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In the Name of Shiva, the Most Glorious, the Most Obvious, the |
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SHRI SHIVA RAHASYA THE TWELFTH LIGHT (Chapter
Twelve) 12 Wherein the
Unseen Master reveals His Visible Form to the Devotees Om is the Eternal Sound Supreme. Of that all other sounds are born. Sage Vyasa said: 1. By the Grace of Shiva, I shall now tell you
how the Lord's Glorious Revelation came to pass upon the Holy Mountain. 2.
It is a great Mystery that shall always be connected with our Lord and
Master, His Divine Majesty Whose Praises all the Worlds eternally sing and
Who Alone has the Power to Deliver us from Darkness. 3.
It is a Mystery that the Wise Ones have beheld with their inward eye
and known in their heart for many a century and which shall now be declared
unto you, in order that what has been unheard shall become heard of, what has
been unthought shall become thought of and what has
been not-understood shall become understood. 4.
It came to pass when according to the ancient time reckoning Kali
Yuga, the Age of Darkness, was about to begin - on the fourteenth day of the
dark half of the month called Magha - before the
Moonless day which is the darkest day of the month. On that holy day the Almighty and Most
Merciful Universal Being graciously descended from His Celestial Abode in
answer to the ardent prayers of those seeking the Light of Truth amidst the
night of ignorance that had engulfed the World. 5.
He appeared to His devotees - as He always does in moments of darkness
- in the shape of a most pure and noble Ascetic sitting on a throne-like slab
of stone beneath a mighty tree on the peak of Mount Kailasa
beyond the snow-clad Himalayas. 6.
His youthful body was of a blue shade like that of the clear Autumn
Sky, His long auburn locks shined like the flames of a forest fire and the
Crescent Moon herself adorned His forehead. 7.
The Lord sat unmoved for a long while and, as He remained in deep
contemplation, meditating upon Himself in silence, a dazzling Light streamed
forth from His heart illumining all things about. And the Light of the Three Worlds, the
Visible Form of the Unseen, dwelt upon Earth for three days and three nights. 8.
Now the Mountain He was seated upon, was encircled on all sides by a
great dark forest which became filled with a strange light, so that the
beasts that dwelt therein and the humans in their villages on the forest fringe, knew not whether it was day or night. 9.
The villagers said to themselves that such great a light must come
from a forest fire. Yet far and wide
no smoke was to be seen, and the animals and birds and all creatures of the
forest were not in the least fleeing away in fear, but were all perfectly
happy and at peace. 10.
Seeing this, the village elders sent some strong and swift young men
to see what that brightness might be.
These went into the forest where they met a group of hunters and,
having greeted them, they enquired about the Light. 11.
But the hunters knew not. All
they could say was that deep within the forest there lived one Sage, Duravasa Rishi by name, who
passed his days in prayer and meditation.
He was the wisest man they had ever heard of. He would assuredly have an answer if they
asked him kindly. For, it seems, he
had a name for being fierce when disturbed in his contemplations. 12.
Having thus spoken, the hunters made ready to go about their business,
which was hunting. On second thoughts,
however, they wished not to incur the wrath of the Spirits of the Forest on
what - judging by certain signs known to forest people - appeared to be a
special day. 13.
And so, they all set off upon their way following a Path that led to a
grove of heavenly scented trees, at the far end whereof they came to the
lonely cave wherein the Sage lived.
Upon entering that hallowed dwelling, they found a fair maiden whose parents
had passed away and whom the Sage had adopted as his daughter and disciple. 14.
Rising from her deep meditation, she informed them that her father had
already departed in the northern direction to find the source of that
wondrous radiance. They, however,
asked her to come with them, that she might show them the way. 15.
Thus they all went on their way and, after a long journey that seemed
like seven days and seven nights, they could see the Holy Mountain shining
from afar. The closer they came the
brighter it shined. 16.
At the foot of the Mountain there lay a great Lake of pure water
stretching far and wide. Its shores
were lined with fine sand of gold-dust and precious gems. Rich grass and healing herbs grew in
abundance on the green pasture all round upon which
deer, wild horses and oxen grazed at will. 17.
Swans and geese swam gracefully across its mirror-like face. The air was resonant with the sweet song of
birds flying in and out of trees.
Humming bees fed on the sweet-scented nectar of lotuses and other
aquatic plants. Steps of blue stone
led in and out of the cool water. 18.
