Knowing Shiva and Parvati

Shiva is the formless non-substantial womb, from which everything comes into the state of being and the absolute abyss into which everything is returned and reposed.

He is both, the void and the matter.  Shiva is activated by Shakti.  With Shakti, Shiva is manifested in both non-substantial and substantial forms. 

Shiva is the source of power of Shakti.  Shiva is both, a part of Shakti and Shakti himself.  Conversely Shakti is both, a part of Shiva and Shiva herself.

Shiva and Shakti are inseparable un-manifested Supreme Being and hence revered is the form a dark Linga representing un-imaginable dark abyss. 

In divine form Shiva is Shankar and Parvati is the Shakti.  The divine form of Parvati is Durga who is life in her own wake, without her the world ceases to exist.

Shakti is activity to Shiva’s inactivity and she is one complete whole vibration transcending both substantial and non-substantial being. 

Shiva is the ultimate man and Parvati the ultimate woman.  Shiva is lifeless without Shakti and so is Shakti, lifeless without Shiva.  Such is Shiva and Shakti, and hence suchness is their relation.  They are one. Shiva is Shakti and Shakti is Shiva.

In form, Shankar also revered as Mahadev on different occasions taught Parvati many lessons.  The teachings are immensely valuable for all of us living mundane normal human life. 

Once Parvati asked Shiva about the biggest virtue and sin a man can commit.  To this Shankar shared five valuable secrets with Parvati which are essential to everyone and should be obeyed and followed for good.

1. Honesty and truthfulness

The biggest virtue of a man is to be honourable and always be truthful, whilst the biggest sin is to be dishonest or to support such an act.  A person should always indulge in acts which are honest and true and does not harm the righteousness of their being.

2. Awareness and mindfulness

A person should always diligently follow the rule of being a self-attester; meaning one should keep in check one’s own acts and one’s own eye-witness.  This would make sure that one does not indulge in heinous acts or acts which are morally incorrect.

3. Cultivate wakeful mind, speech and action

One should never indulge or associate with any kind of action that involves sin with mind, speech and actions. Whatever a man reaps is the fruit of what he chose to sow in the first place. So, a person should be mindful of how one choose one’s life and actions

4. Renunciation of attachment

Attachment is the root cause of all problems.  Attachment and endearment lead to stagnation and hinders success.  When you are free of all attachment and temptations of the world, there is nothing that will stop you from achieving success in life. The only way to detach as per Shiva is to train your mind and make it understand the temporariness of this human form.

5. Meditation is one miraculous thing that will change your life

Temptation is the only reason for all sufferings.

A human being rather than running for one thing after the other should rather practice meditation to be your own being and attain salvation from the cycle of Karma.