THE END OF QUESTIONING- पूछताछ का अंत

 

THE END OF QUESTIONING

“A lovely story about the time of Shiva's wedding with Parvati, goes somewhat like this,” said Suta.
“Yes! Yes, Gurudeva, please tell!”
“At the point of the solemnising of the marriage by a holy Havan, the pundit asked Shiva, "Who is your father?" Shiva looked at Brahma and said, "He."
"And who is Brahma's father?" asked the pundit. Shiva looked at Vishnu and said, "He is."
But the pundit persisted. "And who, may I ask, is Vishnu's father?"
"I am," said Shiva rather curtly, but with a definite authority that indicated the end of such a conversation.”
“Haha, Gurudeva!” laughed Shaunaka.
“Even as children, whenever we heard the story, we laughed at the episode: at the pundit's persistence and Shiva's patience, wit, and then the estoppel authority.
This story has a very deep meaning; the pundit's questioning denotes the  spiritual seeking, and the questioned Shiva is actually the answer to all things:
Shiva honours the manifest world; He honours Brahma as His father, and Vishnu as Super God. But it is only when a questioner persists in seeking the tree of lineage, he finds ultimately, that Shiva Himself is the source of His own Father!“
“I see, Gurudeva.”
“So you see, Shiva plays out the game of the manifest world, till its limit, and then, He takes you beyond its horizon, where the transcendent begins! So too, when the pundit asks Shiva His
Gotra, clan, Shiva replies, ‘Alakh’ - The unsighted, or niraakar.”
“Wonderful, Gurudeva!”
“Therefore, even though Shiva appears as a simple Yogi playing a role in this world, in reality, the whole of creation emanates from Him. Normally we will not be able to penetrate through the role play of the manifest, to find divinity seated in the midst of it all. But if we persist with our seeking, like the pundit did, then we may at last, arrive at the truth of beautiful Shiva as ‘The One’ behind it all. Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram!” resounded Suta, ending his lesson.

~

SHIVA, The Ultimate Time Traveller.

(Humesha)

पूछताछ का अंत

सूतजी ने कहा, "पार्वती के साथ शिव की शादी के समय की एक सुंदर कहानी कुछ इस तरह से है।"
"हाँ! हाँ, गुरुदेव, कृपया बताएं! "
"एक पवित्र हवन द्वारा विवाह के समापन के बिंदु पर, पंडित ने शिवजी से पूछा," आपके पिता कौन हैं? " शिव ने ब्रह्माजी को देखा और कहा, "वह।"
"और ब्रह्मा के पिता कौन हैं?" पंडित ने पूछा। शिवजी ने विष्णुजी को देखा और कहा, "वह है।"
लेकिन पंडित आपनी पूछताछ पे लगा रहा । "और क्या में यह पूछ सकता हूँ की विष्णु के पिता कौन हैं
?"
"मैं हूँ," शिव ने सख्ती से कहा ऐसे तरीके से की जिसका अर्थ था की यह वार्तालाप समाप्त हो चुकी थी । "
"हाहा, गुरुदेव!" हँसे शौनक।
" बचपन में भी, जब भी हमने यह कहानी सुनी, हम इस प्रकरण पर हँसे: पंडित की दृढ़ता और शिव के धैर्य, बुद्धि और फिर एस्ट्रोपल अथॉरिटी यानि समाप्ति सन्देश पर।
इस कहानी का बहुत गहरा अर्थ है; पंडित का प्रश्न आध्यात्मिक मांग को दर्शाता है, और प्रश्नित शिव वास्तव में स्वयं सभी चीजों का उत्तर है:
शिव प्रकट जगत का सम्मान करते हैं; वह ब्रह्मा को अपने पिता के रूप में और विष्णु को सुपर भगवान के रूप में सम्मानित करते है। लेकिन यह तभी होता है जब एक प्रश्नकर्ता वंश के वृक्ष की तलाश में रहता है, वह अंततः पाता है, कि शिव स्वयं अपने पिता का स्रोत है! ”
"मैं देख रहा हूँ, गुरुदेव।"
"तो आप देखते हैं, शिव अपनी सीमा तक, प्रकट दुनिया का खेल खेलते हैं, और फिर, वह आपको इसके क्षितिज से परे ले जाता है, जहां पर पारगमन शुरू होता है! इसलिए भी, जब पंडित शिव से पूछते है
गोत्र, कबीले, शिव उत्तर देते हैं, 'अलख' - या निराकार। "
"अद्भुत, गुरुदेव!"
“इसलिए, भले ही शिव एक साधारण योगी के रूप में इस दुनिया में एक भूमिका निभाते हुए दिखाई देते हैं, वास्तव में, सारी सृष्टि उन्ही से निकलती है। आम तौर पर हम सभी के बीच में बैठे देवत्व को खोजने के लिए, प्रकट भूमिका के माध्यम से घुसना नहीं कर पाएंगे। लेकिन अगर हम पंडित की तरह अपनी मांग पर कायम रहते हैं, तो हम अंतिम रूप से सुंदर शिव की सच्चाई पर पहुंच सकते हैं । सत्यम शिवम सुंदरम!" अपने पाठ को समाप्त करते हुए सूतजी ने कहा ।
Hindi translation by

