Thousands of new images every day Completely Free to Use High-quality videos and images from Pexels . [94] Hymn 10.92 of the Rigveda states that deity Rudra has two natures, one wild and cruel (Rudra), another that is kind and tranquil (Shiva). [142][143], The Tantric Shiva tradition ignored the mythologies and Puranas related to Shiva, and depending on the sub-school developed a variety of practices. Learning that the horse had disappeared, King Sagara sent his sixty thousand sons to look for it. The biggest is in Prayaga (renamed Allahabad during the Mughal rule era), where millions of Hindus of different traditions gather at the confluence of rivers Ganges and Yamuna. The nudity and begging bowl are associated with the kapali tradition. [12], King Sagara sent his grandson, Anshuman, to ask the sage Kapila what could be done to bring deliverance to their souls. Cartwright, M. (2018, May 10). He holds the divine fire (agni) which destroys the universe and the drum (damaru) which makes the first sounds of the creation. [73], The interpretation of the seal continues to be disputed. The four sacred pools of Suphan Buri Province have waters from the Ganga and the Yamuna rivers and are used for rituals. Nandi also became the protector of all animals. He characterizes these views as "speculative", but adds that it is nevertheless possible that there are echoes of Shaiva iconographic themes, such as half-moon shapes resembling the horns of a bull. Ganga is represented as a fair-complexioned woman, wearing a white crown and sitting on a crocodile. Ritual bathing in the Ganges was and is an important part of Hindu pilgrimage and the ashes of the cremated are often spread across her waters. The ithyphallic representation of the erect shape connotes the very opposite in this context. Sociological Bulletin, 1(2), pp. [258][259] She is identified with Devi, the Divine Mother; Shakti (divine energy) as well as goddesses like Tripura Sundari, Durga, Kali, Kamakshi and Minakshi. [145] The Krama sub-tradition focussed on esoteric rituals around Shiva-Kali pair. Most of the images and sculpture of Lord Shiva depict the River Ganga flowing from his matted hair. Shiva Adhanarishvara is depicted with one half of the body as male and the other half as female. Her stories mainly appear in post-Vedic texts such as the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and the Puranas. [368], The Japuji Sahib of the Guru Granth Sahib says: "The Guru is Shiva, the Guru is Vishnu and Brahma; the Guru is Paarvati and Lakhshmi. We contribute a share of our revenue to remove carbon from the atmosphere and we offset our team's carbon footprint. Shiva has many wives, which are the symbols of feminine power, also known as sakti. [144] In contrast, the esoteric tradition within Kashmir Shaivism has featured the Krama and Trika sub-traditions. At the request of Bhagiratha and Ganga herself, he released the river from his ear, and she earned the epithet Jahanvi. What is the symbolic purpose of Shiva's cobra necklace? If your teacher asks you to pause the video and look at the worksheet you should: Your video will re-appear on the next page, and will stay paused in the right place. Lord Shiva wanted to teach Ganga a lesson, but instead released her in seven streams as he was satisfied with the prayers of Bhagiratha. This quiz includes images that don't have any alt text - please contact your teacher who should be able to help you with an audio description. Gregor Maehle (2009), Ashtanga Yoga, New World, For quotation defining the Trimurti see Matchett, Freda. Goddess Ganga is depicted with a Crown and sitting on a crocodile, her Vahahna. He failed to appease Brahma so he passed the task to his son, Bhagiratha. ShivaIntroduction on Shiva (Shiv), the Hindu god of destruction. In Shiva's iconographical form Uma-Gangapatisvarar (Khmer: ), Shiva is depicted with Ganga and his wife Uma (Parvati). [163][164][163][164][165], The Devi Upanishad in its explanation of the theology of Shaktism, mentions and praises Shiva such as in its verse 19. Alongside Gautama Buddha, Ganga is worshipped during the Loy Krathong festival in Thailand. [184], Other famed Shiva-related texts influenced Hatha Yoga, integrated monistic (Advaita Vedanta) ideas with Yoga philosophy and inspired the theoretical development of Indian classical dance. He was associated more than any other deity with Soma, a stimulant drug (perhaps derived from Ephedra) probably borrowed from the BMAC religion. [110][111] In the Rig Veda, Rudra is the father of the Maruts, but he is never associated with their warlike exploits as is Indra.