Lord Shiva and the Philosophy Associated with Him (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 24)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/Jul_Aug/v1.LordShivaPhilosophy)

The Sanskrit word for devotional worship is "Upasana", which literally means sitting nearby.

Sitting near the fire makes us feel warm.

Similarly, sitting near God should inspire us with His attributes.

Sitting in the closed vicinity of a powerful source of energy would bestow the associated significant effects on us only if there is a linkage, a direct connection between the source and the beneficiary.

A piece of wood becomes fire only when it sacrifices itself in the fire nearby.

This is how "upasana" brings the desired results only if the devotee sets a live linkage of his inner self with the Deity of his worship. For this, he has to discipline and mold himself as per the inspirations of his God.

We, the aspirants of the blessings of Lord Shiva, should also consciously and ceaselessly attempt at transforming ourselves according to the ideals of His manifestation.

We should endeavor to open our third eye (that means, awaken our intuitive insight and pure intellect).

Lord Shiva and the Philosophy Associated with Him (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 22)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/Jul_Aug/v1.LordShivaPhilosophy)

You all might have read a story in the holy Ramayana or in some other Shastric scripture, which mentions about Kamadeva being burnt into ashes due to the opening of Shiva's third eye.

Kamadeva had once tried to sinfully entice and influence Lord Shiva. Then, Lord Shiva just opened His third eye. The divine radiations emanating therefrom, instantly burnt the gross body of Kamadeva.

Have you ever thought about the truth behind this mythological anecdote?

It conveys the fact that the insidious force of erotic thoughts can be instantly checked and eliminated if our discerning prudence is awakened.

The opening of the third eye means awakening of our sagacity and creative activation of our inner wisdom.

The third eye is subtly located in the third dimension inside our brain.

It teaches us to look into the deeper aspects of every phenomenon, every thought and every experience.

Our ordinary eyes (the two eyes on our faces) see only extrovertly; they can only show us our materialistic gains and losses, or the worldly affairs, in the limited peripheries of our interactions. The needs of the body or the sense organs are easily seen by them.

But there is a third eye, which opens inward - It enables us to look deeper into the sublime folds of mind, and shows us the world of inner peace, everlasting happiness and absolute truth.

This is the eye of foresight and clairvoyance.

Lord Shiva and the Philosophy Associated with Him (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 21)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/Jul_Aug/v1.LordShivaPhilosophy)

The Third Eye:

The three eyes of Lord Shiva are often the focus of mythological interpretations and mystic curiosity.

Representation of His manifestation in human-like form should have shown only two eyes like the normal humans have.

Is the third eye mere allegoric depiction?

Or, does it signify some hidden facets?

In fact, the third eye symbolizes the source of sagacity - pure, discreet wisdom.

This center in the human body is hidden subtly in an endocrine gland inside the brain, right behind the position (on the forehead) where the third eye of Shiva is depicted.