I woke up to the thought of the Bennu.
A mythological creature from Egypt, it was a large bird with vibrant gold and red feathers and a majestic crest on its head. Its abode was atop the ben-ben stone – the pyramid shaped outcrop of land, the very first piece of land to emerge from the primordial waters of chaos.
The majestic Bennu flew across the lands crying, its magical tears – like drops of the sun, brimming with the power of creation and rebirth, bringing life and fertility to the people of Egypt. It dove into the Nile, flooding it and irrigating the lands. Even the gods sought and collected the Bennu’s tears to heal the eye of Horus after it was damaged in the battle with Set.
From its perch, high up on the boat of Ra, the sun god, Bennu helped him guide it accurately by looking beyond the visible space.
The Bennu did no wrong, it brought brightness and life to the world. It was revered. It was only good.
And yet it burned. And I wonder, why?
My mind wanders to the Greek myth of Icarus and his wings of wax, which allowed him to fly too close to the sun, leading to his tragic demise. Was it hubris? Did it lead to Icarus’s downfall? Maybe sometimes, we can become too confident in our abilities, and forget that we are not invincible.
The Bennu is also associated with the myth of Osiris and Isis, and how Isis was able to bring Osiris back to life using her magic. Closer home, the story Savitri winning back Satyavan from Yama, the god of death, is so similar. These stories are a testament to the power of love, and how it can overcome even death. Love and compassion are some of the most powerful forces in the universe.
The Ramayana and the story of Rama comes to mind. He faced numerous challenges on his journey to rescue his wife, Sita. It is a tale of perseverance, courage, and devotion to duty. It can be a powerful reminder that no matter how difficult the task may seem, we must never give up, and always stay true to our values. To who we are.
The more I delve into these ancient stories, the more I realise how much wisdom they hold. Bennu’s burning and rising from the ashes is a symbol of transformation and rebirth. Phoenix of the Greeks, symbolises renewal and regeneration. Shiva’s Tandava, the divine dance, represents the cycle of creation, destruction and rebirth. All represent the cyclical nature of life and the fact that nothing truly ends, but only, transforms into something new.
In our lives, we face difficult challenges, feel stuck or stagnant – but we overcome them, emerging stronger and more resilient than before. Even in the darkest of times, there is always a glimmer of hope, a spark of light that can guide us towards a better tomorrow.
I see the Bennu as a symbol of the sun’s daily rebirth.
Its burning is not a punishment for hubris, rather a herald of its transformation and rebirth.
As humans, we have this incredible capacity to always rise from the ashes. Renewed.
Its striking to me, how all the myths and legends are not just stories, but reflections of the human experience. They are mirrors that show us who we truly are, and who we could become. We are all part of something greater than ourselves, we are all connected in ways that we cannot even begin to comprehend.
The answer to my question is not out there. Its within me.
I can hear the early birds chirping on their first flights of the day. In the distance, the sky is still dark, but there is a faint glow that heralds the coming of the sun. The glow intensifies, turning from a faint pink to a fiery orange, streaks of gold and crimson reach out like fingers clawing the darkness away. The boat of Ra is on its way.
The Bennu arrives again. Resplendent. Majestic. Compassionate.
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