Shiva is one of the principal deities in Hinduism, and is known as the patron of meditation and yoga. Regarded as the master of destruction, creation, and regeneration, Shiva can be thought of as beyond duality and form. While in essence he is formless and undefined cosmic consciousness, he can also be visualized as many incarnations or images. These include the meditator, the blessing (the karma yogi), the ego sacrificer, and the dancer. Meditating on Shiva by visualizing his manifestations and chanting mantras dedicated to him is a way of bowing to your own truest inner self and of awakening the third eye. Learn how to embrace your inner divinity and meditate on Shiva through breathing, visualizations, and by chanting mantras.

Shiva Meditation – What Is It And What Are Its Benefits?

Shiva and meditation are inseparable. Don’t you think so? There is enough calendar art around portraying him as a deeply meditating seated mendicant to convince you so.

Well, that’s because he is the Lord of Meditation. Shiva Meditation is a process that replicates his intense stillness.

This meditation opens your third eye and enables your mind to function in the highest possible manner. It helps you master your mind and stop thoughts from affecting you.

Considered a life-changing process by great yogis, Shiva Meditation helps you become more evolved and conduct your everyday life in a meaningful manner.

Fascinating, isn’t it? There is a lot more to it, though. Find it all below. Go ahead.

What Is Shiva?

Shiva is Adi yogi – the first guru of yoga. A yogic lore mentions that over 15,000 years ago, he attained enlightenment and danced ecstatically on the Himalayas and created 84 lakh asanas with his movements.

But, when you ask somebody what Shiva is, there is no single answer. And, that’s the beauty of Shiva. Shiva is universal consciousness. And, realizing that you are one with it is the trick to help you understand the workings of the world.

Meditating upon such an intense cosmic energy or thought will only elevate your being. Shiva is worshiped in various forms and has numerous names.

He is a yogi, a cosmic dancer, a family man, an ascetic, etc. Shiva is also widely represented in the aniconic form of ‘ling-am.’ But, at the highest level, he is a formless and limitless primal soul of the universe.

He is called by various names like Shankar, Shambho, Maheshwar, Mahadev, Bhairav, etc. Shiva’s symbolic representation is that of a muscled man clothed in tiger skin with snakes adorning his body and ash smeared on it.

He carries a spear called the ‘Trishul’ and a drum called the ‘Damaru.’ His neck is blue, and he has long, thick, matted locks. Ganga flows from his head, and the moon shines from the top of his head.

He has a third eye, which is essentially the mind’s eye that enables perceiving and understanding of the self and the world at a subconscious level. Shiva Meditation helps open your inner eye.

1. Preparation

First thing – stretch. Yes, that will help you sit comfortably without feeling any tension or stiffness in the body. Make sure you stretch your back, hips, buttocks, shoulders, thighs, and feet. Try asanas like Paschimottanasana, Utthita Padahastasana, Baddha Konasana, Vajrasana, etc.

Then, find a place that is not noisy and where you can hear the sounds of nature, like the birds chirping and the wind swooshing. Wear comfortable clothes, something that is suitable for the weather so that you don’t sweat or feel cold.

Switch off all gadgets and finish any immediate tasks so that when you sit to meditate, nothing will distract you or cause a need to end the meditation hurriedly.

2. Sitting Position

Sit comfortably, whether it is down, on a chair, or leaned against a wall. Keep your back straight, but not abnormally straight.

Place your hands in a comfortable position either on the knees or clasped together near the insides of the inner thighs.

When you sit down, assume the Sukhasana, Padmasana, Ardha Padmasana, or the Vajrasana.

Make sure you are comfortable in the pose or make adjustments so that your sitting position doesn’t distract you from the meditation.

3. Breathing

Breathe slowly and consciously, feeling its movement. Inhale on the count of 6, hold the breath for 6 counts, and exhale it on the count of 6.

Focus on how the air is going in, staying in the body, and coming out. Give complete attention to it and get back to it whenever your concentration wavers.

Feel the life force filling your body when you inhale, become aware of the pause between the inhalation and exhalation, and when you exhale, forget the concept of the self and the body and feel oneness with everything around you.

4. Visualization

Breathing in the above manner helps your body become calm and still. Follow it up by feeling the area in between your eyebrows. And while doing so, visualize Shiva in whichever form he occurs in your mind.

It could be the Nataraja, the cosmic dancer, Adi-yoga, the meditating monk, or Ardhanarishwara – the embodiment of male-female aspects. Feel his presence and aura. Be completely taken by it.

Think of nothing except Shiva. Let Shiva engulf you.

5. Chanting

In an attempt to merge with Shiva, invoke his name. Chant ‘Om Namah Shiva-ya,’ which means to call upon Shiva with reverence. Om is a primordial sound. It is the first sound of creation. Uttering Om is echoing creation, life, and energy.

‘Namah Shiva-ya’ is offering devotion to Shiva. Chant ‘Om Namah Shiva-ya’ continuously at a pace that you find suitable. The mantra will help you feel Shiva within yourself. Continue till you feel merged with Shiva, where there is no self, and you are Shiva, and Shiva is you.

Stay in this moment of absolute bliss where you experience divinity. Let it remove the clutter in your mind and help you gain a single-pointed focus.

Benefits Of Shiva Meditation

Shiva Meditation induces a deep state of calm and relaxation
Unnecessary thoughts are wiped off from your mind with this meditation
It increases your stamina and stabilizes your blood pressure
Shiva Meditation eases your tensed muscles and strengthens your immune system
It helps you lose weight and get over your addiction
It slows down the aging process and builds tremendous confidence
Shiva Meditation helps you let go off all your fears and phobias
It helps you gain control over your thoughts
It improves your memory and helps better your relationships
Shiva Meditation helps you react lesser to unnecessary issues
It helps you deal better with your problems instead of becoming restless
It helps you discover the purpose of your life
Shiva Meditation helps you become forgiving and one with God

Expert’s Answers for Readers Questions

How often do I practice Shiva Meditation?

