Lord Shiva is one of the Trinity God (Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh). Lord Shiva represents annihilation, metamorphosis, and rebirth. The related symbols of Lord Shiva have cosmic and profound spiritual connotations. All the symbols represents the aspect of the cosmos, consciousness, and human existence. But very few people know the meaning of each element.
Here we are going to explain the meaning of symbols of Lord Shiva:
Serpent Around Neck (Naga Vasuki)
Serpent around the neck represents the strength, bravery, and eternal life. Shiva’s control over death and terror, as well as the cyclical nature of time and life.
Ashes (Bhasma)
Ashes or Bhasma represents the separation from the material world. Shiva’s body is covered with holy ashes, which stand for the fleeting essence of being and the demise of ego and worldly ambitions.
Tiger Skin
Tiger Skin symbolizes strength, vitality, and triumph over primal aspect of human nature. Shiva’s control over passion, rage, and other drives is symbolized by his sitting on a tiger’s hide.
Third Eye (Trinetra)
Third eye means the greater awareness and the eradication of ignorance. Beyond the material world, Shiva’s third eye represents wisdom, insight, and spiritual awareness. It has the power to shatter illusions and evil when it is opened.
Crescent Moon (Chandra)
Chandrama on his head represents the cycle of he time, renewal, and long-term control. The moon’s waxing and waning symbolizes immortality and the boundless flow of cosmic energy, as well as the cycle of time and life.
River Ganga (Ganga Dhara)
The holy river Ganga represents the fertility, purity, and life’s progression. The sacred Ganga river’s descent onto Shiva’s head represents the divine grace that creates and maintains life on Earth.
Rudraksha Beads
Rudraksha symbolizes protection, devotion, and concentration. It is believed that Shiva’s tears are the source of these holy seeds. Rudraksha protects against negative energy and fosters spiritual development.
Trishul (Trident)
Trident represents the creation, destruction, and preservation. The three prongs stand for the three essential facets of life: Creation (Srishti), Maintenance (Sthiti) and Devastation which means Samhara. Trishul also symbolizes conquering the three gunas of Rajas (activity), Tamas (inertia), and Sattva (balance).
Damru (Drum)
Damru represents the rhythm of creation and destruction, the sound of the cosmos. The damru, which symbolizes the primordial sound that created the cosmos, is believed to be the source of the cosmic sound “Om.”