PETals

What was ABHAYA to me...

Abhaya... an odissi production thought of and brought to life by my mother. Now, it's been 3 months already and i'm only writing my thoughts now!!! Please forgive me, appa. To me, there are so many ways to look at this exciting production. Therefore, let me give you a small idea of what i had felt during ABHAYA...
When Abhaya first started, it felt like another one of those ordinary shows which require you to dance or perform. All you had to do was do your part well and you would make a thousand people cheer. But was that all to Abhaya? I believed otherwise. There were many questions as to why this production was taking place and what were its effects on us dancers. Here's one side of the story. According to my mother, she had wanted to do Abhaya not because of any intention of getting fame, but for showing the world that we humans are protected and taken care of by Lord Shiva Himself, the One who Destroys all negative feelings and thoughts, and yet protects and blesses His devotees. Shiva, the Cosmic Dancer who is the universe itself, time, energy is everything. There are so many ways to look at the Lord but i can only think of Him as i have said.
Abhaya was not just a show, it was a story itself, a story in which every realm was somehow attracted to the Lord one after the other. From the devotees on Earth to the Gods in the heavens, all of whom worship the Lord Shiva, the One whose Third Eye Burns Negativity into Ashes, the One who sits in Deep Meditation, and the One who Weilds the Thrishulam. These are some of the different forms of Shiva.
Shiva, the One who holds Ganga on His Matted Locks, has the power to attract anything and everything. He is Energy. All these aspects that i talk about now are all part of this show. Even a person with no fortune is attracted to the Lord. Abhaya was an experience like no other. It was something beyond words. It was a revelation to me. Abhaya taught me that no matter what kind of situations we are put in, we should first get rid of the fear. Abhaya, literally meaning HAVE NO FEAR. It is Fear that leads into other negative thoughts, so what do we do? Pray to Him, to Shiva! OM HREEM NAMAH SHIVAYA!!!
There's is also another side of Shiva that is just as important. Shakthi, Power, Grace, Strength. The Goddess, commonly known as Parvathi, is the other half of Shiva. This Symbolizes the unity between Man and Woman, the balance of forces, the equilibrium of the entire cosmos. Neither of them can stand without the other. Ardhanarishwarar. Shiva Shakthy. TaLa, Tandava and Lasya. you see? Everything in the entire universe is at balance because of this Divine Union. Strength is Grace. Grace is Strength.
When we give in to Divine, we feel Their presence in us and in everything else. When we learn to surrender, we are free from all ties and bonds. We become One with the Lord... Abhaya. To my understanding, when we say, "i let go", we become fearless. Shiva is there...

posted by hari @ 12:37 AM