Divine Discourse on Shivarathri [8-3-2005] -Morning

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Divine Discourse on Shivarathri [8-3-2005] -Morning

EXPERIENCE THE ALL-PERVADING DIVINE CONSCIOUSNESS

The Lord of Kailasa has manifested his Divine form with the crescent moon

adorning his head, the cool water of the Ganga flowing between the matted

locks, with his radiant eye in the middle of the forehead and the purple neck

gleaming like the sheen of a blackberry. He wears serpent bracelets and a snake

belt, his entire body is smeared with Vibhuti, his forehead is adorned with a

Kumkum dot, his ruddy lips glow with the juice of the betel, diamond-studded

gold earrings dangle from his ears and his whole swarthy body glows with divine

effulgence. (Telugu poem)

No one seems to have made an effort to recognise the meaning and significance of

Shivarathri. In fact, the very word Shivarathri reveals its meaning. “Shiva”

means auspicious and “rathri” means night. Thus, Shivarathri means auspicious

night. Then the question arises, “Who is Shiva?” The divine consciousness

pervading all the living beings is none other than Shiva. This Shivattwa

(divine consciousness) permeates not only human beings, but the birds, beasts

and animals as well. In fact, every moment in our life can be taken to be

Shivarathri. We need not wait for Shivarathri on a particular day in a

year.Embodiments of Love!

The Shiva-consciousness is all-pervading. How can we limit it to a particular

time and place? Sarvatah Panipadam Tat Sarvathokshi Siromukham, Sarvatah

Sruthimalloke Sarvamavruthya Tishthati (with hands, feet, eyes, head, mouth and

ears pervading everything, He permeates the entire universe).If we carefully

analyse this aspect once, it will be obvious that all that we witness around is

Shiva consciousness; nothing else. Shiva does not mean a particular form with

matted hair and tiger skin. Wherever we look and whichever form we come across

– whether a child or an elderly person, whether an woman or a man, in every

form the Shiva consciousness is resplendent. How can you describe that

all-pervading Shiva-consciousness or limit it to a particular time and place?

People display a particular dance form to portray the Shiva Tandava (the Cosmic

dance of Lord Shiva and Parvati). But, this is only symbolic and

does not portray the real Shiva Tandava. How can one describe the transcendental

Shiva consciousness which words cannot describe or the mind cannot comprehend?

Lord Shiva is described by some as Mukkanti (the Lord with three eyes). All of

us have only two eyes. But, the Lord has a third eye as well. We are aware of

only the past and the present. We cannot visualise the future. Only God can.

Lord Shiva, who can visualise the future with His third eye, i.e., Jnana Netra,

is therefore referred to as Mukkanti. God is described by different people in

several ways. He is described to be donning several forms. Nevertheless, all

those descriptions fail to describe Him in full. Each one describes God and

ascribes Him a particular name and form, depending on his imagination. The

nameless, formless God is omnipresent and all-pervading. He is

Avanmanasagochara (neither words can describe

nor the mind can comprehend Him) and Aprameya (immeasurable). Who can describe

such Divinity? There is only one sign for Divinity, that is, Consciousness. In

whichever form this Divine Consciousness permeates, it will assume that form –

it may be the form of a dog, a crow, a crane or a human being. Easwarattwa,

therefore, can be described as Divine Consciousness. This Divine Consciousness

is permeating all the human beings, nay, even the insects, birds and beasts and

animals. One of the names given to this divine Consciousness is Shivattwa (Shiva

Consciousness). It is not therefore correct to describe Shivattwa by such

appellations like Mukkanti, Trinetra, etc. Shivattwa means the all-pervading

Divine Consciousness. In fact, all the devotees sitting in this Hall are

embodiments of Lord Shiva.

Sarvam Shivamayam (all that you witness in this objective world is a

manifestation of Shiva). It is pervading all the three worlds, the earth, the

space and the nether world. It exists in all the three periods of time, the

past, present and future. It is indescribable. Any length of time is

insufficient to describe the Shivattwa. Several people are worshipping such an

omnipresent and all-pervading Divine Consciousness by describing it through

different names and forms. Just as the all-embracing divine love does not make

a distinction between living beings, so also the Divine Consciousness does not

differentiate. It is only we who make distinction between people as my father,

my mother, my brother, my sister, etc., based on our earthly relationships with

them. In fact, every living being is an Embodiment of Divinity. God assumes all

names and forms. You are God. Once Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva enquired

of Him, “How can people recognise the divine

consciousness which is said to be all-pervasive?” Easwara replied that the same

consciousness that is immanent in Him is permeating all the living beings. He

also explained that it was permeating every cell even of her body. One cannot

explain; one has only to experience it. Once Parvati could not find her own son

Vinayaka though he was very much near Lord Easwara. She was searching for

Vinayaka everywhere, except in the divine proximity of Lord Easwara. How

strange! Similarly, man today is searching for God everywhere, not knowing that

he himself is an Embodiment of Divine Atma.Lord Easwara never tended His hair.

