Hara is a Sanskrit name for the deity Lord Shiva. The name comes from the Indus Valley Civilization – from the Harappan culture. The name has connections with the feminine aspect which has a long last a-haraa and includes a number of feminine gods. One of the many names of Shiva is Hara. As a Sanskrit word Hara means, ‘taking away’, ‘removing’ and ‘destroyer’. Shiva is a deity who destroys evil. According to legends, Shiva attained the name after Sati his wife’s death. When her father did not invite Shiva to a ritual sacrifice, she in anger killed herself. The angry Shiva sent his army to destroy the ritual everyone at the ritual sacrifice ceremony. Destructive aspects of Shiva are depicted in this story.
The auspicious one, Lord Shiva is known as the great god, Mahadeva. In Hinduism, he is one of the main deities. Within Shaivism he is one of the Supreme Beings. Within the Trimurti, Lord Shiva is called the ‘Destroyer’. The Supreme Being Shiva is one who transforms, protects and creates the universe. Within the Trimurti, the Hindu trinity with Vishnu and Brahma, he is revered as the ‘The Destroyer’. He is regarded as patron god of arts, meditation and yoga. Lord Shiva is depicted as destroying demons, when he as an Adiyogi Shiva is in his most fierce aspects.
The third eye on his forehead, the serpent around his neck, his weapon – the trident or the trishula, the beautiful crescent moon and the damaru drum are Lord Shiva’s iconographical attributes. Lingam, the aniconic form is the usual form in which he is worshipped. Hindus in India and some other countries revere this pan-Hindu deity. He is in the form of one’s consciousness as he is omnipresent and omnipotent.
