🌹Contemplation: The essence of Lord Shiva🌹PART 4

Shiva is one of the most revered and enigmatic deities in Hinduism, known as the supreme god of destruction, transformation, and regeneration. His association with animals, especially tigers, is both iconic and symbolic. Shiva wears a tiger skin and sitting on a tiger skin, or walking with a tiger skin wrapped around him. In this way, he is an unconventional figure . The tiger skin, here,  is a symbol of transformation.

One of the most popular story involving tiger is that of Shiva’s encounter with a group of sages who lived in a forest with their wives. The sages were annoyed by the constant distraction caused by their wives’ attraction to Shiva’s bare-bodied form. To teach him a lesson, they dug a pit and released a tiger from it, hoping it would harm Shiva.However, Shiva effortlessly killed the tiger with his trident (trishul) and tore off its skin. He then draped it over his body as a sign of his victory over all worldly powers.

The sages realized that Shiva was not an ordinary sage but a god himself, and they fell at his feet in awe and reverence. This story illustrates how Shiva represents the primal instincts that humans must overcome or harness for their benefit. By wearing a tiger skin, Shiva demonstrates his mastery over nature and his ability to adapt to any situation. In the context of Shiva, the tiger skin symbolizes transformation, strength, and the ability to transcend limitations, mirroring the profound connection between the mind and body.

Tiger skin also represents rajas and tamas attitudes and Lord Shiva wears this skin as a garment. It is to establish that the mind must follow the satvik mode with purity only. The tiger skin on Shiva symbolizes his mastery over primal instincts and ego, representing control over animalistic desires and the fierceness associated with them. It signifies his power and victory over these forces, showing his transcendence and ability to remain in a state of meditative calm even in their presence.

The tiger skin also highlights Shiva’s close connection to nature and his connection to the spiritual and ascetic aspects of his being to achieve peace and tranquility.  It also represents his role as a yogi and ascetic, who has renounced worldly desires and attachments.  The tiger skin is a symbol of his renunciation of worldly possessions and attachments. It reflects his focus on spiritual enlightenment and liberation .

The tiger is also associated with the goddess Shakti, who is the embodiment of power and energy. Shiva’s association with the tiger skin can also be seen as a symbol of his union with Shakti and his role as the supreme lord who controls all forms of energy, known as ARDHANARESHWAR. So, it again symbolises how to control the negative forces outside and within.

पशूनां पतिं पापनाशं परेशं गजेन्द्रस्य कृत्तिं वसानं वरेण्यम् । जटाजूटमध्ये स्फुरद्गाङ्गवारिं महादेवमेकं स्मरामि स्मरारिम् ॥१॥

I meditate on him who is the lord of the living beings , who destroys our sins, and who is the transcendental god, who wears the hide of the best of elephants, and who is himself the best, From whose matted hairs is spurting out the holy waters of the great river ganga, on that mahadeva ,with one-pointed mind, I meditate, the one who is the enemy of smara ie.Kamadeva, representing desires.

SHIVOHAM 🙏