From a satsang with Pundit Balram Persad, Spiritual Leader, Om Shakti Mandali
In the mystical realm of Shiv Raatri, a night resonating with profound significance, unfolds an eternal tale encapsulating the miracles and spiritual revelations that transpire amidst the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva. Among the myriad stories, one tells of a hunter whose nocturnal quest for sustenance led him on a journey that transcended the realms of the worldly into the ethereal.
On that auspicious night, the hunter, driven by the primal instinct to provide for his family, experienced a poignant encounter with a family of deer. In a plea for reunion, the gentle creatures implored him to witness their familial bonds before he chose the path of the arrow. In a peculiar twist of fate, each attempt to take aim at them inadvertently nudged his elbow against a bael tree, causing bael leaves to fall and water to sprinkle from his pouch, unintentionally anointing the base of a lingam dedicated to Lord Shiva.
As the night continued, the hunter found himself unintentionally observing a fast, a prelude to the transformative grace bestowed by Lord Shiva. When the deer family, true to their word, returned to him, compassion overwhelmed his heart, and the hunter relinquished his intent to harm. In this act of mercy, the grace of Lord Shiva began its subtle alchemy within his being, birthing anugraha, the divine blessing that would reshape his destiny.
With the breaking dawn, the hunter’s thoughts of violence dissolved, replaced by profound repentance and love. Bhagavan Shankar manifested from the lingam, and the hunter’s life underwent a transcendent metamorphosis. This sacred tale weaves allegorical threads, beckoning us to ponder the deeper purpose of existence — the realisation and understanding of God.
The hunter symbolises humanity, a seeker on the path of self-discovery. The forest animals represent the impurities within, the animalistic, carnivorous nature that must be shed to ascend spiritually. Choosing righteousness over violence becomes the transformative ascent, akin to climbing the bael tree—unintentionally rising in spiritual elevation.
In our rituals of offering water and bael to Lord Shiva, accompanied by the chanting of mantras, we plant seeds of spiritual growth. While transformation may not be immediately apparent, the long-term benefits manifest in emotional, mental and spiritual evolution. The tale imparts an eternal wisdom — the need to tame the deer-like mind, transcend the ego and strive for the serene bliss of pure consciousness.
As we celebrate Shiv Raatri, let this allegory guide our introspection and inspire a journey towards the tranquil realms of self-realisation, echoing the transformative grace bestowed upon the hunter under the cosmic gaze of Lord Shiva.
