THE GLORY OF LORD SHIVA

Lecture by Swami Paramarthananda

Transcribed by Sri VLN Prasad

NOTE: Swami Paramarthananda has not verified the transcription of talks.

The transcriptions have been done with Swamiji’s blessings by his disciple.

Published by :

Arsha Avinash Foundation

104 Third Street, Tatabad, Coimbatore 641012, India
Phone: +91 9487373635
E mail: arshaavinash@gmail.com
www.arshaavinash.in

Download from www.arshaavinash.in

General Talks Glory of Lord Shiva

Glory of Lord Shiva

sadāsiva samārambhām sankarāchārya madhyamām

asmad āchārya paryantām vande guru paramparām

Shivarātri is an auspicious day on which day we worship Lord Shiva

who is an embodiment of auspiciousness. It is an important day for all
people and especially, it is important for spiritual seekers. Those people
who have lead their life in which the materialistic pursuits have been
predominant; they are reminded on Shivarātri day to change their course
of life.
No doubt we require Artha and Kāma (security and entertainments) but
our Scriptures point out that our life cannot be dedicated totally to
material pursuit alone. Therefore, a time should come when Artha,
Kāma pursuits becomes subsidiary, Dharma and Mōksha pursuits
become more and more dominant.
I should look at my age, I am growing old and I do not know how long I
will live. If I miss this human life, I do not know when I will get a
human life again. So if you miss this life - iha chēdavēdīt ata satyamasti
nachē dihāvadīt mahati vinashtihi. Human life is meaningful only if we
discover the spiritual fulfillment.
But our problem is that we are so busy with our worldly pursuits that we
don’t have time to think of the original purpose of life. Therefore some
kind of shaking or jolt should be given. And one such important
function in which we are asked to turn our life towards more spirituality
is Shivarātri function.
Those who are already in spiritual pursuit, they have to pray for more
and more spiritual qualification, more and more clearer knowledge -

