Shiva – the green God

Sai R. Vaidyanathan

MANY of us may be under the impression that Lord Shiva, who goes into long periods of meditation, lives in scary crematoriums or on the remote Mt Kailash, has little to do with modern civilisation. This is far from the truth.

Poison of progress

In the sixth Manvantara, affluence (Goddess Lakshmi) melted away due to sage Durvasa’s curse. So, in order to get society back on the path of development, the Devas and Asuras decided to churn the Ocean of Milk.

The first output was Halahal, the most potent poison in the universe. Its fumes suffocated one and all. Suggestions were sought on how to deal with it. “Leave it alone. It will dissolve in the ocean,” said one. “The essence derived never dissolves back in the solution. Think of something else,” said another.

So, Lord Shiva was invoked. For the progress of the material world, he conceded to putting his life to risk. But as he sipped it, his wife Parvati tightly held his throat so that it doesn’t reach his stomach and kill him. Due to the poison, Shiva’s throat turned blue and he came to be known as Neelkanth (blue-throated).

After that, 13 other products came out, including Goddess Lakshmi and the nectar. For us to enjoy the goodies of development, the Lord gulped the poison of pollution. Shiva took a similar risk to his life during the descent of the Ganga.

His tresses are the trees

King Sagar’s 60,000 sons had been turned to ashes by sage Kapil. To ensure their salvation, the Ganga had to be brought from heaven to Earth.

But Sagar, his grandson Ansuman and great grandson Dilip passed away without being able to give enough time to the task. So, Dilip’s son Bhagirath decided to not ascend the throne till the grand mission was complete. He prayed to Brahma till his wish was fulfilled.

Brahma appeared and said, “Even if I release the Ganga gently as rain, its sweet water will quickly run away into the ocean and turn salty. On the way, she will erode the Earth’s top soil that humans need for cultivation and deposit it in the ocean. So her descent to the Earth will be of no good to humans. Pray to Lord Shiva to intervene.”

Bhagirath did as advised and Lord Shiva agreed to break Ganga’s fall. Meanwhile, Ganga — from heaven — saw that Shiva was waiting to receive her on his head. In her arrogance, she thought she could sweep Shiva away with her massive flow.

On Earth, Lord Shiva understood what Ganga was planning to do. He spread out his locks — herbs, bushes and trees. As soon as the mighty river landed on his head, he entangled her in his locks.

Then, in the form of a thin stream, he let Ganga out. Telling the stream to follow him, Bhagirath headed to where his ancestors lay. Purified by Ganga’s touch, Sagar’s 60,000 sons entered heaven.

Fear his third eye

We have made Lord Shiva drink our pollution for hundreds of years. By cutting trees indiscriminately, we have almost turned him bald. Why are we testing the Lord’s patience? Do we want him to open his third eye and scorch the Earth?

The author can be contacted at author.sai@gmail.com