Shiv thus becomes the transformer, the granter of salvation, вЂdev-adi-dev MahadevвЂ™. In this sense, Guru too is not separate from Paramguru Shiv. It was Shiv as Neelkanth who drank all the poison and preserved it in his throat, for maintaining the balance. The vish or venom produced as an equal and opposite necessitates the role of Guru in evolution. The Samudra Manthan where both amrit and vish were produced during the churning of the ocean is nothing but the awakeningДЄmrit is the union of Shiv-Shakti that bestows salvation. For this to happen, Shiv seated at the highest chakra has to come down and unite with Shakti at every subsequent chakra. The process involves ascending through the chakras-what rises up being Kundalini or Shakti a semi-dormant force residing at the base chakra. This evolution is seen as the awakening of Kundalini in humans. Evolution in its entirety thus becomes the union of the two-Ardhanareshwar or Shiv who granted half his body to Shakti. While the entire creation (including Shiv) draws its energy from Shakti, Shakti without Shiv is just pure energy that needs a vehicle to channelise itself. Thus, what manifested was Shiv and the energy responsible for this manifestation was also Him.ДЄdi Shakti in all her glory chose to be ShivвЂ™s consort as Shakti or Parvati. Interestingly, the first physical manifestation of creation was the sound вЂњAUMвЂќ, which emerged from the damru of Shiv his dance of Creation that gave form to the Universe. From her emerged anything and everything from her emerged Shiv. When Creation began, there existed just one supreme consciousness that manifested as Adi Shakti. What then is the dancing male form, the form of half-man and half-woman, or the sadhu clad in a loincloth with his body smeared in bhasma? Are Natraj, Ardhnareshwar and Neelkanth myths? Let us dwell upon the infinite energy that is Shiv, letвЂ™s go back to the beginning of Creation.

Chidananda rupa shivoham