Shiva Glorious Characters

Eight Glorious characters of God

The Shaiva Sidhdhantha philosophy attributes eight qualities to the Attributeless Lord shiva. They are:

1. Height of Grace
2. Omnipotent
3. Peerless - Superiorless - Self-absorbing
4. Natural Sensed
5. Omniscient
6. Always in Chaste form as Onkara
7. By nature, bondless
8. Limitlessly Blissful

Form of Lord Shiva - Nature adorned

Form of Lord Shiva - Nature adorned

Why is this Lord Shiva, leaving away gems decorated crown, wears the moon as the crown, instead of various perfumes smears in ash, in place of golden ornaments puts skull garland, instead of nice silk clothings appears naked or wear skin of tiger ? Why should the Supreme God appear in such a cheap decoration ?

While the other divines appear with many cosmetics and materials that decorate them, with glaring crowns and silk, golden robes, Lord shiva appear in a form which is too simple with moon, river, snakes and skulls. This makes one wonder, why should the Supreme that commands the whole universe and has none above Him, appear in such a form ! To find an answer let us look at the ornaments of the Lord. A river, skull, feather, various leaves, crescent, snake earring, skull garlands, snakes as sacred thread, waist thread and ornaments - roughly these are the adornments of the Lord. Isn't there one thing in common across all these ? Yes, all these are non made items - they are naturally existing ones !! Neither is the moon nor the river made by someone; Nor are the skulls and feathers made by a sculptor.

Who is there to make crowns and ornaments for the Supreme That existed when none else were present and Which would exist even when all others cease to exist. The ash smeared on the Lord's form in fact indicates this ever-being of the God. Who can make clothing for the Lord standing limitless, hence He is naked. There are beautiful purANic stories about each of the Lord's ornament worn by the Lord. For example refer (1).

All these natural ornaments indicate the God's uniqueness which controls the whole nature. The moons, rivers and creatures are all ornaments to the Supreme. These are not cheap, but invaluable ornaments in deed ! To that Lord, Who made the beauties of the world, Who Itself is nothing but beauty, what decorations of us would add value other than His own creations !! Salutations to that Lord of nature, salutations to that Lord of creature.

Ref:
1. daxa kandam in shankara samhita in ska.ndha purANa.



shiva lingam - A Glorious Worship

shiva lingam is the holy symbol of Lord shiva that is considered quite sacred and worshipped with devotion by the devotees. The sanskrit word li.ngam means symbol, so shiva lingam means symbol of shiva. It is considered the foremost sacred symbol for shaivaites and has been worshiped for ages. The purANas like shiva mahA purANam discuss about the superiority of li.nga worship. (1) (The Indus valley excavation is an example for the presence of this worship in olden times.)

Once the god of creation brahma and the god of protection mahA vishNu entered in an argument on deciding who is greater. When those two great gods were fighting between themselves, the Greatest of all Lord shiva who is formless and transcends everything appeared as a pillar of flame. God told brahma and vishNu that whoever finds the head or the foot of His flame form would be considered greater. brahmA took the form of swan ( ha.msam ) and set out to reach the top of the Fire. vishNu became a wild pig to see the foot of the Fire. Where are the limits for the infinite God ? They could not succeed in spite of their heavy effort. They realized their mistake and the peerless greatness of Lord shiva. The God who can never be reached by ego appears as the form of love to those who surrender to Him. Lord shiva appeared in the form of shiva li.ngam (which is the shape of flame) for their benefit. They worshiped that oldest form of Him and got blessed. The God who came to bless them from the Flame, from the li.ngam is known as li.ngodbhava (2). This incident is depicted in shiva mahA purANam (1) and many other scriptures.

As the God stood as pillar of flame, the natural adornment for the Lord is Holy Ash. (As ash would be found on the surface of the fire). As the God stood as the Luminat Flame that stood up the shiva sahasranAma hails God as Urdva retas and the shiva aShtottara as hiraNya retas. The hymn that starts nidhana pataye namaH, refers to many similarities of Flame and shivalinga.

God is formless, attributeless and omnipresent. This state is called arUpa (formless). For the benefit of the pashus, He took the form of shiva li.ngam which is neither form nor formless but is a symbol. This symbol of Him is called arUparUpam (formless form). He took many forms out of His mercy to bless all, which are called rUpams. (2). shaivam worships the God in all these three states. The oldest form that the formless God took namely the shiva li.ngam is called sadAshiva mUrtam and is worshipped in the altar of His abodes (temples). The forms that He later took which are called mAhEshwara mUrtam are worshipped in the outer circles in a temple.

This shiva li.nga worship is superior because it makes the worship simple because of the form while maintaining the truth that God is not having any definite form. There are a lot more marvelous principles behind the shiva li.nga worship which could be found in detail in standard scriptures.

Ref :
1. sanatkumAra sa.mhita (shiva maha puranam)
2.lingothpavar
3. mayamatham (about the procedures of installing shiva lingam )
4. thirumandhiram - seventh thandhiram

Supreme is Sivam

Lord Shiva - God Of All

(Shaivam A Perspective)

Many of the asurAs worship Lord shiva and get boons as observed in the purANAs. Whereas very few of them worship the other divines. Why is it so ? Why should the God show grace to asurAs ?

Lord shiva is the Supreme, Which does not have any parents Which never takes birth Which is all alone without association with any of the creatures or creations enjoying in the Self. God is the only one Who is dependable for anybody / anything to surrender to as It is the only perennial Being. Hence God is the Lord of all creatures (lives/souls). For this reason the Lord is hailed as pashupati (Lord of living beings). Whether it is devas or asuras or humans or other creatures all are pashus. That being the case how could the Lord be partial to one section of pashus and withdrawing the Grace for the other ? So anybody who worships the Lord sincerely could get blessed with Its Grace irrespective of the caste, creed, race, power, status and qualities.

It is in fact to be noted that Lord shiva is worshipped by the devas like viShNu, braHma, indra, by asuras like bANa, rAvaNa, tripura, sUrapadma, by humans like sha~Nkara bhagavatpAda, samban^dhar, appar, by other creatures like jaTAyu, sampAdi (eagles), vAli (monkey) and the list goes on and on. One finds in the purANas the variety of people of different backgrounds and qualities worship the Lord shiva. There are many histories of temples which talk of the cranes, bees, elephants, spiders, snakes worshipping the Lord and getting blessed. So the Lord as the Supreme blesses anyone who worships in sincere devotion. There is no discrimination on who the seeker is. The Lord is so merciful that He showers the boons one look for when there is a determination to seek Him. It is evident from the history of asura bANa who attained a great fame of his valor and got the place in the abode of Lord shiva all due to his determined worship of the Lord.

