BHRINGI – THE DISCIPLE
Saint Bhringi’s story goes somewhat like this – he is an absolute ardent devotee of Shiva for whom nothing existed outside of or beyond Shiva. Therefore, every time he paid his obeisance – he circumambulated only Shiva, leaving Parvati out, who is Shiva’s manifested Energy. This practice reached a climax, when Bhringi, took the form of a bee and bored a hole at the point where Shiva and Parvati had fused their bodies in the form of Ardhnarishwar just so that he could avoid circumambulating Parvati. This insistence on Bhringi’s part angered Parvati and he was the recipient of a curse from her, wherein he was reduced to a skeleton. Bhringi realized his mistake, sought forgiveness from Parvati. He does not allow Parvati to revoke her curse and therefore, Shiva blessed Bhringi with a third leg to support himself. For Shiva knew Bhringi’s absolute devotion to him.
Continuing with the understanding that Shiva is the Guru, then Parvati, as wife-disciple, takes on the role of Guru Ma. With Parvati by his side, Shiva represents the path of dvait.
Bhringi, the disciple, like Parvati, the disciple, is an advaitin. For an advaitin, since everything rests within the Guru, a physical demonstration of reverence to anybody other than the Guru is an anathema. Therefore, a disciple like Bhringi, resists the acceptance of the physical manifested energy, i.e., Guru Ma. He does not and is unwilling to understand the humility and reverence with which he must interact with the Guru Ma. The disciple, therefore, unwittingly faces challenges, the curse being symbolic of these challenges, in his spiritual journey, the basis for which he cannot understand. A journey that suddenly seems unfamiliar.
Bhringi’s insistence on only circumambulating Shiva, despite Parvati being by his side, can be understood as the disciple choosing to be selective in his acceptance of the teachings of the Guru – accepting those that fit in with his ideology and rejecting the rest. It can also be understood as a disciple’s inability to accept that there is oneness in existence and that there are numerous ways of reaching the Divine. Each equally effective. No path being inferior to the other.
The curse is a reminder for the disciple, whichever path he may follow and no matter how far he may have travelled on the spiritual journey, he is human and therefore fallible. He can make mistakes and therefore needs to be mindful of every step he takes.
The blessing of Shiva, a reminder that the Guru is ever benevolent – provided the disciple is truly repentant when he has made a mistake. A disciple, like Bhringi, is more than willing to bear the consequences of his mistake and equally willing to carry on with his learning and his search for the divine. The third leg can be viewed as special knowledge imparted by the Guru, which the Guru feels the disciple is worthy of – the disciple having persevered with his learning despite the challenges he has had to deal with – knowledge that the Guru knows will hold the disciple in good stead as he continues his spiritual journey.
Beautiful read ❤🙏