Shiva is Compassion

Basavadeva (Basavanna), the great reformer of the Vira Shaiva branch of Shaivism, once remarked to his followers: "Shivane Daye" - Shiva is Compassion.

This is a most profound thought indeed that the great Basavadeva has given us. Shiva is not to be qualified with adjectives, but glorified with nouns. And by using nouns to glorify Shiva, we slowly condition ourselves into understanding that Shiva is not just a Person who can be qualified with attributes or features, but rather the personification of very glories with which we extol Him. Shiva is All, and All is Shiva.

Shiva is not compassionate, He is Compassion itself.
Shiva is not merciful, He is Mercy itself.
Shiva is not great, He is Greatness itself.
Shiva is not godly, He is God itself.
Shiva is not good, He is Goodness itself.
Shiva is not a creator, He is Creation itself.
Shiva is not a sustainer, He is Sustenance itself.
Shiva is not a destroyer, He is Destruction itself.
Shiva is not a concealer, He is Concealment itself.
Shiva is not a revealer, He is Revealment itself.
Shiva is not a pervader, He is Pervasion itself.
Shiva is not a supreme being, He is Supremacy itself.
Shiva is not a realized being, He is Realization itself.
Shiva is not a full being, He is Fullness itself.
Shiva is not a eternal being, He is Eternity itself.
Shiva is not an infinite being, He is Infinity itself.
Shiva is not a conscious being, He is Consciousness itself.
Shiva is not a existent being, He is Existence itself.
Shiva is not a blissful being, He is Bliss itself.
Shiva is not a knowledgeable being, He is Knowledge itself.
Shiva is not a transcendent being, He is Transcendence itself.
Shiva is not an immanent being, He is Immanence itself.
Shiva is not a true being, He is Truth itself.
Shiva is not an infinite being, He is Infinity itself.
Shiva is not a being, He is Being itself.
Shiva is not all-knowing, He is All-Knowingness itself.
Shiva is not all-powerful, He is All-Power itself.
Shiva is not omnipresent, He is Omnipresence itself.
Shiva is not a he, He is He-ness itself.
Shiva is not a she, He is She-ness itself.
Shiva is not a neuter, He is Neuter-ness itself.
Shiva is not beautiful, He is Beauty itself.
Shiva is not kind, He is Kindness itself.
Shiva is not easily pleased, He is Pleasure itself.
Shiva is not giving, He is Gift itself.
Shiva is not one, He is Oneness itself.
Shiva is not guru-like, He is Guruhood itself.
Shiva is not fatherly, He is Fatherhood itself.
Shiva is not motherly, He is Motherhood itself.
Shiva is not a Vedic god, He is the Veda itself.
Shiva is not an Agamic god, He is the Agama itself.
Shiva is not praise-worthy, He is Praise itself.

Innumerable - innumerable are the nouns with which we may hymn the Lord; innumerable as His forms and His names.

Shiva has no form, all forms are His.
Shiva has no names, all names are His.
Shiva has no praises, all praises are His.

Aum Namah Shivaya.

© Agnideva, 2007. All rights reserved.