Page 1 of 12
Download from www.arshaavinash.in
General Talks Glory of Lord Shiva
annapūrne sadāpūrne shankara prāna vallabhe, gnyāna vairāgya
sidhyartham bhikshāmdēhi cha pārvati ; I have done enough, now let
me ask for Gnyānam and Vairāgyam.
Therefore, Shivarātri is an important day for all of us. Those who have
never turned to spirituality should start and those who are already in
spirituality should make it tīvra, tīvratara and tīvratama. And in certain
traditions, the Sanyāsa Āshrama is taken on Shivarātri day only. So our
Swamiji generally gives Sanyāsa on Shivarātri day. We also took
Sanyāsa on Shivarātri day.
Today also some Brahmachāry’s are taking Sanyāsa in Rishikesh on the
Ganges banks. Sanyāsa indicating committed pursuit of spirituality. And
on this auspicious day, we invoke Lord Shiva - Lord Shiva as the Lord
of the whole creation and especially as the Lord of self knowledge as
Dakshināmūrthy.
shivam shivakaram shāntam shivātmānam shivōttamam shiva mārga
pranētāram pranatōsmi sadāsivam
I worship Sadāshiva, Dakshināmūrthy so that he will bless me with
Shiva Mārga. Shiva Mārga is Shreyō Mārga. Shreyō Mārga is Gnyāna
Mārga. Gnyāna Mārga is Nivrutti Mārga. Pravrutti means outward
pursuit and Nivrutti means inward pursuit. On this Shivarātri day,
everywhere, all over India, Shiva Pūja takes place
In all Shiva temples, special Pūjas are done. During this Pūja, Sri
Rudram is chanted which is one of the most auspicious mantras of the
Veda. I have talked about various aspects of Sri Rudram before. Today I
thought I will take a particular Mantra which is chanted during Rudram
also and which is chanted very often by all people.
I will give you the meaning of that Mantra, so that in future when you
chant, it will not be mere mechanical chanting, your heart also will be
involved in that. And that mantra we just chanted now -
Page 2 of 12
Download from www.arshaavinash.in
General Talks Glory of Lord Shiva
om namaste astu bhagavan vishwēshwarāya mahadēvāya tryambakāya
tripurāntakāya trikāgni kālāya kālāgni rudrāya nīlakanthāya
mrityunjayāya sarwēshwarāya sadāsivāya sriman mahā dēvāya namaha
It is a beautiful Mantra in which I surrender to Lord Shiva. The Shiva’s
glory is described in this mantra. Every word talks about the glory of
Paramēshwara. To that Paramēshwara, namaha astu - Let there be my
prostration. So the words are all very beautiful.
The first word is namaste astu bhagavan - Bhagawān is addressing the
Lord. So hey Bhagawān - O Lord Paramēshwara, te namaha astu - Let
my obeisance be there to you (te). What type of you? Often when we do
Namaskāra, we have a doubt whether the person deserves the
Namaskāra or not. Here the description is given so that the Lord
deserves all the Namaskāra.
What type of Lord is he? vishwēshwarāya - vishwam means the entire
world. Universe is called Vishwa and Ēshwaraha means the ruler; the
one who rules the universe, the one who is the governor, the ruler of the
universe. What do you mean by the ruler of the universe? - The one who
maintains the universal laws.
Any law requires a law maintainer including the simple traffic law. The
red and green signal is invented to avoid the human power so that we
have got a mechanical control of the traffic. You don’t require a person
to stand there. But the in India, we require traffic signal also and also a
few police people to see whether it is followed.
From that it is very clear that every law requires an intelligent law
upholding maintaining principle. If the local traffic rules require
policing, then what to talk of the universal laws? Countless physical and
mechanical laws are there because of which alone the Sun is rising and
setting. Because of which alone the earth is moving round itself and also
round the sun.
Page 3 of 12
Download from www.arshaavinash.in
General Talks Glory of Lord Shiva
Because of which alone day and night come. Because of which alone
the seasons come and because of which alone we get food and water.
All these are possible because of the laws. Scientists can only discover
the laws, but they have neither created the laws nor can they maintain
the laws. They are not able to maintain even their in-laws. What to talk
of universal law! It is impossible.
Therefore, you require a supra intelligent principle to govern, to care of
the universal laws. More than the universal laws, it is the moral law of
Karma and Karma Phalam. The scientist talks about only the physical
and mechanical laws, but our scriptures talk about the moral laws
governing our action.
When a person violates a moral law, the local government may not
punish because they can be always managed by something. Therefore,
they can escape the local government and police but that moral law of
Karma Phala has to be upheld by some superior power.
bhīshāsmād vātah pavate, bhīshōdēti sūryaha, bhīshāsmād
agnischēndrascha mrutyur dhāvati panchama iti, mahat bhayam vajra
mudyatam
The moral law which is in the form of Punyam and Papam; Somebody
has to take care of the Karma Phala. The upholder of that moral law is
also called Ēshwaraha. Thus, Vishwēshwaraha means the one who takes
care of the universal law. Once we learn to look upon Shiva as
Vishwēshwara then whatever happens to me in my life, I take it as my
Karma Phalam.
I take responsibility for my life’s experiences. I don’t blame anyone in
the world. I don’t blame even God for that. What I am experiencing is
purely my Karma Phalam. Once I know that the Lord can never be
unjust, I will have the attitude of acceptance. So surrender to the Lord is
surrender to a just principle.
Page 4 of 12
Download from www.arshaavinash.in
General Talks Glory of Lord Shiva
And surrender to the just Lord is acceptance of Karma Phalam whether
it is happy or whether it is unhappy. So surrender is not a physical
procedure, surrender is an inner attitude of accepting the Karma Phala,
without grumbling. Therefore, Vishwēshwarāya namaha;
The next glory of the Lord is Mahādēvaha. The word Dēvaha in
Sanskrit as got many meanings. One meaning is - the one who is in the
form of effulgence. divyati prakāshatē iti dēvaha. Jyothi swarūpaha is
dēvaha. The Lord is called Mahādēvaha because there are so many
lights in the world and the Lord is considered to be tat shubhram
jyothishām jyothihi. Sadhyadātmā vidō vidhuhu.
The Lord is called the light of all lights, because all the lights are known
because of which Ātma Chaitanyam, that conscious principle is the
Lord. If that consciousness principle is not there, the local light cannot
function as light. If this light is able to illumine all of you it is because
of what? I have got eyes. This light gets validity only because of the
eye.
Eye gets validity only because of mind. Mind gets validity only because
of the conscious principle, the sentiency principle. That conscious
principle is Paramēshwaraha. shāntam, shivam, chaturtham, advaitam,
manyante sa ātma sa vignyēyaha. Therefore, Mahādēvaha means the
light of all lights, the consciousness principle; Chaitanya swarūpāya
namaha.
vishwēshwarāya mahadēvāya tryambakāya -
The Lord has got three eyes. The normal two eyes represent the fleshy
eyes with which we recognize the material world. And the third eye
represents the eye of wisdom with the help of which one recognizes the
truth behind the creation, the Ātma Tatvam behind the creation. It is
because the truth is not available for the regular eye.

