Journey of Sathi to Parvati - Part 1

Shiva and Sakthi are an amalgamation of masculine and feminine energy, a true meaning of completeness.

Shiva is Stillness whereas Sakthi is consciousness. Consciousness always needs Stillness, a binding force and Stillness is of no meaning without consciousness.

Well! Let's explore more about Sathi now. 

Daksha was one of the brainchildren of lord Brahma. Once he calls Daksha and ask him to colonize life on earth. So he prays the divine mother, Adi Sakthi to take birth as his daughter. As a response to his prayers, Adi Sakthi incarnates herself as Sathi, Daksha's youngest daughter.

Sathi, was an apple to Daksha's eye.. She had grownup as the most pampered dad's girl. Due to that attachment, she forgets her true self and start to behave like a normal girl.

Sathi's destiny was to reach Shiva and to marry him. But Daksha hates Shiva for his detached nature and appearance. Daksha wants everyone around him to fit into his frame of perception. He fails to look beyond his limits of perception, accept and understand the highest truth.

Once Daksha constructs Ananthapadmanabha Swamy temple for Lord Vishnu. They try to carry the idol into the sanctum by obeying all rituals, but some unknown force obstructs entry into the sanctum and leaves people around in confusion. A few minutes later sculptor of Vishnu's idol approaches Sathi and ask her to place Shiva linga under Vishnu's hand. Sathi follows his idea and thus idol consecration happens successfully. Later Daksha comes to know about Shiva linga and screams at everyone outrageously. Then Sathi comes forward and shocks Daksha by admitting her attempt.

 Daksha's anger reaches to the peak and insults Shiva in front of everyone outrageously. Then one of the followers of Shiva, Dadichi maharshi comes forward and consoles Sathi. Daksha insults Dadichi Maharshi too, and orders him and Sathi to make Shiva appear before Daksha. Dadichi requests Sathi to pray to Shiva linga with bilva leaves and Sathi do the same.

 Soon after, lord Shiva makes his presence visible to  everyone. While Daksha stares at him with resentment, Sathi falls in love with Shiva and smiles at him. Shiva have a glance at Sathi with his pleasant smile and disappear.

After many such incidents, Sathi oppose her father's opinion and decide to marry Shiva.

(To be continued... )

How to find a right Guru?

Many of us, as students get struck by own image of what a Guru should be and not able to see him as what he is. Moreover, we feel they are not good, as our expectations are not met.

This is not a proper way to approach a Guru. Instead of our slender image, our determination and burning desire to learn should lead us to approach the Guru. For the matter to attract a right Guru we should be prepared. Because if we are not prepared, Guru might be there, but we may not notice or respond.

A true spiritual Guru search for students with certain signs and symptoms, so that he could know who is prepared. If he finds that the student is not yet ready, he will gradually prepare him for the higher teachings. Because, the role of the Guru is to light the lamp, when the wick and oil are properly prepared and the outcome is divine.

" When the disciple is prepared, the master appears "

Sometimes, Guru may not even be in the physical form. For instance, some incident may show us certain direction to progress or a book or a video, while a random browse or our simple intuition. Guru's way of teachings is many and mysterious. We should not worry about who or what will guide us. The important question is: Am I prepared to be guided?

" A genuine seeker, a person who develops an urge within, will always find his Guru. He may find in a man, in a woman or he may find it even in a rock. He will definitely find it somewhere, no doubt about it. " ~ Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev

We should increase our capacity to receive and purify ourselves to acquire our strength within, if we want to meet a genuine and fully knowledgeable Guru.

~ extract from the book Living With Himalayan Masters

Mystic symbolism of the form of Shiva

Lord Shiva is one of the trinity of Hindu gods. Since he was the first yogi or aadi yogi, we find almost all his images in the meditation posture.

The word "Shiva" means literally, "that which is not." On another level, when we say "Shiva", we are referring to a certain yogi, the Adiyogi or the first yogi, and also the Adi Guru, the first Guru. ~ Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev

Everyone could have been familiar with the symbols associated with Lord Shiva and its significance.

1. The Ganga river flowing from Shiva's head or Jatajutam symbolizes, knowledge flow for the purification of the soul.
2. Crescent Moon on Shiva's head symbolizes, limited nature of mind and its use to express wisdom which is beyond mind.
3. Third eye symbolizes the clarity of vision. It's a power of perception to see everything straight, beyond the field of duality.
4. The Serpent symbolizes, fearlessness. It means, instead of running away from the fears, if faced closely than that fear exists no more.
5. Rudraksha represents purity of mind.
6. The Drum or Damarukam, two sides separated from each other by a thin neck like structure symbolize, two contrast dimensions, manifest and non-manifest both happening parallel.
7. Trident or Thrishool symbolizes, his three fundamental powers: Knowledge(Satva guna), Will(Rajas guna) and Action(Tamas guna).

