Understanding The Meaning Of Shiva's 8 Adornments

Monday, May 9, 2016, 16:27 [IST]

Shiva is the most powerful God in Hinduism. He is the third God in the Hindu triumvirate. The triumvirate consists of three Gods who are responsible for the creation, upkeep and destruction of the world.

The other two Gods are Brahma and Vishnu. Lord Brahma is the creator of the universe, whereas Lord Vishnu is the preserver of the universe.

Also Read: Birth Secret Of Lord Shiva

Lord Shiva is the primary deity in Hinduism, and his devotees are many in number. Most devotees are familiar with the different legends associated with Lord Shiva, which uphold his status as an invincible Divine power.

Lord Shiva has 8 adornments, and it is believed that each of these adornments has a significance behind it.

Also Read: The Story Behind The Shiva Linga

From the crescent moon on the head to the Ganga flowing from his matted hair and his Damru, which is the drum of creation.

All of these adornments have a spiritual significance and, today, Boldsky shares with you the true meaning of these adornments. You might want to take a look at this:

Lord Shiva's Trigent:

The trigent represents the three powers that are knowledge, desire and implementation.

The Drum On The Trigent:

The drum which is placed on the trigent represents sound. The sound is the words of the Vedas, the holy scriptures given by the Lord to guide us through life.

The Serpent On The Neck:

The serpent that is wrapped around the neck of Lord Shiva signifies the ego of man.

Lord Shiva's Rosary:

The rosary in the hand of the Lord is the Rudraksha beads. The beads denote purity. The mala, or the rosary, which is often seen in the right hand of the Lord symbolises concentration.

The Face On Shiva's Head:

The face which is seen placed on the head of Lord Shiva represents the Holy River, Ganga. It signifies the flow of scriptural teachings passing wisdom from one generation to another.

Moon On Shiva's Head:

The moon that is seen on the Lord's head symbolises that Shiva is the master of time and he himself is timeless.

The Dot On Shiva's Forehead:

The large oval dot that is seen on the forehead of Lord Shiva represents the Third eye of knowledge. It is said that if this third eye is opened, it will reduce to ashes the person in it's vision. It is the symbol of evil destruction and ignorance.