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Shiva The Supreme: Shiva Linga, The Mandala **

The frame of the cosmic reality,according to ancient Hindu thought,consists of the three fundamentalstates called evolution (Shrishthi),existence (sthiti), and involution(samhara) that acts in a cyclicprocess o f infinity. Each one of the

forms is controlled by a God,named Brahma (the creator),Vishnu (the preserver) andSiva/Shiva (the destroyer); thesethree Gods are called the Trinity.Shiva, being the last to completethe cycle from where the new cyclestarts, is known as Mahadeo, theSupreme Div inity. The iconographicform of the Shiva, the Lingarepresents the unity of the threestates of cosmos (shown in abovefigure).The Linga consists of thethree parts. The first is a squarebase of three-layers at the bottomshowing the three mythical realms

(lokas), symbolizing evolution the place of Brahma. The second is an octagonal round formin the middle showing the eight directions, symbolizing existence or persev erance the placeof V ishnu ; and third is a cylind er at the to p with a spher ical end, s ymboliz in g involution o rcompletion of the cosmic cy cle the place of Shiva. This icon shows the supreme state of integrity, the ultimate form o f Shiva linga itself is a symbol of cosmic mandala. As Sadasiva(eternal reality) Shiva is represented as linga, standing also for 'total knowledge'. As Rudra,the destroyer, his consort is Kali. As Bhairava , the terrible destroyer, his consor t is Durga.As a jovial god living in the Himalaya his wife is Parvati. As possessor of all forms of divinepower Shiva rooms a t the bottom of eve rything that is moving, that is how he is calledIshvara, derived from I-cara, i.e. I the centre, and cara, the rhythm of movement. Shiva isalso depicted as cosmic dancer , Tandava Nartakari, the one who keeps up the rhythm of theworld in cosmos.

** Special Note:Above a ll information regarding Shivlinga and it's description has been taken from "TheLinga Puran" and the book "Banaras Region: A spiritual & C ultural Guide. Indica Books,

Varanasi. Piligrimage & Cosmology Ser ies: 1 written by "Prof. Rana P. B. Singh & Dr. PravinS. Rana

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