To further demystify these mythological figures and make them more accessible to the human mind, irrespective of cultural backgrounds and beliefs – the curious reader and the seekers of truth need to just re-orient their thinking.
We need to understand that like the cyclic nature of the cosmos, human spiritual evolution is also cyclic in nature and this evolution sees it peaks and abyss. These figures represent our spiritual history, or we can say that they truly represent the zenith of human spiritual evolution. In the current times, we are at that point of our evolution where pleasures of this world have a very strong hold on us, and we believe that what cannot be perceived by our senses cannot exist. The silver lining is that many amongst us are beginning to understand that there is more to life than the physical aspects. As a result, there is greater interest in wanting to know about and ways in which we can explore the non-physical aspects of life. While there is a lot of information available about spirituality, these non-physical aspects can neither be learnt through textbooks nor the understanding bought in markets. These aspects can only be experienced. Under the guidance of a guru or master these experiences help the human being to blossom to his/her full potential.
The figures of Shiva, Parvati, Ganesh, Kartik, etc., represent this learning at the feet of a master, an enlightened being or Guru and the fact that each one has his/her own learning to do. We may ask why do we need a Guru? It is because having traversed this path and completed the journey, the Guru knows best how to help the student/disciple navigate through this journey. The students/disciples come from different walks of life, with their own set of beliefs and own karmic blueprint and therefore, the guru customizes his teachings according to the requirements of each of his disciples. Each soul that incarnates on this earth and chooses to walk the spiritual path has a learning to complete. It could be a character flaw that needs to be erased. It could be an unfinished business that needs to be brought to its rightful conclusion. It could also be a role that the soul needs to play for the betterment of mankind. Whatever be the reason, it is the guidance, blessings and the grace of the Guru that ensures the disciple/student not only offloads the baggage of his previous karmas but also opens himself/herself to possibilities that are within the ambit of every human soul.
These mythological figures or stalwarts of our spiritual history, whatever you would like to call them, highlight a simple fact – it is inconsequential how evolved a soul is – when it incarnates on this physical plane, i.e., the earth, the soul needs the touch of an enlightened master to help the soul shed off the blanket of ignorance that envelopes human beings. It is this tradition, of learning at the feet of a master, that has helped many slake their thirst to know the Unknown – in the past, as it is done even in the present times. It is the flame of this tradition that we need to pass on to the younger generation if we wish to once again summit the peak of human spiritual evolution.