Story #19: Why Shiva is covered with ashes

   There is an interesting story in the Shiva Purana which narrates how Lord  came to be associated with Vibhoodhi out the sacred ashes.

   There once lived a sage from the lineage of Bhrigu. This sage performed intense penance and became very powerful. He consumed only green leaves and thus got the name – Pranada. Sage Pranada continued his intense tapas and controlled all the animals and plants in the forest he lived.

   Once while cutting some grass to clean the yagna grounds, the sage cut his middle finger. To his surprise instead of blood he saw the gum of tree oozing through the cut.

Now Pranada thought that he had become very pious to have such a change in his body. Pride filled his mind and he started to feel above the world.

   Lord Shiva who witnessed this event took the guise of an old man and reached the spot. When the old man asked for the reason for his extreme happiness, Pranada said that he has become the most pious man in the world as his blood has become similar to the sap of tree barks.

   Without any emotion, the old man asked what was there to be elated in such a happening. He further said,  if the trees and plants are burned they turn into ash. So, only ash points to the higher state.

    To demonstrate it the old man sliced his finger and suddenly ash came out of it. Sage Pranada soon realized that it was Lord standing before him and prayed to him for forgiveness for his ignorance.

    It is said that ever since then Lord wears ash to remind his devotees about the ultimate reality.

    We must learn to be modest even if we achieve something great, as nothing in the world is ultimate. Everything has something that's more better when compared.

Sambho Mahadeva!!

Story #18: Why did Shiva behead his son?

   As per Brahma Vaivartha Purana,  Lord Yama had two sons Nara and Narayana. Both of them were well versed in Vedas and agamas.

   Sage Naradha once asked Narayana, as why Shiva,  though being one of the Trinity,  didn't recognize his own son and behead Vinayaka.

   Narayana said that it was because of a curse that had fallen on Lord Shiva and narrated the below incident.

   Long ago there were two asuras named Mali and Sumali. They were great devotees of Lord Shiva. They were doing austere penance to take over position of Indra.

   Indra,  directed Lord Surya to take up the battle with them and get rid of them.  So,  Surya began to fight with them.  They immediately prayed to Lord Shiva.  The Lord appeared there immediately and started to fight against Surya for the sake of his devotees.

   Shiva,  with his trident pierced the middle of sun, causing complete darkness.  Indra immediately came and asked for forgiveness.

   There came Kashyapa maharishi, father of Sun.  He became angry by seeing what lord Shiva had done. Shiva restored the life of Sun to satisfy Kashyapa maharishi. However maharishi want quite pacified.

   He put a curse on Shiva that, Shiva would kill his own son using the same trident, with which he stabbed his son.

   We must learn that everyone has a much stronger soul than oneself. So we must learn to be humble.

Kashyapa Maharishyai namaha!! 

Story #17: Rama's elder Sister

   Dasaratha at the age of 18, he became the powerful ruler of Ayodhya. He wanted to marry Kausalya, daughter of northern kosala king, Maharaj Sukausha. Sukausha agreed to the marriage without knowing that he and Dasaratha were closely related coming from the same clan.

   After the marriage Kausalya gave birth to a female child, Shantha. Unfortunately she was born with handicap in her leg. Dasaratha consulted many people who could help his daughter to be free from handicap. Once he consulted Sage Vashistha. He said that handicap was due to the marriage between close cousins and suggested that she would become normal if she given in adoption to some others.

   Dasaratha and Kausalya gave the child in adoption to the childless couple Varshini (Kausalya’s sister) and King Romapada of Anga desha. Later Shantha became normal and her beauty was unmatched. She was not only beautiful but also well educated.

   One day while King Romapada was in conversation with Shantha, a Brahmin came to ask for help. King however didn't pay attention to Brahmin. This irritated the Brahmin, so he left the kingdom with anger. Before leaving the kingdom, he cursed that Anga desha will experience drought.

   True to his words, Anga desha was soon hit by a drought. On consultation, the king realized that only Rishyashringa, son of Vibhandaka Rishi could help him. Rishyshringa was raised by Vibhandaka Rishi isolated from society. He had never seen any women in his life. Romapada sent his daughter Shantha to the forest to bring Rishyashringa to the city. As Rishashringa never saw women he felt in love with Shantha at his first meeting. He was totally amazed to see the magnificent beauty. Shantha with her beauty mesmerized the Rishi and brought him to the Anga desha, thus bringing in rain too. After that Rishyasringa married Shantha.

