Fire of Awareness

On this full moon tonight, it is Shiva who fills my mind, in His Jyotirswarupa form, the Pillar of Light and Fire.

This is one of my favorite stories:

“Brahma, Lord of the Creative Mind, was having an argument with Vishnu, Lord of the World. Brahma believed that, since he knew all things, therefore he must be the Supreme God.

Vishnu disagreed, saying that the fact one needed validation denotes a lack of true supremacy. He himself, on the other hand, is revered by all of life and therefore, must be the Supreme God.

Suddenly, a great Pillar of Fire appeared between the two. This pillar stretched so high they could not tell where it ended or began. The fire did not seem to be fueled by any source either.

Thus the two wagered: the one who finds the peak or base of this Pillar of Fire will be deemed superior.

Brahma transforms into a swan and flies upwards to find the highest point; Vishnu takes on his Boar form and burrows into the earth to find the base source.

The two travel for months and years, one flying upward, the other burrowing deep. But the Pillar of Fire seemed to be endless and fathomless.

On his way up, Brahma encounters a falling Ketaki flower. He asks the flower, have you seen the top of the Pillar. The flower replies yes, but I have been falling for aeons, you will never reach the top.

Eventually, Brahma and Vishnu reconvenes. Vishnu admits that he could never find the base of the pillar. Brahma says that he has found the top of the pillar, and the flower is his witness. Hearing this, Vishnu concedes and declares that Brahma is indeed superior.

The Pillar of Fire splits open, and a voice thunders, “Liar!”

An ashen-covered hermit emerges from the Pillar, and reveals the truth of Brahma’s conversation with the flower. Brahma himself has never seen the top. The hermit was Shiva, and from his divine fury, he becomes Bhairava and rips off one of the Brahma’s five heads. Vishnu intervenes and begs for Brahma to be spared, reminding him that Brahma’s knowledge may still be useful for humanity.

Shiva is moved by Vishnu’s compassion, and calms down. He declares:

“Brahma is like the ego mind, beautiful like a swan on the outside, yet deceitful when it needs to defend its pride. No humans will worship you and you will have no temples.”

“Vishnu is compassionate and wise, having awareness of the bigger picture yet humble enough to admit when he doesn’t have all the answers. Humans will adore you and worship you through all the Yugas, and receive your guidance.”

The Shiva Linga is a reminder of this Pillar of Fire, the fathomless essence of Purusha.

I reflect often on this story.

Oftentimes, things that pander to the ego can take on a pleasing form in order to deceive itself and deceive others. It gives the impression of flying high in the sky. Hence, the swan.

That which digs deep into the unknown, into the Mystery, yet retains the honesty and humbleness to admit one’s own limitations — shadow-work — often takes on a more distasteful form. Hence, the boar.

The spiritual path is like that too.

May Shiva, destroyer of illusions and maya, illuminate the Fire of Awareness within us all, as we enter this glorious season of Fire.

Om Namah Shivaya!

S.

4/6/2023