Time has flown by so fast. Another Maha Shivratri is upon us, this one without the woman, who for me is synonymous with Maha Shivratri. Dearest, precious, beloved and most respected, dearly departed, Dr. Shailaja Nadkarni.
For the first time since the Prana Pratishtha/ consecration of the Deity of Lord Shiva in His house at Kaivalya, Shalajaji will not be officiating the ceremony. It is painful enough to think about it, so perhaps it's just as well, that I am far away across the oceans; yet not quite removed from it.
It was Shalajaji who swept us into the Chinmaya fold, as she did anyone so inclined and whose paths crossed with hers. Her love for and devotion to the cause of her beloved Swamiji, accelerated the significance of the Mission on the Orlando landscape. While the congregation rose in numbers, it was the spiritual rising of its members that would not have been, but for her loving guidance, persistence, and compassionate leadership.
For so many of us, and I shamefully speak for myself, who is so far removed from organized religion, Shailajaji was an emancipator of lost souls. Like acorns we lay on the forest floor, buried underneath the debris of mindless distractions, oblivious of that shaft of life-giving sunlight beyond the canopy of the trees. Shailajaji came with her caring, and peeled away the restraints of ignorance, directing us towards the pursuit of enlightenment.
Beyond the chanting, and beyond the fasting, beyond the rituals, lies a deeply embedded truth about the nature of the true and holy relationship of our souls with Shiva, and which we consistently overlook. It is expressed in Adi Shankaracharya's Nirvana Shatakam. Before we can celebrate anyone or anything, should we not know who we are, and strive to live that truth?
We each have to read it, sing it and meditate upon it, for our enrichment. This is my way of celebrating Maha Shivratri this year. Striving to be worthy of reciting, "Shivoham, Shivoham."
Resources:
1) According to the website, Mahakatha.com, (https://mahakatha.com/nirvana-shatakam-mantra/) "Adi Shankaracharya's Nirvana Shatakam is an ode to Lord Shiva." The transliterated lyrics with explanations are available at the link.
2) There is another version here: (http://stotrarathna.blogspot.com/2009/07/adhi-shankaras-nirvana-shatkam.html) which I find more endearing. More endearing because the story behind it is more challenging, the kind that will make us grow. It is from PR Ramachander's translation, who writes, "There is a story that one of his disciples started saying Shivoham like the Acharya without understanding its significance. The Acharya visited the black smith’s house and happily drank one tumbler of molten iron and ordered the disciple to do so. Naturally he was not able to it. The Acharya told him that as for himself the molten iron or ice cold water are not different because he has realized that he is no different from Lord Shiva, and till the disciple attains that state, there is no point in his repeating Shivoham i.e “I am Shiva”
Mano budhya ahankara chithaa ninaham,
Na cha srothra jihwe na cha graana nethrer,
Na cha vyoma bhoomir na thejo na vayu,
Chidananada Roopa Shivoham, Shivoham. 1
Neither am I mind, nor intelligence ,
Nor ego, nor thought,
Nor am I ears or the tongue or the nose or the eyes,
Nor am I earth or sky or air or the light,
But I am Shiva the all pervading happiness,
Yes ,I am definitely Shiva.
Na cha praana samgno na vai pancha vaayur,
Na vaa saptha dhathur na va pancha kosa,
Na vak pani padam na chopa stha payu,
Chidananada Roopa Shivoham, Shivoham. 2
Neither am I the movement due to life,
Nor am I the five airs, nor am I the seven elements,
Nor am I the five internal organs,
Nor am I voice or hands or feet or other organs,
But I am Shiva the all pervading happiness,
Yes ,I am definitely Shiva
Na me dwesha raghou na me lobha mohou,
Madho naiva me naiva matsarya bhava,
Na dharmo na cha artha na kamo na moksha,
Chidananada Roopa Shivoham, Shivoham. 3
I never do have enmity or friendship,
Neither do I have vigour nor feeling of competition,
Neither do I have assets, or money or passion or salvation,
But I am Shiva the all pervading happiness,
Yes ,I am definitely Shiva
Na punyam na paapam na soukhyam na dukham,
Na manthro na theertham na veda na yagna,
Aham bhojanam naiva bhojyam na bhoktha,
Chidananada Roopa Shivoham, Shivoham. 4
Never do I have good deeds or sins or pleasure or sorrow,
Neither do I have holy chants or holy water or holy books or fire sacrifice,
I am neither food or the consumer who consumes food,
As I am Shiva the all pervading happiness,
Yes ,I am definitely Shiva
Na mruthyur na sankha na me jathi bhedha,
Pitha naiva me naiva matha na janma,
Na bhandhur na mithram gurur naiva sishya,
Chidananada Roopa Shivoham, Shivoham. 5
I do not have death or doubts or distinction of caste,
I do not have either father or mother or even birth,
And I do not have relations or friends or teacher or students,
As I am Shiva the all pervading happiness,
Yes ,I am definitely Shiva
Aham nirvi kalpi nirakara roopi,
Vibhuthwascha sarvathra sarvendriyanaam,
Na cha sangatham naiva mukthir na meya
Chidananada Roopa Shivoham, Shivoham. 6
I am one without doubts , I am without form,
Due to knowledge I do not have any relation with my organs,
And I am always redeemed,
And I am Shiva the all pervading happiness,
Yes ,I am definitely Shiva
Posted by Raja Thatha at 5:35 PM