   Meanwhile, in Ayodhya, after giving Shantha in adoption, Dasaratha wasn’t blessed with any child. He wanted to perform Putra Kameshthi Yaga to please the gods and get a child. Vashishta advised Dasaratha to seek help of Rishyasringa. Rishyasringa performs the yagna successfully. As a result of this Yajna, Rama, Bharata, and the twins Lakshmana and Shatrughna were born.

   Shantha again appears when Rama, listening to washerman, abandoned Seetha. She gets angry by Rama's decision and becomes the only person who scolds him.

   This character of Shantha, doesn't feature in Valmiki Ramayana. However it is mentioned in detail in many other versions of Ramayana and also in Mahabharatha, when it is stated that Romapada's adopted daughter (from Dasaratha) married Rishyasringa.

   We learn from this, a woman can make even the whole country prosperous, if she sets mind to it.

Hare Ram!

Story #16: The missing river..

 

   Long ago, the Sages were responsible for establishing  link between heaven and earth. This link between Heaven & Earth could only be established only by brahmagnyana. The Rishis wanted to create a channel thru which they could bring the knowledge to earth, so as to make the earth and it's occupants prosperous in the field of knowledge. 

   This channel could only be fire. It has link to heavens or air, rooted in earth and keeps propagating. It can't be contaminated. It burns those that come in the way.

   The Rishis therefore took to a severe penance to request lord Brahma to send the Holy fire to earth. Brahma agreed to comply. But this Knowledge converted to a physical form created a Fire, the enormity of which would encompass all of Heaven & Earth. This Fire was called BADABHAAGNI.

    Then there was the question if how to contain it and transport.  So, Brahma summons His consort Saraswati to help Him in this task. Saraswati agrees. She needs an element that is fluid, fast & can counter the heat of Fire. She takes the form of a river that extends across Heaven & Earth in its mightiness – receives the Fire of Knowledge from Brahma & deftly falls from the Heavens above to flow onto Earth.

    Saraswati begins her descend, holding onto the Fire across from Heaven to Earth. She has to make it in time to hand over the pot-of-Fire to the waiting Rishis, else the whole river would evaporate because of the heat. Plunging into the mighty Himalayas at Brahma kapala she successfully achieves her mission.  She hands over the Fire to the waiting Rishis. To cool herself,  she rushes forth madly through the glaciers in the mountain. She continues the flow until she plunges herself into the waters of the Ocean.

   Her waters still retain the heat of the fire she has carried. In due course, spanning over thousands of years, the river evaporates from the face of the Earth, but continues its glorious flow beneath the surface. It is said to surface again at triveni Sangamam.  Note that, Geologically, Saraswati is documented as having had “warm waters”.

    Saraswathi which originated from Brahma,  Ganga that touched the matted hair is Lord Shiva and Yamuna which has numerous touch with lord Krishna (because of this it got its dark color)  flow thru the lands. 

   These three holy waters, with energies of the Trinity,  meet at Triveni Sangam in Prayag. This represents the Unification of Body (Brahma the Creator), Mind (Vishnu the Preserver), Spirit (Shiva the Destroyer).

   Taking a dip in the waters at Triveni Sangam, brings our own Body, Mind & Spirit into alignment.

   Jai ma Saraswathi !!

Story #15: Sundarar - losing and gaining back of eyesight

 

   Sundarar, who was constantly on move from one terms to another, went to Thiruvotriyur and stayed there for some time. There was a person named Jnayiru Kilar, in the town. He was also a staunch devotee of Lord Siva. He had a daughter named Sangiliyar. Sangiliyar was devoted to Parvathi from her very childhood. 

   Once her parents mentioned that she should get married, but the very word "marriage" made her faint. With such repeated incidents, her parents found that she was not normal girl. So,  they set up an ashram for her. Sangiliyar made garlands for the Lord in the temple. She regularly visited the temple and worshipped the Lord. 

   One day Sundarar and other devotees went to the temple. After the worship, they came to the place where some devotees were making garlands for the Lord. Sangiliyar was also there. Sundarar was attracted by her beauty, due to past samskaras. He wanted to marry her, and expressed this wish to the Lord. The Lord promised to fulfil his wish.

    The Lord appeared in Sangiliyar's dream and advised her to get married to Sundarar.  She however didn't accept readily as Sundarar was already married to Paravayar. She was wondering as what else happen if he deserts her after wedding. For this the Lord asked her to get promise from Sundarar that he wouldn't part from her under any circumstances and then get married.  She agreed to this arrangement. 