Yogis and Yoginis (female Yogis), some clad
in tree-bark or deerskin, others wearing nothing at all, novices with shaven
heads and adepts wearing long matted hair, bathed therein or fetched water in
vessels made of coco-nut shell, gourd or human skull. Others meditated sitting upon large
rocks. Children with smiling faces
played on the banks and gathered flowers as offering to the Holy Gods. 19.
Blooming lotus-flowers shined like the stars whilst sun-lit, white
clouds glided over the water like waves so that one could tell not whether
the Sky had come down to Earth or the Earth had risen up to the Sky. Indeed, the villagers and forest-dwellers
thought that they had arrived in Heaven and were exceedingly amazed at that
wonderful sight. 20.
They marvelled greatly, seeing the Holy
Mount itself mirrored in the blue water: Heaven reflecting in the Mirror of
the Earth. And they knew not which was
the more wonderful to behold, the Radiant Mountain or its reflection in the
Lake. 21.
Under the enchantment of that sacred place, they now thirsted even
more after knowledge of the source of light.
The thought passed in their mind: If this be Heaven, what Unmeasured Splendour awaits us in yonder Abode of Light? 22.
Spellbound, they advanced towards the bright-shining Heavenly Mountain
that stood upon the Roof of the World, not far from the Lake's northern
shore, rising high like the All-Supporting Pillar of Heaven. 23.
Coming up closer, they saw that the Light emanated from that
place. It was a strange and marvellous Light and at first they could not look at it,
being as if blind. But as they became
a little used to it, they looked up and saw a strange Youth in the midst of
that Light, strong and handsome like a Forest-Spirit, surrounded by a circle
of immortal Yogis. 24.
Indeed, He had the appearance of the God of Yogis Himself. They saw His beautiful Sky-blue body adorned
with prayer-beads and sacred snakes, His long flame-like hair, His smiling
lotus-like face, His sparkling eyes radiating with an inner power like a
secret glow of fire, and they could take not their eyes away from His Divine
Countenance even if they had wished to. 25.
As He sat there in silence they said to themselves that He must be the
Divine Lord or Spirit of that Mountain.
For, due to their proximity to Heaven and remoteness from the World of
men, Mountains were known to be frequented by Unseen Beings from Above. 26.
And they were overcome by a deep feeling of devotion. They saw the Sage bow and worship Him and
they too bowed down to the ground and honoured Him
with folded hands. 27.
And they asked of Him, Who are You, O Lord? But He had a magic Drum in His hand and at
once all the quarters of the World began to resound with the beat of the
drum, and that enchanted sound entered their ears and invaded their heart so
that their inner eye was flung open like a door and they could see the whole
World before them: the Holy Sun, the Moon, the Sky, Wind, Fire, the Ocean and
Rivers, the Earth with her Mountains and Hills and Valleys and Forests and
Plants and Fish and Birds and Animals and Men. 28.
He then raised the other hand in which He held a dazzling Trident, a
three-pronged Spear brilliant like a myriad of lightning-flashes, and all was
swallowed up by a silent darkness.
And they understood
that He was
the Creator and Destroyer of
the World, God of all clans, King of all the Gods,
Master of the Universe and of all beings in the Universe and beyond the
Universe. And they all bowed down and
touched that holy ground with their brows. 29.
They then lit a fire in His honour, offering
Him sweet food and scented water and brought flowers to adorn Him and burned
incense to worship Him. But the Lord
of Heaven knew not hunger nor thirst, nor cold nor heat, not pain nor
pleasure did He know, but was eternally immersed in a state of wonderful
Bliss. Verily, the Bliss of Heaven was
His only sustenance and food. And more
and more men and women and small children came to gaze and wonder at that
splendid Vision. 30.
And they said unto Him: Worshipful Lord! pray
tell us Your Blessed Name that we may know how to worship You. And He spoke: I Am All and Everything. I have so many names as there are things,
words, or thoughts in this Universe and beyond. 31.
The Wise Hermit from the woods, hearing this, exclaimed: Praise be to
Shiva, the Mysterious and Most Glorious, the Unseen and Most Obvious, the
Greatest God (Mahadeva), Our Supreme Lord and
Master! And so they called Him, Lord (Ishvara), Master (Natha) and
also, He Who Is Facing South (Dakshina-Murti) - as
He sat against the Mountain whilst facing the multitude. 32.
Others again, named Him, Shrikantha, He With
a Glorious Neck, which was on account of His devouring the poison of
ignorance that afflicts the World.
