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

(Post 10)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/May_Jun/v1.ShivaPhilosophyDevotion)

The principal attribute of a true devotee of the Lord is that the Ganga of pure knowledge flows through his head; that means, his mind is illumined and blessed with righteous thinking, which gives peace and bliss to the soul.

Attitude and thoughts of those coming in his contact would also be purified by the sprinkles of this Gyan Ganga.

If your mind and heart also begin to evolve in this direction, then only you would be considered to have followed the underlying philosophy behind the specific image of Lord Shiva.

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

(Post 09)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/May_Jun/v1.ShivaPhilosophyDevotion)  

A low level of thinking, feeling, and a life confined to sensual pleasures, satiating the gross urges and the hunger of the senses, depicts an animal like existence. Such people can never be the devotees of Lord Shiva. How could one be accepted as a worshiper of the Omniscient Divine Power if he can't think and feel beyond the narrow confines of selfishness?

One who never cares to ponder over and strive for the wider and deeper domains of the society, the nation, morality, ethics, and spirituality, one who is not aware of and not committed to his duties, can't even be a good human being, let alone a devotee of God.

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

(Post 08)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/May_Jun/v1.ShivaPhilosophyDevotion) 

Teachings from Shiva's Idols in Human Form:

Lord Shiva's human-image is so beautifully depicted in the scriptures.

It depicts the sacred Ganga flowing through His hair lock.

But it is symbolic.

Here, Ganga represents the flow of pure knowledge.

Sheer common sense would tell us that a river or spring of water can't flow through one's hair, and if so, the person concerned would not be able to even stand or walk. Instead, he himself would get swept away along these currents.

The depiction of the Ganga of Knowledge on Shiva's head is also a philosophical teaching. It implies that if we are the true devotees of Lord Shiva, our feelings and thoughts should be pure, enlightened, and of superior quality.

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

(Post 07)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/May_Jun/v1.ShivaPhilosophyDevotion)  

These instances teach us that we should regard the whole world as God made manifest.

The round stone worshiped as the pindi of Shiva also indicates this deep aspect of divine philosophy.

It reminds us that the cosmic expression is round, it has no beginning or end; an atomic orbit is also round; the earth is also globular.

Thus, the philosophy of worshiping the pindi implies worshiping the world; service for global welfare.

It also tells us that we should treat others with the same respect and warmth, as we would like to receive from the world, because we are all different sparks of the same Light.

If we could understand and adopt this philosophy in life, we would no doubt be the true devotees of Shiva, and our power, our knowledge and our potentials would also become grand like those of His true devotees.

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

(Post 06)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/May_Jun/v1.ShivaPhilosophyDevotion) 

One day, mother Yashoda was scolding Lord Krishna in His childhood, because despite her repeated admonishments, the kid had again eaten soil. Krishna innocently replied that he had not eaten any soil; he opened his mouth before Yashoda as a proof of his innocence. When the mother peeped in His mouth, she was stunned to see the entire cosmos, the revolving galaxies, the infinite life forms, the gamut of Nature's manifestations there. Lord Ram had also done a similar feat, as cited in the holy Ramayana, when He showed His limitless self, His cosmic form to Kag Bhushundi, the great devotee in the form of a crow.

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

(Post 05)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/May_Jun/v1.ShivaPhilosophyDevotion)

We should know the subtle and causal forms of Lord Shiva, which when realized in the idol, would make His presence real for us, in that gross physical symbol.

What is the inner form of Shiva that we should realize in His idols?

What is its philosophy?

Well, as symbolized by his round globular linga, He is Omnipresent; the globe, the entire cosmos is His manifestation. If we regard the universe as His emanation and interact with it accordingly, we would be able to touch the bedrock of spirituality and see the limitless expression of God that was projected by Shri Ram and Krishna before their deserving devotees.

As described in the Gita, when Arjun was confused in the battlefield and got ensnared in attachment and despair, Lord Krishna appeared before him in the cosmic form and showed him that everything in the world was His play. Every individual manifestation, from the tiniest to the largest, comes out of Him and merges back into Him.

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

(Post 04)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/May_Jun/v1.ShivaPhilosophyDevotion)

We will have to find out and eliminate our shortcomings, our infirmities.

Unless we are honest in our own efforts towards spiritual elevation, how can we gain and demonstrate the immense benefits of spirituality, and how can we convince the world that we are the devotees of the Supreme Power and Presence, that can change the course of human history and destiny for the better.

So, where has been our major mistake?

Well, the root cause of our failure is our misconception. We have only seen the external form in the idols of Lord Shiva (and Parvati), and have mechanically followed the customary rituals of worship.

We have not understood the philosophy, the true meaning of devotion to Lord Shiva.

What we see in the temples as the idol of God is only like the gross representation of His limited manifestation.

The gross body is only an outer shell; the source of life, the prana lies inside.

The external and internal both together make a complete unit; their conjugation is like completion of electrical circuit by connecting the positive and negative poles.

The current of divine force would begin to flow in the idol we worship, if we realize and activate, by our inner faith and true devotion, the sublime power of the God it symbolizes.

We ritually put our heads at the feet of the idol; worship it with flowers, sandalwood powder, and what not. We pray before it, sing devotional songs, etc., but that is only an external activity. It remains incomplete without the understanding and the linkage with the inner, and the true divine power.