[112]. [a] Shiva also has Dasha-Sahasranamas (10,000 names) that are found in the Mahanyasa. Sanatana Dharma refers to the river as having the capacity of bringing fertility, and that Lord Shiva is not just a god of destruction, but also a conveyor . [186], The Trimurti is a concept in Hinduism in which the cosmic functions of creation, maintenance, and destruction are personified by the forms of Brahma the creator, Vishnu the maintainer or preserver and Shiva the destroyer or transformer. [248] Bhairava "terrible" or "frightful"[249] is a fierce form associated with annihilation. He who sees himself in all beings, He also stamps one foot on the dwarf figure Apasmara Purusha who represents illusion and who leads men away from the truth. This is but one. [190] However, the ancient and medieval texts of Hinduism feature many triads of gods and goddesses, some of which do not include Shiva.[191]. JS Vasugupta (2012), iva Stras, Motilal Banarsidass. Other sons of Shiva are Skanda or Karttikeya, the god of war and Kuvera, the god of treasures. Get full list of shree Vinayaka Chaturthi dates 2022 What would you consider to be the noble quality of Bhagiratha his strong affection to his ancestors or his determination to meet any challenges to attain the ultimate goal? [65][b], Of several Indus valley seals that show animals, one seal that has attracted attention shows a large central figure, either horned or wearing a horned headdress and possibly ithyphallic,[note 2][66] seated in a posture reminiscent of the Lotus position, surrounded by animals. For example, historical records suggest the tantric Kapalikas (literally, the 'skull-men') co-existed with and shared many Vajrayana Buddhist rituals, engaged in esoteric practices that revered Shiva and Shakti wearing skulls, begged with empty skulls, and sometimes used meat as a part of ritual. [340] It is observed by reciting Shiva-related poems, chanting prayers, remembering Shiva, fasting, doing Yoga and meditating on ethics and virtues such as self-restraint, honesty, noninjury to others, forgiveness, introspection, self-repentance and the discovery of Shiva. A River Sutra How the goddess Ganga came to earth. [46] The version appearing in Book 13 (Anusanaparvan) of the Mahabharata provides one such list. Shiva is represented in his many aspects. Required fields are marked *, 9 = forty five .hide-if-no-js { Special interests include art, architecture, and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share. [278][279][280], Dakshinamurthy (Sanskrit ; Dakimrti)[281] is a form (mrti) of Shiva (literally, "[facing] south form"). In Asian art Shiva may be represented in slightly different ways depending on the particular culture: Indian, Cambodian, Javanese etc. He wears a headdress with a crescent moon and a skull (representing the fifth head of Brahma, which he decapitated as punishment for the god lusting after his own daughter Sandhya), a necklace of heads, and snakes as bracelets. [330][331][332] However, Shiva returned one day and, finding the boy guarding the room where Parvati was bathing, he enquired who he was. 29 Jul 2023. Sage Kapila advised that only the water of the Ganges, which flowed from Svarga, could liberate them. For definition of Trimurti as "the unified form" of Brahm. [174], Philosophically, the Smarta tradition emphasizes that all idols (murti) are icons to help focus on and visualize aspects of Brahman, rather than distinct beings. Lord Shiva has only one wife Named Sati. [276][277] Lasya is regarded as the female counterpart of Tandava. Heres a quick quiz! River Ganga is sacred and is personified as Goddess Ganga. The cave of Shiva at Elephanta has at least ten distinct representations of Shiva; two of theseShiva as Ardhanarishvara, in which Shiva and the goddess Parvati are joined as one, and Shiva as Gangadhara, in which Shiva is shown bearing the force of the river goddess Ganga's descent to earthare referenced below.Shiva's manifestation as Sadashiva wherein the manifold aspects of Shiva are . [380] On television, Devon Ke DevMahadev, a television serial about Shiva on the Life OK channel was among the most watched shows at its peak popularity. William Pinch (2012), Warrior Ascetics and Indian Empires, Cambridge University Press. Copyright 2000-2023 Lotus Sculpture. In the classic book that is used as a reference for the puppeteers, it is said that Sanghyang Manikmaya or Batara Guru was created from a sparkling light by Sang Hyang Tunggal, along with the blackish light which is the origin of Ismaya. One day, Surabhi, who was the