Shiva is worshipped as ‘Parameshwara’, the Lord of the universe. The iconic picture of Shiva with three eyes represent the sun, the moon and the fire, the three sources of light, life and heat. The garland of skulls (mundamala) that he wears and the ashes from the funeral pyre smeared over his body, indicate that he is the Lord of destruction. The kapala, skull, is another symbol that points to his all-destroying power. Mundamala, also called kapalamala or rundamala, is a garland of severed human heads or skulls, worn by Shiva. In Hinduism, the mundamala is a characteristic of fearsome aspects of divine Maa Kali also, and Shiva. Shiva and his fierce manifestations are often depicted wearing the mundamala; Shiva is covered with ashes and skulls adore him. Pahari paintings often picture Shiva's family making mundamalas. His son Kartikeya helps him or his mother Parvati handing over a head, while the latter threads them. Another scene depicts the parents making the mundamala, while Kartikeya and his brother Ganesha play nearby. The ferocious manifestation of Shiva, Bhairava (The Terrible) as well as Bhairava's various forms like Vatuk-Bhairava are depicted wearing the mundamala. Other fierce forms of Shiva wearing the mundamalas include Virabhadra. The skulls are representative of his being the lord of destruction and the cyclical nature of the appearance and disappearance of the material creation. Shiva's garland or Mundamala consists of heads from the bodies of mother Sati, in her previous incarnations. Shakti's incarnations kept dying although Shiva lived on and on forever. Mundmala, the garland of human skulls around his neck indicate that he controls death and time. Shiva is also shown with serpents entwined around his arms, neck and hair. Snakes often invoke fear. So this represents how Shiva is free from fear. The snake also signifies time. If a poisonous snake bites someone, it is only a matter of time before that person will die. And time catches up with everyone sooner or later. So Lord Shiva is the Lord of time and death. These serpents also indicate that he is surrounded by death but beyond the power of it. 🙏🏻
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🎨🙏🏻Hari Om Tat Sat ~ Jai Adiyogi ~ Jai Bholenath!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
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