DO YOU KNOW THE STORY OF SHIVA?
India is one of our star destinations to live the volunteer experience, undoubtedly a country with an exquisite cultural richness and with a lot to offer, which receives thousands of people every year, and most of them fall in love with this country and all its stories.
Our local coordinator in India is named Shiva, and this name holds a wonderful story about transformation, meditation and spiritual transcendence.
Shiva is one of the most revered deities in the Hindu pantheon, considered the destroyer within the divine trinity that also includes Brahma (creator) and Vishnu (preserver).
The role of destroyer is not related to annihilation, but to regeneration and rebirth. His figure is depicted with many arms holding symbolic objects such as the trident, drum and fire.
The most recognized icon of Shiva is the Nataraja dance, which symbolizes the cycles of creation and destruction of the universe itself, and the constant flow of time. With this dance Shiva overcomes ignorance and ego.
You may also know him by his third eye, which symbolizes wisdom and perception beyond the physical and tangible. It is said that when this eye opens, it releases a ray of fire that destroys everything it touches, while granting wisdom and divine knowledge. He is also portrayed with a serpent around his neck, symbolizing his dominion over time and the cycle of life and death.
Although Shiva is revered as a powerful destroyer god, he is also worshiped for his benevolent role as the Lord of Meditation. A very present figure for those who seek spiritual transcendence through meditation and material detachment.
He is also known for being the father of Ganesha, together with Parvati (goddess of love and devotion), a popular representation of an elephant-headed ‘figure’.
Undoubtedly, traveling to another country with a totally different culture teaches us many things and takes us deep into it.
We continue to travel the world and nourish ourselves with wonderful stories.