original mother of all the world's cows, began to give birth to an untold number of perfectly white cows. [47][48], The Shiva-related tradition is a major part of Hinduism, found all over the Indian subcontinent, such as India, Nepal, Sri Lanka,[49] and Southeast Asia, such as Bali, Indonesia. Upload. Download and use 100+ Shiva stock photos for free. Known by many names, Ganga is often depicted as a fair, beautiful woman, riding a divine crocodile-like creature called the makara. In this lesson, we are going to be learning about the story of Shiva and the goddess Ganga and we will learn about why Shiva is important to Hindus. Antonio Rigopoulos (2013), Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Volume 5, Brill Academic. Beyond the Indian subcontinent and Hinduism, "On the coming in this world of Lakm, Gag and Sarasvat [Chapter 6]", "Statue of the River Goddess Ganga in Royal Palace in Patan, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal Stock Photo - Image of Nepalese, Asian: 89398650", "Nepal Patan Ganga Statue High Resolution Stock Photography and Images - Alamy", "53 Kathmandu Gokarna Mahadev Temple Ganga Statue", "The Goddess Ganga (Bas-relief depicting the goddess Ganga atop her crocodile (Makara) mount at Kelaniya Temple, Sri Lanka) | Mahavidya", "Taman Mumbul dengan Panglukatan Pancoran Solas di Sangeh, Simbol Dewata Nawasanga", "Vasudha Narayanan | Department of Religion", "Shiva with Uma and Ganga, sandstone, 101 x 53 x 13 cm", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ganga_(goddess)&oldid=1167064542, This page was last edited on 25 July 2023, at 13:09. Clicking yes will take you out of the classroom and to our Teacher Hub, a dedicated area for teachers to access our resources. Bhikshatana is depicted as a nude four-armed man adorned with ornaments who holds a begging bowl in his hand and is followed by demonic attendants. This form of Shiva is associated with his destruction of the three cities (Tripura) of the Asuras. [15] She is also a mother to other gods.[13]. [354], In Pakistan, major Shivaratri celebration occurs at the Umarkot Shiv Mandir in the Umarkot. 'The Auspicious One' [] ), also known as Mahadeva ( / mh dev /; Sanskrit: :, romanized: Mahdeva, lit. McEvilley, for example, states that it is not possible to "account for this posture outside the yogic account". Shiva, assuming the form of a giant tortoise or turtle, collected the venom in his palm and drank it. Across India, various Shiva temples are illuminated throughout the night. Goldberg, p. 1. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. [44], Sahasranama are medieval Indian texts that list a thousand names derived from aspects and epithets of a deity. For translation "Having the moon as his crest" see: For the moon iconography as marking the rise of Rudra-Shiva, see: For discussion of the linkages between Soma, Moon, and Rudra, and citation to RV 7.74, see: This smearing of cremation ashes emerged into a practice of some Tantra-oriented ascetics, where they would also offer meat, alcohol and sexual fluids to Bhairava (a form of Shiva), and these groups were probably not of. Domestic Freight will be discounted by 35%! We want people all over the world to learn about history. Ganga presenting her son Devavrata (the future Bhishma) to his father, Shantanu. - With Subtitle . In benevolent aspects, he is depicted as an omniscient Yogi who lives an ascetic life on Mount Kailash[2] as well as a householder with his wife Parvati and his two children, Ganesha and Kartikeya. She is the sister of Parvati, Lord Shiva's consort. In that hymn, a description is found of the beginningless and endless Stambha or Skambha, and it is shown that the said Skambha is put in place of the eternal Brahman. [177] The Kushan period set includes Shiva, Vishnu, Surya, Brahma and one deity whose identity is unclear. For description of the form as representing teaching functions, see: For evolution of this story from early sources to the epic period, when it was used to enhance Shiva's increasing influence, see: Chakravarti, p. 46. ","creator":{"@type":"Person","name":"Peter F"},"creditText":"Peter F / Flickr","dateModified":"2023-07-28T17:28:17+0000","datePublished":"2013-05-08T08:38:16+0000","encodingFormat":"image/jpeg","headline":"Shiva Nataraja (Lord of the Dance)","height":"1024","isAccessibleForFree":true,"isBasedOn":{"@type":"CreativeWork","url":"http://www.flickr.com/photos/petertf/3639367584/"},"isFamilyFriendly":true,"isPartOf":"https://www.worldhistory.org#website","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0","mainEntityOfPage":"https://www.worldhistory.org/image/1194/shiva-nataraja-lord-of-the-dance/","publisher":"https://www.worldhistory.org#organization","representativeOfPage":false,"url":"https://www.worldhistory.org/image/1194/shiva-nataraja-lord-of-the-dance/","width":"942"}. The