Shiva is a Hindu god who is responsible for change through both destruction and destroying the ego. He is depicted as a yogi who is self-controlled and celibate. Shiva has multiple wives who represent different aspects of femininity, including Parvati, who is the goddess of love and romance. There are many myths about Shiva's relationships and exploits, demonstrating his complex nature and role in the Hindu faith.

1. Shiva. ( Acquired From Google.com ) .
1
Shiva is the god of the yogis, self-controlled and celibate, while at the same time a
remarkable lover of his spouse. He is the destroyer, following Brahma the creator
and Vishnu the preserver, after which Brahma again creates the world and so on.
Shiva is responsible for change both in the form of death and destruction and in the
positive sense of destroying the ego, the false identification. The Purans are filled
with some awe-inspiring stories about lord Shiva that you wouldn’t have heard of.
Let’s explore…
A man, a myth or just Divine?
2

2. According to Sadhguru Sri Jaggi Vasudeva – “In the yogic culture, Shiva is not seen
as a God. He was a being who walked this land and lived in the Himalayan region.
As the very source of the yogic traditions, his contribution in the making of human
consciousness is too phenomenal to be ignored. Every possible way in which you
could approach and transform the human mechanism into an ultimate possibility was
explored thousands years ago. The sophistication of it is unbelievable.” Let’s look at
some mysterious Shiva legends…
The five love stories of Lord Shiva
3

3. Most of us know about Parvati but Shiva has many wives, which are the symbols of
feminine power. All of these goddesses are well known and worshipped. Their
names are Shakti, Parvati, Uma, Durga and Kali. Each of these goddesses stands
for something significant – Parvati is the goddess of love and romance. Uma is the
goddess of motherhood. Durga is the goddess of justice and Kali, the last of the four,
is known to be the goddess of death. Let’s take a look at these love stories…
Shiva and Shakti
4

4. Brahma was espoused to Saraswati and Vishnu to Lakshmi but Shiva remained a
bachelor, supremely unconcerned with worldly affairs like marriage. He sat in
meditation for years on end, without allowing anything to disturb Him. Brahma, out of
concern for Shiva's well being, once conferred with Vishnu on how to persuade Siva
to marry someone lest He lose Himself in His solitude. Vishnu asked Brahma if there
was any worthy candidate to which Brahma suggested His own granddaughter, Sati,
born to His son, Daksha.
Shiva and Shakti
5

5. Sati, since childhood itself, was devoted to Shiva. She chose to serve Him as His
consort and when offers for prospective husbands began coming her way, she
shunned them all, turning to meditate on Shiva. She observed rigorous penance,
gradually giving up all food and water, subsisting on just leaves and then giving that
up too. Finally, Siva appeared before her. He smiled at her for He knew what was in
her mind. Before she could complete her request, Shiva consented to marry her.
Shiva and Parvati
6
Parvati means mountain as the Sanskrit word for “Parvati” is “Parvat”. Even as a
young girl Parvati was in love with Lord Shiva. In an effort to win his love and
affection she decided to visit the cave where he was meditating and started cleaning
and decorating it. However he remained unmoved by her love and dedication. She
also tried bringing fruits for him but he remained steadfast in his meditation. There
are stories that indicate that Parvati was shunned by him due to her dark skin.

6. Shiva and Parvati
7
In a final attempt to win his love and affection, she decided to do penance in the
forest. She did the toughest of penance with no food and clothes to shelter her. Her
penance moved Lord Brahma who promised her a boon. She wished to become
extremely beautiful. Lord Brahma granted her wish and she was blessed with
immense beauty. She walked inside the cave radiating feminine beauty and grace
and Lord Shiva was enchanted with her. He fell in love with her and they got married.
Shiva and Uma
8

7. It is said that when Sati died she was reborn as Uma. Shiva was devastated over the
loss of Sati. Uma after being reborn comes back specifically to be with Shiva. She
remembers Shiva, but Shiva does not remember her. She knows what her previous
incarnation was, her marriage to Shiva as Sati. Destined to become Shiva's wife
(again), Uma is impeded: Shiva renounced his sexuality. After their marriage, Uma
gave birth to God Kumara.
Shiva and Kali
9