But..., if the receiver of the boons does not use them in proper way and misuses to disturb others, in the Lord defined system of this universe they get punished for the misdeeds. A closer analysis would show that the devas are the divine elements of nature that are essential for all of us to survive (like air, sun, fire etc). Very often asuras are the one who disturb the nature as evident from purANas. So when the asuras misuse the boons got to disturb the other lives they get punished as evident from the histories of hiraNya, rAvaNa and others. When the misuse goes beyond a point by the powerful forces so as to question the existence of the whole system, the Lord the One Who is essential for all the essentials, Who has devised this whole Universe, takes the action to restore normalcy for example like tripura dahana.

Lord shiva is the God of all. Like the mother He showers the grace for all the children, but the misusing children get punished. This Supreme Lord better than a mother does not withhold the grace, He is our beloved pashupati.

Translation:
Daemons, kinnaras, deva of death, deva of rain, mobile fire, air, sun and moon, illusionless tiger, monkey, snake, vasus, heavenly people and under the earth people - of all these, the ones who worship Your Holy Feet relentlessly - seeing the great glory out of Your grace they have attained, without any surprise I surrender to Your Holy Feet, Oh the Lord of fertile thiruppunkUr !

Why does the Supreme God given vedas praise the devas ?

It is said that the vedas are given by the God. But the vedas contain hymns which appear to praise the various devas agni, indra, varuNa and others. Why should the Supreme God say hailing hymns of the other devas ?

A very important thing to do is to understand the high level picture of the vedas before getting in to the details. It is worth quoting the part of introduction to vedas in the book Rgveda samhita by Veda pratishthana.

"God, verily, is one, though variously described since the functions are manifold and His divine attributes many. Compareed to Him, we, the tiny little selves, are infinitesimals whilst He is Infinity in all positive parameters. To this divine one, ....., in the words of the Vedic texts, offers invocations in various adjectivals and adveribials, according to His attributes and functions. So often, we prefer to call Him agni, the foremost adorable, sometimes indra, the most resplendent, sometimes varuNa, or the most venerable, sometimes as aryaman, the supreme law-giver; He alone is the divine virility and vitality in us, and is therefore known as rudra; He verily, is the savitR, since everything is born of Him; He is divya, or effulgent; He is the law-abider, and hence is known as yama; He alone is the measure and a benevolent friend to us, and hence, His name is mitra; He is the supreme Lord and therefore bRihaspati and brahman; He pervades the entire universe and hence He is viShNu; He is blissful and hence known as soma and on account of His benevolence and kindness, He is called, shiva, shankara and mayaskara. The Veda stands for the purest type of monotheism. Here er have a few texts to corroborate this concept.

1. tvamagne rAja varuNo dhRitavratastvam mitro bhavasi dasma IdyaH |
tvamaryamA satpatiryasya sambhujam tvamamsho vidathe deva bhAjayuH ||
God alone is one, though known as agni, king varuNa, mitra, aryaman or amsa.

2. tvamagne rudro asuro mahodivastvam shardho mArutam pRiksha IshiShe |
tvam vAtairaruNairyAsi shamgayastvam pUShA vidhataH pAsi nu tmanA ||
God is also known as agni, rudra, mahah asura, (ahur mazda) and pusan.

3. tvamagne draviNodA aramkRite tvam devaH savitA ratnadhA asi |
tvam bhago nRipate vasva IshiShe tvam pAyurdame yasteavidhat ||
God is agni, dravinoda (the giver of wealth), deva, savitR, ratnadha (the store of gems), bhaga (effulgent), and nRpati (lord of men).

4. indram mitram varuNamagnimAhuratho divyaH sa suparNo gurutmAn |
ekam sad viprAH bahudhA vadantyagnim yamam mAtarishvAnamAhuH ||
He is one, though seers call Him with various names, such as indra, mitra, varuNa, agni, divya, suparNa, garutmAn, yama and mAtarishvan.

5. tadevAgnistadAdityastdvAyustadu candramA |
tadeva shukram tad brahma tA ApaH sa prajApatiH ||
He alone is agni, the same He is aditya, the same one is known as vayu and candrama. He again is the same one known as sukra, brahman, Apar, or prajApati.

It is very clear from the above that Vedas priase only the Supreme reality. The various names used in the vedas like agni, indra are all the powers and perspectives of the same Supreme Lord shiva.

If we look at who these devas are, it is not hard to find that they are the (masters of the) elements which are essential for the life to go on. For example agni is heat, vayu is air, varuNa is water etc. These are nothing but the authorities provided by the Supreme for the smooth running of this Universe system, It has devised. These glorious God given powers are told and hailed in the vedas.

vEdam nAnginum meypporuLAvadhu nAdhan nAmam namaccivAyavE - sambandhar.
irukku n^AnmaRai IcaniyE thozum karuththinai aRiyAr kalmanavarE - appar.

How can the god of destruction be the Supreme ?

Destruction is one among the three activities that is undertaken by the Three Holy Manifestations of sanAtana dharma respectively. That being the case how could one say Lord Shiva who gets associated with the destruction be the Supreme God ?

braHma, viShNu, rudra, often referred to collectively as trimUrti, play the role of masters of creation, protection and destruction respectively. If we take this world as an example it is an easy task for almost everybody to involve in the acts of creation. (This is not to say that the Universal creation is a trivial task. All due respects to Lord braHma). Whereas as for as protection is concerned it is only few good hearted people, who have the strength and inclination to help for the cause of goodness do the protection deeds. But... not everybody is provided with the power of destruction. When anybody starts doing the destruction then there would be chaos which they call the law and order problem. There is normally one authority called government is given the authority to destroy and not others. This would show how difficult is the action of destruction and how carefully it has to be dealt with. This is the reason the act of destruction (to be correct this word should be actually "reduction", as things are not getting destroyed but only a change of state happens odukkam in thamiz and pralayam in saMskR^itam) is handled by a form of Lord shiva Itself, Who is called rudra. Since rudra is a form of the Lord, rudra is considered as Lord shiva Itself.

Ok, so far only one part of the question is answered. Agreed, the importance of the act of reduction (destruction). But when this Lord being one among the Trinity, how can this Lord be considered the Supreme ?

Let us take an example of a small shop. The owner employs a few skilled people to do the regular work and at peak hours or at critical periods, he/she also takes some important work and executes it. Now that individual wears two caps. One as the owner of the shop and other as the worker in the shop, but the individual is the same irrespective of whether he /she is acting as the owner or as a worker. Nobody questions his/her ownership because he/she shares the work load with the others in the shop. The same way though the Supreme Lord shiva is beyond the five deeds, It also takes roles in the critical deeds assuming a form specific to that role. So though Lord shiva gets associated with one of the three in the Trinity, He is the Supreme Itself.

A point to note here is that it is not just these three actions, but there are totally five deeds which are the acts of/on behalf of the Supreme. These five activities referred to as panycha kR^ityam are creation, sustenance, reduction, illusioning and blessing. The holy masters for these five activities are braHma, viShNu, rudra, maheshwara, sadAshiva respectively. Of these the later three are nothing but the forms of the Supreme shiva (called parashivA). So to conclude Lord Shiva is the Supreme, Who assumes various critical roles and assumes appropriate names and forms, and also stands transcending all these.