He left them in their natural position as matted locks. His matted locks, His

third eye, His ash-smeared body – all were left in their natural position and

colour. But, they appeared differently to different people. Who can describe

the colour and effulgence of Lord Shiva’s body? Once, there arose a controversy

between Lakshmi and Parvati about the physical

appearance of Lord Easwara and Lord Vishnu. Lakshmi, in the course of arguments

enquired, “Parvati! How did you court this strange person who does not keep His

body neat and who smears the ash from the cremation ground all over his body?”

Parvati was offended. She retorted, “Amma! Your husband Vishnu reclines on the

serpent, Sesha. He is blue in colour. Why don’t you mend His ways and try to

change the colour of His body?” When they were arguing thus, Saraswati entered

the scene. She tried to counsel them saying, “There may be some differences in

their physical appearance. So far as I am concerned, I do not find any

difference between them. The same divine consciousness permeates both these

forms. I am able to realise it. Since you are not able to realise it, you are

entering into argumentation. Hence, forget all the outward differences.” This

type of transcendental nature is immanent only in Saraswati. All such

differences in physical appearance are only in the minds of human

beings, but God is attributeless. It is the devotees who ascribe different names

and forms and attributes to God. Based on their imagination, they picturise God

in different forms like the great artist Ravi Varma. As you think, so shall be

the form of God. People describe the form of God as Rudra and Santhiswarupa.

But, God is always Santhiswarupa (Embodiment of Peace) only. He is always

pleasant and smiling. To imagine such an Embodiment of Peace in a different

form is only the making of the devotee. If at all there are any such illusions,

one has to get rid of them. One has to realise Divinity by cultivating love for

God. It is only love that can bind God. Through such divine love, the oneness

of God has to be realised. If the attributeless God has to be described, the

description would be Ekam, Nityam, Vimalam, Achalam, Sarvadhee Sakshibhutam

Bhavateetam Trigunarahitam (One without a second, eternal, pure, unchanging,

witness to all functions of the

intellect, beyond one’s imagination, beyond the three Gunas (Sattwa, Rajas and

Thamas). We are attributing differences to such an attributeless God and feel

very happy. This is not correct. The oneness of God has to be realised. There

shall be no confusion in this regard, though poets and artists like Ravi Varma

portrayed God in different forms, giving expression to their imaginative

skills. Whatever be the different forms of portrayal by poets and artists, God

is only one. For example, Lord Vinayaka appears as only one, wherever you see.

He has no attributes, whatsoever. One who has no Gunas (attributes) is

Ganapati. He has no leader above Him. That is why He is called Vinayaka. If you

thus analyse, each name ascribed to God would reveal one meaning. Since He has

no leader above Him, even Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara worship Him.Embodiments

of Love!

People today are promoting differences among human beings by attributing

different names and forms to the nameless, formless and attributeless God. This

is a serious mistake. Divinity is being divided by devotees. The oneness of God

is not realised, with the result, futile arguments and counter arguments ensue.

Whether it is Rama, Krishna, Easwara or Vishnu, all these are only different

names ascribed by devotees to God. But, God is only one. These names are

ascribed to God only for our own satisfaction. Divinity, however has no

difference at all! The best sadhana would be to realise unity in Divinity and

worship God as such. You may, however, worship God in the form you like. There

can be no objection to it. But, the underlying unity between the different

names and forms should never be forgotten. It is a misconception to think that

Lord Rama may be angry if you worship Lord Krishna and vice versa. Such

differences may be felt by the devotees, but they are not in Lord Rama and Lord

Krishna.God does not entertain such negative feelings. It is only the human

beings who have differences and negative feelings. In fact, there is no

possibility at all for negative feelings to enter divinity. He is all positive

only.Dear Students!

Do not ascribe any difference or negative feelings to God. You may worship God

with whatever name and form you like. If by any chance you find any difference

in divinity, it is the mistake of your negative feelings, not that of God.

Hence, worship God with single-minded devotion.

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