8. There are many different stories in Hinduism that show an association between the
two deities, Shiva and Kali. The exact degree of this association is under debate,
with many claims identifying Kali as a consort of Shiva. One story supporting the
consort theory can be found in the Mahabhagavata Purana. In this story Kali and
Sati are identified as the same being.
Shiva and Kali
10
As per the story mentioned in Mahabhagavata Purana - Kali, as the Great Goddess,
creates Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. They are then each required to fulfill a test for
the honor to win her as their wife. For this test she appears before them in a horrible

9. form that actually made Brahma, and Visnu both turn away from fear. Shiva, being
the only one that did not turn away, won the right to marry her after her birth as Sati,
the daughter of Daksha.
Shiva and Durga
11
One of the most significant of all the Vedic gods is Shiva. And one of the most noted
of all the goddesses is Shiva’s wife, Durga.Durga is an incarnation of Devi or the
Mother Goddess, a unified symbol of all divine forces. For Shaivas Durga is the wife
of Shiva. Many belive that Durga is also called Parvati and Sati, which means
chastity.
When Shiva is overcome by Kama
12

10. Ayappa is one of the well known god in South India, but very few people know that
he was the child of Shiva and Vishnu (in Mohini form). In the Bhagavata Purana,
after Vishnu deceives the demons by his maya female form, Shiva wishes to see the
bewildering Mohini again. When Vishnu agrees and reveals his Mohini form, Shiva
runs crazily behind Mohini, "bereft of shame and robbed by her of good sense," while
the abandoned wife Parvati (Uma) looks on.
When Shiva is overcome by Kama
13

11. Shiva is overcome by Kama (love and desire, the god of love and desire). His
"unfailing" seed escapes and falls on ground. From these seeds of Shiva, Ayappa is
born. Ayyappa is therefore referred to as Hariharaputra, "the son of Vishnu (Hari)
and Shiva (Hara).
When Shiva seduced the wives of the sages
14

12. The Rishis in Daruk Avanam forest once thought that only Karma (performing rituals)
is supreme and it is not required to pray to God. They stopped worshipping.
Whatever be the deeds isn't there someone who provides the doer with the fruits?
Not realizing this fact the Rishis pursued their dogma of Karma. To teach them the
importance of worship Lord Shiva took the form of Bhikshatanar (begger) and Vishnu
took the form of Mohini. In this form the Lord is naked and quite enchanting. So was
Mohini.
When Shiva seduced the wives of the sages
15

13. The Naked Lord came to the streets of the Rishis to get alms. At the charm of the
naked Shiva the wives of the Rishis lost their heart. They forgot what they were
doing and started simply following the Naked God. Meanwhile the Rishis also forgot
the karma they were strongly advocating and followed the glamorous Mohini. When
they saw their wives following a Naked man, the followers of karmic discipline lost
their virtue.
When Shiva seduced the wives of the sages
16

14. They got angry with Lord Shiva and Vishnu and started targeting their power of the
karmas towards the Lord. They directed the snakes, demon, tiger, fire and drum that
came out of the fire against the Lord. What can hurt the Supreme who is the Source
of everything? He coolly made them his ornaments! Now the sages realized their
stupidity and realised that God is the supreme and not the Karma.
Shiva kills with a smile
17

15. Three demons Kamalakshan, Tarukakshan, Vidhunmali got a boon from the Lord
that they cannot be destroyed unless all three of them come together, and are
attacked by a single arrow. The devas, who were disturbed by them, complained to
Shiva but He said as long as the three demons pray Him He won't destroy them. So,
Lord Vishnu dressed as a sage, and tricked the three demons to stop praying the
Lord. The three demons came together to fight against Shiva forgetting their boon.
Shiva kills with a smile
18

16. The earth became the chariot for Shiva, Brahma the charioteer, Vishnu the arrow,
Sun and Moon the wheels, Mount Meru as the bow and the serpent Vasuki as the
string in the bow. All the gods were present in some form in that chariot. But Lord
Shiva didn't use any of them. He smiled and in that smile the three Asuras were
burnt down. The Tripura here signify three components (impurities) of bondage
namely aham (ego), karma (deeds and their effects) and Maya (illusion).
Shiva: The god who's always high!
19

