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.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.
“So you see, my child, a prayer to Shiva, was the description of Shiva, repeated to Him.”With the passage of time, these prayers of attribute became longer and more speculative; and somehow, fear showed a greater propensity to grow, than love,” Suta continued. “So, while He was accredited with dance, it was a dance of death; while He lived on the mountains, it was a hidden abode of a Warlord; if He was strong, it was a strength you must be defeated by, always.
Not to forget, that He was The Lord of the cremation grounds where, at the end of one’s life, His portals only just began.”
“I am beginning to understand, Gurudeva.”
“Ultimately, that Shiva was the God of destruction, became a label that found itself stuck in the majority of minds.
“But it doesn’t seem to me that Shiva is terrible!” cried Shaunaka.
“Hmm…” Suta said. “It may interest you to know that Aghora is actually the benign; it is Ghora that is used for darkness, but such was the mindset of the fearful, that even Aghora is identified with terrible!”
“So then, Shiva began to be known as the Destroyer; I understand,” said Shaunaka with remorse.
“Hmm… Yes, but there were other, less opinionated and therefore more open-minded seers, who, after a great deal of research and meditation, comparison of notes and deliberation, declared simply, ‘only Shiva knows what He is, really’, thus affording Him the opportunity to express His own truth and pass it on, from time to time,” said Suta with a redeeming smile.
“So you see, my child, a prayer to Shiva, was the description of Shiva, repeated to Him.”With the passage of time, these prayers of attribute became longer and more speculative; and somehow, fear showed a greater propensity to grow, than love,” Suta continued. “So, while He was accredited with dance, it was a dance of death; while He lived on the mountains, it was a hidden abode of a Warlord; if He was strong, it was a strength you must be defeated by, always.
Not to forget, that He was The Lord of the cremation grounds where, at the end of one’s life, His portals only just began.”
“I am beginning to understand, Gurudeva.”
“Ultimately, that Shiva was the God of destruction, became a label that found itself stuck in the majority of minds.
“But it doesn’t seem to me that Shiva is terrible!” cried Shaunaka.
“Hmm…” Suta said. “It may interest you to know that Aghora is actually the benign; it is Ghora that is used for darkness, but such was the mindset of the fearful, that even Aghora is identified with terrible!”
“So then, Shiva began to be known as the Destroyer; I understand,” said Shaunaka with remorse.
“Hmm… Yes, but there were other, less opinionated and therefore more open-minded seers, who, after a great deal of research and meditation, comparison of notes and deliberation, declared simply, ‘only Shiva knows what He is, really’, thus affording Him the opportunity to express His own truth and pass it on, from time to time,” said Suta with a redeeming smile.
( SHIVA, The Ultimate Time Traveller.)
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