Who is Śiva?

Is he the one who lives in the graveyard, smearing ash, living with Ganās outlandishly?

Is he the strange Tantric that the Asurās fear?

Is he the royal emperor; Sarvēșvara?

Is he the benevelont one, who grants boons to all, regardless of whom?

Is he the malevelont one, who destructs the cosmos?

No, truly, who is Śiva fundamentally? Isn't Śiva is the utter and complete personification of Gñanā? Is he not knowledge itself, not of only grammar, not of only materialism, but of everything?

Knowledge is eternal. Knowledge has no beginning, nor does it an end. Anādhi,

Knowledge is ever-present, come what may. Anantam.

Knowledge is supreme. Paramēśam.

Knowledge is true. It is of what is; of what may be. Satyam.

Knowledge is bliss. Eternally beautiful bliss. Sundaram.

Knowledge is Mōkṣa. Śiva is Mōkṣa. Śivam.

Satyam Śivam Sundaram.

He knows, like his Linga, your form is not your true form.

He knows, like the ash on His forehead, you too are temporary, yet eternal.

He knows, like his matted locks, you too are entangled in Māyā.

He knows, like his closed third eye, you too are blind to knowledge.

He knows, like Ganga flowing out of those locks, you too can flow.

He knows, like his Triṣūla, you can triumph death with the three spears of Karma, Gñāna, and Bhakti.

But attaining knowledge... you search and search and fall upon whatnot. You may continue for all your life, but will you find it? You may call whatever you find knowledge, but is it really?  Because, is knowledge acquired at all? It is but given! It is taught!

And that is why Śiva is the teacher. The eternal teacher. The beacon, the capsule of knowledge, who showers it all out to whoever seeks it. But what is knowledge if it is static? Does it serve any purpose at all if it cannot go around, enlightening all? Śiva might be knowledge, but who is the movement? It is Pārvati.

She is the river that flows.

She is the dance of Tillai that sparkles.

He is Natarāja, but She is Nātya.

She is the language. He is the thought.

They are eternally in tandem.  

Namaḥ Pāṛvatī Patayē!

Hara Hara Mahadēva!!

Happy Mahaśivarātri.