Shankar is one among the numerous names of Hindu God Shiva. Shankar means the benevolent one, the kind one. Daksha Prajapati gave Shiva this name after Siva restored his life. Virabhadra had beheaded Daksha as he was the reason for the self immolation of Sati. On hearing about Sati’s immolation at Daksha’s yajna, Shiva plucked a hair from his head and threw it down and from it appeared Virabhadra. He along with millions of Ganas of Shiva attacked the yajna of Daksha. Virabhadra finally beheaded Daksha. When Shiva appeared at Daksha’s yajna, he was filled with pity. All those that survived the carnage asked for His mercy and said they acted out of ignorance. Shiva smiled and restored back everything. Daksha’s headless body was brought to life – the head was replaced with that of a goat. Shiva also gifted the city of Bhogya to Daksha. He had created it ri indulge in pleasure with Sati. With Sati gone Shiva had no interest in Bhogya. Daksha who was overwhel

 A collection of quotes on Lord Shiva, the Supreme God in Hinduism. Kalidasa in the invocatory verse in his drama Malavikagnimitra celebrates this aspect of Shiva, saying, “Though in eternal union with your wife, O, Shiva, you are untouched by desire and hence foremost amongst yogins.” Shiva is Pasupati, guardian of souls whom he protects and goads on in the path of moksha. He is ascetic, Dhurjati, but the lover and husband of Parvati, the Divine Mother, at the same time. As ascetic, as Mahayogin, he reduced to ashes the god of love, Kama, who came to disturb his meditation. But he is the god of love, the beloved husband of Parvati, whom he holds in eternal embrace in the aspect of Ardhanarishvara. Burning Kamdev, then accepting marriage and then again under the aspect of Ardhanarishvara giving to the world the glowing example of the supreme Advaitic position of Asparsa-Yoga — Shiva passes from negation to enjoyment and then again to negation demonstrating to the world thereby that th

Panchanana Shiva is Hindu God Shiva with five faces. Panchanana is also referred as the five emanations of Shiva. Siva appears in this form in the Panchamukha Shivling found in very rare temples. Four faces are in four directions and in some Shivalingams the fifth face is shown facing the sky and in some it is the southeast direction. The five faces are known as Ishana, Tatpurusha, Aghora, Vamadeva and Sadyojatha. Ishana faces south east or faces sky or zenith. It is the highest aspect and represents Shiva as Ishwara. In this aspect he is also known as Sadashiva, or the Eternal Siva. Symbolically, it represents Shiva ruling over the sky. Spiritually, this aspect of Shiva grants liberation or Moksha. Tatpurusha faces the east. This form of Shiva controls the air. On the spiritual sphere this aspect of Shiva helps in removing ego, darkness and obscurity. Aghora faces the south and represents the destructive and regenerative aspect of Shiva which first ab