DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.638#0219
i46 INDIAN MYTH AND LEGEND
became afterwards the vehicle of Vishnu; he has ever
"mocked the wind with his fleetness".
Shiva, as we have indicated, developed from Rudra,
the storm god. He is first mentioned as Mahadeva, "the
great god", in the Yajurveda, and in the Mahabhdrata he
is sometimes exalted above Vishnu. In one part he is
worshipped by Krishna. He is the " blue-necked, three-
eyed trident-bearing lord of all creatures ". The trident
is a lightning symbol which appears to have developed
from the three wriggling flashes held in the left hand of
hammer-gods like Tarku and Rammon. Shiva's third
eye was on his forehead, and from it issued on occasion
a flame of fire which could consume an enemy; once he
slew Kamadeva, the love god, who wounded him with
flowery arrows, by causing the flame to spring forth.
Balor, the night god of Irish mythology, had similarly
a destroying eye; "its gaze withered all who stood before
it";1 he was the god of lightning and death, the "eye-
flame " being the thunderbolt.
Shiva's dwelling is on the Himalayan mount Kaila'sa2.
He is Girisha, "the lord of the hills", and Chandra-
Shekara, " the moon crested", Bhuteswara, " lord of
goblins ", and Sri Kanta, " beautiful throated ". When
he is depicted with five heads, he is regarded as the source
of the five sacred rivers flowing from the mountains. As
the god with snow-white face, he is the spirit of asceticism
(Maha-Yogi) adored by Brahmans performing penances.
In the Mahabhdrata Arjuna, the warrior, invoked him by
engaging in austerities until smoke issued from the earth.
Then Shiva, "the illustrious Hara", appeared in huge
and stalwart form and wrestled with him. Arjuna's limbs
were bruised and he was deprived of his senses. When
he recovered he hailed the god, saying: " Thou art
Celtic Myth and Legend, p. 49. *Or KailSaa.
became afterwards the vehicle of Vishnu; he has ever
"mocked the wind with his fleetness".
Shiva, as we have indicated, developed from Rudra,
the storm god. He is first mentioned as Mahadeva, "the
great god", in the Yajurveda, and in the Mahabhdrata he
is sometimes exalted above Vishnu. In one part he is
worshipped by Krishna. He is the " blue-necked, three-
eyed trident-bearing lord of all creatures ". The trident
is a lightning symbol which appears to have developed
from the three wriggling flashes held in the left hand of
hammer-gods like Tarku and Rammon. Shiva's third
eye was on his forehead, and from it issued on occasion
a flame of fire which could consume an enemy; once he
slew Kamadeva, the love god, who wounded him with
flowery arrows, by causing the flame to spring forth.
Balor, the night god of Irish mythology, had similarly
a destroying eye; "its gaze withered all who stood before
it";1 he was the god of lightning and death, the "eye-
flame " being the thunderbolt.
Shiva's dwelling is on the Himalayan mount Kaila'sa2.
He is Girisha, "the lord of the hills", and Chandra-
Shekara, " the moon crested", Bhuteswara, " lord of
goblins ", and Sri Kanta, " beautiful throated ". When
he is depicted with five heads, he is regarded as the source
of the five sacred rivers flowing from the mountains. As
the god with snow-white face, he is the spirit of asceticism
(Maha-Yogi) adored by Brahmans performing penances.
In the Mahabhdrata Arjuna, the warrior, invoked him by
engaging in austerities until smoke issued from the earth.
Then Shiva, "the illustrious Hara", appeared in huge
and stalwart form and wrestled with him. Arjuna's limbs
were bruised and he was deprived of his senses. When
he recovered he hailed the god, saying: " Thou art
Celtic Myth and Legend, p. 49. *Or KailSaa.