waters of the Ganges are called Gangaajal, meaning literally "water of the Ganges". Free Shiva Photos. [267][268] According to Doniger, two regional stories depict demons Andhaka and Jalandhara as the children of Shiva who war with him, and are later destroyed by Shiva. [59], Myths about Shiva that were "roughly contemporary with early Christianity" existed that portrayed Shiva with many differences than how he is thought of now,[60] and these mythical portrayals of Shiva were incorporated into later versions of him. [357] However, the Batara Guru has more aspects than the Indian Shiva, as the Indonesian Hindus blended their spirits and heroes with him. [75] Gregory L. Possehl in 2002, associated it with the water buffalo, and concluded that while it would be appropriate to recognize the figure as a deity, and its posture as one of ritual discipline, regarding it as a proto-Shiva would "go too far". [326], The oldest known archaeological linga as an icon of Shiva is the Gudimallam lingam from 3rd-century BCE. By bathing in her sacred waters one is purified to the core of their being. For discussion of the problems in translation of this name, and the hypothesis regarding the. Indra successfully abducted the horse and tied him in the ashram of Sage Kapil, who was silently meditating for many years. In RV 6.45.31, the word Ganga is also mentioned, but it is not clear if the reference is to the river. [10], In the Mahabharata, Ganga is the wife of Shantanu as well as the mother of the eight Vasus, including Bhishma. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Shiva (Siva) is one of the most important gods in Hinduism and a member of the holy trinity (trimurti) with Brahma and Vishnu. [120][121] The period of 200 BC to 100 AD also marks the beginning of the Shaiva tradition focused on the worship of Shiva as evidenced in other literature of this period. Kartikeya is also known as Shanmukha or God with six faces. The Ramayana describes her to be the firstborn of Himavat, the personification of the Himalayas, and the sister of the mother goddess Parvati. Kali is the Hindu goddess of death, time, and doomsday.She is often associated with sexuality and violence but is also considered a strong mother figure and symbol of motherly love. [377], Daikokuten is a Shiva-kuninushi fusion deity in Japan[378], Acala is a fierce Shiva adaptation in both China and Japan[379], Statue of Shiva depicted as a Chinese Buddhist deva on Mount Putuo Guanyin Dharma Realm in Zhejiang, China, In contemporary culture, Shiva is depicted in art, films, books, tattoos, etc. [40] The name ambhu (Sanskrit: swam-on its own; bhu-burn/shine) "self-shining/ shining on its own", also reflects this benign aspect. The peaceful white temple is surrounded by Deodar and pines and the Greater Himalayan Range. [304][305] Linga, states Alain Danilou, means sign. many Hindus pray to her for a happy family life and financial security. Indra himself may have been adopted by the Vedic Aryans from the BactriaMargiana Culture. Ganga, the goddess of the Ganges River, was one of three wives of Vishnu. Two Recent Examples From Hinduism Studies", "The Paris congress of the history of religions", "Footnote 70:1 to Horace Hayman Wilson's English translation of The Vishnu Purana: Book I Chapter IX", "Footnote 83:4 to Horace Hayman Wilson's English translation of The Vishnu Purana: Book I Chapter X", "Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 4 Chapter 1 English translation by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada", "Tubers are the veggies of choice to celebrate Thiruvathira", "Thiruvathira Kerala's own version of Karva Chauth", "The thriving Shiva festival in Umarkot is a reminder of Sindh's Hindu heritage", The Goddess Durg in the East-Javanese Period, "Between China and Tibet: Mahkla Worship and Esoteric Buddhism in the Dali Kingdom", "Integration of Stra and Tantra: iva, akti interpreted as, "Mahadev tops TRP charts with a new record of 8.2 TVR", "Vabhavhanamrti in Literature and Art", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shiva&oldid=1167688288, This page was last edited on 29 July 2023, at 07:38. [15][16] Shiva is one of the five equivalent deities in Panchayatana puja of the Smarta tradition of Hinduism. [166][167] Shiva, along with Vishnu, is a revered god in the Devi