PATH OF THE SPIRITUAL WARRIOR

Once Daksha, the father-in-law of Shiva  organised a ‘Men only’ meet in which they would together propitiate the devatas and other Gods. Kings were invited from all neighbouring territories. Shiva too was invited. Although He was not a crowned king, He was a Chieftain of the mountain people, and of course, He was Daksha’s son-in-law. Shiva reached the venue of the yagya a little later than the appointed hour since He was coming all the way from the mountains. By that time, most of the devatas and kings were already seated in their allotted places.
Seeing Shiva and Nandi enter the grounds, they all arose to greet Him, without exception. In what seemed like a singular note reverberating with respect, they saluted Him with a chorus of ‘Aum Namah Shivaya!’
Shiva bowed in acknowledgment and took His own place, which was one of fair prominence. At this point, Daksha was also to make his own entry: it was deemed as a strategy that he should enter last, so that all collected would salute him. But Daksha had witnessed the way that the entire congregation saluted Shiva.

The yagya began and the flames arose high and fierce, literally snapping at the air around them in a powerful and savage manner, almost characteristically like the beast that Daksha had so sarcastically defined.
The chanting of the Royal Priests invocations rented the sky.
Their orange robes matched well with the colour of the leaping flames and their prayers like a duet with its crackling.
Some of the devatas started to sense an ominous vibration instead of a peaceful invocation.
Shiva was unusually quiet as He watched the fire.
When the Head Priest announced that it was time for the Purna Ahuti—the Final Sacrifice—Daksha got up with pomp to pour ghee into the fire. All the devatas and rishis also arose along with Daksha and readied themselves to pour in the Ahutis—offerings.
All that is, except Shiva.

“Purna Ahuti!” Upon hearing these words of the Priest, Shiva had become quieter. His attention had wavered and, in fact, completely abdicated from the venue, somewhere into another time, another place. It was as if the rising flames had transported him to a future event.
“It seems that some people here have no respect for the Gods, for the traditions, and indeed for the yagya itself!” remarked Daksha wryly. “It seems, some people show their true colors when it comes to matters of spiritual perseverance. They have none at all; they haven’t grown from their schoolboy days of being vacant in the class; that is, if they had any education at all,” he added, taking a dig at Shiva.
It was Nandi’s loud bellow that brought Shiva back to the current scene.
“You do not know a thing about divinity, you ignorant, arrogant king! How dare you insult our Master, the Master of all!!”

"You are all a bunch of uncouth vandals, dacoits, treacherous thugs! You, who claim to know about divinity, but practice abhorrent practices in the secret caves of your fringe mountains! You practitioners of the tantras, you vile creatures who cheat all.
And your chief..Shiva... this chief vandal cheated me off my pretty, innocent daughter, Sati” Said Daksha venomously .

Daksha finally spilled the venom that was so obviously pent up. Venom that had indeed been building up in his heart ever since His daughter’s marriage, which he had never really accepted. He could not forgive that Sati had rejected his indignation for Shiva, and thus this was Daksha’s own supreme rejection of the past. He forgot that they had all already travelled into the present, and that his venom would affect the future.

A furious Nandi, true to his bullish nature, started to head for Daksha in a bid to engage him in combat. The devatas and the congregation became visibly scared.
But Shiva stopped Nandi , raising His hand in a firm gesture of estoppel.
He then said in a slightly raised but resolute voice, “Nandi! You shall hold your peace. If someone knows not of your way, or that of your Master, if someone knows not of the divinity that resides in all things, if someone rebukes your way of invocation, of adoration, that does not mean he is right. Or, that you will set him right. That you know your own divinity, that you are resolute and loyal about your own devotion—that is the entire path a spiritual warrior requires, and indeed creates situations for. Situations, which I, as your Lord, have always prepared you for. We shall not stay here any longer. May the holy flame grant peace to all.”
Shiva walked calmly out of the Yagna venue, bowing His head just a little to mark respect for Daksha despite his show of being a poor host.
Nandi, Bhringhi and the ganas marched after Him. Nandi however, was not as chivalrous as Shiva and gave Daksha one of his dirtiest looks as he exited.

 
~ SHIVA, The Ultimate Time Traveller. by  Shail Gulhati
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Shiva art by Rishabh Dev Sharma