~ ॐ नमः शिवाय ~ a passage from our Forthcoming book on Lord Shiva by shail gulhati

~ ॐ नमः शिवाय ~ a passage from our Forthcoming book onLord Shiva by shail gulhati

“Will you be putting on some of this, or then this, or this?”
said Nandi Excitedly as He barged into Shiva’s chamber.
“What is all that? “ Asked Shiva
“Oh it’s different kinds of make up for you, sent by some of your many admirers as a, pre gift, My Lord!” said Nandi happily as he knelt forward and opened the first box to display some very fine powder that smelled like jasmine.
“what is that nandi? is it some kind of lactum? A dried milk?” Asked Shiva
“oh no my Lord, No! it is the dust from a very remote and cool planet from a distant galaxy brought for you in this equally ornate box made of the ivory of elephants from that planet! Rahu has sent this for you, he says he carefully kept it for the last three hundred years as he waited for your marriage day“
“This one here is the powder of the pollen dropped from the mysterious golden butterfly , which happens once only in the special constellation of the solar eclipse that occurs for an hour to be followed immediately by a lunar eclipse, though my astrology is not too strong, I would say this is also an extremely rare time. Lord Indra had urvasi and menka especially collect and pack this for you”
“and this one, my Lord,” said Nandi even more excitedly ” is actually from the dried up corals of the ocean, which are found ,according to Varun Devata in one dense underwater forest known and accessible only to Him. He says he has personally directed the fine grinding of this coral which is a perfect balance of silver and grey, giving a splendid hue of the moon”
“and then this..”
Nandi!! Shiva stopped Nandi by the tone of His voice.
“Nandi. Have you lost it? Why on Earth will I do a make up?"
"because , it is after all your wedding My Lord, and you should look good, you know”
" ah , I have considered that" , said Shiva, but why on Earth will I not use my normal Bhasma? Bhasma makes for a great make up, don’t you think? “ said shiva as he turned and Nandi saw that he had already smeared himself with Ash.
Ash, that ,when seen on cremation grounds, would give anyone goosebumps , but for the few who were privileged to see it smeared adorningly across Shiva’s yogic face, it gave rise to virtual ecstasy. Nandi remembered his privilege as he felt the familiar ecstasy of seeing Shiva like this rise, once again.
"Make sure you do thank Varuna and Indira for these but have them returned" , said Shiva. "And , oh, by the way Indira also sent Airavat His Elephant as my Ride for the wedding"
"He what?" Mumbled Nandi
"ah , yes, I gave him the same answer" , said Shiva, “why on Earth would I not use my old Bull for the special Occasion. Thanks but no thanks. “ Shiva winked.

“So that is why my dear Nandi, I always tell you its not good to change too much , although a little change is inevitable” , said Shiva putting his arm over Nandi’s shoulder and looking deeply into his eyes. “I know I am getting married and I shall have to usher some change, “ he continued, “but by Kailash, some things, I shall not!”
Nandi bellowed in ecstatic happiness.
“shall we move out now?” Shiva smiled.
The Ganas were gathered in hordes outside the chamber. As soon As shiva and nandi stepped out there was a profusion of garlands, slogans and happiness in equal measure.
Har har Mahdev shouted Bhringi. ‘Har har Mahadev chorused the ganas. Bolo Shiv Shanker ki jaiho! Hail Our Lord, Shiva!!