Om Sai Ram ! Om
Namaha Shivaya!
If for some reason you are not able to see the below pictures or You
wish to have access to all the previous Shirdi Sai speaks mails - go to http://debu7370.blogspot.com/ .And if any of you
would like to receive these messages directly to your mailbox everyday--
Since about more than a month we all have been
graced with the blissful darshan of the sacred shivlings around the world. But
all this seems a little incomplete to me without the knowledge of the holy Shiv
Puran. So how about we all start reading this sacred book together..And
hopefully before I head to Kailash- we all will be blessed with the wonderful
stories which are related to our creator. However, " The Shiva Purana has
twenty-four thousand shlokas which are divided into six samhitas or sections."
But I will not be posting any of the shlokas in these mails. I will be posting
the most simplest version of the Shiv Puran with the blissful pictures of
various temples as we go along- , so that it is easily understood by all of us
and can also be shared with our children and grandchildren.May Lord Shiva bless
us all in this journey of going one step closer to His Lotus feet . And last but
not the least, My Humble Pranams to this Holy book along with all the Gods and
Godesses ..
Sai bhakt,
Deepa H
Now, Lets start reading this very sacred Shiv Puran by Saying
Om Shree Ganeshaya Namaha
Incase You have missed the
previous mail /chapter of Shiv Puran - Here is the link
In Yesterday's Mail...
In
the eighteen chapter, all the sages requested Sutji to explain the meaning of
bondages of life and Salvation -Sutji replied
"Because of the eight types of bondages which a man feels on
this earth, the soul is also known as "Jeeva". The Jeeva becomes liberated only
after becoming free from these eight bondages. These eight bondages are -
Nature, Intelligence qualitative- ego and the Panchatanmatras i.e. Sound, touch,
appearance, taste and smell."Each soul is binded by these eight aspects of the
Nature. The actions performed as the result of these bondages is called Karma. A
man reaps the fruits of his actions- Whether good or evil. He either enjoys
pleasures or suffers because of sorrow, due to this Karma." The soul takes
rebirth in a cyclic was binded by the effects of his Karmas. The eight Chakra'
are nothing but the eight forms of the nature. Shiva is beyond the reach of
these eight chakras, on the contrary he has full control these eight chakras. So
a man can become free from the bondages of this world, only by worshipping Shiva
Linga. The linga is both gross as well as subtle. There are five types of Linga
on this earth.- SWAYAMBHU LINGA, BINDU LINGA, PRATISTHIT LINGA, CHAR LINGA, GURU
LINGA. A person desirous of worldly pleasures should worship the cross
Shivalinga, where as one who is desirous of attaining salvation must worship the
subtle Shiva linga....
Sutji narrated the story of Narad's attachment and lust - how they were ultimately destroyed. He also narrated of Narad's deep desire to know about Shiva.
Victory of Narada over Kama
Once upon a time a Narad was performing a penance in the cave of Himalaya mountain. Indra becoming fearful and sent Kamadev to obstruct his penance. But Kamadeva was unsuccessful in his attempt as the place where Narada was doing penance was the same place where Lord Shiva did penance. After the completion of his penance, Narada became arrogant that he had defeated Kamadeva. He went to Kailash mountain and narrated about his feat to Lord Shiva. Narada was naïve not to realize the fact that it happened only because of the divine powers of Shiva.
Lord Shiva listened to his arrogant statement. He advised Narada not to reveal this secret to anybody. But Narada went to Brahmaloka and boasted about his feet to Lord Brahma.
Lord Brahma listened to his boisterous statements and advised him not to reveal this to anybody.
But Narada was not satisfied. He wanted to give the news of his achievement to Lord Vishnu. So, he went to Lord Vishnu's abode and boasted about his feat of defeating Kamdeva.
Lord Vishnu with a desire to subdue his inflated ego, manifested his illusionary power with the blessings of Lord Shiva.
While Narada was returning from Vaikuntha Loka, he saw a beautiful city. This city was ruled by a king named SheelNidhi. The king had a daughter and her Swayamvar was being organised. Numerous kings had arrived to take part in that Swayamvar. Narada, curiously entered the place were Swayamvar was being held. The king requested Narada to study the lines of the palm of the princess. Narada was infatuated by the princess beauty. He returned back to Lord Vishnu and expressed his desire of marrying that princess. He also requested Vishnuji to make him as handsome as himself (Vishnu).
Lord Vishnu made Narada's whole body very beautiful except his face. Which he made like a monkey. Narada being unaware of this happily went back to Swayamvar site. Narada sat among the kings - his face resembling like a monkey. Lord Vishnu too was present there. The princess saw Narad, whose face was looking like a monkey. She was amused.
