Tiya: A Parrot's Journey Home

The book Tiya: A Parrot's Journey Home written by Samarpan (Swami Samarpanananda) is the story of a parrot's meandering into various lands to outgrow its own limitations. The underlying theme of the story is one's journey to salvation.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The two birds – the one that tastes and the sakshi (the unattached) – is indeed what Tiya is all about. Tiya begins as an enthusiastic taster who evolves to be the sakshi. One can always ask if there really is any need for all those adventures – why can't Tiya be initiated by the benevolent Hans for self realization in one shot. Tiya is energetic and curious and seeks new experiences and adventures ( and misadventures ) and the culmination of all that is a sagely and detached seer and watcher.

An analysis of the Mahabharata has observed that the Gita couldn't have been revealed to someone who hasn't struggled with his inner demons and got wounded and thrashed in the process. Arjuna's wrestling bout with the Kirata is said to be this very struggle. More than Shiva in disguise, the Kirata is said to personify the barbaric energy locked up within each individual. A vigorous and ultimately futile bout against this energy is what really was Arjuna's essential preparation for the Gita. The sight of near and dear ones arrayed on the other side was but a trigger.

Likewise, Tiya's journey, driven directed by passions and urges within, often left him battered and bruised ( and sometimes worse off than that ) and this long journey is no stray wandering but essential preparation for him to see light at the end. And Hans, the Guru who guides unobtrusively but decisively.