THIS is how Tulsidas ji described Lord Shiva | The Times of India (2024)

These lines talk about the physical appearance of Shiv ji. With the words ‘Seesa ganga’, Tulsidas ji says that Shiv ji has ‘Ganga on his head’. According to tales and legends, the river Ganga flows through Lord Shiva’s locks so that her flow does not overpower the land and Earth. And this is exactly what Tulsidas ji says. Then, he talks about ‘Girija Ardhang Bhujangbar’, which means he is the better half and the half energy along with Mata Parvati. Together, Mata Parvati and Shiv ji make one powerful couple who are the epitome of masculine and feminine energies. And then as everybody knows Lord Shiva has a serpent around his neck, Tulsidas ji explains him as ‘Bhujangabar’. Being a ‘Bhujangbar’ explains that he wears a serpent around his neck and controls and tames the dangers that humans are afraid of.

With these lines, Tulsidas ji explains Shiva’s scary appearance but his graceful nature. He writes about the ‘Mundamala’ which is basically a garland of skulls, which is used to show Lord Shiva’s victory over the fear of death. Then, he says, ‘Bidhu Bala Bhala’ which is a reference to the crescent moon on his forehead. The moon is said to be a representation of the different cycles of time which shows that Lord Shiva is eternal in nature. Then, Tulsidas ji writes about what ornaments he has. He explains that Lord Shiva holds a Damru in his hand and is the supreme deity among gods, like the moon among lotuses.
And then when he says ‘Sukhananda Suladhara’, he portrays Lord Shiva as the source of all happiness. He is the trident holding God who has the power to protect and destroy, and all of these together make him a formidable force.

The last lines describe the many qualities of Shiv ji. He is described as ‘Tripurari’, the one who killed the demon of evil and ignorance, and ‘Trilochana’, which means he is the one with three eyes. Then, Tulsidas ji describes his simple nature and minimal clothing and the fact that he was the one who drank the poison (Bishabhajana) during the churning of the ocean.
Then, with the lines ‘भवभयहरन कह तुलसिदासु सेवत सुलभ सिव सिव संकर सरन’, Tulsidas ji says that Shiva was the one who removes the fear of worldly existence from the hearts and lives of his devotees and that Goswami Tulsidas shall forever remain in the refuge of the compassionate Lord Shiva, who is fearsome and the destroyer but also immensely calm and compassionate in nature.

Overall, this beautiful description of Lord Shiva, mentioned in the Uttarkanda written by Tulsidas ji. This is like one of the most beautiful and ‘whole’ descriptions of Lord Shiva where Tulsidas ji described everything about him. From Lord Shiva’s face to his nature as both the destroyer and the protector. When hearing or reading these lines, people see Shiva as the ultimate ascetic, who is smeared in ashes and lives in detachment from worldly desires. He is in all the powerful deity who balances creation and destruction.