Mahatmya, a text of Shaktism considered by the tradition to be as important as the Bhagavad Gita. What is the symbolic purpose of Shiva's trident? Festivals like Ganga Dussehra and Ganga Jayanti are celebrated in her honour at several sacred places, which lie along the banks of the Ganges, including Gangotri, Haridwar, Prayagraj, Varanasi and Kali Ghat in Kolkata. Rudra and Agni have a close relationship. In Hinduism, the universe is thought to regenerate in cycles (every 2,160,000,000 years). In 1972, the then Prime Minister of Mauritius, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam brought Holy water from the Ganga's source - Gomukh in India and mixed it with the water of the Grand Bassin and renamed it as Ganga Talao. [309] According to Monier Williams and Yudit Greenberg, linga literally means 'mark, sign or emblem', and also refers to a "mark or sign from which the existence of something else can be reliably inferred". The Ardhanarisvara concept co-mingles god Shiva and goddess Shakti by presenting an icon that is half-man and half woman, a representation and theme of union found in many Hindu texts and temples. [310][311], Some scholars, such as Wendy Doniger, view linga as merely a phallic symbol,[312][313][314][315] although this interpretation is criticized by others, including Swami Vivekananda,[316] Sivananda Saraswati,[317] Stella Kramrisch,[318] Swami Agehananda Bharati,[319] S. N. Balagangadhara,[320] and others. One hand makes the calming abhayamudra gesture and another points to his left foot, symbol of salvation. 'The Great God' [madeh]),[9][10][11] is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. It is believed that on this day, Parvati met Shiva after her long penance and Shiva took her as his wife. [29], The Sanskrit word aiva means "relating to the god Shiva", and this term is the Sanskrit name both for one of the principal sects of Hinduism and for a member of that sect. [125], The earliest iconic artworks of Shiva may be from Gandhara and northwest parts of ancient India. Shiva (/v/; Sanskrit: , romanized:iva, lit. How many sons did King Sagara have with his wife, Sumati. "[179] Shiva is also an archetype for samhara (Sanskrit: ) or dissolution which includes transcendence of human misery by the dissolution of maya, which is why Shiva is associated with Yoga. 11th-12th century CE. Photos 108 . . Kalyanasundara-murti (Sanskrit -, literally "icon of beautiful marriage") is the depiction of Shiva's marriage to Parvati. People also offer flowers and fruits here. He is all powerful and supreme. However, other texts mention her origin from the preserver deity, Vishnu. Ganga is depicted four-armed and mounted on a crocodile or enthroned surrounded by crocodiles. Sati is an aspect of Adi Parashakti. The devas defeated the remaining asuras, and asked Sage Agastya to restore the water. His rise to prominence was a peculiar trait of the Old Indic speakers. All Rights Reserved. The milk from all these cows flooded the home of Shiva, somewhere in the Himalaya. {"@context":"https://schema.org","@id":"https://www.worldhistory.org/image/6132/shiva-vietnam/#imageobject","@type":"ImageObject","acquireLicensePage":"https://www.worldhistory.org/image/6132/shiva-vietnam/","caption":"Sandstone sculpture of Shiva from Thap Banh It. [359], The Indonesian Hindu texts present the same philosophical diversity of Shaivite traditions found in the Indian subcontinent. Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University. "The. The Shri Rudram Chamakam, also known as the atarudriya, is a devotional hymn to Shiva hailing him by many names. Ganga (the goddess who personified the river Ganges) was given to Shiva by Vishnu who could not take any more of the constant quarrels between his then three wives of Lakshmi (goddess of good fortune), Saraswati (goddess of wisdom) and Ganga. Popular video games featuring Shiva include the Shin Megami Tensei series and especially Smite. In China and Taiwan, Shiva, better known there as Mahevara (Chinese: ; pinyin: Dzzitin; or Chinese: pinyin: Mxshulutin) is considered one of the Twenty Devas (Chinese: , pinyin: rsh Zhtin) or the Twenty-Four Devas (Chinese: , pinyin: rshs zhtin) who are a group of dharmapalas that manifest to protect the Buddhist dharma. Shiva is also known as Adiyogi (the first Yogi), regarded as the patron god of yoga, meditation and the arts. Birth of Ganga As per Hindu Mythology, Ganga is the daughter of Brahma, born from his kamandala (a spout shaped vessel), when he was washing the feet of Vamana (The dwarf Brahmin incarnation of Lord Vishnu). The ultimate