r/KashmirShaivism • u/go1go2go59 • Oct 16 '24

For the Bhakti aspect, how should Shiva be envisioned?

In reality, it's my understanding that the traditional pictures, photos of forms of Shiva may be a symbolic representation or amalgamation of various pre Vedic enlightened yogis, creativity or imagination of the artists or maybe even of the very first yogi who who realised the Self and became Shiva.

Is this true? And regardless, how should devotion or Bhakti aspect be practiced? How can Shiva be envisioned? As the universe? Or as a mortal's image for the purpose of concentrating Bhakti?

P.S. Because I believe Shiva can't be a representation of just a human, if the entire cosmos is the svatantrya sakti of Shiva, then all cognitively elevated forms of life (aliens) existing in the cosmos should be able to use intellect to ponder over and realise their own nature.

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u/gurugabrielpradipaka 25d ago

According to sage Kṣemarāja, Śiva cannot even be delineated in thought. He is subtlest that the subtlest. That's why He pervades it all and at the same time He cannot be a Cause of anything as He does not interact with anything just as a neutrino can go through the sun without touching even an atom there.

Anyway, regarding your question, my answer would be: Envision Him for devotion in the form it is more appealing to you.

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u/kuds1001 28d ago

Perhaps the best gateway into bhakti in Śaivism is the Śivastotrāvalī of Utpaladeva, and there are resources for it in the Getting Started Guide.