The Blameless God

The Supreme is the Almighty. This means svAtantra shakti, the ability to do anything - unbound might. Our Lord is fondly called bholenAth - the Innocent (straight forward) Lord and in various other languages in words meaning the same. These two aspects are very interesting to analyze with this Peerless Lord shiva and this is a very unique Glory of It.

While reading through the various purANas, it could be observed that this Lord shiva always upholds some discipline. Even when It has the might and even when others plead because of this might to do a favor for them, this righteousness is found in the blessings It shower to them. An ample evidence for this fact is the burning of the three forts (tripuras). The three daemon kings who got immense power out of their austerities built forts of gold, silver and iron and whirled around the worlds disturbing the activities of the divines. The divines realizing it is possible only the Supreme God to destroy such mighty daemons, went to Lord shiva and pleaded to destroy them as He only had that power. But the Lord turned down the request indicating though He has the might, the daemons did not harm the devotees and people, worshipped the God and so it would be unjust to destroy them. Later the daemons derailed from this path of righteousness and started harming the devotees and others, falling down in the plot of the divines. This time again the divines went and pleaded to the God that the disturbing daemons also derailed from dharma. At this point the Lord Who made the righteousness and Who sustains that in the world destroyed the three daemon forts by His splendid smile. And adding to all our hailings, the Lord blessed the three daemons in the those forts who in spite of the divines plot, sticked to the worship of the Lord and righteous path to be His close attendants, the grace that is unthinkable even for the divines !!

The God would not be biased. It would not differentiate between one group versus the other, whether it be divines or daemons or humans or plats or creatures or on sex or on race etc. All that matters is dharma and the pure devotion towards It. No doubt this lovely Lord shiva is worshipped alike by divines, daemons, scholars, not much learnt simple, and the other creatures. This Lord is hailed as pashupati, the Lord of lives. Undoubtedly this Lord showers Its Grace on all the creatures.

The Lord has the bull flag, this refers to dharma (justice). Why is it that the dharma has been given so much of importance ? We saw that the Supreme is the Almighty. When It is having limitless power how could we take the proposition that treading the right path would result in the right result ? After all the God is having the limitless power. So we might fall into the conclusion that irrespective of what we do the God is going to give the results in whatever way It feels like, and this would be a disaster ! By raising the bull flag the God shiva indicates the justice that would motivate the lives to be stand by the dharma. The Great Lord provides the justice that He created at the same time retaining the unlimited might like the one who treads a path keeping the liberty to move anywhere.

thirunyAna sambandhar sings this glory of Lord Siva

Whether the Lord wear the moon or burns the three puras, wherever seen our Lord is all Glorious and free from taint and blame.

Lord shiva, the Perfection is the dependable refuge for the creatures as It is the Almighty and the Just

Sarvam Shivamayam

1008 Thousands of abodes of Lord shiva surrounding the Holy Mount Kailash

Thousands of abodes of Lord shiva surrounding the Holy Mount Kailash

In shivarahasya it is told that Lord shiva told Goddess uma the following 1008 abodes of Lord shiva are surrounding the Holy Mount kailAsh.

