From a satsang with Paramacharya of SWAHA, H.H. Pundit Hardeo Persad
In the ancient epic Mahabharata, the Pandavas are faced with myriad challenges during their 12 years of exile in the forest. After many challenges, they are advised by both Bhagavan Shree Krishna and Ved Vyas on the significance of worshipping Lord Shiva and embracing dispassion in the face of adversity.
Once, the Pandavas, exemplifying hospitality, extended a warm welcome to Sage Durvasa and his disciples during their wanderings in the woods. However, the predicament arose when the Pandavas realised they had nothing to offer the revered sage since they had already consumed their daily meal from the divine Akshaya Patra, the vessel that provided an unending supply of food.
In need of a divine solution, the Pandavas turned to Lord Krishna, their trusted guide. Shree Krishna, with divine insight, consumed a single grain of rice adhered to the Akshaya Patra‘s surface, declaring it to be a satisfying morsel not only for himself but for the entire universe.
The sage and his disciples, after completing their ritual bath, unexpectedly felt replete, as if they had partaken in a fulfilling meal. Without expressing discontent, they quietly departed, sparing the Pandavas from the repercussions of unmet expectations.
Lord Krishna, in the aftermath of this episode, revealed a profound truth: “My friends, if you want to avert all difficulties and gain success in life, then you should perform Shiv Araadhanaa, the worship of Lord Shiva.”
Shiva, known as Neela Kanth, the Blue-Throated One, embodies dispassion, having consumed the poison of the world’s materialism without harm to himself. Worshipping Shiva leads to the development of dispassion, a quality essential for rising above the dualities of life: joy and sorrow, good and bad, pain and happiness.
Disgust with the negatives of the world serves as a prelude to dispassion, as we turn away from these influences and cultivate vairaagya, dispassion. Materialism, often likened to a deadly poison, engulfs humanity, fostering enmity and strife. The antidote lies in developing the dispassionate power of tyaag, attainable through worship of Lord Shiva, the embodiment of goodness, auspiciousness, and detachment.
In embracing Shivaji’s worship, we find the strength to navigate life’s challenges and develop resilience against the allure of materialism. Through dispassion, we can attain enduring peace and spiritual perfection, transcending the adversities that seek to bind us. Lord Shiva’s teachings guide us towards a life of balance, where the pursuit of goodness and detachment leads to a harmonious existence.
