He is the God of forms infinite in whose glory all things are—smaller than the smallest atom, and yet the Creator of all, ever living in the mystery of His creation. In the vision of this God of love there is everlasting peace. He is the Lord of all who, hidden in the heart of things, watches over the world of time. The Gods and seers of Brahman are one with Him, and when a man knows Him, he cuts the bonds of death.§
Kṛishṇa Yajur Veda, Śvetāśvatara Upanishad 4.14-15. UPM, 91-92§
There the eye goes not, nor words, nor mind. We know not. We cannot understand how He can be explained. He is above the known, and He is above the unknown. Thus have we heard from the ancient sages who explained this truth to us. §
Sāma Veda, Kena Upanishad 1.3. UPM, 51§
This ātman is the Lord of all beings, the King of all beings. Just as the spokes are fixed in the hub and the rim of a chariot wheel, in the same way all these beings, all the Gods, all the worlds, all life breaths, all these selves, are fixed in the ātman. §
Śukla Yajur Veda, Bṛihadāraṇyaka Upanishad 2.5.15. VE, 716§
He, the Self, is not this, not this. He is ungraspable, for He is not grasped. He is indestructible, for He cannot be destroyed,. He is unattached, for He does not cling to anything. He is unbound, He does not suffer, nor is He injured. §
Śukla Yajur Veda, Bṛihadāraṇyaka Upanishad 4.5.15. VE, 421§
To Rudra, Lord of sacrifice, of hymns and balmy medicines, we pray for joy and health and strength. He shines in splendor like the sun, refulgent as bright gold is He, the good, the best among the Gods.§
Ṛig Veda 1.43.4-5, 64§
Now, that golden Person who is seen within the sun has a golden beard and golden hair. He is exceedingly brilliant all, even to the fingernail tips. His eyes are even as a Kapyasa lotus flower. His name is high. He is raised high above all evils. Verily, he who knows this rises high above all evils. §
Sāma Veda, Çhandogya Upanishad 1.6.6-7. UPH, 183§
The bodily form of the Almighty, being constituted of powers, is not comparable to ours. Most conspicuous is the absence of āṇava. His bodily form, having a head, etc., is composed of five mantras, corresponding each to the five activities—Īśa, Tat Purusha, Aghora, Vāma and Aja. §
Mṛigendra Āgama, Jñāna Pāda 3.A.8A-9A. MA, 119-20§
The Lord He is: Hari, Brahmā and Rudra. He is the Seed of the corporeal world. Distant and near is He. He is sugar-cane-sweet ambrosia divine. Thus He stands, close to jīva. §
Tirumantiram 2365. TM§
As movement within wind, as sugar within sugarcane, as ghee within milk, as juice within fruit, as fragrance within flower, thus does the Lord pervade all. §
Tirumantiram 2639. TM§
Himself creates. Himself preserves. Himself destroys. Himself obscures. Himself, all these He does and then grants mukti—Himself the all-pervading Lord. §
Tirumantiram 1809. TM§
An earring of bright, new gold glows on one ear; a coiled conch shell sways on the other. On one side He chants the melodies of the ritual Veda; on the other He gently smiles. Matted hair adorned with sweet konrai blossoms on one half of His head, and a woman’s curls on the other, He comes. The one is the nature of His form, the other, of Hers; and both are the very essence of His beauty. §
Tirumurai 4.8.10. PS, 105§
Bearing Gaṅgā on spreading, matted locks, the forehead eye sparkling, the breath spirating as tempestuous wind, the immaculate form shining radiant as the clear sky, the holy feet stretching to the ends of Earth, the blemishless heart serving as pedestal, the Vedas chanting aloud of themselves, the right hand that grants refuge and the left hand that grants favors both appropriately gesturing, the nāda sound of drum filling the air all around—thus Śiva dances. §
Tayumanavar 15.4-5. HT, 177§
Love of Śiva’s feet eradicates bad karma. Love of Śiva’s feet grants you clarity of mind. Love of Śiva’s feet imbues the heart with gladness. Love of Śiva’s feet is consciousness itself. §
Natchintanai, “Love the Feet…” NT, 164§