For, only the Lord can remove the ignorance and the suffering of His
creatures, by taking it up into Himself. 33. And seeing His Blissful State, they said:
Most Merciful Master! pray teach us how we may find the Truth that leads from
the darkness of human existence to the dazzling Light of Your Auspicious
Presence; how to attain that State beyond pleasure and pain, beyond troubles
and fears, beyond sorrow and desire, beyond birth and death, beyond time and
space. 34.
But He again caused the Four Quarters of the World to resound with the
beat of His magic Drum and as that enchanted sound entered their ears it invaded
their heart, opening the Secret Gates of Time and Space that they could see
the whole World extending far and wide.
They could see all the Worlds of the past, present and future quite
clearly before their own eyes. 35.
And He raised His Trident which opened the Unknown Gates of the Great
Cave of the Dark Void and in an instant all that vanished as it came, leaving
just darkness and empty space behind, when they heard a thunder-like Voice
coming from no-where, Which spoke: The Highest Truth is Silence. It is to be found by going deep into the
secret cave of your own heart. 36.
They then understood that their little life was just a dream and that
all this had come out of a Great Dark Void.
Yet no sooner did they understand this, than a tremendous Light dawned
upon them and the Unseen Gates of the Great Beyond opened up of themselves to reveal something that no mere mortal had
ever seen before. 37.
They saw-and-heard-and-felt-and-tasted a Secret greater than all Secrets,
a Marvel more marvellous than any man could fathom,
more indescribable than words could describe and even when described no mind
could fully grasp. Beyond the Great
Dark Void there shined an even Greater Light, the Light of Immeasurable and
Never-ending Fullness which was the Secret Abode and Living Source of all
darkness and all light. 38.
This Living Light shafted through the Void in myriads of drops, waves
and tides of rhythmic pulses like that of a young bride's womb locked in the
tender embrace of her beloved, like the soft belly of a fish in the deeps of
the Sea, like the heart of a bird on the wing, like a butterfly in spring,
like the wind tugging at the mane of a young horse, like dolphins leaping
over waves, to finally freeze and crystallise into
the solid World of Men. 39.
Verily, the Dark Void itself, it seems, was full to the brim with
innumerable things but had appeared void due to lack of light, just as a
secret cave that though appearing at first empty like the vacant den of some
solitary serpent, turns out to be full of long-forgotten treasures under the
revealing light of a burning torch. 40.
From Beyond All This, the Light of All Lights, the Secret Abode of all
darkness and all light, pervaded the whole Universe with a wonderful Radiance
so bright as the light of thousands of millions of Full Moons, cool, soothing
and deeply satisfying, that filled all beings with an indescribable feeling
of Supreme Delight, and all was engulfed in a boundless mass of vibrant Light
and Love and Joy. 41.
Drawn by the irresistible Light of that Radiant Sight, men and women
from all the corners of the land came to that Most Holy of Mountains. A great multitude
gathered there like a great swarm of bees and were overcome by a
feeling of delightful Wonder that made them all reel with a strange
drunkenness, like honey-bees that drink of the exquisite nectar of the sacred
lotus-flower that blossoms in the cool waters of the blue mountain lakes. 42.
But the Blissful Master addressed them again: My beloved children, you
are most welcome to My World of Light.
Yet entrance to that Sacred Abode, that lies within
My Own Heart, requires a price that you yourselves have set. From the beginning of your life on Earth,
in the course of many a lifetime, you have taken the life of countless living
beings to sustain your own body, without even once considering the suffering
you caused. This being so, it is now
time for you to pay your karmic debt. 43.
Only those shall See Truth Face to Face, who are ready to joyfully
offer up their bodies and worldly life in Sacrifice to the Lord of Life. Rituals and prayers will not do. If you desire the Highest, a gift of your
own selves is the only proper offering.
Know you not that a body of light is the only fit garment for entrance
into the World of Light?
Self-sacrifice is the only way of becoming free from the burden of
your bodies of flesh that you may acquire radiant bodies of Light. For, only what is Light can become One with Light. 44.
Hearing thus, many begun to tremble with fear and spoke: O Worshipful
Master! Ocean of Mercy! Saviour of the
distressed! have mercy on us, O Lord of the Three
Worlds! Leaving behind parents,
children and wives, we came to seek refuge in You; what shall become of them? 45.
But the Lord replied: Have you not understood that All This is a
Dream? Of My Own Radiant Form I have
fashioned All This. What I do, that I
can also undo. When All This is
undone, what remains is My Own Self, the Supreme, Immeasurable, Ever-lasting. I
behold Myself in you, the Mirror of My Own Creation. Do you, on your part, behold yourselves in
Me, the Mirror of Your Creator, that We may all become united and Live in
Blissful Unity as One. 46.
