Shiva a Pre-Aryan Tribal Deity?

Again the fine nuances observed in other Hindu deities especiallv Vishnu are missing in Shiva. Shiva is never shown wearing a dhoti (a lion-cloth draped around the waist) which is invariably worn by all other Gods nor does Shiva wear a Kaya-bandha (a metallic belt around the waist) as is worn by all other Gods. Shiva also has no jewellery that other Gods have. This along with his dark complexion suggests that Shiva originates in a pre-Aryan environment. His dark complexion and other characteristics, though explained away with the story of Samudra-manthan (the battle between Gods and demons) which the Gods lose and as a result one of them has to drink Halaahala (poison). Shiva is chosen to do this and the results in his dark complexion. For this he is also called Neel-kantha (Blue-necked). The poison having turned his neck blue. We are also told by mythology that to overcome the burning sensation caused by the poison, Shiva sports the cool snakes around his neck and has the Ganga river flow around his neck.

While talking of Shiva we cannot but mention the Linga (and Yoni) worship with which his name is associated. A hard look at the Linga and Yoni combination would suggest the close correspondence between the process of copulation and the Shivlinga (This is valid for a sociological and anthropological view. The religious view being entirely different).

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