Hinduism is a deeply fascinating and interesting religion that can be easily interpreted as well as misinterpreted by everyone. It is full of interesting stories about Gods, Demi-Gods as well as mortals that are basically aimed at providing precious gems of knowledge to the readers to help them in discovering themselves. One of the most fascinating legends that I have come across is the one about Lord Shiva. His journey from an ascetic to a married householder has been the subject of many discussions and has already been interpreted in numerous ways. However, the part that attracted me the most was aadishakti’s transformation from an adamant Sati to a fully realized Parvati who was fit to be accepted by the Lord of Lords Shiva as his consort. To me, the story beautifully reflects the journey of soul from ordinary to supreme, from partial to whole, from confusion to clarity, from doubts to realization and from ignorance to knowledge.
Who is Sati? It is said that aadishakti after centuries of existence as a formless energy was born as devi Sati in Daksha’s family. Despite being the incarnation of the supreme shakti, she bore traces of imperfections like anger and arrogance. Quite similar to all of us, who, despite being the fragments of the supreme soul that embodies peace and purity, are polluted with many vices as a result of our karmas and sanskaras. However, like Sati, we all pine for Shiva. All of us realize that we are incomplete and try our best, in many ways to fill that empty corner. Sati, for me, is the inherent desire of my soul to find the supreme. Her efforts are, however, corrupted with the vices and they, although, lead her to Shiva, but this union is only temporary. Similarly, our efforts, which are frequently veiled by inaction, doubts, selfishness or ignorance, fail to provide us a state of unending union with the almighty.
After being Immolated by the self generated fire of realization and guilt, Sati is reincarnated as Parvati, the maiden who becomes the perfect yogini that finally unites with Shiva, never to part again. Parvati, for me, is the action, effort, determination and strength (shakti) within every soul that enables it to find a way and reach its origin. And Shiva? Who is Shiva? Shiva, to me, is the innate potential of a soul to reach perfection..Shiva is what the soul becomes when it is complete. Shiva is the ultimate reality of the soul, Shiva is the Shivansh that my soul actually is..Shiva, for me..is me!!
Shivoham!!
- speakingtree.in
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