Sivapurana

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SivaPurana / Siva is considered as the creator of this universe in Hindu mythology. There are many mythological stories (called lilas) attributed to siva. Tripura samhara, kumara sambhava, parvathi kalyanam, manmatha samhara, lingodhbava, are some lilas to name a few. There are many folklores that contain innumerable stories attributing to Sivalila.

[edit] Lingodhbhava

Ancient vedas describe God as formless. But it was difficult for humans to understand this concept. Hence the Brahman took the form of Linga which is in the elliptical shape (the universe is also believed to be in this shape). Once Vishnu and Brahma (Hindu deities for protection and creation) had an argument as to who was greater among them. They go to siva for judjement. Sive takes the form of linga and tells them to find the origin and end of it. Vishne takes the form of varaha (boar) and goes in search of the base. Brahma takes the form of hamsa (swan) and flies upwards in search of the peak. Both could not reach their destination. Vishnu returns after a long, futile search and accepts his defeat. Brahma, after a long search does not want to go back and accept his failure. He sees a flower falling down, asks the flower as to where it was coming from. The flower tells him that it was coming from the head of linga. Brahma requests the flower to come along with him to siva and tell that he had indeed seen the peak of linga. Siva knowing that brahma was lying curses the flower and brahma. Because of siva's curse there is no temple dedicated to brahma except for one in Pushkar. Siva also plucks one of the heads of Brahma (previously he had five heads, now he is left with four).The flower called thazhampoo in Tamil is cursed and not used in siva puja.

[edit] Manmatha samhara

Siva after the daksha Yagna in which Sathi Siva's consort sacrifices her body turns into a Yogi. He sits in Yoga under a banyan tree observes kashta mouna (total silence) and meditates. In this form he is worshipped as Dakshinamoorthy. In this posture he shows chinmudra (the tips of thumb and index finger are joined together to form the shape of an O) which reminds us of the innumerable births that we take and the athman who continues to reside in the various bodies that we get in different births. Dakshinamoorthy symbolises Guru(teachre)who teaches through his silence. All the devas are worried for only Siva's son Kumara can destroy asuras who were gaining in strength. Sathi has already taken another birth as Parvathi daughter of Himavat (mount Himalaya) and is waiting in penance to join Siva. Siva is sitting as a yogi after renouncing everything after Sathi's departure. So the devas send Manmatha to make Siva fall in love with Parvathi. Manmatha is entrusted with the job of spreading love among species by Siva. He does this job symbolically with his bow made of sugarcane and arrows made of flowers. In a moment of pride he forgets that Siva is his master, the one who has givem him power, goes near Siva and aims and sends a flower arrow at Siva. Siva senseing manmatha's presence opens his third eye in anger and looks at manmatha. Siva's third eye believed to be made of fire burns manmatha to ashes. This is called Manmatha Samharam. Siva the supreme is the destroyer of Kama(Lust).

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