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 23)

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

When a sincere devotee of Lord Shiva seeks refuge under His grace, he first inspects his own character and conduct, to check whether or not he measures up to the virtuous standards with respect to the philosophy of Shiva.

The human-like image of Lord Shiva is a kind of an ideal model for the true devotee.

A potter makes a pot in the desired design by processing and fixing the clay into an appropriate mold.

The devotee should also try to mold his personality, his attitude, his thinking, his life, etc. as per the ideals of his Deity.

Our worship and devotional practices have no meaning without commensurate endeavors of refinement and improvement in our thoughts, behavior and deeds.

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.

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

(Post 20)

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

If we look carefully and ponder over it, we will find that innumerable teachings are hidden in Lord Shiva's manifestations, as we see Him in the temples and religious stories.

We often find His depiction in human-like form, with a coating of ash on his body.

If we knew the righteous attitude of life and the ideal mode of living, the importance of this ash-coating would have been crystal clear to us.

Many of us put the bhasm (ash) of the sacred fire of yagya (agnihotra or homam) on our forehead with great reverence.

But do we know the meaning of this religious ritual?

The most important implication of smearing bhasm on any part of the body is to recall the Vedic teaching of "Bhasmantaka Goum Shariram" - this body is going to become (a heap of) ash one day.

That means, this body might either get mixed in the soil or water, or fly like the dust particles with the wind. This physical body of ours, which we are so proud of, and are so much attached to, is going to be crushed (with the soil) beneath others' feet one day.

If we are His true devotee, the bhasm on Shiva's body should constantly remind us of this ultimate reality, and therefore keep us away from the ego and attachments that arise because of our mistaken identity with the physical body.

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

(Post 19)

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

A home and a crematorium are alike for a duty-bound, altruist person, who has acquired pure knowledge.

Such a wise man knows that this moment he is living comfortably in the house, but any other moment he would be no more, and his body would rest in peace in a crematorium or a graveyard; then he will have new life, and a new home, and so on.

Today's life would be tomorrow's death, which would again turn into new life some day. This is how the cycle of life continues.

Life and death are like the relay games of day and night.

Then why should we be scared of death?

Rather, we should remember it, to make our life more meaningful, more useful, more enlightened every day.

This is another significant teaching of Shiva's Philosophy of Life.

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

(Post 18)

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

What else have you read or heard about Lord Shiva from the scriptural descriptions?

That He lives in the marghat (crematorium)!

Why should He do so?

Well, this again is a symbolic depiction.

It teaches us that we should always remember death. We get so engrossed in the worldly affairs that we almost forget that death could knock at our door any moment, and then we will have to leave this world instantly.

We seem to remember everything else, but this bitter reality of life. If we had remembered the absolute fact that we had to die some day or the other, our attitude towards life would have been different.

In that case, we would have cared for what we ought and what we ought not to do?

We would have been more alert towards our duties.