PARAKUNNATH SREE VETTAKKORUMAKAN PAYYAN KSHETHRAM (TEMPLE), AROLI, KANNUR, KERALA: Skulls are often adorned by gods and goddess as necklaces or bracelets, showing their ability to conquer death.

Monday 18 December 2017

Skulls are often adorned by gods and goddess as necklaces or bracelets, showing their ability to conquer death.

Skulls are often adorned by gods and goddess as necklaces or bracelets, showing their ability to conquer death. Shiva in his Natraja aspect , dances the cosmic dance of creation with a necklace of skulls adorning him. The garland of skulls around his neck identifies him as time, and the death of all beings. Life and death are both part of the cosmic drama and are embraced- not resisted. The samshan is selected as the backdrop to depict how the ego of a Jeeva gets reduced to ashes. In order to fulfill the goal of Era Transformation time and again Shiva has incarnated in many forms and executed many Lilas or divine sports.

Mahakal is that divine energy that shall fulfill tomorrow’s goal of world transformation. He is also called Rudra. Transformation is always full of strife and terrible or Raudra in nature. Hence activities of Lord Rudra too are believed to be of this type. By enacting the Tandav dance he sets rolling Pralaya or world annihilation. One can find terrible poisonous snakes coiled round his torso. His army comprises of ghosts, spirits etc. What can one say about the piercing power of his Trishul weapon? When he plays his Damru, all directions manifest terrific storms. Thus so terrible is Lord Rudra who is also the harbinger of Era Transformation in the form of Lord Mahakal. Yet in this terrible Raudra form of his dwells a great aspiration of world being in the ultimate analysis. Hence on his scalp dwells the immortal nectarine River Ganges. Also resides there, the moon which is a symbol of peace and coolness. Nandi Bull his vehicle represents magnanimity, faith and goodwill towards all. He neither allows poison to fall on the ground nor does he swallow it entirely but since he holds it in his throat he is called Neelkanth. Such then is the form and nature of Maharudra ~ Mahakal. Lord Mahakal has incarnated time and again in this world. All his external appearances have been varied but yet his inner aspiration has been one only viz. ‘Paritranaya sadhunam vinashaya cha dushkritan. Dharma sansthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge’ ~ means in order to protect saintly pious people and destroy vile minded and demonic behaving people he incarnates or takes an Avatar time and again in this world!