{{The Shiva Avatars}}

Shiva is present everywhere, you cannot found a single place where Shiva is not present. As Adi Shankaracharya said: "Forgive me Oh, Shiva My three great sins! I came on a pilgrimage to Kashi forgetting that, you are omnipresent. In thinking about you I forgot that, You are beyond thought. In praying to You I forgot that, You are beyond words." Perhaps, Shiva for his devotees and to sustain law and balance of nature Shiva took avatars time to time, I am giving a brief of them, According to Shiva Purana, Sages requested Sutji to describe about the different Avatars of Shiva. Sutji told them that, although Lord Shiva took many incarnations (Avatar) but five of his incarnations (Avatar) were very important- Sadhojat, Namadeva, Tatpurush, Aghoresh and Ishan. SADHOJAT: Lord Shiva took his first incarnation (Avatar) from the physique of Lord Brahma, who was engrossed in his deep state of meditation, during the nineteenth Kalpa named Shweta Lohit. Lord Brahma gave him the name SADHOJAT and eulogized him. Later on, from the physique of Sadhojat four of his disciple manifested, whose names were Sunand, Nandan, Vishwanandan and Upanandan. All the four disciples were of fair complexion. Lord Shiva blessed Brahma and empowered him to do creation. NAAMDEVA: During the twentieth Kalpa named 'Rakta' the complexion of lord Brahma turned red, while he was engrossed in his meditative state. From his body manifested an entity who also was of red complexion. Lord Brahma named him Namadeva considering him to be the incarnation (Avatar) of lord Shiva and eulogized him. Later on four sons were born to Namadeva, whose names were Viraj, Viwah, Vishok and Vishwabhawan. All of them were of red complexion just like their father Namadeva. Naamdeva Shiva along with his virtuous progenies blessed Lord Brahma with the power of creation. TATPURUSH: The twenty-first Kalpa on the earth was known as 'Peetavasa'. It was named so because of the apparel of Lord Brahma which were of yellow colors. Lord Brahma's prayer resulted into the manifestation of an effulgent entity. Considering this entity as Lord Shiva, Lord Brahma started chanting the mantras of Shiva Gayatri. After the chantings of the mantras, numerous entities manifested who had put on apparels of yellow color on their body. This way the third incarnation (Avatar) of Shiva popularly known as Tatpurush manifested. AGHORESH: After the Peetavasa Kalp came the Shiva Kalpa. A black complexioned manifested while Lord Brahma was engrossed in his deep meditative state. Lord Brahma considering this entity as Aghor Shiva started eulogizing him. Lord Brahma's eulogization resulted into the manifestation of four more entities who had the same black complexion as that of 'Aghor Shiva'. Their names were Krishna, Krishnashikha, Krishnamukha and Krishnakanthdhari. Aghor Shiva along with those four entities blessed Lord Brahma with the power of creation. ISHAN: During the Kalpa named Vishwaroop, manifestations of Saraswati and Ishan Shiva took place. Lord Brahma eulogized Ishan Shiva after which four divine entities named Jati, Mundi, Shikhandi and Ardhamundi manifested from Ishan Shiva. All of them blessed Lord Brahma with the power of creation.

