Shiva Temple

Shiva Temple

Shiva Temple is one of the main attractions in Bangladesh, which is located in the village of Puthia. Although it is called decorative, the structure was built in clear accordance with the principles of Hinduism architecture.

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The temple building is a structure of 3 tiers. Each of these tiers ends in stone spires with openwork carvings. At one time, this temple was decorated with many sculptures. But, unfortunately, as a result of feuds, many of them were lost. It is important to note that the whole concept of the temple testifies to the opulence and abundance that the god Shiva is able to give people. Thus, some of his surviving sculptures symbolize Shiva’s merciful attitude towards people.

Shiva

Shiva is a Hindu deity with roots in the pre-Aryan (pre-Vedic) period of the Indus Valley and the autochthonous religions of the aboriginal populations of the southern Indian subcontinent. Renowned Indologist R. N. Dandekar described the religion of Shiva as the oldest of the currently existing religions of the civilized world.

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Shiva represents cosmic consciousness, the static masculine beginning of the universe (Purusha) in opposition to Shakti (Prakriti), the dynamic feminine beginning of the universe, manifesting as the material world.

In the late period of development of India’s mythological worldview (the Puranic period, ca. 300-1200), Shiva was united with the creator Brahma and sustainer Vishnu into a supreme triad as the destructive beginning of the universe. At the same time, in some traditions in India, such as Kashmiri Shivaism, Shiva is an absolute deity, performing the functions of both creation and destruction.

According to the Shiva-purana, is the creator of both Vishnu and Brahma. Embodies both destructive and creative at the same time. In Hinduism, has the epithet Mahadev, which translates as the greatest of the gods (devas).

Shiva’s five divine roles:

• creation,
• support,
• dissolution,
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• concealment,
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• bestowing grace,

The tradition of Shiva worship is called Shivaism. Known by the names Rudra, Shankara, Shambhu, Mahadeva, Maheshwara. The main mantra of Shiva, “Om namah Shivaya”, is first found in the Vedas in the Yajur Veda hymn “Shatarudriya” or “Hymn to a Hundred Rudras.”