I, the Ever-Still yet Ever-Doing and Ever-Undoing, Creator of the
Great Dream of Life, Fashioner of the Boundless Universe, Maker of men and
other creatures, Am the Truth. Truth is a Supremely Blissful Ocean of
Infinite Light and Power. It is both
an Eternal Silence and a Harmony of all Sounds. It lives in the heart of all beings: Find
first that Truth, and then you may worry about anything else, if need
be. If you follow it diligently, the
Inward Path of Light will take you to the Supreme Abode. I Myself shall be Your Guiding Light. And He made the Fear-Dispelling Sign with
His hand. 47.
Sage Duravasa, speaking like the Elder
Brother watching over the Path that he was, said: Truly, we are the Children
of Light. We are only down here
because we have lost our way and become trapped in the dream of material
existence, creating material bodies for ourselves. Yet to walk upon the Heavenly Path of Light
we must put on new bodies of Light. 48.
We belong to Shiva's Infinite World of Light. No sacrifice can be too great for the
privilege of walking on the Path that takes us to Our Original Homeland in
Heaven. Remember that on this matter,
Shiva, Our Lord and Master, the All-Seeing, the All-Knowing, Who is the
Secret Soul of all things and Our True Self, has said: Only Light can return
to Light. What the Lord speaks must
come to pass. 49.
And some who had a brave heart, following the advice of the Wise
Hermit from the woods, said: Have we not wandered through the desolate
wilderness of this World for long enough?
Our Souls long to return to the Radiant Abode of Infinite Life and
Freedom which is Our True Home. The
only Path that leads us there is Shiva's Path of Light. 50.
Just as you cannot climb a mountain while carrying your household upon
your shoulders, even so you cannot hope to enter upon the Path that leads to
the lofty heights of Enlightenment if you are weighed down by body, mind and
other things. And, what we leave
behind is just a dream. Since the Lord
Himself, in His Infinite Compassion, has offered to be our Guiding Light, how
can we not accept His Gracious Offer?
Assuredly, the Lord never speaks in vain. Show us Your Secret Path, O Master of the
Greatest Secret! 51.
And it was the third watch of the third night (that is, midnight),
though the Sun shined even as in daylight.
And the Great Magician, the Tremendous Three-Eyed Lord of the Three
Worlds, the Universal Dream Master, having translucent sapphire-blue limbs
and shining red locks, wearing the Crescent Moon as diadem while the Blazing
Sun enhaloed His handsome Head and the Blue Sky
stretched over His Divine Person like a Royal Awning, holding Drum and
Trident in His hands as emblems of His Wondrous Powers and being attended by
a host of Immortals and other Celestial Beings constantly chanting His Sacred
Name, entered a Secret Cave deep into the mountainside taking with Him all
those who had a brave heart, both male and female, to instruct them in the
hidden Knowledge of the Truth. 52.
Having been taken up into the womb of that Holiest of Mountains, they
received from Lord Shiva Himself the Special Gift of the Mystical Elixir of
Immortality in the form of the Great Mantra of Shiva, as a result whereof
they were all reborn in His Light and were transformed there and then into
Radiant Beings, into the True Children of Light which they had been all along
without knowing. 53.
And some of them went with the Lord to His Infinite Abode of Light,
while others were sent by Him into the World of men that they might guard and
teach His Word for the welfare of the entire Human Race whose Creator and
Benefactor is none other but Shiva, the Kindly, the Lovely, the Adorable Lord
of Unity, the Light of all Lights. 54.
And of these wise men and women who, by the Grace of the Lord,
acquired Divine Status and Equality with the Gods, some still roam the
Mountains and the Woods, and at times they cross the Path of some earnest
Seeker after Truth, and having compassion upon him, they reveal to him the
Secret Teaching that leads to Infinite Life and Unmeasured Freedom. Yet unless the heart is utterly darkened
and emptied of all vain things so that naught can be seen but the Light of
Truth, there can be no hope of beholding the Blissful Master Who forever
dwells within the secret cave of one's own heart. 55.
And it was decreed by the Sages of old that he who tells this Great
Mystery to another shall be pervaded, purified, clarified and illumined by
the Eternal Light of Knowledge, and he also who hears it. Praise be to
Shiva, the Sun of Reality, the Deliverer from Darkness, Whose Praises all the
Worlds eternally sing! 56.