The mystic meaning behind these quite contrast symbolic representations amalgamation is, when a man has self control, self disciple and stillness, a power to exist between the duality at the same time is possible. This is Siva Tattvam in a nutshell.

• Shiva holds, Poison in the throat and Moon on the head, which is of nectar nature. Both are quite opposites and cannot exist together.
• He also holds, fiery nature Third eye in the forehead and Ganga river on the head. Again, contrasts.

So substantially, Siva is an embodiment of Truth. Shiva Tatvam depicts that, if there is balance and stability in mind, facing the contrast situations and handling people with a variety of mindsets is attainable.

OM NAMAH SHIVAYA.

Most Beautiful Quotes by Rumi

Power of Sound to Cleanse the space

Traditional South Indian, Hindu temples have a brass metal bell hanging inside the temple and devotees ring the bell after entering the temple as a part of darshanam. Bells in some temples were also made to produce "Aum" sound.

Back when I was a child, whenever I visited the temple, my father would lift me high to ring the temple bell, as I was very much enchanted to do that. Everyday Pooja routine in my house, is followed by Mangala Harathi along with ringing the small brass bell. I always enjoyed that reverberating sound, without understanding the significance of it. Once I have grown up, some random days it would be my turn to perform the Pooja, Mangala Harathi and the brass bell rings. Then those times I began to contemplate why I was ringing the bell and tried to explore the significance of it.

According to my understanding, I found interesting facts about the power of sound. Ringing the temple bell, produces the auspicious sound, that cleanses the negative energy and welcomes the positive energy. While performing Pooja ritual, ringing the bell while chanting mantra indicates the invocation of the divine positive force and departure of evil forces. It was also said that the insects, bacteria and virus coming across the vibrations created by the bell's sound get killed.

" Creation is sound. The creator is stillness. " ~ Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev

Most of the people could have heard of the 7 chakras. It was said in Kundalini yoga sastras, they are the energy focal points, exists in our subtle body. Balance in these chakras results healthy body and mind. So as per Kundalini Yoga, bell's sound heals, activates the chakras and ease them to balance. The moment we listen to the ringing bell's sound, all our thoughts vanish and  automatically we enter into a tranquil state. It's a state of mind, awareness and receptivity is more. So to create an awaken and focused  mind and receptivity of positive energy is the primary reason behind ringing the temple bells.

It was also written in Vedic scripts that, the first form of creation is sound. The part of sound in our daily life is predominant, as it plays a crucial role in Vedic chants, music, bhajans and speech.

Not only temple bells, chanting, Chinese chimes, singing bowls, clapping also carry sound throughout a space and cleanse the negative energy.

" A chant is not a cultural but existential thing. It is about the sounds, not the meanings. "  ~ Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev

It's time for Solidarity

As individuals, families and citizens of a nation, we are facing a big trouble now. This is a unique time in the history, where the whole world is fighting with an invisible enemy, COVID-19. It's time for solidarity. 

Since no vaccines have come out yet, quarantine is the only way to confront the enemy. As a responsible human being, to protect ourselves and to prevent the spread, let's cooperate with the government and self quarantine, up to the epidemic is under control. Certainly few sacrifices are a part of it, but being alive is more valuable than anything else. Though we are taking unusual steps to deal with the pandemic, let's be bold and face courageously. 

We all should be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem and create a natural disaster into a man made disaster. We must think unite and stay in social distancing for a while. Before the good times, things usually go worse. So we should play our part well, till the things become neutral.

" We don't need unity in theory, we need solidarity in practice. "

My Dream Land!

That's my secret dreamland, filled with full of embraces and joys..

It's a place where moon talks to me and stars walk with me..

Hearty cuddles with my cully creepers and chirps by my playmate chicks..

Brimful laughter with my sister blossoms..

Heartfelt talks with my chum fairies..

My space is chattels with wonder, but beyond plunder..

There, I savor my girlhood by setting aside my worries, fears and forlorn..

I visit my clandestine space, graceful not to leave a trace to discover the space..

It's my space! mine alone, where no one else can push me away..

I cherish the moments spent in this realm.. anything is possible in this helm.

This is my dream land! off from the duality, logics and selfishness.

" Out beyond the ideas of right and wrong, there is a filed. I will meet you there. "

~ Rumi 

Image source: http://www.howarddavidjohnson.com/fairies.htm