Facets of Shiva

The first and most important meaning of Shiva is “welfare”, Shivamastu means the same as Kalyanamastu (“May you be blessed”). Kalyanasundaram is the representation of Shiva embodying the true spirit of blessedness.

People say that He is described as having five faces: two on the left — Vamadeva and Kalagni; two on the right — Daksineshvara and Iishana; and one in the middle — Kalyanasundaram, the Supreme Controller which controls all the individual’s desires for actions.

Daksineshvara, the extreme right face of Shiva, is so called because He is showering daksina (compassion) upon the created beings. Iishana — the face to the right — is responsible for controlling all the individual beings, with care.

Kalyanasundaram, the face in the centre, plays the role of controlling all the faces. His only purpose is to promote the greatest welfare of all living beings; He has no other purpose.

In addition, Shiva has two faces on the left: Vamadeva on the extreme left and Kalagni next to the left. Vamadeva is “one who teaches others by making them shed tears”. But the underlying purpose is to educate people.

The other face, Kalagni, also subjects people to excruciating torture, but there also, the main purpose is to educate them. Now here also, the two roles of Vamadeva and Kalagni are controlled by the central face, Kalyanasundaram. He is sundaram, beautiful, because He promotes kalyana [welfare]: hence, “Kalyanasundaram”.

He is terrible, but at the same time superbly calm and tranquil. Yet behind His apparent dreadfulness and tranquillity lies the Kalyanasundaram bhava (mental flow). He is both severe and tender. He is tender, so naturally people love Him.

Although He is severe, people still adore Him, because underlying His apparent severity, there is tenderness. Thus the role of Shiva is predominantly the role of a promoter of welfare.

Shrii Shrii Anandamurtijii