Lord Shiva: The Historical & Scriptural Legacy of Mahadev

Lord Shiva is referred to as Umāpati (the husband of Goddess Uma) and Bhūtapati (the lord of all beings). In the Shanti Parva (Mokshadharma Parva, Chapter 349, Verse 67) of the Mahabharata, he is described as the son or descendant of Sage Brahma.

उमापतिर्भूतपतिः श्री कण्ठो ब्रह्मणः सुतः ।। उक्तवानिदमव्यग्रो ज्ञानं पाशुपतं शिवः

His famous Pāshupata Astra was unparalleled in the entire universe. There was no weapon on earth capable of countering or destroying it. A study of the Mahabharata reveals the extraordinary personality of Lord Shiva—he was an extremely detached ascetic, always immersed in yogic meditation, completely self-controlled despite being married, and possessed of divine abilities such as the power of aerial travel (ākāśagamana).

To understand Shiva’s legacy better, let’s first explore some important terms found in scriptures. The word Dev comes from the Sanskrit root "Div", meaning to shine or be divine. A Dev is someone who possesses great knowledge, wisdom, and higher qualities. In the Bhagavad Gita (16.6):

द्वौ भूतसर्गौ लोकेऽस्मिन् दैव आसुर एव च।

Meaning: "There are two types of beings in this world—the divine (Daivic) and the demonic (Asuric)." Here, Dev represents truth, righteousness, and wisdom. In simple terms, a Dev is an enlightened being with spiritual power.

Ishwar means the supreme ruler or controller. It comes from "Ish", meaning to command or govern. In Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras (1.24):

क्लेशकर्मविपाकाशयैरपरामृष्टः पुरुषविशेषः ईश्वरः।

Meaning: Ishwar is beyond suffering, actions, and their results. In the Bhagavad Gita (18.61): Ishwar resides in the hearts of all beings, O Arjuna. Ishwar refers to the supreme power that governs everything.

To see Lord Shiva merely as a deity of worship would be to limit his vast and profound nature. He was not only a great yogic practitioner but also a great scientist of the Vedas and Vedangas. It is said that he:

Had mastery over advanced sciences, including aerial travel and energy-based weaponry.

Was well-built, radiant, immensely strong, and the embodiment of unmatched bravery.

Had attained the state of ultimate liberation (jīvanmukti), full of supreme knowledge and scientific wisdom.

Although detailed accounts of Lord Shiva’s life are scarce, his teachings can be clearly found in the Mahabharata. His discourses revolve around liberation (moksha), yoga, dharma, and truth. He emphasized self-restraint, non-violence, and spiritual progress as key principles for an enlightened life.

Lord Shiva is not just a deity but also a symbol of yoga, science, and valor. He is the bearer of absolute knowledge about the cosmos. Studying his teachings in the Mahabharata helps us understand the deep mysteries of life, seek truth, and progress towards self-realization.

Lord Shiva is called Mahadev, which means "The Greatest of all Gods". According to the Drona Parva (202) of the Mahabharata, this title was given to him by the devas (gods) after he destroyed Tripura, the three demon cities. The gods recognized his supreme power and granted him this title.

Shiva is also called Rishikesh, a name that means "Lord of all the senses". Interestingly, this was also a name of Lord Krishna. Just as Arjuna addressed Krishna as Keshav and Rishikesh, in the same way, the gods and sages called Shiva Mahadev and Rishikesh.

Another name of Shiva is Virupaksha. In the Shanti Parva (Chapter 59), it is mentioned that Vishalaksha Shiva (Shiva with large eyes) summarized a great scripture originally created by Lord Brahma. This scripture was named "Vaishalaksha".

Lord Shiva divided the scripture into 10,000 chapters. Indra (Purandar) studied it and summarized it into 5,000 chapters. Brihaspati further condensed it into 3,000 chapters, which became known as Brihaspati's Arthashastra (Economic Science). Draupadi studied this Arthashastra in her childhood (Vana Parva 32).

The story of Daksha Yagna is often associated with Lord Shiva’s immense love and respect for his wife. Once, Daksha Prajapati insulted Lord Shiva by not inviting him and his wife Parvati to his grand yagna. Parvati felt deeply hurt by this insult. Seeing her sadness, Lord Shiva destroyed the yagna out of love for his wife.

This incident is found in Shanti Parva (Chapter 283) of the Mahabharata and is also mentioned in other ancient texts like the Shatapatha Brahmana and some Ayurveda scriptures.