Verily, there is no other Teacher, no other God, no other Truth but
the Lord Who is called Shiva: the Pure, the Kind, the Auspicious One. He is the One in Whom all things rest (Shi)
and by Whose Power all things move (Va). From that One indeed everything comes and
to Him everything returns. 57.
All the Teachings upon Earth are born of Him. They are drops of the Fivefold Outpour of
Divine Intelligence that pervades the World in the form of God's Perfect
Powers of Bliss, Will, and the rest. 58.
Though being Eternally One, the Supreme Teaching manifests itself in a
multitude of ways according to the capacity of each recipient. 59.
As one life only is present in the various parts of the human body
irrespective of their being higher or lower, of different shapes and distinct
from each other, so the Teaching of Shiva is present in all Teachings. 60.
As the working of the various parts of the body can only be understood
in relation to the whole body to which they belong, so all Teachings are
understood only when seen in the Light of Shiva's Supreme Truth whereof they
are but incomplete parts. 61.
The various Teachings being but fragmentary portions of the One Truth,
they confound and lead astray their adherents. But the Teaching of Shiva contains the
Original, Unchanged, Undivided Truth. 62.
As the tracks of all beasts, large and small, fit in the track of the
Elephant, even so all Teachings are contained in the Teaching of Shiva. 63.
Verily, as the Abode of Snow (Himalaya) is among Mountains, as the
Moon among the Stars, as the Sun among all things that shine, so this
Teaching of Shiva is the Lord of all Teachings. 64.
Upon this Teaching all the Rulers of the World stand firm and their
Kingdoms are prosperous and happy.
Therefore, let one practise this Perfect
Knowledge diligently, with devotion to the Lord and to one's Spiritual
Teacher, for it shall lead to success. 65.
By the following of this Teaching one attains both worldly enjoyment
and Spiritual Liberation. And, at the
end of one's earthly life, one goes to the Highest Heaven. 66.
Let this Teaching be imparted to all who desire to know the
Truth. For, by listening to it, their
doubts shall vanish like Clouds in the Wind.
Their sins shall fall off from their Souls like drops of water from
lotus leaves. Their afflictions shall scatter
in all directions like Jungle-fowl at the sight of a Hawk. Their enemies shall flee afar off in fear
like Jackals at the roar of the mighty Lion. 67.
Those who listen regularly to the Teaching of
Shiva or meditate daily upon a verse in their heart, shall attain the Four
Goals of Life (Chaturvarga) which are: Righteousness
(Dharma), Material Prosperity (Artha), Love (Kama), and Spiritual Liberation (Shivatva). 68.
For, it is by the Power of Yoga, which is Unity with the Lord, that
Divine Righteousness is established in man's heart. It is by the Power of Yoga, that man's
material life is kept in order. It is
by the Power of Yoga, that man is united with the object of his desire. It is by the Power of Yoga, that man is
United with the Lord. They who know this, shall roam the World like the Radiant
Gods and move at will among those who are One with the Supreme. 69.
Those who listen to the Teaching of Shiva with a clear understanding
of its Spiritual Truth, are undoubtedly Great Yogis
and shall be liberated in this life. 70.
Those who with a pure heart listen to the Teaching of Shiva when about
to die, shall go to Shiva's Abode of Light, Which is Shivalaya,
the Abode of all Purity and Goodness. 71.
Those who listen to the Teaching of Shiva with great devotion even for
a moment, shall not be harmed by misfortune. For, Truth drives off untimely death, ill
fate and dangers of all kinds. It
protects the faithful against bad dreams, evil Spirits and disease. It is the remedy of all ills. 72.
Verily, the mere hearing of this Holiest of Holy Teachings shall make
even the greatest sinner fit for Salvation if he repent and turn his heart to
the Path of Righteousness. Having
entered upon the Path, a Soul's innermost wishes shall be fulfilled at
Shiva's Command. For what the Lord
speaks that comes to pass. 73.
Being the Word of God, this Holy Teaching shall be reverenced with
great love and devotion. Its Written
Form shall be carefully covered in fine cloth and tied with a silken cord. It shall be always kept in a pure place,
before an Image of the Lord. 74.
The Teaching of Shiva shall be regarded as God's Visible Form and honour shall be done thereto in the same manner as His
Own Worship. 75.
The reading and discussing of the Teaching of Shiva shall be held in
one's own house, the house of a pious man, a Temple of Shiva, a sacred grove
or a clean and quiet park. This should
be known as particularly meritorious when performed on holy days such as the
fourteenth of the dark fortnight (the day before New Moon) and during the
holy months. 76.
