Lord Shiva

Lord Shiva (சிவன்), lovingly called Sivaperuman (சிவபெருமான்), is worshipped in thousands of temples across Tamil Nadu, from tiny village shrines to the towering temples of Chidambaram, Thanjavur and Madurai. For many Tamil families, especially those who follow the Saiva tradition, Shiva is the Supreme God: fierce and gentle, a wandering ascetic and a loving father. A famous line from Manikkavasagar's Thiruvasagam sums up how Tamils feel about him: தென்னாடுடைய சிவனே போற்றி! எந்நாட்டவர்க்கும் இறைவா போற்றி! "Praise to Shiva of the southern land! Praise to the Lord of people of every land!"

Who is Shiva?

Many Hindus describe the work of God in three parts: Brahma creates, Vishnu protects, and Shiva dissolves, clearing the way for new beginnings. For Saiva devotees, Shiva is the one Supreme Being who performs all five divine acts: creation, protection, dissolution, concealment and grace.

His consort is Parvati, the Divine Mother, honoured in Tamil temples under many local names (see Amman). Their sons are Ganesha and Murugan.

Tamil Saivism has its own rich philosophy, Saiva Siddhanta. The poet-saint Thirumular summed up its warm heart in two words: Anbe Sivam (அன்பே சிவம்), "Love is Shiva."

Names and forms

• Nataraja (நடராஜர்) – the King of Dance, also called Aadalvallan (ஆடல்வல்லான்), "the master dancer"
• Neelakantan (நீலகண்டன்) – "the blue-throated one". According to legend, when the ocean of milk was churned, a deadly poison rose up, and Shiva swallowed it to save the world. Parvati held his throat so the poison stayed there, turning it blue.
• Dakshinamurthy (தட்சிணாமூர்த்தி) – Shiva as the silent teacher under a banyan tree, whose image faces south on the outer wall of most Tamil Shiva temples.
• The Sivalingam (சிவலிங்கம்) – the most common way Shiva is worshipped in temples: a simple, rounded form for the Lord who is beyond any single shape.

Nataraja, the cosmic dancer

At Chidambaram, once called Thillai (தில்லை), Shiva is worshipped as Nataraja, dancing inside a ring of fire. The drum (உடுக்கை) in one hand stands for creation, and the flame in another for dissolution. The raised hand says "Do not fear", the lifted foot offers grace, and the foot pressing down on a small figure shows ignorance being overcome.

Symbols and what they mean

• Tripundra – three horizontal lines of sacred ash, thiruneeru (திருநீறு), worn across the forehead. Ash is what remains when everything else has burned, a reminder that the body does not last but the spirit does. In Saiva Siddhanta, the three lines are often linked with the three bonds that hold the soul back: ego, the results of past actions, and illusion.
• The third eye – the eye of wisdom that sees beyond appearances.
• The crescent moon and the river Ganga in his matted hair, the trident (சூலம்) in his hand and the snake around his neck.
• Nandi (நந்தி) – the bull who faces the sanctum in every Shiva temple. Many devotees whisper their prayers into Nandi's ear.
• Vilvam (வில்வம்) – the three-part bilva leaf, a favourite offering.

Important temples in Tamil Nadu

The Pancha Bhoota Sthalams (பஞ்சபூத ஸ்தலங்கள்) honour Shiva as the five elements:

• Ekambareswarar Temple – Kanchipuram – Shiva as earth.
• Jambukeswarar Temple – Thiruvanaikaval, near Tiruchirappalli – Shiva as water; water is said to seep up around the lingam.
• Arunachaleswarar Temple – Thiruvannamalai – Shiva as fire, at the foot of the sacred Arunachala hill.
• Nataraja Temple – Chidambaram – Shiva as space.
• Srikalahasti Temple – Srikalahasti, in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh – Shiva as air.

Other great Shiva temples include:

• Brihadeeswarar Temple (the Big Temple) – Thanjavur – built by the Chola king Rajaraja I about a thousand years ago, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple – Madurai – where Shiva is Sundareswarar, consort of Meenakshi.
• Ramanathaswamy Temple – Rameswaram – where, according to tradition, Rama worshipped Shiva.
• Kapaleeshwarar Temple – Mylapore, Chennai – known for its grand festival procession of the 63 Nayanmars.

The 63 Nayanmars

The Nayanmars (நாயன்மார்கள்), also called the Arubathu Moovar (அறுபத்து மூவர்), are sixty-three Saiva saints whose lives are told in the Periya Puranam (பெரிய புராணம்) by Sekkizhar. They came from every walk of life: kings and farmers, a potter, a washerman, a hunter and three women, including Karaikkal Ammaiyar (காரைக்கால் அம்மையார்), one of the earliest Tamil devotional poets. Their stories teach that sincere love matters more than birth, wealth or learning.

Festivals

• Maha Shivaratri – in the month of Maasi, on the fourteenth night of the waning moon. Devotees stay awake all night in prayer.
• Karthigai Deepam – in Karthigai, on the Karthigai star day. A great flame is lit on the hilltop at Thiruvannamalai, recalling the legend of Shiva appearing as an endless column of fire.
• Arudra Darshanam – in Margazhi, on the Thiruvathirai star, honouring Nataraja, especially at Chidambaram. Families make a sweet dish called Thiruvathirai kali (திருவாதிரைக் களி).
• Pradosham – twice a month, at dusk on the thirteenth day of each lunar fortnight, with special worship for Nandi and Shiva.

Devotional songs and prayers

• Thevaram (தேவாரம்) – hymns by three saints: Thirugnana Sambandar, Thirunavukkarasar (Appar) and Sundarar. They form the first seven books of the Thirumurai, the Saiva sacred collection, and temple singers called Othuvars (ஓதுவார்) still sing them daily.
• Thiruvasagam (திருவாசகம்) – Manikkavasagar's songs of tender emotion. A well-known saying claims that anyone not moved by Thiruvasagam will not be moved by any words at all. It includes the Thiruvempavai (திருவெம்பாவை), sung at dawn in Margazhi.
• Thirumandiram (திருமந்திரம்) – Thirumular's work of spiritual teaching.

Worship at home

• Wear a little thiruneeru after your bath and chant Om Namah Shivaya. Its five syllables, Na-ma-si-va-ya, are called the Panchakshara.
• Mondays are traditionally special for Shiva. Light a lamp and offer vilvam leaves or flowers. If you keep a small Sivalingam, pour water over it gently while praying.
• On Shivaratri night, stay up as a family and read stories of the Nayanmars, or learn one Thevaram verse together.

Stories to read

• The Fruit of Wisdom – Shiva and Parvati set a contest for their two sons.
• Manu Needhi Chozhan – a tale of justice from the Chola city of Thiruvarur. In many tellings, it ends with Lord Shiva of Thiruvarur setting everything right.