THE ULTIMATE YAGYA
It was most ironical what Shiva was doing even as Sati went up in flames as the ultimate yagya offering for Him:
He was giving a spiritual lesson on immortality to His ganas and sadhus, who were listening with rapt attention.
Suddenly, Narada arrived with the most despairing look on his face. “Prabhu,” he began, instead of the usual ‘Narayan Narayan’. Shiva looked at him, as did all the ganas. “Prabhu, we have been ruined!”
Shiva felt His heart sink. He asked, “What is it, Narada?” But somewhere deep inside His soul, He knew something had gone terribly wrong.
And yet, when Narada spoke the next word, “Sati…” Shiva did not let him finish. “What happened to Sati?” He thundered, arising from His meditation seat.
“We lost Her, my Lord. We are finished. Motherless. Ah, woe be on us all!”
“Lost Her?” Shiva‘s facial contours were assuming a very stern look.
She turned into fire, my Lord, right in front of us at King Daksha’s yagya… We could not do anything to save Her.”
“What do you mean turned into Fire? Did She fall into the yagya fire? Is that what you are saying?”
“No, She turned into the yagya fire Herself, Lord help us!” said Narada, weeping loudly now.
“Daksha!!” yelled Shiva.
He was giving a spiritual lesson on immortality to His ganas and sadhus, who were listening with rapt attention.
Suddenly, Narada arrived with the most despairing look on his face. “Prabhu,” he began, instead of the usual ‘Narayan Narayan’. Shiva looked at him, as did all the ganas. “Prabhu, we have been ruined!”
Shiva felt His heart sink. He asked, “What is it, Narada?” But somewhere deep inside His soul, He knew something had gone terribly wrong.
And yet, when Narada spoke the next word, “Sati…” Shiva did not let him finish. “What happened to Sati?” He thundered, arising from His meditation seat.
“We lost Her, my Lord. We are finished. Motherless. Ah, woe be on us all!”
“Lost Her?” Shiva‘s facial contours were assuming a very stern look.
She turned into fire, my Lord, right in front of us at King Daksha’s yagya… We could not do anything to save Her.”
“What do you mean turned into Fire? Did She fall into the yagya fire? Is that what you are saying?”
“No, She turned into the yagya fire Herself, Lord help us!” said Narada, weeping loudly now.
“Daksha!!” yelled Shiva.
(From the book SHIVA, The Ultimate Time Traveller. by Shail Gulhati)
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