Behold the seated Yogi

Shiva seated in meditation is a very popular depiction,
that is a yantra in itself.
Yantras are diagramatic representations of states of consciousness.
Therefore, they help lift our consciousness to that state, by visual resonance, just like Mantras lift us using the power of sound.
Though they are geometric, and intricately worked out by adepts,
i prefer to 'see' Dhyanasta shiva, the meditative one,
as a great visual tool to uplift a seeker to the sought,
so, behold the seated yogi!

Even of the dhyanasta yogi, there are two versions,
in one, he has both palms on his lap, and eyes are closed,
in the deepest meditation.
In the other, the eyes are open, and the right hand is
raised, gesturing blessing.Obviously this second one is on 'awakening'
The gesture is prominent, it is called 'abhaya ',fear not.
Would it betoken that fearlessness is the foremost requisite in the path of meditation? is it like shiva is saying, been there done that, all's well,
may all be well with thee too!

His hair is definitely matty,
he's been around for a long time,do mats suggest eternity?
we spot the face of a lady , mat locked there ,
in the eternal hair.
It is Ganga,the river goddess.
Ganga, who once sat at the feet of God in heaven,
now descended to earth,
must surely know Godly esoterics,
has shiva embraced revelation ?!!
do yogis balance the torrent of divinity,
and then fountain it out for us?

He is seated on a tiger skin,
but didnt we say earlier he is seated in meditation?
is meditation then
just the skin
of the tiger
within?

there is a snake around his neck
looks like a cobra,
hail the king!
has the energy arisen
from its slumber
when the yogi went outside in?

He must surely like beads,
what a collection!
we think rudra aksh grow on trees,
some say they were tears of shiva,
does one feel so nostalgic
to actually cry in seeing old albums?
in samadhi, eternity is a moment,
a moment, and we're in eternity,
sometimes, one's own souvenirs
are a good thing to hang on by.

from science, we know
the moon is always full
but the crescent in the mat
does look cool
does shiva 'wear' such abstract adornment
to help clearly show
its only the way we 'see' that makes
One truth
grow

he's got a third eye
does it open dimension four?
on the forehead where
we have bindi ,tilak or another dot
he's got third eye
is this the symbol of centred?
the rider of the bull would know,
the timeless rodeo.

and then, there's a trident
the trisula,
shiva's rocket science is serial set in triads,
waking dream sleep
knowledge action will
future present past
above here below
and so on,you know!
shiva rocks,
but by holding ground,
the trisula is parked,
not flung around.

Originally, piercing
was
to make ears ring,
say the jogees
to,
unfurl a meditative wing.
and the Nath
IS the origin.

The damaru
his little drum
is many things
in one.
It is of course his beat to boot
to match with krishna's lilting flute
but tantrists say
its the triangles two
that signify
Him and Her,
(In Chinese ,yin and yang…
wei and wu.)
In repose, before creation,
Me and you.
Its an hourglass!
From top we slip down through
to
Land.
And time
Is to wait for the hand
To downside up again.

~ Shail Gulhati  From the book  Shiva Poetry