Those who make copies of the Teaching of Shiva and distribute them
among the devotees shall earn much Spiritual Merit. Those who according to their ability bestow
gifts to the holders of the reading for their pious service and for the
advancement of Righteousness on Earth, such as food, clothes, land, livestock
and so forth, shall earn even more merit. 77.
But those who learn the Teaching of Shiva by heart shall earn the
highest merit. For the study of the Teaching
of Shiva leads to discipline and self-control. Self-control leads to concentration. Concentration leads to focus and
clarity. Clarity leads to wisdom and
wisdom leads to peace of mind, happiness, contentment and undying bliss. 78.
Verily, whether one honours the Teaching of
Shiva in thought, word, or deed, it shall dissolve all sins and remove all
kinds of distress, physical, mental or Spiritual. It shall bring Liberation to oneself, one's living next of kin and even to the remotest
of ancestors. 79.
Truly, the Teaching of Shiva has brought to pass many a miracle, to
which the Saintly Sages (Sadhus) bear witness. For the Word of Shiva has the power to
kindle the flame of devotion in the heart of the devotee; devotion attracts the
Grace of the Lord; and His Grace attracts all kinds of things auspicious. 80.
I have now spoken to you the Secret Teaching of Lord Shiva which was
declared by Him at the beginning of Time for the Salvation of the World and
by knowing which, one knows all secrets and all things that are worthy to be
known. 81.
The Supreme Lord Himself revealed this Teaching to the Holy Sages, Duravasa, Nageshanatha, Kapalin and Anandanatha. 82.
Sage Duravasa Who Dwells Afar imparted it to
his disciples, Tryambakanatha, Amardakanatha
and Shrinatha, and these transmitted it to their
disciples. I myself heard it from
these and I have spoken it to you. Do
you now impart this Greatest of Teachings to others that the Command of the
Lord may be brought to pass. 83.
Thus spoke Venerable Sage and God-Seer Vyasa,
the worshipful son of Great Yogi Parashara and
Charming Satyavati.
May Shiva's Grace and Peace be eternally upon them all!
84. Here ends the Secret of Shiva spoken in
verses twelve hundred and thirty. Over the centuries, Shiva's Eternal
Teaching had become corrupt. Deprived
of His Guiding Light, the World could no more tell Truth from Untruth. Yogi Soma-Natha,
the humble devotee of Lord Shiva, like a dutiful gardener at the command of
his Master, after enquiring into the Truth, has mended and set in order the
course of the great stream of Spiritual Instruction known to the wise as Shri Shiva Rahasya (The
Glorious Mystery Of Supreme Reality), that it may nourish the Divine World
Garden through which it majestically flows, causing it to flourish and bear
fruit for the welfare of all. May the
Lord be pleased with my work and may it by His Grace bring Peace upon
Earth! May all Souls be happy! Obeisance to the Supreme. OM. Commentary to Chapter Twelve 4. It
came to pass in the year which according to the ancient time reckoning marked
the beginning of the Age of Kali: The Age of Kali or Age of Darkness
began in the year 3,102 BC (Before the Current Era), and the traditional
Indian Calendar calculates time as commencing at that point. In consequence,
to translate a traditional Indian year into a modern Western year, 3,102 is subtracted from the Indian year. Thus 5,106 Kali Yuga minus 3,102 is 2,004
CE (Current Western Era or AD).
Conversely, CE years are translated into Kali Yuga years by adding
3,102 to the CE date: CE 2,004 + 3,102 = KY 5,106 current (or 5,105 expired). 5. He
appeared to His devotees on the peak of Mount Kailasa:
The place at which the original Divine Revelation was given to mankind is
traditionally identified as Mount Kailasa by all
major religions of India, including those of Tibet and Nepal. Echoes of this Revelation are found in
other, more recent traditions such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The reason why supernatural revelations and
visions are often connected with mountains, is that
the pure atmosphere and balanced energy vibrations surrounding mountain peaks
as well as their physical proximity to the Higher Planes, provide the ideal
conditions for Spiritual Beings to clearly materialise
themselves and thereby establish contact with human beings. These conditions also make it easier for
humans to perceive and concentrate their naturally unfocused minds on such
visions. Finally, the remoteness of
mountain peaks puts them out of reach for those for whom, due to their
insufficient Spiritual development, such visions or apparitions are not
intended. 17.