1. In the Eastern side shrI kailAsheshvaram
2. bhUteshvaram
3. ambikeshvaram
4. sureshvaram
5. gaNeshvaram
6. skandeshvaram
7. tArakeshvaram
8. gangeshvaram
9. nandikeshvaram
10. bRingIshvaram
11. pALakeshvaram
12. caNDIshvaram
13. munycukeshvaram
14. ratneshvaram
15. kendakeshvaram
16. garbheshvaram
17. vIreshvaram
18. jyeshTeshvaram
19. gusumeshvaram
20. vIrabhadreshvaram
21. kandhukeshvaram
22. paNIshvaram
23. suteshvaram
24. kapartIshvram
25. rudreshvaram
26. bhairaveshvaram
27. mAruteshvaram
28. vidIshvaram
29. sudIshvram
30. daNDukeshvaram
31. maheshvaram
32. umeshvaram
33. kapanthIshvaram
34. bhadrakarNeshvaram
35. vegeshvaram
36. viShNIshvaram
37. vairAdeshvaram
38. amareshvaram
39. sanAthaneshvaram
40. sundeshvaram
41. sAnandeshvaram
42. janeshvaram
43. vikrameshvaram
44. karavIreshvaram
45. nishdeshvaram
46. vaTeshvaram
47. kaccabeshvaram
48. kAshyapeshvaram
49. AvaTTeshvaram
50. akaraNIshvaram
51. kalakeshvaram
52. koDalikeshvaram
53. padmeshvaram
54. mahadeshvaram
55. tukuNDeshvaram
56. ukuNDeshvaram
57. saureshvaram
58. varuNeshavaram
59. karuNeshvaram
60. vaidyudeshvaram
61. moksheshvaram
62. daNDakeshvaram
63. maNDalIshvaram
64. kuNDalIshvaram
65. kaNTeshvaram
66. pANDavIshvaram
67. kaNiTeshvaram
68. garuDeshvaram
69. chandreshvaram
70. ananteshvaram
71. karttameshvaram
72. amUrteshvaram
73. vabrukeshvaram
74. vAkurIshvaram
75. varmakeshvaram
76. vaDuvattireshvaram
77. bramareshvaram
78. mRigandireshvaram
79. hiraNyeshvaram
80. bhavIshvaram
81. agnityeshvaram
82. sannathIshvaram
83. bRihadIshvaram
84. raNeshvaram
85. kirAteshvaram
86. karttakeshvaram
87. vaShiShTeshvaram
88. guNitambeshvaram
89. kuruNTeshvaram
90. nAmeshvaram
91. kapAleshvaram
92. sureshvaram
93. ahirbudnyeshvaram
94. jamadagnIshvram
95. vishvAmitreshvaram
96. rAvaNeshvaram
97. balIshvaram
98. manonmaNIshvram
99. sudAdarameshvaran
100. mArttANDeshvaram
101. lalantIshvaram
102. suvallaLIshvaram
103. dhurveshvaram
104. gandarveshvaram
105. vishvakeshvaram
106. pATibhadreshvaram
107. kalpeshvaram
108. marIthannIshvaram
109. sadoraNeshvaram
110. akratIshvaram
111. utpaleshvaram
112. mhendreshvaram
113. dhANDIshvaram
114. pariteshvaram
115. yauvaneshvaram
116. apattareshvaram
117. prAtIshavaram
118. sannukeshvaram
119. gomeshvaram
120. abhileshvaram
121. vishAleshvaram
122. simhakeshvaram
123. kaNTAkarNeshvaram
124. vyAgreshvaram
125. jambhukeshvaram
126. laLiteshvaram
127. amurthIshvaram
128. vedeshvaram
129. DiNDikeshvaram
130. kakoLeshvaram
131. dvarIshvaram
132. vENutAreshvaram
133. jayanteshvaram
134. madhyameshvaram
135. sangameshvaram
136. gatIshvaram
137. vidrutkarabeshvaram
138. tripureshvaram
139. harIshvaram
140. balapramadaneshvaram
141. sarvabhUgameshvaram
142. ukInareshvaram
143. kaRpeshvaram
144. matrikeshvaram
145. tantreshvaram
146. sAmakeshvaram
147. vyomakeshvaram
148. tikIshvaram
149. kapAlamOcaneshvaram
150. maNikalpeshvaram
151. sAdhukarneshvaram
152. nirgIshvaram
153. pATalIshvaram
154. karNikeshvaram
155. candrakeshvaram
156. pingaLeshvaram
157. shileshvaram
158. madvIshvaram
159. vAmakeshvaram
160. vinateshvaram
161. sashIshvaram
162. kakuteshvaram
163. mukundeshvaram
164. bhavAnIshvaram
165. shanIshvaram
166. vRiShabheshvaram
167. deNikeshvaram
168. savreshvaram
169. gaNeshvaram
170. Riksheshvaram
171. candreshbaram
172. macceshvaram
173. bhAvaneshvaram
174. turangeshvaram
175. matangeshvaram
176. gANateshvaram
177. bindukeshvaram
178. kaNDakIshvaram
179. narmadeshvaram
180. anileshvaram
181. pichanDileshvaram
182. antarIshvaram
183. kanakeshvaram
184. sureshvaram
185. sadyojAteshvaram
186. lakuLIshvaram
187. pilaveshvaram
188. someshvaram
189. vAraNeshvaram
190. cApeshvaram
191. jaTeshvaram
192. pangakAreshvaram
193. muktakeshvaram
194. rAgeshvaram
195. balUkeshvaram
196. virAgeshvaram
197. kirttaneshvaram
198. anasIshvaram
199. urageshvaram
200. karoreshvaram
201. dardareshvaram
202. uravarIshvaram
203. shabreshvaram
204. dAvyeshvaram
205. virAyakeshvaram
206. maNikaNTeshvaram
207. arandaneshvaram
208. pArvatIshvaram
209. vidrumeshvaram
210. lateshvaram
211. virincheshvaram
212. gaRbeshvaram
213. prasanneshvaram
214. vishveshvaram
215. pArbhUteshvaram
216. lokeshavram
217. prANIsheshvaram
218. andhakeshavram
219. muktikeshvaram
220. arigakeshvaram
221. RiShIshvaram
222. parishvaram
223. jalandhareshvaram
224. shvetasuvIshvaram
225. bigeshvaram
226. raibhyeshvaram
227. kusumanteshvaram
228. kankaNeshvaram
229. brageshvaram
230. vidyAdareshvaram
231. nileshvaram
232. kaTchiveshvaram
233. prabheshvaram
234. maruteshvaram
235. kuntIshvaram
236. svargeshvaram
237. malayeshvaram
238. mangaNeshvaram
239. sAgathIshvaram
240. vibhuteshvaram
241. girIshvaram
242. kalaksheshvaram
243. nikUraNeshvaram
244. goraksheshvaram
245. vAcakeshvaram
246. gandharbeshvaram
247. sUryakeshvaram
248. puShTeshvaram
249. duShTakeshvaram
250. kanyeshvaram
251. dhavaLeshvaram
252. sAdhukarNeshvaram
253. kandhabhadreshvaram
254. chakreshvaram
255. aruNeshvaram
256. athalAbhyeshvaram
257. bhageshvaram
258. triyamalakeshvaram
259. gautameshvaram
260. kaleshvaram
261. vitaNDeshvaram
262. gaTeshvaram
263. vArakeshavram
264. kuleshvaram
265. kedhAreshavram
266. baleshvaram
267. gAruteshvaram
268. patangeshvaram
269. kinnareshvaram
270. amRiteshvaram In the Southern side:
271. agoreshvaram
272. kApAleshavram
273. kakureshvaram
274. analeshvaram
275. indreshvaram
276. yameshvaram
277. dRitIshvaram
278. nabeshvaram
279. utArvareshvaram
280. dakshiNAvarttakeshvaram
281. bikaNTeshvaram
282. kuTAreshvaram
283. mAnaveshvaram
284. kuleshvaram
285. mesApakeshvaram
286. maunikeshvaram
287. arccaneshvaram
288. kavIshvaram
289. bhagadatteshvaram
290. nakusheshvaram
291. appritIshvaram
292. tankaNeshvaram
293. manmadeshvaram
294. ratIshvaram
295. kaNDakeshvaram
296. pANDireshvaram
