Shiv Shakti - Nuclear Energy

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Shiv Shakti - Nuclear Energy, by Ramesh Chitnis

 

 

On the eve of coming Maha Shiv-Ratri. The following news item of few years back,

in the Times of India has prompted me to post in TBP

 

 

Chennai: A 11 foot tall panchaloha idol of Lord Nataraja, weighing about two

tonnes, sculpted in a village near Swamimalai in Kumbakonam taluk in Thanjavur

district of Tamil Nadu, is to be airlifted from Chennai for Switzerland.

Nearly 24 sculptors in Thimmakudi village toiled day and night for the past six

months to create the world's tallest Nataraja idol, now on its way to Chennai

from the village.

The Nuclear Power Corporation in Geneva, Switzerland, had requested the Indian

Nuclear Power corporation for a panchaloha idol. The job was entrusted to the

sculptors in the village.

The total cost of the idol was around Rs 15 lakh. It has been crafted as per the

agama rules.

 

This was a prelude to the following.

 

All things in Bharatiya culture are based on symbolism, be they spiritual or

mundane. We try to explain the unknown and the abstract by everyday visual

expressions.

 

We have the Holy Trinity- Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh (- Maha Ish- Maha Dev). Brahma

is the creator or generator, Vishnu is the sustainer or operator, and Mahesh

(Lord Shiv-Shankar) is the dissolver or destroyer of the universe. Does the word

`GOD' stand to reason, now? And it is a Hindu concept! Take credit for it!

 

Coming back to the subject matter at hand, Lord Shiv-Shankar. One of His popular

forms is His dancing pose in Tandav Nritya, the dance at the time of Maha

Pralaya, the Yugaant, or the end of the time cycle. It is His fiercest form as

the annihilator of the universe. The dance of death and destruction at the

dissolution of the universe is depicted by the `Dance of Shiv,' as it is called.

And that's why He is called `Nataraj,' Supreme Dancer. It is the dance of the

nuclear energy with all its might and fury, at the end of the Kaala Chakra of

the Universe. He is also known as `Kaal-Bhairav.' Kaal means time, and Bhairav

means horrific sound!

 

In the scientific community world over, Lord Shiv is recognized as the

`Annihilator of the Universe,' particularly, in the `Tandav Nritya' pose. It is

the dance of the nuclear energy with all its might and fury, at the end of the

Universe. The news item from Switzerland, cited above, should suffice to justify

it.

 

Also, in the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of the Governmen. of America, in

Livermore, near San Francisco, there is a 3 ft tall statue of Nataraj, in the

Tandav Nritya pose, as we see everywhere. Underneath are inscribed the words,

`Hindu God of Dissolution.'

 

However, the form of His which we are most familiar with, is the `Shiv Ling'

found in our temples. This is His milder and benevolent form. It represents

`Nuclear Energy,' as stated above. (Incidentally, `Ling' means sign or mark of

identity).

 

Coming back to the symbolism of Shiv-Shakti, Bhagwaan Shiv-Shankar is also known

as `Bholeynaath.' Whosoever try to please Him, He blesses them, irrespective of

how they make use of the blessings. Be it Ram or Ravana, Pandavas or Kauravas.

Whether you use nuclear energy for the good of humanity, such as nuclear

sciences, nuclear medicines, nuclear power stations, etc., or in wars for

destruction and destroy yourselves, the energy is impartial.

 

But, be ware of His `Tritiya Netra!' If He opens His third eye, total

devastation will result! The modern incidences are, the accidents at Three Mile

Island in the USA, in March 1979 and Chernobyl in Russia, in April 1986. In the

case of Chernobyl, the winds that blew went well past the Netherlands in the

North of Europe, making vast areas unsustainable to life. No wonder His abode is

in `Shmashan,' the crematorium! And He is smeared with `Chita Bhasma,' ashes of

the cremated!