The air was resonant with the sweet song of birds flying in and out of trees, etc.: In former
times (up to about 1,500 BC) climatic conditions in the Trans-Himalayan
region were wetter and warmer and therefore the area where Mt. Kailasa is situated was richer in vegetation and animal
life than it is today. Also, it is
important to bear in mind that the earthly Kailasa
is only an approximate reflection of the real Kailasa
(Mount Meru) on the Higher Planes. As one approaches it, one enters a zone
where the Physical and the Astral Planes intersect allowing the sensitive
pilgrim a breathtaking and highly elevating glimpse of the Otherworld. As verse 19 says: "one could tell not
whether the Sky had come down to Earth or the Earth had risen up to the
Sky". 18. Some
clad in tree-bark or deerskin, others wearing nothing at all: In common
with the original traditions of the Ancient World (Africa, Asia, Central
America, Europe, etc.), Yoga regards nudity as natural and therefore
acceptable from a Spiritual or religious point of view. Nudity in India is also traditionally seen
as symbolic of detachment and freedom from material restrictions. Writing in the third century CE, the
Christian Saint Hippolytus of Rome informs us that
some inhabitants of India abstain from wearing clothes on the ground that the
body itself is given by God as a covering for the Soul, no other clothing
being necessary (Philosophumena, XXI - The
Brahmans). Indeed, since the Supreme
Being Himself (or His Emanation) wore only a symbolic tiger skin, it would be
unreasonable to impose any restrictions with regard to clothing on humans. We may observe that, in Christianity, Lord
Jesus is similarly depicted as wearing only a loincloth on the cross and the
Bible describes his ancestor, King David, as dancing naked before the temple
altar. Michelangelo's celebrated sculpture of King David and similar
representations of human and Divine beings from Ancient Greece are but one of
the more salient reminders that nudity constitutes an integral part of the
common heritage of both East and West.
This, of course, does not mean to say that Yogis or Indians in general
observe nudity as a matter of everyday practice. Like people all over the World, they dress
according to accepted norms of decency and as required by circumstances. The complete covering of the body and face,
on the other hand, is neither popular nor advisable, medically,
psychologically and Spiritually speaking.
Indeed, the Supreme Lord Himself enjoins the wearing of aesthetically
pleasing clothes that enhance a person's natural beauty, in particular at
weddings and religious festivals (8:53, 11:65, etc.). 43. Rituals
and prayers will not do. If you desire
the Highest, a gift of your own selves is the only proper offering: See
Chapter 3, verse 2 and Commentary. 51(a). The 3rd
watch of the night: Indian time-reckoning divides the day and night into
“Watches” (Praharas) of three hours each. Thus the day lasts 4 watches from sunrise
to sunset (6 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and the night 4 watches from sunset to sunrise
(6 p.m. to 6 a.m.), midnight falling on the beginning of the 3rd
watch of the night 51 (b). And the Great Magician, the
Tremendous Three-Eyed Lord of the Three Worlds... entered a Secret Cave deep
into the mountainside: Caves have been recognised
as places of great Spiritual power from the beginning of human life on Earth
and all traditions speak of caves where encounters with the Divine take
place. Thus Shri
Ramana Maharshi, the
celebrated Sage of South India, relates the following in connection with a
cave on Mount Arunachala: "I was wandering
about aimlessly when I found at one place a big cave. When I entered the cave, I saw a number of
waterfalls, beautiful gardens, water tanks within those gardens, well-lit
paths, fine lighting; everywhere there was most pleasing. As I went further and further I saw a
Perfected Soul (Siddha Purusha)
seated like Lord Dakshina-Murti (Shiva as World
Teacher) under a tree on the banks of a water tank. Around him, a number of Saints (Munis) were seated.
They were asking something and he was replying to them. That place appeared very familiar to
me" (Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, p.
370). The 10th century
North-Indian Master, Abhinava Gupta, is said to
have entered the Bhairava Cave (near Magam, Kashmir) along with twelve hundred disciples, from
where he ascended to the Higher Planes.
The 3rd century Persian Prophet, Mani,
is also reported to have entered a cave where he remained for one year during
which time he ascended to Heaven.
Similarly, the great Sage of Ancient Greece, Epimenides
(6th century BC), is said to have fallen asleep in a cave as a
young man and to have woken up 57 years later with the gift of prophecy. In the language of Spiritual symbolism, a
cave situated near the summit of a mountain represents the highest state of
consciousness by entering which man becomes Divine. The act of entering a cave therefore symbolises the entrance into a Sacred, Divine Space that
is not normally accessible to ordinary man.
