Shiv Shakti - Nuclear Energy

A few months back I introduced Shri Ganesh ji to you, on the eve of Sri Ganesh Utsav. It’s time I introduce his father, Maha Dev- Shiv Shankar, now, on the eve of coming Maha Shiv-Ratri. The following news item of few years back, in the Times of India has prompted me to do so:
Chennai: A 11 foot tall panchaloha idol of Lord Nataraja, weighing about two tonnes, sculpted in a village near Swamimalai in Kumbakonam taluk in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, is to be airlifted from Chennai for Switzerland.
Nearly 24 sculptors in Thimmakudi village toiled day and night for the past six months to create the world’s tallest Nataraja idol, now on its way to Chennai from the village.
The Nuclear Power Corporation in Geneva, Switzerland, had requested the Indian Nuclear Power corporation for a panchaloha idol. The job was entrusted to the sculptors in the village.
The total cost of the idol was around Rs 15 lakh. It has been crafted as per the agama rules.
This was a prelude to the following.
All things in Bharatiya culture are based on symbolism, be they spiritual or mundane. We try to explain the unknown and the abstract by everyday visual expressions.
We have the Holy Trinity- Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh (- Maha Ish- Maha Dev). Brahma is the creator or generator, Vishnu is the sustainer or operator, and Mahesh (Lord Shiv-Shankar) is the dissolver or destroyer of the universe. Does the word ‘GOD’ stand to reason, now? And it is a Hindu concept! Take credit for it!
Coming back to the subject matter at hand, Lord Shiv-Shankar. One of His popular forms is His dancing pose in Tandav Nritya, the dance at the time of Maha Pralaya, the Yugaant, or the end of the time cycle. It is His fiercest form as the annihilator of the universe. The dance of death and destruction at the dissolution of the universe is depicted by the ‘Dance of Shiv,’ as it is called. And that’s why He is called ‘Nataraj,’ Supreme Dancer. It is the dance of the nuclear energy with all its might and fury, at the end of the Kaala Chakra of the Universe. He is also known as ‘Kaal-Bhairav.’ Kaal means time, and Bhairav means horrific sound!
In the scientific community world over, Lord Shiv is recognized as the ‘Annihilator of the Universe,’ particularly, in the ‘Tandav Nritya’ pose. It is the dance of the nuclear energy with all its might and fury, at the end of the Universe. The news item from Switzerland, cited above, should suffice to justify it.
Also, in the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of the Governmen. of America, in Livermore, near San Francisco, there is a 3 ft tall statue of Nataraj, in the Tandav Nritya pose, as we see everywhere. Underneath are inscribed the words, ‘Hindu God of Dissolution.’
However, the form of His which we are most familiar with, is the ‘Shiv Ling’ found in our temples. This is His milder and benevolent form. It represents ‘Nuclear Energy,’ as stated above. (Incidentally, ‘Ling’ means sign or mark of identity).
Coming back to the symbolism of Shiv-Shakti, Bhagwaan Shiv-Shankar is also known as ‘Bholeynaath.’ Whosoever try to please Him, He blesses them, irrespective of how they make use of the blessings. Be it Ram or Ravana, Pandavas or Kauravas. Whether you use nuclear energy for the good of humanity, such as nuclear sciences, nuclear medicines, nuclear power stations, etc., or in wars for destruction and destroy yourselves, the energy is impartial.
But, be ware of His ‘Tritiya Netra!’ If He opens His third eye, total devastation will result! The modern incidences are, the accidents at Three Mile Island in the USA, in March 1979 and Chernobyl in Russia, in April 1986. In the case of Chernobyl, the winds that blew went well past the Netherlands in the North of Europe, making vast areas unsustainable to life. No wonder His abode is in ‘Shmashan,’ the crematorium! And He is smeared with ‘Chita Bhasma,’ ashes of the cremated!
As there are strict rules for erecting a nuclear power station, so are there rules to build Shiv Mandir. It must be far away from the populace, out of city or town or village boundaries. It should be near water sources, like sea, river, lakes, etc. If there is an accident, the radioactive material should be discipated away as quickly as possible through the running water. The Garbhagriha, the ‘sanctum sanctorum’ should be below the ground level to keep the place damp.
Shiv-Ling is a model of an atom. It has two parts: a Pindi or Baana, and Salunka or Peetham or Vedi. Now, compare the shape of the Pindi and that of a nuclear reactor. Both are dome-shaped, with cylindrical vertical sides. Way back in 1964, in a French science journal, From Paris to Bombay, a writer, a French scientist, had shown sketches of Shiv-Pindi and a nuclear reactor, side by side, comparing them and explaining the inherent intricate similarities.
The Pindi is centered on a base, a circular platform, the Vedi, which has slightly raised edges all around. Notice the water fall or the continuous drip on the Baana? Does it signify the heavy water, Deuterium (D2O), Isotopic variety of water, so essential for the reactor? It is the only God who is offered this privilege!
The Vedi represents a sort of negative energy field that does not allow the contaminated water to spread around, the raised edges symbolizing this stoppage. It is to be channelized through a spout called Gow-Mukh, mouth of a cow, which creates a break in the circular Vedi. The water must drain out through this Mukh (mouth).
There is a Snake coiled round the neck of the Lord. In a place called Batavia, about 34 miles from Chicago, where one of the government’s nuclear laboratories (FermiLab) is established, there is a ring of about 4 miles in circumference called the ‘main injector.’ Another smaller beside it is called ‘Tevatron,’ a particle accelerator, to create small nuclear explosions by splitting atoms. There is one to be had in Germany about 20 miles in circumference. Does the coiled snake symbolize these rings?
Remember the ‘Teertha Prasad’ we have after the Darshan of the deities, which is given to us and we reverentially accept it? But do remember, you are forbidden to have the Teertha of Bhagwan Mahadev. That Teertha is water dripping down from the top of the Pindi, the Reactor. And, that water is radiactive contaminated (again, symbolic), which is not to be dispersed any which way! It must be channelized through the Gow Mukh. Ever notice which way the Gow Mukh is facing in any Shiv Mandir? It must point towards North. Regarding nuclear energy, the North Pole has a negative polarity. So the nuclear waste must be accumulated in that direction.
Lord Shiv has another name-Neel Kanth, which means ’blue throated.’ A story goes that at the time of ‘Samudra Manthan,’ Churning of the Ocean, by the gods on one side and the demons on the other, 14 items came out. One of them was the poison, Halaahal. For the good of all, Bhagwan Sri Shankar swallowed it. Due to that His throat turned blue. So His name became Neel kanth. Relating this to an atomic reactor, when a reaction takes place inside the reactor, the charged vertical, inverted ‘U” shaped tubes emit blue light. These tubes, which are about a few cetimeters in diameter and few meters high depending upon the size of the reactor, carry the fuel required for heating.
And then, the final restriction: you go to a temple and after having the Darshan of the Deity, you go round the Mandir or Garbhagriha for a ‘Pradakhsina/Parikrama.’ But, no, not in case of Maha Dev. He is an exception. You never complete the ‘Pradakshina’ round in this case. You may go round from one edge of the Gow Mukh to the other, but should never, ever cross the Gow Mukh or tread over the area, as it is contaminated by nuclear waste. You have to turn back. Only ‘trained’ personnel can go into that area for ‘maintenance.’ There were mantras, chanting which, people could go in the area. (Kind of protective shielding!) And that practice is, symbolically, followed even today.

Well, does this somewhat change your perspective toward our Gods and Goddesses? Lord Shiv is one example of the deep symbolism that forms the basis of Hinduism.