How Shiva Used a Chameleon to Teach Devotion Without Rules

No time for reading the story? Give it a listen on Spotify in English and Hindi.

tales-of-sanatana-page-frame_2

Read this story from Nepali folklore about how Shiva taught stubborn sages a lesson—not with words, but by observing a quiet chameleon. It shows that true devotion means adapting to life’s changes without losing your inner peace.

Characters in the story:

Lord Shiva: Lord Shiva, a major deity in Hinduism, is revered as the destroyer of evil and the force of cosmic change. He is depicted as a meditative ascetic or a divine dancer, characterized by his third eye, a serpent around his neck, and a trident in his hand.

High in the snowy Himalayas, there was an old hermitage where a group of sages lived. They spent their days following strict rituals—counting prayers, lighting fires, and offering flowers in perfect order. They believed the gods would only listen if every detail was exact.

One day, Shiva came to visit them, disguised as a wandering holy man. No one recognized him. He sat quietly under a tree, watching as the sages argued over tiny details, like how many petals to offer or which hymns to sing.

Nearby, a small chameleon crawled over the rocks. Its skin changed colors as it moved—green like moss, gray like stone, then red like flowers. The sages noticed it and laughed. “Look at that silly creature! It can’t even pick a color!”

Shiva smiled.

The chameleon stopped near a red rhododendron bush and turned the same bright red. Annoyed, one sage threw rice grains to scare it away. But the chameleon stayed calm. Slowly, it turned the exact color of the rock beneath it and seemed to disappear.

Shiva stood up and spoke, his voice deep and clear. “Tell me, wise ones—what matters more: the rules of your rituals, or the heart behind them?”

The sages were confused. “Rules are important!” said their leader. “The gods demand perfection!”

Shiva pointed to the chameleon. “That little creature changes with the world around it, yet stays peaceful inside. Isn’t that true devotion? Not clinging to rules, but flowing with life.”

The sages shook their heads. “But rituals must stay the same! How else will the gods hear us?”

“A river that doesn’t bend becomes a swamp,” Shiva replied. “Devotion is like the chameleon. Be flexible in your actions, but keep your heart steady. Sing when you feel joy, stay silent when you need peace. Adapt, but never lose your calm.”

To show them, Shiva waved his hand. The seasons rushed by—spring flowers bloomed, rains poured down, autumn leaves fell. Through it all, the chameleon kept changing colors but stayed perfectly calm.

The sages finally understood. They bowed to Shiva. “Teach us, Lord!”

Shiva laughed kindly. “Start by watching the chameleon. Offer one flower with love, not a thousand without care. Let your rituals breathe. Adapt, but keep your soul still.”

From then on, the sages changed their ways. They danced in the rain, meditated under the stars, and let their worship flow naturally, like the mountains around them. The chameleon became a symbol of patience and adaptability, reminding them that devotion isn’t about rules—it’s about reverence.

Even today, people in Nepal say: “Be like Shiva’s chameleon. Change with the world, but never let the world shake your soul.”

tales-of-sanatana-page-frame_2

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *