A symbol of male masculinity, Shiva is macho and compassionate. If Krishna is the perfect lover, King of Kailash is definite marriage material. On Maha Shivaratri, suchayan mandal rediscovers an Elvis Presley in religion, who is also an epitome of eroticism and smokes pot
If official record is to be believed, in 2012, 5,48,166 devotees had visited Kedarnath Temple and the same year Amarnath Cave saw a footfall of 6,22,223. The total count amounts to 11,70,389. While in 2002, a total 2,15,270 pilgrims visited Kedarnath, the number of Shiva devotees increased by almost 154 per cent in just 10 years! The roads and other tourism infrastructure haven't changed much, though. Since there is no possibility of a rise of 250 per cent in sudden religiousness, one can only assume desire, uncertainty and crisis have contributed to this surge. As the wheel of destiny chooses to turn, society's process of becoming subaltern has commenced. And as more Innovas and Boleros make their way to the Devbhoomi, He has become a consumable for all.
Shiva has mass appeal. The monsoon devotees at Sultanganj in Bihar, who queue up after walking 100 kms barefooted to pour water on the Shivling at Baidyanathdham near Deoghar certainly do not belong to the same social strata as the techies in Gurgaon, who plan to get a tattoo of Shiva tomorrow to celebrate Shivratri. Both segments of people have a devotion and dedication that is unquestionable, but yes, the means of reaching is different. Someone had said reaching god should be the sole motive, whatever the route maybe.
What we look at are two things: The rise of Shiva and the god of cool things. One clearly remembers, during Doordarshan days, family elders were a huge fan of a TV show ~ Om Namah Shiva. The channels used to be limited and, like or dislike it, ane hardly had an option. The Shiva then was a god to be held in awe! But now, he is someone who sells. If Krishna is a strategist, Shiva is cool and saleable, taking in account the urban mentality. At a time when people are finding it difficult to make relationships work, he is a devout family man. A symbol of male masculinity, Shiva is macho and compassionate. In contrast to the urban youth, who rush every morning, driving crazy just to swipe the office access card on time, Shiva isn't bothered about punctuality.
Even with matted hair and animal skin (read animal print), he is good looking and attractive. An epitome of eroticism, he smokes pot giving the "iPhone age dudes" a cut-throat competition.
Shiva's regal style
With a trident in the right arm and wearing a crescent moon (read Bandana) on his head, Shiva is said to be fair like ice-clad mountain. With a third eye, often attributed to him, Shiva has burnt desire (Kama) to ashes. It has been mentioned that when Shiva loses his temper, his third eye opens, which can destroy most things to ashes. Wearing the moon is for his self-control and anger management. Talking about style statement, Shiva redefines style ~ signature fashion. He is the ultimate. Growing up with BR Chopra's Mahabharata and Ramanand Sagar's Ramayana, one knows god meant someone who smiles sweetly and wears jewellery like a male actor enacting a woman.
Believing they can never become "hero" they would stand with pinkish cheeks and Kajal laden eyes. With the book Meluha and TV serial Devon Ke Dev Mahadev gaining popularity, one discovers the thrilling Godfather and Mills and Boons hero well cocktailed in Shiva. Shiva's matted hair is his distinctive style. Tiger represents lust. His sitting on the tiger's skin indicates that he has conquered lust. If Mumbai-based designer Debby is to be believed, "No matter how much animal print is in, the trend is set by the Mahadev. At least for my collections to promote PETA, my choice was Shiva because he is the one who has started wearing animal print. I have a 'Shiva saree' with white base and yellowish animal print on the torso area with Trishul or Damru on the choli."
Unlike Krishna's flute, which can be interpreted as aphrodisiac or a tempting rhythm to woo a woman, Shiva's damru makes a noise that is not only manly but helps to establish Shiva as Bohemian. Rudraksh that he wears is a super style statement and is hippie in that sense.
