Encounters on Shivaratri: Lessons from Everyday Shivas

Travel to Shivarathri

It's become a ritual for our family to travel to our ancestral deity temple in Srivilliputhur for the occasion of Mahashivratri. Mahashivratri holds great significance as it marks the beginning of longer days in the northern hemisphere and serves as the commencement of a spiritual journey for some.

This blog is dedicated to recounting the various manifestations of Shiva I encountered during my visit to my ancestral town, along with the lessons I gleaned from their lives.

My Attai and Mama (Paternal Aunt and Uncle)

My Mama (Uncle) is approximately 83 years old, while my attai is in her late 70s. It's truly heartwarming to witness how they continue to support each other even at such an advanced age. They each have their unique ways of expressing love for one another. As they say, the way to a person's heart is through their stomach, and my aunt epitomizes this by preparing my uncle's favorite dishes with meticulous care. For instance, my uncle prefers only small brinjals, so she goes to great lengths to ensure that the ones she selects are small and free from any tough parts attached to the plant.

Lesson - Love and care are best expressed through actions rather than words.

Cab Driver - Farmer by Heart

On our journey back from the temple, we hired a cab to return home, aiming to depart by 7:00 am to reach Madurai. Initially, I struggled to stay awake in the front seat due to exhaustion from staying up the previous night (Shivarathri). However, a remark from the driver about his own drowsiness jolted me awake, prompting me to strike up a conversation with him. It soon became apparent that he was a farmer at heart, passionately discussing his experiences raising cows, tending fields, and cultivating crops. Sadly, farming is no longer a full-time occupation, and despite owning land, he must supplement his income with occasional odd jobs to support his joint family.

Lesson - Value your time and prioritize family, especially in family-owned businesses, to assess true profitability.

Engineer by Profession

Another encounter, this time with a local on the streets of Madurai, revealed a man who had pursued engineering but returned home to support his ailing mother. Despite securing a job in Germany, he chose to utilize his skills by restoring auto-rickshaws. Today, he earns more than a corporate salary, finding fulfillment in providing employment and delighting customers with his restored vehicles.

Lesson - True joy lies in giving and witnessing the happiness of others.

Caring Father

During my journey back to catch the train to Bangalore, I struck up a conversation with an autorickshaw driver who shared his struggles and triumphs. Despite facing challenges in Madurai's competitive environment, he prioritized providing quality education for his daughters. His sacrifices, including selling his autorickshaw to fund their education, have enabled his family to ascend to the middle-class bracket, with one daughter now working in an IT company abroad.

Lesson - Education is the gateway to limitless opportunities.

Conclusion

These individuals represent real-life manifestations of Shiva, whose darshan I was blessed to experience during the Shivaratri trip.

This journey served as a reminder that the essence of divinity lies not only in temples but also in the hearts and actions of ordinary people, embodying the virtues of love, perseverance, and sacrifice.