Yash N R

HOW SHIVA PLAYS!

 

The Yogi and the snake is a story written by author Shail Gulhati ,  which is basically  a conversation of a bhakt with God Shiva. Here,  the Bhakta has taken the form of a snake, in order to be able to meet the Great Yogi, Shiva. It is like a  spiritual diary full of questions that  we want to ask  God, and the answers in simple conversations.In the following chapter, the bhakt discovers that the whole Universe created by Shiva is still young, and it will become full of more and more adventures.

“Does God aspire?” asked the snake.

“I had asked you to meditate upon this”, said the Yogi.
“They say God cannot desire. This calls for a high spiritual understanding.
If God does not desire, there is no need for creation, life, and God itself.
The God of no desire can only rest in a void, in the primordial state, why should He go for the dynamics of creation?
The God of no desire would thus be a neutralized force.
Such a state of God can last for longer than the age of the Universe itself”, the Yogi was becoming very still.
“Then, there is a stir!  and the God of desire begins to vibrate!” said the Yogi, changing his tone dramatically. “This vibration is His very Nature. He always aspires for play and growth. He is not just content with tranquility, as in the state of extreme nothingness.
He needs to manifest, needs to reflect His own power of creation, to put it to use.
So the process of cosmic evolution is still in its infancy, and God is just a baby whose play has just begun.
Shiva’s Mantra is not just Om Shanti, it must culminate in Om  Anand, ultimate bliss!  at all levels of existence”     
~ From the book The Yogi and the snake ( conversations with God Shiva)

THE LAST DANCE

 

THE LAST DANCE

The most popular belief had Him listed as The Destroyer.

The ancient Indians, who propitiated many Gods, had three principal deities at the helm of affairs. Brahma, the creator of the universe; Vishnu, who handled its running; and then, there was another amazing aspect that no one really understood:

The ancients had emphasised that there existed a God who destroys the universe at the end, and that God was Shiva.

So it was, that He shared Godhead with the other two.

No one really understood why God would need to destroy the universe, yet horror stories abounded about how Shiva would always signal the end of time for each creation.

Though this was a little strange, because surely no one would have seen the end of a universe and lived to tell about it!

Yet, graphic details about the divine holocaust were chanted in fervent whispers, as though etched in a collective memory.

Details of how Shiva literally snuffed out all life. It was whispered that He stomped His feet upon the earth in so furious a manner that it sent massive tremors through the cosmos, and that all this was a dance! The last dance called Tandav, that beginning always from Prithviloka, ended all things that had ever come into existence. Ending, as it were, existence itself; Tandav was dubbed as the dance of death.

This was the great mystery—when did the endearing mountain dweller become a cosmic hard stepper, the Avatar of destruction? And, why?

Ancient Seers sensed an enthralling story here.

~ SHIVA, The Ultimate Time Traveller.

MAHADEVA- SUPREME GOD, PERFECT "'FAMILY MAN"

 

MAHADEVA- SUPREME GOD, PERFECT "'FAMILY MAN"

“Now, it is my turn to ask”, smiled the Yogi. “Why did you choose me?”

