Shiva, one of the most revered gods in Hinduism, is often called the "God of destruction and transformation." But Shiva is so much more than that. He is also the god of meditation, yoga, and the arts. His story is rich in symbols and teachings that can guide us in our daily lives.
The Story of Shiva
Shiva is often depicted as an ascetic, seated in meditation on Mount Kailash, surrounded by serpents and festivals. He is the third god of the Hindu Trinity, along with Brahma and Vishnu. Shiva is known for his cosmic dance, the Tandava, which symbolizes the eternal cycle of creation, preservation, and destruction.
One of the most famous stories about Shiva is that of his cosmic dance. According to legend, Shiva dances to maintain the balance of the universe. His dance is a metaphor for life itself, where each movement represents an aspect of existence. When Shiva dances, he destroys illusions and obstacles, thus allowing the creation of new possibilities.
Shiva is also known for his compassion and love for his devotees. A popular story tells how Shiva saved the world by drinking the poison halahala, which emerged from the ocean of milk during the churning of the ocean by the gods and demons. This act of sacrifice shows Shiva's compassion and love for humanity.
The Connection Between Shiva and Sirius
Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, is often associated with divinity in many traditions. In ancient Egypt, it was linked to Isis, the goddess of magic and rebirth. In Hinduism, some interpretations associate Sirius with Rudra, an ancient form of Shiva.
The first time I noticed Sirius twinkling above us, Cassie suddenly raised her paw towards the sky, as if to catch a star. This gesture struck me like a revelation: what if Shiva, in his dance, also reached out to the heavens to remind us of our connection to the infinite?
On the evenings when Sirius shines above our balcony, Cassie snuggles up to me as if she too perceives this sacred light. I remember a night of Maha Shivaratri, when I had lit a lamp for Lakshmi and chanted Om Namah Shivaya. Cassie, with her eyes half-closed, seemed to listen to the vibrations of the mantra, as if she captured the echo of Shiva's cosmic dance. This moment reminded me that, just as Sirius guides sailors, Shiva guides our souls through the cycles of life. The smoke from the incense drew spirals around her, like the serpents of Shiva that symbolize the kundalini energy and rebirth.
Inspired Ritual
For those who wish to explore this connection, here is a simple ritual: observe Sirius during meditation, visualizing its light as a thread connecting heaven and earth, while repeating a mantra dedicated to Shiva. You can also try a breathing practice synchronized with the purring of your pet, to anchor this connection.
Teachings of Shiva Illustrated by Cassie
Destruction as Transformation
One morning, I found my mantra notebook in tatters, scattered near Cassie's bowl. My first reaction was annoyance... then I smiled. Shiva, too, destroys sacred writings to reveal their essence: words are but shells. Cassie, unknowingly, offered me a lesson in non-attachment.
Meditation as an Art of Living
Cassie embodies mindfulness, simply by sitting near the window to watch the birds. Her whiskers quiver with the rhythm of the wind, her pupils dilate with the moonlight... She does not seek to understand, she simply lives the moment. Shiva, too, dances without purpose, without attachment. What if meditation was just that: sitting, like Cassie, and letting the world exist around us?
Integration of Sacred Texts
The Bhagavad Gita and Action Without Attachment
The Bhagavad Gita tells us: "You have the right to act, but not to worry about the fruits of your actions." (II.47) When Cassie chases a dead leaf, she does so with total intensity, then moves on once the leaf is still. She does not attach her happiness to the result, but to the act itself. Shiva, in his dance, acts without desire for control—a lesson that Cassie reminds me of every day.
The Heart Sutra and Impermanence
The Heart Sutra tells us that form is void, the emperor is void. Cassie, with her passing years, embodies the sunyata (the void) of the Heart Sutra: she does not resist time, she dances with it. Like Shiva, who wears the crescent moon—a symbol of fleeting time—she teaches me to dance with the present.
Shiva and Native American Sounds
I love blending Hindu mantras with Native American sounds. During one session, I combined a chant of Om Namah Shivaya with the sound of a drum. The vibrations of the drum seemed to resonate with Cassie's purring, as if we were recreating, on our scale, the music of the Tandava. Shiva dances, the drum beats, and Cassie... Cassie is the earth that welcomes this dance.
The Native American drums, with their earthy rhythm, evoke for me the heartbeat of the Earth, while Om Namah Shivaya is the breath of the cosmos. Together, they create a bridge between heaven and earth—and Cassie, with her purring, is the anchor.
Conclusion
And if meditating was just... remembering?
Shanti Om.
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