In all my life and anything I have heared and read, no other text touched me as deeply as the Sivastotravali, written in Sanskrit by the indian saint Utpaladeva, almost a thousand years ago.
Utpaladeva was a master of his system of a very high degree, but above all — he was a lover of Lord Shiva.
He lived in the northern indian region of Kashmir, where one of the most powerful and knowledgebale traditions of spiritual doctrine originated from – Kashmir Shaivism.
Utpaladeva was able to comprehend the workings of nature, the universe and existence. He was a master of Yoga and the disciplines of his system and lineage. He knew by experience what our western scientists only slowly discover and approve. He could be called a Yogi or a scientist, but what no other person could or did to the same level — he combined it with an intense love and aspiration — and with that, turned knowledge into pure poetry.
This mix of deep understanding of universal mechanisms, together with intense love and devotion, makes it absolutely unique, inspiring and joyful to read and to learn from.
One of his verses:
“This world is nothing but the expansion of Thy consciousness.
It arises when Thou dost will to perceive,
and disappears when Thou withdrawest that will.
Just as a reflection appears and vanishes in a mirror,
so does the universe appear and vanish in Thee.”
(Utpaladeva‘s Sivastotravali verse 6.5)
He was mad for God. He wished for nothing else. He knew it was his very own essence. And yet his most Beloved and biggest source of Joy and Pleasure.
But with all his spiritual advancement, he seemed to face just the same challenges as any other Yogi and human being. So he is not only a great source of inspiration and knowledge, but he is also very relatable. Able to pick up and inspire anyone on their path to God Consciousness and Yoga.
“Though I know You are ever-present, my heart still yearns for You.
Though You dwell within me, I search for You outside.
O Lord, how strange is this play of ignorance,
that even while embracing You, I cry for union.”
(Utpaladeva’s Śivastotrāvalī verse 13.5)
To me, he really defined the word and meaning of Devotion like no one else, and brought it to a whole new level.
Contrary to what many people think, devotion does not mean blind service or subordinance without personal interest. Following are a few quotes by Utpaladeva, which make his understanding and practice of devotion more clear:
„Others serve You through ritual or doctrine; I serve You through love.
For me, devotion is not duty — it is the natural fragrance of the heart.”
(Utpaladeva‘s Sivastotravali verse 1.12)
Or
“When I remember You, I am filled with wonder; when I forget You, I am restless. This, O Lord, is my devotion — the endless longing that makes life worth living.”
(Utpaladeva‘s Sivastotravali verse 3.5)
The german language is usually very complex and rich, with one of the biggest vocabularies in the world. But there is not one single word that touches the same meaning and spectrum like the english word Devotion.
So especially for us germans, it can be of great support and inspiration to study the texts of Utpaladeva, and to really get to know what devotion really means.
“This love for You, O Lord, is not of the world —
it is born of seeing You within myself.
When I bow to You, I bow to my own Self,
yet how sweet is this play of devotion!”
(Utpaladeva‘s Sivastotravali verse 5.12)
