Lingodbhava - Infinite Pillar of Light

Dadi**: "Guddu, remember the story of the infinite pillar I told you? Let me tell you what happened next, and how this story connects to Mahashivaratri that we celebrate."

Guddu**: "The pillar where Shiva appeared, Dadi?"

Dadi**: "Yes! That blazing pillar of fire. The story tells us something very deep about how we can reach God."

Guddu**: "Brahma and Vishnu couldn't find the ends, right?"

Dadi**: "Right! Vishnu as a boar dug down through countless worlds, but the pillar had no bottom. Brahma as a swan flew up past stars and galaxies, but the pillar had no top. For thousands and thousands of years they searched!"

Guddu**: "That's so long!"

Dadi**: "And here's the deep meaning, beta. Vishnu represents wealth and power. Brahma represents knowledge and wisdom. The story teaches that neither wealth nor knowledge alone can help us reach the Supreme."

Guddu**: "Then how can we reach God?"

Dadi**: "When Vishnu couldn't reach Shiva's feet, what did he do? He stopped trying to conquer. He said, 'I am not able to reach your feet. I surrender to you. Please reveal yourself to me.' And at that moment of surrender, Shiva granted him oneness!"

Guddu**: "So surrendering is the way?"

Dadi**: "Yes! Not through intellect, not through power - through ultimate surrender. Brahma tried to use cleverness and lies to claim victory. That brought him curses. Vishnu used honesty and humility. That brought him blessings."

Guddu**: "Is that why we celebrate Mahashivaratri?"

Dadi**: "Exactly, my clever boy! On the 14th night of the dark fortnight in Phalguna month, we stay awake honoring the moment Shiva emerged from that luminous pillar. It was on this night that the infinite became visible, that the formless took form."

Guddu**: "And the mountain... Arunachala, right?"

Dadi**: "You remember! According to the Arunachala Puranam, after Shiva appeared as that column of fire, all beings in the three worlds couldn't bear the heat. So at their request, Shiva cooled down and became the sacred mountain Arunachala, which stands in Tamil Nadu to this day."

Guddu**: "A mountain that was once fire!"

Dadi**: "Fire that was once infinite light. And light that is the very nature of God. Every flame we light on Mahashivaratri reminds us of that original pillar. Every vigil we keep reminds us to seek with honesty, not cleverness."

Guddu**: "Dadi, I want to be like Vishnu - honest even when it's hard."

Dadi**: "And when you are, beta, you'll find that surrender is not weakness. The strongest thing we can do is admit what we don't know and bow before what is greater than us. That's how the infinite reveals itself to humble hearts."

Guddu**: "Next Mahashivaratri, I'll remember this story!"

Dadi**: "And every Shiva Lingam you see, remember - it's a symbol of the infinite that has no beginning and no end. Now close your eyes and imagine that pillar of light. Let it fill you with peace."

Guddu**: "Om Namah Shivaya, Dadi."

Dadi**: "Om Namah Shivaya, my child."