“The Man Who Called Everyone Shiva” by R. S. Chintalapati

​It was about 8:45 pm, and I was waiting for a bus in order to go home after twelve hours of college. As accustomed, the bus was not going on time. The whole bus stop was free with just three girls, two boys and an old man who sat on the bench at the bus stop. The boys in the group were shouting and laughing while the girls stood whispering. I stood for about half an hour beside the group and was exhausted carrying the heavy bag which had a big fat organic chemistry book in it. I went back and sat on the bench at the stop beside the old Man as there was only one bench left. 

All of a sudden out of nowhere came a man who was wearing a saffron colour dhoti and had three horizontal lines on his forehead representing a Shiva’s follower. He was naked top except for a chain which had Rudrakshas. He had a turban of the same saffron colour. He was dancing, not even considering his surroundings. Girls who were near the bus stop started smiling by looking at his dance as it is not quite good. I was watching him intensely to comprehend what he was doing and all I understood was a man was dancing that too foolishly. 

This man stopped dancing as soon as he could see girls beside him. He shouted immediately “Mata!!! Aashirvaad dho” connotation “Oh Mother, give me your blessings” the girls who contemplation he was barmy as soon as they saw him dancing inveterate it when he shouted. 

A girl from the group opened her purse, pulled out a ten-rupee note and pointed it to the man to take it. He did not bother about the note not even for a minute, but he folded his two hands and said again, “Mata! Aashirvaad dho”. 

Girls did not appreciate what to do. I sat examining him even more fascinatingly. One of the girls turned towards boys expressing for help from this man, while a boy who was watching the whole thing went towards the man responding to her appeal and said, “Paise lekar chale jawo” the man who stood bowed turned up and looked at the boy and shouted “Shiva!!!!!!” and within no time the man started dancing again. 

All of them started laughing at his dance; I also laughed with them. The man danced for a few minutes and left dancing. 

The boy who went forward turned back and said, “Pagalwala” all the girls and boys laughed, and I also laughed and said to the old man “Pagal admi hey” 

The old man who also watched along with me all the episode said, “He is quite a great man.” 

I looked at him while the old man continued, “Does pagal means mad?” 

I nodded and said, “Yes.” 

The old man continued, “You think he is mad, but I say we are all mad.” 

I asked him, “What makes you say that?” 

He took a long breath and said, “I don’t know whether he is a true sadhu or a fake one, but he had internal joy as you can see him dancing, and you can also observe that he sees god in every human he sees. Show me another man in the whole world happier than him?” 

I started thinking about that perspective, and yes, he was right. We talked for a few minutes more about the sadhu, and he said, “I am from India but was raised in England. What I really like in India is the true essence of happiness through religion. Being Indians, I wonder why you people believe in it. What would it really cost? It is just belief.”

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​This experience is available in “Creators’ Memoirs” & “Book of Artic”

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Team

1. ​Contributor
   R. S. Chintalapati
   
   
2. Editor
   R. K. Chamarla

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Cover Photo by Ravindra Patoju

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