Story #7: Lesson learned by Rishi Bringhi

   Once there was a demon named Andhakasura. He harassed the three worlds with his rustic powers. The demigods and Sages prayed to Lord Shiva to bring an end to this.  

    To bring peace in world below and above,  the Lord faced a tough battle with the demon. During the battle, Lord Shiva would pierce the chest of Andhakasura with his trident.   The blood that came out from his chest raised numerous demons and all of them fought against the Lord.  This ferocious battle continued for long time. 
   
   Seeing this Adi Shakthi transformed into Mahakali and drank up the blood that came out of his body. Shiva then lifted the body of Andhakasura with his Trident and began to burn with his third eye.  

   The demon Andhakasura realized his mistake and begged for forgiveness.  The compassionate Lord blessed him and transformed him into Bringhi, who turned out staunch devotee of Lord Shiva and never ever left his side. 

    At this juncture,  Shiva got married with Parvathi. All the sages and deities assembled to get the blessings of the divine couple.  Lord Shiva at this time pronounced that he is Purusha and Parvathi is Prakruthi. Both are required for the well-being of universe.  

   However,  Bringhi didn't accept this.  He said,  before the wedding he worshipped only Shiva and that he will continue to do the same always.  

   When other deities and sages circumbulated the divine couple,  Bringhi circumbulated only Siva.  To make him circumbulate her also,  Parvathi sat close to Shiva. Bringhi now took the form of bumble bee and circumbulated Siva alone by going around his neck. Actually his name Bringhi means bumblebee in Sanskrit. 

    To show him Shiva and Shakti are the same,  they both joined together to form Ardhanaareeswara. This time he took the form of worm with single spike horn and bore thru and circumbulated only the male half. 

   This infuriated Parvathi.  She withdrew all the prakruthi elements from his body.  He immediately fell down as ashes.  As water, air etc.  which fills the body are governed by ambal. 

   He rose again to his form, on recommendation of the Lord. Ambal gave him third leg for him to stand and go around them.  He then understood that both of them are essential for the universe to exist and circumbulated both with full heart and devotion. 

   From this instance mentioned in shivapurana, we learn both men and women have equal importance.  One without other ends up in a meaningless world. 

Bhagam pennuru aanai pottri !!