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EIGHT IDOLS OF SHIVA: After describing about the five chief incarnations of lord Shiva, Sutji explained about the eight famous idols of Lord Shiva- Sharva, Bhava, Rudra, Ugra, Bheema, Pashupati, Ishan and Mahadeva. TEN GREAT INCARNATION OF SHIVA (DASH AVATAR) and TEN INCARNATION OF SHAKTI (DASH MAHAVIDYA) Describing about the ten incarnations and their corresponding power (Shakti), Sutji saidThe first incarnation of Lord Shiva was as 'Mahakal' and his Shakti was called 'Mahakali'. Lord Shiva took his second incarnation as 'Tar' and his Shakti was called 'Tara'. The third incarnation of Lord Shiva was as 'Bhuvaneshwar' and his Shakti was called 'Bhuvaneshwari'. Lord Shiva took his fourth incarnation as 'Shodash' who was also known as 'Srividdyesh' and his Shakti was called 'Shodashi' or 'Shri'. Lord Shiva took his fifth incarnation as 'Bhairav' and his Shakti was called 'Bhairavi'. The sixth incarnation of Lord Shiva is famous as 'Chhinamastak' and his Shakti by the name of 'Chhinamasta'. Lord Shiva took his seventh incarnation as 'Dhoomvan' and his Shakti was known as 'Dhoomvati'. The eighth incarnation was as 'Baglamukh' and his Shakti as 'Baglamukhi'. The nineth incarnation of lord Shiva became famous as 'Matang' and his Shakti as 'Matangi'. Lord Shiva took his tenth incarnation as 'Kamal' and his Shakti as 'Kamala'. If these ten incarnations of Shiva are worshipped along with his ten Mahavidyas then a man attains salvation. THE ORIGIN OF ELEVEN RUDRAS: Lord Shiva, later on took birth as eleven Rudras from the womb of Kashyap wife Surabhi. The name of these eleven Rudras were as follows1) Kapali 2) Pingal 3) Bheem 4) Virupaksha 5) Vilohit 6) Shastra 7) Ajapaad 8) Ahirbudhnya 9) Shambhu 10) Chand and 11) Bhav. The 11 Rudras worshipped in Ekadasa Rudrabhishekam Pooja are: 1. Mahadeva, 2. Shiva , 3. Maha Rudra, 4. Shankara, 5. Neelalohita, 6. Eshana Rudra, 7. Vijaya Rudra, 8. Bheema Rudra, 9. Devadeva, 10. Bhavodbhava and 11. Adityatmaka Srirudra. These eleven Rudras fought battles with the demons and killed them. The deities were relieved after the death of the demons. They worshipped these eleven Rudras to express their gratitude and indebtedness. Apart from above incarnation, Lord Shiva has taken some other incarnation also: 1. Ardhnaarishwar Avtaar 2. Nandi Avtaar 3. Sharabh Avtaar 4. Grihpati Avtaar 5. Neel Kanth & Yaksheshwar Avatar 6. Durvasha Avatar 7. Mahesh Avatar 8. Hanuman Avatar 9. Brishabh Avatar 10. Piplaad Avatar 11. Vaishyanath Avatar 12. Dwijeshwar Avatar 13. Yatinath Avatar 14. Krishna Darshan Avatar 15. Awdhuteshwar Avatar 16. Bhichhuwarya Avatar 17. Sureshwar Avatar 18. Bramhchoti Avatar 19. Sunatnartak Avatar 20. Sadhu Avatar 21. Vibhuashwathama Avatar 22. Kiraat Avatar

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According to Rudra Avatar is a composition under title Ath Rudra Avatar Kathan (n), written by Guru Gobind Singh present in Dasam Granth Sahib; Rudra Avatar is the supreme formless being. I am giving some translation of that here: With Rudra's attention and the spiritual wisdom of the True Guru, says BHALL the poet, these may be counted. He who created many beings from one and with His Power of wisdom, created the earth and the sky; that fearless, birth less and beyond desires is there at all the places in water and on plain. ll67ll His limbs are indestructible; that Lord is the manifestation of cognition; because of His Grave, the beings are scattered over the whole world; He had created many beings in water and on plain and He ultimately merges everyone in His Form. ll76ll Who is blemish less, Who is eternally glorious, Who is seated on a stable seat, and Who has infinite qualities. The enemies and friends all are allured to see Him. ||72|| Shiva practiced Yoga for thousands of years; he left his home and all attachment and resided in the forest; He also practiced Yoga in various ways, but still he could not know His end. ll82ll Millions of Indras, Chandras, Suryas and Krishans serve Him; Many Vishnus, Rudras, Rams, Muhammadas etc. mediate on Him, but He accepts none without true devotion. ll95ll There are many truthful persons like Dutt, many Yogis like Gorakh, Machhindar and other sages, but none has been able to comprehend His mystery; various types of Mantras in various religions the faith of One Lord. ll96ll Besides these all there are other who are supposed to Avatars of Shiva, I am giving some of name here: -Mahadeshwara-Defeated Shravanasura -Sharabha-Fought with and defeated Lord Vishnu's Narasimha and Varaha forms - Khandoba and Mhalsa killing demons Mani-Malla Some Shaiva acharyas are also considered avatars of Lord Shiva - Lakulisa-Founder Of Pasupata Shaivism.Said to have lived around a century after the Mahabharata War - Gorakahanath-Founder of Natha Sampradaya.Probably lived around the 11th century BC..Revolutionized the practice of yoga and was possibly the most important figure in the history of yoga. - Dattatreya, Hanuman and Shankaracharya are also considered avatars of Shiva by some people. {{ Please note that now a days many Babas and Dhongi Sadhus proclaim themselves as Shiva Avatar, please be make sure you are make yourself distanced from those. The one who says "I am God, I am Shiva Avatar, worship me" please keep away from them. An avatar will not say I am An Avatar but his work makes him/her Avatar. The very sad feature is that these Babas and Dhongi Sadhus make their picture as Shiva and put it on net and market. Please spread awareness not the foolishness}}

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