Lord Shiva, one of the principal deities of Hinduism needs no introduction. He’s not only the most powerful but also the most revered god in Hinduism. Shiva holds the power of destruction, meditation, and transformation and plays a major role in the Hindu trinity along with Brahma and Vishnu. His powers are vast and boundless and significantly contribute to the cosmic cycle of creation, preservation, and destruction.
In this blog, we’ll learn more about his supreme powers that reflect his divine attributes.
7 Supreme Powers of Lord Shiva
The Power of Destruction and Renewal
Perhaps all of us are aware of the fact that Lord Shiva plays a major role in maintaining the cyclic nature of the cosmos. He’s widely revered as the god of destruction but what’s most important to learn here is don’t just merely destroy anything that comes in his way. Rather this destruction works as a stimulus to facilitate the phase of regeneration and change.
Meditation and Enlightenment
Shiva is believed to be the ultimate yogi who's mostly seen engrossed in deep meditation, engaged in the moment contemplation. it is his power of meditation that helps sustain the universe and lead all wandering souls toward a path of enlightenment and righteousness.
Shiva's Third Eye
Lord Shiva is also known as 'Trinetra' i.e., one with 3 eyes. But Shiva's third eye is nothing like the ordinary. it is said that when opened, it can destroy anything that comes into its sight. According to the legends, Shiva opened his third eye to destroy Kamadev, the god of lust, when he tried to induce lust into Shiva while he was engaged in deep penance. And ever since then, the third eye has often been related to Shiva’s raving anger, signifying the destruction of materialistic pleasure and opulence.
Also Read The Family History of Lord Shiva
Power to control Time
Shiva is widely known as Mahakaal meaning, that there’s nothing beyond him, not even time (Kaal). Hence, he holds the power to control all three Kaals i.e., Vartmaan Kaal (Present), Bhootkaal (Past), and Bhavishya (future). It is said that Shiva existed even before the concept of time was introduced to the universe, hence he enjoys the supreme power of controlling everything.
Healing and Purification
Do you recall the time when Lord Shiva consumed the poison Halahala to save the world during Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean)? However, he didn’t fully gulp it down and held it up in his throat itself, which gave him the name of Neelkanth. Shiva’s act of taking up the charger to absorb and purify any negative elements hampering the well-being of the world signifies his divine power of detoxifying and healing.
Nataraja - The Cosmic Dance of Shiva
Nataraja represents the cosmic dance of Shiva that he performs in order to maintain rhythm and balance within the universe. More so, it signifies the cyclic nature of time that begins with creation, preservation, destruction, illusion, and emancipation of the energies. In short, Shiva has the power to bring anything to life and destroy anything that does not serve the purpose of maintaining the cosmic balance.
Pashupatinath - Lord of Animals
Shiva was named Pashupati by Lord Vishnu during the Tripura Samhar, where Shiva destroyed Tripura, the three cities of illusion that were under the control of Asuras. Hereafter, he was regarded as the Lord of all demons (be it Pashu or beasts). Apart from this, he also shares a deep connection with animals or pashu and stands as their sole protector.
Also Read Story of Shiva and Parvati - Symbol of Love, Devotion and Power
Why Should You Keep a Shiva Idol At Home?
Having a Shiva statue at home is more than just having a religious symbol. It's like having someone who watches over you in both good and bad times and stands as a source of inspiration when things go haywire.
- Spiritual Growth: A Shiva statue at home will always remind you of his divine presence and oftentimes may encourage you to meditate and pray regularly, helping you to feel more spiritually connected.
- Harmony and Balance: Shiva's dance represents the balance and rhythm of the universe. A statue of Nataraja, which shows Shiva dancing, will remind you to seek harmony in your lives.
- Positive Energy: A Shiva statue can help make the home environment cleaner energetically. It can help absorb negative energies and bring in positive ones, exactly like how Shiva took poison (halahala during Samudra Manthan) to protect the world.
- Inspiration for Resilience: Stories about Shiva's strength, like when he held the Ganga in his hair lock or drank poison are still revered as inspiring stories. And having a small idol or picture of lord shiva will inspire you to be strong and resilient when facing challenges.
Also Read Meditating Lord Shiva: Exploring the Serenity Within
- Reminder of Life's Cycle: Shiva's role in creation and destruction reminds us that life is always changing. An idol of Shiva will encourage you to live in the present, accept change, and let go of the past.
Having a Shiva statue at home can be a source of spiritual inspiration and peace. It can remind people of life's cycles and help them seek balance, resilience, and enlightenment in their daily lives.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Q. What is Lord Shiva good for?
A. Lord Shiva is known as a great ascetic and the lord of cattle. He’s also revered as Bholenath as he’s quite easy to please and grants boons to all his devotees who follow and worship him.
Q. Which God is the most powerful God?
A. The Hindu trinity i.e., Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh (Shiva) holds the supreme divine power and are revered as the most powerful Gods.
Q. Who are the 7 children of Lord Shiva?
A. The five children of Lord Shiva are Ganesha, Kartikeya, Ashok Sundari, Ayyappan, Andhaka, Manasa, and Goddess Jyoti.
Q. Who is Shiva's father?
A. Brahma, the creator of the universe is said to be the father of Lord Shiva.
Q. Did Shiva have 3 eyes?
A. Yes, Lord Shiva had 3 eyes.