By Victor M Fontane
Another significant figure in Hindu tradition shares profound cosmic connections with Shiva, particularly in his celebration of life and the feminine principle. While Shiva’s role is deeply introspective, Krishna’s is one of Joyful expression.
Krishna’s life and stories are filled with vibrant imagery of Love, Music and celebration. His intimate connection with Radha, for instance, symbolizes the ultimate union of the divine masculine and feminine. Their love story has captured the imagination of a whole culture, where Radha and Krishna are inseparable in the heart and minds of devotees.
However, Krishna’s role extends far beyond his playful stories with Radha.
At the age of 16, when his guru Sandipani made him realize his life purpose, Krishna left his Homeland and never returned. His life from that point onward was dedicated to the spiritual and political process.
Krishna is known for establishing over 1,000 ashrams to integrate spiritual process into everyday life. He believed that spiritual practice should not be a fringe activity but a part of mainstream life, much like the daily routine of brushing one’s teeth.
His vision was to bring Spirituality into the lives of rulers and citizens alike, ensuring that the process of spiritual awakening was accessible to all. One of the key aspects of Krishna’s life was the celebration of RASA - a word that means the juice or essence of life. The Rasa Lila, the cosmic dance of Krishna with the Gopis, represents the ecstasy of life itself. This dance was not one of physical desire but a celebration of the Spiritual Joy and the overflowing energy of life. The Rasa Lila became a symbol of divine love, where the boundaries between the divine and the individual dissolved, and the participants experienced the ecstasy of union with the divine.
Shiva, intrigued by the ecstasy of Krishna’s dance, once decided to witness the Rasa Lila himself. However, as the story goes, the Boatman who helped Shiva cross the river remarked that Shiva, with his towering masculine energy, could not participate in the Rasa Lila unless he assumed a feminine form.
This story is a profound acknowledgement of the Feminine principle even within a being like Shiva. It reflects the cultural understanding that both the masculine and feminine energies must be present and balanced for one to experience the fullness of life.
In Hindu culture, the feminine principle, often referred to as SHAKTI, plays an essential role. The feminine is not simply about gender but represents the nurturing, creative and receptive aspects of existence. Without the feminine, life loses its beauty, joy and vitality. While the masculine may provide structure and stability, the feminine brings fluidity, creativity and emotion. However, in todays day the feminine principle is often overshadowed by the dominance of the masculine, especially in societal values.
The emphasis on survival, economics and material success often leads to the suppression of the feminine qualities of Nurturing, Creativity and emotional expression. \Krishna’s life, in contrast, was a celebration of the feminine. His reverence for Radha and his acknowledgement of the power of love, beauty and joy reflects the understanding that life is not just about survival. The masculine energy may be necessary for survival, but is the feminine energy that brings meaning and depth to life.
In a world where the feminine is often suppressed, Krishna’s message is more relevant than ever. He reminds us that to truly live, we must embrace both the Masculine and Feminine within us.
Shiva’s ganas, his close companions are also a testament to the balance of energies. These beings, described as distorted and deformed, represent forces that exist beyond the physical and rational world. They are often misunderstood as Chaotic or Demonic, but in reality, they symbolize the chaotic yet essential forces of the universe that Shiva, in his wisdom, can harness and control. Shiva’s ability to command the Ganas reflects his mastery over the elemental forces of nature and his understanding of the balance between Order and Chaos.
In one story, Shiva’s ganas play a key role in the creation of Ganesha, the Elephant-Headed God. After Shiva accidentally Beheaded his son, he replaced his head with that of a Gana, symbolizing the union of the human and the cosmic.
Ganesha’s head, often depicted as an Elephant’s, is a representation of wisdom, intellect, and the ability to remove obstacles.
This story highlights the interconnectedness of the divine and the human, where the chaotic forces of the universe can be transformed into symbols of wisdom and grace.
Comments