Shiva Grove–A Poem Inspired by Shambhu Vineberg’s Song

Shambhu’s album ‘Sacred Love’ was indeed a gem of a collection of music–this particular poem is inspired by the song of the same name in which he, Ravichandra Kulur (flute) and the Saxophonist George Brooks playfully go on a jamming session and the outcome is a treat to the ears.

You can listen to this song on Spotify as you read the poem.

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Shiva grove

The dark forest around my being is impassable—it is thick, dense and full of elusive paths that are extremely difficult to locate. 

It seems, for eons, I am mired in this place struggling hard for my release. The trial appears to be unending.

Disconnecting my mind from the external stimuli, I try to concentrate within.

Like an elephant, who clears the path of forest-travelers with its stamping feet, Ganesha, the son of Shiva, leads me onto an inward journey. 

His gait is majestic, assured, and faith-instilling. It seems he enjoys helping the beings to cross over the woods of confusion and ephemeral existence.

Once done, this inward journey brings me to the gates of a grove—Shiva seems to be permeating this place, as the whole content of my being is pulsating with the sense of being in touch with something auspicious.

This woodlet is serene, filled with refreshed air. 

The strokes of this dancing air seem to be caressing the curls of Shiva, who is untouched and unreached by thought and word, yet succumbs to the piteous cries of beings, desperately pining for his benedictory glance.

There is no one, yet I feel someone watching over me with welcoming eyes as if I was long expected.

I am at a loss of words…what is it? A dream that even can’t be visualized in dreams and can’t be figured out in the wildest of fantasies? 

What is this singular and most authentic state that seems to be binding me all over? Is it? Is it the one that we call ‘the eternal home’?