Historical Background of Lord Shiva

This is 21st century. So may the truth be told and spread among the humanity.

This is how Kirat religion felled into Brahmanical religion. Or in other word, this will give summary on how Kirat religion was taken by Aryan and later make it as theirs.

According to Shiva Raj Shrestha in his work (The Vedic-Aryan Entry Into Contemporary Nepal), the "Kirata" is a term broadly used by Vedic Aryans for the Mongolic people living in the middle Himalayan valleys and lower foothills (Sivalik or Chure hills).These Mongolic people had hundreds of kings and fortresses all over Himalayas.

The descriptions of satpath Brahman Grantha and various Puranas, it seems that the Aryans from Vedic Swaraswat civilization had entered Nepal at around 4,000-4,100 years B.P(Before Present). Already by this time, the Himalayas and the Kathmandu valley was a stronghold of Kiratas. In the latter Vedic Age, more Aryans seem to have visited Nepal with this statement that Krishna had cut opened the dam on the foot of Chandra Giri (Chovar Gorge or the gorge at Katuwal Daha) and released water from the Naga-Hrada lake with a view to built the cities and villages in the present day Kathmandu Valley according to Himabata Khanda of Skanda Purana.31. This ~uranic story, if supported by archeological evidences, will show as to how the last of the Later Vedic Aryans had reached Central Nepal.

According to Mahabharata Epic and Vishnu Purana, Arjuna was the first
Aryan commander, who had reached as far east as Assam and conquered the ancient kingdom of Mani Pura and married Naga Princess Ulupi. These Puranic record simply show that by the time of Mahabharata War (some 3,000 years B.P.), the Aryans had conquered most parts of the lower Himalayas and the latter Vedic civilization was penetrating in the important population centers of Nepal.

It seems that later on, the Kinnar-Kiratas and Naga-Kiratas had become friendlier with Aryans as their common enemies were Nishadhas. After the defeat of great Kirata Emperor Sambara, the Nishadhas were the main enemies of Aryans.) Aryans must have realized this and by accepting Kiratas' Supreme God Lord Shiva as their own, developed friendly ties with Kiratas. The Vedic Aryans could not have reached up to Mithila without the support of Kiratas. This is clear and simple.

For more on this please read
The Vedic-Aryan Entry Into Contemporary Nepal
[A Pre-Historical Analysis Based on the Study Of Puranas] By Shiva Raj Shrestha

here's the link:
himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk


In other words you will not be surprised if many elements of Hinduism were taken from different cultures existing in historic south Asia to create a bond and flow of history between different people. Thus, portrayal of Hinduism can be deceptive.

This is a verse from Brahma Sutra.
"Ekam Brahm dvitiya naste neh na naste kinchan"
trans.
"There is only one God, not the second; not at all, not at all, not in the least bit."
So when the sacred book teaches the vedic Aryan that their ultimate God is Brahma and told NOT to worship idols. But today they are doing so.


The following verses from the Yajurveda describe the concept of Aryan God:
"na tasya pratima asti
"There is no image of Him."[Yajurveda 32:3]

Here's another verse from Yajurveda.
"Andhatama pravishanti ye asambhuti mupaste"
trans.
"They enter darkness, those who worship the natural elements" (Air, Water, Fire, etc.).
"They sink deeper in darkness, those who worship sambhuti." [Yajurveda 40:9]
Sambhuti means created things, for example table, chair, idol, etc.

So after the adoption of Kirati religion and placing it into Brahmanica religion, the vedic Aryan have been worshiping the idol but not before giving him name of (Siva/Rudra).

This showed that Kiratas worshiped Shiva but did not call themselves Shivas at that time. The present Kiratis have different names, in which Limbu call Tagera Nyingmaphuma and Rai call Paruhang.

One of the leading Nepali historian Regmi quoted "we may thus conclude that Shaivism has become popular among the Kiratis a very long time ago. A linga of Kirateshwar Mahadeva stands near the Pashupatinath temple, which is obviously connected with the Kiratis. The Himavatkhanda and other Puranic works describe Shiva in the Kirati incarnation."

Even the ancient text such as the Himavatkhanda describes Shiva in the Kirati incarnation.
This definitely tells that Shiva also known as Kirateswor(Lord of Kiratas) came from Kirat culture or originated from Kirat tribe just like Gautama Buddha was from Shakya tribe, Jesus was from Judah tribe and Prophet Muhammad from Quraysh tribe.

Kirateswor is better known as "Paruhang" by Rais and and Tagera Nyingmaphuma by the Limbus. But in Sasnkirt he was renamed "Shiva" "Mahadev" "Shanker" and Rudra after he was adopted into Brahmanical religion to bring the Kiratas and other non-aryan tribes into Aryan society.


One can still see the pure form of Shivaism in this video. Click the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zHf_-qd4ME