Page 5 of 12
Download from www.arshaavinash.in
General Talks Glory of Lord Shiva
In Chāndōgya Upanishad, a beautiful example is given. The teacher
asks the student to dissolve some salt in water and the student dissolves.
The teacher asks what do you see? The student says I am seeing water.
What type of water? - Water which is pervaded by salt. Now the teacher
asks where the salt is. Is it above or below or the right side or the left
side?
The student says it is ūrdhvam, adhaha, dakshinataha, uttarēna,
sarvatra - everywhere salt is pervading. Then the teacher asks, do you
see that salt? The student says, no I do not see the salt. Then the teacher
asks the question, then how can you recognize the salt? Then the
teacher says, you just put a drop of water on your tongue and then you
know that the water is pervaded by salt.
That means that which cannot be seen by one instrument of knowledge,
can be recognized by another instrument of knowledge. Water can be
recognized by one instrument of knowledge called the eyes. But what
eyes cannot see, can be recognized by another instrument of knowledge
called the tongue.
Similarly, the Shāstra says that all the five sense organs can recognize
this world, but these five sense organs cannot recognize the reality
which is pervading this creation. If this reality has to be recognized, you
require another instrument different from all the five sense organs. That
instrument is called Shāstra Janya Gnyānam.
And that extra instrument which is Shāstra Janya Gnyānam, the eye of
wisdom is symbolized as the third eye. The third eye is not a physical
hole in the forehead. Don’t look for that. The third eye is the physical
representative of the Shāstra Janya Gnyānam, or spiritual knowledge.
So these two eyes represent Aparā Vidya. The third eye represents Parā
Vidya, spiritual knowledge.

Page 6 of 12
Download from www.arshaavinash.in
General Talks Glory of Lord Shiva
Paramēshwara is one who has got both Aparā Vidya and Parā Vidya -
sarvagnyaha sarvavit. Yasarvagnya sarvavit yasya gnyāna mayam
tapaha - The one who has both material and spiritual knowledge. By
worshipping that Paramēshwara, we will also get the third eye. Third
eye means the wisdom will come to us. Whatever is required for that
wisdom that will also come.
Therefore, the Lord is called Tryambakaha. Amabakam means eye. Tri
means three. So, thrīni ambakāni yasya saha tryambakaha or
Triyambakaha.
The next glory is Tripurāntakāya. In the Purānās, we hear about three
Asurās known as Tripura Asura. Their name is not Tripura literally.
They are known by different names - Kalmalāksha, Vidyunmāli and
some other name. Those three Asurās together are known as Tripura
Rakshasās, because they had three cities specially built for them.
One is golden city, another is silver city, and another is iron city. Since
they were the rulers of these three cities, they were called Tripurās.
Literally, it is the name of the city and Rakshasās are also known by that
name. Not only that, but these cities were flying cities. The cities
themselves could fly. They can make their city sit in America if they
want to.
This is all because they had Varās from Brahmāji. They also got a
special boon that we can be killed only when all the flying cities come
together and somebody shoots an arrow which will pass through all the
three cities. Nobody could do that and the Asurās started Akrama.
Then Lord Shiva comes, and he takes the help of many Dēvatās and
other people and then he destroys the Tripuram and also the Asurās.
Therefore, he gets the name Tripura Antakaha - the destroyer of the
three cities. This is the Purānic story. But in Vedanta, we point out that
the three cities represent the Sthūla, Sūkshma and Kārana Sharīram.
Page 7 of 12
Download from www.arshaavinash.in
General Talks Glory of Lord Shiva
The unreal three bodies - the physical body, the mind and the potential
form of all our karma etc, they are represented by the three Purās. The
Lord destroys the three Purās means that the Lord destroys the unreal
world and reveals the reality. Therefore, he gets the name Tripurārihi or
Tripurāntakaha.
Tripurāntakaha, Trikāgnikālāya -
This is a beautiful philosophically significant word - Trikāgnikālāya.
Trika means group of three. Any group of three called is called Trika.
Agnihi means fire. Trika-Agnihi means three fold fire. In tradition,
every Gruhasta has to maintain three types of fire. One fire is called
Gārhapatyāgni which he is supposed to kindle at the time of wedding.
He has to maintain that fire throughout his life. In fact, his body should
be burnt only by that sacred fire. That fire called Gārhapatya fire. Out of
the Gārhapatya fire, for daily rituals, he takes out a portion. Certain
rituals are done with the help of the portion that portion is called
Āhavanīya fire.
And certain types other rituals are done again from a portion of
Gārhapatya fire and that is called Dakshina fire. So, these Āhavanīya
and Dakshina fires are taken, used for rituals and they are again joined
back (mixed) with Gārhapatya. For the purpose of different rituals, he
has to take out from Gārhapatya.
Even Hōma Kunda will have to be different. Āhavanīya means it should
be rectangular. Dakshina means semi circular. Gārhapatya is circular
Hōma Kunda is required. Every Gruhastha, every house holder is
supposed to maintain these three fires. Therefore, it is called Trika
Agnihi. By symbolism, Trikāgni represents the Karma Kānda, the
ritualistic portion of the Veda.
Veda points out that everybody should go through a ritualistic life
initially. Without going through rituals, there is no question of purity of
Page 8 of 12
Download from www.arshaavinash.in
General Talks Glory of Lord Shiva
mind. At the same time, the scriptures warn that the rituals are not end
in themselves. One should enter the rituals, grow spiritually and there
afterwards, grow out of the rituals by gaining the spiritual knowledge.
Therefore, the spiritual knowledge is an end to ritualistic life. That is
why a Sanyāsi is called Niragnihi - the one who has destroyed the fire.
And who will do that? Lord Shiva is called Trikāgni Kālaha; The Lord
who will end, who will destroy all the Karmas and the one who will
lead to knowledge. Karma Nāshakaha is called Trikāgni Kālaha.
Kālaha means destroyer.
Trikāgnikālāya Kālāgni Rudrāya -
So the one who is Pralaya Kāla Agnihi; At the time of Pralayam, that is
total destruction, the entire earth is supposed to be dissolved in water.
The Pancha Bhūtas will fold into themselves. The earth will dissolve
into water and the water will be evaporated or destroyed by Pralaya
Kāla Agnihi. This Pralaya Kāla Agnihi which destroys everything is
here called Kālāgni.
That Agni Tatvam is Lord Shiva and he is called Pralayakālāgni
Rudraha. So, Lord Shiva, Rudraha who is Pralayakālāgnihi; Why he is
called Rudraha? Any destruction will cause sorrow - Rōdayati iti
Rudraha. Maranam, destruction means there is fear. Since he is the
destroyer of the entire creation, he is called Pralayakālāgni Rudraha.
nīlakanthāya - The one who is blue-necked Lord.
You know the story in the Purāna about how they were doing Samudra
Mathanam. At that time so many wonderful things came. Also,
Hālāhalāhyam - Visham came. The beauty is when wonderful things
like Lakshmi Devi and Kaustubha came, all the people rushed towards
them. But the moment poison came all the people ran. Then there was
only one person -