Marriage material
If frivolity gets a kick-start, the heart throb of Vrindavan has always been the prefect choice to be a Valentine. But unlike the love and mushiness, Shiva stands out as complete marriage material. And for that reason, on the eve of Shivratri, from Shiva idol in temples to the flower-bedecked black stone under a Peepul tree, none gets relief from "operation flood" (offering of milk). The only wish the women devotees make that day is to get a groom like Shiva. Whatever tornado that evolution or revolution has tried on Indian mentality, Shiva is still the "role model" for "Bharatiya nari". Going by the societal norms and tradition, women in India skip a heartbeat and burp a little before uttering about their sexual choices, but pouring milk on the Shiva linga ~ it's more like celebrating desire in a camouflage called Shivratri.
The desired sex symbol of Indian women, Shiva is actually the versatile man. He wears the "rudrarup" (angry avatar) in Vedas. When rage sparks off, it's difficult for anyone to withstand his anger. And the next second he is as calm as the lowest point in deep sea, just like a piece of stone. This "mood swing" and "contrast" make him enigmatic to the fairer sex.
Henpecked husband
If the above was an inference from Vedas, folk tales about Shiva is something different. The folk Shiva (as mentioned by the medieval poets) is not at all a family guy. He roams around with ghosts and spirits. Rebuked by Parvati, he would try his hand at agriculture and creates a complete fuss out of it, all credited to his inexperience and ineligibility. Common mass should have been influenced by these stories. But the charisma of this Kailash resident has made women fall for him since time immemorial. No matter how much perfection is lacking, the intellectual hunk's "simple living, high thinking" is no less a charm to women. And women always have a preference for indifferent casual men than a perfect conscious one, say psychologists. In one word, being henpecked is what women would like Shiva to be. Again, drawing a comparison to Krishna, who is a perfect lover, Shiva is the complete package to get betrothed to.
Woman sutra
Shiva's respect for women and commitment to wife is admirable. While Krishna left Radha to head to Dwarka for better prospects, Shiva created a ruckus with the body of his wife when Daksha Raja's mockery makes Parvati leave her soul. He is the "angry young man" of the '70s. With a tiger hide and serpents, he has shown a thumbs-down to established facts with his "care for none" attitude. He isn't the goody boy type or a chocolaty lover like the beau of Mathura, rather a bohemian addicted to ganja. He will show that he isn't bothered even if the earth stops rotating. But for some others' benefit he will drink poison and become Neelkanth (blue throated, an avatar of Shiva).
Rise to fame
It's almost 1,900 years before the birth of the Christ, the place which bears a connection to Indus Valley Civilisation ~ it was originally called Meluha. Centuries back an indomitable statesman, Ramachandra established his empire there. River Saraswati that flows through Meluha is getting dried up. This river resembles the life of the SuryaVanshi. Besides drying up of the river, the anxiety lied in Suryavanshi's dangerous enemy, Chandravanshi teaming up with the 'Nagas'. Though Nagas are cursed and have a deformed physical structure ~ they are great warriors and everyone is scared of them. Nobody till date could have defeated the Nagas. At this difficult time, the only relief is the assurance of a saviour. But the day when defeat is evident, the saviour will make his presence then only and not before. But who is that Hercules who will save Meluha! Is he the matted hair, casual Shiva? But that man has no ambition. If he doesn't want who will make him play the Atlas to the Meluha! The daughter of Daksha, Sati is married to Shiva. May be Shiva's love for Sati will make him reach an undecided future. And the day will arrive when Neelkanth Shiva will be the rescuer of Meluha! "Just like designation ~ Dalai Lama or Shankar Acharya, Mahadev is a position or title," Amish Tripathi has opined in his book, Immortals of Meluha.
Interpreting the Puranas is nothing new! But most of them were limited to Puranas conscious or Puranas loving people. But Amish's Shiva Trilogy has successfully pulled in new readers, changed the mode of entertainment. Old, crazy, forgetful Bholanath has become cool, sexy and happening!
Amish's first book Immortals of Meluha became a bestseller the instant it hit the stands in 2010. In just six months, from February, the book had sold 45,000 copies. In the age of social network and morning shows, a success of a book, that too not a slim one, is an exception indeed! With an MBA from IIM-C and a lucrative job of investment banker, Amish said, "A TV show was once showing Asura and Devta in Hinduism is completely different from Zoroastrianism. For the latter, Daiva or Devta is evil and Ahura or Ashura is god." An eye opener for Amish, he understood there must have been some war between the two civilizations, which has made one villain another's hero! He decided to write a book on Asura. But his family suggested to write something good!
