Posted:
You know, today I feel like opening up and sharing something very personal with all of you who so dedicatedly follow our mails and stories about Shiva. It takes a lot of courage to share something so close to one's heart, but I feel that with all the love that you have shown, I can easily share with you a very strange but beautiful personal experience that I had years ago'
I did not have to answer them, they looked where my eyes were glued and their eyes widened! The shop was closed, the shutter was down but one could see through the shutter all the items on display. It was a shop that sold very European gift items like lace doilies and fine china. I could not believe it! There was a beautiful blue coloured Shiva 'murti' or statue kept in the display window of that shop. A Shiva murti in such a shop in this quiet town of Berne in Switzerland?! There was no other Indian item as such that was being sold there. My son had been staying in that town since months and he told me he had never seen this Shiva murti there before! We were all dumbfounded!
As soon as I came back from Switzerland, though I could not find anything the same as or as beautiful as what I had seen in Berne, I bought myself a new Shiva statue that resembled the one that I had seen. The statue was a Dakshina-Murti or one where Shiva sits facing the South. It is the aspect of Shiva as the 'guru', the one who provides knowledge or 'jnana' (pronounced as gyaan). His right palm is placed over his left palm as he sits in a yogic posture, performing the role of the divine teacher.
This happened around the end of December 2005, when I was working on a particularly difficult book on Shiva. I was writing 'Rudra: The idea of Shiva. It was on the lines of a biography of Shiva. After doing extensive work for a very long time, a rather short but much welcome a break came in the form of a family vacation to the quiet town of Berne in Switzerland.
I remember, I was walking down the road with my family in the area where the local shops are. It was a late December evening, freezing cold and the roads were deserted. As we were walking by looking for a restaurant, I don't know what took me over and I felt a sudden urge to cross the road and walk on the other side. On an inexplicable whim, I just crossed the road and walked towards a shop ahead. I don't know what it was that drew me to that shop, but I just wanted to go there.
I reached outside the shop and stood there staring at something that I could see through the window. My family too crossed the road, came where I was standing and asked me what I was staring at.
I did not have to answer them, they looked where my eyes were glued and their eyes widened! The shop was closed, the shutter was down but one could see through the shutter all the items on display. It was a shop that sold very European gift items like lace doilies and fine china. I could not believe it! There was a beautiful blue coloured Shiva 'murti' or statue kept in the display window of that shop. A Shiva murti in such a shop in this quiet town of Berne in Switzerland?! There was no other Indian item as such that was being sold there. My son had been staying in that town since months and he told me he had never seen this Shiva murti there before! We were all dumbfounded!
We stood there enchanted by the murti for a while. As I was looking at the mesmerizing blue statue I felt as if Shiva came down to Switzerland to remind me that I have to finish my work on him! I smiled and in my heart told Him, do not worry, I promise I will finish my work soon and do it well.
The next morning when we went back the same way for a walk, we went back to the shop to see if it was open so that we could buy the Shiva statue, but alas! The shop was still closed and the statue wasn't there!
The next morning when we went back the same way for a walk, we went back to the shop to see if it was open so that we could buy the Shiva statue, but alas! The shop was still closed and the statue wasn't there!
You know, I honestly cant convey my shock and the emotions I felt at that time! I get goose bumps even today whenever I think of it or talk about it.
As soon as I came back from Switzerland, though I could not find anything the same as or as beautiful as what I had seen in Berne, I bought myself a new Shiva statue that resembled the one that I had seen. The statue was a Dakshina-Murti or one where Shiva sits facing the South. It is the aspect of Shiva as the 'guru', the one who provides knowledge or 'jnana' (pronounced as gyaan). His right palm is placed over his left palm as he sits in a yogic posture, performing the role of the divine teacher.
Seeing Shiva in that form in Switzerland reminded me of my work on him. The result spoke for itself: the book came out really well and was well appreciated by all. Everytime I look at this form of Shiva I feel inspired and work with another level of enthusiasm and involvement which sometimes daily cares and other issues try to dampen. During my course of study I have found this particular form of Shiva very inspiring as it helped me focus my energies on my work in the right way.
On a lighter note, everyone tells me that my house is truly the house of a historian! I am often told that they love the way it is decorated with such a fine collection of beautiful art pieces. I am sending pictures of one of them for you to see. I hope you like it!
P.S.:- This situation did not happen to me but happen to my teacher Dr Nilima Chitgopekar who teaches me via sending emails about Lord Shiva & their principles.
http://thesakshatexperience.com/
OR
http://www.theshivaexperience.com/products
Udne Ki Aasha
