Venus and Mars | Happy Sawan Shiva-Ratri

In search of the fine line between emotions and practicality, we wage a war each day between our heart and mind or more specifically between our feminine and masculine energies. Is there a conclusion to this debate? Is there a middle path that one can travel without suffering from doubt, confusion and uncertainty?

We can find this phenomenon occurring in the duality of almost everything in life; fragrant flowers have sharp thorns for protection, water can be as calm as a lake yet as violent as a flood; for every good there is evil, and in every evil there is good, and this being said, every man and women being absolute opposites, live in harmony and have sustained life this far. Such is the beauty of nature; it has created a counter part for everything to create a balance in the world. Likewise, the world has two types of energies, masculine and feminine, and claiming one can spend their life being dependent on just one energy is ethically, fundamentally and universally impossible. Without a balance, society cannot be maintained, which begs the question, is there a way to possess both these powers in one self and maintain a balance?

Lord Shiva gave an answer to this question, when he formed the avatar of Ardhnareshwar, half man, half woman. Anyone on Earth can posses similar powers and come to an equilibrium. Just like men and women consisting of their own unique characteristics, God blessed each individual with masculine and feminine energies in varying ratios. Men are capable of letting their hearts dictate terms their mind’s would not normally let them and Women are even more capable of making rational decisions that often go against their emotional nature. Humans have two energies which both need to be used at times to maintain equilibrium and live a balanced life.

There are two holes within the spine, on either side which are like conduit pipes for all the nerves to pass. This is the Ida and the Pingala, the left and right channel. In the energy body or Pranamayakosha, there are 72,000 nadis. Nadis are paths or passages of energy in the system, which spring from 3 basic nadis – the left, the right and the central – the Ida, Pingala, and Sushumna. These 72,000 nadis don’t have a physical manifestation but have 72,000 different ways in which the energy can move. Sushumna is the most significant aspect of human physiology. Life really begins, when energies enter into the Sushumna nadi.

 The Ida and Pingala represent the basic duality of life. It is this duality, which we traditionally personify as Shiva and Shakti. Men are more career oriented and typically belong to the workaholic category, women are more accepting and outgoing. Women know how to balance between personal and professional life better than men. Where men are more driven by money and power, women are more driven by passion and creativity. To maintain equilibrium and balance the two energies within each self, one should meditate. Mental imbalance happens when either of the energy’s overpowers the other making the person lose their balance easily causing them problems in their personal and professional life.