"Serpentine Apotheosis" by Hakan Hisim.
Today is Shivarati, marking the celebrated day in which Lord Shiva broke into his divine Tandava dance. The Tandava, especially in the west, is typically misunderstood as an appalling act of destruction, after all, it is with this dance that Shiva destroys the whole of the universe. However, this interpretation of the symbolic cosmic dance is distorted and short-sighted. In Vedic culture the process of destruction is not considered evil, in fact, it is necessary for creation. It is in this destructive spirit that Lord Shiva angelically destroys the universe by dancing. Shiva destroys the material universe to make more room for the spiritual infinite. He is, in effect, destroying in order to create more room for creation.
An accurate metaphor would be the controlled National Forest fires that firemen intentionally use to burn away patches of forested American land such as Pisgah, Yosemite and Yellowstone. Forest fires are essential for the survival of the forests. It is the immense heat of the flames that break open certain seeds that are encased in protective shells. These destructive fires clear out the under brush and rotting foliage so seeds can take root in the fertile soil. The forest fires get rid of big, dead timber to clear the way for the smaller, growing trees to get a chance at some nutritious sunlight. This process microcosmically mirrors the macrocosmic cycles of creation and destruction.
An accurate metaphor would be the controlled National Forest fires that firemen intentionally use to burn away patches of forested American land such as Pisgah, Yosemite and Yellowstone. Forest fires are essential for the survival of the forests. It is the immense heat of the flames that break open certain seeds that are encased in protective shells. These destructive fires clear out the under brush and rotting foliage so seeds can take root in the fertile soil. The forest fires get rid of big, dead timber to clear the way for the smaller, growing trees to get a chance at some nutritious sunlight. This process microcosmically mirrors the macrocosmic cycles of creation and destruction.
Shivarati also marks the day of Lord Shiva's and the goddess Shakti's sacred marriage, an alchemical melting and merging of primordial masculine and feminine energies.
There are two categories of living beings that worship Lord Shiva in this universe, namely: spirits (such as goblins and ghosts) and yogis. Shiva is supremely compassionate which is why the ghost and goblin outcasts of the universe seek shelter in Shiva. Mahadeva (Shiva) is also known as the Lord of all the yogis, which is why He is often depicted in deep meditation with eyes half-opened, powerfully sitting with spine erect in a full lotus pose.
Since it is Shivarati, there is obviously no greater mantra to chant on this auspicious day than the Om Namah Shivaya mantra. For this reason I am featuring a Swiss kirtan group called Prema Hara below. I've recently gotten into their kirtan music after meeting them at my local ISKCON. They have been living an austere life on the road providing audiences with kirtan all over the US for the past ten years. I have been listening to a CD of theirs on repeat for the past few months.
OM NAMAH SHIVAYA.
Since it is Shivarati, there is obviously no greater mantra to chant on this auspicious day than the Om Namah Shivaya mantra. For this reason I am featuring a Swiss kirtan group called Prema Hara below. I've recently gotten into their kirtan music after meeting them at my local ISKCON. They have been living an austere life on the road providing audiences with kirtan all over the US for the past ten years. I have been listening to a CD of theirs on repeat for the past few months.
OM NAMAH SHIVAYA.
A student once asked his spiritual master what the goal of kirtan was, and his master very simply replied to him, "more kirtan."
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