Connecting Mythology to Spirituality...

What actually do you know about Hindu Mythology?

Hindu mythology is a large body of traditional narratives related to Hinduism, notably as contained in Sanskrit literature, (such as the Sanskrit epics and the Purans). As such, it is a subset of Indian and Nepali culture. Rather than one consistent, monolithic structure, it is a range of diverse traditions, developed by different sects, people and philosophical schools, in different regions and at different times, which are not necessarily held by all Hindus to be literal accounts of historical events, but are taken to have deeper, often symbolic, meaning, and which have been given a complex range of interpretations. (Wikipedia)

 
To begin with, I’ll first introduce the three graven images; Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (Shiva).
Brahma is ideate as the Creator of Universe (according to the scriptures). Likewise Vishnu is envisaged as the Preserver of Universe and Shiva as the Destroyer.
So what do they actually create, preserve and destroy? What Brahma is doing now, when the universe has already been created? What Vishnu is preserving in the universe and what is Shiva destroying?
To answer these question, let me tell you something specifically about them. But first ask yourself why do we worship them?

Brahma, as I said is ideate as the Creator of universe. But that doesn’t mean he’s busy all the time creating stars, comets and the galaxies. He’s responsible for the creation of our thoughts not anything else. Our thoughts corresponds to desires and those desires are responsible for all the richness around us. Thus Brahma is responsible for the creation of Prakriti (Nature) around us. Brahma keeps on creating something in prakriti (through our thoughts) but never realizes why is he creating? What is the need of his creation? He doesn’t enjoy what has been created, on the contrary every time he takes pride of his creation. This is the psychological representation of Brahma, that how much unstable his mind is.
This fact is so much similar to our own psychology. Like Brahma our mind is also very unstable as our desires never end, we indulge ourselves so much in making our living better that we forget to make our life. We chase happiness on the path of short-term successes, and which ultimately takes us to the way of destruction. And this destruction is Shiva, which I’ll explain later.

Talking about Vishnu, as I said, Vishnu symbolically is envisaged as the Preserver of universe. Actually, Vishnu is responsible for the preservation of what has been created in the universe; our thoughts and indirectly prakriti (nature). Vishnu enjoys what has been created, he’s content with what he possess. His mind is stable and has no desires, unlike Brahma who is never content.
Thus following Vishnu is the path to spirituality and our sole and soul purpose. Following Vishnu is the way to Nirvana, where Shiv exists.

Talking about Shiva, as I said, Shiva symbolically is represented as the Destroyer. Understanding Shiva is the most complex thing, as it took me months to realize the actual meaning of Shiva. Why we worship him, the way we do? The symbolic meaning of his statues, Shiva Linga, etc. Though I’m not going to write about those things in this post. Wait for my next post to learn some secrets of Hindu mythology and Shiva.
So coming back to the point, that why do we call him the Destroyer? Shiva destroys what has been created, indirectly Brahma. At this point, just change your perception of imagining Brahma as we see in typical Indian TV Shows. Take ‘Brahma’ as our ‘thoughts’ which are actually responsible for some creation. Thoughts which carry ego, jealousy and me, mine and not mine like things, Shiva destroys them and takes us to the ecstatic state as Shiva is the destroyer of the three worlds created by the Brahma; Me, Mine and Not Mine. Shiva beheaded the fifth head of Brahma, which was the symbol of his ego. Shiva is not capable of any discrimination in ‘any sense’, because he is away from the worldly happenings. As Brahma and Vishnu resides in Prakriti, Shiva resides in Purusha (ecstatic state, or out of prakriti). Shiva is the greatest tapasvi (Meditator), by which he reached the Ultimate Dimension, and is the True God. Closed eyes of Shiva depicts that he’s meditating and the real world exists inside us, not outside.

In my sense, the whole idea of knowing the reality, knowing what is God is misinterpreted in Hindu Mythology. We just believe what we see and told or described by our parents or our elders but never run our mind to discover the real truth. 

All these three images lies inside each one of us. Like Brahma we are distracted towards various fugacious worldly blossoms, and our mind is also unstable like him. We develop ego, feeling of jealousy and hatred towards each other, and can only develop conditional love towards someone.
When someone keeps his mind like Vishnu, he develops unconditional love, and can easily perceive the path towards nirvana (towards Purusha or where God Shiva resides).

This is the explanation to the phrase ‘God is One and resides in each one of us, but not in any man-made structure of bricks and stones’. Remember, realizing Self, is realizing God.  Think about it. Do we really need to worship these Gods the way we do, or do they expect something else from us?

And at the end, the only message I want to give you is, don’t perceive this world, as u have been told, or as others do, don’t be accustomed to unnecessary rituals and beliefs, as they won’t take you near to the God, rather it’ll work the other way. The answers to all your problems lies within you. Explore and transcend yourself spiritually and when you do you’ll find it an unnecessary custom to go to any temple or any place to find your God.

Blessings to all.

-          Sameep Baxi