Amish, whose grandfather was a Pundit in Varanasi, combined his favourite subject, history, and "repackaged" the Puranas. But his language or style was nowhere near to the conventional Purana tales and he was refused by almost 30 publishers. Finally, using his managements skills, making an audio visual trailer and a web version of a part of his manuscript helped in getting popularity. And publishers roped him in.
First reading of Meluha is striking. As amusing as a Sci-Fi, one finds an aimless youth, drug addict, a citizen of a lost country being taken to another nation! Devdutt Pattanaik, Ashok Banker and Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni have tried their pens on Puranas. But this new kid in the block, Amish not only changed the packaging but also the flow of his narrative. This book is neither for Puranas lovers nor for the Sci-Fi lovers. Meluha is a thrilling romance bottled in a Puaranas can ~ where Puuranas becomes a playback and Shiva a "cool dude"!
Life OK's flagship show Devon ke Dev Mahadev went on air on 18 December, 2011. Its first promo didn't show the face of Mahadev. A tiger skin, six packs and trident made up for the purpose. Former Mr India Mohit Raina was "desirable" in the role. " In the wrapper of religion, who won't wish to see a six-pack sexy hunk?" said a Delhi University professor as she gulped down her excitement.
Over the years, Shiva hasn't changed but evolved as youth icon. The cool dude smokes pot and gets high! Last year on a trekking expedition at Dharamkot in Himachal Pradesh, one found on the tough terrain plenty of cafes openly selling marijuana. And each café bore a larger than life poster of Shiva! Screenplay writer and professor at a college in Delhi University, Rupleena Bose beleives," Shiva is not infallible.He is odd, in his expression of anger, intoxication and sexuality. But young people do tattoos just for the pot. They are trying to find Shiva and relate to the God which itself is very interesting because then a symbol takes a dimension which is more secular than religious."
http://www.thestatesman.net/news/41475-god-of-all-things.html
If official record is to be believed, in 2012, 5,48,166 devotees had visited Kedarnath Temple and the same year Amarnath Cave saw a footfall of 6,22,223. The total count amounts to 11,70,389. While in 2002, a total 2,15,270 pilgrims visited Kedarnath, the number of Shiva devotees increased by almost 154 per cent in just 10 years! The roads and other tourism infrastructure haven't changed much, though. Since there is no possibility of a rise of 250 per cent in sudden religiousness, one can only assume desire, uncertainty and crisis have contributed to this surge. As the wheel of destiny chooses to turn, society's process of becoming subaltern has commenced. And as more Innovas and Boleros make their way to the Devbhoomi, He has become a consumable for all.
Shiva has mass appeal. The monsoon devotees at Sultanganj in Bihar, who queue up after walking 100 kms barefooted to pour water on the Shivling at Baidyanathdham near Deoghar certainly do not belong to the same social strata as the techies in Gurgaon, who plan to get a tattoo of Shiva tomorrow to celebrate Shivratri. Both segments of people have a devotion and dedication that is unquestionable, but yes, the means of reaching is different. Someone had said reaching god should be the sole motive, whatever the route maybe.
What we look at are two things: The rise of Shiva and the god of cool things. One clearly remembers, during Doordarshan days, family elders were a huge fan of a TV show ~ Om Namah Shiva. The channels used to be limited and, like or dislike it, ane hardly had an option. The Shiva then was a god to be held in awe! But now, he is someone who sells. If Krishna is a strategist, Shiva is cool and saleable, taking in account the urban mentality. At a time when people are finding it difficult to make relationships work, he is a devout family man. A symbol of male masculinity, Shiva is macho and compassionate. In contrast to the urban youth, who rush every morning, driving crazy just to swipe the office access card on time, Shiva isn't bothered about punctuality.
