Lord Shiva is often depicted in a deep meditative state, but why does he meditate? Well, as the Lord of Meditation and the Supreme Soul, Shiva is the full and complete Ultimate Reality. He is always content and happy, with no need to seek happiness externally. Everything resides within him, so there is no object of meditation. Instead, he meditates upon himself, chanting mantras such as Shivoham (I am Shiva) or Soham (He is I). This state of intense stillness can be replicated through Shiva Meditation, a process that helps individuals open their third eye and achieve a higher level of consciousness.
What You'll Learn
Lord Shiva is the Supreme Soul and is always content
Shiva is the Lord of Meditation and is often depicted as an ascetic yogi, engrossed in deep meditation. He is the master and teacher of all great yogis and is himself a student of yoga, having achieved samadhi. Shiva is always content as he is the full and complete Ultimate Reality himself. He does not need to seek happiness anywhere outside of himself, as everything resides within him.
Shiva is also known as Adiyogi, the patron god of yoga, meditation and the arts. He is the Supreme Yoga Master and is always in asamprajnata samadhi (subjective meditation), abiding within himself. Through his meditative pose, Shiva conveys the great advaitha (non-duality) philosophy, teaching that the individual self is not different from the Universal Self.
Shiva is also the Supreme Father, Mother, Teacher, and Guide of all human souls. He is the form through which the Supreme Lord works to inject living entities into the material world. He is in charge of the tamo-guna, the mode of ignorance, and is thus in the category of incarnations known as gunavataras. As the god of annihilation, Shiva is responsible for destroying the universes during partial and complete devastations.
Shiva is benevolent and is always benevolent towards all living entities, offering protection and safety to all living entities struggling for existence. He is also known for his mercy and anger, which he uses to rectify people and exhibit his devotion to the Supreme Lord Vishnu.
Amethyst Cluster Meditation: A Beginner's Guide
You may want to see also
He is the Lord of Meditation
Lord Shiva is the Lord of Meditation. He is the Supreme Soul, the Ultimate Reality, and the Universal Self. He is the master of yoga and the guru of all yogis. He is also known as Adiyogi Shiva, the patron god of yoga, meditation, and arts.
Shiva is often depicted in a deep meditative state, and this is because he has attained samadhi, a state of intense stillness and absolute bliss. He meditates upon himself, as he is the full and complete Ultimate Reality. There is no need for him to seek happiness or anything else outside of himself, as everything resides within him.
Shiva meditation, which replicates his intense stillness, is a process that helps open the third eye and enables the mind to function at its highest potential. It helps one to master their mind and keep negative thoughts at bay. It is said to bring about self-awareness, improve mindfulness, and allow one to live a more meaningful life.
Shiva is a yogi, a cosmic dancer, a family man, an ascetic, and a patron of the arts. He is also widely represented in the aniconic form of 'lingam'. At the highest level, he is a formless and limitless primal soul of the universe. He is known by many names, including Shankar, Shambho, Maheshwar, Mahadev, and Bhairav.
Shiva's symbolic representation includes that of a muscled man clothed in tiger skin, with snakes adorning his body and ash smeared on it. He carries a trident called the 'Trishul' and a drum called the 'Damaru'. His neck is blue, and he has long, thick, matted locks. The Ganges river flows from his head, and the moon shines from the top of his head. He also has a third eye, which is the mind's eye, enabling the perception and understanding of the self and the world at a subconscious level.
Shiva meditation involves focusing on the breath and the center of the eyebrows to attain awareness and inner peace. It is recommended to stretch the body before sitting in meditation and to find a quiet place in nature, away from distractions. One can sit in a comfortable position, such as Sukhasana, Padmasana, Ardha Padmasana, or Vajrasana, with the hands in a mudra position on the knees or clasped together near the inner thighs. Breathing slowly and consciously, one can inhale and exhale to the count of 6, focusing on the movement of the air and feeling the life force filling the body. This helps to induce a sense of calmness and stillness.
Shiva meditation can be concluded by chanting 'Om Namah Shivaya', which means calling upon Shiva with reverence. Om is the first sound of creation, and chanting it is echoing creation, life, and energy. Chanting 'Namah Shivaya' is an offering of devotion to Shiva. This mantra helps one to feel Shiva within themselves and to merge with the divine.
The Benefits of Meditation for Maintaining a Youthful Brain
You may want to see also
Shiva is the Ultimate Reality
Lord Shiva is the Ultimate Reality. He is the Supreme Soul, the Lord of Meditation, and the Supreme Yoga Master. He is the goal and the Lord of yoga and is also known as Adiyogi Shiva, the patron god of yoga, meditation, and arts. Shiva is a formless and limitless primal soul of the universe. He is the static Universal Self, and his dynamic power is Devi Parvati.