297. vaneshvaram
298. purantarIshvaram
299. baleshvaram
300. kAraNeshvaram
301. dhAraNeshvaram
302. kRittivAseshvaram
303. janArddaneshvaram
304. vishveshvaram
305. mahakAleshvaram
306. sarasvatIshvaram
307. lakshmIshvaram
308. sashIshvaram
309. chakrakeshvaram
310. pulakeshvaram
311. madhyameshvaram
312. kakIshvaram
313. vidyeshvaram
314. pannakeshvaram
315. kirttaneshvaram
316. nireshvaram
317. dvAdasheshvaram
318. rAtreshvaram
319. saunakeshvaram
320. raNabhadreshvaram
321. SheSheshvaram
322. vAsukIshvaram
323. shankapAleshvaram
324. citragupteshvaram
325. dhaNDapANIshvaram
326. durgeshvaram
327. cArcceshvaram
328. amseshvaram
329. mayUreshvaram
330. cakravAgeshvaram
331. mandaraneshvaram
332. apsareshvaram
333. mOkshakeshvaram
334. bhUdhAreshvaram
335. pateshvaram
336. anaraNyeshvaram
337. bAgudeshavram
338. veNeshvaram
339. gautukeshvaram
340. gusireshvaram
341. virddaneshvaram
342. nirakeshvaram
343. pAjanyeshvaram
344. ramateshvaram
345. hATakeshvaram
346. nadIshvaram
347. virodeshvaram
348. kankaNeshavram
349. rabaseshvaram
350. pulastyeshvaram
351. virddakALeshvaram
352. baradvAjeshvaram
353. sAgareshvaram
354. rameshvaram
355. vlekineshvaram
356. chitreshvaram
357. bharatakeshvaram
358. piNDAreshvaram
359. vaneshvaram
360. tilakeshvaram
361. dirveshvaram
362. birveshvaram
363. nalaveshvaram
364. ShIriNIshvaram
365. dhaneshvaram
366. karantameshvaram
367. goveshvaram
368. kRishNeshvaram
369. parnakeshvaram
370. gangAdhareshvaram
371. mauneshvaram
372. gurubhadreshvaram
373. kamadhaLeshvaram
374. saraLeshvaram
375. dhALeshvaram
376. pilavakeshvaram
377. shikaNTishvaram
378. bhargIshvaram
379. baLaineshvaram
380. paNAmaNIshvaram
381. rAmeshvaram
382. lakshmaNeshvaram
383. aruntatIshvaram
384. bhaShiyeshvaram
385. kushalIshvaram
386. salIshvaram
387. uttAlakeshvaram
388. nagatanjareshvaram
389. parnakeshvaram
390. chANDilyeshvaram
391. sAkaleshvaram
392. sthaleshvaram
393. arindreshvaram
394. kunkumeshvaram
395. nAgottArakeshvaran
396. sukeshvaram
397. gyAnakeshvaram
398. bhuktIshvaram
399. muktikeshvaram
400. RiNamochaneshvaram
401. kAntIshvaram
402. dharmeshvaram
403. bhAvaLeshvaram
404. pavaneshvaram
405. kAnyceshavram
406. gOkarNeshavram
407. sareshvaram
408. pATIshvaram
409. chalikeshvaram
410. vIdigotreshvaram
411. nIleshvaram
412. bhImeshvaram
413. shankareshvaram
414. amRiteshvaram
415. pArijAteshvaram
416. mandareshvaram
417. jaTeshvaram
418. trijaTeshvaram
419. pradAneshvaram
420. mAruteshvaram
421. bhaveshvaram
422. nakshtreshvaram
423. sthalakeshvaram
424. mallikeshvaram
425. kukusheshvaram
426. roga hareshvaram
427. trisakeshvaram
428. dhaneshavram
429. kapardineshvaram
430. tANDaleshvaram
431. maNDalIshvaram
432. amRitIshvaram
433. daksheshvaram
434. pravALeshavram
435. haribadreshvaram
436. virodeshavram
437. nircheshavram
438. kusheshvaram
439. dhAraveshvaram
440. anamitreshvaram
441. karakanteshvaram
442. uNeshvaram
443. shuruvinteshvaram
444. uNeshavram
445. suruvinteshvaram
446. maTTishvaram
447. kuDabeshvaram
448. shrIshaileshvaram
449. gayeshvaram
450. hardvAreshvaram
451. gangAveleshvaram
452. kurukshestreshvaram
453. surApANDIshvaram
454. yayAtIshvaram
455. kuteshvaram
456. vAraNAsIshvaram
457. avimukteshvaram
458. kALahastIshvaram
459. viShNu chakraprakeshvaram
460. romanteshvaram
461. vaghastyeshvaram
462. mAlaveshvaram
463. bhageshvaram
464. amakoleshvaram
465. palAceshvaram
466. aghastIshvaram
467. praLayeshvaram
468. sAgAthIshvaram
469. tralokeshvaram
470. drutIshvaram
471. jambukeshvaram
472. kuravadeshvaram
473. yagyeshvaram
474. utumbareshvaram
475. vAlIshvaram
476. bAlIshvaram
477. patnIshvaram
478. babraveshvaram
479. gandhadvAreshvaram
480. kaNTeshvaram
481. varuNeshvaram
482. prapAseshvaram
483. tumbureshvaram
484. nAradeshavram
485. kareshvaram
486. ramyeshvaram
487. vimrameshvaram
488. karttameshvaram
489. dhruNeshvaram
490. kulaTangeshvaram
491. satmaleshvaram
492. ArIshvaram
493. marudhAmeshvaram
494. sindhUreshvaram
495. agraNIshvaram
496. prAnteshvaram
497. prayAgeshvaram
498. pratiShTAnapureshvaram
499. gOdhAvarIshvaram
500. tAmraparNIshvaram
501. martruteshvaram
502. pamaleshvaram
503. pangleshvaram
504. paneshvaram
505. buddudeshvaram
506. Avartteshvaram
507. sumeshvaram
508. kuleshvaram
509. virATeshvaram
510. paippalAdeshvaram
511. gandharveshvaram
512. trishUleshvaram
513. rajadhIshvaram
514. diveshvaram
515. citrakaNTeshvaram
516. dvArapITeshvaram
517. trikUTeshvaram
518. mangaLeshvaram
519. Amalakeshvaram
520. mudreshvaram
521. sthATakeshvaram
522. dvadhaNDIshvaram
523. kaseshvaram
524. kArtyAyaneshvaram
525. yAGYavalkeshvaram
526. triShTeshvaram
527. vishvakarmeshvaram
528. pushkareshvaram
529. rudrakOTIshvaram
530. vAlmIkeshvaram
531. sundareshvaram
532. striNajyotIshvaram
533. gAyatrIshvaram
534. sAvitrIshvaram
535. kAladdubArIshvaram
536. tungeshvaram
537. bhImachanDeshvaram
538. ratnagarbheshvaram
539. deveshvaram
540. Arageshvaram
541. ratideveshvaram
542. kAlanchareshvaram
543. astIshvaram
544. mayeshvaram
545. ratakeshvaram
546. vasuntareshvaram
547. ShTivumeshvaram
548. nALakeshvaram
549. mitreshvaram
550. kandharIshvaram
551. kAlavyeshvaram
552. vibhuteshvaram
553. baumeshvaram
554. bardrukeshvaram
555. garuDeshvaram
556. kartreshvaram
557. gangadIshvaram
558. kAvyeshvaram
559. suvarNadeshvaram In the Western side:
560. tatpurusheshvaram
561. tANDaveshvaram
562. baingeshvaram
563. RiDakeshvaram
564. saraleshvaram
565. sthALkeshvaram
566. vainadeyasthaleshvaram
567. deveshvaram
568. achaleshvaram
569. anangeshvaram
570. sambareshvaram
571. ugreshvaram
572. dhAnyakeshvaram
573. valAchaneshvaram
574. ganagosheshvaram
575. vEdagharbheshvaram
576. omkAreshvaram
577. sakisIshvaram
578. kadhUdhareshvaram
579. pilavamuleshvaram
580. sarppeshvaram
581. pArttIshvaram
582. tungabhadreshvaram
