Lord Shiva is one of the principal deities of Hinduism, and he is important in the Shaivite tradition. He is often depicted with a third eye on his forehead, which represents his wisdom and power. Lord Shiva is also associated with a variety of other symbols, including the trident, the snake, and the drum.
Lord Shiva is part of the Trimurti, which consists of Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (the Preserver), and Shiva (the Destroyer). Lord Shiva's role as the Lord of Destruction is seen as essential for the cycle of creation and renewal to continue.
However, in the Shaivite tradition, Shiva is seen as the invincible Supreme Being who transcends all dualities and limitations. His indomitable nature places him beyond all dualities and boundaries, making him the ultimate, unvanquishable divinity in Shaivite belief.
Lord Shiva is worshipped in various forms and manifestations throughout India and beyond, and he is considered to be a source of blessings and protection for his devotees.
With Lord Shiva being the Father of All, it is often raised the question, who the parents of Lord Shiva are. This is an age-old wonderment, and in this article, we’ll try to gather all the information we have in lieu of this all-powerful deity and his lineage!
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The Tale behind the Origin of Lord Shiva
The legend of how Lord Shiva was first revealed to humanity is an iconic revelation and is often attributed to the wrongs of Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu, who happen to be the other members of the divine Trinity. This tale illustrates Lord Shiva's infinite longevity.
According to the Puranas, Lord Shiva was not born of a human mother. His existence was born in isolation, and would continue to exist even after the demise of the universe, when all else vanishes, and survives destruction.
Once an eternity ago, Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu had gotten into an argument about who is more impressive. Suddenly, a column of fire appeared. Both the tree's base and its crown were obscure, but the two deities managed to pick up on a prophet's words.
A celestial voice was heard demanding a fight between the two holy entities. Finding the column's origin and terminus was a goal of the adversary.
Lord Brahma assumed the form of a goose and soared to the top of that column to prove his superiority. Master Vishnu wasted no time transforming into a hog and dug to the bottom of the column.
They put forth a respectable effort but ultimately failed to find both a beginning and an end. They both came back to face reality and saw that Lord Shiva was waiting for them. They realized there is another power besides themselves governing the cosmos. The mystery of Lord Shiva's beginnings begins here.
Who is the Father of Lord Shiva?
Lord Shiva is known as Anandi. There is no starting point for the significance of this world. For the time being, Lord Shiva cannot have a birth—what we ordinarily refer to as the start of a life—while he is Anandi. Both his birth and death had already passed him by.
Once upon a time, a saint asked Lord Shiva who his father was, to which Shiva replied, "Brahma." This prompted the holy person to enquire as to who your grandpa was. Vishnu is my grandpa, Shiva said. The Holy One probes more to find out who the amazing grandfather is. The king's statement, "I am my incredible granddad," shook him to his core.
Anandi is revered as Lord Shiva. There is no starting point for the significance of this world. For the time being, Lord Shiva cannot have a birth—what we ordinarily refer to as the start of a life—while he is Anandi. He has already lived and died.
Who is the Mother of Lord Shiva?
The abstract concept of nature, also known as Prakriti, is seen as Lord Shiva's mother. Many people believe that Lord Shiva is Anandi. The significance of this world cannot be said to have begun or to have progressed through any stage.
Since Lord Shiva is in his current incarnation as Anandi, he is unable to have a birth, or what we would more commonly refer to as the beginning of day-to-day existence. He has outlived both his birth and his death.
On the other hand, legend also states that Goddess Parvati, his wife, is also his mother. The Mother of All, Goddess Durga, is said to be the mother of Lord Shiva as well.
Hindu mythology holds no lack of stories of the innumerable incarnations that Lord Shiva has taken in the human world. In these incarnations, his parents are often found to be ardent worshippers of the Lord.
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Evidence of Father & Mother of Shiva in Bhagavad Gita
According to the evidence found in Shrimad Bhagavad Gita Chapter 14, Verses 3 to 5, the three gunas known as Raj (Rajgun Brahma), Sat (Satgun Vishnu), and Tam (Tamgun Shankar) arose from Prakriti, also known as Goddess Durga.
Prakriti is referred to as "the mother nature" since she is responsible for giving birth to all living things. I, the one who recite(s) the wisdom of the Gita, am the father of all things that have life. I plant the seed in the womb of Durga (Prakriti), who is responsible for giving birth to all beings.
Conclusion
Among the three divine entities, Lords Brahma and Vishnu, who play the roles of Creator and Preserver respectively, Lord Shiva is primarily associated with destruction.
Many people believe that Shiva, the Hindu god, is a Swayambhu, which means that he was not born into this world. He was born to do it!
Shiva is a Sayambhu – which suggests he isn’t conceived from a human body. Thus, he was fashioned! Yet, Prakriti, or Nature is known as the mother of Shiva. He was there before anything else existed, and he'll be there long after everything else has been wiped out. Because of this, he is also revered as the 'Adi-Dev'.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who was born before Shiva?
The Hindu god of creation is referred to as Brahma. He was the first person to ever create the universe and is also referred to as the grandfather. He is also known as the Grandfather, and some consider him to be a later version of Prajapati, the first god who existed in the primordial era.
2. How many children does Lord Shiva have?
Although most commonly touted as three, Lord Ganesha, Lord Murugan, and Goddess Ashokasundari, it is also believed that Lord Shiva has eight offspring including 5 daughters. Karthikeya, Ganesha, Sukesh, Jalandhar, Ayyappa, Bhuma, Andhra, and Khuja.
3. Who is the first son of Shiva?
When discussing Shiva's sons, Ganesha is typically stated first; nevertheless, there are variants of the story that indicate Kartikeya is the eldest of the three. Both the Shiva Purana and the Brahma Vaivarta Purana depict Kartikeya as Shiva's elder son, whereas the Brahma Vaivarta Purana depicts Ganesha as Shiva's younger son.
