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Shiva represents consciousness, in a more universal sense rather than being only associated with human awareness.  Everything is related to another, and the awareness of these relationships reveals the presence of consciousness within everything. Thus “consciousness” does not have any form or any “guna”.  It is nirguna!

{{ToBeEdited}}Shiva represents consciousness, in a more universal sense rather than being only associated with human awareness.  Everything is related to another, and the awareness of these relationships reveals the presence of consciousness within everything. Thus “consciousness” does not have any form or any “guna”.  It is nirguna!

Pārvati represents prakriti, the phenomenal world.  The world that we experience with our five senses.  The world which has the characteristics of “sattva” (light, existence, illuminating), “rajas” (energy, activity, passion) and “tamas” (darkness, inertia, veiling or covering). Prakriti is saguna!

Pārvati represents prakriti, the phenomenal world.  The world that we experience with our five senses.  The world which has the characteristics of “sattva” (light, existence, illuminating), “rajas” (energy, activity, passion) and “tamas” (darkness, inertia, veiling or covering). Prakriti is saguna! This concept is well explained in the [[Samkhya Darshana (साङ्ख्यदर्शनम्)|Samkhya]] Darshana.

At the beginning of time Shiva and Pārvati are one; there is no distinction between consciousness and energy.  Energy is in it’s calmest form.  This form is worshiped as the “ardhanārishwar” (half-man, half-woman), especially at the sacred Arunāchalam Hill in South India.

At the beginning of time Shiva and Pārvati are one; there is no distinction between consciousness and energy.  Energy is in it’s calmest form.  This form is worshiped as the “ardhanārishwar” (half-man, half-woman), especially at the sacred Arunāchalam Hill in South India.

Nārada, the divine minstrel, brings between them a game of dice.  It is the beginning of creation!  Shiva and Pārvati fight over the game, every few turns Shiva would announce himself the winner.  He was the “Lord of the Universe” and no one could overcome him, that was the cosmic reality.  “Friction is a necessary evil”, and their discord gives rise to the need for a solution, rules!  Pārvati decides that for a fair engagement, there must be some rules that both must agree to abide by.  Only then could an outcome be fair and binding upon both.  So Pārvati lays down the rules and both begin to play.  This is a very poignant incident, for only the “saguna” can define “rules”, for the “nirguna” all rules will be equally fair, relevant or irrelevant.  With the rules now agreed upon, they begin to play again.

Nārada, the divine minstrel, brings between them a game of dice.  It is the beginning of creation!  Shiva and Pārvati fight over the game, every few turns Shiva would announce himself the winner.  He was the “Lord of the Universe” and no one could overcome him, that was the cosmic reality.  “Friction is a necessary evil”, and their discord gives rise to the need for a solution, rules!   

 

 

Pārvati decides that for a fair engagement, there must be some rules that both must agree to abide by.  Only then could an outcome be fair and binding upon both.  So Pārvati lays down the rules and both begin to play.  This is a very poignant incident, for only the “saguna” can define “rules”, for the “nirguna” all rules will be equally fair, relevant or irrelevant.  With the rules now agreed upon, they begin to play again.

This time, and every time after, Pārvati wins, declaring that only she can overcome the mighty Shiva.  Shiva soon looses his trident, the crescent moon, Vāsuki the snake, damru, his earrings, and even his loincloth.  He looses to Pārvati his powers, his army or the “gana”s and even Nandi.

This time, and every time after, Pārvati wins, declaring that only she can overcome the mighty Shiva.  Shiva soon looses his trident, the crescent moon, Vāsuki the snake, damru, his earrings, and even his loincloth.  He looses to Pārvati his powers, his army or the “gana”s and even Nandi.