Seven Secrets of Shiva by Devdutt Pattanaik

Author:Devdutt Pattanaik
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Westland
Published: 2011-01-13T07:00:00+00:00

Stone sculpture from Chhattisgarh showing Ravana sacrificing his heads to Shiva

South Indian painting of Ravana and Shiva

While Brahma has five heads, one of which was wrenched off by Shiva, Ravana has ten. Ravana cuts these heads off and offers them to Shiva. He uses one of his heads and one of his hands to create a lute or veena. The head serves as the gourd of the lute while his hand serves as its beam and his nerves serve as its strings. This is the Rudra-veena, the lute that is offered to Shiva. It is also known as Ravan-haath, the hand of Ravana, and it is the inspiration for all stringed musical instruments of the world. Using this, Ravana sings a song in praise of Shiva. Shiva is pleased with Ravana’s voluntary sacrifice of his heads, which metaphorically speaking, is the gradual uncrumpling and unknotting and purification of the mind. Being Bholenath, he does not wait for all heads to be cut. In his impatience to be generous, he concludes that Ravana is a truly wise devotee.

Ravana is a devotee, but he is not a wise devotee; rather, he is a clever devotee. He seeks from Shiva freedom from fear, not through faith, but through power. When Shiva asks Ravana to build a house for Shakti, Ravana uses his knowledge of Vastu-shastra, or the occult understanding of space, to build a grand palace. It turns out to be the most beautiful palace on earth. After building it, Ravana, becomes attached to it and covets it. So when Shiva says, ‘How can I reward you for building such a good palace?’ Ravana asks for the palace itself as his fee, and the simpleton Shiva says, ‘So be it.’ Shakti, who loves the palace and looks forward to turning it into her home, cannot believe it when Ravana declares that Shiva has gifted it away to him. Very cheekily Ravana invites the Goddess to stay in the palace as a guest or tenant.

Shakti wants to be angry with Shiva but realises he has behaved according to his nature. He did not understand the concept of house or home or property. She has to accept him for what he is.

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