Description
Shri Shiva (also Shiva and Śiva; Sanskrit: शिव) is a divine personality (Ishvara) in Hinduism. Meaning of the word Shiva: In the texts of the Vedas, the Tantras, and other sources, three meanings of the term Shiva emerge. The first and most important meaning of Shiva is well-being. Shiva is seen as someone who promotes well-being in various ways (by assuming various roles). To represent all these ways or roles, Shiva is sometimes depicted with five different faces: two on the left, two on the right, and one in the center. The second meaning of Shiva is "supreme knowledge or knowledge of the Supreme Being (without attributes) beyond all existential bondage." The third meaning is the person Sadashiva, who was born approximately seven thousand years ago in India. Sadashi means "always," and Shiva means "well-being." Sadashiva means "one whose sole purpose in existence is to promote the universal well-being of all beings." Significance of Shiva's arrival: The first form of Shiva (Rudra) emerged at the end of the Rig-Veda era and the beginning of the Yajur-Veda era. Many Aryans had already invaded India, and many more were yet to come. The rishis were the leaders of the clans, who traveled in their chariots. This theory, also called the Aryan invasion theory, has since been rejected. This theory was invented in the past by Western invaders to continue oppressing the Black population. You can read about this on the following Wikipedia page: Aryan invasion theory. The collective teachings of these rishis (sages) and munis (scholars), called Arsha Dharma, were constantly subject to change. For example, the system of recitation and pronunciation of mantras changed over time, from one Veda to another. Saivism as a form of Bhakti probably originated in South India in the fifth century AD.
