Have you heard of Lord Shiva? His story is truly epic!

Join the millions of devotees who take part in the Kanwar Yatra every year. Despite the blisters on their feet, they walk for kilometers on foot, bowing their heads in respect and completing their journey. This incredible pilgrimage is done for the devotion of Lord Shiva, who is believed to have saved the universe from destruction by drinking a terrible poison called Kalput. The Kanwar Yatra is a way to honor Lord Shiva and offer him Gangajal, which is believed to relieve his burning sensation. Thousands of people complete this challenging journey every year, and you can be one of them.

Are you aware of the fascinating story behind Lord Shiva's iconic moon on his head? It is a tale of love, betrayal, and ultimately, divine intervention. According to the Shiva Purana, King Daksh had 27 daughters, all of whom were married off to Chandra Dev. The moon god had promised to love and care for all his wives equally, but he ended up favoring one over the others. This caused great sadness and resentment among the neglected wives, who complained to their father. In a fit of anger, Daksh cursed Chandra Dev with a terrible disease that would cause him to slowly disappear in 15 days.

Fearing for his life, Chandra Dev sought the help of Brahma Ji, who advised him to worship Lord Shiva. Chandra Dev made a shivling of mud and chanted the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra, hoping to win the favor of the powerful deity. After many days of intense devotion, Lord Shiva finally appeared before him and granted him a boon. He promised that Chandra Dev would disappear completely in 15 days, but then gradually become complete again over the next 15 days. This is why we see the moon wax and wane every month.

But the most remarkable part of this story is the fact that Lord Shiva himself wears the moon on his forehead as a symbol of his blessing on Chandra Dev. This is a testament to the power of devotion and the compassion of the divine. So let us all remember this story and strive to cultivate a deep and sincere connection with Lord Shiva, who is truly the most unique and awe-inspiring of all the gods.

Mahadev, the Lord of the Gods, is infinite and revered in Shiva temples where ashes are often offered to him. In the Mahakal temple in Ujjain, Mahakal is worshipped with ashes, as Lord Shiva himself is known to put ashes on his whole body, according to stories and Puranas.

The association of Lord Shiva with ashes is not new and has a fascinating story behind it, as told in the Shiva Purana. In ancient times, a sage named Pranad was meditating in the jungle for many years, subsisting only on leaves and fruits. One day, while cutting grass to repair his ashram, he hurt his finger and was surprised to see juice of the tree leaves instead of blood. Thinking he had become pure, he became arrogant and proclaimed himself the purest in the universe.

To break his arrogance, Lord Shiva appeared in the guise of an old man and showed him that ashes are the purest. The old man cut his finger, and ashes came out, proving his point. Sage Pranad realized his mistake and fell at Lord Shiva's feet, apologizing for his arrogance. It is believed that Lord Shiva puts ashes on his whole body to remind his devotees of the ultimate truth.

Every depiction of Lord Shiva exudes power and strength, with a trident firmly grasped in his hand, a snake coiled around his neck, and a Rudraksh garland adorning his neck. Additionally, every image of Lord Shiva features a damru, and he is often depicted sitting on a tiger skin. This iconic image is rooted in a story from the Shiva Purana, in which Lord Shiva, as a young recluse, wandered the universe with no possessions or clothing. One day, he passed through a forest inhabited by sages and their wives. The wives were drawn to Lord Shiva, and when the sages discovered this, they became enraged. They created a hole in Lord Shiva's path and summoned a tiger to attack him. However, Lord Shiva emerged victorious, slaying the tiger and donning its skin as a symbol of his power. The sages then realized that this was no ordinary recluse, but the mighty Lord Shiva himself.

They apologized to him, but Lord Shiva sits confidently on the skin of a tiger, a symbol of his immense power and victory over animal nature. In every form of Lord Shiva, Nandi stands proudly by his side, always seated in front of the Shivling idol in every Shiva temple. However, not many know that Nandi was not always Lord Shiva's vehicle.

According to ancient tales, the story begins with sage Shilad, who devoted thousands of years to penance for Lord Shiva to bless him with a child. Lord Shiva granted his wish and blessed him with a son, whom he named Nandi. Nandi was a talented and devoted follower of Lord Shiva. One day, when some sages visited his ashram, they predicted that Nandi's life would be short. But Nandi laughed and told his father that he had seen Lord Shiva and that as long as they had his blessings, they would be protected. Nandi then devoted himself to Lord Shiva and, when Lord Shiva appeared before him, he granted Nandi's wish to be his vehicle on Mount Kailash.

Today, wherever Lord Shiva resides, Nandi is always present. Along with the snake, Lord Shiva wears a Rudraksh garland around his neck, and his devotees also wear Rudraksha on their bodies. According to the Shiva Puran, Rudraksha trees were born from Lord Shiva's tears after thousands of years of penance, making them known as the Tears of Shiva. Only those blessed by Lord Shiva can wear Rudraksha, and it is believed to bring immense benefits to the wearer.