Bulletin March 2006: Supreme Realty in Form.

In Saiva Siddhanta Saint Manikkavasagar is renowned for his spirituality. Among the sixty-three Nayanmars (Tamil Saiva Saints), he is graded one among the four outstanding saints. He proclaims that Lord Shiva means everything that turns red - bright and which cannot be contained and cannot be realized. Lord Shiva has appeared as dual parent called Arthanaareiswarar. By his grace eighty-four hundred thousand species were blessed to this world. Though he transforms into various forms from time to time, the Shiva Lingam form is generally adored as a symbolic structure of two stones, the elliptical and the hemispherical form in which the elliptical form is implanted. It is graded as an important function in the Saiva Agamas. During monthly Siva rathiries and the annual Maha Siva rathiries saivaites gather at various Shiva Sanctorum to perform their austerities. Few do such poojas at their homes inviting their relative and friends.

The Lord of the celestial world, the earth and the demons centralize their prayers to Lord Shiva, he who is in form and formless. He is usually in the Lingam form, called Lingeswar. He again transforms into human and performs the cosmic dance, where he is known as Nadaraj. Lord Nadaraj elocution is remarkable of the paradox of eternity and time. Being the king of dancers his flinging arms and legs and the swaying of his torso are demonstration to the art of Barathanatya. The indepth of the dance produces the continuous creation – destruction of the universe. Shree Nadaraj Anantha Margam celebrates the Arruthra tharisanam on the thiruvathirai day. This opulent festival is regarded as the most rejoicing, singing event with 1008 sea shells filled with herbal and incense water gives the devotees the aroma of spiritual insight. The Lord on this day performed a dance which was witnessed by two saints named Viakrabathar and Pathanchelli. Saint Manikkavasagar sang the “Thiruvasagam” to which the Lord wrote upon the palm leaf, initials it and placed them upon the stairs to his abode. He, the Creator, Protector, Destroyer and the Blessed Life Holder, in the Universe, drank the venomous poison that turned his Adam’s apple purple and thus he is called “Neelakandan.”

Lord Shiva brought the Ganga at the request of King Bagirathan to cleanse the sins of his ancestors and to attain moksha. The Lord held Ganga, upon his head and slowly led it to roll down by his locks, personifying as Gangatharan. He is called Chandrasekaran when he adorns the Crescent. He seats upon the rock, beneath the banyan tree with his disciples where he is called as Dhakshnamoorthy. He was addressed as Vethanayagam when he taught the Vedas to his disciples when their devotion gets incandescent. Manmathakaruneswaran is the Godhead who burnt Maha Vishnu’s son Manmathan. When Maha Vishnu incarnated himself as “koorma” (the tortoise), the Lord annihilated him to moksha and offered him Vaikuntha, becoming the Koorma Samhara Moorthy.

Again when Vishnu transformed as Varahi, “the pig,” to save the world, Lord Shiva killed the pig and was addressed “Varaha Samhara Moorthy.” In Narasimha Avatar, Maha Vishnu destroyed King Hrinier Kasibu with his bare hands. His anger and ferociousness threatened the harmony of the universe thus Lord Shiva appeared as Sarabeshwarar and destroyed Narasimha. In Vamana Avatar, Vishnu was blessed by Lord Shiva where he was addressed as Vamaneshwarar. Siva and Vishnu have united in one form called as Shankeranarayanan. No details are given, however a temple is found in Trinalvelli distrist of South India.

Ramah sought the blessings of Lord Shiva, “Ramalingeshwarar,” when he went to war with the mighty King Ravana of Lanka.. Lord Shiva presented a bow to Parasurama to protect his kinsman, thus becoming Parasurameswarar. At Gwalior, Krishna was blessed by Lord Shiva and was recognized as Krishneswarar. At Kanchipuram, The Goddess Kamatchi penance for the alliance of Lord Ekambereswarar or Lord Shiva. When Lord Shiva blessed Brahma, Vishnu and Rudhra, he was referred to as Thiriyambageswarar. Ultimately, he adorned himself with a garland of skulls, derived from other demy-gods and was adored as Kabalishwarar.

These above mentioned forms of Lord Shiva are the identities of the Supreme Reality that constitutes Saiva Siddhanta. Vedas and Upanishads come under this fold.