Shiva’s Mysterious Promise
The Saptarishis were the first seven disciples of Shiva. He offered one 112 ways in which a human being can attain to the highest. Shiva divided these 112 ways and taught each of the seven sages 16 ways because for one individual to learn and grasp 112 ways would have gone a bit too far. It is said they spent a very long time with him – the legend says over eighty-four years. Eighty-four may be a symbolic number because in Yoga, there are eighty-four asanas, and eighty-four dimensions of life. By the end of those many years, he was the only world they knew.
But then Shiva told them, “Now that each one of you has grasped 16 ways, you must take them to the world. Go in seven different directions and take it to many different parts of the world; parts of the world that no one from this land has ever seen.” They were a little apprehensive. When they were just about to leave, they asked him, “We do not know where we are going, what kind of people we will meet, and whether we will be able to share these profound truths with them. If we get in trouble, will you be there for us?” Shiva looked at them incredulously and said, “Well, if you are in trouble, I will sleep.” This is the way of the mystic.
When you sleep, you become part of the earth; you become part of everything. You always are, but you make yourself an individual person. But when you sleep, your personality, gender, wealth, qualifications, and quirks are gone, and you are one with everything. When Shiva says, “If you are in trouble, I will sleep,” it means, “I will be one with you. Do not worry.” So, you should not worry about this either. Shiva being the destroyer does not mean he will come and break you down. When you seek him in that sense, he will be one with you.
Preserver or Destroyer? Different Dimensions of Shiva
There are different dimensions of Shiva or different aspects of energy that serve different dimensions of life. Even in the Isha Yoga Center, there are many manifestations of Shiva. There is a Yogeshwara linga; there is another linga in the Adiyogi Alayam, and of course there is Dhyanalinga. This is because there are many dimensions to what you call “Shiva.” One of these dimensions is called Kala Bhairava or one who is the master of time. We will be consecrating a Kala Bhairava shrine at the entrance of the Isha Yoga Center. This consecration will be a very special, complex process because this space will be designed and consecrated to serve both the living and the dead.
Never forget that whatever you are doing, your life is ticking away. The Kala dimension of Shiva is that of a timekeeper, which is relevant for both the living and the dead.
The One and Only Thing to Offer Shiva
Question: Sadhguru, what is the best thing we can offer to Shiva on Mahashivratri?
Sadhguru: The best thing to offer Shiva is yourself. What else do you really have? Everything you have is gathered from this world. Your home, your people, your wealth, the warehouse of things you have, all of it does not belong to you; it is only there for your use for some time. What is the point of offering those things? Even your very body is gathered from this planet; giving it means nothing. The best thing you can do is to give yourself. But you need something symbolic to offer because you want to offer something.
Traditionally, it is said that if on Mahashivratri day, you just offer one vilva leaf, which is dear to Shiva, it is enough. Because you do not know how to offer yourself, you offer a leaf with devotion burning in your heart. The question is not what you offer but how. Because it is not what you do but how you do it that determines the quality of your life. If instead of trying to fix “what,” you just fix “how,” your life will be in order.
Whatever you do, it is the nature of a human being to want to be something more. When you want to be something more, you can rob, conquer, or enslave someone, or you can love and embrace someone. Something becomes yours either by buying it, enslaving it, conquering it, or simply by loving it, including it, and embracing it as a part of yourself. How you do it makes the difference. Will your actions be of love, empathy, and compassion, or will your actions be of conquest, enslavement, and domination?
This Mahashivratri, do not even bother to pluck a leaf. Just offer yourself. Shiva will not take you away – you are anyway his. Shiva is an ascetic. If you offer him gold, silver, and diamonds, what will he do with them? If you offer yourself, you will never be an impediment in your life. That must happen. There are many issues in the world. But you must make sure that you are never the issue in your life. The more you try to do in the world, the more problems you will face, but you should never be an impediment in your life. Offering yourself means you have given yourself – so how could you be in the way.
