Deep Lessons from the Idols..

We see in all the Hindu temples, many images and idols around the premises which is a great work of art, architecture, history and philosophy.

Just to start with, hope all of you have visited at least one Shiva’s temple in your life time and hope you’ve seen the image of Nandi, Siva’s Vaahan, sitting directly opposite the main door of the sanctum of Siva.

Nandi is not waiting for Siva to come out and say something. He is just in waiting. Nandi is a symbolism of eternal waiting, because waiting is considered the greatest virtue in our culture. One who knows how to simply sit and wait is naturally meditative. He is not expecting anything. He will wait forever.

Nandi is Siva’s closest accomplice because he is the essence of receptivity. Just by sitting, he is telling you, “When you go in, do not do fanciful things. Do not ask for this or that. Just go and sit like me.”

The fundamental difference between prayer and meditation is that prayer means you are trying to talk to God, while meditation means you are willing to listen to God.

You are willing to just listen to existence, to the ultimate nature of creation. You have nothing to say, you simply listen.

That is the quality of Nandi – he just sits, alert, not sleepy. He is not sitting passively: he is active, full of alertness, full of life, but just being – that is meditation.

Next time when you go to a temple, try to imbibe this quality of Nandi – just to simply sit.