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8) GANGA JATA DHARA - In Praise of Lord Shiva
Shiva, the ash-covered ascetic, the prince of the yogis, is one of the most widely worshiped deities in India. He wears a necklace of skulls and carries a snake in one hand and a trident in the other. With names such a Mahadeva (“the great god”) and Nataraja (“the king of the dancers”), Shiva (“the auspicious one”) is venerated in ancient holy cities such as Benares, where his worshipers devote their lives to him. A verse from the scriptures explains Shiva’s position in relation to divinity: “…[T]he Ganga is the greatest of all rivers, Lord Achyuta (Krishna) the best among deities, and Lord Shambhu (Shiva) the greatest Vaishnava….” – Srimad Bhagavatam 12.13.16
However, Shaivites (worshippers of Shiva) regard Shiva not just as the greatest devotee but as God Himself. There is a basis for this in scripture. As Lord Vishnu Himself explains in the Bhagavatam (4.7.50), “Brahma, Lord Shiva, and I are the supreme cause of the material manifestation. I am the Supersoul, the self-sufficient witness. But impersonally there is no difference between Brahma, Shiva, and Me.” In other words, all three divinities are one because they are all avatars, or descents of the Supreme for the purpose of creation, maintenance and annihilation. In this context they are known as guna-avatars and preside over the modes of passion (embodied by Brahma, the creator), goodness (embodied by Vishnu, the maintainer), and ignorance (embodied by Shiva, the destroyer). All three personalities are considered various aspects of the same Godhead.
Jaya Ganga-jata-dhara, Gauri Sankhara, Girija Mano-ramana
The Ganges flow from his matted locks, Siva, the one who enchants Gauri’s mind.
Jaya mrtyun, jaya, Mahadeva Mahesvara, mangala subha carana
All glories to Lord Siva, he who is victorious over death, I worship at your feet.
Nandi varhana, naga-bhusana, nirupana guna sadhana
You ride your transcendental vehicle, the bull Nandi, and you are adorned with snakes as ornaments. Siva, whose purity is such that you have no material qualities but are eternal.
Natana mano-hara, nila kanta hari, niraja dala nayana
Your dance enchants the mind and your eyes are like lotus petals.
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