   The Lord appeared before Sundarar and said that Sangiliyar had agreed to marry him on condition that he would not part from her. Sundarar said that it wasn't possible for him to live with her everyday as he has taken a vow to visit all Shiva shrines. Still, he wanted to marry sangiliyar. So, he asked the Lord to withdraw his presence from lingam and be in nearby tree, when he takes the oath. Bring a friend of Sundarar, the Lord granted this wish and disappeared.

    Siva again appeared before Sangiliyar and asked her to get the promise in front of tree and not in front of lingam.  

    The next morning Sangiliyar came to the temple. Sundarar was waiting there for her. Sangiliyar's friends told Sundarar that she wished the promise to be given in front of the nearby tree. Sundarar was taken aback by the request, but accepted the proposal. The promise was given. The marriage was immediately solemnised.

   In a few days,  in Thiruvaaroor, Vasanta Utsavam was being celebrated on a grand scale. Sundarar remembered the festival and longed to go there. At the same time, he could not part from Sangiliyar. For a long time, he struggled between the two conflicting duties. Finally, he decided to leave.

   When Sundarar crossed the border of Thiruvotriyur, he suddenly lost his eye-sight and fell down on the ground. Sundarar slowly regained his consciousness. Immediately he realized his fault and prayed to the Lord for forgiveness. In spite of the blindness Sundarar's thirst for the darshan of the Lord at Thiruvaaroor did not abate. 

    With the help of some people on the way, Sundarar went thru Thiru Mullaivayil to Thiruvembakkam where he sang to the Lord asking if it was fair in his part to cheat him by revealing the plans to sangiliyar.  It is here that the Lord gave Sundarar a blind-man's stick and a stern reply, "I am here. You can go." This attitude of indifference on the part of the Lord pained Sundarar. 

   Then Sundarar came to Kanchipuram, after visiting many holy places on the way. He worshipped Mother Kamakshi and expressed his sufferings to her and pleaded to her to relieve him of his sufferings. Sundarar then worshipped Lord Ekambareswarar. Being the mother of the whole world, ambal wasn't able to see his pain and so she pleaded the Lord to shower some blessings on Sundarar. He at once restored vision to Sundarar's left eye.  After spending some days there, singing the glories of the Lord, Sundarar proceeded to go to Thiruvaaroor. 

   Sundarar reached the outskirts of Thiruvaaroor. He grieved that, due to his partial sight, he could not get a complete darshan of the Lord. The very sight of the gopuram entranced him. Sundarar wanted to feast both his eyes on the beauty of the Lord and so prayed to Siva to restore vision to his other eye also. 

   Sundarar's supreme devotion and lamentation moved the Lord's heart. Siva at once cured the other eye also. Sundarar was extremely happy. He worshipped the Lord and remained completely absorbed in divine bliss.

   We learn that even the highly blessed people, when not keeping up a promise end up in misery.  We must strive to maintain and keep up our words and promises. 

Story #14: Why did Hanuman protect Arjuna’s Chariot?

   We know that lord Hanuman was present and protected Arjuna’s chariot in the war of Mahabharata. Let's see the story behind it.

   Arjuna was once on a pilgrimage, touring the land with many saints. After covering various shrines, he reached Rameswaram. After worshipping the deity, he saw the bridge that was built by the vanara Sena.

   Arjuna looked amazed at the remains of the bridge that had survived. He wondered as why a great archer like Rama had to rely on creatures like monkeys and bears to build a bridge. Why didn't he bridged the distance with arrows. No one with him was able to answer.

   Then, a small monkey who had been following them laughed out and replied to his question. "Oh prince! are you aware of the might of the monkeys of old? No bridge of arrows could have withstood the weights of  Sugreeva, Nala, Neela, Angada, hanuman. Though I look very small,  no bridge of arrows could even withstand my weight"

   Arjuna was quick to take up what he perceived as an implied challenge and said if he isn't able to construct such a bridge he would burn himself.  The monkey readily agreed. 

   Arjuna, taking the aid of his famed quiver of inexhaustible arrows, laid down a bridge across the ocean. The monkey jumped onto it and no sooner had he taken two steps, the bridge collapsed.

   Arjuna asked for another try and did with even more knitted bridge,but failed miserably again. 

   True to his word, Arjuna got ready to burn himself.  That's when a little boy stopped him from doing so.  The little boy said without a judge a competition wouldn't be complete. He further said that, he would be judge and asked Arjuna to try again.

   Both the monkey and Arjuna accepted and Arjuna laid the bridge again. This time the bridge didn't collapse even after the monkey jumped on it.

