Shankar

Shankar

One of the BK trimurti of Brahma the creator, Vishnu the sustainer, and Shankar the destroyer.

In Hindu mythology, Shankar is another name for Shiva, meaning "the auspicious one" - but BKs see thing differently, and distinguish between Shankar the (symbolic) destroyer, and Shiva the (real) supreme soul.

Shankar is shown naked, with only a loin cloth, sitting in tapasya (intense yoga), and with a snake coiled around him. The snake symbolises knowledge, and Shankar demonstrates mastery over the snake, hence mastery over knowledge.

Shankar has a third eye which he is famous for opening - heralding the destruction of this cycle of the world and humanity.

  • One of the three Hindu deities of the Trimurti. Symbolises destruction.