People always think that Shiv and Shankar is same, which is not true. Shiv is actually creator of Shankar. Even devotees who spend their whole life worshiping Shankar or Shiv, thinks that they are one and same. This is as common a mistake as calling our religion Hindu, whereas there is no such word in any of our religious texts. Just like we are Sanatan Dharmi, and not Hindu like popular believe, Shiv and Shankar is different and not one entity.
Shiv is the prime source of energy, which existed before the universe, and is timeless, shapeless. Shiv is represented using Shiv Ling, often confused by people for private part. Ling means Pillar, which takes us to the true meaning of Shiv Ling. It’s the pillar of prime energy, with no ends at any side of the pillar. As it is shapeless, you can demonstrate it using the pillar of light, as Shiv Ling. Even before the universe was created, this prime energy existed. You can also call it Om, as Shiv or Om is same thing; both represent the Prime Energy responsible to create this universe. The way our scientists are providing information about Big Bang, think about it like the same way this universe is created. Using Prime Energy Om or Shiv, and that energy is part of every single atom of this universe. The universe is still expanding, and stretching in a cylindrical shape. The Shiv Ling is representation of that cylindrical shape of universe, of the energy which has created that shape, of the basic foundation of all life. Shiv Ling represent the timeless and shapeless energy, which is omnipresent in this universe.
Shankar is one of the creations of Shiv, like the other two, Bramha and Vishnu. Together these three are called Trimurti, and represented as three lines on Shiv Ling. Shankar is closest representation to Shiv, because of his ascetic nature. But if you pay attention, you can often see pictures of Shankar meditating, and there are references in the Vedas as well. If Shankar is supreme God, who will he pray to? Shankar actually meditates to Shiv, the supreme power. Shiv is the supreme god, the Param Pita Parmeshwar, whereas Shankar is part of Trimurti, Bhahma, the Generator, Vishnu, The Operator and Shankar, the Destroyer. Together, they form the word GOD, Generator-Operator-Destroyer.
We also needs to understand that being Destroyer does not mean bad, as you need to destroy something to create new things. A simplest example is to take the everyday cloths we wear, it is created out of cotton plants, destroying the plants, we create Yarns, and destroying the Yarns, we create fabrics, then again, destroying the fabric by cutting them into various shapes and stitching together, we creates the cloths. And as the law of this universe applies, nothing can be destroyed, it is just transformed from one shape to another. So, it is actually more like Sculpture, that Shankar gives new shape to the beings.
I will end this article today, by wishing you all a blessed Maha Shivratri. It is the festival for awakening our inner-self, and devoting it to the supreme power, the Shiv. May we all blessed by Shiv and our soul get awakened to the greater truth and kindness.
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