17. Some believe that since Shiva is regarded as a mighty destructive power, to numb
his negative potentials he is takes opium and is also termed as 'Bhole Shankar', one
who is oblivious of the world. Therefore, on Maha Shivratri, the night of Shiva
worship, devotees, especially the menfolk, prepare an intoxicating drink called
'Thandai' (made from cannabis, almonds, and milk) sing songs in praise of the Lord
and dance to the rhythm of the drums.
Why do we worship the Shiva Linga?
20

18. There are a few versions according to the Puranas of why Shiva is worshiped as a
lingam and how this happened. One of them being – once there was a great
sacrificial. The great sage Narada Muni was invited to it but no one knew who would
receive the effects of the sacrifice. Narada said that Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva were
all eligible, but they would have to find out which one was the worthy receiver of the
sacrifice. Sage Brighu was chosen to find this out.
Why do we worship the Shiva Linga?
21
First sage Bhrigu went to see Lord Brahma, but Brahma was preoccupied and did
not notice Brighu’s presence. Feeling insulted, Brighu cursed Brahma, “You are so
proud of your power of creation that you did not notice my arrival. For this you shall
have no temples on earth.” Next, Brighu went to see Shiva in Kailash, but Shiva was
occupied with Parvati at that hour. Brighu, again felt offended and cursed Shiva to be
worshipped only as a lingam. This is the reason why Lord Shiva is primarily
represented and worshiped as a lingam.
When Parvati donated Shiva

19. 22
When Kartikeya was born, he was given to the Kritikas because Shiva believed that
this would imbibe skills that would help in warfare later. After coming to Kailasha, he
immediately went to train to fight Tarakasura, one of the strongest daemons in the
Hindu mythology. Shortly after killing him, he was sent to another kingdom for its
protection. So Parvati was not given much opportunity to enjoy the company of her
son. Similar things happened with Ashokasundari. She was shortly motivated to go
for meditation.
When Parvati donated Shiva
23

20. Parvati was very upset. Narada gave a mischievous advice to Parvati and asked her
to donate Shiva. Narada cited the example of Indra, who was donated by his wife to
Narada. Since the time Narada returned Indra back, the king of gods spent all his
time with his family. Narada tells Parvati that she could donate Shiva to the 4
Brahma sons - Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanandana and Sanatkumara. The donation
actually happened, but contrary to their expectation, the Brahma sons did not give
Shiva back.
Shiva is not The Destroyer
24
All that has a beginning by necessity must have an end. In destruction, nothing is
destroyed but the illusion of individuality. Thus the power of destruction associated
with Lord Shiva has great purifying power, both on a personal level when problems

21. make us see reality more clearly and universal level. Destruction opens the path for
a new creation of the universe, a new opportunity for the beauty and drama of
universal illusion to unfold. As Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram or Truth, Goodness and
Beauty, Shiva represents the essential goodness.
An interesting Shiva Folklore from Bengal
25
In Bengali folk tales, Mansa, the goddess who cures snakebites, was born when
Shiva’s semen touched a statue carved by Kadru, mother of snakes. Thus she was
Shiva’s daughter, but not Parvati’s child, much like Kartikeya. Parvati, known in the
folktale as Chandi, does not like Mansa and is even jealous of her, suspecting she
may be Shiva’s secret wife. Mansa saves Shiva when he drinks poison during the
churning of the ocean and identifies herself as Shiva’s daughter.
An interesting Shiva Folklore from Bengal
26

22. But Chandi is so blinded by jealousy that she blinds Mansa in one eye. Tired of
household quarrels, Shiva abandons Mansa. Later, when Mansa gets married,
Chandi tells her to go into the bridal chamber wearing snakes as ornaments,
frightening her husband, Jaratkaru, who runs away. Abandoned by father and
husband, the unhappy Mansa becomes a bitter angry goddess who has to be
appeased if one wants to escape death by snakebite.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~