Shiva is Vaidyanatha

 

Shiva is Vaidyanatha- The Lord of Healing, who heals the body, but also, knowing the heart of all, balms their very souls.

शिव वैद्यनाथ हैं — चिकित्सा के स्वामी, जो शरीर का तो उपचार करते ही हैं, साथ ही सभी के हृदय को जानते हुए उनकी आत्माओं पर भी अनुलेप लगाते हैं।

~ Shail Gulhati: Shiva and Mysticism.

SHIVA WORSHIPS THE SHIVALINGA

This depiction of Shiva worshipping the Shivalinga , is a favourite Shaivic imagery. It full of spiritual meaning.
Why does Shivji sit behind His own Shivalinga in prayer?
Because, in the simplest words: He is committed to His own creation. He, is His own first votary.

If you compare this to a modern day analogy, where during an election, the contender for  'Head of state'  also goes to caste his vote, we note that he is up early, one of the first to caste his own ballot selection! But this comparison, i give only to make you understand that a good leader believes in what he stands for, he signs up for the teachings and vision he himself gives us.

The difference is that in Divinity, there is no election, no selection,and no contest. But a seeker must respect the Divine ideal he seeks, and this can only happen if the Divine itself upholds its foundations! So too, Shivji respects what His own Shaivism stands for, He is the first adherent, the first to vouch for the Shiva way,
and we understand that He is His own first votary. He believes in His own manifesto, and stands by His principles.He leads by example and from the front.
But of course, the analogy ends here, you cannot be " Voted" God !
And although i truly loved reading them, I do not personally subscribe to some stories theorising that Shiva was a man , raised to the level of God by his feats and followers. Rather, my work is based on the understanding that Shiva was always God, but endearingly Human, lovable like a good man in our midst!
And this understanding is based on the notings of the ancient Rishis; They said a surprising thing in the Vedanta and Upanishads:
You cannot Become God, You are always that!

What did they mean by this?
Their teaching was expanded for us by the Rishis of Kashmir in their Shaiv Darshan.They explained that sometimes, God makes Himself forget that He is God, just before he descends to earth. This paves the way for play- Lila.
So once God ( Shiva) comes to earth as another jiva, he undergoes the same world and stages as everyone else, the same joys and sorrows, and finally he begins to question if there is a creator to all this. God looks for God! The Nath Sampradaya states:
Shiva seems to play the lila of losing Himself, then looking for Himself , and finally finding Himself out. According to them, God finds His own true nature when He is in deep Dhyana, Samadhi ; and it is that great realisation which the great Adi shankara termed as Chidanand roopam shivoham. It is also called Satchitananda or Satyam Shivam Sundaram.
We note also, that ultimately we are all seekers of the same truth and helped by Gurus and saints who have journeyed before us.
When He comes on the same journey, In this lovely Lila, God is also helped by His own Rishis as Gurus.
The teacher becomes the taught! This is not difficult to understand, rather, this is the real beauty of God's Lila and love. That is why you have examples of Ramji being taught by Rishi Vashisht, Krishnji being taught by Guru Sandeepan: So that they may remain centered in their Godhood.

Incidentally, the term Yoga, means " To conjoin with the Divine" and Shivji is also called Yogeshwar, the God of the Yogis, which title further simplifies the point that Shivji is always centered in His Supreme God consciousness.Always meditating for the welfare of the Universe. And we note how beautifully the Shivalinga is meant to represent the whole manifest world.


Aum Shiv Shakti Namah.
~ Shail gulhati author of the books :

SHIVA, The Ultimate Time Traveller. The Yogi and the snake Shiva Poetry
NAAM ROOP- A Tribute to the Divine
And Life Said.

AIYA TIRUVILA KOIL, RASAH NEW VILLAGE, SEREMBAN, MALAYSIA - ANNUAL ANNATHANAM TODAY (6 SEPTEMBER 2026)

The Annual Annathanam of the Aiya Tiruvila Koil, Rasah New Village, Rasah, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan was held this afternoon (6 September 2026).

Our Payyan family member attended and witnessed the Prayers. 

A delicious lunch meal was served to everyone.

Photos and videos of the Prayers:

- photos & videos taken by Mr. C K Kannan.

RAJA HIMAVAT WELCOMES SHIVA

RAJA HIMAVAT WELCOMES SHIVA

“My Lord, there is a strange and reclusive yogi, riding a hefty bull, who wants an audience with you,” said the royal guard.

“A yogi? On a hefty bull? It must be Shiva! Ah, have Him brought here with respect,” said Himavat.

“Greetings, your Highness,” said Shiva in a soft voice.

“Greetings, O Yogi of yogis, Shiva! I am blessed to have you in my Kingdom. Any service for me?”

~ SHIVA, The Ultimate Time Traveller. Part 2

Shiva is NĪLAGRĪVA-The Blue-Necked One.

 

Shiva is NĪLAGRĪVA-The Blue-Necked One.

