Shiva Vrishabharudha
Shiva in the hypostasis of the ruler of the Godly law of justice and universal harmony (Dharma)
by eminent yoga teacher Gregorian Bivolaru
Shiva Vrishabharudha is one of the most favourable hypostases of Shiva. It is adored by a large number of human beings who are full of devotion to Him, because the adoration of this hypostasis quickly gives many spiritual gifts to the aspirants.
In the form of Shiva Vrishabharudha, Shiva is represented riding on the bull, his vehicle. The bull is an important symbol in the Hindu tradition. Its name is Nandi. It is the symbol and also the vehicle of Shiva. Its image dominates Indian settlements. It is the guardian of temples, large or small, both those of reduced form and those of gigantic size. The Godly bull, Nandi, is one of the oldest symbols of the state of vitality, generosity and joy that appears in the being, through the knowledge and observance of the Godly law of justice and universal harmony (dharma). The Godly bull, Nandi, is also the symbol of the guarantee of a happy and prosperous life. It is said that in India all representations of Shiva were guarded by the Godly bull, Nandi, who is the protector of the universal law (dharma). The Godly bull, Nandi, is also the bull of pastoral fertility, symbolizing the continuation of the tradition of fervent adoration of Shiva.
The Vedic tradition indicates the existence of two bulls that fulfil the role of vehicle of Shiva. The first bull vehicle of Shiva is a hypostasis of Vishnu. The existence of this bull vehicle of Shiva is linked to the moment of the Godly, purifying intervention of Shiva, which was directed at the three rebellious cities located in the three worlds, respectively the physical world, the subtle world and the causal world. As soon as Shiva set foot in the chariot with which he was to head towards the three cities, a chariot that had been built by all the gods and which they were very proud to have made for Shiva, the axle of the chariot broke. Then Vishnu immediately took the form of an extremely powerful bull on whose back Shiva sat and set out to restore Godly order in the cities that were not subject to His Godly will. In this way, the bull became Shiva’s vehicle and the symbol of the Godly law of justice and Godly harmony (dharma).
The second bull-vehicle is the bull symbol of universal justice (dharma), the embodiment of a celestial being called Dharmadeva who is said to have greatly desired to attain the state of spiritual immortality. This second bull-vehicle knew the secret of cosmic rhythms and the entire succession of universal ages. He knew that a cosmic era, yuga, lasting two thousand celestial years, is actually a day of Brahma, and 30 such days of Brahma constitute a month of his life. Then, 12 such months constitute a year of Brahma’s life, and 100 such years constitute a lifetime of Brahma. In turn, the entire lifetime of Brahma represents a day of Vishnu’s life, and after 100 of his years, Vishnu also reabsorbs himself into Paramashiva. Therefore, Dharmadeva knew that sooner or later, all created beings disappear by reabsorbing themselves into the transcendent being of Paramashiva. The entire existing universe will thus re-enter, with the great universal reabsorption (mahapralaya), into non-manifestation.
Together with the other immortals, the Supreme Shiva exists without ceasing. When a cycle of cosmic life ends, he, Shiva, will reduce everything to ashes with the terrible fire that springs from his third eye and will make everything manifest through his cosmic dance through which he controls everything.
Knowing all this, the god of the law of universal Godly virtue, Dharmadeva, said to himself: “Knowing that everything will be extinguished at a certain moment, on the night of universal resorption (mahapralaya), how could I achieve the state of spiritual immortality to be able to exist in eternity even when everything will be extinguished in the transcendent being of Shiva?”
“Being one with Him, I will be able to achieve immortality”
To find an answer to this existential question, Dharmadeva decided to worship Shiva with great fervour and almost without ceasing. At one point, through the grace and Godly inspiration of Shiva, he discovered the answer in his heart: “Only if I get as close as possible to the Godly being of Shiva and remain intimately merged with Him in eternity, will I be able to attain the state of spiritual immortality.” Then, guided by the enlightening answer that Shiva had placed in his heart, Dharmadeva took the form of a vigorous bull and, with a deep state of humility, approached Shiva, saying: “Most beloved Godly master of time and the entire Macrocosm, please accept that I, your humble servant, to always be your Godly vehicle from now on and thus protect me, through your Godly presence, from the annihilation that occurs on the night of universal dissolution (mahapralaya)”.
Noting the sincerity and humility with which Dharmadeva made his request, Shiva accepted the bull as his vehicle. He said to Dharmadeva: “Henceforth, carry the Godly law Dharma with all four of your legs during the era of light, satya yuga, then with only three of your legs in treta yuga, then with two of your legs in dvapara yuga and finally with only one leg in the era of spiritual darkness, kali yuga, preserving the spiritual light only for the few who are sincere and fully surrendered to Me. Henceforth, you will always be my Godly vehicle and will thus be with me everywhere. The Godly law, Dharma, will be one with my supreme being, Shiva, and you will ensure its observance in everything.”
In this way, Dharmadeva received the Godly reward for his loving and humble surrender to Shiva, thus becoming his Godly vehicle. Thus Dharmadeva attained spiritual immortality, being inseparable from Shiva ever since.
The hypostasis in which Shiva appears to us as the ruler of the Godly law of justice and universal harmony (dharma) is called Shiva Vrishabharudha. In this hypostasis, Shiva is represented as riding a bull (vrisha). Here Shiva is represented as sitting on the bull’s back, with Parvati on his left knee and Ganesha on his right. In this hypostasis, Shiva has white skin and has four arms: his upper arms carry the stone hammer of the builder and the antelope. With his right front arm, he holds around Ganesha, and with his left he holds Parvati. In the Vrishabharudha hypostasis, Shiva has a peaceful face (prasana).
According to the Kashyapa Samhita, this hypostasis of Shiva is also called Shiva Vrishabhahana and represents Shiva not riding his bull, but standing beside it, leaning slightly towards it and resting his elbow on the bull’s head. “Having his right hand adorned with bracelets, and slightly leaning to rest on the back of the mighty bull, which serves as his Godly vehicle (bhahana), with his hair gathered in a crown, with his Godly eyes full of grace, the third of which is the Ajna Chakra, with his blessed hands holding the spindle and the antelope, the symbols of his spiritual power, emanating an overwhelming state of Godly ecstatic bliss (ananda), he embraces with unparalleled love Parvati, looking at him full of transfiguration.
This is Shiva Vrishabharudha, the one by whose adoration, Godly gifts and good achievements never cease.”
yogaesoteric
March 27, 2025
