Understanding Shiva

In India, Shiva has been depicted as the Supreme Power that pervades all of space and everything in it. Shiva means ‘mangalam’ or ‘auspicious’. Shiva can be split into sha ee va where, "Sha" stands for Shareeram or Body "EE" stands for Eeshwar or life-giving energy and VA stands for Vayu or motion. Thus Shiva represents a body with life and motion. Shiva is auspicious, Shiva is potential and Shiva is life. Shivratri is the special day when devotees stay up the night to meditate upon the Shiva Tattva, the shiva energy. A variety of forms and aspects of Shiva are worshipped in India. If you wish to worship him as a teacher he is Dakshinamurthy, Maheshwara, if the 5 elements that make up the bodies of this cosmos are to be prayed to, Sadashiva, if the eternal one who keeps the cycle of regeneration going has to be revered, Mahakaleshwar, if the keeper of time has to be bowed down to, Kala Bhairava, if the slayer of time has to be invoked and Omkarnath, if the Lord or originator of Om has