The name occurs in the ancient Vedic invocation to Rudra, most famously in the Śrī Rudram: Nīlagrīvāya Śitikaṇṭhāya—salutations to the blue-necked, fair-throated Rudra, and is prior to even Samudra manthan. शिव नीलग्रीव हैं- नीले गले वाले

यह नाम रुद्र के प्राचीन वैदिक आह्वान में आता है, सबसे प्रसिद्ध रूप से श्री रुद्रम् में: नीलग्रीवाय शितिकंठाय श्वेत कंठ वाले रुद्र को नमस्कार। यह नाम समुद्र मंथन से भी पहले का है।

~ Shail Gulhati: Shiva and Mysticism.

Bimba Pratibimba! The world is created by Shiva Lila.

 

A lot of people, especially spiritual seekers often ask , "Why did God create the world?”
Shaivites say, Shiva creates the whole world out of a play, a lila, just to know Himself and expand Himself, by enabling what all can be done in life . He does this through His Shakti, His Divine power,  His " Ability to do". This Shakti is not only the core power and energy at the deep center of all things in the  entire Universe, She is also the devoted Bhaktini and Maha Yogini Parvati, Shiva’s beloved wife.

The important understanding of the Kashmir Shaiv Darsana , commonly called  Kashmir Shaivism,  is that Lord Shiva creates the Universe to be able to see His own Self in a myriad of lilas. The world, is His mirror! Now, the rishis of Kashmir had a term, ‘Bimba’. Bimba is the real Self , or Shiva Himself, in His supreme transcendent formlessnes .
And the whole manfest world is Pratibimba.
Pratibimba is the reflection of Bimba. This Non- dual school of Shaiva philosophy further states, that the eternal subject ( Bimba) sees Himself in the reflection ( Pratibimba).
So, Shiva ‘sees’ Himself in the world that He Himself creates.
Parvati is the swaroopa (embodiment) of His Shakti , and we sometimes see a very beautiful portrayal of her as holding a small mirror  to Shiva as He dresses up; So this holding of a mirror to Him means, she is the one who shows Him what all He really is.
This entire Universe is a mirror that shows God what all He is, and it is God's Shakti which 'holds' the mirror up!
And this is the summary of the world play, from the perspective of Divinity ,enlightenment, an awakened mind, an aware Atma (soul), and of the ancient hindu rishis.
And of course, Shiva is the highly awakened Atma; He is Para Atma ( Master of souls-GOD ).
It may interest you to know that not only is Shiva the greatest Yogi ( One who is in conjunction with His own Godliness), but He is also the greatest bhokta (experient ) of worldly flavour.
The Kashmir Shaiv Darsana : Kashmir Shaivism speaks of this , and says Shiva is the Para pramatra- the highest experient .
Such is the Maya of Shivji that He can actually enhance His Yoga even through bhoga ( bhoktan) of the Universe that He Himself creates. But His bhoktan is always steeped in God consciousness. Even in this material world, in any activity, Shiva is always centered on Godliness! And this teaching is shared in some of His yoga dharanas to Devi in the Vijnanbhairava texts.
So, Kashmir Shaivism has a unique way of explaining the Creator and creation, God and the world. When  all of the world, is actually a reflection of God and  Lord Shiva is not only the Best Yogi, he is also the Highest experient, the greatest Bhogi of all. It is Shivji who experiences the most in all things, and that is the play of His own Shakti, that is indeed Lila. Through these worldly, experiences, He "Re-cognizes" His own Divinity in many many ways, and then further improves the Universe.

The Siva Sutra in verse 11 states “ त्रितयभोक्ता वीरेशः”
Tritayabhoktā vīreśaḥ,  Shiva is experiencing Himself in all three states of waking, dream and deep sleep. Through all His experiences, Shiva is always centered in His Divinity, and the worldliness never draws Him away from the reality that He has always been, The Supreme.
Aum Namah Shivaye!
~  Shail Gulhati is the author of the books :
SHIVA, The Ultimate Time Traveller.
The Yogi and the snake
Shiva Poetry
NAAM ROOP- A Tribute to the Divine
And Life Said.

Janmashtami: Celebrate Lord Krishna's birth with joy and devotion! - 4 September 2026

A sensory feast for the soul

Embrace the spirit of Krishna Janmashtami, a vibrant Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. Also known as Krishnashtami, Janmashtami, or Gokulashtami, it's a revered and cherished festival in the Vaishnavism tradition. Prepare to be swept away by the celebratory customs – grand festivals, readings of Bhagwad Gita, captivating dance-dramas depicting Krishna's life, devotional singing culminating at midnight (Krishna's birth hour), and even traditional fasting (upavas).

The joyous celebrations of Krishna Janmashtami engulf India as Hindus across the nation embrace a vibrant mix of traditions. Join millions of devotees as they observe fasts, immerse in joyful singing and heartfelt prayers, visit Krishna temples beautifully decorated with flowers and lights, and offer prayers to the deity. The aroma of delicious food fills the air, a prelude to the celebratory meals prepared and shared with loved ones. Participate in night vigils and stay up late in anticipation of Krishna's birth.

Krishna Janmashtami isn't just a celebration, it's an immersive experience that awakens all your senses. Come, be a part of this spectacular festival unfolding across India!

Let the festivities begin!