 

As there are strict rules for erecting a nuclear power station, so are there

rules to build Shiv Mandir. It must be far away from the populace, out of city

or town or village boundaries. It should be near water sources, like sea, river,

lakes, etc. If there is an accident, the radioactive material should be

discipated away as quickly as possible through the running water. The

Garbhagriha, the `sanctum sanctorum' should be below the ground level to keep

the place damp.

 

Shiv-Ling is a model of an atom. It has two parts: a Pindi or Baana, and Salunka

or Peetham or Vedi. Now, compare the shape of the Pindi and that of a nuclear

reactor. Both are dome-shaped, with cylindrical vertical sides. Way back in

1964, in a French science journal, From Paris to Bombay, a writer, a French

scientist, had shown sketches of Shiv-Pindi and a nuclear reactor, side by side,

comparing them and explaining the inherent intricate similarities.

 

The Pindi is centered on a base, a circular platform, the Vedi, which has

slightly raised edges all around. Notice the water fall or the continuous drip

on the Baana? Does it signify the heavy water, Deuterium (D2O), Isotopic variety

of water, so essential for the reactor? It is the only God who is offered this

privilege!

 

The Vedi represents a sort of negative energy field that does not allow the

contaminated water to spread around, the raised edges symbolizing this stoppage.

It is to be channelized through a spout called Gow-Mukh, mouth of a cow, which

creates a break in the circular Vedi. The water must drain out through this Mukh

(mouth).

 

There is a Snake coiled round the neck of the Lord. In a place called Batavia,

about 34 miles from Chicago, where one of the government's nuclear laboratories

(FermiLab) is established, there is a ring of about 4 miles in circumference

called the `main injector.' Another smaller beside it is called `Tevatron,' a

particle accelerator, to create small nuclear explosions by splitting atoms.

There is one to be had in Germany about 20 miles in circumference. Does the

coiled snake symbolize these rings?

 

Remember the `Teertha Prasad' we have after the Darshan of the deities, which is

given to us and we reverentially accept it? But do remember, you are forbidden

to have the Teertha of Bhagwan Mahadev. That Teertha is water dripping down from

the top of the Pindi, the Reactor. And, that water is radiactive contaminated

(again, symbolic), which is not to be dispersed any which way! It must be

channelized through the Gow Mukh. Ever notice which way the Gow Mukh is facing

in any Shiv Mandir? It must point towards North. Regarding nuclear energy, the

North Pole has a negative polarity. So the nuclear waste must be accumulated in

that direction.

 

Lord Shiv has another name-Neel Kanth, which means 'blue throated.' A story goes

that at the time of `Samudra Manthan,' Churning of the Ocean, by the gods on one

side and the demons on the other, 14 items came out. One of them was the poison,

Halaahal. For the good of all, Bhagwan Sri Shankar swallowed it. Due to that His

throat turned blue. So His name became Neel kanth. Relating this to an atomic

reactor, when a reaction takes place inside the reactor, the charged vertical,

inverted `U " shaped tubes emit blue light. These tubes, which are about a few

cetimeters in diameter and few meters high depending upon the size of the

reactor, carry the fuel required for heating.

 

And then, the final restriction: you go to a temple and after having the Darshan

of the Deity, you go round the Mandir or Garbhagriha for a

`Pradakhsina/Parikrama.' But, no, not in case of Maha Dev. He is an exception.

You never complete the `Pradakshina' round in this case. You may go round from

one edge of the Gow Mukh to the other, but should never, ever cross the Gow Mukh

or tread over the area, as it is contaminated by nuclear waste. You have to turn

back. Only `trained' personnel can go into that area for `maintenance.' There

were mantras, chanting which, people could go in the area. (Kind of protective

shielding!) And that practice is, symbolically, followed even today.

 

Well, does this somewhat change your perspective toward our Gods and Goddesses?

Lord Shiv is one example of the deep symbolism that forms the basis of Hinduism.

 

The author of this article, Ramesh Chitnis, is a swayamsevak (volunteer) of

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh. He is a retired electrical and mechanical engineer. You

can contact him at rvchitnis.