Lord Shiva and Shiva temples India Stamps

Mahashivaratri , a  popular festival of India and celebrated all around the world  On this day, in all Shiva temples, the most auspicious way.
We with great fervor, Greetings to all on this occasion.
 
Here we share some beautiful stamps issued on Lord Shiva and  Shiva temples a round the world

Maha Shivaratri is the main Hindu festival among the Shaiva Hindu diaspora from Nepal and India. In Indo Caribbean communities,

Mandi (Himachal Pradesh): The festival of Mahashivratri  is marked in a unique way in this town, popularly known as Chhoti Kashi, as it sees a congregation as deities comes from hundreds of village. A week-long International Mandi Shivratri Fair held.

Lingodbhava puja is performed during this time. In Nepal, Pashupatinath Temple is very famous for celebration of Shivratri.

Maha Shivratri is a Hindu festival celebrated every year in reverence of Lord Shiva. . Shivaratri literally means the great night of Shiva or the night of Shiva.It falls on a moonless February night, and Hindus offer special prayer to the mighty Lord of Moksha. Shivratri is the night when Shiva is said to have performed the Tandava Nach or the dance of primordial creation, preservation and destruction.

According to Jones and Ryan, the festival may have originated around the 5th century CE.

Maha Shivaratri is mentioned in several Puranas, particularly the Skanda Purana, Linga Purana and Padma Purana. These medieval era Shaiva texts present different mythologies associated with this festival, but all mention fasting and reverence for icons of Shiva such as the Lingam.

It is celebrated every year on the 13th night /14th day of the Maagha or Phalguna month of the Hindu calendar.

 Shiva is one of the most complex gods in Hinduism, embodying seemingly contradictory qualities. He is the destroyer and the restorer, the great ascetic and the symbol of sensuality, the benevolent herdsman of souls and the wrathful avenger. Nandi, a white bull is the bull vahana of Shiva. Nandi means ‘causing gladness’ and its idol is found in almost all Shiva temples seated and watching over the main shrine quite and benign facing the Linga or the image of Shiva. In this position, Nandi is acting not only as Shiva's guardian, but also as a constant devotee.

Nandi’s idol is found. in almost all Shiva temples

He is also the chief of Shiva’s Ganas (attendants) and Nandishvara is another name of Lord Shiva. The disciplined bull, which is calm and docile, symbolizes Dharma, an image of controlled power. Lord Shiva rides the Nandi bull, which stands for the brute and blind power, as well as the unbridled sexual energy in man - the qualities only he can help us control.

There are few larger Nandi statue's the largest Nandi statues in India is found in the Halebid Shiva Temple in Karnataka. One of the famous Nandi Statues in India is at Chamundi hills in Mysore, again in Karnataka and one in Basavangudi bull Temple Bangalore.

Blessings of Lord Shiva be with us

OM SHIVA  SHIVA OM