Even with matted hair and animal skin (read animal print), he is good looking and attractive. An epitome of eroticism, he smokes pot giving the "iPhone age dudes" a cut-throat competition.
Shiva's regal style
With a trident in the right arm and wearing a crescent moon (read Bandana) on his head, Shiva is said to be fair like ice-clad mountain. With a third eye, often attributed to him, Shiva has burnt desire (Kama) to ashes. It has been mentioned that when Shiva loses his temper, his third eye opens, which can destroy most things to ashes. Wearing the moon is for his self-control and anger management. Talking about style statement, Shiva redefines style ~ signature fashion. He is the ultimate. Growing up with BR Chopra's Mahabharata and Ramanand Sagar's Ramayana, one knows god meant someone who smiles sweetly and wears jewellery like a male actor enacting a woman.
Believing they can never become "hero" they would stand with pinkish cheeks and Kajal laden eyes. With the book Meluha and TV serial Devon Ke Dev Mahadev gaining popularity, one discovers the thrilling Godfather and Mills and Boons hero well cocktailed in Shiva. Shiva's matted hair is his distinctive style. Tiger represents lust. His sitting on the tiger's skin indicates that he has conquered lust. If Mumbai-based designer Debby is to be believed, "No matter how much animal print is in, the trend is set by the Mahadev. At least for my collections to promote PETA, my choice was Shiva because he is the one who has started wearing animal print. I have a 'Shiva saree' with white base and yellowish animal print on the torso area with Trishul or Damru on the choli."
Unlike Krishna's flute, which can be interpreted as aphrodisiac or a tempting rhythm to woo a woman, Shiva's damru makes a noise that is not only manly but helps to establish Shiva as Bohemian. Rudraksh that he wears is a super style statement and is hippie in that sense.
Marriage material
If frivolity gets a kick-start, the heart throb of Vrindavan has always been the prefect choice to be a Valentine. But unlike the love and mushiness, Shiva stands out as complete marriage material. And for that reason, on the eve of Shivratri, from Shiva idol in temples to the flower-bedecked black stone under a Peepul tree, none gets relief from "operation flood" (offering of milk). The only wish the women devotees make that day is to get a groom like Shiva. Whatever tornado that evolution or revolution has tried on Indian mentality, Shiva is still the "role model" for "Bharatiya nari". Going by the societal norms and tradition, women in India skip a heartbeat and burp a little before uttering about their sexual choices, but pouring milk on the Shiva linga ~ it's more like celebrating desire in a camouflage called Shivratri.
The desired sex symbol of Indian women, Shiva is actually the versatile man. He wears the "rudrarup" (angry avatar) in Vedas. When rage sparks off, it's difficult for anyone to withstand his anger. And the next second he is as calm as the lowest point in deep sea, just like a piece of stone. This "mood swing" and "contrast" make him enigmatic to the fairer sex.
Henpecked husband
If the above was an inference from Vedas, folk tales about Shiva is something different. The folk Shiva (as mentioned by the medieval poets) is not at all a family guy. He roams around with ghosts and spirits. Rebuked by Parvati, he would try his hand at agriculture and creates a complete fuss out of it, all credited to his inexperience and ineligibility. Common mass should have been influenced by these stories. But the charisma of this Kailash resident has made women fall for him since time immemorial. No matter how much perfection is lacking, the intellectual hunk's "simple living, high thinking" is no less a charm to women. And women always have a preference for indifferent casual men than a perfect conscious one, say psychologists. In one word, being henpecked is what women would like Shiva to be. Again, drawing a comparison to Krishna, who is a perfect lover, Shiva is the complete package to get betrothed to.
Woman sutra
Shiva's respect for women and commitment to wife is admirable. While Krishna left Radha to head to Dwarka for better prospects, Shiva created a ruckus with the body of his wife when Daksha Raja's mockery makes Parvati leave her soul. He is the "angry young man" of the '70s. With a tiger hide and serpents, he has shown a thumbs-down to established facts with his "care for none" attitude. He isn't the goody boy type or a chocolaty lover like the beau of Mathura, rather a bohemian addicted to ganja. He will show that he isn't bothered even if the earth stops rotating. But for some others' benefit he will drink poison and become Neelkanth (blue throated, an avatar of Shiva).
