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

(Post 12)

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

Look at the great achievers in human life; they have faced great challenges without losing patience. Those who get anxious, or do not have a stable mind, cannot do much; they easily get tensed up, or nervous, and fritter away their energies and talents. A calm and cool mind alone, can contemplate deeply and think rightly. An agitated mind is not dependable. It often triggers one to do what one should not have done; it tends to think erroneously and even immorally.

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

(Post 11)

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

We also find a half moon beautifully encircling the forehead of the Lord.

Moon is the symbol of soothing serenity.

Its presence on Shiva's head teaches that a worshiper of Shiva should have a cool, calm and awakened mind.

His mind should be stable and strong so that no hardship, adversity or exciting situation could ever perturb his mental peace.

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.