Navaratri 2015 – What is Heaven

I have been completely immersed in the festival of Navaratri for the past 2 weeks. My typical golu display is part mythological and part social. However, this year I wanted to do something different. I wrote a short story based on varying ideas of Heaven. I also created a display for the same. The display was lit with numerous lights of different colours, and the photographs do not do any justice to the set-up.

A glossary of terms to help you understand the narration better

• 14 lokas – list of 14 worlds from the netherworld to heaven and beyond
• Swarga loka – holds the gorgeous city (Amravati) of Lord Indra where all the demigods live 
• Satya Loka – Comprises of 4 worlds and is the residence of Lord Brahma & Saraswati (the God of creation and Goddess of knowledge)
• Devi Loka – abode of Goddess Durga (feminine power)
• Kailasa – the residence of Lord Shiva (the God of destruction) & his family
• Paarkadal or Ksheer sagar (Milky ocean) – Dark, primordial waters resembling a mother’s womb where Lord Vishnu reclines on a snake. From his naval, a lotus flower sprouts which is the Satya loka. All the 14 lokas spring from the lotus vine connecting the naval and the flower
• Vaikunta – Land of bliss, the highest heaven where a soul can be truly free and happy in the company of the almighty  

What is Heaven?

On a beautiful day, friends and family members of Mr Rama, a famous entrepreneur, celebrate his 75th birthday. After the traditional Homam (offerings to the fire) and pujas, his family gathers around him to discuss his life. His Granddaughter asks him,” Grandpa, how did you become so rich and famous?” He smiles, thinks back and talks about a life-altering experience that made him who he is today.

The Flashback37 years ago, Rama was an ex-sales clerk who had lost his job when he fell awfully sick. His family life was troubled as his children frequently fell ill. As he could not afford monthly expenses, he constantly fought with his wife. He would put on his suit every day and go off to interviews, only to be turned away by a “No Vacancy board”. His life, in a nutshell, was hell. 

He decides to walk into a jungle one day instead of returning home. As the night approaches, he sees a coyote. With death approaching, he screams to God. “Govinda, please take me to heaven, for my life is hell. I have been righteous, kind and honest my entire life, so please, I beg you to grant me this boon at my life’s end,” and falls to the ground.

On the way to Heaven

 He opens his eyes to freezing winds and sees two women in white, who he decides must be angels. He asks them the way to heaven. The angels at the North Pole ask him which heaven he would like to go to, as there are 14 worlds with many different interpretations of heaven. He chooses swarga loka and climbs Mt. Meru passing by the Bhuvarloka, the abode of stars. He recollects the many achievers born in these stars and feels ashamed that he has not done anything worthwhile.

Amravati is the land of his dreams, with Ramba and Urvashi dancing on a waterfall while Menaka and Thilothama look on. Rathi looks resplendent in her floral gown, and the Kalpakavriksha is magnificent. However, his desire to stay there is cut short with Indra gives him the boot, saying that only Demi-Gods can stay in Swarga Loka. Further, Indra instructs him to seek out the Trimurthi (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva).

 Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva

 Rama proceeds on the Lotus vine to meet Lord Brahma. The latter points out that he has blessed himself with intelligence and the capacity to fend for himself according to his destiny. Therefore, Brahma cannot interfere with it by offering him a place in Satya Loka. Disappointed that there is “No vacancy” for him in Satya Loka, he moves towards the luminous Devi Loka, which is too bright for him. He moves on to the pale blue Kailasa. Lord Shiva offers him residence, but Rama asks if this is “heaven”. Shiva replies that Kailas was his (Shiva’s) heaven and Ramas’ too if he chooses. 

As the human desire to want more creeps in, Rama takes lord Shiva’s permission to check out Vishnu Loka before accepting a place at Kailasa. He travels to see the Garbhodakasayi Vishnu reclining on Adhishesha in the Paarkadal. Lord Vishnu welcomes him and says, “You called out to me in the moment of desperation, so I rushed forward to help you. You have followed the path of Dharma even during suffering. I will grant you a place with me, forever Rama, in Vaikunta. 

Overjoyed, Rama reaches the entrance to Vaikunta. He sees the Paramapada Swapna – the stairway to Vaikunta. The Dwarapalakas there, Jaya and Vijaya, enumerate the qualities of Vaikunta as being a ‘highly blissful place where there is no sorrow, no anger, no hunger or pain’. A place where one can be happy forever. With his eyes closed, Rama is utterly delighted at the thought and thinks, “how wonderful will it be if only my wife and children were here with me?”

Heaven

The very next second, He opens his eyes to find himself near the forest right next to where he started his journey. Thoroughly disappointed, yet having understood his love for his family, he walks home. However, to his surprise, his house resembles a colourful fort with a sign board “Heaven”. 

Curious, he opens the door and hears a message. “Heaven is not where we go, but how we live. Heaven is not a place to be found; we create it by the choices we make in life.”

So what is heaven?

Heaven is getting to spend time at a beautiful place with the one you love. It is enjoying a tasty yet nourishing meal. Heaven is sharing thoughts with like-minded friends. Heaven is having company in old age. You can be in heaven while sitting on the windowsill, reading a book while listening to rainfall and enjoying a hot cup of tea. Heaven is practising one’s God-given talent for self-pleasure without expecting any reward or fame. It is opening your mind to other perspectives through travel. Heaven is in being able to create something good with your hands and converting that into your profession. 

In Ramayana, Sita asks Lord Ram the same question, to which Ram replies – “Whenever we are truly happy, we are in heaven and when in sorrow, we are in hell”. 

“and like that, I came back home. I started a small business and worked extremely hard to become successful,” exclaimed Rama concluding his story. He cherished his retirement by spending time with his family and indulging in hobbies to lead a blissful life.

I hope you found it interesting 
Cheers