the 64 forms. 108 is a holy number because it represents the completeness or fullness of the manifest Divine (Virat Purusha). Note that 108 is equal to 100 + 8. 100 is the number of Rudras according to the Rudra Adhyaya of the Yajurveda, and 8 represents Shiva.

Om Namah Shivay


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