Lord Shiva, also known as Mahadeva, which means “Great God”, is one of the supreme Gods of Hinduism. However, it is really sad that the society is working hard to destroy the greatness of Lord Shiva. Maha Shivaratri, the day when Lord Shiva got married to the goddess Parvati is one of the major Hindu festivals which is celebrated in reverence of the Lord Shiva and in today’s time, this holiest day is celebrated by the society in its own modern and comfortable way.
It was last year on Maha Shivaratri when I woke up at 8:30am to give an early start to the festive day – ensuring my mother’s happiness, which was evident in her widening smile. We then hurried to the small Shiva temple in our locality and it was really shocking to see so many people in that small area which was usually bare on other days. It was difficult to reckon the number of people around me when I entered the small gate of the temple.
I was pleased to see the extent of enthusiasm but my happiness didn’t last long – my first step in the temple was on the milk which was spread all over the floor. This was the same milk which was offered on the Shiva-Lingam in the form of Prassad, believed to make Lord Shiva happy. The reason for the milk being spread all over the floor was the manner in which every person out there was pushing, pulling and trying to be the first to offer their part of Prassad.
Each person was busy enough to not wait their turn, disrespecting the sanctity of the Prassad. Everyone had their own wishes and demands to make, which they told their God secretly in a matter of few seconds. No individual stood there for another second after they were done listing their demands- no hands were joined and no head bowed even for a moment after they begged for all those things that were missing from their life.
I was always told that this day is the marriage anniversary of the Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, then why are people celebrating this day as a means to fulfill their own wishes and wants? If our religion believes in karma, then why don’t people just work hard and ask for nothing because if God is there he will just look upon and bless you according to the hard work. I guess people just want assurance whether he is there or will they get the blessings on time.
The belief is that Lord Shiva was fond of milk, however the convenient interpretation of this belief is that milk can be used as a token towards the fulfillment of his devotees’ wants. The conflicting reality is that milk is offered on the Lingam out of immense respect and the same Prassad flows into drainage through tiny paths. Imagine the difference it would have made if all that milk was stored in a container and later distributed amongst the needy people and animals? It would have made Lord Shiva happier, having been consumed by a person who was actually hungry. He is Lord Shiva, he is not hungry for anything we have to offer. No one is against the offering of milk as Prassad, but I have no qualms in claiming that even Lord Shiva would be against this kind of wastage.
If we are God’s children, how miserable and unhappy does Lord Shiva feel when he sees some of his children offering tonnes of milk each year and many dying because of starvation. Then, there are people who never step out of their houses to visit the temple because they don’t want to waste the milk but this highly practical and educated part of the society is doing no better than the people who are wasting their offerings. I do realize that no individual alone can help everyone, but if everyone understands the actual happiness their god, then many individuals can do their bit and bring about a little change.
In the end, the choice between two possibilities will always be yours. Start giving a little to the people who need it, rather than giving a lot in the temple – which never reaches the right place.