Some people believe that Shiva first married to Mata Sati and later he married Mata Parvati. However, there is no mention of Sati in the Mahabharata and other valid references. In authentic scriptures, Shiva is only mentioned as being married to Mata Parvati, who is also known as Uma. The destruction of Daksha’s Yagna, as per the Mahabharata, happened in the presence of Mata Parvati, not Mata Parvati.

Many people think that Nandi was a bull, but in reality, Nandi was a human sage and a devoted follower of Shiva. According to the Mahabharata, Lord Shiva’s flag had a bull symbol, so he was called Rishabhdhwaj (the one with the bull flag).

Similarly, Lord Vishnu is called Garudadhwaj because his flag had the symbol of Garuda (eagle). Arjuna is called Kapidhwaj because his flag had the symbol of Monkey. Since these symbols represent spiritual and philosophical meanings, it is clear that Nandi was not an animal but a wise human devotee, just like Lord Hanuman.

When Shiva destroyed Daksha’s Yagna, the gods and sages present at the event were terrified by his angry expression. This fear caused fever and diseases among them.

This is a symbolic way of saying that Shiva’s anger led to physical distress among the people. This idea is also supported by Charaka Samhita (Chikitsa Sthana), which connects Shiva’s anger with fever.

In ancient Ayurveda texts, before starting a healing process, the names of great sages and gods are remembered for blessings. A verse from Sushruta Sutrasthan 43 says:

ब्रह्मदक्षाश्विरुद्रेन्द्रभूचन्द्राकोनिलानलाः। ऋषयः सौषधिग्रामाः भूतसंघाश्च पान्तु ते ॥

Meaning: "May Brahma, Daksha, Ashwini Kumars, Rudra (Shiva), Indra, Earth, Wind, Fire, and the great sages protect and heal you." This shows that Shiva was considered a great healer in Ayurveda traditions.

According to Shanti Parva (Chapter 58, Verse 2), Lord Vishalaksha Shiva was one of the great teachers of Rajdharma (the science of governance). The verse states:

विशालाक्षश्च भगवान् काव्यश्चैव महातपाः। सहस्राक्षो महेन्द्रश्च तथा प्राचेतसो मनुः॥

Meaning: Apart from others, Vishalaksha Shiva, the great ascetic Shukracharya, Indra, and Manu, were all great teachers of political science and governance.

There are two main traditions of Sanskrit grammar:

• Aindra Grammar (Indra’s Tradition)

• Maheshwara Grammar (Shiva’s Tradition)

Kantara Grammar is based on Indra’s tradition. Panini composed Ashtadhyayi based on Maheshwara Grammar (Shiva’s tradition). This means Shiva played a crucial role in shaping Sanskrit grammar.

Shiva was the king of Kailash and the surrounding regions. He was a brave warrior, a wise sage, and a deeply spiritual person. Because of his greatness, people called him "Deva" (god-like).

However, after he destroyed Tripura, all the gods gave him the title of Mahadev, meaning "The Greatest of the Gods". Over time, history merged with mythology. Just like today, a great hero in history is often seen as a divine figure, in the same way, people started seeing Shiva as an all-powerful god.

Many supernatural elements were added to his story, making him appear more like a mythological superhero than a real historical figure. After the Mahabharata era, people stopped studying the scriptures, and over time, the historical figure of Shiva merged with the concept of the Supreme God (Ishwara).

Even today, many people are named Shiva, and if one of them performs great deeds, future generations might call him an incarnation of Lord Shiva. Thus, Shiva was both a historical figure and a divine symbol, and over time, people blended both identities into one.

Lord Shiva's legacy is a blend of historical significance and divine reverence. As depicted in the Mahabharata and other ancient scriptures, he was not just a Mahapurush but a master of advanced sciences, governance, and spiritual wisdom. His unparalleled contributions to Sanskrit grammar, Ayurveda, and warfare, along with his extraordinary deeds, earned him titles like Mahadev and Rishikesh.

However, over time, the historical figure of Shiva merged with the concept of the eternal Shiva—the Absolute Reality (AUM, Ishwar, or the Ultimate Truth). While the Shiva discussed in this context refers to a remarkable historical personality, the cosmic Shiva transcends form and time, representing the infinite and formless essence of the universe. The fusion of these two perspectives over centuries has shaped the way Shiva is perceived today—as both a revered sage-king and the Supreme Consciousness guiding the cosmos.