Hari
OM
Story-day is for cultural exploration, puraanas and
parables and finding out about leading lights in spiritual philosophy.
This
is the final (for now) of our focus on the form of Lord Shiva. Today let us ponder upon his
manifestation as LORD JAGADEESHWARA. Here we find Him in total meditative pose.
His stillness knows no bounds - yet we also get the feeling that much is moving
within. Here is the very kernel of all the energy in the universe. Here is
Universal Love.
Sri
Jagadeeshwara is the lord of all who would follow the spiritual path, who would
meditate to the ultimate end, and who would then seek to bring their
understanding to the world. It is for
this reason that the temple at Sandeepany Sadhanaalya, the primary gurukula
campus of Chinmaya Mission, is the home of this मूर्ति/muurti (image). It is here
that दीक्षा/deekshaa (investiture/ exclusive observation) takes place; where
the Guru confers a spiritual name and blesses the simple clothes to be worn
(yellow or orange accordingly) - and generally this occurs at Maha-Shivraatri.
We
need 'men of the cloth' for our guidance. Just as mountaineers and other
adventurers require their experienced guides. The journey is made so much less formidable when we
have the company of those who have already trodden the path.
Those
who wear such vestments are clearly visible as 'instruments of the Lord'; same
can be said for those of any faith who wear the outward signs of their
spiritual commitment. In theory, this means that an acceptably high level of
purity and clarity has been attained within: but of course the individual,
still present in human form, continues to be subject to all the nonsense that
gives! Until such time as the ultimate goal is reached and they become God-men
(a rarity indeed), the ego must constantly be battled, the senses constantly
disciplined. This is why many will withdraw into bastions of faith - cloisters
for the Christian, forests and caves for the Vedantin; noble enough in their
continued Higher focus. There are others, though, who seek to bring the solace
and enlightenment to the society. In doing this they must face all the same
temptations and frustrations this brings. In their seeking to guide, they must
guard against their own 'slippage'.
These
guides, themselves, require such a one further along than they are - and in the
case of sanyaasins, this is Lord Jagadeeshwara.
He is the one to whom they can turn for their
guidance and encouragement. They can attune themselves to Him, receiving His
challenges when they stray - for He will
lay down the obstacles to make the traveller rethink their course! - accepting
with gratitude His upliftment and the smoothing of the path.
Sri
Jagadeeshwara is the ultimate साधु/saadhu (renunciate), living only on bhikshaa
(alms food), possessing nothing beyond basic clothing and items of devotion,
using all time not taken up with mananam or teaching for meditation. Simplicity
and supreme focus are His examples. These become the rewards of His devotees.
Taking
His name is itself a devotion and a meditation form.
जगत्/jagat
= relates to all the elements, to mankind, to mobility, to all the worlds, to
the cosmos
ईश/eesha
= supreme, total mastership, owning
वर/v(w)ara
= best, precious, most excellent, princely
These
are but a few of the meanings when the name is broken into its component parts.
As is often the case, and particularly in Sanskrit, bringing the parts together
gives a greater whole.
The Supreme Master of All He Surveys is Our Most
Excellent Prince!
