on Rudra - Shiva

Since the trek was around Shiva temples , let me present a detailed account of this feared God of India.

The ancient Indus Valley civilization ( 3000 BC) mentions “the Horned God” which is the prototype Shiva . He is the foremost god of the Hindu Trinity pantheon . He is the great annihilator and re-creator. The destruction is effected by the “inner” fire emanating from the third eye. He is Hara, representing the death & sleep and the Mahakala, the great time keeper.

Shiva-Rudra is the Lord of the beasts ( Pashupati) and the God of the yogis and a Himalayan God with the Kailas mountain and Manasarovar lake as his abode. He is also known as the dancing god or Nataraj famous for the Shiv Tandav - the vigorous form of cosmic dance. The ancient authoritative treatise on Indian dance - Natya Shastra authored by Bharat Muni describes that the tandav is accomplished with 108 karanas and 32 anghaharas. The dance is the manifestation of five elements : creation , destruction , preservation , salvation and illusion.

The worship of Shiva and his consort is marked with the symbolism of the Vedic fire sacrifice. All the Shaivaite yogis maintain individual Dhuni ( fire place ). It is worthwile to note that the fire rituals performed to appease the Gods were prevalent in all such ancient cultures practising solar religions - the Greeks, Romans, Kelts, Germans, Egyptians, Persians, Babylonians, Chinese , American Indians etc

Interestingly , Shiva represents extreme asceticism and extreme eroticism and his body shows feminine and masculine features transcending the opposites - symbol of the androgynous unity of polarities. His drum Damaru produces the primordial sound which is the source of music , Sanskrit language and all knowledge.