Ten Incarnations of Lord Shiva

 

Lord Shiva is said to have had several incarnations which have very deep meanings and stories behind them. Let us find out about Lord Shiva’s 10 incarnations and the stories behind them.

The stories concerning the different incarnations of Lord Shiva have been explained in Shiva Purana

 

1. Sharabh Avtar

Lord Vishnu took the avatar of Lord Narasimha to kill the demon Hiranyakashyap. After killing Hiranyakashyap, Narasimha was not at peace with himself. Then Lord Shiva incarnated himself as Sharabh. Lord Shiva appeared in the form of half deer and half bird Sharab. Sharabha was an animal with eight legs and was more powerful than a lion.

Sharabh ji prayed to pacify Lord Narasimha, but he did not calm down. In this form, he reached Lord Narasimha and praised him, but Narasimha's anger did not calm down. Then Sharab ji wrapped Narasimha in his tail and flew away. After this Narasimha ji calmed down and apologized to Sharabhavatar.

2. Pippalad Muni

Pippalad Muni has also been considered an incarnation of Lord Shiva. He was the son of Dadhichi Rishi. Dadhichi left his son in his childhood. One day Pippalad asked the gods the reason why his father left him. To this, the gods said that a very bad yoga had been created because of Shani, due to which the father and son were separated. Hearing this, Pippalad cursed Shani to fall from the constellation.

When Shani started falling because of the curse, the gods prayed to Pippalad Ji to forgive Shani. Then Pippalad requested Shani not to trouble anyone for 16 years after their birth. Shani agreed to this condition. After this, by taking the name of Pippalad Muni, the defects of Shani are removed.

3. Nandi Avatar

Shilad Muni was a sage who practiced celibacy. He had not married, so one day his forefathers asked Shilad to give birth to a child so that his lineage could continue. After this, Shilad did penance to Lord Shiva to get a child. Then Shiv ji gave him a boon to be born in the form of a son at Shilad's place.

After some time, while plowing, Shilad Muni found a child lying on the land. Shilad named him Nandi. Shiv ji made Nandi the Ganadhyaksha. This is how Nandi became Nandishwar.

4. Bhairav Dev

According to Shivpuran, Bhairav Dev is another incarnation of Lord Shiva. Once Brahma ji and Vishnu ji were arguing about themselves about who among them was the best when Shiv ji appeared in the form of a person from Tejpunj. At that time Brahma ji said you are my son. Shiv Ji got angry after hearing this. Then Shiv ji told that person that because he was looking like Kaal, he was Kaalraj and because of being fierce, you are Bhairav. Kalabhairav had cut off the fifth head of Brahma. After this, Kalbhairav was freed from the guilt of Brahmahatya in Kashi.

5. Ashwathama

In the Mahabharata, Dronacharya's son Ashwatthama is considered an incarnation of Lord Shiva. Dronacharya did penance to have Lord Shiva in the form of his son. Lord Shiva had given him a boon that he would incarnate as his son. In turn, Ashwatthama was cursed by Shri Krishna to keep wandering till the end of Kali Yuga by removing the gem on his forehead.

When Sati sacrificed her body by jumping in the yagya at her father Daksha's place, Shiva became very angry. At that time, Lord Shiva relieved Virbhadra from his hair. After the latter had cut off Daksha's head. Later, after the deities prayed to him, Lord Shiva revived Daksha by putting a goat's face on his torso.

7. Durvasa Muni

Anasuya and her husband Maharishi Atri did penance to get a son. Pleased with their penance, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva appeared in front of them. Then all the three gods said to them that three sons will be born to them from their share. This led to the births of Chandra from the part of Brahma ji, Dattatreya from the part of Vishnu ji, and Durvasa Muni from the part of Shiva ji at Anusuiya and Atri's place.

8. Hanuman

Hanuman ji, the supreme devotee of Lord Shri Ram, is also believed to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva. Hanuman Ji is immortal because of the boon of Goddess Sita, which means Hanuman Ji will never grow old and will remain immortal.

9. Kirat Avatar

In Mahabharata, Arjuna was doing penance to the divine weapon of Lord Shiva. At that time an asura had arrived in the form of a boar to kill Arjuna. When Arjuna shot an arrow at the boar, at the same time a Kirat forest dweller killed the boar with an arrow. Together the arrows of both of them hit the boar. After this, there was a war between Arjuna and Kirat to get possession of that boar. Shiva was pleased to see Arjuna's bravery in the war and gave Arjuna the divine weapon.

10. Ardhanarishwar

According to Shivpuran, Lord Brahma had created the universe, but the universe was not progressing as it should have. It is said that a voice told Brahma ji that he should create Maithuni creation. After this, Brahma ji did penance to please Shiva ji. Lord Shiva appeared in the form of Ardhanarishwar. After this, Shiv ji separated Shakti i.e. Devi from his body; from then on, the universe started moving forward.