583. saganAdaneshvaram
584. vaidyeshvaram
585. kuningeshvaram
586. musaleshvaram
587. auNDakeshvaram
588. kutradanavIshvaram
589. svArparakeshvaram
590. kshayahareshvaram
591. praNaveshvaram
592. vidarbheshvaram
593. parushakeshvaram
594. somanandIshvaram
595. vipalIshvaram
596. kareshvaram
597. anayatIshvaram
598. sadarsheshvaram
599. bhaveshvaram
600. vidUresahvaram
601. kAmbIshvaram
602. savveshvaram
603. guNeshvaram
604. Urddvakeshvaram
605. satrIshvaram
606. shrIkakeshvaram
607. chitravyAteshvaram
608. raubyeshvaram
609. bandhakeshvaram
610. pashutIshvaram
611. bhayaharIshvaram
612. prasheshvaram
613. mANDavalyeshvaram
614. sthambakeshvaram
615. bhodeshvaram
616. vikaseshvaram
617. sagajeshvaram
618. darbhuvIshvaram
619. gaNapadeshavram
620. shukleshvaram
621. prasiddheshvaram
622. siddheshvaram
623. janeshvaram
624. pakshIshvaram
625. badrikeshvaram
626. vakuLeshvaram
627. avanIshvaram
628. parveshvaram
629. parvateshvaram
630. guraveshvaram
631. kAntikeshvaram
632. parigayitveshvaram
633. kApoteshvaram
634. gaNIshvaram
635. sadeshvaram
636. romakeshvaram
637. kAvyeshvaram
638. puraddveshvaram
639. veNuvireshvaram
640. suvidreshvaram
641. kAshIshvaram
642. viShNubeshvaram
643. rAkshaseshvaram
644. yaksheshvaram
645. padmarAgeshvaram
646. dUrvAseshvaram
647. hayagrIveshvaram
648. rathantareshvaram
649. sAmasAleshvaram
650. yasumUrtIshvaram
651. ikeshvaram
652. atharvakeshvaram
653. purANeshvaram
654. UrvasIshvaram
655. pariti Aseshvaram
656. dharmasAreshvaram
657. shAnkyeshvaram
658. janma harIshvaram
659. duhkha harIshvaram
660. brhmayonIshvaram
661. viShNugarbheshvaram
662. rudralokeshvaram
663. indradhAmeshvaram
664. chandracUTeshvaram
665. agnigarbheshvaram
666. vAyuvIshvaram
667. jaleshvaram
668. maheshvaram
669. vaidyudeshvaram
670. Amodeshvaram
671. dhurIshvaram
672. dyAvarabhUmIshvaram
673. kEshAsina dhareshvaram
674. nArasimheshvaram
675. aupAsaneshvaram
676. avyeshvaram
677. kaNikeshvaram
678. karNikeshvaram
679. dadisheshvaram
680. chamkeshvaram
681. karkaTeshvaram
682. sApAveshvaram
683. svabhAveshvaram
684. vyAneshvaram
685. vitarkeshvaram
686. gAnaneshvaram
687. amiteshvaram
688. bhadramAleshvaram
689. ketumAleshvaram
690. mandareshvaram
691. vandyakeshvaram
692. himeshvaram
693. nIlakeshvaram
694. mahesndreshvaram
695. karmakeshvaram
696. RitvIshvaram
697. dhUNaneshvaram
698. vItaavyeshvaram
699. ashvattAmeshvaram
700. shikareshvaram
701. tIrthakeshvaram
702. tRiNaveshvaram
703. apsakeshvaram
704. yogIshvaram
705. bauLIshvaram
706. pAlikeshvaram
707. kusambeshvaram
708. rAjarAjeshvaram
709. katumIshvaram
710. vishAkeshvaram
711. skanneshvaram
712. bhavikeshvaram
713. kathaLishvaram
714. piShTakeshvaram
715. briTvIshvaram
716. kArmukheshvaram
717. antariksheshvaram
718. maitreshvaram
719. kuntameshvaram
720. hutAvakeshvaram
721. malleshvaram
722. brahmakeshvaram
723. dharvakeshvaram
724. makarandeshvaram
725. sudhAdharameshvaram
726. kRitakokeshvaram
727. saunakeshvaram
728. karppaTeshvaram
729. shrIdhAmeshvaram
730. parNdeshvaram
731. pileshvaram
732. mAtreshvaram
733. bhIteshvaram
734. bandukeshvaram
735. hareshvaram
736. prAtrukeshvaram
737. sAradeshvaram
738. gagaNeshvaram
739. avideshvaram
740. anAadeshvaram
741. pIteshvaram
742. dhUmAkeshvaram
743. bandhamOchaneshvaram
744. sadeshvaram
745. bramareshvaram
746. kATakeshvaram
747. durmachaNDIshvaram
748. apsamAtreshvaram
749. somachaNDIshvaram
750. mArggasahAyeshvaram
751. devIshvaram
752. RiNakeshvaram
753. suvalneshvaram
754. pAvakeshvaram
755. ANgIraseshvaram
756. dakshakeshvaram
757. vidakshakeshvaram
758. mainAgeshvaram
759. satIshvaram
760. brahmadeshvaram
761. brahmAdIshvaram
762. poseshvaram
763. vikrameshvaram
764. IDyeshvaram
765. yojeshvaram
766. karaNavedeshvaram
767. karaNakeshvaram
768. pANDakeshvaram
769. megavAsukeshvaram
770. kaniShTakeshvaram
771. jyeShTeshvaram
772. tAmreshvaram
773. gandakeshvaram
774. pATapeshvaram
775. paTaveshvaram
776. sarvaprANidikeshvaram
777. taDatakeshvaram
778. garbhakosheshvaram
779. toreNeshvaram
780. ratIshvaram
781. Atabhyeshvaram
782. shashIshvaram
783. dundhubhIshvaram
784. sindhureshvaram
785. savaneshvaram
786. kRipeshvaram
787. vIrabhadreshvaram
788. sharaNadhAreshvaram
789. tAmradvajeshvaram
790. govidhAreshvaram
791. shatarudrIshvaram
792. parvateshvaram
793. dhaneshvaram
794. vishAlAksheshvaram
795. vasanteshvaram
796. kakeshvaram
797. gajAsureshvaram
798. nIlakaNTeshvaram
799. sumudrAvaruNIshvaram
800. ganaamseshvaram
801. sAvitreshvaram
802. gomatIshvaram
803. govarddeshvaram
804. vRiSheshvaram
805. gatipradeshvaram
806. vyAseshvaram
807. kOLakeshvaram
808. mahabhUteshvaram
809. vaseshvaram
810. aruNeshvaram
811. marIcheshvaram
812. trimUleshvaram
813. viveshvaram
814. pUraNabhadreshvaram
815. arikeshavaneshvaram
816. indradvajeshvaram
817. maharoga hareshvaram
818. kAmadhAneshvaram
819. pilavodheshvaram
820. nimeshvaram
821. raveshvaram
822. nAgakeshvaram
823. tAraNeshvaram
824. avikeshvaram In the Northern side:
825. vAmadeveshvaram
826. kiLikeshvaram
827. susheshvaram
828. kokileshvaram
829. prachaNDeshvaram
830. vAmakarNeshvaram
831. Anandeshvaram
832. sharmareshvaram
833. amareshvaram
834. patIshvaram
835. vairAgyeshvaram
836. kalpaseshvaram
837. haribrhmeshvaram
838. guNeshvaram
839. viguNeshvaram
840. brahmANDeshvaram
841. jaTeshvaram
842. vilAseshvaram
843. sukaseshvaram
844. Amkeshvaram
845. pilaveshvaram
846. annakosheshvaram
847. prANakesheshvaram
848. vyAkyAneshvaram
849. asunAsheshvaram
850. Atameshvaram
851. bRihaspatIshvaram
852. varddaneshvaram
853. mIkeshvaram
854. apreshvaram
855. taprakeshvaram
856. udhAreshvaram
857. indhumaurIshvaram
858. maheshvaram
859. sabheshvaram
860. harikesheshvaram
861. tishorIshvaram
862. kuttAleshvaram
863. arbhakeshvaram
864. yuleshvaram
865. udeshvaram
866. darttukeshvaram
