What is the Shiva Principle?
In Hindu tradition, Lord Shiva oversees the dissolution of the
material world back into its original unmanifest state of energy. This process of dissolution is often misunderstood as destruction; however, in reality, it is just the natural progression of the cycle of life and death. Traditionally, Lord Shiva is depicted as an ascetic in deep meditation, completely immersed in the joy of the Self, Brahman. He sits in cemetery grounds and smears the ashes over his body, reminding us that our bodies which we treasure and hold so dear now will eventually become a pile of ashes when the time comes. The Shiva Principle, Shiva Tattva, not only teaches us about the impermanence of the body, but also about the complete permanence of the Self which is the seat of consciousness and beyond death. Lord Shiva is extremely beautiful and shines with the radiance of a thousand suns; however, outwardly, he
wears animal skins and keeps his hair in a matted, dreadlocked fashion. With this simple act, He illustrates that the inner beauty of one's own Being far surpasses than outward beauty and show. Similarly, His Third Eye is perpetually turned inward instead of outward, looking at the vast treasure we hold in our Self. The snakes adorning His body represent His complete control over the poison of worldly greed, attachment, lust, ego, delusion and anger. When one experiences Shiva Tattva, he realizes that Truth is free from impurity, evil and negativity and by identifying with this Truth, he is instantly freed. Lord Shiva also holds a trident which symbolizes control over past, present, and future. He teaches us that time and space bind the body but the Self is beyond both of these constraints and is free. By meditating upon the
Shiva Principle, we experience a great sense of strength, peace, and acceptance of our own existence in this Universe.
