Satyopanisad

[Guest guest]

Swami! May be due to the impact of the Age of Kali, we don't find in these days,

any understanding among the members of a family. Instead, we find differences in

many families, even conflicts, complexes, competitions; and sometimes matters

become so bad as to drag a family to the courts. Please suggest a way out of

this sad plight, Swami!

 

In this world though diversity is apparent, there is an inherent unity.

Multiplicity may be patent. But the underlying unity is latent. The whole of

nature shows both these aspects.

 

Take the earth; it is not the same throughout. There are hills, mountains, and

valleys. However, in our experience we clearly visualise unity. Are the five

fingers of the same hand identical? No. Similarly, the members of one and the

same family are not alike or uniform. They are not stereotypes. All the same,

there cannot be any valid reason for the absence of fraternity, unity, and love

among the members of the family.

 

A good example from our epics may be cited in this context. You analyse Siva

samsaram - `the family of our Lord Siva'. Siva has Ganga, water, over his head,

and fire on his forehead between the two eyes. He is, therefore, Trinetra or

`the three-eyed `God'. `Water' and `Fire' are also opposed to each other in

their nature and don't co-exist. Siva is pannagadhara, nagabhusana for He has

round his neck venomous serpents. The vehicle of his elder son Lord Subrahmanya

is a peacock. Snakes and peacocks are enemies. The vehicle of Goddess Parvati,

consort of Siva is a lion. She is simhavahini. The very face of Siva's second

son is that of an elephant. Ganesh is called Gajanana for this reason. An

elephant can't even dream of the sight of a lion. Parvati has all the jewels,

but her Lord, Siva is digambara, naked, bhasmabh u s itanga with vibhuti smeared

all over the body, and surrounded by bhutas or devils. Though Siva's family is

full of opposites and contradictions, there is integration, co-ordination,

harmony and unity.

 

Similarly, in your families, the members may differ from each other, yet you

should be able to live in perfect harmony like Siva's family. This is the lesson

that over the ages Lord Siva has been teaching the world.