Huge thank you to my yoga teacher brother Rahul Tiwari for his insights below on Lord Shiva.
THIS illuminates our Radiant Spirit Yoga practice. It is why we spend time going within and exploring realms of possibility in foundational structures rather than twisting into Insta poses accessible only to gymnasts.
THIS is why we Skin Breathe in Slow Flow.
THIS is why we chant vibrational mantra.
THIS innerstanding is why we practise: to experience nothingness and all, to experience transcendence, to experience the truth of self.
Who is Shiva? By Rahul Tiwari edited by Lisa Matthews Said
Meaning of Shiva
When we say “Shiva,” there are two fundamental aspects that we are referring to. The word “Shiva” means literally, “that which is not.”
Shiva is Nothingness
Today, modern science is proving to us that everything comes from nothing and goes back to nothing. The basis of existence and the fundamental quality of the cosmos is vast nothingness. The galaxies are just a small happening – a sprinkling. The rest is all vast empty space, which is referred to as Shiva. That is the womb from which everything is born, and that is the oblivion into which everything is sucked back. Everything comes from Shiva and goes back to Shiva.
Shiva is Darkness
Shiva is a non-being rather than a being, darkness rather than light. This portrayal challenges conventional perceptions of divinity and existence. The human inclination to glorify light is rooted in the limitations of our visual perception, which favours brightness over darkness. However, when we delve deeper, we realize that darkness holds a profound significance. Unlike light, which is transient and finite, darkness is eternal and omnipresent. It does not rely on external sources to sustain itself; it simply exists, encompassing everything.
Referring to darkness as "divine" may raise eyebrows, as it goes against the traditional associations of darkness with negativity. Misconceptions have led to the misrepresentation of Shiva as a demonic entity in certain Western cultures. Yet, when we strip away these biases and examine the concept objectively, we uncover a remarkably insightful perspective on creation and existence. The symbolism of Shiva embodies a profound understanding of the cosmic processes that govern our universe.
Interestingly, when discussing these ideas with scientists worldwide without explicitly mentioning Shiva, they express astonishment at the depth of this ancient knowledge. The wisdom encapsulated in the concept of Shiva transcends time and culture, resonating with people across diverse backgrounds. Even the common Indian villager, steeped in tradition, intuitively grasps these concepts without formal education, showcasing the innate wisdom passed down through generations.
Meaning of Adiyogi - The First Yogi
On another level, when we say “Shiva,” we are referring to a certain yogi, the Adiyogi or the first yogi, and also the Adi Guru, the first Guru, who is the basis of what we know as the yogic science today. Yoga does not mean standing on your head or holding your breath. Yoga is the science and technology to know the essential nature of how this life is created and how it can be taken to its ultimate possibility.
This first transmission of yogic sciences happened on the banks of Kanti Sarovar, a glacial lake a few miles beyond Kedarnath in the Himalayas, where Adiyogi began a systematic exposition of this inner technology to his first seven disciples, celebrated today as the Sapta Rishis. This predates all religion. Before people devised divisive ways of fracturing humanity to a point where it seems almost impossible to fix, the most powerful tools necessary to raise human consciousness were realized and propagated.
One and the Same
So “Shiva” refers to both “that which is not,” and Adiyogi, because in many ways, they are synonymous. This being, who is a yogi, and that non-being, which is the basis of the existence, are the same, because to call someone a yogi means he has experienced the existence as himself. If you have to contain the existence within you even for a moment as an experience, you have to be that nothingness. Only nothingness can hold everything. Something can never hold everything. A vessel cannot hold an ocean. This planet can hold an ocean, but it cannot hold the solar system. The solar system can hold these few planets and the sun, but it cannot hold the rest of the galaxy. If you go progressively like this, ultimately you will see it is only nothingness that can hold everything. The word “yoga” means “union.” A yogi is one who has experienced the union. That means, at least for one moment, he has been absolute nothingness.
When we talk about Shiva as “that which is not,” and Shiva as a yogi, in a way they are synonymous, yet they are two different aspects. Because India is a dialectical culture, we shift from this to that and that to this effortlessly. One moment we talk about Shiva as the ultimate, the next moment we talk about Shiva as the man who gave us this whole process of yoga.
Connect with Shiva
If you want to connect with Shiva, I’m running a Shiva Shakti Vinyasa Flow workshop at Rosemary Douglas Stockport MBS on September 8th. You can also access Shiva the Cosmic Dancer class free for 7 days here:
Instructions on how to access the online classes are here:
Om Namah Shivayah. Namaste.
Lisa xx
Comments