Is Lord Shiva living on Mount Kailash (Earth)???

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Stalwart.

@Stalwart.

Inactive

Posted: 11 years ago

Please clarify this!!

Actually they say Lord Shiv is Ananta and is present everywhere.Moreover he is God then why do they depict him as a man living on Mount Kailash?

Recently I read an article.It says...

Shiva is purely symbolic.It represents the formless divine.This is the reason why Shiva is worshipped in Linga form.Shiva is not a person who lives at a place.

Mount Kailash is actually the Sahasra Chakra in our body, which is center of Supreme Consciousness (SHIVA). When Kundalini(SHAKTI) reaches there She(Parvati) meets shiva.This is represented as Shiva Parvati Kalyan!

The Physical counterpart is Mount Kailash, where the energy of Shiva is centered in material earth.

According to Hindu mythology, Shiva, the god of destruction and regeneration, resides at the summit of a legendary mountain named Kail. Mount Kail is regarded in many sects of Hinduism as Paradise, the ultimate destination of souls and the spiritual center of the world.

Then why in our Puranas Shiva is depicted in male form with wife and children.Are they all symbolic forms and relations!?!?😕

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Debra LeMore

@Debralemore

Beginner

Posted: 11 years ago

In Truth and in Absolute Reality, we are all and each 'Ananta, present everywhere'. We are not who we know as this human body, personality and character currently in embodiment.

I believe that Shiva manifested Himself on earth. It may have been in a higher vibratory dimension, thus Mount Kail. We don't know this. I believe out of the benevolence of His Heart, he descended and portrayed himself as a human, so we can connect to him as a reality. Oftentimes I think how genius he was to establish the lingam in addition to the Trishula, Serpent around his neck, etc. which always activates and enfires our chakras in devotion to him, yet they are not the person and character. This is the ultimate goal - to know the Supreme not as a personality but as an Absolute all compassing Divine Energy which we ourselves are. So the lingam itself represents a Universal Power however it is not the character and personality - yet to us Shiva is a personality only so we can relate and connect to 'God' as we are in the human consciousness, all the while adoring the Lingam, which is Universal.

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varaali

@varaali

Dazzler

+ 2

Posted: 11 years ago

Our scriptures say there are two ways of worshiping the God - Saguna Upasana and Nirguna Upasana.

In Saguna Upasana, the devotee imagines the God as having a definite form, attributes, feelings and characteristics.

In Nirgna Upasana- the devotee meditates on the formless, all pervading Brahman.

Both the paths lead to the same destination, but Saguna Upasana is said to be easier for lesser mortals like us.

To answer your question- Who is, indeed, Shiva?

In his six verse Nirvaana Shatkam, Adi Shankara answers this question.

Shiva is not the mind, not the body not the intellect. He is formless, eternal without bondages.

Who then he really is? He is Chidananda Roopa Shivoham Shivoham. When the Sat and the Chit merge in Ananda, that is Shiva and that Shiva is me - Shivo - aham

Disclaimer: The "me" referred to in the above sentence refers to the Jeevatma, not the current writer.

But this kind of conceptual thinking is not easily attained by everyone. Meditating on a form with specific attributes is far easier than meditating on a vast eternal space.

Over a vast number of centuries, thanks to several great saints and mahatmas, Shiva has been attributed with several characters - the snake, the trishul, the bhasma, etc. This is just to make the process of worshiping easier.

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varaali

@varaali

Dazzler

+ 2

Posted: 11 years ago

The Kundalini - Sahasrakara is the yogic explanation of Shiva- Prakriti. In Yoga shastras, Shiva is depicted in a certain manner. He is the supposed to be the consciousness, the chetna, etc.

Here the concept of Shiva is in relation with the human body. Shiva as a part of the human body- w/o a separate existence.

In Tantra Vidya, it is exactly the opposite. In some of Shaivism- especially Kashmir Shaivism- the texts are full of descriptions- very vivid and very imaginative.

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Stalwart.

@Stalwart.

Inactive

Posted: 11 years ago

Thank You dear friends for these knowledgeable posts.😃

Varaali

So the Sagun form of Shiv is created for ease of worship.Shiv is eternal formless.But what is shown in paintings,sculptures and Television are just imaginary depictions made for the devotees convenience!?!?

Edited by Krrrishnaaa - 11 years ago

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varaali

@varaali

Dazzler

+ 2

Posted: 11 years ago

Originally posted by: Krrrishnaaa

Thank You dear friends for these knowledgeable posts.😃

Varaali

So the Sagun form of Shiv is created for ease of worship.Shiv is eternal formless.But what is shown in paintings,sculptures and Television are just imaginary depictions made for the devotees convenience!?!?

I wouldn't call them imaginary depictions. A better term would be 'visualization'

The great sages in the past have had this particular visualization of Lord Shiva- which the sages put down in words and verse.

Yes, it is easier to approach a God when he has been vested with form, figure, colour, complexion, accessories, etc. It is easier to meditate on a particular form.

Once the mind had been disciplined to some extent, once the devotee has learnt to concentrate his mind, he can move to the higher Nirguna Upasana. This is what the sages say.

In fact the Bhagavta Gita explains this very clearly. Chapter 12- Bhakti Yoga, I think. Let me post the relevant verses.

Edited by varaali - 11 years ago

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varaali

@varaali

Dazzler

+ 2

Posted: 11 years ago

Ah... yes found it.

Bhagavat Gita Chapter 12 Verses 2,3,4,5 explain your question very clearly.

WHy do I need to answer when the Lord Himself has answered your question.

I will reproduce the relevant verses below, copy/ pasting from www. asitis.com

Verse 2

sri-bhagavan uvaca
mayy avesya mano ye mam
nitya-yukta upasate
sraddhaya parayopetas
te me yuktatama matah

The Blessed Lord said: He whose mind is fixed on My personal form, always engaged in worshiping Me with great and transcendental faith, is considered by Me to be most perfect.

Verse 3 and 4
e tv aksaram anirdesyam
avyaktam paryupasate
sarvatra-gam acintyam ca
kuta-stham acalam dhruvam
sanniyamyendriya-gramam
sarvatra sama-buddhayah
te prapnuvanti mam eva
sarva-bhuta-hite ratah

But those who fully worship the unmanifested, that which lies beyond the perception of the senses, the all-pervading, inconceivable, fixed and immovable--the impersonal conception of the Absolute Truth--by controlling the various senses and being equally disposed to everyone, such persons, engaged in the welfare of all, at last achieve Me.

Verse 5

kleso 'dhikataras tesam
avyaktasakta-cetasam
avyakta hi gatir duhkham
dehavadbhir avapyate

For those whose minds are attached to the unmanifested, impersonal feature of the Supreme, advancement is very troublesome. To make progress in that discipline is always difficult for those who are embodied.

Edited by varaali - 11 years ago

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Debra LeMore

@Debralemore

Beginner

Posted: 11 years ago

Varaali,

Thank you so much for taking the time to look up and post from the Bhagavat Gita.

I see why you were voted Vishnu of the Forum!

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mithila

@mithilarids

Explorer

Posted: 11 years ago

amazing varali ..👏

u just changed my bad mood... ur words are just so peacefull..

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Rishi_

@Rishi_

Inactive

Posted: 11 years ago

#10

it is said that out of the three tridevs only lord shiva lives on Mount Kailash which is on earth.
This is because lord shiva always wanted to live close to his devotees and solve their miseries.

Vaikunth lok and brahma lok is said to be existing elsewhere not on earth.

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Is Lord Shiva living on Mount Kailash (Earth)???

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