What is Yoga ?

 

Lord Shiva is the Primal abhyasi (practitioner) The yogi par excellence.
After having experimented on the Self innumerable times, after dexterously recording His findings in His own mind, He carefully guided his snake from the Karakotaka tribe, in all the eight limbs of the yoga that He had himself developed. The snake became the great Rishi Patanjali in his next birth. Remembering sincerely what his Lord had taught him, Patanjali laid down Shiva's teachings as the Yoga sutras for seekers to practise. It is also known as Ashtanga yoga, or that which has eight steps.

Yoga begins with Yama ( Moral restraints or " do nots " )

Next is Niyama (Moral observances or the" Dos" )

The third limb is Asana. These are the various poses we learn in Hatha Yoga.

Asana is a gateway , and can be understood as 'seats' for this great flight to the Divine Self.
We get to the subtle heights by more subtle steps, to the fourth stage called Pranayama-the training of the prana or breath,

Fifth is Prathyahara-the cessation of outward distraction by isolating our mind,
The sixth step is Dharana, focusing the mind on a single stream of thought ,perhaps on an object that is Divine, like God or Guru.

Shiva teaches that next we must reach the highest peaks of yoga, the seventh realm called Dhyana ( meditation)

and finally the Kailash of yoga, the highest eighth realm called Samadhi ( absorption into Supreme consciousness)

“So do you get all these deep wisdoms in your Yoga abhyasa? I’ve been seeing you do all sorts of postures; Asanas as you call them.” asked Sati one day.

“Yoga asana is only a seat for the great flight to the self. meditation can be as synergized, as natural as my rides on Nandi, or as tumultuous, with the energy of an untamed beast of the natural order.

All of Nature’s things are like that; You need to be completely at oneness with them before you even start to mount the ride. Else you will just be overturned, which too is an important part in the process of learning, Sati,” replied Shiva.

“It’s simple,” He said. “Yoga is not about your body. Yoga is about discovering your soul.”


From :  SHIVA, The Ultimate Time Traveller. 

PRAYERS TO SHIVA

 

PRAYERS TO SHIVA

“Bhujgendrahaaram,” said Suta loudly. “The one who wears snakes as garlands. Damrudhaaram—The One who rattles an hourglass drum to time all of life.” Then changing his tone to a musical note, he continued, “Nataraja Dum Dum—The one who dances in rhythm with the drum-beat created by Himself, as though to set a pace for us. Trinetra Devam—The Three-Eyed One, who is the most powerful. Yogi Dhyaanam—yet, unassuming like a recluse ascetic in the forest. Jai Shiva Trinetra Trisuldhaaram!” resounded Suta.

“Hail Shiva, the Three-Eyed One who wields in turn, the

three-pronged spear” repeated Shaunaka.

“So you see, my child, a prayer to Shiva, was the description of Shiva, repeated to Him.”

~ SHIVA, The Ultimate Time Traveller.

TRIPURSUNDARI

 

TRIPURSUNDARI

High upon a throne,

a beauty rarely shown,

in glory fully grown.

And

heaven bowed to see,

her holy majesty,

whispering, you are the endless sea……

Ah

Tripura ~

we seek thy royal seat,

where light and shadows meet,

to rest beneath thy feet.

Life’s ever-turning maze

confounds our mortal ways,

yet, You Once again amaze,

and guide us through the haze,

Sundari Ma, and we, sheltered thus

a child remain, in perfect trust.

High upon the throne,

the Mother sits alone.

~ Shiva poetry

TRAYAMBAKAM

 

TRAYAMBAKAM

We live our life in dimension three.

Length, breadth and height is what we see.

Food clothing shelter

for the most time have us.

And we are always found lost,

running helter skelter.

A wise man once said " You are not to blame"

for you do not see

and how can you want that

which you cannot see.

Nor do we hear or smell

much less touch.

And it is fine:

We have learnt the market rules,

life is in routine, just like a well oiled machine.

But then somehow, a presence is felt,

and the height breadth and length

all change

topsy turvy go our securities

and suddenly we realise its running dry

this strangely stuttering life

that was once our well oiled being.

Lengths breadths widths

inches feet and miles

we live our world by measures

always wanting more.

Aum Trayambakam!

O three eyed One

finally you made us feel your immeasurable Self

help us Mahadev,

to see dimension four.

~ From Shiva poetry vol 2 by Shail Gulhati: Shiva and Mysticism.

MOKSHA SPOKE

 

MOKSHA SPOKE

What is this difficult word, Moksha,I thought, will a person like me ever get to find it,the ultimate liberation, even by the end of life?

Then Moksha spoke:

You do not find me at the end of life.Look within yourself, where I always reside.

~ Shail Gulhati

THE PRESENCE OF SHIVA

 

THE PRESENCE OF SHIVA

The presence of Shiva

is your life’s peak!

Take any way and reach;

From the Mountains, He does speak:

every creature,

mighty or then, meek

is loved

and welcomed with all the blessing

and cheer

you seek.

Namah Shivaye, Aum Namah Shivaye.

~ Shiva Poetry by Shail Gulhati: Shiva and Mysticism.

SHIVA’S DREAM

 

SHIVA’S DREAM

As I take the sip of life

ruminating of times

and places I have been,

Those friends , the lovers

come back to the scene.

As I take the sip of life

I can clearly hear

their song of love Divine.

But, then it flits,

like a cloud!

a passing dream

and i am left alone

to gasp

what have I done where have I been?

The heavens, this earth

and much in- between

I care no more that I am the soul supreme

I wait the waking of the timeless dream,

perchance to dance with every being....

~ From the book ‘ Shiva poetry’ by Shail Gulhati: Shiva and Mysticism.