Thus Spake the Divine - Unification of Shiva and Shakti

Thus Spake the Divine

Unification of Shiva and Shakti

Tamil Poet Avvai says, “Mother and Father are the first and foremost God for an individual. Here, we see God has taken the form of Ardhanareeshsvara, depicting both Father and Mother together in the same body, mother in one half and father in another half. We find this posture really advantageous as we can pray to both at the same time.

However, there arises some confusion! If we want to fall at the feet of Parameshvara, one leg belongs to Parameshvara and the other to Parvati! Whenever there is something more than one, we always tend to compare one with the other. Whose leg is superior now? Parameswar’s or Parvati’s? When we want to do archana, we need one kind of flower for Parameshvara and another type for Parvati. What will happen if this flower falls on the other side by mistake?

Not just confusion, a poet can even trigger conflict between both. The poet is Neelakanda Dikshita. He is an ardent devotee of Goddess Meenakshi. He tells Meenakshi, “Hey Amma! Your husband is really very atrocious. He is stealing all your fame! He claims to have burnt Manmatha (God of Love) using His Third Eye (which is in the centre portion)! This is common to both of you, isn’t it? Okay! May be he is partially right in this regard. He claims to have kicked Yama (God of Death) with his left leg whereas this left leg belongs to you one hundred percent!”

All such comparisons are absolutely meaningless. However, one should examine the intrinsic connotations among statements of Dikshita. To surpass both birth and death, one has to win over lust and death, represented by Manmatha and Yama. This cannot be accomplished without the grace of the Goddess. This is what Dikshita is trying to bring out in his verse. But Dikshita is a great soul! He does not stop with triggering conflict between the two.

He is also resolving the conflict with his own solution. He, in his Shiva Leelarnavam, says that once we contemplate at the point of origin from which the absolute compassion of Paramatma surges, then we will be devoid of any confusion or conflicts. It will only make us dissolve in the stream. This point can be understood only with an elaborate explanation.

In the form of Ardhanareeshsvara, we tend to divide each part of the body of both Shiva and Parvati. We can say this ear is Parvati’s and this is Shiva’s; this eye is Parvati’s and this is Shiva’s and so on. In that case, is there not one part, which is indivisible and incomparable?

There is and it is only atom, which is not divisible into further pieces! If such a part similar to that of atom exists in Ardhanareeshsvara, then the problem is solved! In that case, there will be no comparison and we can hold on to that one indivisible part and seek the blessings of both simultaneously.

There is an atom in the midst of one’s heart. We cannot even call it as atom. Atom at least can be seen using a microscope. We can at least mentally divide it into two. However, the atom, which is in midst of the heart, can never be revealed even by the most advanced microscope. If this part is not there, then, there exist no thoughts and no feelings among human beings.

What is that part? It is what we call as Manasu (mind) in Tamil. Can any x-ray reveal the Manasu of a man? Not only Ardhanareeshsvara, any form of God for that matter. We should only meditate to the “Heart” or Manasu, which is possessed by that deity. Idol worship is no doubt essential to keep our mind on a single point. However, even in this form of worship, our mind does not remain calm but wanders here and there. The mind keeps on moving through the enchanting form of God, wavering as to what to look for and what not to look. If it is Parameshvara, is it the Jatamudi, the hair, is it the Ganga in the locked hair, is it the crescent moon, or is it the Third Eye and so on.

If you take the Heart or Manasu of Paramatma, it is only one. Our mind is surrounded with billions and trillions of thoughts and most of them have flaws! But what will there be in the Manasu or Heart of the Father and Mother in the form of Ardhanareeshsvara? It will be filled only with absolute compassion and love! Dikshita says, “Hold on to that one Heart, which permeates with absolute love and compassion! Kumara Swami is one who is taking us into that Heart, as He is the Child who emerged from the unity of Shiva and Shakti!”

This article is a snippet from the Book Thus Spake the Divine, is available online at www.giri.in and across Giri Trading Agency Private Limited, A chain of Speciality Stores dealing in all kinds of products needed in Indian Culture and Tradition.