Harden your heart & do not hesitate to throw away those “near and dear ones”.
Keep the company of Śaivas & Śivabhaktas near & move on. No other option.
Keep the company of Śaivas & Śivabhaktas near & move on. No other option.
The mockery of Śiva is not new. At the Dakṣayāga, almost every Deva joined in abusing & insulting Him.
But remember that every one of them paid back with interest.
But remember that every one of them paid back with interest.
If He is swift in His punishments for the Devas & not us, take it that He does it as the Devas can withstand such punishments with relative ease & because such harsh grace is required to keep the Devas in their hard-earned positions.
We are far weaker; so, He is much much more forbearing with us but that also means there is often very little clamp-down on our arrogance & we falsely think that we can get away with it—leading us to adhogati.
In a way, Devas who punish immediately are doing us a favor that Īśvara isn’t. You suffer now; you could escape adhogati.
Be it Grāmadevas, ferocious Ammans or Mātṛkās, Vināyaka, Skanda, Śāstā, even the High Mahāvidyās & Viṣṇu (even as Rāmacandra/Veṅkaṭeśa), scary or even gory stories of divine retribution abound. It’s relatively rare to see Paramaśiva in such anecdotes.
There is no “scriptural answer” for this but I am inclined to think that one risks far far more with Śiva than temporary suffering. The adhogati that one locks oneself into, only Hara knows how long that soul will keep falling into the abyss.
If you ever feel the slightest doubt that Hara is not powerful (May you be forgiven by Him & His Gaṇas) or is no longer manifesting His presence here, do read this:
Hara is still performing miracles. Appearing in dreams & revealing secrets to his priests & Devotees.
Hara is still performing miracles. Appearing in dreams & revealing secrets to his priests & Devotees.
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