Lord Nataraja: The Dancing Avatar of Lord Shiva

According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva is a Hindu God and epitomizes the blend of power and holy being. In Sanskrit, Lord Shiva means ‘pure and destroyer’. Holy Scriptures describe Lord Shiva as one of the divinity and destroyer among Trimurti.

Popularly known as the deity of Saints and Yogis, Lord Shiva is a sagacious Yogi leading an austere life on Kailash Parvat. Mahadev, Bhole Nath, Bhootnath, Pashupati, Shambhu, Vishwanath, Shankar, and Bhairav are some of the most popular names of Shankar Bhagwan. It has been found that “Lord Shiv Lingam” is another of Lord Shiva and is placed separately in the temple from other divinities.

Hindus recognize Shiv Bhagwan as the 3rd associate of the Hindu Trinity and one of the supreme Gods who personify incongruous qualities. According to Indian mythology, the name ‘Shiv’ has enormous meaning. Lord Shiva, an auspicious power known as both a defender and a destroyer.
Like Shakti, Lord Shiva has taken countless enigmatic forms. Well-known as the holistic deity of Yogis and hermits, Lord Shiv is austere, celibate, and self-defined and has been depicted in abysmal meditation in the Himalayas.

Shankar Bhagwan symbolizes the epoch itself. He is both a destroyer and a creator. Both conception and destruction are indissolubly interconnected- and cannot be existent without each other. Often we have read in Vedic scriptures that, unlike other divine energies, Lord Shiva is a great source of inspiration and a fiery role model with the ability of self-control and aplomb.