Often I teach the symbolism of a ‘warrior’ in my yoga classes. The famous ‘Virabhadrasana’ has the potential for mental and emotional expositions as well as from the more commonly known physical portrayals.
A warrior needs power and stealth. They are alert with senses and reflexes sharp. Listening, ‘sravana’ as a refined skill is vital. You follow certain orders and at the same time you must honour your strengths and weaknesses. Knowing when to charge or when to hold back. Knowing good pain versus bad pain. You need perseverance, patience and consistency with the right effort on this noble spiritual path. To sin or miss the mark often stems from overzealousness and/orapathy. ‘Jiva and Isvara’ are a two-way street. You can say no to Isvara! It’s not about getting it right or wrong in the end, but the attitude. The joy comes from the attitude & spirit always. In doing what’s spiritually uplifting for yourself and keeping in mind the welfare of the world.
Virabhadhra was created by Lord Shiva to avenge the death of his beloved princess Sati who became engulfed by flames created by her rage at her father’s refusal to accept Shiva as her husband. Virabhadra stormed the scene and chopped the head right off Sati’s father Daksha. But the love of Sati being so pure and knowing she’s nothing without Shiva, who represents spirit, the Self, she quickly reappeared and scolded Shiva for beheading her father. Shiva in a fluster found the nearest goat head and brought Daksha back to life. Harmony and humility amongst all resumed.
We can see from the beloved Puranas that behaving with detachment or compassion is not always easy. Even the gods screw up sometimes, although their mistakes offer us valuable lessons. Daksha misjudged Shiva based on his looks, the matted dreadlocks, and what he thought was his wasted lifestyle meditating on mount Kailash. Shiva let his rage and anger blow to extremes, also losing his discrimination. There is no magic formula for life. A Karma Yogi knows mistakes are bound to happen and when they do, well, hopefully I’m wiser for it and as the Self I’m always perfect, unharmed and unchanged.
Why is it helpful for the mind to use symbols and metaphors or have idols/deities? All idols though they have different forms and attitudes symbolise the One Consciousness which in its real nature transcends all of them. No idol in itself is the ideal, when meditated upon they must necessarily invoke the same inner devotional attitude or realisation and a surrender to the higher principle. An individual can be pointed out with different qualities, capacities, possessions or relationships. And yet the individual will be one and the same. All of them are symbolising the one and glorious Truth.
Just as on awakening from a dream we realise that all objects we saw in the dream were nothing but our own minds, so too in the waking you might play the ‘warrior’ role or the ‘raging princess’. We see all the God’s characters behaving in all sorts of ways. No doubt you perceive the world of plurality. But you also experience the play of the same Self in and through each one of one of the characters and objects of the world. Let the great world spin.
Much love
Kate