Practice Shiva Meditation every day for best results.

How do I train myself to sit focused for long duration’s in Shiva Meditation?

Sitting focused for an adequate amount of time in Shiva Meditation is a challenge. Start with 5 to 10 minutes and slowly increase the duration with time and practice.

Shiva Meditation is one of a kind. It is beautiful and transcendental. Only when you begin to practice, you will realize its vast potential. And here, we told you everything you need to know about Shiva Meditation. Now, what is left is for you to begin practice. So, get started, ASAP!The following two tabs change content below.

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Lord Shiva Meditation

The patron of yoga and meditation, Lord Shiva is considered by the followers of the Hindu religion as the main deity. Shiva is believed to be the guiding force behind all the creations, destruction and regeneration taking place in the world. His existence is beyond all the boundaries all the cultures. He is the only one hoc exits in various forms. He is that cosmic consciousness that cannot be defined and whose essence is formless. He has often been seen in many images like dancer, Mediator, the karma Yogi and ego sacrifices. He is the one who shows us the right path even in the worst of times and provides joy and serenity. Shiva meditation is one very effective technique of awakening your inner self and freeing yourself from all the boundaries of life. It is of paramount importance to all of us to learn to chant mantra, breath and visualize Shiva while practicing Shiva meditation.

Let’s explore more about meditating on Shiva and various benefits associated with Shiva meditation for once physical and emotional well being:

Lord Shiva Meditation Techniques:

Following are Some Techniques to follow for Shiv Meditation:

Breathe deeply and as you inhale and exhale try realizing about life.
Fill the center every time with the in-breath and out-breath.
When breath is all up and has been stopped or is all down and is stopped you will feel as universal pause. The sense of small disappears and this technique would be difficult for the impure.
Feel the essence as light rays from center and up the vertebrae. It would raise a feeling of liveliness in you.
Concentrate on your mind, stress on the area in between your eyebrows. Let your mind come before your thoughts.
When you close your eyes, try and feel the inner sense of nature. Feel blessed with what you have with you.
Be transformed by concentrating on the nerve which is as delicate as a lotus thread in the center of your spinal cord.
Touch your eyeballs and feel lightness as a feather. This is when you will feel cosmos.
Intone chant Om (a-u-m) slowly.
Feel your body and soul with cosmic essence.

How to Meditate Upon Lord Shiva?

Saguna Meditation

Saguna meditation is meditation on a form. An archer first aims at a gross, big object. Then he takes up a medium object. Finally, he shoots at very small and minute objects. Even so, one should take to Saguna meditation to start with, and when the mind is trained and disciplined well, he can have Nirakara, Nirguna meditation. Saguna meditation is meditation on a concrete object. Saguna meditation is peculiarly pleasing the Bhakta, who loves to gaze on the peculiar form of his Ishta. Saguna Upasana removes Vikshepa. For three or six months, practice Trataka on Siva’s picture.

Meditate on the mental picture of the Murti from half to two hours only in the Trikuti (space between the eyebrows). See and feel that the Lord is present in every object of the universe. When you meditate, mentally repeat the Mantra of the Devata, ‘Om Namah Sivaya’; think of the attributes of the Deity such as omnipresence, omnipotence and omniscience. Feel that Sattvic qualities from the Ishtam flow towards you. Feel that you possess these Sattvic qualities. This is Sattvic or Suddha Bhavana. You will have Darsana of your Ishtam in one or two years, if you are sincere in your Sadhana. Follow this plan. This will help concentration. Move the mind on the various parts of the Murti, the picture or idol of Lord Siva, and meditate. Sit upon your usual Asana. Repeat His name and think of His attributes like bliss, radiance, love, etc., gazing at His picture all the while. Then enthrone Him in the lotus of your heart or between your eyebrows amidst a blazing light. Now mentally think of His lotus-feet, offering your devout salutations. Take the mind to the elephant-skin worn round the waist, then to the necklace of Rudraksha beads, adorning His chest, and the beautiful blue hue of His throat (Nilakantha), serene countenance, radiating the majestic aura of profound meditations, the indrawn half-closed meditative eyes, the mysterious third eye in the centre of the forehead. Next take the mind up to the matted locks, the cool crescent moon, and the sacred Ganga sprouting from the Jata. Rotate your mind on the trident (Trisula) in one hand, and then, the Damaru, in the other. Run your mind over the whole form till you complete all the details. Then fix your mind either on the face or upon the starting point (feet). Repeat the entire process again and again, as many times as you can. By constant practice, you will ultimately be established in meditation and have communion with Siva.

Nirguna Meditation

This is meditation on Lord Siva, in His all-pervasive, unmanifested aspect, as the Supreme Para Brahman. In this form of meditation, you meditate on Lord Siva as the Supreme Brahman without form, attribute-less, eternal, infinite. Meditate on Him as the Suddha, Satchidananda, Vyapaka Atman; Nitya, Suddha, Siddha, Buddha, Mukta, eternally free Brahman; an unlimited Ocean of Pure Consciousness. Now, identify yourself with this transcendental Svarupa of Siva. Feel that you are Chaitanya, Akhanda, Paripurna, Ekarasa, Santa, Unchanging Existence.

Every atom, every molecule, every nerve, vein, artery, should powerfully vibrate with these ideas. Lip-repetition of ‘Sivoham’ will not produce much benefit. It should be through heart, head and soul. This feeling should be kept up continuously. Negate the body-idea while repeating Sivoham mentally. When you chant Sivoham feel:

Vedic Paths

shiva meditation

How to Meditate on Shiva