For a yogi, every day is Shivaratri

Shiva is a space of deep silence and stillness where all the activities of the mind dissolve. This space is available wherever you are. There is no ne…

Significance of Nataraja and the Chidambara Rahasya

Nataraja, the dancing form of Lord Shiva, is a very beautiful symbol of the union of nature and the Divine. Nataraja holds fire in one hand, represent…

The meaning of the Rudrabhishekam is to convey that everything is Shiva

The meaning of the Rudrabhishekam is to convey that everything is Shiva, and is contained within the Shiva Tattva. There is nothing beyond the Shiva Ta…

Significance of Lord Kartikeya and a story from Skanda Purana

When the five elements governed by Lord Shiva (Panch Mahabhoota - Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether) united with Shakti (Pure Consciousness), Lord Kart…

Significance of the symbols of Lord Shiva

Crescent Moon Shiva Tattva is where there is no mind and the moon signifies the mind. When there is no mind then how can this ‘no mindedness’ be exp…

Does dying in the city of Kashi(Varanasi) guarantee liberation?

Kashi is also called as Varanasi, and it gets its name by being the meeting point of two rivers: Varuna and Asi. Kashi is actually not outside but wi…

How Did the Twelve Jyotirlingas (Sacred Divine Shrines of Lord Shiva) Come into Existence?

Every Jyotirlingam has a different story behind how it came to be. There is a Sthala Purana (local folklore or legends) attached to each. For example, …

Significance of the story where Lord Shiva relieves Indra of his sins

There is a temple on the southern end of India, it is called Thanumalayan Temple, and it is in a town called Suchindram. That is where Indra (leader of…

The Shiva Principle – Talk by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Who is Shiva? What is Shiva Tattva? I would ask the question 'What is not Shiva?' Is Shiva somebody? Is he a form? Is he someone sitting in some place…

If Shiva is so pure then why do we perform Shiva Abhishekam? Q&A with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Abhishekam is a process to get into meditation, the way the water flows, similarly, knowledge flows into the mind. This is not done for Shiva, this is …