To be is to be in relationship with one’s own self (all functional coordinates of body-mind organism), the immediate environment, the cosmos, and the existence in entirety. For, the world, with all its enormity and diversity, is framed as a unified organism, where no existence has a reality independent of the entirety, if Australian physicist Paul Davies is to be believed. To quote his exact words: “For a naive realist, the world is a collection of objects. But for a quantum physicist, it is an inseparable web of vibrating energy patterns where no one component has a reality independent of the entirety, included in that entirety is the observer.”

The interdependence and interconnection of all and sundry is therefore implied. In this scheme of things, each live entity is born imperfect, incapable of meeting existential needs all by oneself. But in togetherness, complementing and supplementing the efforts of each other, they make out a self-sufficient world. Evidently then, how well we relate to the world, will define the quality of life we become due for. This existential truth sets the premise of the are of living.

Ancient India’s learned masters had very well realised this existential dynamics. So, they were conscious about not only educating the mankind to the above effect. They rather made provision in our annular calendar for refreshing our memory at regular periodic interval.

For, they knew that people who were passionately pursuing their self-centric desires, often lose track of the fundamentals of life. So is the whole of Hindu month of Shravana has been dedicated to lord Shiva. The purpose is not to drive people into frenzied belief driven practices seeking thy boon. In fact, it rather lays emphasis on the need to set our functional dynamics in tune with the above existential truths.

A look at the symbolism of lord Shiva in accord with an assorted group of courtiers carries a valued educative import. He is visualised mounted on an ox, presiding over both cosmic world and life mechanism on earth, holding them in unison.

The lunar crescent over his head, as we are aware, has no light of its own. It draws light from the Sun and other stellar bodies up above in the sky. Moon, thus symbolises convergence of all modes of nature driven energies, which He excites by playing damru (the hand-drum He holds). The harmony and symphony of energy streams thus excited led to all creations, both up above in the sky as also on planet earth.

Thus comes into being a life cycle. The perennial river Ganges flows out of lord Shiva’s hair locks which ends up in the ocean. Remember, without water there would be no life. So, all through its run, it extends life. On the way, as also out of the sea, water evaporates to form cloud, and then rains back into the water bodies to recharge them. Similarly life cycle runs in succession, reincarnating afresh charged with fresh vigour and strength after death.

life’s journey, therefore, continues unabated, changing its garb again and again. lord Shiva has in his court all possible forms of existence — godly beings, humans, animal world, and even weird existence such as gobbles. All of them symbolically exemplify multitude of species in existence forming the living world. The godly beings signify cosmic forces driving the living order. The presence of weird creatures, stand for imperceptible existence during interregnum period between two successive lives.

There exists evolutionary barrier of incommunicability amongst his courtiers. Yet, at the same time, overlooking their individualistic vagaries, he remains in accord with all of them, as would his half closed eyes imply. He does that purposely so as to make the most out of their virtues. For, lord Shiva is much aware that if all of them have their individual limitations, they are also assigned with such virtues as would be necessary for sustaining life. And but for one, the very existence would be at stake. 

lord Shiva is able to hold the fort together as he is selfless, and thus enjoys the confidence of all. He just sports a tiger skin to cover his lower body to mean that despite being all powerful.

To sum up, the defining principle of life is ‘Unity in Diversity’. Our leaders, and in fact, all of us, need to imbibe the spirit of lord Shiva to ensure life in peace and harmony, individually and collectively. Of late, having lost touch of this existential truth, is why people are day-by-day becoming more self-centric, intolerant and impatient, being the cause behind the chaos prevailing all across.

The writer is an astrologer, vastu consultant and spiritual counsellor. Write to him at G-5, Basement, Jungpura Extension, New Delhi 14 Tel: 9818037273/ 24310031 Email: pioneerqueries@bharatastro.comWebsite: www.bharatastro.com