Shiva is always in a state of asamprajnata samadhi (subjective meditation), abiding within himself. In this state, there is a feeling of "I am the only One", which is beyond all dualities of "two" or "the other". There is no sense of "I am different" or "I and the other". This meditative pose conveys the great advaitha (non-duality) philosophy, i.e., my self is not different from the Universal Self.
Shiva is always in deep meditation, and this is depicted in his portraits. He is in a sitting posture, engrossed in deep meditation, with his neck blue and long, thick, matted locks. The Ganges flows from his head, and the moon shines from the top of his head. He carries a spear called the 'Trishul' and a drum called the 'Damaru'. He is often shown wearing tiger skin with snakes adorning his body and ash smeared on it.
Shiva meditation is a process that replicates his intense stillness. This meditation opens your third eye and enables your mind to function in the highest possible manner. It helps you master your mind and stop thoughts from affecting you. It is said to help you evolve as a person, improve mindfulness, and conduct your daily life meaningfully.
Shiva is the first guru of yoga. A yogic lore mentions that over 15,000 years ago, he attained enlightenment and danced ecstatically on the Himalayas, creating 84 lakh asanas with his movements.
Choosing a Mantra: Meditation's Core
You may want to see also
Shiva is the first guru of yoga
Shiva is known as the first guru of yoga, or the Adi Guru, in the yogic culture. He is also referred to as the Adi Yogi, or the first yogi.
Shiva is one of the principal deities of Hinduism and is considered the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hinduism. He is also known as Mahadeva, or "The Great God".
In ancient India, Shiva was seen as the first Guru, rather than a God. He is said to have danced ecstatically across the mountains and sat in absolute stillness. The gods who saw him were intrigued by his behaviour, and eventually, Shiva taught them various types of yoga. His first teaching was to his wife, Parvati, and the second was to the Sapta Rishis, or the first seven sages.
Shiva is the lord of asana practice, with 84 lakh asanas said to have derived from his movements. He is also the lord of meditation and is often depicted in a seated posture, engrossed in deep meditation. He is the Supreme Consciousness behind the universe and is the source of all mantras.
Shiva is also known as Adiyogi, or the first yogi, and is regarded as the patron god of yoga, meditation, and the arts. He is the inner guru of yoga, and all true gurus are said to function with his grace and insight.
High Mindedness: Exploring the Intersection of Cannabis and Meditation
You may want to see also
Shiva is a formless and limitless primal soul
Shiva is regarded as the supreme spirit in Hinduism. He is a formless, limitless, and transcendent primal soul of the physical universe and the cause of all causes. Shiva is the entire universe; he is in every atom of the universe.
Shiva is a principle (Tattva) from where everything has come, everything is sustained in it, and everything dissolves into it. He is the space and the consciousness. There is no way to step out of Shiva because he is the summum bonum of the whole creation.
Shiva doesn't have a body and was never a person. To symbolize the infinite divinity, a form was created to make the concept more comprehensible for children and others. However, in reality, Shiva is formless. He is the consciousness that is present all over and is an energy field.
Shiva is eternal and never-ending. He is the fourth state of consciousness, Turiya avasta, beyond the waking, sleeping, and dreaming states. This fourth state is a meditative state where the mind is awake, but the body is resting. It is a state of Samadhi, where one is free from worries and experiences profound rest.
Shiva is the soul of everything, and there is no difference between the soul and Shiva. It is a miracle that the same consciousness is present in every being. Shiva is the universal soul or consciousness, and realizing this Shiva Tattva leads to Ananda (bliss).
Unlocking the Potential: Meditation's Calorie-Burning Effects Revealed
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Lord Shiva meditates to maintain his state of supreme bliss and contentment. As the Ultimate Reality, he does not need to seek happiness from external sources.
Lord Shiva, as the Lord of Meditation, conveys the philosophy of non-duality through his meditative pose. His meditation helps others open their third eye and achieve a higher state of consciousness.
Devotees who meditate on Lord Shiva can replicate his intense stillness and achieve a sense of self-awareness and oneness with the universe.
Lord Shiva may chant mantras such as "Shivoham" (I am Shiva) or "Soham" (He is I). He sits in a meditative pose, often in a state of absolute stillness, and may visualise himself or other manifestations.
Meditating on Lord Shiva can help individuals gain control over their thoughts, improve their memory, enhance their spiritual connection, and achieve a sense of calm and relaxation.