Guiding Light: Is Shiva A Person?

Some people believe Shiva was a person or yogi who walked on this planet thousands of years ago. That is untrue. Never limit Shiva to time. He is called Maha Kaal, the time of times, and the cause of all causes. Again, Kailasa is not some mountain where He lived. Kailasa means where there is only celebration, where there is only joy, and when Shiva Tattva dawns in you, life becomes only celebration. Where there is celebration, that is where Shiva resides or has blossomed.

Albert Einstein proved that energy can neither be created nor destroyed; it can only change from one form to another. That energy, which changes from one form to another, is Shiva. That which is always (nitya) and which is (shashwat), that is Shiva Tattva.

Shiva is that blissful and innocent consciousness which permeates every atom of the universe. Celebrating the Shiva tattva in oneself is what Shivaratri is all about. “Ratri” is the night, the time for rest and comfort. When all the activities are on hold and it becomes quiet and peaceful, the body goes to sleep. Shivaratri is that deep rest not only for the body but also for the mind, intellect and ego.

The way Shiva is described is very interesting. Shivam, Shantam, Advaitam: Shivam means your purest self; Shantam is quiet, peaceful, and innocent; and Advaita is non-dual, where there is only One. Shiva has these five modes: Srishti or creation; Sthiti or maintenance; Samhar or dissolution; Anugraha, that is, blessing or grace; and Tirobhav means staying behind a veil, or hiding.

Manifestation of this consciousness is this entire creation, which is the dance of Shiva. That is why you can never separate the dancer from the dance. Dancer is the consciousness or the purusha, and dance is the prakruti.

Shivaratri is the transcendental, divine peace which brings solace to all layers of existence. There are certain days and time frames in a year that enhance one's mental and spiritual faculties. In such times, whatever one wishes, materialises. Shivaratri is one such precious day.