7 Secrets of Shiva

by Devdutt Pattanaik

That the left hand and the left leg are moving towards the right makes one wonder what is so special about the right side. In mythic vocabulary, the left side of the body is associated with the rhythm of the material world because it is where the heart is located. Just as the heart beats at regular intervals, the material world goes through rhythmic changes in the form of tides and seasons. The right half then becomes the side of spiritual reality; it is still and silent. The left side represents Prakriti, nature’s constant change. The right side is Purusha, the human potential to stay still. To exist, one needs both sides, left and right, Prakriti and Purusha.

One option is to spend our lives ignoring the reality of life, like monkeys spellbound by the rattle-drum. We can focus on meaningless activities that keep us busy, help us pass the time, and prevent us from getting bored or distract us from introspecting and reflecting on life. The other option is to introspect and reflect on life. We can ask ourselves what shapes our decisions and where does our self-image come from. Why are we in certain situations like the petrified deer and in other situations like the dominant lion? We will realise that notions such as victim and villain and hero are all imaginary constructions, stories within our head and stories that we receive from society. In other words, they are maya, constructions to fortify ourselves from fear, subjective realities that make us feel powerful.