Once, Vyasa decides to visit Naimisharanya. He feels happy on seeing Saunaka and other renowned sages. But feels surprised on seeing Rudraksha malas around their necks and foreheads adorned with Tripundras. Vyasa realizes that these sages believed that Shiva alone blessed mortals with Moksha when he hears them chanting Rudra Suktas while worshipping lingas.
A furious Vyasa says, “I have churned the vast expanse of words repeatedly. And know for sure that only Achyuta blesses us with Moksha. So, we should always seek refuge in Hari and Hari alone. For Hari’s presence can be experienced in the beginning, middle and end of all the Vedas, Puranas, Ramayana and Bharata.”
On hearing Vysya’s words the sages calmly said, “O Vyasa, your knowledge and wisdom is undoubtedly commendable. But Maya deludes you. For only the deluded utter such words so emphatically in the Ananda vana of Shambhu. O Vyasa, visit Kashi. Just once. Shambhu’s divine eternal presence in Kashi will transform you forever.”
Vysya becomes even more furious on getting their unsolicited advice. He leaves Naimisharanya immediately. Yes, he does go to Kashi. But only to put the sages in their rightful place. They had dared to challenge his authority. He had to prove many things to those sages.
Vyasa being a divine being, reaches Kashi in no time. He bathes in the Pancha Ganga waters, wears a Tulasi mala, eulogizes Bindu Madhava and visits Adi Keshava and Vishvesha.
Vyasa delves into a divine realm of his own, and as if in a trance, using the Shrutis, he dances to the beat of cymbals while playing the flute. After doing all this to his heart’s content Vyasa worships Hari and says, “O Hari, how can anyone doubt your divinity? All manavas are deluded by Maya. When will they realize that you alone can grant Moksha?”
Vyasa shakes his head briskly, as if to shake off his concern for mere manavas like us. He raises his left hand and starts reciting all the verses on Vishnu that he had composed. Firmly. Loudly. Clearly.
Nandi who was witnessing Vyasa’s dramatic actions with amusement until now, suddenly bellows loudly with anger, paralyses Vyasa’s raised arm and stuns his power of speech.
Vishnu smiles with indulgence in Vaikunta. Maya was obviously doing what She had to for Vyasa. Vishnu has no choice. He descends to Bhuloka. And subtly dispels Maya’s delusions on Vyasa.
As realization dawns of Vyasa, he instantly dismisses the thought of eulogizing only Vishnu or Shambhu forever. And humbly seeks refuge in all the facets of that supreme divine guiding force that pervades through the cosmos.
Vyasa knows Vishnu has blessed him with this realization when he regains the use of his arm and speech. He installs a linga called Vyaseshwara in Kashi, adorns himself with a Rudraksha mala and composes a eulogy for Shiva called the Vyasashtaka. Nandi looks at Vyasa with a twinkle in his eyes and says, “O Vyasa, Shiva will love your Vyasashtakam and will quickly forgive you. And manavas who recite your Vyasashtakam will be cleansed of their sins and never be haunted by nightmares.”
Maya says…
“Vishnu dwells on the constantly moving Kshirasagara. Yet you manavas seek a life without challenges. Yes, I know. Like Vyasa and his family, your family too will question the sanctity of your thoughts, integrity and dignity. Casually dismissing the immense love, care and concern you showered on them all through your lives. Why? Because you refused to fulfil their atrocious demands.
Like Vyasa, you too will endlessly justify your stance, explain your thoughts in minute detail, reason with every single family member and bend over backwards. To preserve the peace within your homes. With your foresight and free will, you will try to change the course of your combined destinies. And hope against hope that good sense prevails within your family. For you know only the darkness of doom awaits you all.
Like Vyasa, you will helplessly watch your parents, partners, children and grandchildren fight over materialistic things. That will never matter at all in the larger scheme of things. How you wish they understood this simple value.
And when you tire of making sense out of your experiences, you will learn, slowly, to disentangle yourselves from my Maya. Become immune to the dull aching heaviness in your hearts. Fall on your knees. Pleading. Helplessly. Hopelessly. Seeking Vishnu’s grace. To preserve your sanity. And peace of mind. Your frayed nerves find the much-needed solace when you do so. Even as you yearn for normalcy in your lives.
Now Shiva manifests in your life subtly saying…
“O manavas, why do you expect so much? From everyone and life itself? Question everything? Seek convenient answers that pamper your fragile egos? Why do unanswered questions and prayers fill you with dread? Let your questions remain unanswered. Find comfort in the unknown.
Learn. Slowly. To surrender. Detach. Let go. Brace yourself for whatever the future holds. Yes, even letting go is a long solo journey. But with patience you will learn to witness your experiences with equanimity.
Know. That like Vyasa, you too will have to do what you have to. All through your life. Whether you like it or not. So, choose your responses. And take decisions with a heightened sense of awareness. Then make way for Destiny. To do what it has to.
Have full faith in a higher force. All your fears, yes, even of the unknown, will pale into insignificance. And you will unearth the courage that lies within the stillness of your souls. To create new beginnings for yourselves.
Ah. I know you are exhausted. Of life itself. You no longer have it in you. To go through the rigmarole of creating new beginnings. Again. That is why Brahma scares you.”
Yes, I, Maya too will suffer through your pain. Along with Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. But even the trinity cannot and will not hinder my mission. For that would defeat our combined purpose of leading you towards Moksha…
Moksha says…
“O manavas, you will find me, Moksha, nestled cosily amidst this entire cycle. Know. That neither Shiva nor Vishnu or Brahma can ever “grant” you Moksha. It is your responsibility to create as many sacred bliss-filled moments as you can. All. Through. Your life.
How you do this, depends on your awareness. Attitude. And situation. Sometimes you will find Moksha when you sleep deeply. Without nightmares. All through the night. When you shed your angst. Shrug off ridicule. Knead blessings into the dough. Watch your phulkas puffing up proudly. Applauding your inner journey. When you find joy and satisfaction in creating art. Just for yourself. In the crunch of your favourite chocolate bar.
When seal your lips. With silence. Because even words can never ever define your worth. Or speak up. Quietly. Firmly. To preserve your dignity. Then simply walk away. Choosing. Consciously. To ignore the utter nonsense of it all. With your integrity and peace of mind. Intact.
When you chant with more fervour. Find solace amidst the pages of the Gita. For a few fleeting moments. When you stop wondering how you will live through the eternal cycles of life and death that are yet to unfold to you.
On that day you will realise that by creating, nurturing and detaching from Maya you can bask in Moksha. Now. Here. Every day. All. Through. This life. On that day, both Maya and I, Moksha will smile with satisfaction. For doing our jobs. Thoroughly.”