My Love Story with Shiva

I have always loved Shiva. When I was a little child, I remember sitting down and chanting Om Namah Shivaya. No one told me to do it, and he was not the Ishta for either of my parents. I distinctly remember seeing him during one of these chanting sessions and walking around in a daze. It felt like I was floating, and my feet were a few feet above the ground.

I stopped chanting immediately after that, and my interest in pursuing spirituality dipped significantly.

I loved reading mythological books and immersed myself in the Indian Epics. C Rajagopalachari, KM Munshi, and Ashok Banker became the mediums through which I ruminated on the avataras of the Lord.

My mother encouraged us to go to the Siddhi Buddhi Vinakaya Temple near our house, and the Shiva Linga and the Naga below the peepul tree were always my favorite areas. Shiva always felt very familiar. Meeting him felt like I was going back home. I used to call Lord Ganesha my father and the divine mother my grandmother. Somehow I could never call Shiva by any such names. He was just my Shiva.

Our temple was a vibrant spiritual place and regularly conducted Homams and Rudrams. The priests covered the lingam with rice and fruits during one such occasion and chanted the slokas rhythmically. We were young volunteers, and we got the privilege of standing near the Shivalinga to help out with things. Gradually a deep sense of peace enveloped me, and I thanked the Lord for the privilege of being near him.

I want to share two stories of my Bhole Baba with you. Both of them were narrated by my guru Om Swami. I hope you enjoy the story and feel the same thrill in your nerves that I feel when I hear about him.

The Vairagya of Shiva

When Lord Shiva was going for his wedding with Ma Sati, he sat backward on Nandi. All the other guests told him it would look odd if he proceeded like this. They requested him to look ahead. Parameshwara smiled and told them he could never ride with his back to Vishnu.

The guests then requested Hari to come forward and lead the groom’s procession so Shiva could sit straight. Hari smiled and said it would cause a lot of chaos later but went ahead when everyone insisted.

When Ma Sati’s family saw Vishnu riding upfront, they felt chills running up their spine. Sati was so lucky to have such a beautiful groom. They were informed that this was Hari, and Shiva was following behind. The family was even more excited because they imagined that the groom had to be even more eclectically dressed if the guests were so handsome.

Little did they know that Lord Shiva is the First Yogi and his primary attribute is complete detachment. He was going to walk into his wedding el-natural when the ganas decided to cover him up using his tiger skin asan that he meditated upon. Since he did not have any belts, they used snakes to tie the asan to his waist.

Imagine the shock to Sati’s family when my dearest Parameshwara walked into his wedding in this state. As the ganas got wild and danced to celebrate their lord’s wedding, the snakes on his waist suddenly came to life and started swaying to the music. I am sure it would have been quite the sight.

Swami went on to say that when you walk the path of Shiva, supreme detachment is the only outcome. He added that the urge to be respected and liked by society is hardwired into human beings. Anyone who has risen above this has achieved Shiva.

The Simplicity of Shiva

I sat at the Navdurga Sadhana, and Swami gave us nuggets of information about various esoteric aspects every day. One day, I prayed, please tell me something about my Shiva, and within two seconds, he shared this story. I am reciting it from memory and have tried to retain the essence.

My heart just leaped for joy as I heard him talk about Shiva. It’s also the best advice for anyone looking for a partner. People get emotional in the moment and make promises. Watch how they interact with the rest of the world, which will give you an excellent idea about them.