A Shivratri Reflection
Dr Rekha Jad
rekhajad1969@gmail.com
Shiva manifests in countless forms and embodies unfathomable powers — from Mahadev, the Supreme Being who transcends space and time, to Bholenath, whose innocence, simplicity, and divine naivete are as boundless as his compassion.
Utterly detached from worldly affairs, he nevertheless yields to the intense penance of Goddess Parvati, who seeks him as her husband. Bholenath relents — unaware of social customs, royal grandeur, or the refined trappings of a groom.
Thus he arrives not as a regal bridegroom, but as an uncouth ascetic:
draped in tiger skin instead of silks,
holding a trident instead of a sword,
riding a raging bull instead of a majestic stallion,
beating a damru instead of playing a melodious flute.
There are no garlands or perfumes — only serpents coiled around his body and sacred ash smeared upon his limbs. His baraatis are no princes or courtiers, but fearsome ganas, bhootas, ghouls, and yakshas.
Little wonder then that King Himavat, lord of the mountains, is aghast. How could he give his beloved daughter to such a strange being? Yet, at Parvati’s earnest request, Shiva transforms into Somsundara, revealing his divine and resplendent form.
Though inwardly detached from the world, Shiva delights all with his boundless grace.
Marriage, however, is an entirely new realm for our Bholenath. Unaware of domestic life, he must be gently guided by the Goddess herself.
When Parvati asks for a home, he sees no need — Mount Kailash is surely the ultimate abode.
To shield her from the scorching sun, he offers the shade of a banyan tree.
To keep her warm, he suggests the cremation ground.
When the rains arrive, he simply rides the clouds away.
Such is our Bholenath — supremely divine, utterly detached, and yet infinitely endearing in his innocence.
Ashutosh — the one who is easily pleased — is how Shiva is lovingly addressed. Yet this very trait of divine generosity was often exploited by crafty and cunning rakshasas.
Ravana, undeniably one of the greatest devotees of Shiva, fashioned the Rudra Veena from his own arms and head. In an act of extreme devotion, he even severed his heads one by one and offered them to Mahadev. Moved by such penance, the guileless Bholenath granted him boons freely.
Legend has it that Ravana once asked for the very palace that Shiva had built for Parvati. On another occasion, intoxicated by pride, he attempted to uproot Mount Kailash and carry it to Lanka. Later, when Shiva granted him a linga to take to Lanka — with the sole condition that it not be placed on the ground — Ravana’s devious plan was thwarted by the timely intervention of Vishnu and Ganesha. Thus came into being the sacred Jyotirlinga of Deogarh and the revered Shiva linga of Gokarna.
Such was Ravana’s audacity that he even became besotted with Goddess Parvati and asked Shiva for her hand. Shiva, utterly guileless and beyond worldly notions, saw no distinction between his consort and any other woman. Untouched by ideas of marital propriety, social customs, or possessiveness, he agreed without hesitation. It was Parvati who, understanding the unpretentious nature of Bholenath, transformed a frog into into the beautiful Mandodari, whom Ravana mistook for Parvati.
Mahadev shows no partiality between devas and asuras. He granted Bhasmasura the terrible boon of reducing anyone he touched to ashes. Drunk on power, the asura soon tried to use the boon on Shiva himself — seeking to destroy the very one who dissolves the three worlds. Once again, it was Vishnu who intervened, assuming the enchanting form of Mohini and tricking Bhasmasura into turning himself into ashes.
After the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan), when the deadly poison halahal emerged, it was Neelkanth who selflessly swallowed it to save creation. Such is the compassion, mercy, and sacrifice of Bholenath.
Mahadev honours tapasya, devotion, and prayer irrespective of who performs them. He upholds the cosmic principle that sincere effort and penance never go in vain. To please him, no opulence or elaborate rituals are required — a simple offering of bel leaves, water, dhatura, or bhang suffices.
It is said that even a murderer, who accidentally dropped bel leaves onto a Shiva linga while resting atop a bel tree, was absolved of all his sins. Such is the magnanimity and benevolence of Bholenath.
His simple, pure, and compassionate heart — easily moved by devotion — is often misread as gullibility. In truth, he is merciful yet detached, generous yet untouched by power, wealth, or ego. Philosophically, Shiva is supremely wise, omniscient, and trikālgyānī — the knower of past, present, and future.
On this sacred night of Shivratri, Bholenath reminds us that the Divine is not pleased by grandeur, wealth, or ritualistic excess, but by sincerity, humility, and devotion. In his innocence lies infinite wisdom; in his detachment, boundless compassion; and in his simplicity, the deepest spiritual truth
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