Rise to fame
It's almost 1,900 years before the birth of the Christ, the place which bears a connection to Indus Valley Civilisation ~ it was originally called Meluha. Centuries back an indomitable statesman, Ramachandra established his empire there. River Saraswati that flows through Meluha is getting dried up. This river resembles the life of the SuryaVanshi. Besides drying up of the river, the anxiety lied in Suryavanshi's dangerous enemy, Chandravanshi teaming up with the 'Nagas'. Though Nagas are cursed and have a deformed physical structure ~ they are great warriors and everyone is scared of them. Nobody till date could have defeated the Nagas. At this difficult time, the only relief is the assurance of a saviour. But the day when defeat is evident, the saviour will make his presence then only and not before. But who is that Hercules who will save Meluha! Is he the matted hair, casual Shiva? But that man has no ambition. If he doesn't want who will make him play the Atlas to the Meluha! The daughter of Daksha, Sati is married to Shiva. May be Shiva's love for Sati will make him reach an undecided future. And the day will arrive when Neelkanth Shiva will be the rescuer of Meluha! "Just like designation ~ Dalai Lama or Shankar Acharya, Mahadev is a position or title," Amish Tripathi has opined in his book, Immortals of Meluha.
Interpreting the Puranas is nothing new! But most of them were limited to Puranas conscious or Puranas loving people. But Amish's Shiva Trilogy has successfully pulled in new readers, changed the mode of entertainment. Old, crazy, forgetful Bholanath has become cool, sexy and happening!
Amish's first book Immortals of Meluha became a bestseller the instant it hit the stands in 2010. In just six months, from February, the book had sold 45,000 copies. In the age of social network and morning shows, a success of a book, that too not a slim one, is an exception indeed! With an MBA from IIM-C and a lucrative job of investment banker, Amish said, "A TV show was once showing Asura and Devta in Hinduism is completely different from Zoroastrianism. For the latter, Daiva or Devta is evil and Ahura or Ashura is god." An eye opener for Amish, he understood there must have been some war between the two civilizations, which has made one villain another's hero! He decided to write a book on Asura. But his family suggested to write something good!
Amish, whose grandfather was a Pundit in Varanasi, combined his favourite subject, history, and "repackaged" the Puranas. But his language or style was nowhere near to the conventional Purana tales and he was refused by almost 30 publishers. Finally, using his managements skills, making an audio visual trailer and a web version of a part of his manuscript helped in getting popularity. And publishers roped him in.
First reading of Meluha is striking. As amusing as a Sci-Fi, one finds an aimless youth, drug addict, a citizen of a lost country being taken to another nation! Devdutt Pattanaik, Ashok Banker and Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni have tried their pens on Puranas. But this new kid in the block, Amish not only changed the packaging but also the flow of his narrative. This book is neither for Puranas lovers nor for the Sci-Fi lovers. Meluha is a thrilling romance bottled in a Puaranas can ~ where Puuranas becomes a playback and Shiva a "cool dude"!
Life OK's flagship show Devon ke Dev Mahadev went on air on 18 December, 2011. Its first promo didn't show the face of Mahadev. A tiger skin, six packs and trident made up for the purpose. Former Mr India Mohit Raina was "desirable" in the role. " In the wrapper of religion, who won't wish to see a six-pack sexy hunk?" said a Delhi University professor as she gulped down her excitement.
Over the years, Shiva hasn't changed but evolved as youth icon. The cool dude smokes pot and gets high! Last year on a trekking expedition at Dharamkot in Himachal Pradesh, one found on the tough terrain plenty of cafes openly selling marijuana. And each café bore a larger than life poster of Shiva! Screenplay writer and professor at a college in Delhi University, Rupleena Bose beleives," Shiva is not infallible.He is odd, in his expression of anger, intoxication and sexuality. But young people do tattoos just for the pot. They are trying to find Shiva and relate to the God which itself is very interesting because then a symbol takes a dimension which is more secular than religious."
http://www.thestatesman.net/news/41475-god-of-all-things.html
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