On account of the great silence and stillness prevalent in caves, the
word cave also stands for the complete stillness and silence of the
thought-free awareness experienced in the higher Spiritual States known to
Yogis. See also Chapter 4, verse 56. 67. Those
who listen regularly to the Teaching of Shiva or
meditate daily upon a verse in their heart, shall attain the Four Goals of
Life: The Four Goals are traditionally said to be obtainable by the Four
Means or Paths (Chatur Marga),
Jnana (Wisdom), Yoga (Spiritual Practice), Kriya (Religious Observances) and Charya
(Righteous Living). However, these
means in turn depend upon Yoga or Unity with the Divine. The reading of, or listening to, the
Teaching of Shiva is itself a Spiritual Practice leading to Unity with the
Supreme and, consequently, to the obtainment of the Four Goals. Thus, the reading of the Shiva Rahasya is consonant with Righteous Living, it
constitutes Religious Observance as well as Spiritual Practice, and it
results in the awakening of Divine Wisdom within oneself whereby anything may
be obtained. In the Yoga tradition,
Scriptures are not read hurriedly and then put away - as is often common
among present-day readers - but read slowly to allow their absorption and
assimilation or "digestion" by the reader's mind. Reading or re-reading one verse a day enables
the human mind to attune itself to the Universal Consciousness and Its Higher
Wisdom as revealed in Scripture and thus harmonise
the reader's life with that of the Universe, with all the resultant benefits
that such a harmonisation brings. As indicated in verse 77, the learning by
heart of the Teaching of Shiva, or at
least passages thereof, will enable the Yoga student to recall
them from memory at all times and make them the object of his meditation,
thereby remaing in constant touch with Higher Wisdom. 71. Untimely
Death: See Commentary to Chapter 9, verse 89. 75. During
the holy months: The Holy Months are the Four Months (Chatur
Masa) of the rainy season: Ashadha
(22 June to 22 July), Shravana (23 July to 22
August), Bhadrapada (23 August to 22 September) and
Ashvina (23 September - 22 October). It is an ancient custom, already mentioned
in Emperor Ashoka's edicts (3rd century
BC), for ascetic Yogis and monks (Parivrajakas) who
normally wander across the country, to remain in one place during this
season. This is an opportunity for the lay community to interact with the
Sages (Swamis or Sadhus) and draw inspiration from
the latter's teachings and practices and it is a great honour
for all householders to accommodate and entertain them. Chaturmasya or in
full, Chaturmasya Vrata
(also known as Varsha-Vasana), is regarded as a
particularly favourable time for the performance of
Spiritual practices such as alms-giving, fasting and listening to Spiritual
readings and discourses, while certain dietary restrictions are generally
observed by all. Although originally
observed for the full length of the season, in more recent times it has been
reduced to the first two months only, approximately from the Full Moon of Ashadha (June/July) to Full Moon of Bhadrapada
(August/September), one fortnight or half month being regarded symbolically
as one month.
84 (a). Here ends the Secret of Shiva spoken in verses twelve hundred and
thirty: The total number of verses in the Shiva Rahasya
amounts to 1230, a number which in Yoga has deep Spiritual meaning. When added up individually, the component
numbers (1 + 2 + 3) give the figure 6 which, as intimated earlier,
constitutes the basis of the sexagesimal system of
numbers employed in Yoga for the transmission of certain Spiritual
truths. Furthermore, 12 multiplied by
3 gives the Mystic Number 36 or, if we add the final 0, 360. This stands for the Totality of Being or
All-Encompassing Reality Itself. In
practice, the number 360 symbolises man's (and the
World's) Revolution or Completion of the Circle of Life and return to the
original point of departure. This Spiritual Revolution is not a return to the
past, but a return to the Eternal Truth that nourishes all life. It is a return that must be urgently
effectuated by the modern World for the salvation of all Souls and the
establishment of Divine Life on Earth.
The same message is also conveyed in the number of the current page in
which 9 (Nava, in Sanskrit) means New, thus indicating the advent of a New
World Order based upon the Eternal Principle of All-Encompassing Unity. See also Chapters 2 and 7, and Commentary.
84 (b). Yogi Soma-Natha has mended and set in order
the course of the great stream of Spiritual Instruction known to the wise as Shri Shiva Rahasya: Unlike
written Scriptures the transmission of which has involved human agency and
which therefore no longer accurately represent the Original Revelation, the
Shiva Rahasya is the Word of God directly revealed
through His Own Living Apostle, His Divine Holiness Mahaguru
Shri Soma-Natha Maharaj Dev for the correction and completion of all
other Scriptures which together form the great stream of Spiritual
Intelligence that eternally nourishes the World.
End of Chapter 12 and Commentary |