The festival falls on the eighth day of Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) in either the Shravan or Bhadrapada month according to the Hindu calendar. While the festival is celebrated across India, to experience Janmashtami at its best, you may embark on a pilgrimage to Mathura and Vrindavan, the heartland of Krishna's story, and witness these holy cities come alive with throngs of devotees. In some temples, the days leading up to Janmashtami are filled with the rhythmic recitations of the sacred Bhagavad Gita.

You’ll be dazzled by captivating dance-dramas like Raas Leela (Rasa Lila) or Krishna Lila. These vibrant performances, often enacted by passionate local communities, bring to life stories from Krishna's life, usually based on the sacred text Bhagavat Purana. The tradition of Rasa Lila is particularly popular in the Mathura region, northeastern states like Manipur and Assam, and parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat. These theatrical displays begin days before Janmashtami, adding to the growing anticipation as the festival approaches.

After the symbolic midnight birth of Krishna, devotees bathe and dress murtis (idols) depicting the infant Lord. These murtis are then placed in cradles, and the faithful break their fasts, sharing sweets and delectable food in a joyous celebration. Women add a special touch by drawing tiny footprints outside their homes, symbolising Krishna's journey into their dwellings and their hearts. The sight of children dressed up as little Radha and Krishna, and their infectious enthusiasm will steal your heart away!

Behold the human pyramids of Dahi Handi

Krishna Janmashtami's festivities culminate in the electrifying Dahi Handi, celebrated the following day. Prepare to stand in awe as this unique ritual unfolds before your eyes!

A large earthenware pot, overflowing with a delicious concoction of milk, curd, butter, honey, and fruits, is hoisted high – anywhere from 20 to 40 feet! Here's where the real spectacle begins. Energetic young men and boys form a daring human pyramid, each participant standing on the shoulders of the one below. Watch in amazement as they climb higher and higher, their teamwork and agility on display for all to see. The topmost player reaches the coveted pot, smashes it open, and showers himself and his team with the sweet reward. But the fun doesn't stop there! Often, currency notes are tied to the rope suspending the pot, adding a financial incentive to this exhilarating feat. The prize money is then shared amongst the courageous participants who formed the human pyramid. Head to Mumbai, Goa or Gujarat to experience this spectacle as these are the places where Dahi Handi is mainly celebrated.

Dahi Handi draws inspiration from Lord Krishna's playful childhood. Legend has it that Krishna, known for his love of butter, would steal pots of milk and curd from neighbouring houses. To safeguard their treats, the women would hang them high above his reach. But Krishna, ever resourceful, would form human pyramids with his friends to reach the delicious pots! So, don't miss the chance to witness Dahi Handi, a truly unforgettable experience during Krishna Janmashtami celebrations.

A feast fit for a playful God!

Many sumptuous dishes are offered to Lord Krishna, with a special emphasis on 'makhan' (butter) - a nod to his childhood fondness for it. The deity is also celebrated with a culinary extravaganza called Chhapan Bhog, a grand offering of 56 delectable dishes. Travel to Puri, Odisha, and witness this tradition in all its glory. Here, the iconic Jagannath Temple becomes the centre stage for a mouthwatering display. Fifty-six varieties of sweets and savoury treats are lovingly prepared and offered to Lord Krishna, Balarama, and Subhadra.

'Bhog' itself signifies a wholehearted offering of food to the deity, making the feast not just delicious but deeply meaningful. Keeping in mind Krishna's playful childhood spent around cows and relishing dairy products, the bhog features a delightful array of treats such as the melt-in-your-mouth pedas (milk-based sweets), the rich and sweet panjiri (made with dry fruits), or the creamy kheer (rice pudding). For a taste of the savoury, picture crispy sabudana vadas (sago fritters) bursting with flavour, or the delightful contrast of sweet and salty in seedai and thattai (snacks made with Bengal gram flour and rice).

Krishna's birth: A night of destiny

The story of Lord Krishna’s birth, mentioned in ancient scriptures such as the Mahabharata, and the Puranas, is a fascinating tale of miracles and hope.

Krishna's arrival was shrouded in danger. His birthplace was a prison in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, where his parents, Devaki and Vasudeva, were held captive by Kansa, the tyrannical king and Krishna’s maternal uncle. A prophecy warned Kansa that Devaki's eighth son would kill him. Driven by fear, Kansa imprisoned the couple and ruthlessly killed their first six children. However, divine intervention ensured the seventh child, Balarama, was safely transferred to another of Vasudeva's wives, Rohini.

Finally, the eighth night arrived, and as a dramatic thunderstorm raged, Krishna was born. Miraculous events unfolded, symbolising the arrival of a divine being. The prison shackles on Vasudeva shattered, guards fell into a deep sleep, the prison gates swung open, and even the overflowing Yamuna River parted, creating a safe path for Vasudeva to carry his newborn son to safety. This night marked the beginning of Krishna's extraordinary life, a life destined to challenge evil and establish righteousness.

Come and experience the enchanting festivities of Krishna Janmashtami in India, where vibrant celebrations and cultural traditions await! - incredibleindia.gov.in/