“Although God is one, His attributes are different in His different manifestations. Your form held a particular appeal for me. I was awed both by your appearance and character. Here was a lord, with no kingdom, no material acquisitions, no riches, nothing, yet he was bestowing gifts upon others. Here was a God sitting serenely in meditation, a technical God? Someone who loved his wife and children, and was so much at ease with Nature. Someone who loved the forests and the hills, the rivers and the springs and all the beings, that lived in them. I loved the way you let your hair hang loose, and was intrigued at your informal attire. I loved it that a God showed us how to be a perfect "Family man"

~ The Yogi and the snake( Conversations with Shiva)

SHIVA TAKES HIS BRIDE HOME, TO KAILASH

 

Shiva approached Daksha and requested,“Your Highness, it has indeed been a long day of tremendous joy and festivity. We have enjoyed your great hospitality and now, as dusk falls upon us, I beg leave to take Sati along with me to Kailash. The journey is long and we should begin now.”
Upon hearing this, Prasuti began to weep, quickly coming to Sati’s side, and fixing Her bridal garments and hair with the deft hands of a mother who had done this every day for twenty years;
A mother who had brought up this miracle for all Her life.
A mother, who knew, as all mothers do, that this sort of chance of tidying up her daughter like a little doll, would now not come again.
Daksha was secretly impressed with Shiva’s immaculate manner, which was doubly contrasted by the mannerisms of His party of goblins.
“Yes, of course!” I shall command my armies to escort you…” began Daksha.
Shiva did not allow him to finish. He gracefully raised His right hand in a gesture of estoppel.
“Thank you, your Highness. We will not require any such escort. Do not hitherto worry about your princess Sati. She is now the Queen of the mountains, which we know only too well. We do not need any scouts, just your good wishes will favour us along the way.”
It was Daksha’s first experience of Shiva’s resolute authority, and a complete overruling of His own.
“Ah, yes…” he managed to mutter. “Sound the guard then, make way for the royal party…uh… mountain party… to depart,” he corrected himself.

Everyone started moving towards the hall exit, and Sati bent to hug Her mother and father, yet again.
Nandi started stretching his legs and making small but forceful grunts; it was like he was igniting his engines in readiness for the ride he had dreamt of: carrying both Shiva and Sati, to Kailash. He bordered on impatience, and was just a little short of asking the bride’s side to hurry up, but one look at his master and he held his peace, grunting and stretching a bit more.Shiva was very patient. He hugged all the family and His newfound brothers-in-law, the ministers, and rishis, In turn , as each of them moved up to greet Him.

Shiva and Sati then began to move to the gateway, where Nandi had already positioned himself. They moved gracefully in rhythm, as One. Brahma, Saraswati, Vishnu and Lakshmi, along with all the celestials, began to shower them with rose petals.The musicians began a farewell tune, and amidst tears and goodbyes, the newly married couple exited the hallway into the wide open, where the sun was sliding down like an inebriated but happy soul about to rest in his cosy bed.

Shiva gently put one arm around Sati and lifted Her easily off the ground. He seated Her on Nandi, and then looking at the wedding party one last time, sat on Nandi Himself.

Nandi let out a bellow that startled everyone with its tenor. It was like the call of a truly happy celestial elephant. He got up steadily to his full height, careful that Sati would not feel a jerk, and hoisted his riders to a majestic position of an exalted throne.
The royal drummers started beating their drums, breaking out into a lilting rhythm. The Shiv ganas promptly drew out their damarus and started playing them with equal vigour. The confluence of the palace music and that of the mountain men was, indeed fabulous—a divine jugalbandi.
And thus began Sati’s journey to Her abode in Kailash, amidst drums and trumpets, roars and fanfare. Kailash, where She hoped to live happily ever after with Her Lord, Shiva, who was also the beloved Lord of the world.

~ Shiva Sati art: Devdass, Ranbireshwar Shiva Temple artist, Jammu.

 From the book ~ SHIVA, The Ultimate Time Traveller.
by Shail Gulhati 

Shiva is the Vṛṣabhadhvaja

 

Shiva is the Vṛṣabhadhvaja - “He whose banner bears the bull,” with the bull being the emblem of Shiva and Nandi His devoted vāhana. The bull represents strength, virility, steadfastness and dharma—power held in disciplined, unwavering service. शिव वृषभध्वज हैं — “जिनके ध्वज पर वृषभ अंकित है.” Vrishabha is the symbol and emblem of Shiva and Nandi are his dedicated vehicles. Vrishabha represents power, masculinity, steadfastness and dharma — that power which is contained in disciplined and unwavering service.

~ Shail Gulhati: Shiva and Mysticism.

THE TEST

 

THE TEST

Sati did an astounding thing: She went to the forest, changed Herself into a Sita look-alike and approached the brothers, Rama and Lakshmana as they were trekking through their sorrow.

~ SHIVA, The Ultimate Time Traveller.