| Shiva
(Sanskrit for "auspicious one"), also called Siva, Hindu god
who personifies both the destructive and the procreative forces of the
universe. As the destroyer, he is represented wearing a necklace of
skulls and surrounded by demons. His reproductive aspect is symbolized
by the lingam, a phallic emblem. Shiva is also the god of
asceticism and of art, especially dancing. He rides on the bull Nandi,
and his consort is the mother goddess Uma, or Kali. Some Hindus worship
Shiva as the supreme deity and consider him a benevolent god of
salvation as well as a god of destruction.
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The Elephant headed God of wisdom. The remover of
obstacles.
Story : Once
Parvati, wife of Shiva, using the scurf of her body made the figure of a
boy and breathed life into him. She asked the boy to guard the house
while she bathed. Siva was absent at this point. When he returned, the
boy bared the way and in anger Siva cut off his head. When Parvati
emerged from her bathing and saw the corps, she said that she considered
the boy her son. Shiva promised to replace the head and sent his
attendents to bring the head of anyone found sleeping with their head
pointing north. The attendents found a baby elephant in that position
and bought his head, which Shiva attached and brought the boy back to
life and told Parvati that prayers will be offered to Ganesha
before any ceremony. |