867. birshIshvaram
868. matIshvaram
869. vanasteshvaram
870. gRihasteshvaram
871. harikeshvaram
872. sahasreshvaram
873. sadeshvaram
874. laksheshvaram
875. koTikeshvaram
876. rakshakeshvaram
877. AganaLyeshvaram
878. mukteshvaram
879. kaDgeshvaram
880. visarbhIshvaram
881. vAmeshvaram
882. Amreshvaram
883. kamaTeshvaram
884. chidasuneshavram
885. urukAyeshvaram
886. kapinycaleshvaram
887. karakeshvaram
888. ShaNDakeshvaram
889. asangeshvaram
890. savakeshvaram
891. jyotIshavram
892. kAraNeshvaram
893. harirudreshavaram
894. kRipANeshvaram
895. dhimIshvaram
896. ranakavarggeshvaram
897. hariceparuNeshvaram
898. padmanetreshvaram
899. upshanteshvaram
900. daveshvaram
901. varddakeshvaram
902. ulUkeshvaram
903. bRiNDeshvaram
904. gAveshvaram
905. bhagandareshvaram
906. vichitreshvaram
907. shrINIshvaram
908. pArpareshvaram
909. samasarodadharaNeshvaram
910. kautauteshvaram
911. urAgeshvaram
912. sleshvaram
913. prapancheshvaram
914. bhadreshvaram
915. ashvinIshvaram
916. rohiNIshvaram
917. bangeshvaram
918. viDeshvaram
919. nitineshvaram
920. storthaveshvaram
921. bhASheshvaram
922. pAnakeshvaram
923. indravargeshvaram
924. kastUrIshvaram
925. matandIshvaram
926. mannAvIshvaram
927. pdbhuteshvaram
928. abhirAvateshvaram
929. tanycheshvaram
930. lindukeshvaram
931. ahankAreshvaram
932. phAlanetreshvaram
933. vaiLichaLIshavram
934. grahasosarkeshvaram
935. padmAsaneshvaram
936. vAreshvaram
937. tahareshvaram
938. vaTamUeshvaram
939. usaneshvaram
940. ulUtIshavram
941. nadileshvaram
942. vangeshvaram
943. vIrakeshvaram
944. chaNDeshavram
945. muNDeshavram
946. shukreshvaram
947. paNikeshvaram
948. ansUyeshvaram
949. kandhamAdeshavram
950. paNDeshavram
951. prasangeshavram
952. kAlakanyceshavram
953. mRityunjayeshvaram
954. shaileshvaram
955. sarasyeshavram
956. gatIshavram
957. svabaneshavram
958. sAngatIshavram
959. subattIshavram
960. aneshavram
961. shtichaNDeshvaram
962. sUryeshvaram
963. grantakeshavram
964. spaTikeshavram
965. karttikeshavram
966. varddeshavram
967. bhasmeshvaram
968. sameshavram
969. baveshvaram
970. sarpeshavram
971. bhavakeshavram
972. sarasvateshvaram
973. svateshavram
974. sAlakeshavram
975. dhameshavram
976. puNyakeshvaram
977. usadyeshvaram
978. aNimANDeshvaram
979. sarvaddineshavram
980. kanakanneshvaram
981. mAdhaneshavram
982. pradhUshavram
983. shipiviShTeshvaram
984. amseshvaram
985. mRigeshvaram
986. gajAnaneshavram
987. sANeshvaram
988. gaDodgajeshvaram
989. pureshvaram
990. naTeshvaram
991. kAmartteshvaram
992. AmprAtakeshavram
993. kaNibhUteshvaram
994. ratnabhUSheshvaram
995. pITALaLeshavram
996. maNishvaram
997. mautIshvaram
998. puruSheshvaram
999. parambeshvaram
1000. gaurIshavram
1001. ramaNIshvaram
1002. pilavangeshvaram
1003. karIndreshvaram
1004. naradyeshavram
1005. bhAskarIshavram
1006. mahAdhAneshavram
1007. maNTapeshavram
1008. valIshavram
1009. saniteshavram
1010. kIrmakeshavram
1011. paturbhadreshvaram
1012. puShparAgeshavram
1013. jIraNishvaram
1014. shArdhUleshvaram
1015. rabhashyeshvaram
1016. puNyeshvaram
1017. narddakeshvaram
1018. rudrAksheshvaram
1019. kavindareshvaram
1020. kavacheshvaram
1021. maNishvaram
1022. paripIlIshvaram
1023. Amartheshvaram
1024. dhruNeshvaram
1025. pitAmaheshvaram
1026. tuDileshvaram
1027. sashIshavram
1028. pArtheshvaram
1029. lasareshvaram
1030. jagashIsuroreshavram
1031. dhaNDakeshvaram
1032. lankeshvaram
1033. maNibhadreshvaram
1034. shilAdeshavram
1035. kandeshavram
1036. batteshvaram
1037. trilochaneshavram
1038. bhaksheshvaram
1039. sthUlakaNTeshvaram
1040. prakTeshvaram
1041. tArakeshvaram
1042. keshAdIshavram
1043. yantreshvaram
1044. mantreshvaram
1045. kanakaleshvaram
1046. karavaleshvaram
1047. pradhAryeshvaram
1048. AdhAryeshvaram
1049. guNIshvaram
1050. bagIrateshvaram
1051. dilIpeshvaram
1052. RitIshvaram
1053. anAdIshavram
1054. mitravindeshavram
1055. svrohaNa hareshavram
1056. shankeshvaram
1057. bhishankeshvaram
1058. bhAryeshvaram
1059. komedheshvaram
1060. laveshvaram
1061. pratIshavram
1062. rakshabheshvaram
1063. prasAdeshavram
1064. kuleshavram
1065. vajreshvaram
1066. kshetrakeshvaram
1067. karanikAkeshvaram
1068. karavIreshvaram
1069. puNDarikeshvaram
1070. vINApANIshvaram
1071. tantrIshvaram
1072. gAnkeshvaram
1073. AhAvundIshvaram
1074. payodeshavram
1075. kuTeshvaram
1076. kuTasareshvaram
1077. svedhAnaprItishvaram
1078. pradhAneshvaram
1079. pulleshvaram
1080. sAlakeshvaram
1081. devakanyeshvaram
1082. satyeshvaram
1083. nAbheshvaram
1084. kubereshvaram
1085. vaneshvaram
1086. pavitreshvaram
1087. vaLaTTeshvaram
1088. mahATTeshvaram
1089. nagheshvaram
1090. svapneshvaram
1091. dAvateshvaram
1092. samAsineshvaram
1093. sarvakAmaccapradeshvaram
1094. nachineshvaram
1095. sukheshvaram
1096. praNatArthihareshvaram
1097. panycagangeshvaram
1098. padmanabheshvaram
1099. panycavktreshvaram
1100. samadeshvaram
1101. sundeshvaram
1102. dhAraNeshvaram
1103. sahareshvaram
1104. mAtrukeshvaram
1105. kushakAreshavram
1106. Arideshavram
1107. aTesheshvaram
1108. bhaktAlavyeshvaram
1109. lOpamudreshvaram
1110. surApANDeshavram
1111. maNihasthIshavram
1112. chitradvajeshvaram
1113. ratnasauteshvaram
1114. kAmeshavram
1115. rudraNIshavram
1116. avantIshavram
1117. karppateshvaram
1118. dvajeshvaram
1119. chatrasheshvaram
1120. sadeshvaram
1121. visudheshvaram
1122. garchikeshvaram
1123. adhrIsheshvaram
1124. kAseshvaram
1125. kalAvarddeshvaram
1126. tAmradvajeshvaram
1127. hamsadvajeshvaram
1128. vRiShadvajeshvaram
1129. simhadvajeshvaram
1130. pincheshvaram
1131. kumareshvaram
1132. niShangeshvaram
1133. kilIshvaram
1134. Ishaneshvaram
1135. vikartteshavram
1136. karabhIshavram
1137. aNikeshvaram
1138. sArangeshvaram
1139. kaTakeshvaram
1140. bandureshvaram
1141. kshameshvaram
1142. shambheshvaram
1143. mAtreshvaram
1144. rudragaNeshvaram

