Everything in the universe is energy. Science tells us that energy can neither be created nor destroyed; it only changes form. What appears to dissolve simply transforms into another expression of existence. Ancient wisdom mirrors this understanding, suggesting that after death, even the human body returns to the five elements, merging quietly into the cosmic cycle from which it arose.
Our thoughts and emotions, though subtle and invisible, are movements of energy shaped by our biology and psychology. Neuroscience describes them as electrochemical impulses, while contemplative traditions recognise them as vibrations of consciousness. They arise, remain for a while, and fade. Yet fading does not mean vanishing. Like waves settling back into the ocean, emotional energies continue to exist in subtle forms, capable of re-emerging whenever conditions create resonance.
Human relationships often unfold through this invisible principle of resonance. Among the many people we meet, we feel naturally drawn to some. Conversations flow effortlessly, silences feel comforting, and bonds form instinctively. It is as though certain frequencies within us recognise and respond to similar frequencies in another. Love is perhaps the most profound expression of this alignment. It reflects a deeper truth that what connects us is never fragmented, but part of a larger wholeness underlying existence. This essence is beautifully captured in the Isha Upanishad:
“Purnamadah Purnamidam Purnat Purnamudachyate,
Purnasya Purnamadaya Purnamevavashishyate.”
From fullness emerges fullness; when fullness dissolves into fullness, fullness alone remains.
With time, relationships may deepen, transform, or drift apart due to changing circumstances or life journeys. Physical distance or silence may arise, yet the emotional energy once shared rarely disappears. It lingers quietly in memory and in the subtle emotional field of our being. This is why, even after long separation, a song, a place, or a fleeting moment can awaken feelings we believed had dissolved. Our memories, thoughts, and emotions remain reservoirs of energy that become accessible whenever our inner state resonates with them.
Not all emotional energies, however, are comforting. Pain, rejection, and grief can leave deep imprints that we sincerely wish to release. Human cultures, through deep psychological and spiritual insight, have evolved symbolic pathways of letting go.
Visarjan finds a powerful expression in the immersion of the Ganesh idol. Traditionally sculpted from clay, the idol is lovingly shaped into a sacred form and worshipped with devotion. At the time of immersion, the idol is gently returned to water, where the form dissolves and the clay merges back into its elemental nature.
This act is not destruction but revelation. The dissolving idol symbolises the return of form into the formless and reminds us that existence moves through cycles of creation, sustenance, dissolution, and renewal. Visarjan teaches us to hold experiences with love and release them with acceptance. It reflects attachment that matures into graceful detachment, allowing emotions to dissolve without denying their meaning.
Alongside this symbolism exists another sacred expression of release embedded in Vedic tradition, the offering of Swaha. In a yajna, offerings are placed into the sacred fire with the utterance of Swaha, signifying complete surrender. Fire symbolises transformation and purification. What is offered into it does not return in its original form; it is transmuted into subtler existence.
Within the inner landscape of human experience, Visarjan and Swaha represent two complementary pathways of letting go. There are emotions, memories, and relationships that are released through Visarjan. We acknowledge their presence, honour their contribution to our journey, and allow them to dissolve naturally into the flow of life. The emotional energy continues to exist in the vast fabric of existence, but our identification with it gradually softens.
There are also deeper wounds, persistent griefs, or painful imprints that require a more conscious act of surrender. These are offered through the spirit of Swaha. When pain, resentment, or rejection is offered into the inner fire of awareness, forgiveness, and acceptance, it loses its power to define us. It is not suppressed or denied; it is consciously entrusted to a higher process of transformation.
Visarjan aligns with the wisdom of nature, where forms dissolve only to re-emerge in new expressions. Swaha aligns with the fire of consciousness, where inner burdens are purified and transformed. One nurtures attachment with detachment, while the other facilitates psychological and spiritual renewal. Together, they reflect the journey of human evolution.
Life continuously invites us to participate in cycles of forming, holding, transforming, and releasing. When we resist these cycles, suffering deepens. When we honour them, growth becomes natural and effortless. Visarjan teaches us the art of loving without clinging. Swaha teaches us the courage of surrendering without residue. Between these two sacred movements lies the possibility of inner freedom, where experiences are cherished, lessons are preserved, and the heart remains spacious enough to welcome life in its ever-renewing forms.
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