Teacher of Teachers

Sivarathri is observed every month, on the fourteenth night of the dark half; for the moon which is the presiding deity of the human mind, has only just one night more to be a non-entity, with no influence on the agitation of the Mind. In the month of Magha, the fourteenth night is named Maha (Great) Sivarathri, for, it is sacred for another reason too. It is the day on which Siva takes the Linga Form, for the benefit of seekers. Siva is revered as the form which is to be adored for the acquisition of Jnana of Wisdom. Jnana Maheswaraad Icched, as the Vedas advise. Pray to Siva for enlightenment, through wisdom. So, do not treat this day lightly, and reduce the disciplines prescribed by the sages for its celebration, such as fast and vigil and uninterrupted recital of the name of God, into a routine ritual, or a change for picnic, revelry, rivalry or factious fun. Contemplate this day and this night, on the Atma Linga, which emanates from Siva, the Jyothi Linga, the symbol of the supreme light of wisdom, and be convinced that Siva is in every one of you. Let that vision illumine your inner consciousness.

A fence is necessary to protect growing crops; but, when no crop is growing, why spend time and money on a fence? The orange is covered by a rind which is not very tasty, in order to protect it from too early consumption. Outer ritual is prescribed to shelter the inner message from being tampered with. Sivarathri too like all other holy days in the Hindu and other religious calendars has many such outer ceremonial observances and a deep core of inner significance. But, human nature prefers the easier path of outer formality to the path of inner discipline and direct experience.

Visiting Siva shrines, arranging for worship through priests of Siva Lingams, pouring sanctified waters, potfuls of them over consecrated idols, fasting, vigil and such other activities are resorted to on this day. But, these are not quite relevant to the real purpose of the festival. To fulfil these rites and vows, one need not wait one full year and consult the astrologer and his calendar of holy days. When man takes in food four times a day, in order that his body may keep functioning efficiently, is it too much to ask him to feed the mind with good thoughts and godly acts, at least once every day?. The mind too needs clean and sustaining food.

Iswara, a Name of Siva, means that He has all the glory that is associated with Godhead. Samkara, another name of Siva, means that He causes by His Grace, Sam that is, Ananda on the supremost level. Siva is the embodiment of Ananda; hence the Thandava dance, which He enjoys so much, with the cosmos as His stage. To set apart just one day among the 365 for the worship of this universal Omnipresence is an insult to His majesty and mystery.

Consider the significance of the form that Siva has assumed for human adoration: In His neck, He has the holocaust---producing poison, Halahala, that can destroy all life in a trice. On His head, He has the sacred Ganga River, whose waters can cure all ills, here and hereafter. On His forehead, He has the eye of fire. On His head, He has the cool comforting moon. On His wrists, ankles, shoulders and neck He wears deadly cobras, which live in life--giving breath of air. Siva lives in the burial ground and the burning ghat, the Rudrabhumi, as it is called--the land of Siva or Rudra. The place is no area of dread; it is an auspicious area, for all have to end their lives there, at the close of this life or a few more lives. Siva is teaching you that death cannot be shunned or frightened away. It has to be gladly and bravely met.

Siva, again, is said to go about with a begging bowl. He teaches that, renunciation, detachment, indifference to good fortune or bad, these are the paths to attain Him. Siva is known as Mrtyunjaya, He who vanquishes death. And He is also the Kaamaari, the destroyer of desire. These two names show that he who destroys desire can conquer death, for desire breeds activity, activity breeds consequence, consequence breeds bondage, bondage results in birth and birth involves death.

Siva means, graciousness; auspiciousness; Mangalam. He is all graciousness, ever auspicious, Sarva Mangalam. That is the reason why the epithet, Sri, which indicates these qualities, is not added to the name Siva, Sankara, lsvara etc. It is added to the number of Avatars, for they have taken on perishable bodies for a specific purpose. They have to be distinguished from other humans, by the epithet, Siva is eternally gracious, auspicious, mangala and so the epithet is superfluous. Siva is adored as the teacher of teachers, Dakshinamurti. The form of Siva is itself a great lesson in tolerance and forbearance.

The Halahala poison is hidden by Him in His Throat; the beneficent moon which all welcome, He has worn on His Head. This is a lesson for man to keep away from others all harmful tendencies and to use for their benefit all useful tendencies that he can command. If one uses his skills for his own advance, and his evil propensities for putting down others, he is only taking the road to ruin.

The Gita does not intend that you should pluck a leaf or flower or a fruit from some plant or tree and place it before God. Nor does it ask you to bring water from a well or river or the roadside tap. The leaf is your own body, which like the leaf, sprouts greens, fades, and finally falls off from the branch. The flower is the heart freed from the insect pests of lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride, hate etc. The fruit is the mind, the consequence of its yearnings, which have to be dedicated to God. The water is the stream of tears that flow from the eyes when one is in ecstatic Bliss at the contemplation of, God's glory. Giving these four is the real act of surrender, Saranagathi. The offering of leaves or flowers or fruits or river water is at best a way of helping the plant or tree or river to secure a little merit.

There are some who declare glibly, "O, I have surrendered my body, mind, intellect, my everything to God". These people have no control over their minds and the emotions and passions they are filled with They have no mastery over their reason. They are not even able to regulate their bodies. So, it is indeed ridiculous for them to claim that they have offered them to God. How can they give to God what is not theirs? What right have they? How can any one accept the gift of something which does not belong to the giver'?

In fact, you need not surrender anything at all. Love all beings---that is enough. Love with no expectation of return; love for the sake of love; love because your very nature is love; love because that is the form of worship you know and like. When others are happy, be happy likewise. When others are in misery, try to alleviate their lot to the best of your ability. Practice love through Seva. By this means, you will realize unity and get rid of the ego that harms.