Those who think of these 1008 abodes of God would get the sArupya state.

Note: This has been taken from a Tamil book. So there is a likelihood of misspelt names.

Shiva Forms

64 Forms of Lord Siva

The holy forms shown by the Formless Supreme Lord siva are the maheshwara murtham. These are listed as 25 maheshwara muratams. It is also a custom to list these forms as 64. These 64 mUrtams of Lord siva are listed here.


1. shivali.ngam
2. li.ngodbhavar
3. mukhali.ngam
4. sadAshivam
5. mahAsadAshivam
6. umAmaheshwarar
7. sukhAsanamUrti
8. umeshamUrti
9. somAska.ndhamUrti
10. cha.ndrashekaramUrti
11. vR^iShArUDhamUrti
12. vR^IShA.ndikamUrti
13. bhujaNGgalaLitamUrti
14. bhujaNGgatrAsamUrti
15. sa.ndhiyanR^ittamUrti
16. sadAnR^ittamUrti
17. chaNDatANDavamUrti
18. gaNGgAdharamUrti
19. gaNGgAvisarjanamUrti
20. tripurAntakamUrti
21. kalyANasu.ndaramUrti
22. ardanArIshwaramUrti
23. gajAsurasaMhAramUrti
24. jvarAbhagnamUrti
25. shArdhUlaharamUrti
26. pAshupatamUrti
27. gaNGgALamUrti
28. keshavArthamUrti
29. bhixATanamUrti
30. simhagnamUrti
31. chaNdeshwarAnugrahamUrti
32. vyAkhyAnadaxiNAmUrti
33. yogadaxiNAmUrti
34. viNAdharadaxiNAmUrti
35. kAlA.ntakamUrti
36. kAmAri (kAmadahanamUrti)
37. vaguLeshwaramUrti
38. bhairavamUrti
39. ApatuddAraNamUrti
40. vaDukamUrti
41. xetrapAlamUrti
42. vIrabhadramUrti
43. agorAstramUrti
44. daxayaGYaharamUrti
45. kirAtamUrti
46. gurumUrti
47. ashvArUDhamUrti
48. gajA.ndikamUrti
49. jalandharavatamUrti
50. ekapAdatrimUrti
51. tripAdatrimUrti
52. ekapAdamUrti
53. gaurivarapradamUrti
54. chakradAnaswarUpamUrti
55. gaurilIlAsamanvitamUrti
56. viShAbhaharaNamUrti
57. garuDA.ndikamUrti
58. braHmasirachetakamUrti
59. kUrmasaMhAramUrti
60. matsyAri
61. varAhAri
62. prArthanAmUrti
63. raktabhixApradAnamUrti
64. siShyabhAvamUrti

25 Forms

According to Shaiva Sidhdhaantha the God is formless (arUpa) . But for the salvation of lives He took the form of liN^gam - meaning symbol (arUpa rUpa). liN^gam< can be considered both as form as well as formless symbol. This mUrti is called sadA shiva mUrti. From the SadhA Shiva mUrti, for the benefit of lives God took a lot of forms which are called mAhEshwara mUrtis. There are twenty five MAhEshwara mUrtis (Some say there are more). Some of these mUrtis are bhOga mUrtis, usually with Shakthi like R^ishabArUdar, or yOga mUrtis, sitting in one of the yOga postures without Shakthi in the side like dakshiNAmUrti, or vEga mUrtis, in the state of destruction like kAlAri. Usually in the temples, SadhA Shiva mUrthi (Shiva liN^gam ) will be in the Sanctum Sanctorum. The mAhEshwara mUrhtis will be in the Praahaaram. (Outside the Sanctum Sanctorum).

1. bhikshAtanar
2. kAmAri
3. kAlAri
4. kalyANa su.ndarar
5. R^ishabhArUDhar
6. cha.ndra shEkharar
7. umA mahEshvarar
8. naTarAjar
9. tripurA.ntakar
10. jala.ndharAri
11. gajasa.mhAra mUrti (mAtaN^gAri)
12. karALar (vIrabhadrar)
13. sha.nkara nArAyaNar
14. ardha nArIshvarar
15. kirAtar
16. ka.nkALar
17. chaNdEshAnugrahar
18. chakra pradar
19. saha umA ska.ndar (sOmAska.ndhar)
20. Eka pAdar
21. gajamukhAnugrahar (vighnEshAnugrahar)
22. dakshiNA mUrti
23. nIlakaNThar
24. li.ngOdbhavar
25. sukAsanar

Temples where Vishnu and other God worshipped shiva

Temples where Vishnu and other God worshipped shiva

1. Thiruveezhi mizhalai(Here vishnu gets srichakram from Lord Shiva)
2. Sirkazhi(here vishnu vanished his sins)
3. Rameswaram(here Rama vanished his sins)
4. Somanatham(Krishna)

Temples where Brammha worshipped shiva

1. Thirukkandiyur
2. Thiruvathavur

Temples where Shakthi worshipped shiva

1. Kanchipuram
2. Kanyakumari
3. Thiruvanaikka
4. Thiruvannamalai
5. Mangadu

Temples where Murugan worshipped shiva

1. Thiruchendhur
2. Thirumurugan poondi

Temples where Ganapathy worshipped shiva

1. Thiruchengattankudi
2. Pillayarpatti