In 1981, my parents attended an art auction and came home with a striking bronze statue. It was intricately detailed, with features that left us marveling at its craftsmanship. My mom, believing it to be a Buddhist figure, proudly displayed it in our home, where it became a fixture in our lives. For years, we admired its mystique, never fully understanding what it represented.
Fast forward to recently, when I was describing the statue to one of my team members during a one on one. She, a developer on my team was celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi, the Hindu festival honoring Lord Ganesha. As I described the statue—its cobras draped around the figure, a scroll in one hand, and the character stepping on a little man with horns—she paused, intrigued.
“Does the figure have a moon on his head?” she asked.
“Yes, actually,” I replied.
“And is there something like a river flowing from his hair?”
I thought for a moment. “Yes, there is.”
“And what about the object in his hand—could it be a conch shell?”
This threw me for a loop. “I thought it was a fish,” I admitted.
That’s when it hit her. She smiled and said, “That’s Lord Shiva!”
The Significance of Lord Shiva
Lord Shiva, often called "The Destroyer" in Hinduism’s divine trinity, plays a critical role in the cycle of creation, preservation, and destruction. But Shiva’s destruction isn’t negative—it’s transformative. He clears the path for new beginnings, embodying the power of change and regeneration.
The moon on Shiva’s head represents his control over time, while the river flowing from his hair is the Ganges, symbolizing the purifying flow of life. The cobras represent his mastery over death, and the conch shell is a sacred object in Hinduism, signifying the sound of creation. Even the little man with horns that Shiva steps on has meaning—he represents ignorance, which Shiva crushes underfoot.
The Perfect Timing: Ganesh Chaturthi
What made the discovery even more special was the timing. We were in the middle of Ganesh Chaturthi, the festival that celebrates Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. Ganesha is Shiva’s son, and the festival is a joyous occasion where Hindus honor Ganesha's wisdom, asking for blessings to overcome life's challenges.
It felt almost serendipitous that, during a festival focused on Ganesha, we would uncover the true identity of a statue depicting his father, Shiva. The timing was nothing short of perfect.
A Deeper Understanding
This revelation wasn’t just about identifying the statue’s origins. It was a moment of connection between cultures, a reminder of how art, faith, and curiosity can bring people together. My developer, with her knowledge of Hindu traditions, helped me see something that had been right in front of me for decades but had gone unnoticed.
The statue, with all its rich symbolism, became more than just a beautiful piece of art. It became a doorway into understanding a faith that, while different from my own, carries universal themes of transformation, wisdom, and overcoming ignorance.
The Broader Lesson
This experience has reminded me that there’s always more to discover, not just about the world around us but about the things we think we already know. Whether it’s a piece of art, a tradition, or a belief system, there is always an opportunity to learn and grow, often in the most unexpected ways.
And now, every time I look at that statue of Lord Shiva, I’m reminded of the intricate connections between the stories, symbols, and wisdom that shape our lives—whether they come from Hinduism, Christianity, or any other faith. The statue is no longer just an object in our home but a symbol of discovery, shared understanding, and the beauty of life’s unexpected revelations.
Happy Thursday all,
-srt
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