Some of the Shiva's gana too were present there in the guise of a brahmin. Their names were Marud ganas. They asked Narada to see the reflection of his face in the water.
When Narada saw his face in the water, he saw that he was looking like a monkey. He became very furious and cursed the Marudganas to be the born as demons, even though being brahmins by birth.
After preaching Narada,, Lord Vishnu vanished from his sight. Narada then descended down to earth and while having darshan of numerous Shivalingas, he saw two of the Marudganas, whom he had cursed. He told both of them that they would take birth from a giantess's womb, but their father would be sages. He also told them that they would become very famous due to their devotion, Narad went to lord Brahma and requested him to tell about the divinity of Shiva.
Brahmaji Preaches Narad:
On Narad's request Brahmaji said-
During the period of Mahapralaya (Final annihilation) nothing exist, except Shiva. The power which Shiva manifested from his own self came to be known as Ambika. This Ambika is understood to be the cause of the whole world as well as the Nature. Lord Shiva then created a Shivaloka, which is known as Kashi. It is the abode of Shiva and Parvati. A man who makes a pilgrimages of Kashi attains salvation.
Brahmaji Preaches Narad:
On Narad's request Brahmaji said-
During the period of Mahapralaya (Final annihilation) nothing exist, except Shiva. The power which Shiva manifested from his own self came to be known as Ambika. This Ambika is understood to be the cause of the whole world as well as the Nature. Lord Shiva then created a Shivaloka, which is known as Kashi. It is the abode of Shiva and Parvati. A man who makes a pilgrimages of Kashi attains salvation.
The Origin of Vishnu
Lord Shiva, felt the need of somebody, who could look after the creation in his absence, as he wanted to retire along with Ambika at Kashi. The unified energy of Shiva and Ambika, resulted into a radiant physical form of a child. The child asked Shiva about his name and purpose of his being. Lord Shiva named the child as Vishnu and advised him to do a penance which would help him to attain all kinds of accomplishment. He then offered him the knowledge of Vedas, through his breath. For this reason it has been said-
YASYA NISHVASITAM VEDAH "
Meaning: Whose exhaled air is Veda.
Vishnu followed the instruction of Shiva and did a tremendous penance for twelve years, but still he was not successful in having a darshan of lord Shiva for the second time. He became worried. He heard a heavenly voice, instructing him to do further penance.
Vishnu then recommenced his penance. It continued for many days. By the blessings of Shiva, numerous fountain of streams errupted from his body, which spread in all directions in the form of Brahma. Vishnuji was very pleased to see that stream. He went to sleep in that streams due to which he also came to be known as 'Narayan'. One who has his abode in the water. After that, all the five elements manifested from his self. The three qualities- Salva, Rajos and Tamas as well as the ego manifested from his body. Similarly, five Tanmantras (Subtle form of matter), Panchabhuta (Sky water, air, fire and earth) and ultimately five sense organs and five organs of action also manifested from. Altogether twenty-four types of element manifested from the body of Shri Vishnu.
Origin of Brahmaji
Brahmaji told Narad-
While Vishnuji was sleeping in the water, a lotus flower manifested from the navel of Vishnu according to the wish of Shiva. On that lotus was seated with four heads. I did not see anything except that lotus flower. I had a desire to know about my identity. So I entered into the hollow tubular stalk of that lotus flower, but I was not able to find the source. I returned back to the same place. Suddenly I heard a voice which instructed me to do penance. I did a tremendous penance for twelve years with a desire to know about my creator. Being pleased with me, lord Vishnu manifested before me with in his Chaturbhuj form, but I could not identify him, being influenced by the illusionary power of Shiva. I quarreled with him.
Dispute Between Brahmaji and Vishnuji
I asked him as to who he was. Vishnuji replied that he was the fulfiller of all of his desires. But I replied to him that I only was the creator, nurturer and the supreme soul of this world. Vishnuji became angry and said that undoubtedly I (Brahma) was the creator of this world, but he (Vishnu) was the one, who had created me (Brahma) and the whole world. Vishnuji also ordered me to take his refuge and promised to protect me. But being an ignorant I did not believe him. A fierce battle was fought between both of us. A Shiva linga manifested between us to end the battle. We requested that Shivalinga to show its real identity. That Shivalinga had destroyed our pride."
[Will continue tomorrow with the Shiv Puran-- about the greatness of the word Aum]
Purification of the mind by the help of doing worship and chanting the name of God is called contemplation. Singing devotional songs in the form of stotra, or hymns of the vedas or even in one's own language is called Kirtan.
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