Day 211 - Teaching Imparted by Lord SivaDay

Day 211 - Teaching Imparted by Lord Siva

Description of the Lord

VASISTHA continued:

There is the sacred abode of Lord Siva, known as Kailasa. I lived there for some time, devotedly worshipping Lord Siva and practising austerities. I was in the company of perfected sages with whom I engaged in discussions about the truths of the scriptures.

One evening, while worshipping Lord Siva, the atmosphere was filled with peace and silence. The darkness in the forest was so dense that it seemed solid. At that moment, I saw a great light in the forest. Using my external sight, I saw the light and, with my insight, I enquired into its nature. I realized it was Lord Siva himself, walking with his consort Parvati. Nandi, his vehicle, walked ahead, clearing the path. I informed my disciples of the divine presence and went to where the Lord was.

I saluted Lord Siva and offered him worship. I spent a long time gazing at the divine vision. Lord Siva then asked me, "Is your austerity proceeding well, without obstacles? Have you attained what is worth attaining, and have your internal fears ceased?"

I replied, "Supreme Lord, those who are fortunate enough to be devoted to you find nothing difficult to attain and do not experience fear. Everyone salutes and prostrates before those devoted to you and who constantly remember you. Only places where your devoted followers reside are truly worthy. Your remembrance is the result of merits from past lives and a promise of future blessedness. Your constant remembrance, O Lord, is like a pot of nectar and an ever-open door to liberation. Wearing the precious jewel of your remembrance, I have overcome all future calamities."

The Method of Worship

"Lord, although I have reached a state of self-fulfilment by your grace, I am eager to learn more about one thing. Please enlighten me on the method of worshipping the Lord that destroys all sins and brings auspiciousness."

THE LORD said:

Do you know who 'God' is? God is not Visnu, Siva, or Brahma; not the wind, the sun, or the moon; not a brahmana or a king; not I or you; not Laksmi or the mind. God is without form and undivided. That splendour which is uncreated and without beginning or end is known as God or Lord Siva, pure consciousness. That alone is to be worshipped, and that alone is everything.

If one cannot worship this Siva, they are encouraged to worship a form. The latter yields finite results, but the former bestows infinite bliss. Ignoring the infinite and focusing on the finite is like abandoning a pleasure-garden for a thorny bush. However, sages may worship a form playfully.

Articles Used in Worship

Wisdom, self-control, and the perception of the self in all beings are the foremost among the articles used in worship. The self alone is Lord Siva, who is to be worshipped with the flowers of wisdom at all times.

Transmuting the World into Pure Consciousness

(I asked the Lord: "Please tell me how this world is transformed into pure consciousness and how that pure consciousness appears as the jiva and other things.")

..... To be continued