Mother of Lord Shiva

Knowledge about Mother of Lord Shiva has been a subject of mystery thus far. Lord Shiva is a very famous God in Hinduism. Various speculations have been made about the originator of Lord Shiva. Sages, Saints and Gurus as per their whims have been making arbitrary claims based on estimation and guesswork. They have been saying that Lord Shiva is the Supreme God. He has no Mother or Father, he doesn't take birth or die. This same belief has traversed into the devotee society whereby the ardent devotees of Lord Shiva consider him to "Swayambhu"; one who created himself. They have this belief because they consider Lord Shiva to be eternal and therefore do not consider him to be born from a womb. They consider him beyond birth and death. Some call Lord Shiva as "anaadi" - having no beginning. Some even consider him formless.

Two myths about Lord Shiva are as follows:-

• Lord Shiva does not have a mother
• Lord Shiva is eternal

Both the above mentioned statements are untrue as per the Puranas. The fact is that Lord Shiva is not eternal, and he does have a mother. Let us find out who is the Mother of Lord Shiva as per the Puranas.

Read: What is the age of Lord Shiva?

What do the Holy Scriptures tell us about Mother of Lord Shiva

Holy Scriptures such as the Puranas given account of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva to be in the cycle of birth and death. Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran in particular gives detailed information about Mother of God Shiv Ji. Let us see who is the mother of God Shiva.

Who is the Mother of Lord Shiva?

Ref: Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran, Gitapress Gorakhpur, Shri Hanuman Prasad Poddar and Chiman Lal Goswami

Skand 3, Adhyay 5, page no.123

Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran Unit III, Chapter V

Lord Shiva said :-- O Devi! If auspicious Vishnu has taken birth from you, then Brahma who has come in to being after Vishnu is also your son. Why, then, I Shankar (Shiva) possessed with Tamoguna be not born of you? i.e. You are my progenitor too.

Another version of Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran Adhyay 5

1. Brahma said :-- O Narada! Thus speaking, Vishnu stopped; Sankara, the Destroyer, then stepped in and, bowing down to the Devi said :--
2. Shiva said :-- O Devi! If Hari be born by your power and the lotus-born Brahma have come into existence from you, why, then, I who of Tamo Guna be not born of you? O Auspicious One! You are clever in creating all the Lokas! What wonder is there in my being created by you.

Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Purana gives us a lot more information about the status of God Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Read a detalied account of Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Purana.

Conclusion

Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Purana clearly proves that Goddess Durga is Lord Shiva's Mother. It also proves that she is the Mother of Brahma and Vishnu. Similarly the three Gods also have a father. Shiv Purana gives the knowledge about the father of Lord Shiva.

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