Shiva is not the Destroyer

By Wreybies · Oct 16, 2013 · 1.1K · 8


  1. 00:00 - 07:50 The Lovers
    07:51 - 10:56 Conception, Preparation, Anticipation
    10:57 - 12:51 Creation Approches
    12:52 - 13:34 Birth and Amazement
    13:35 - 17:52 Celebration

    In the west, Shiva is called The Destroyer, which leaves me deeply saddened at the shocking liberties interpreters of the past took with meaning and intent. Shiva is better described as the tabula rasa. Shiva clears the way so that new creation can happen. When Shiva is Nataraja, Lord of the Dance, he holds Apasmara, demon of ignorance and ego, beneath his feet so that what comes next can have a better chance than what came before. He's not the destroyer. He is the creator of new opportunity. This kirtan, which is dedicated to Shiva, is to me, clearly a song about a child coming into the world. Beginning with lovers being beautiful to one another, conceiving, anticipating, and finally welcoming their child into the world. It is a perfect allegory. What is a new baby of not a universe of possibility and wonder? I imagine Shiva as Nataraja, nebulous and vast, dancing his celestial dance across the universe, laughing and filled with joy, knowing that somewhere in the world this story is playing out. He dances and clears the way for this new life.

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  1. jazzabel
    I notice this Shiva is white. Is that a common representation? I was surprised too when I read 'Shiva the Destroyer'. I thought Kali was the destroyer.
    jazzabel, Oct 16, 2013
      Wreybies likes this.
  2. Wreybies
    Yeah, he is pretty white in this picture. Blue. He should be a pretty shade of blue. And yes, Kali is often also referred to as The Destroyer. Kali is actually the other aspect (other side) of the peaceful, beautiful lady you see here with Shiva whose name is Parbati. They are Ganesh's parents.
    Wreybies, Oct 16, 2013
  3. jazzabel
    Ah, blue, that makes more sense :D Aha, that's interesting! So it's a family portrait of sorts.
    jazzabel, Oct 16, 2013
  4. Wreybies
    Yup :)
    Wreybies, Oct 16, 2013
  5. thirdwind
    I know some gods have multiple names based on where you live, your language, etc. Do all gods in Hinduism have multiple names?

    By the way, what's the story behind Ganesh's elephant head?

    Also, I hear the bamboo flute in that video. I've heard from a friend that it's a very tough instrument to play. It sounds lovely, though. From what I understand, it has been around for thousands of years and is explicitly mentioned in one of the religious texts (Mahabharata maybe?).
    thirdwind, Oct 16, 2013
  6. Wreybies
    The gods of Hinduism have MANY names and aspects, and it can depend on where you live, the language you speak (many languages in India) and also on your particular view of the gods themselves. Most Hindus accept that the individual gods have many aspects. The deal with Ganesh's head (ha!) is that Ganesh is the remover of obstacles. In India, elephants are used in daily life as work animals, and it has been this way since recorded history. A real elephant is a serious remover of obstacles, their strength being so more than that of pretty much any other work animal. The reality of this fact of daily life is reflected in Ganesh. He is also infinite wisdom and patience. This transposing of elements of the real world into aspects of the gods, and back again into us is very much a part of Hinduism. As I was mentioning to Jazz before, The pretty lady you see in this picture is Parbati, Shiva's wife. But Parbati has another name and aspect, which is Kali. Kali is not someone you want to meet! The reason she has these two (amongst many) aspects is that she is the divine mother. A mother is love and beauty (Parbati), but stand between a mother and her child, and see what happens. You get Kali.

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    Wreybies, Oct 16, 2013
      jazzabel likes this.
  7. thirdwind
    Hmm, the two aspects of Parbati seem to go hand-in-hand with what I know about Eastern philosophy. That is to say, things like love and hate, up and down, etc. cannot exist independently. The concept of up depends on there being a down. The concept of comfort requires discomfort, and so on. So it makes sense that the notion of opposites or extremes shows up in their gods as well.

    I just remembered that Krishna is often depicted as playing the bamboo flute. I'm not exactly sure which of the religious texts mentions Krishna, but I'm sure there's a story about the bamboo flute in there somewhere. I'm mentioning all this because the bamboo flute is used quite a bit in modern Indian music. It's interesting how an instrument from thousands of years ago is still being used today.
    thirdwind, Oct 16, 2013
  8. Wreybies
    The story is that Krishna played his flute, and everyone who heard it gave up all worldly possession and desire, which is to say, ego.
    Wreybies, Oct 16, 2013
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