Yadyatkarma Karomi Tattadakhilaṃ Sambho Tavārādhanam
Whatever work I do, all that is your worship, O Shambho!
- Adi Shankaracharya
Shiva
pervades the entire Universe. Shiva is the eternal tattva (principle) that is
the essence of everything. It is the principle from which everything has come, in
which all is sustained and in which everything dissolves.
IT is said
that the entire creation is the ‘Dance of Shiva – The Tandava’; a dance
believed to be the source of the cycle of creation, preservation and
destruction. Nataraja – the dancing form of Shiva, is a fascinating symbol of
the interplay between the material and the spiritual realms of creation. It
reminds us that the manifold forms in the world are not fundamental, but
illusory and ever-changing. Modern physics has shown that the rhythm of
creation and destruction is not only manifest in the turn of the seasons and in
the birth and death of all living creatures, but is also the very essence of
inorganic matter.
Many stories
and tales talk about Shiva who took a human form and walked this planet. Limiting
Shiva to a form confined to time and space would be undermining the
omnipresence, omnipotence and omniscience of this Eternal Principle. Shiva was
never born, never died, has no beginning and no end. Shiva is Anadi –birthless, and Ananta – deathless. There is no
way that you can even step out of Shiva at any time because Shiva is the summum
bonum of the whole creation. That is why Shiva’s body is depicted in blue
because blue signifies the sky; the all-pervading infinity which has no limits,
and no shape
“Shivam shantam, advaitam, chaturtam, mannyante sa aatma sa
vigyeya.”
Shiva is, shanta – which is quite, advait – which is non-dual,
chaturth – which is the fourth state – “Shiva avastha’ the auspicious state;
the atma – the source / soul, and that is what you are!
Shiva stands for benevolence or that
which blesses without any preconditions. Shiva is the most innocent and only
believes in the essence of truth, beauty & self! He can easily be pleased
with the smallest penance; hence he is also called ‘Bholanath’!
The
consciousness which is bliss and innocence, the consciousness which is the
bestower of dispassion - is Shiva. The whole world is moving in an
auspicious rhythm of innocence and intelligence - that is Shiva.
#Mahashivaratri
is believed to be the day when the Shiva tattva touches the earth! The divinity that is hovering a little above the earth actually comes
and touches the earth on the day
of Mahashivratri. It is this union of the material with the spiritual that
is celebrated on Maha Shivaratri! For us, seekers it is the most
conducive time for spiritual practices. Meditating /
Resting in the ‘Shiva Tatva’ in you is the best way to celebrate Shivratri!
