In the vast world of spirituality, there exist various paths and modes of seeking a deeper connection with the divine. Yoga and Tantra, ancient spiritual traditions, recognize three distinct modes of spirituality, each offering a unique approach to achieving spiritual realization. Of these three modes, one in particular is the paramount message for seekers held within the mysticism of the Upanishads.

Known well by the ancient sages, siddhas and rishis, and usually hidden from ordinary humans, there are five acts of the cosmic source flowing through to the material realm for the experience of individual souls.

The five acts of Lord Shiva have been represented since ancient time, by five faces gazing out from the central Shivalingam – an oval representation of Shiva’s embodiment, in each of the four cardinal directions, with the fifth, looking upwards towards the nishkala (formless space).