Picking up threads from the previous issue, Mount Kailasa, said to be the place of abode of lord Shiva, is one of the high peaks in the Himalayan range to which lot of perennial rivers are sourced. Contextually, however, only the river Ganges alone emerging out of the Himalayan range has been named for the sake of understanding. Being one of the highest peaks, it is closest to the cosmic world, simultaneously having all round view of life down below. lord Shiva, with lunar crescent over the head, read together with his place of abode, the Himalayan range having in store perennial rivers, is symbolic of eternity, infinity.
The presence of lunar crescent symbolizes the convergence of all nature driven forces. For, Moon’s luminosity is drawn out of the Sun, as well as all the planets and stars up above in the sky. But before all light drawn thus, flows down the line, Moon does its own stamping by turning them into an amiable form, to facilitate creation of form-existences on earth plane. The obvious implication is that Moon symbolises convergence of all nature driven energy streams.
Following intense meditation, the causal stress within led to the first motion, in otherwise restful state of lord Shiva. The related sound note that got excited was Om. Now going by the scientific perception, once there is entropy, it multiplies in geometric progression. So, it happened following excitation of Om sound. The internal stirring up that followed, which when gravitated further, excited Energy trinity — Sata, Rajasa, and Tamasa. Sata here stands for the potential to create. Rajasa is the activating force, which carries forward the seeds of creation. Tamasa is its corresponding opposite, which holds on the seeds of creation, nurtures it in hiding, following which, dynamic existence with name and form emerges. The suggestive play of Damru symbolises the stirring up of the Creative Matrix that lord Shiva stands for. Trident, it may kindly be noted is symbolic of lord Shiva’s power. The three phalanges of the trident branching out of the base rod imply three dimensions of energies emanating from a singularity. The random mutation of the three that followed, led to multitude of differentiated energy streams. The harmony and symphony of these differentiated energy streams that followed, which is metaphorically described as lord Shiva’s dance, led to all creations, first up above in the sky. The ground thus got laid down for carrying forward the creation chain to the earth plane, in which Moon playing from the front serves as the carrier. Moon, thus, serves as the interface between the cosmic world above and life mechanism on earth plane.
Thus comes into being a life cycle, which runs in succession, as would water stream of the perennial river Ganges originating from lord Shiva’s hair locks imply. Water travels from its source to the sea, extending life all through its run. We are all aware that but for water there would be no live form-existence. Science also believes that the first live existence emerged in water. Water running down the river stream, as also in the sea, evaporates, takes the form of cloud, and again rains back to recharge the water bodies on earth on a regular basis. All forms of life follow a similar cycle. We are born and then after pursuing one’s journey here in this world for a while, we meet the end of our form-existence. life’s journey however does not end in finality with death. It rather gets recycled with a new rejuvenated body-encasement, charged with fresh vigour and strength, as the water resources recycle. life’s journey thus continues unabated changing its garb again and again.
Now coming back to lord Shiva’s entourage, it exemplifies multitude of existences forming this world. As per Indian perception, approximately 8.4 million species are there in existence. Perhaps, even the chroniclers of modern science too are closing up with this figure. The divine beings are personification of the cosmic forces, vital to creation, sustenance, and recycling of existential order. Human beings armed with intelligence and awareness level, higher than other creatures, are expected to be live towards their collective obligations even while pursuing their individualistic aspirational urges. Devilish existences imply ignorant people with relatively lower intelligence level and primarily driven by animalistic instincts. They, therefore, are not expected to be conscious about their collective obligations. It also implies all negative orientation of mind that may prove detrimental to harmonious and peaceful coexistence. The presence of invisible existences such as ghosts, make out a purposeful reference.
Continued to the next issue.
The writer is an astrologer, vastu consultant and spiritual counsellor. Write to him at G-102, Bharat Nagar, New Friends Colony, New Delhi – 110 025 Tel: 91-11-49848475/9818037273 Email: pioneerqueries@bharatastro.com Website : www.bharatastro.com