The sea and spirituality

Can you recall a time when you stood at the beach-front and were completely awestruck by the sea ahead of you ? Roaring waves, rolling , rising, crashing and the water rushing to the edge? Deep down, the sea is so full of mystery and wonder. It sustains  many forms of life. And being a marvel of God’s creations , the sea also holds great significance in spirituality.

Like when the Red Sea parted and let Moses lead the fear-stricken Israelites out. As God commanded, Moses held his staff over the water at which the water parted and his men were able to walk on dry ground and cross the sea .

During the churning of the ocean by the devas and asuras known as Samudra Manthana, using the Meru mountain as the fulcrum and the serpent Vasuki as the rope, several magical and wonderful things came out of it (after the emission of halahala, the toxic that Lord Shiva swallowed to save the world). The list includes the emergence of Goddess Lakshmi, Airavata the elephant, Uchchaishravas the horse, the precious Kaustubh, Dhanvantri and the pot of nectar or amrit.

The sea  is also considered to be very purifying. After every eclipse many Hindus have a bath in the sea as it is believed that the sea has the power to wash away all the negative energies and spiritual impurities . Homes  are even washed in sea water before certain havanas.

How is the sea able to do this? The salt in the water has the ability to cleanse accumulated negative energies and clear our energy fields, which can lead to a higher level of consciousness and greater clarity.

Recently , during the telecast of the Soorasamharam enactments- an important part of a popular festival celebrating Lord Kartikeya’s killing of the asura Sooran in a battle fought by the sea in Tiruchendur, one of the six abodes of the Lord and the only one by the sea -- it was recalled that time and again the sea stopped short of the temple as if in reverence to the deity . Locals recall that even during the tsunami the temple remained protected and untouched by devastation and damage elsewhere .

Let us do all we can to protect and revere our seas and refrain from  mindless sullying. Else, we will be left helpless when its fury is unleashed.