Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 05.01.2019 evening, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Friday)

Shiva – this name means ‘blessings’. Shiva is famous for many things. He is a very heroic figure. He is a handsome man. And he is the inspiration for arts. He is the demigod of yoga. Also he is an ascetic. And at the same time a great lover. A very strange character! How to understand this blessing and blissful character of Shiva? 

The holy Ganges is touching the Earth through the head of Shiva. From the celestial quarters it starts, then comes on his head, then comes down and reaches us. Why? What is the meaning behind this? Because this sacred river, this sacred water is so powerful that if it would touch the Earth directly, it would smash the Earth. There was a need for someone to protect the Earth from this smashing effect of the heavenly Ganges. And therefore Shiva, who is very powerful, was ready to accept this holy water on his head, in order to protect the Earth. And then from his head it’s coming down to us. 

Of course, Shiva has got many, many very useful pastimes. For example, he is responsible for destructing the Universe. Interesting, huh? A great yogi and at the same time responsible for the destruction of the Universe – how come? Yoga is for creating something nice, right? And then he is destroying something? But we have to understand properly: Shiva is destructive in a constructive manner. He destroys one phase of the Universe in order for it to be recreated in a brand-new phase. So destruction – in order to be constructive. Usually on this planet Earth, in daily life, we are accustomed to constructive theories. We are trained to be constructive. Evolution, for example. Or economic progress, right? But this world is constructive in a destructive manner. Our progress means one step closer to death. So our life, the material experience, is constructive in a destructive manner. While Shiva is the opposite – he is destructive in a constructive manner. Do you see the difference? In order to start a new chapter, you have to close the previous chapter. You have to finish that. 

And how will Shiva end the world? With a dance! Such a poetic manner to end this world! In India, devotees like to dance. We can say that the vaishnavas are also dancing. We are happily dancing on the sinking ship of material existence. But at least we are dancing. So, a poetic way to finish the world. 

Actually, Shiva is also a protector of yoga. And in yoga Shiva is considered to be the topmost level of consciousness, the liberated state of mind. So again, we are back to the consciousness. If we achieve for ourselves this liberated state of mind, then we need to do something. And somebody has to teach us how to do that. Therefore, another symbolic meaning of Shiva is like the general universal spiritual master – somebody who has already reached the enlightenment and therefore he can help others to be enlightened as well. ‘Guru’ means ‘one who dispels darkness’ – such a light in our life, who will dispel the darkness of ignorance. 

And this destructive feature – to finish one chapter, to end the created world, to finish with the creation – is also connected to this liberated state of consciousness. Because if we achieve full liberation, this world will end for us – with all the troubles that we have perceived, with all the limitations that we have come through, with all the hopes and all the failures. Then your consciousness is just liberated, free from entanglement. This is what we need, this is what we are searching for. Therefore, we should come under the protective shield of divine light. And be intelligent; don’t only come sometimes and then go back to darkness. Come and stay – this is the intelligent version. 

(to be continued)