Tears of the Sky ©
Why do we have rain? Why do the skies turn on us and bring its tears to the Earth? Did something happen to the clouds to make them sad? I'm scared.
Do not be afraid my child, the rain is here to bring life to the Earth. The skies turn dark to warn us, to hide from this tempest. It is only our Goddess Shiva, crying her tears for the loss of her daughter.
I am here to remind people that the Gods are not a force to be reckoned with. When they build their large towers and burn the forests, I wash away their madness and put out their fires.
My only child lived on the Earth. Her name was Rain. She was a wonderful creation of mine who made the Earth a prosperous place. One with flowing rivers, sparkling lakes, and vast oceans.
Once a week I would come down from the sky. Most thought of me as an Angel descending from the heavens. During this time I would visit Rain to see her accomplishments.
" Welcome back, mother," Rain said with a slight bow and a gift of neatly arranged flowers in a hand woven basket.
"It's good to see you again my child. All is well?" Shiva asked calmly, taking the basket with a smile.
"Everything is well here. I have made something new. The mortals have named it 'stream'. I have many weaving through the mountains, much like a spider makes its home." Rain held out her arm to reveal the flowing streams on the mountain.
"Ah, a wonderful creation. You've done well Rain, I am yet again impressed with what you've made." She wrapped her arms around Rain," But I must go now."
Rain nodded and bowed again to show respect to the Goddess, her mother," I will see you again and show my progress to you once more."
Shiva smiled happily and began to ascend to the skies again. The townspeople watching in awe as the Angel left.
Shiva had always made sure to watch Rain from the skies, but it wasn't enough to protect her.
The king of the village was highly jealous of Rain, angered that she had higher respect from the Gods than he did.
In his rage he ordered his knights to scout out Rain and kill her immediately. Her body was to be brought back and burned in the Kings private garden so that the Gods wouldn't know of this.
Living in the clouds, though, Shiva saw everything. From the time Rain was captured, to when her body was being burned in the secret garden.
Shiva grew furious towards the king, and sad for Rain. She was always known for the calm clouds and gentle showers on the fields, but now they turned black from her anger. As she cried, her tears like raging torrents, fell from the tempestuous skies.
The rivers, streams, and oceans had all grown like a beast, their waters feasting on the farms and towns. The flames that had engulfed Rain's body were doused with the tears of her mother.
Shiva had cried, bringing the tears to the Earth at an unbearable pace, until she was able to descend to the land again.
This time she did not look like an Angel descending from the heavens, but a solemn mourner attending a funeral with their tear-stained face covered with a black veil.
She gathered the ashes of Rains body and took them to the springs in the mountains, sprinkling the remains into the pure water.
Shiva went back to her domain, the clouds. She had cried for several days, the tears yet again causing havoc for those on the Earth.
When reminded of her daughter Shiva cried, and it depended on how mournful she felt. Sometimes the tears would cause flooding and deaths, other times it was just enough to help the Earth live.
The people of the town remembered how Rain had brought life to her creations by her tears of joy. It was then decided to call the tears of the sky 'rain' in memory of the daughter of Shiva, goddess of the skies.
Now, whenever Shiva cried the people hid from the rain, but watched as the rivers, oceans, streams, and springs were restored and brought back to life like Rain did in the past.
People eventually moved on and forgot how Rain brought the waters to life. Whenever rain was mentioned most people went indoors to hid from the tempest to come, while some still mourned with the Goddess Shiva, watching as the skies wept.