goal in this practice is to transition past the use of icons, recognize the Absolute symbolized by the icons,[175] on the path to realizing the nondual identity of one's Atman (Self) and the Brahman. According to legend, the goddess is regarded to have accidentally destroyed the hut of Sage Jahnu during her descent upon the earth. Just as the Yajna (sacrificial) fire, its smoke, ashes, and flames, the Soma plant, and the ox that used to carry on its back the wood for the Vedic sacrifice gave place to the conceptions of the brightness of Shiva's body, his tawny matted hair, his blue throat, and the riding on the bull of the Shiva, the Yupa-Skambha gave place in time to the Shiva-Linga. What is the story of Shiva and the Ganges? Pacnana (Sanskrit: ), also called the pacabrahma, is a form of Shiva depicting him as having five faces which correspond to his five divine activities (pacaktya): creation (si), preservation (sthithi), destruction (sahra), concealing grace (tirobhva), and revealing grace (anugraha). Shiva is closely associated with the Linga (or Lingham) - a phallus or symbol of fertility or divine energy found in temples to the god. He holds in his top left hand the fire (agni) which will destroy the universe and in his top right hand the drum (damaru) which made the first sounds of the creation. Well done for your hard work this lesson. ","contentUrl":"https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/1194.jpg","copyrightNotice":"Peter F - CC BY-SA - This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon a work even for commercial reasons, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. The Rigveda mentions Ganga but more of her is said in the Puranas. She was in fact a reincarnation of Sati (or Dakshayani), the daughter of the god Daksha. They are well known and also worshiped. responsible for keeping all good things on Earth and bringing harmony when needed. For the Jewish period of mourning, see, "Neelkanth" redirects here. Copy link. Shiva has many wives 2. [256], As a family man and householder, he has a wife, Parvati and two sons, Ganesha and Kartikeya. Ma Ganga is more than a river, she's a goddess By Sivagami Natesan January 26, 2021 Her source She is the lifeblood of India's heartland, flowing 1,680 miles from Gaumukh in the Gangotri glacier to the Bay of Bengal, ever in motion, like a young woman anxious to meet her beloved. [372][373], In Mahayana Buddhism, Shiva is depicted as Maheshvara, a deva living in Akanishta Devaloka. [317], The worship of the lingam originated from the famous hymn in the Atharva-Veda Samhit sung in praise of the Yupa-Stambha, the sacrificial post. They lived together peacefully and had eight sons who were the incarnation of the eight Vasus. Ganga (the goddess who personified the river Ganges) was given to Shiva by Vishnu who could not take any more of the constant quarrels between his then three wives of Lakshmi . [247] The name Kla appears in the Shiva Sahasranama, where it is translated by Ram Karan Sharma as "(the Supreme Lord of) Time". Shiva Nataraja is the lord of the dance who sweeps away illusion & Ignorance. [131], The Shaiva Puranas, particularly the Shiva Purana and the Linga Purana, present the various aspects of Shiva, mythologies, cosmology and pilgrimage (Tirtha) associated with him. [282] This form represents Shiva in his aspect as a teacher of yoga, music, and wisdom and giving exposition on the shastras. Pattanaik, Devdutt. It accompanies the concept of Brahman, which as invisible signless and existent Principle, is formless or linga-less. [18], The iconographical attributes of Shiva are the serpent king Vasuki around his neck, the adorning crescent moon, the holy river Ganga flowing from his matted hair, the third eye on his forehead (the eye that turns everything in front of it into ashes when opened), the trishula or trident as his weapon, and the damaru. Some Vaishnava literature reverentially link Shiva to characters in its Puranas. His epithet Umpati ("The husband of Um") refers to this idea, and Sharma notes that two other variants of this name that mean the same thing, Umknta and Umdhava, also appear in the sahasranama. [253] When depicted as a yogi, he may be shown sitting and meditating. In some legends, the goddess Ganga is daughter of Himavan (the personification of the Himalayas) and Menavati (an apsara).She is the sister of the mother goddess, Parvati.She is the goddess of purity and purification, as people believe bathing in the Ganges removes sins and helps in gaining moksha.

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