Shiva, one of the most well known Hindu gods, appears within yoga asana practice as Nataraj, the Cosmic Dancer.
As the Cosmic Dancer, Shiva represents the Dance of Life from birth to liberation. But Shiva is also represented in mythology as Mahadev Shiva and in this form he is considered the Yogic God.
In this form he is often called “The Destroyer” and is filled with symbolism.
As Mahadev, Shiva is depicted seated upon a tiger’s skin in the meditative lotus posture. The tiger is a symbol of force and Shiva meditates upon it, showing his ability to overcome any force, be it physical, mental or emotional through his practice.
His body, unclad except for at times a simple loin cloth made out of the tiger’s skin, is covered with ashes. The ashes that cover his body symbolize the impermanence of physical form. This marks him as a sannyasin or yogic ascetic.
Shiva’s hair is matted. This too marks him as an ascetic. Three of his locks are coiled upon his head, symbolizing the yogic ideal of integrating the energies of the mind, body and spirit.
At the summit of these locks, a stream of water spouts. This is the river Ganges which is considered to be one of the holiest rivers in India.
Bathing within the river is said to purify the soul. The Ganges spouting from Shiva represents the practice of purifications or Shat Karmas upon the yogic path.
A crescent moon adorns Shiva’s locks. The moon is the symbol of female energy, the energy of creation. This demonstrates the destruction brought about by Shiva is meant to give birth to a new creation.
Mahadev Shiva’s eyes are half closed/open. This represents the cycle of destruction and creation in process. In the centre of his brow, sits a third eye. This is the sixth chakra, the centre of intuitive knowing that awakens when we connect to the divine. When the third eye is open the veil of Maya, or illusion, is destroyed. Thus the yogi, through yogic practice, sees the truth.
Shiva wears two earrings (Kundalas) upon his ears. These represent that the divine is beyond ordinary perception. The earring upon his left ear is a woman’s, while the earring upon his right is a man’s. This symbolizes the balance of Shiva and Shakti, the male and female energy of the universe that is existent within all things.
Mahadev Shiva holds a trident or Trishula which represents creation, preservation and destruction – the cycle of prana.
The two-sided drum or Damaru that hangs from the Trishula represents the two states of the manifested and the unmanifested.
The yogic idea that sound energy creates the universe (the primordial sound of Om) is also represented by the Damaru.
The cobra that coils around his neck represents that the True Self is beyond death, even though it is contained within a mortal body. The serpents that adorn Shiva’s two arms represent the Kundalini that rises through the female (left) and male (right) nadis or energy channels.