Page 9 of 12
Download from www.arshaavinash.in
General Talks Glory of Lord Shiva
kshīrāmbhōnidhi manthanōd bhava.. sandahya manān surān lōkādīn
avalōkya yah karunayā hālāhalākhyam visham nissankham nija līlayā
kabalayan lōkān rakshādarāth ārtatrāna parāyana sa bhagawān
gangādharō me gatihi
Shiva is not mere destroyer. Shiva is the protector of the world also. He
drank the poison and saved the world. Therefore, he is nīlakanthaha. If
you have to give a spiritual significance to that Samudra Mathanam
represents our spiritual pursuit in which we do lot of Mathanam -
churning of our intellect asking the question who am I, who is the world
etc. This thinking process, spiritual enquiry itself is a churning.
ātmānam aranim krutvā pranavam cha uttarāranim gnyāna
nirmathanābhyāsāt pāsham dahati
The spiritual enquiry itself is a churning and when we churn our mind in
the spiritual field, one thing that happens for some people is that lot of
inside impurities come out - like homeopathy medicine. Similarly for
many people, when they start spiritual life and enquiry, they get into
varieties of psychological problems which they are blissfully ignorant
until to come to Vedanta.
Those problems are called Kashāyam. Deep conscious problems,
childhood problems, sub-conscious problems which were all hiding
inside begin to appear in the form of depressions, anxieties, anger, guilt
and inferiority complex.
Such mental problems for which we do not know the reason is the
Hālāhala Visham for which we cannot find a cure because we do not
know the cause. In the Kashāya problem, there is only one solution.
Who will swallow such Hālāhala? nīlakanthāya namaha - May you
drink the poison. For us it is poison but for Bhagawān it is an ornament.
So nīlakanthāya namaha.

