Shiva the Sensuous Yogi

Shiva, the archetypal yogi, is represented here in the crossed-legged posture, where the two feet are placed upright on the lap with the heels nearly touching. Why do most yogis sit cross-legged? Some believe that the answer lies simply in the fact that the yogic system was created thousands of years ago, mostly in a country where people were used to sitting on cushions on the floor. But trust yoga to have a practical and useful reason behind each characteristic. Indeed all of the traditional writings on Yoga stress the importance of sitting, with the spine in as erect a position as possible. Patanjali said:

'Sitting is to be steady and pleasurable. This is done by loosening of effort and by thinking on the endless (infinity).'

This is how Shiva, the Great God sits here. His typical mark made of three horizontal lines, known as the 'Tripundara tilaka,' adorns his forehead, with the third eye in the center. A cobra coils around his neck and raises its hood on the right shoulder. The serpentine locks of hair fall on both of his shoulders and also across his back. Near the right leg is the vase containing sacred water, and below the left is a poisonous, deadly scorpion. The scorpion is a symbol of the destructive potential of Shiva.

From Shiva's matted locks emerges Ganga the sacred river. His weapon the trident is held in one of the right arms. Attached to this weapon are a damaru and a blow horn. These both are symbolic of the primordial, archetypal sound, which preceded creation. In the corresponding left hand is held a fruit of the Hemp plant. Hemp is just one of the many names for this plant that Lord Shiva gave to humankind. It is also known as cannabis, ganja, bhang, hashish, marijuana, smoking weed etc, and is one of the earliest aphrodisiacs known to man. Rightly thus is this Great God known as the sensuous yogi, since he combines within himself qualities both of the practicing yogi, and the one who enjoys the world of physical pleasure.

---

Delivered by to all international destinations within 3 to 5 days, fully insured.

---