Shiva is an ancient god, as old as civilization itself. Perhaps older. He was first realised the day man accepted the cosmic truism: to create, one must first destroy.
The Rig Veda, the oldest religious text known to mankind, refers to Shiva as Rudra, the wild god, one who dwelt in ominous places like crossroads and shot arrows that spread disease. Gifts, hymns and sacrifices were offered to appease him. He was so feared that one is advised in the Aftreya Brahmana against even mentioning his name.
But these texts were written only around 1500 B.C. A thousand years earlier Shiva's image had already appeared on terracotta seals of the Indus valley civilisation. There he was portrayed as Pashupati, the lord of the beasts, surrounded by his wild jungle menagerie.… Click here to read more