Lord Shiva
The third member of the Supreme Triad is Shiva or Mahadeva,
the Great God. This god probably is of Dravidian origin. Shiva is the God
of Destruction and the god of fertility. The symbol of Shiva is the lingam
or phallic symbol. Shiva is worshipped for his essential characteristic
energy, which is a direct expression of the inner workings of the universe.
With this energy Shiva has many aspects and he may appear in the guise
of fertility symbolized by the lingam. This is thought to be the earliest
image of the God. The characteristic features of Shiva are the vertical
third eye, and the three horizontal stripes upon his forehead. Shiva is
full of contradictions. Although Shiva is the destroyer he is also the the
god of mystical stillness and the god of the dance. He does the dance of
destruction so that the world can be recreated. He is the acknowledgment
that everything that comes to birth comes ultimately to death and from death
comes new life.He is cruel and yet tender, wrathful and merciful, unpredictable
and yet ever the same. As Shiva Nataraja, Lord of the Dance, Shiva
enacts the end of the world. He is the symbol of death but only of death
as the generator of life and as a source of that creative power ever renewed
by Vishnu and Brahma. He evokes the most intense adoration from
devotees for he fascinates even as he terrifies. He dances for cosmic
re-creation. Shiva's dance of bliss is the catalyst for the destruction
of one period of time and the creation of a new cosmos. He has a third
eye in the center of his forehead, the skull and crescent moon in his headdress.
He has long, matted hair and there is a small female figure of the
river goddess Ganga in the loose locks of hair twirling around his head.
The matted hair symbolizes his power (like Samson). The crescent
moon is the symbol of growth and birth.
Jai Shiva Aarti
Jai Shiva Aumkaara, Swami Hari Shiva Aumkaaraa
Bramha Vishnu sadaa Shiva (2), Aradhangi dhaaraa Jai...
Ekaanan chaturaanan, Panchaanan raajay
Hansaasan garudaasana, Vrishna vaahana saajay Jai...
Do bhuja chara chatura bhuja, Dasbhuja ti sohaay
Teeno roopa nirataka, Trihuwana jana mohay Jai...
Aksh maala banmaala, Munda maala dhari
Chandana mriga mada sohay, Bhaala shashidaari Jai...
Swetaambar pitaambara, Baaghambara angay
Sanakaadik Brahmaadik, Bhutaadik sangay Jai...
Kara madhay kamandalu, Chakra trishula dhartaa
Jaga kartaa jaga hartaa, Jaga phalan kartaa Jai...
Bramha Vishnu Sadaa Shiva, Jaanata avivekaa
Prana vakshar kay mathe, Yea teeno ekaa Jai...
Trigun swaamiji ke aarati, Jo koyee nar gaaway
Kahata Shivananda Swaami, Mana vaanchit phala paaway Jai...
Translation
Glory to you, O Shiva! Glory to you, O Omkara! May Brahma, Vishnu
and the assembly of other gods, including the great Lord Shiva, relieve
me of my afflictions.
As Vishnu you have but one face, as Brahma four and as Shiva five.
They gladden the sight of all who behold them. As Brahma you prefer the
back of the swan for your seat; as Vishnu you like to ensconce yourself on
the back of Garuda and as Shiva to make the sacred bull your conveyance;
all these stand ready. O Great Lord, pray rid me of my afflictions.
As Brahma you possess two arms, as Vishnu four and as Shiva ten, all
of which look matchlessly lovely. No sooner do the inhabitants of the three
spheres behold you than they are all enchanted.
You are, O great Lord Omkara, wearing a garland of Rudraksa, Another
of forest flowers and the third of skulls; your forehead, glistening in
the moonlight which it holds, is smeared with sandal paste and musk.
O great Lord Omkara, your body is attired in white and yellow silken
clothes and in tigerskin, while in your company are troops of goblins,
gods like Brahma and the divine seers like Sanaka.
O great Lord Omkara, you hold a kamandalu (the mendicants water jar)
in one of your hands and in another a trident; you bring joy to all, destroy
all distress, and sustain the whole world.
The ignorant know Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva as three individual gods,
but they are all indistinguishably fused into a single mystic syllable
"OM."
Says Swami Shivananda: "He who recites this Aarti to the Lord of the
three gunas – sattva, rajas and tamas – attains fulfillment of his heart’s
desire."