Page 10 of 12
Download from www.arshaavinash.in
General Talks Glory of Lord Shiva
Mrutyunjayāya - The one who is the destroyer of, the vanquisher of
Mrutyuhu. For this also we have the story of Mārkandēya. I need not
tell the story. When Yamadharmarāja came to kill Mārkandēya,
Mārkandēya embraced Lord Shiva and then he was protected from
Yamadharmarāja. That place is there in Tirukkadavur.
When all the people celebrate Shastipurti they want to survive. Because
we think that the Lord Mrutyunjaya has to give us physical immortality.
Here the prayer is not for physical immortality, physical immortality is
not possible. The prayer is O Lord, let me dis-identify from my body, let
me not take my body. Let me discover my immortal self.
Mārkandēya embracing Shiva Linga is nothing but a spiritual seeker
owning up the inner, eternal Ātma Swarūpam. So Mrutyunjayaha means
the one who gives immortality by revealing the Ātma Swarūpam. O
Lord, give me that Ātma Gnyānam.
ya yēvam vētti purusham prakutim cha gunai saha sarvathā
vartamānōpi nata bhūyōbhi jāyate
mrutyunjayāya, sadāsivāya -
Sadāshivaha means ever auspicious. The word Shivaha is derived from
two different words, two different roots - one is ‘shō’, to destroy and
another is ‘shi’, to support. shyati amangalam iti sivaha. The one who
destroys inauspiciousness is Shivaha.
And shērate mangalāni asmin iti shivaha - That in whom all the
Mangalams are resting; The one who is the abode of all the Mangalams
and one who is the destroyer of Amangalam. amangalanam shyati
mangalānām ādhāraha pavitrānām pavitramyō mangalānāmcha
mangalam. So he gives all auspiciousness. Not for one day,
Sadāshivāya.

Page 11 of 12
Download from www.arshaavinash.in
General Talks Glory of Lord Shiva
Sarwēshwarāya – Sarwēshwaraha means the Lord of everything.
Previously Vishwēshwarāya came - the Lord of the creation. Here, the
Lord of everything. That means not only the creation but also the Māya
which is behind creation. For that Māya also he is the Lord. Therefore,
he is called Sarwēshwarāya, Sadāshivāya, Shankarāya (the one who is
Mangala Karta).
Sriman mahādēvāya namaha - Mahādēvāya is an important name.
Therefore, it is put in the beginning and at the end. Mahādēvāya, the
Lord of all Lords and the one who is Chaitanya Swarūpaha. Such a
wonderful Paramēshwara, I surrender everyday especially, on this
auspicious Shivarātri.
So, let us invoke the grace of the Lord so that we will have all the
mangalams - immediate Mangalam and ultimate Mangalam which is
Ātma Gnyānam. Let all the mangalams come to all of us through this
Shivarātri Pūja.

Poornamadah Poornamidam Poornaath Poornam Udachyathe

Poornasya Poornamaadaaya Poornameva Vasishyathe

Om shanti shanti shantihi

Page 12 of 12
Download from www.arshaavinash.in
 www.arshaavinash.in

WEBSITE FOR FREE E-BOOKS ON VEDANTA & SANSKRIT

PUJYA SWAMI DAYANANDA SARASWATI- A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY BY

N. AVINASHILINGAM. It is available in English, Tamil, Hindi,
Japanese and Portuguese.

SWAMI PARAMARTHANANDA’S TRANSCRIBED CLASS NOTES:

Available class notes are Tattva Bodhah, BGita (3329 pages),
Isavasya Upanisad, Kenopanisad, Kathopanisad, Prasna Upanisad,
Mundaka Upanisad, Mandukya Upanisad with karika, Taittiriya
Upanisad, Aitareya Upanisad, Chandogya Upanisad, Brihadarnyaka
Upanisad (1190 pages), Kaivalya Upanisad, Brahma Sutra (1486
pages), Niti Satakam, Vairagya Satakam, Atma Bodha,
Vivekachudamani (2038 pages), Panchadasi, Manisha Panchakam,
Upadesha Saara, Saddarsanam, Jayanteya Gita, Jiva Yatra, Advaita
Makaranda, Dakshinamurthy Stotram, Drg Drsya Viveka, Vichara
Sagaram and Naishkarmya Siddhi.

BRNI MEDHA MICHIKA’S BOOKS ON SANSKRIT GRAMMAR:

Enjoyable Sanskrit Grammar Books- Basic Structure of Language,
Phonetics & Sandhi, Derivatives (Pancavrttayah), Dhatukosah,
Astadhyayi, Study Guide to Panini Sutras through Lagu Siddhanta
Kaumudi – Sajna Prakaranam & Sandhi Prakaranam, Shadlingah,
Halanta Pullingah & Avyayam, Sanskrit Alphabet Study Books-
Single Letters, Conjunct Consonants.

There are many more books and articles on Indian culture and
Spirituality, Chanting, Yoga and Meditation.

Arsha Avinash Foundation

104 Third Street, Tatabad, Coimbatore 641012, India
Phone: +91 9487373635
E mail: arshaavinash.in@gmail.com
www.arshaavinash.in