The weather forecast today showed thunderstorm and continuous rains till after noon. The clouds looked darker than usual from the balcony of my 15th floor apartment.
Why did they look all puffed up? Like a small child’s cheek who didn’t get his favourite candy, sitting with a pout to sulk and show her mama the pseudo anger and fake upset… Cheeks that if touched any minute, will blow out air from her mouth…
I kept glancing outside to the clouds while managing my routine chores… wondering what will break them open and make them pour? My thoughts suddenly went to the traffic jams, the broken vehicles, and many commuters who will be on the road today facing the downpour… especially the ones who are walking endlessly these days (Kawariyas), with an intent to bring the holy ganga water from far-away lands to their respective towns and villages across north India. Each one of them wishing to complete Rudrabhishek of Lord Shiva (the ritualistic bathing in Hinduism of a Shivalingam with various offerings, typically including water, milk, honey, and other sacred substances).
The practice is meant to be performed with devotion to invoke blessings from Lord Shiva – the one who has no beginning and no end, known to be the greatest yogi, a god that teaches us to learn the art of balancing responsibility and detachment. However, I see an irony surrounding this whole concept… haven’t we all (devotees on the road or off the road) made it all about satisfying our egos and achieving something… totally opposite to what Shiva teaches… letting go and surrender, embracing one and all…
Woah… and while I was writing, it started to rain… and what a visual it is…. Misty, cool, making everything in the surroundings look beautiful and serene…
Maybe our lord wouldn’t mind it for once if we let Him do our Abhishek (maybe that’s why he has sent the rains)… so that we can enjoy the wisdom that he keeps pouring down on us (and we keep refusing to learn in our obstinacy)… Hasn’t he been teaching us through his entire being… love, devotion, passion, acceptance, all that is so vital to life and existence… just like Shiva…
Let us experience life and his presence fully today… get drenched and purify…
It will be stupid to think we can give something to the one who gives us all… and even if today (Shivaratri) is about giving him something, let’s give him ourselves (our whole being)… with a promise that we will walk endlessly on the path of self-transformation… when we strive for peace and evolve through him, attaining our true self will be possible on this spiritual journey...
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