Shiva and His So-called Drinking Problem

More often than not, I get to hear hilarious words from people around me, “Oh! You are a Shaivite? Must be high all the time, huh?” (Wink); “अरे! जय महाकाल! थोड़ा-थोड़ा हो जाए क्या?” (Followed by winking and gestures of drinking); “हाँ-हाँ! भोले के प्रसाद के लिए ही तो की जाती हैं सारी साधनायें, यार!” (Again followed by the “infamous” wink!).

Initially, such comments would fire me up. I used to make sure that such people are served with appropriate ‘knowledge’ on who Shiva is. At that point of time, I thought I ‘knew’ who Shiva is and that I ‘knew’ what and what He stands for. There were properly segregated lists in my mind of the things that Shiva ‘does’ and ‘does not’ do. I couldn’t have been more wrong. But as Swamiji says, “Bhakti is a journey and we learn along the way.” It has been a long journey since then.

Walking the Path with Shiva/Swami has killed something inside me and in a good way. I don’t know what it is but I don’t get irritated at people’s questions anymore. I don’t feel cheated, anymore, even if somebody insults Shiva in front of me. If Mahadev is at the Zenith for me, who is at the Nadir? If somebody feels my Lord is the lowest of all, yes, they are right. He is. He is as much at the peak as He is in the foot. He also dwells in between the two. 🙂 

“Oh! You are a Shaivite? Must be high all the time, huh?” (Wink). 

My truth? Absolutely high…in His love…He never ever leaves me thirsty 🙂

“अरे! जय महाकाल! थोड़ा-थोड़ा हो जाए क्या?” (Followed by winking and gestures of drinking)

My truth? Sure! Water is great for skin, you know! 

“हाँ-हाँ! भोले के प्रसाद के लिए ही तो की जाती हैं सारी साधनायें, यार!” (Again followed by the “infamous” wink!).

My truth? Ah! That can’t be more true! His prasad….His grace…Absolutely. All the sadhanas are nothing but an expression of love towards Him. His grace is His reciprocation of this expression. It is all just a big huge love affair. Nothing else. Nothing more. 

शिव-नाम की मदिरा पी गयी मैं,
अब भांग- चरस लगे बेईमानी |
हिया में जो अन्हद नाद बजे,
सब शोर लगे अब बेईमानी |                                                 
पिया का जो नीला रंग चढा,
जग-रंग लगे अब बेईमानी |
पिया ने जब मुझपर भस्म मला,
हुई होली मेरी, हुई दीवाली |
मेरे जीवन के इक-इक पल में,
महाकाल ने धूनी रमा डाली |
जब से है खून में इश्क बहा,
श्मशान हुआ मन अभिमानी |
शिव-नाम की मदिरा पी गयी मैं,
अब भांग- चरस लगे बेईमानी |
जब से शिव ने रूह चूम लिया,
चैतन्य हुआ मन– अविनाशी |
सुख-दुख दोनो के महल ढहे,
चित्त हुआ स्वयं काबा-काशी |
पिया का गहरा है रंग चढा,
मैं चिर-सुहागन – सन्यासी !

समर्पित शिव-शिवा को 💙💙
समर्पित स्वामी को 💙💙