   The monkey then grew up to enormous size that Arjuna and those others who where present there where awestruck. Very soon they realized that it was hanuman himself in the guise of little monkey.

   His foolishness in assuming that a bridge of arrows would bear warriors like Hanuman became quite apparent to him. He was humbled.

.  However, the bridge did not collapse. Not even under the weight of the now gigantic Hanuman. Arjuna could not comprehend what was happening. There seemed to be no logical explanation as to why the bridge hadn't broken yet. Apparently, Hanuman couldn't fathom things either. He began jumping on the bridge but it still wouldn't yield.

    All the while the little boy was smiling. In a moment of enlightenment, it struck both participants of the contest that their adjudicator was no ordinary boy.

   As soon as they realized, the little boy showed his real self of lord Vishnu.

   The Lord said "I protected your bridge from collapsing, Arjuna. May this be a lesson in humility for you. Hanuman, you should have known better than to humiliate Arjuna thus. He is a fine warrior, one of the best of his times. How could you drive him into giving up his life?" Arjuna and Hanuman sought the Lord's forgiveness and He blessed them.

   Hanuman as an act of remorse, promised to protect Arjuna's  chariot during the battle that was about to come.

Vishnu now in form of Krishna advised Hanuman to be on the flag of Arjuna during the war.

Belittling others is by itself a sin.  Before talking, one must put oneself in the other person's shoes and then talk.

Vishnave Namaha !! 

Story #13: The end of Krishna

   After the great war of Mahabharata, Gandhari wasn't able to control her grief of losing all her 100 sons. She became very angry on Krishna for this. Though she worshipped Krishna everyday of her life, he didn't help even one of sons to be alive.
 
   She felt that Krishna was merciless and cursed him.  She made a curse that if her years of Vishnu Bhakthi was true, then, Krishna would die in 36 years from then on(after the end of war). She also cursed that the beautiful city of Dwaraka would be flooded. As she wasn't calmed down even after that,  she said that the complete Yadava clan perish by killing each other, just like how Krishna made the kins of Kuru (great ancestor of pandavas and kauravas) kill one another.

   However,  Krishna readily accepted her curse and said that her curse will take effect, not only because of her true devotion towards him, but also as change is inevitable.

    As the days passed, Yadavas were in eternal bliss in Dwaraka. They were in so much bliss, that they forgot good conduct and morals.

   Once the SapthaRishis came down to visit Krishna. Sambha, the son of Krishna, decided to test these Maharishis and dressed himself as a woman, and then placed a mace underneath his dress, approached the rishis. He enacted as a pregnant lady. He asked the Maharishis to predict the gender of the child to be born.

   The rishis became very furious. They saw through the whole hoax immediately. The rishis said that what you bear in your stomach will become the reason for the extinction of Yadava clan.  To his dismay Sambha became a women and soon developed labour pains and later on delivered a mace from within him. The Yadavas were now struck with fear and immediately rushed with the mace to Akroora and Ugrasena and in the presence of Krishna himself, they narrated the weird tide of events. Akroora imediately ordered them to grind the mace to a fine powder and throw it into the sea.The yadavas powdered the mace and one small triangular piece was left out. They threw all these into the sea.

   Time rolled by. The triangular part of the mace was swallowed by a fish. The fish was caught by a hunter, who upon finding the piece in the fish used it to craft a fine poisonous arrow.

   The fine powder, on the other hand, washed back ashore and deposited itself by the coast of Dwaraka. A certain grass grew in abundance in the area where the powder was deposited.

   One day, the Yadavas went on a picnic to the beach. They were in their usual high state and lost their senses totally. They started teasing one another. Soon their playful acts turned into a battle and the picnic spot turned to a battlefield. Each one of them pluck a grass blade each and started fighting with each other.

   The curses of Maharishis and Gandhari started acting and each blade of grass became a mace, smashing into the Yadavas, killing them instantly. All these destruction took in the presence of Krishna.

   Having seen this calamity,  Krishna decided that it is time for him to shed his coils too. Krishna left to the forest. The moment Krishna left Dwaraka, a tsunami raged up from the oceans and swallowed the beautiful city into its deep depths, where it continues to lie till this very day.

   By the amazing wills of fate, the hunter with the poisonous arrow,  saw the foot of Krishna sticking out from the bushes and assuming it to be a deer shot it down with an arrow. Krishna was killed by the poisoned arrow. When the frightened hunter apologized, Sri Krishna consoled and pardoned him and left for his supreme abode Vaikuntha, as his mission on earth accomplished.

   We must learn that however great we may be or our family may be, we must still be humble.

Hare Krishna!!!