Clay: Material Cause.

Siva
Potter's wheel is the Instrumental Cause
Potter: The Efficient Cause. Siva
Siva created the world for no purpose except out of play or sport.
Siva is the efficient cause of creation.
As His Shakti, He is also the material cause.
Siva assumes the form of the universe, transforms Himself into it, not directly
but through His Shakti.
Yet, He is transcendent, greater than and unaffected and unlimited by His creati
on.
Siva has a spiritual body and lives in a heaven more luminous than millions of s
uns, which liberated souls eventually can attain.
"At the time of creation, preceded by the first vibrations of His energies-solel
y through an impulse of will, independently of any material cause, and out of Hi
s own substance-He creates, that is, manifests, the totality of conscious and un
conscious things." Shrikantha
Purification, devotion and meditation upon Siva as the Self-the akasha within th
e heart-define the path.
Meditation is directed to the Self, Siva, the One Existence that evolved into al
l form.
Release comes only after certain preliminary attainments, including tranquility,
faith and nonattachment.
Bonds which fetter the soul can be shattered in the torrent of continuous contem
plation on and identification with the Supreme, Siva.
Liberation depends on grace, not deeds.
Upon death, the liberated soul goes to Siva along the path of the Gods, without
return to earthly existence.
The individual soul continues to exist in the spiritual plane, enjoying the blis
s of knowing all as Siva, enjoying all experiences and powers, except that of cr
eation of the universe.
Ultimately, the soul does not become perfectly one with Brahman (or Siva), but s
hares with Brahman all excellent qualities.
Man is responsible, free to act as he wills to, for Siva only fulfills needs acc
ording to the soul's karma.
"Siva associates Himself with the triple energies [knowledge, will and action],
enters into the total agglomerate of effects, and emerges as the universe, compr
ising the triad of Deities [Vishnu, Brahma and Rudra]. Who can comprehend the gr
eatness of Siva, the All-Powerful and the All-Knowing?" Shrikantha

bhakta-sthala (devotion),
mahea-sthala (selfess service),
prasdi-sthala (earnestly seeking Shivas grace),

prnalingi-sthala (experience of all as Shiva), and

arana-sthala (egoless refuge in Shiva), and
culminates in aikya-sthala (oneness with Shiva).

Shiv Tandav Stotra

:

The Shiv Tandev Stotra is a devotional hymn created by the King of Lanka, Ravan,
in Shivs praise (describes the various qualities of Shiv) seeking Shivs blessings and
beseeching to grant him the boon of liberation from the unending cycle of life
and death. King Ravan was considered a very learned person who, through his grea
t devotion and sacrifice was able to win over the love and considerations of man
y Gods.

His neck, with thick forest-like locks of hair, holy by water flowing,
On his neck, as garland whom none pair, lofty snake is hanging,
His `Damaru drum with its Damat Damat Damat in air echoing,
Shiv auspicious Tandava dances may He prosperity be giving.
- 94
-

Shivs head glorified by rows of celestial Gangas waves moving,

Deep in well of his long hair-locks they be ever but so agitating,
On surface of his forehead glows with the brilliant fire flaming,
Who has crescent moon as a jewel on his head enlightening.
- 95

In Shiv all universe exists, may my mind happiness be seeking,

Shiv companion of Parvati daughter of mountain king being,
Who controls hardships with compassionate look ever flowing,
Who is all-persuasive and four directions his eternal clothing.
- 96

May I seek deep pleasure in Shiva, who of all life is supporting,

With reddish brown hood, gems luster on it his snake creeping
Variegated colors on faces of maidens of directions spreading,
Who with upper garment of intoxicated elephants skin covering.
- 97

Shiv give us prosperity, has moon as his head-jewel covering,

By red snake-garland whose locks are tied and ever is flowing,
Whose foot-stool is grayed by the dust from the flowers flowing,

This dust from rows of all the Gods head and others is coming.
- 98
-

May we get wealth of Siddhis as Shivs locks of hair unending,

Who devoured Love God with fire sparks in his forehead flaming,
Who is bowed to by all celestial lords in universe unquestioning?
Who is beautiful, sublime with his crescent moon ever shinning.
- 99

My interest is in the Trinetra Lord Shiv with three eyes bearing,

Who offered the powerful God of Love into the fire not fearing,
Dhagad Dhagad on flat surface of his own forehead flaming,
Who sole artist of attractive lines on Parvatis breast is drawing.
- 100

May Shiv, bearing universe burden, give us his blessing

Who is lovely with moon and red with skin he is wearing,
Who has the fierce river Ganga tamed on his hair flowing,
His neck dark as midnight new moon with cloud covering.
- 101

I pray to Shiv whose neck is tied with luster of temples hanging,

On the neck with splendor of the blue lotuses fully-blooming,
As evil-killer of Manmatha, destroyer of Tripuras and life bonding,
Destroyer of sacrifice, darkness, elephants death controlling.
- 102
(
)

I pray to Shiv, bees encircled due to Kadam flowers surrounding,

Destroyer of Manmatha, Tripuras bonds of worldly life sounding,
Destroyed sacrifice demon Andhaka elephants killer unfailing,
He controls the God of Death Yama who does his bidding.
- 103

His Tandavas dance is tuned with sounds drums are making,

Dhimid Dhimid Dhimid Dhimid sounds of his own beating,
He has fire on his great forehead, the fire that is ever spreading,
Due to breath of snake in whirling motion in the sky wandering.
- 104
-

When will I worship the Eternal God Shiv who but be showing,
Equal towards people or king, grass or lotus-like eye pairing,
Towards friend or foe or valuable gem or lump of dirt existing,
Towards snake or garland or varied ways of world and its being.
- 105

When will I be happy, in hollow place near river Ganga am living,

With reverence and folded hands on my head ever I am carrying,
With my bad thinking washed away, mantra of Lord Shiv hauling,
Ever devoted in Shiv with glorious forehead and eyes vibrating.
- 106

Whoever reads, remembers, says this stotra herein be getting,

Purification forever and devotion of great Guru Shivs obtaining.
For this devotion no other way be that any can be achieving,
Just mere thought of Lord Shiv indeed delusion be removing.
- 107

At Puja end, whoever says with honesty this stotra early morning,
Ever dedicated to worship of Lord Shiv and listens to his calling,
Shiv grants him with a very stable Lakshmi, prosperity, blessing,
All the richness of material thoughts that he may be so wishing.
- 108
Thus ends the Shiv-Tandava Stotra written by Ravana