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The Sahasrar is also the region of samarasya between Shiva and Shakti, with the dissolution of duality; at
the level of consciousness, it indicates the merging of the guru and the shishya, without which there can
be no liberation. Samarasya means mingling of essence, being the blessed state where there is no separating
veil between I and Thou, thus showering the full force of the guru’s transcendent grace on the deserving
disciple. This is where Shiva manifests as the Guru, and also where the unification of Shiva and Shakti is
achieved; the charan paduka, or the feet that reside here are not ordinary feet but they are Shiva’s feet,
which are the ‘Para Paduka’, or the transcendental imprints of the Formless Absolute.
Full Moon Lore
It is the proper balance of the solar and lunar energies that brings life on earth to its fullness. At the
time of the Full Moon, the glory of the full light of the Moon is visible, without the shadow of the earth
interfering between this polarity of the Sun and the Moon. While the Sun influences the intelligence
quotient of the logical and rational mind, the Moon represents the intuitive, contemplative function, and
the dynamic balance between the two brings forth the true qualities of intelligence as the force of mature
wisdom and creativity, differently expressed in Sanskrit as ‘dhi’, ‘medha’, and ‘pradnya’. It follows the
integration of the right and the left brain, the pingala and the ida nadis. This samarasya occurs under the
influence of the Full Moon, when like the tides in the ocean, the kundalini, which is the dynamic force of
liberation in human beings, enters and ascends through the sushumna nadi, seeking union with the Cosmic
Divine in the Sahasrar.
A breathtaking manifestation of this surge is seen in the ice lingam formation in the holy cave of Amarnath,
which attains fullness on the occasion of Guru Purnima, and lasts until the next Full Moon in the lunar
month of Shravan. This lingam is worshipped as one of the twelve main jyotirlingams in India, which are
power spots on earth, in places where the cosmic and earth energies enter into dynamic interaction and are
manifest in their most beneficial form.
It is known that the Sun and Moon visible in the sky are mere physical gateways to the real divinity that
functions behind these lights. The subtle and etheric is more real than the gross physical exterior. It is
during each New Moon, Full Moon and eclipse that the doorways of the universe are wide open, permitting
communion between energies and vibrations across all the dimensions and realms in the cosmos. Spiritual
adepts take maximum advantage of these cosmic alignments to advance their work for the benefit of sentient
beings under their care. The ancient rishis in their great wisdom, have created sublime rituals for every
such occasion, and especially for each Full Moon of the year, when people are motivated to stay outdoors at
night in celebration of these benefic cosmic events, so that they may absorb the transcendent cosmic
radiation within their beings to the fullest.
Sacred traditions
On occasion of the Guru Purnima, a darshan of the guru at night is deemed important, for it is then that
the Moon’s radiation illuminates in the guru’s person the full power of divine cosmic energy and grace for
the benefit of the disciple. In the hidden realms of the upper reaches of the Himalayas, is the strict
convention where all the exalted gurus, past and present, congregate to give darshan to exalted disciples
in the hierarchy, who are themselves great adepts. At the time, all the departed worthies who have taken
mahanirvana to continue working ceaselessly at higher cosmic levels, assume their human form to pay respects
to their loved guru. The experience of this unique festival is of indescribable beauty and rapture, as
described to many of his disciples by a healer-yogi of great attainments in the spiritual world. This was
a gentle, unassuming man who worked his miracles in healing the incurables while based in Mumbai for most
of his long life, under the direct tutelage of Mahavatar Babaji. He witnessed the Himalayan Guru Purnima for
many years in the company of his exalted guru. On one occasion, he described in detail the uninhibited and
energetic tandav danced in a circle around the fire, waving their long dreadlocks and wildly raising their
thick and knotty staffs in the air, by the Immortal sage and his disciples under the Guru Purnima Full
Moon.
Another time, Babaji rubbed his palms together, saying, “dekh, mazaa dekh!” (Now watch the fun). His hand
produced sacred ash out of the thin Himalayan air, and smearing this ash all over his body, he got ready to
give a darshan to his disciples. As they walked in the enchanting silvery light playing on the snowy peaks,
they witnessed rows of high yogis and lamas awaiting their turn to prostrate in surrender to their higher
gurus. At those times, even the Adi Guru Shiva is known to nonchalantly pass by in the moonlight by way of
a fleeting darshan. For this is the time when even the Formless Absolute must be provoked by the divine
leela (cosmic play) between guru and loving disciple, to condense itself into perceptible frequencies
gradually assuming the classic shapes and forms approximating the aesthetics of faith.
It is important to know that many of these realised beings, in their love and compassion for humanity,
descend to the earth in a human form, walking in little bylanes of human habitation in the day and night of
the Full Moon, to grant select disciples the grace of their darshan. Just a passing glimpse of an ascended
Master is the charging point for a major turnaround in consciousness and exponential spiritual growth for
the individual. Great sinners, murderers, or sweet innocents are known to start on the ultimate journey of
unfoldment on these occasions. The rest, is up to the guru alone.
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