I have always found it very difficult to relate to Shiva because of the fact that Shiva is often depicted in such a fearful manner (with skulls around his neck, snakes instead of loincloth and rather scary facial expressions. As a Christian I was taught that “God is love and Christ is redemption” . The whole premise is one of forgiveness, grace etc. I wonder whether this might have been a reason why in spite of their “non householder qualities “ the yoga sutras of patanjali had been introduced in western classes? Seems more open to fit with Christian viewpoints than the shaiva sutras?!
I think that's probably a true assessment of why the yoga sutras became so prevalent for some practitioners, because it didn't require them to challenge or shift their own religious beliefs. It may also be true that the misunderstanding of what Shiva as the "destroyer" means is the cause of some resistance. There are probably as many people who are attracted to Shiva's iconographic depiction as there are people who are resistant to them. But the iconographic Shiva that is more fierce is just one depiction of Shiva, and there are indeed many different depictions of Shiva, some much more benevolentlooking. Ultimately if Shiva is just the ground of Being, you can technically create any image, call it Shiva, and it would be just as much Shiva as any other image (since everything is Shiva). The images say more about cultural narratives and myths than it does the deep metaphysical meaning of Shiva. And I think there's still a way to engage with Shiva without having to change any religious beliefs. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts!
Thank you so much Jacob! I love your lectures, and this has been very insightful
Thanks so much for your positive feedback!
I have always found it very difficult to relate to Shiva because of the fact that Shiva is often depicted in such a fearful manner (with skulls around his neck, snakes instead of loincloth and rather scary facial expressions.
As a Christian I was taught that “God is love and Christ is redemption” . The whole premise is one of forgiveness, grace etc.
I wonder whether this might have been a reason why in spite of their “non householder qualities “ the yoga sutras of patanjali had been introduced in western classes? Seems more open to fit with Christian viewpoints than the shaiva sutras?!
I think that's probably a true assessment of why the yoga sutras became so prevalent for some practitioners, because it didn't require them to challenge or shift their own religious beliefs. It may also be true that the misunderstanding of what Shiva as the "destroyer" means is the cause of some resistance. There are probably as many people who are attracted to Shiva's iconographic depiction as there are people who are resistant to them. But the iconographic Shiva that is more fierce is just one depiction of Shiva, and there are indeed many different depictions of Shiva, some much more benevolentlooking. Ultimately if Shiva is just the ground of Being, you can technically create any image, call it Shiva, and it would be just as much Shiva as any other image (since everything is Shiva). The images say more about cultural narratives and myths than it does the deep metaphysical meaning of Shiva. And I think there's still a way to engage with Shiva without having to change any religious beliefs. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts!