SHREE VISHNU PURANAM

[ShAivI]

SHREE VISHNU PURANAM

Sri Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryeshu Sarvada॥

Shanta Karam Bhujaga Shayanam,
Padmanabham Suresham.
Vishvadharam Gagana Sadrusham,
Megha Varnam Shubhangam.
Lakshmi Kantam Kamala Nayanam,
Yogibhir Dhyana Gamyam.
Vande Vishnum Bhava Bhaya Haram,
Sarva Lokaia Kanatham.

OM SAI RAM ॥



1st section

Maitreya and Parashara

Once the sage Maitreya came to the sage Parashara and wanted
to know about the creation of the universe. And this is what
Parashara told him.

In the beginning the universe was full of water. But in that water
there emerged a huge egg (anda) that was round like a water-bubble.
The egg became bigger and bigger and inside the egg there was Vishnu.
This egg was called Brahmanda. And inside Brahmanda there were the
mountains and the land, the oceans and the seas, the gods, demons
and humans and the stars.

On all sides, the egg was surrounded by water, fire, wind, the sky and
the elements. Iinside the egg, Vishnu adopted the form of Brahma and
proceeded to create the universe. When the universe is to be destroyed,
it is Vishnu again who adopts the form of Shiva and performs the act of
destruction. Let us therefore salute the great god Vishnu.

There are four yugas or eras. These are called krita (or satya), treta,
dvapara and kali. Krita era consists of four thousand years, treta of three
thousand, dvapara of two thousand and kali of one thousand. All the four
eras thus pass in ten thousand. And when all the four eras have passed
one thousand times each, that is merely one day for Brahma. I hope you are
good at elementary arithmetic. How many human years are equal to one of
Brahma’s days ? Ten thousand times one thousand.

That is, ten million years. During each of Brahma’s days, the sages the
gods and the kings are destroyed and recreated fourteen times. Each of
these cycles is called a manvantara. But at the end of Brahma’s day, there
comes the final destruction. The world is burn. Brahma sleeps throughout his
night, for ten million human years. Thereafter, there is creation once again.

Parashara said, “Maitreya, let me tell you about how Brahma performed the
act of creation.”

Brahma is merely part of Narayana. And Narayana is Vishnu. Nara means water
and ayana means resting-place. When the earlier creation was destroyed, the
world was full of water and Vishnu slept on the water. That is the reason why he is
called Narayana. Narayana saw that there was water all around and desired to
create the world. He, therefore, adopted the form of a boar (varaha) and went
all the way down to the underworld. There the earth saluted him and asked him
to rescue her from the underworld Upon haring the earth’s request, vishnu in his
form of a boar began to roar. He used his tusks to lift up the earth from the
underworld. Then he carefully placed the earth on the waters. The earth floated
on the oceans like a huge boat. Vishnu levelled out the earth and placed the
mountains in their proper places. The earth was divided into seven regions or
dvipas.

After that came the question of creating the beings. There were four types of
beings that Brahma created through the powers of his mind. The first were the
demons or asuras, they came out of Brahma’s thighs. Next came the gods or devas,
they emerged from Brahma’s mouth. From Brahma’s sides there were created the
ancestors or pitris. And the humans came out the last. Many other things were
created.

After that Brahma was both hungry and angry. The demons of hunger took form
and wanted to eat up Brahma, their creator. There were some among them
who did not want to eat their creator, but wanted to protect (raksha) him. They
came to be known as rakshas. And those who wanted to eat him came to be
known as yakshas. When Brahma saw these undesirable creatures, the hairs on his
head fell off and grew up and stood up again. From these hairs were born the snakes.
The gandharvas were born. They were known as gandharvas because they sing.

Many other things were created. From Brahma’s age were created the birds, from
his chest sheep and from his mouth goats. From his stomach and sides there
came out cattle and from his feet horses, elephants, deer and camels. Plants sprouted
from the hair on Brahma’s body.

There were four classes of humans that were created, the brahmanas, the kshatriyas,
the vaishyas and the shudras. The brahmanas came out of Brahma’s mouth, the
kshatriyas from his chest, the vaishyas from his thighs and the shudras from his feet.

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!

[ShAivI]

SHREE VISHNU PURANAM

Sri Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryeshu Sarvada॥

Shanta Karam Bhujaga Shayanam,
Padmanabham Suresham.
Vishvadharam Gagana Sadrusham,
Megha Varnam Shubhangam.
Lakshmi Kantam Kamala Nayanam,
Yogibhir Dhyana Gamyam.
Vande Vishnum Bhava Bhaya Haram,
Sarva Lokaia Kanatham.

OM SAI RAM ॥



1st section

Lakshmi

Brahma also wanted to create a son who would be just like him.
When he thought of this, a son appeared on his lap. But the child
kept on crying (rud) and thus came to be known as Rudra.

He was crying because he did not have a name. The crying stopped
when Brahma gave him the name of Rudra from the word for crying.
The child, however, began to cry once more and did not stop until
he was given another name. This happened seven times. And so
Rudra also has the names of Bhava, Sarva, Mahesha, Pashupati, Bhima,
Ugra and Mahadeva. Rudra’s wife was called Sati. She gave up her life
because of what her father Daksha had done and was born again as
Uma, the daughter of Himalaya and Menaka. Mahadeva married Uma
yet again.

There was a sage called Durvasa who was descended from Mahadeva.
Once upon a time, Durvasa was wandering around the world. And in
the hands of a pretty woman he saw a beautiful and fragrant garland.
Durvasa wanted the woman to give him the garland, which she gladly did.
Durvasa placed the garland on his head and continued to roam around
the world. Who should he then run into but Indra, the king of the gods?
There were other gods with Indra and Indra was seated on his elephant,
Airavata. Durvasa picked up the garland and threw it at Indra. Having
caught the garland, Indra placed it on the head of his elephant. Airavata
must have been surprised at the pleasant smell that was coming from
his head. For he raised his trunk to get a better sniff. And in the process,
the garland fell off his head and onto the ground.

Durvasa was very angry. He thought that Indra had insulted him. He had
not even bothered to thank Durvasa for the garland. And instead of placing
the garland on his own head, he had seen it fit to place the garland on the
head of an elephant. From which place it had fallen off onto the ground.
Durvasa therefore got ready to curse Indra. By then, Indra had realized
his mistake. He got off the elephant, fell at Durvasa’s feet and begged that
he might be forgiven. But Durvasa was not like the other sages; he refused
to be pacified. And so he cursed Indra. What was the curse? That Lakshmi
should disappear from Indra’s abode. Lakshmi, you may know, is the goddess
of wealth and prosperity.

When Indra returned to where he lived in Amaravati, he found the place to be
dreary and dilapidated. Lakshmi had left. The plants were dying. The sages were
not performing sacrifices. People had become selfish. It was not simply Amaravati
that had become like this. Indra ruled over all the three worlds. And in all the
three worlds this was precisedly what had happened.

The demons never liked the gods and were forever trying to fight with them.
They now discovered that the gods were less powerful and less well protected.
So they attacked the gods and gave them a good thrashing. What were the poor
gods to do? They elected the god Agni as their leader and fled to Brahma for
refuge and help. Brahma told them that he was unable to help them himself;
they should seek help from Vishnu. On the northern shores of the great ocean
the gods assembled and began to pray.

How could Vishnu ignore such prayers? He manifested himself before the gods
and gave them the following advice. The gods should meet the demons and
have a temporary truce. Both sides should get together and prepare to churn
the great ocean. Before the churning, herbs were to be thrown into the ocean.
The mountain Mandara was to be used as the churner and the great snake
Vasuki as the rope for churning. It was expected that amrita ( a drink that made
one immortal) would come out of the ocean as a result of the churning. And the
gods should promise the demons that this amrita would be equally shared out
among the two sides stronger. But the promise of the amrita would make sure
that the demons took part in the churning. This was nothing but an empty promise.
Vishnu hastened to assure the gods that he would ensure that the demons got
none of the amrita.

This the demons did not know, they gladly agreed to the churning. Herbs were
hurled into the ocean and the churning began. The gods grasped Vasuki’s tail
and the demons its head. In fact, it was Vishnu who asked the demons to grasp
the head of the snake. Flames and smoke belched out of the mouth of the snake
and made the demons suffer. The gases that came out of the snake’s mouth
went up into the sky and formed clouds. These clouds were driven towards the
tail and poured down as soothing rain on the gods who had grasped the tail.
On what was the huge mountain Mandara to be balanced? The solution was
again provided by Vishnu. Vishnu adopted the form of a gigantic turtle on which
the mountain could be placed.

Thus the churning went on. And wonderful were the things that emerged out of
the ocean as a result of the churning. The first to come out was the cow Surabhi,
worshipped by the gods. Next the goddess Varuni emerged. Followed by the
fragrant tree known as parijata. Out came the apsaras (dancers of heaven).
And the moon, which Mahadeva accepted as an adornment for his head. There
were bad things as well. The poison that came out was accepted by the snakes.
And dressed all in white, the god Dhanvantari came out with the pot of amrita in
his hands. At the sight of the amrita, the gods, the demons and the sages were
delighted. But there was more to come. There emerged a lotus flower with the
shining form of the goddess Lakshmi. She held another lotus in her hand.

The sages began to chant hymns in front of her. The gandharvas sang, the apsaras
danced. Rivers like the Ganga arrived so the Lakshmi could have a bath. There
are eight elephants who protect the eight directions. These elephants took clear
water from golden vessels and bathed the goddess. The ocean gave her a garland
of lotus flowers which would not fade. Vishvakarma provided the jewels. Thus bathed,
dressed, jewelled and garlanded, Lakshmi embraced Vishnu. Since the demons did not
like Vishnu, this meant that Lakshmi had forsaken the demons. And Lakshmi smiled
upon the gods. The demons did manage to get hold of the pot of amrita. But Vishnu
adopted a female form to trick the demons of the amrita and give it to the the gods.

The gods drank the amrita and attacked the demons with swords. The amrita ahd
made the gods strong and the demons were not match for them. Their armies scattered
and they fled into the underworld. The gods were delighted. They bowed before Vishnu
and continued to rule over heaven. The sun went back to its old path across the sky.
So did the stars. Indra ascended his throne and ruled over the three worlds, after
having prayed to Lakshmi.

Parashara told Maitreya. “Indra’s prayers pleased Lakshmi and she agreed to grant
him boons”. The first boon that Indra asked for was that Lakshmi should never
leave the three worlds. And the second boon was that Lakshmi should never turn
away from anyone who prayerd to Lakshmi using the same prayer that Indra
had used.

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!

[ShAivI]

SHREE VISHNU PURANAM

Sri Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryeshu Sarvada॥

Shaantaakaaram Bhujagashayanam
Padmanaabham Suresham Vishwaadhaaram
Gaganasadrasham Meghavarnam Shubhaangam
Lakshmikaantam Kamalanayanam
Yogibhirdhyaanagamyam Vande Vishnum
Bhavabhayaharam Sarvalokaikanaatham

OM SAI RAM ॥



1st section

The Story of Dhruva

From Brahma’s body was created Manu. All humans are descended
from Manu’s son and daughters. This is the reason for their being called
manava. Manu had two righteous and brave sons known as Priyavrata
and Uttanapada. Uttanapada had two wives, Suruchi’s son was Dhruva.
King Uttanapada was fonder of Suruchi than of Suniti and liked Uttama
much more than he liked Dhruva.

One day, Dhruva found that Uttama was sitting on his father’s lap on the
throne. Naturally, Dhruva also wanted to climb onto his father’s lap. But
Suruchi scolded him saying that he should not aspire to that which was
Uttama’s. He should always remember that the throne was meant for
Uttama and not for Dhruva.

Dhruva was angry. He went running to his mother. And he told his mother
what had happened. Suniti consoled him and told him that men suffer or
prosper depending on what they had done in their past lives. If one has
done good deeds in an earlier life, one becomes a king, has an umbrella
held over one’s head and rides excellent horses and elephants in this life.
Suruchi and Uttama must have performed many good deeds in their
earlier lives. And Suniti and Dhruva must have performed many evil deeds
in their earlier lives. This was not something to be unhappy about. Wise
men were satisfied with what they got. If Dhruva was really upset at what
Suruchi had said, he should stop being unhappy and should instead spend
his time on being good, religious, righteous and selfless.

Suniti’s words convinced Dhruva. He said, “Mother, your words have given
me peace. I will try to achieve the highest position of all. True, the king loves
Suruchi and true, I am not Suruchi’s son. But I am your son and I will show
you what I can do. Let Uttama have his throne. I do not wish for something
that is someone else’s. Through my own work I will achieve a place that not
even my father has achieved.”

Dhruva said this and went out of the house. There was a forest not very
far away. And in the forest he met seven sages. He bowed before them
and said, “I am Dhruva, the son of Uttanapada and Suniti. I am unhappy
and so I have come before you.”

The sages were surprised. “Prince,” they said, “You are only four or five years
old. You have nothing to be unhappy about, you have nothing to worry about.
Your father is a king and he is still alive. Nor do you seem to be ill. Why then are
you unhappy?”

Dhruva told them the reason for his unhappiness. He said that he desired neither
wealth nor kingdoms. He simply wanted to go to a place where no one had
ever been before. The sages advised him to pray to Vishnu. They also taught him
the mantra that was to be used for praying to Vishnu.

Dhruva made his way to the banks of the river Yamuna. This was the region that
was known as Madhuvana, because the daitya (demon) Madhu had ruled over it.
Rama’s brother Shatrughna had defeated Madhu’s son Lavana and built the city
of Mathura here. Here it was that Dhruva prayed. He prayed so hard that even
the gods were disturbed. They did their best to break this tapasya of Dhruva’s.
The rakshasas appeared to attack him with many weapons. Jackals howled
around him. Ghosts threatened him. But Dhruva was undisturbed. He thought
only of Vishnu. And saw nothing but Vishnu.

The gods were worried because they thought that Dhruva was praying so that
he might obtain the power to defeat them. Perhaps he wanted to become Indra,
or the sun, or Kubera, Varuna or Soma. They went to Vishnu and asked him to
stop Dhruva’s tapasya. Vishnu reassured the gods. He knew that these were
not the things that Dhruva wanted.

Vishnu appeared before Dhruva and offered him a boon. The boy opened his eyes
and saw Vishnu standing before him. He wanted the boon that he should always
feel like praying to Vishnu. In fact, he did not really want a boon at all. He had seen
Vishnu with his own eyes and there was nothing more that he desired. Vishnu was
however so pleased that he presisted in granting Dhruva some boon. Dhruva then
wanted the boon that he might attain a place that was on top the entire world.

Vishnu told him that he would grant what Dhruva desired. He also told Dhruva that
in an earlier life Dhruva had been a brahmana who was devoted to Vishnu. But the
brahmana’s friend had been a wealthy and beautiful prince. Having got a boon from
Vishnu, the brahmana had desired that in his next life he might be born a prince.
That was the reason why he had been born as Dhruva, the son of King Uttanapada.

But since Dhruva no longer wanted kingdoms or wealth, Vishnu would place him
in the middle of the sky so that all the stars would revolve around him. His mother
Suniti would also be placed in the sky near him.

Have you seen Dhruva in the sky? Of course you have. Near the seven sages
who form the constellation of the Great Bear. Dhruva is nothing but the Pole Star.

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!

[ShAivI]

SHREE VISHNU PURANAM

Sri Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryeshu Sarvada॥

Shaantaakaaram Bhujagashayanam
Padmanaabham Suresham Vishwaadhaaram
Gaganasadrasham Meghavarnam Shubhaangam
Lakshmikaantam Kamalanayanam
Yogibhirdhyaanagamyam Vande Vishnum
Bhavabhayaharam Sarvalokaikanaatham

OM SAI RAM ॥



1st section

The Kings Vena and Prithu

Some generations further down from Dhruva, there was a king
called Vena. Vena was not a good king at all. He announced that there
would be no sacrifices on earth. There was absoultely no reason for
praying to Vishnu, wasn’t king Vena superior to even Vishnu? The sages
tried to persuade the King to change his ways, but Vena was not in a
mood to listen.

The sages therefore decided that Vena should die. They chanted mantras
over a straw and killed Vena with the straw. The problem however was
that who would rule the kingdom in Vena’s place? Vena did not have
any children. The sages then began to knead the dead king’s thighs.
After the kneading, a dwarf who looked like a short pillar came out of
the thighs.

“What shall I do?”, asked the dwarf.

“Sit,” said the sages and the dwarf came to be called nishada from the
word for sitting. Later, the sons of Nishada came to live in the Vindhya
mountains.

The sages then began to knead the dead body’s right hand. And a shining
man came out because of the kneading. This was Prithu. As he was born,
a divine bow, arrows and armour fell on him from the skies. Everyone
was happy at Prithu’s birth. Even Vena no longer had to go to the hell that
one has to go to if one does not have a son. The rivers and the oceans
arrived with water and jewels for Prithu’s coronation. The gods and Brahma
arrived to bathe Prithu before the coronation. Brahma noticed that Prithu
had the mark of a chakra (Vishnu’s weapon) on his right hand. This was a
good men, because it meant that Prithu was decended from Vishnu. Only
kings whom even the gods cannot rival have this sign on their hands.

Prithu was crowned. He was a powerful king. The waters of the ocean trembled
when he passed and the mountains made a path for him. His flag was never
lowered. The earth yielded crops without any ploughing. The cows gave a
lot of milk and the flowers were full of honey. As soon as he was born, Prithu
arranged for a sacrifice (yajna). From this sacrifice were born the sutas and
the magadhas, who chanted songs in Prithu’s praise.

But there had been a short period between Vena’s death and Prithu’s birth
when there had been no king on the land. The land does not flourish in the
absence of a king. The herbs disappeared from the earth and people were
hungry. These people went to Prithu and begged him to restore the herbs.
To obtain the herbs, Prithu took up his bow and arrow and began to chase
the earth. The earth adopted the form of cow and started to run. But wherever
the earth went, Prithu followed. Finally, Prithu caught up with the earth and the
earth restored whatever few herbs were left. To ensure tha the earth returned
to normalcy and once again became fertile. Prithu levelled out the mountains
with his bow. In the earlier creation, there had been no cities, villages, grains,
animal husbandry, agriculture or trade.

It was because of Prithu that all this became possible. This is the reason why
the earth is called prithivi.

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!

[ShAivI]

SHREE VISHNU PURANAM

Sri Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryeshu Sarvada॥

Shaantaakaaram Bhujagashayanam
Padmanaabham Suresham Vishwaadhaaram
Gaganasadrasham Meghavarnam Shubhaangam
Lakshmikaantam Kamalanayanam
Yogibhirdhyaanagamyam Vande Vishnum
Bhavabhayaharam Sarvalokaikanaatham

OM SAI RAM ॥



1st section

The Kings Vena and Prithu

Some generations further down from Dhruva, there was a king
called Vena. Vena was not a good king at all. He announced that there
would be no sacrifices on earth. There was absoultely no reason for
praying to Vishnu, wasn’t king Vena superior to even Vishnu? The sages
tried to persuade the King to change his ways, but Vena was not in a
mood to listen.

The sages therefore decided that Vena should die. They chanted mantras
over a straw and killed Vena with the straw. The problem however was
that who would rule the kingdom in Vena’s place? Vena did not have
any children. The sages then began to knead the dead king’s thighs.
After the kneading, a dwarf who looked like a short pillar came out of
the thighs.

“What shall I do?”, asked the dwarf.

“Sit,” said the sages and the dwarf came to be called nishada from the
word for sitting. Later, the sons of Nishada came to live in the Vindhya
mountains.

The sages then began to knead the dead body’s right hand. And a shining
man came out because of the kneading. This was Prithu. As he was born,
a divine bow, arrows and armour fell on him from the skies. Everyone
was happy at Prithu’s birth. Even Vena no longer had to go to the hell that
one has to go to if one does not have a son. The rivers and the oceans
arrived with water and jewels for Prithu’s coronation. The gods and Brahma
arrived to bathe Prithu before the coronation. Brahma noticed that Prithu
had the mark of a chakra (Vishnu’s weapon) on his right hand. This was a
good men, because it meant that Prithu was decended from Vishnu. Only
kings whom even the gods cannot rival have this sign on their hands.

Prithu was crowned. He was a powerful king. The waters of the ocean trembled
when he passed and the mountains made a path for him. His flag was never
lowered. The earth yielded crops without any ploughing. The cows gave a
lot of milk and the flowers were full of honey. As soon as he was born, Prithu
arranged for a sacrifice (yajna). From this sacrifice were born the sutas and
the magadhas, who chanted songs in Prithu’s praise.

But there had been a short period between Vena’s death and Prithu’s birth
when there had been no king on the land. The land does not flourish in the
absence of a king. The herbs disappeared from the earth and people were
hungry. These people went to Prithu and begged him to restore the herbs.
To obtain the herbs, Prithu took up his bow and arrow and began to chase
the earth. The earth adopted the form of cow and started to run. But wherever
the earth went, Prithu followed. Finally, Prithu caught up with the earth and the
earth restored whatever few herbs were left. To ensure tha the earth returned
to normalcy and once again became fertile. Prithu levelled out the mountains
with his bow. In the earlier creation, there had been no cities, villages, grains,
animal husbandry, agriculture or trade.

It was because of Prithu that all this became possible. This is the reason why
the earth is called prithivi.

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!

[ShAivI]

SHREE VISHNU PURANAM

Sri Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryeshu Sarvada॥

Shaantaakaaram Bhujagashayanam
Padmanaabham Suresham Vishwaadhaaram
Gaganasadrasham Meghavarnam Shubhaangam
Lakshmikaantam Kamalanayanam
Yogibhirdhyaanagamyam Vande Vishnum
Bhavabhayaharam Sarvalokaikanaatham

OM SAI RAM ॥



1st section

The Story of Prahlada

Hiranyakashipu had received a boon from Brahma. On the strength
of this boon, he conquered the three worlds. He drove out Indra
from heaven and assumed the title of Indra. He also assumed the
titles of Savita, Vayu, Agni, Varuna, Soma, Kubera and Yama.
The gods fled from heaven (svarga) and roamed around the world
in human forms. Everyone had to worship Hiranyakashipu, the king
of the daityas (the sons of Diti). Hiranyakashipu lived in a magnificent
palace made of crystal. There the apsaras danced. And Hiranyakashipu
indulged in drinking wine.

Young Prahlada had been sent away to study with his guru (teacher).
On a vacation he came home with his teacher and Hiranyakashipu
naturally wanted to find out what his son had learnt.

“I have learnt to pray to Vishnu,” said Prahlada.

Hiranyakshipu was furious. “Why have you taught him this nonsense?,”
he demanded of the guru.

“I have not,” replied the teacher “This is not what I have taught him.
He is saying this of his own accord.

“Dear son,” asked Hiranyakashipu, “who has taught this rubbish?”

“The teacher of all teachers, Lord Vishnu,” came the reply.

“Who is this Vishnu?,” asked Hiranyakashipu.

“The Lord of my heart,” said Prahlada.

“Lord of your heart. How can you have a Lord other than me?”

“He is not only my Lord, he is yours as well,” repied Prahlada.
“Lord of everyone.”

“Take him away,” said the angry Hiranyakashipu. “Send him back
to the teacher. Let him unlearn all this.”

Prahlada went back to his guru’s home and studied there for many
ears. He was then again brought back before Hiranyakashipu.

“Son,” asked Hiranyakashipu, “what did you study?”

“To pray to Vishnu,” was the reply.

“Kill my evil son,” said Hiranyakashipu. “There is nothing to be gained
by his remaining alive. He is a disgrace to my family.”

On hearing these words, hundreds and thousands of daityas attacked
Prahlada with all sorts of weapons. But because Prahlada was protected
by Vishnu, the weapons could do him no harm. Hiranyakashipu then let
loose many poisonous snakes on Prahlada. But because Prahlada had
Vishnu’s protection, the fangs of the snakes could not penetrate his skin.
Hiranyakshipu then asked many elephants to kill Prahlada with their tusks.
The elephants threw done Prahlada on the gound and gored him with their
tusks. But Prahlada thought of Vishnu and the tusks broke on his breast.
On the orders of Hiranyakashipu, the daityas next lit a fire. Prahlada was put
into the fire, but the flames could do nothing to him. On witnessing all this,
Hiranyakashipu’s priests requested him to take Prahlada out of the fire.
“Don’t worry,” they said, “We will give him a proper education.”

Prahlada went back to his guru. But whenever he could find the time,
he began to teach the sons of the daityas. He taught them to pray to Vishnu.

This was reported to Hiranyakashipu, who instructed the cooks to poison
Prahlada’s food. The cooks did as they were told. But because Prahlada
thought of Vishnu, the poison had no effect. The priests tried to persuade
Prahlada once more. But to no avail. The priests then created a demon.
 The demon was like the flames of a fire. It dug up the earth with its feet.
And attacked Prahlada with a huge trishula (trident). But the trishula struck
Prahlada’s chest and broke into many pieces. This frustrated the demon
and it turned around and began to attack the priests instead. The priests
ran here and there, but were all killed by the demon.

This made Prahlada very unhappy. “Lord Vishnu, teacher of all the worlds,
creator of all the worlds,” he prayed. “Please restore these priests back to life.”
And as soon as Prahlada touched the dead bodies, the priests came back to life.
The priests went back to Hiranyakashipu and told him what had happened.

Prahlada was taken to Hiranyakashipu once more. “What gives you these powers?,”
asked Hiranyakashipu.

“There are not my powers,” replied Prahlada. “There are the powers of Vishnu.”

On hearing Vishnu’s name, Hiranyakashipu became angry once again. He instructed
his servants to take Prahlada to the top of the place and throw him down so that
his bones might break on the rocks below. The servants did as they were told.
But Prahlada thought of Vishnu as he fell, and nothing happened to him.
Hiranyakashipu then called Shambarasura. This was an asura who was well versed
in the use of maya, the technique of creating illusions and hallucinations.

Shambarasura used maya to create illusions around Prahlada. But Prahalda kept
thinking of Vishnu. And Vishnu’s weapon, the sudarshana chakra, came and
destroyed all the maya. Hiranyakashipu then asked the wind to dry up Prahlada’s
body. But this too failed. And Prahlada returned to the home of his teacher.

The teacher taught him the things that a king should know. These precepts of
royal policy had been laid down a long time ago by Shukracharya. They taught
one the rules for dealing with one’s enemies and one’s friends.

When his education had been completed, Prahalda was brought again before
Hiranyakashipu. “Son,” said Hiranyakashipu, “show me what you have learnt.
How will you deal with your enemies?”

“What enemies?,” asked prahlada. “Vishnu is in me, Vishnu is in my friends
and Bishnu is in my enemies. I fVishnu is everywhere, how can there be enemies?
I see firnds everywhere, Gods, humans, birds, animals, tree and snakes are
all ful of the same Vishnu. Therefore, one should look upon the whole world
as one looks upon oneself.”

Hiranyakashipu became mad with anger. He got up from his throne and kicked
his son on the chest. He told his soldiers to tie Prahlada in nooses of snakes
and throw him into the sea. They were then to throw down mountains on the
sea so that Prahlada got crushed. This is precisely what the daityas did. But Prahlada
kept on praying to Vishnu. He forgot all about himself and thought only of Vishnu.
Prahlada became like Vishnu himself and the nooses of snakes fell away from his body.
Prahalada removed the mountains tha thad been thrown down by the daityas and
emerged from the water. He prayed to Vishnu and Vishnu appeared before him.

“What boon do you desire, Prahlada?,” asked Vishnu.

“That I may be forever faithful to you.”

“Granted,” said Vishnu. “What else do you want/”

“That my father’s sins be forgiven.”

“Granted,” said Vishnu.

Prahlada returned to Hiranyakashipu and the father relented and embrace his son.
Eventually, Vishnu adopted the form of a man-lion (nrishimha) and killed Hiranyakashipu.
Prahlada became the king of the daityas and he ruled well and wisely. He had many
sons and grandsons. One of Prahlada’s sons was Virochana and Virochana’s son was Vali.

(This is where the first section ends.)

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!

[ShAivI]

SHREE VISHNU PURANAM

Sri Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryeshu Sarvada॥

Shaantaakaaram Bhujagashayanam
Padmanaabham Suresham Vishwaadhaaram
Gaganasadrasham Meghavarnam Shubhaangam
Lakshmikaantam Kamalanayanam
Yogibhirdhyaanagamyam Vande Vishnum
Bhavabhayaharam Sarvalokaikanaatham

OM SAI RAM ॥



2nd section

Priyavrata and Bharata

Maitreya told Parashara, “Sage, I have learnt that Manu had two sons,
Priyavrata and Uttanapada. You have already told me about Uttanapada’s
son Dhruva. But what about Priyavrata?” And this was Parashara’s reply.
And this was Parashara’s reply.

Priyavrata married the daughter of Kardama and had ten sons. Their names
were Agnidhra, Agnivahu, Vapushmana, Dyutimana, Medha, Medhatithi.
Bhavya, Savana, Putra and Jyotishmana. Medha, Agnivahu and Putra
were not interested in becoming kings, they became sages. The world is
divided into seven regions or dvipas. Priyavrata gave each of the remaining
seven sons a dvipa to rule over. Agnidhra got Jambudvipa, Vapushmana,
Shalmalidvipa, Dyuti mana Krounchadvipa, Medhatithi Plakshadvipa, Bhavya
Shakadvipa, Savana Pushkaradvipa and Joytishmana Kushadvipa. King Agnidhhra
had nine sons, Nabhi, Kimpurusha, Ilavrita, Ramya, Shashtha, Hiranvana, Hari,
Kuru and Bhadrashva. Jambudvipa was divided up by Agnidhra among these sons.
Nabhi got the region that was to eventually became Bharatavarsha. Nabhi had
a son called Rishabha. Rishabha had a hundred sons, the eldest of whom was
Bharata. It is after Bharata that the country was called Bharatavarsha.

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!

[ShAivI]

SHREE VISHNU PURANAM

Sri Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryeshu Sarvada॥

Shaantaakaaram Bhujagashayanam
Padmanaabham Suresham Vishwaadhaaram
Gaganasadrasham Meghavarnam Shubhaangam
Lakshmikaantam Kamalanayanam
Yogibhirdhyaanagamyam Vande Vishnum
Bhavabhayaharam Sarvalokaikanaatham

OM SAI RAM ॥



2nd section

Some Geography

You have already been told that the world is divided into seven dvipas,
Jambu, Shalmali, Krouncha, Palksha, Shaka, Pushkara and Kusha.
The seven dvipas are surrounded by seven oceans. Their names are
Lavana, Ikshu, Sura, Sarpi, Dadhi, Dugdha and Jala. Jambudvipa is right
in the middle. And in the middle of Jambudvipa is the golden-hued
Mount Meru. If the earth were to be a lotus flower, Mount Meru
would be the stamen.

To the south of Mount Meru lies first Bharatavarsha, then Kimpurushavarsha
and eventually Harivarsha. To the north lies first Ramyaka, then Hiranmaya
and eventually the northern part of Kuruvarsha. Mount Meru is actually
in Ilavritavarsha. And on four sides of Mount Meru are four mountains.
To the east is Mandras, to the south Gandhamadna, to the west Vipula
and to the north Suparshva. These mountains have a lot of jambu or
jamum trees. That is why the region is known as Jambudvipa. There are
four beautiful lakes around Mount Meru. Their names are Arunoda,
Mahabhadra, Asitoda and Namasa. On the peak of Mount Meru is
Brahma’s famous city.

The river Ganga originates from the feet of Lord Vishnu. It flows around
the moon and then falls on Brahma’s city. It then divides into four rivers,
Sita, Alakanada, Chakshu and Bhadra. Sita flows eastwards, Alakanada
southwards into Bharatavarsha, Chakshu westwards and Bhadra northwards.
In Bharatavarsha, Alakananda divides into seven rivers.

The region around Mount Meru is regarded as a svarga on earth. Here live
the gods, goddesses, gandharvas, yakshas, rakshasas, daityas and danavas.
Only the righteous people can go there, the sinners are not permitted to enter.

The sons of Bharata live in Bharatavarsha. There are seven major mountains
in Bharatavarsha and their names are Mahendra, Malaya, Sahya, Shuktimana,
Riksha, Vindhya and Paripatra. To the east of Bharatavarsha live the kirtas
or hunters and to the west live the yavanas. The rivers Shatadru and
Chandrabhaga flow out of the Himalayas, the main rivers mentioned in the
Vedas from Mount Paripatra and the rivers Narmada and Surasa from
Mount Vindhya.

Jambudvipa is surrounded by the ocean named Lavana. The people of
Jambudvipa worship Vishnu. In other dvipas, other gods are worshipped.
Bharatavarsha is the best part of Jambudvipa.

There are seven underworlds (patala) on earth. Their names are Atala,
Vitala, Nitala, Gabhastimata, Mahatala, Sutala and Patala. Here live the danavas,
daityas, yakshas and nagas. Narada once went on a trip to patala and discovered
that patala was more beautiful than svaraga. It was a place full of jewels.
During the day, the sun only provided light, but no heat. And during the night,
the moonbeams provided light, but no cold. Patala was full of rivers, forests
and lakes. The inhabitants of patala wore beautiful clothes, rubbed scented paste
on their bodies and loved music. At the bottom of patala was Vishnu in the form
of a thousand-headed snake. This snake was known as Shesha.

Under the earth and the water are several hells (naraka). They form the kingdom
that Yama rules over. There are different narakas for different types of sinners.
Those who lie and bear false witness go to Rourava. Those who kill cows go
to Rodha. Those who drink, kill brahmanas or steal gold go to Shukara. Those
who kill kshatriyas or vaishyas go to Tala. Those who treat their teachers’ wives
badly go to Taptakunda. Those who kill messengers or sell women or horses
go to Taptalouha. Those who treat their daughters and daughters-in-law badly
go to Mahajvala. Those who show disrespect to their seniors or those who
criticize the Vedas go to Lavana. Thieves go to Vimohana. Those who criticize
good things, Vedas or brahmanas and those who hate their fathers go to
Krimibhaksha.

Those who eat before their fathers, gods or guests go to Lalabhaksha. Those
who make arrows go to Vedhaka. Those who make swords go to Vishasana.
Astrologers go to Adhomukha. Fathers who eat sweets without offering them
to their children and brahmanas who sell meat, milk or salt to go to Puyavaha.
This is also the naraka that is reserved for brahmanas who keep cats, hens, goats,
dogs, pigs or birds to make a living. Brahmanas who make a living as actors or
fishermen and poisoners and arsonists go to the naraka known as Rudhirandha.
Those who destroy villages go to Vaitarani. The unclean go to the naraka kown
as Krishna. Those who destroy forests for no reason go to Asipatravana. Those
who make a living by keeping sheep or those who kill deer go to Vanhijvala.
Fathers who study under their sons go to Shvabhojana. Those who oppose the
law of the four classes go to Niraya.

Apart from these narakas, there are thousands of others. Apart from the sins
mentioned earlier, there are thousands of other sins. In the narakas, sinners
suffer for their sins. They are hung upside down. Once they have spent the time
in naraka and have paid for their sins, they are born again. Depending on how
they have behaved, people are born as trees, creepers, worms, fish, birds,
animals, human religious people or gods. A sinner does not however have
to go to naraka if he repents for his sins. And the best way to repent is to t
hink of Vishnu.

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!

[ShAivI]

SHREE VISHNU PURANAM

Sri Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryeshu Sarvada॥

Shaantaakaaram Bhujagashayanam
Padmanaabham Suresham Vishwaadhaaram
Gaganasadrasham Meghavarnam Shubhaangam
Lakshmikaantam Kamalanayanam
Yogibhirdhyaanagamyam Vande Vishnum
Bhavabhayaharam Sarvalokaikanaatham

OM SAI RAM ॥



2nd section

Some Astronomy

Many miles above the earth is the world of the sun. Then come the
several worlds of the moon, the Stars, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter,
Saturn, the saptarshis (the Great Bear constellation) and Dhruva
respectively. Dhruva is the centre of all the stars. Above it is Janaloka,
where Brahma’s sons live. Gods live in Tapoloka, above Janaloka.
Satyaloka is still higher up. It is divided into Brahmaloka and Vaikunthaloka,
abodes of Brahma and Vishnu respectively.

The inhabitants of Dhruvaloka, Janaloka, Tapoloka and Satyaloka are
not destroyed at the end of each cycle of creation. But the inhabitants
of the other three lokas are destroyed. The first of these lokas is of course
the earth or bhurloka. The second is bhuvarloka, where live the sages,
the region between the earth and the sun. And the third is svaroka, the region
from the sun to Dhruva. There are thus seven lokas in all.

Actually, the universe consists of fourteen regions, the seven lokas and
seven patalas. A loka or a patala is called a bhuvana and there are fourteen
such buvanas in the universe. The first of these lokas is of course the earth
or bhurloka. The second is bhuvarloka, where live the sages, the region between
the earth and the sun. And the third is svarloka, the region from the sun to
Dhruva. There are thus seven lokas in all.

Actually, the universe consists of fourteen regions, the seven lokas and seven
patalas. A loka or a patala is called a bhuvana and there are fourteen such burvanas
in the universe. The bhuvanas are surrounded by darkness on all sides. Around
the darkness is water. And around the water is fire. Beyond the fire is the wind
and beyond the wind there is the sky.

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!

[ShAivI]

SHREE VISHNU PURANAM

Sri Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryeshu Sarvada॥

Shaantaakaaram Bhujagashayanam
Padmanaabham Suresham Vishwaadhaaram
Gaganasadrasham Meghavarnam Shubhaangam
Lakshmikaantam Kamalanayanam
Yogibhirdhyaanagamyam Vande Vishnum
Bhavabhayaharam Sarvalokaikanaatham

OM SAI RAM ॥



2nd section

The Story of Jadabharata

Many years ago there used to live a king named Bharata. He was the
son of Rishabha and used to live in a place known as Shalagrama.
He thought of Vishnu all the time, even in his dreams and he had
given up all thought of violence.

Once Bharata had gone to bathe in a river. A deer had also come to
drink water there. While the deer was drinking water, there was the
terrible roar of a lion. The deer gave a frightened leap and gave an
untimely birth. The baby fell into the river. The mother deer died as a
result of the leap. But Bharata rescued the baby deer from the water
and brought it home to his ashrama (hermitage). Every day, the king fed
the baby and slowly, the deer grew bigger. It wandered around the hermitage.
Sometimes it even wandered out, but returned quickly as it was frightened of
tigers. Asit grew older, the deer would leave the ashrama in the mornings and
return in the evenings.

Bharata grew attached to the deer and forgot everything else. He had given up
his kingdom, his sons, and his friends and forgotten them all. But he could not
forget the deer. If the deer was late in returning to the ashrama, he would
worry that it might have been eaten up by a wolf or a tiger or a lion. He would be
happy only when the deer returned. And because Bharata thought about the
deer so much, he forgot to think of Vishnu.

Many years passed. Bharata died watching the deer and thinking of it.
Since he thought of the deer while dying, he was born as a deer in his next life.
The only difference was that he was born as a jatismara deer, that is, a deer that
remembered the incidents of its past life. As a deer, Bharata left his mother and
came again to Shalagrama because he remembered his old place. He lived on
dry leaves and dry grass and eventually died. He was reborn as a jatismara
brahmana. In this life he was truly learned, well versed in all the shastras.

Since he had attained the supreme knowledge, he saw no point in reading the
Vedas or in doing work. He kept to himself and spoke little, only when he had to.
His body was dirty, his clothes were filthy and he never cleaned his teeth.
Because of this, people treated him badly. But since interaction with people
was an obstacle to attaining supreme knowledge. Bharata kept up this pretence
of beigh slightly mad. He moved so little that he came to known as Jababharata.
He ate whatever was available to him. And when his father died, his brothers,
nephews and friends, gave him only dirty food to eat. Since he was strong and
stout, they used him in their farming work.

The sage Kapila had an ashrama on the banks of the river Ikshumati. One day,
the King of Soubira wanted to go there on a planaquin to learn words of wisdom
from the sage. The servant of the king looked for palanquin-bearers who would
carry the palanquin free of charge and found Bharata. So Bharata bore the palanquin
along with the other bearers. But he walked slowly while the other bearers walked
fast. The result was that the palanquin did not move smoothly. When scolded,
the other bearers naturally blamed Bharata for this difficulty.

“What is wrong?” Asked the king of Bharata, “Haven’t you borne the planquin
only for a little while? How is it that you are tired? Can’t you bear a little burden?
You look quite strong to me.”

Bharata’s answer was this. “Who am I and who are you? What you have seen is
only my body and your body. I am not my body and nor are your your body.
Our atmans or souls are what we really are. My atman is not strong or tired,
nor is it carrying your palanquin upon its shoulders.”

Having said this, Bharata was quiet again. But the king got down from the palanquin
and fell at his feet. He wanted to know who Bharata really was, for such words
of wisdom do not come from an ordinary man. Bharata then told him the truth
about the atman, which is never destroyed and takes up different bodies from
one life to another. This is the jivatman. In additon, there is the paramatman,
which I s Vishnu and is everywhere. There is no difference between the jivatman
and the parmatman and the person who has realized this is truly wise. To think that
the jivatman is different from the parmatman is to suffer from maya or illusion.

Bharata also told the king a story. Many years ago Brahma had a son known as Ribhu.
Ribhu was very learned and his disciple was Nidagha, the son of Pulastya. The teacher
and the pupil used to live in the banks of the river Devika, near a city known as Viranagara,
but Ribhu realized that Nidagha was still not ready for the supreme knowledge.
So he sent the pupil to live in the city, although he continued to live in the forest.

One day, Ribhu decided to pay Nidagha a visit to see how the disciple was getting on.
After Ribhu had washed his hands and feet, Nidagha offered him food. “Please eat,”
he said.

“What have you got to eat?” asked Ribhu. “Is it clean food?”

“I have rice and cerals and fruit and sweets.” Replied Nidagha.

“That is unclean food,” said the teacher. “Make me rice pudding, curds and wine.”

Nidagha asked his wife to prepare the desired food. The food was prepared and
Ribhu had his fill.

“Are you content now?” asked Nidagha . “Where are you going and why did
you come here?”

Ribhu replied as follows. “Those who are hungry become content on eating food.
I was not hungry, so the question of my being content after eating does not arise.
Why ask me a silly question? The body feels hungry, I do not. I am not the body.
You asked me where I was going and why did I come here. These are meaningless
questions. My atman is everywhere, it cannot go or come. I am not really
what you see. Nor are you what I see. I did not care at all about what you gave me
to eat. I said all that just to see what you would say. Since all food is made of the
same elements, it all tastes alike. Learn this, for this is true knowledge.”

Threreupon, Nidagha bowed down before Ribhu and said that his illusions have
now been destroyed.

After one thousand years had passed, Ribhu came again to Nidagha. And he found
that Nidagha now lived outside the city, eating grass and straw. He didn’t mix with other
people and had become frail and thin. Ribhu again gave him a lesson on true knowledge,
which does not distinguish between all things and paramatman.

And Bharata said that this was the knowledge that the king should learn. The sky
sometimes looks blue and sometimes white, but it is the same sky. These who suffer
from illusions look upon different atmans separately. But they are truly all part of the
same atman. There is nothing in the world except this atman and all of us are parts
of the same atman.

This is the end of the second section of the Vishnu Purana.

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!

[ShAivI]

SHREE VISHNU PURANAM

Sri Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryeshu Sarvada॥

Shaantaakaaram Bhujagashayanam
Padmanaabham Suresham Vishwaadhaaram
Gaganasadrasham Meghavarnam Shubhaangam
Lakshmikaantam Kamalanayanam
Yogibhirdhyaanagamyam Vande Vishnum
Bhavabhayaharam Sarvalokaikanaatham

OM SAI RAM ॥



3rd Section

The Manvantaras

The manvantara is a cycle of creation and destruction. A Manu rules
over each such manvantara. There have been six manvantaras till now
and the names of the respective Manus were Svayambhuva, Svarochasha,
Outtami, Tamasa, Raivata and Chakshusha. Vaivasvata, the son of the sun,
rules over the present and seventh manvantara. Each manvantara has its
own gods and rishis. The gods of the present manvantara are the adityas,
the vasus and the rudra and Purandara holds the title of Indra, the king of
the gods. The names of the seven rishis of the present manvantara are
Vashistha, Kashyapa, Atri, Jamadagni, Goutama, Vishvamitra and
Bharadvaja.

These were the seven manvantaras that have passed. But there are
seven manvantaras yet to come.

Vishvakarma had a daughter named Samjna who was married to Surya,
the sun. Their children were called Manu, Yama and Yami. After some time,
Samjna found that she could no longer bear the energy of her husband.
So she created a woman known as Chhaya who looked exactly like her.
She left Chhaya to look after her husband and went off to meditate in a
forest. Surya did not know that this was Chhaya and not Samjna. Surya
and Chhaya had two sons called Shanaishchara and Savarni Manu and
a daughter called Tapati.

One day, for some reason, Chhaya became very angry and cursed yama.
Both Yama and Surya then understood that this woman could not be Yama’s
mother Samjna and must be someone else. Chhaya told them what had
happened. And Surya learnt that Samnjna was performing tapasya in a forest
in the form of a mare. Surya himself adopted the form of a horse and joined
his wife. As horses, they had three sons, the two Ashvinis and Revanata.

Surya wanted to bring Samjna back to his home. The problem however was
Surya’s energy, which Samjna could not stand. Therefore, Vishvakarma sliced
off Surya’s energy and the sliced off part fell on the earth. With this energy
Vishvakarma made Vishnu’s chakra, Rudra’s trishula, Kubera’s palanquin,
Kartikeya’s spear and other weapons of the other gods.

As mentioned earlier, Surya and Chhaya had a son called Savarni Manu.
This would be the Manu in the eighth manvantara and Indra would then
be Vali, the son of Virochana. The ninth Manu would be Dakshasavarni,
the tenth Brahmasavarni, the eleventh Dharmasavarni, the twelfth Savarna,
the thirteenth Rouchya and the fourteenth Bhoutya. At the end of each four
cycle of yugas, the Vedas are destroyed and in each satya yuga, the respective
Manu rewrites the sacred shastras. In each manvantara, Manu, the seven rishis,
Indra the gods and the kings are created afresh. Fourteen manvantaras make a
kalpa comes Brahma’s night. During that night, Vishnu in his form of Brahma
sleeps on the waters that are everywhere.

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!

[ShAivI]

SHREE VISHNU PURANAM

Sri Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryeshu Sarvada॥

Shaantaakaaram Bhujagashayanam
Padmanaabham Suresham Vishwaadhaaram
Gaganasadrasham Meghavarnam Shubhaangam
Lakshmikaantam Kamalanayanam
Yogibhirdhyaanagamyam Vande Vishnum
Bhavabhayaharam Sarvalokaikanaatham

OM SAI RAM ॥



3rd Section

Vedavyasa

In each age, Vishnu in his form of Vedavyasa, divided the Vedas.
In every dvapara yuga, this is done. The present manvantara is the
Vaivasvata manvantara and in this manvantara, the Vedas have
already been divided twenty-eight times. The names of these
twenty-eight Vedavyases were Svayambhu, Prajapati, Ushana,
Brihaspati, Savita, Mrityu, Indra, Vashishtha, Sarasvata, Tridhama,
Trivrisha, Bharadvaja, Antariksha, Vapri, Trayaruna, Dhananjaya,
Kritanjaya, Rinajya, Bharadvaja, Goutama, Haryatma, Vena, Trinavindu,
Riksha, Shaktri, Parashara, Jatukarna and Krishna Dvaipayana.
The Vishnu Purana says that the next Vedavyasa will be Drona’s son
Ashvatthama. As you may know from the Mahabharata, Ashvatthama
is immortal.

The essence of brahman and the four Vedas is captured in the word Om.
Brahman is everywhere, but appears to different people in different forms.

The four Vedas, Rig, Yajur, Sama, and Atharva, together have one lakh
shlokas. It is from the Vedas that the ten famous sacrifices (yajnas)
originate. When Krishna Dvaipayana Vedavyasa sought to divide the
four Vedas, he first gathered around him four disciples who were learned
in the Vedas. Paila was taught the Rig Veda, Vaisham-payana the Yajur
Veda, Jaimini the Sama Veda and Sumantu the Atharva Veda. Krishna
Dvaipayana taught the Puranas to his discipline Romaharshana.

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!

[ShAivI]

SHREE VISHNU PURANAM

Sri Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryeshu Sarvada॥

Shaantaakaaram Bhujagashayanam
Padmanaabham Suresham Vishwaadhaaram
Gaganasadrasham Meghavarnam Shubhaangam
Lakshmikaantam Kamalanayanam
Yogibhirdhyaanagamyam Vande Vishnum
Bhavabhayaharam Sarvalokaikanaatham

OM SAI RAM ॥



3rd Section

Yajnavalka

Once upon a time, the famous rishis decided that they would have a
gathering. They also decided that whoever did not come to this gathering,
would after a period of seven days commit the crime of killing a brahmana.
All the sages came to this gathering, but Vaishampayana did not. After
seven days, Vaishampayana stepped on his nephew and killed him by
mistake. This was a terrible sin and had to be atoned for.

Vaishampayna had divided the Yajur Veda into twenty-seven parts and
had distributed these parts among various disciples. One of these disciples
was Yajnavalka. Vaishampayana called his disciples together and said,
“I have committed the crime of killing a brahmana. Please arrange
for a sacrifice so that I might atone for this sin.”

On hearing this Yajnavalka said, “There is no need to bother about these
other disciplines. They do not have much power. I will arrange for the
sacrifice myself.”

This made Vaishampayana angry. “You have insulted the other disciples,
Yajnavalka,” he said. “Return to me hwat I have taught you. I do not need
a disciple like you.”

Yajnavalka replied,”I said what I did because I respected you. But since
you have misunderstood, I too do not require a teacher like you. Here is
what I have learnt. I am returning it.”

Yajnavalka then vomited out the Yajur Veda and the other disciplines ate
it up in the form of birds. That is why this branch of the Yajur Veda is called
the Taittiriya after the name of the bird Tittira.

But Yajnavalka still wanted to learn the Yajur Veda. So he began to pray to
the sun. The sun finally appeared to him in the form of a horse and taught
him those branches of the Yajur Veda which even Vaishampayana
did not know

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!

[ShAivI]

SHREE VISHNU PURANAM

Sri Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryeshu Sarvada॥

Shaantaakaaram Bhujagashayanam
Padmanaabham Suresham Vishwaadhaaram
Gaganasadrasham Meghavarnam Shubhaangam
Lakshmikaantam Kamalanayanam
Yogibhirdhyaanagamyam Vande Vishnum
Bhavabhayaharam Sarvalokaikanaatham

OM SAI RAM ॥



3rd Section

The Puranas

Now the Vishnu Purana describes what the Puranas are and how they
came to written. It says that the original text Purana Samhita was taught
by Vedavyasa to his disciple Romaharshana (also called Lomaharshana).
Romaharshana had six disciples, Sumati, Agnivarchah, Mitrayu,
Shamshapayana, Akritavrana and Savarni. Each of these disciples
composed a Purana on the basis of the Purana Samhita. It was on the
basis of these that the Vishnu Purana had written. It was written after
 the Padma Purana and is devoted to the glory of Lord Vishnu.

There are fourteen types of knowledge (vidya). These are the four Vedas,
the six Vedangas, Mimamasa, Nyaya, the Puranas and the Dharmashastras.
To this one might add four further forms of knowledge, Ayurveda, Dhanurveda,
music and Arthashastra. There are three types of rishis, brahmarshis,
devarshis and rajarshis

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!

[ShAivI]

SHREE VISHNU PURANAM

Sri Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryeshu Sarvada॥

Shaantaakaaram Bhujagashayanam
Padmanaabham Suresham Vishwaadhaaram
Gaganasadrasham Meghavarnam Shubhaangam
Lakshmikaantam Kamalanayanam
Yogibhirdhyaanagamyam Vande Vishnum
Bhavabhayaharam Sarvalokaikanaatham

OM SAI RAM ॥



3rd Section

Yama

When people die, they come under the control of Yama and Yama sends
them to different narakas. When they have atoned for their sins, they are
reborn. Maitreya wanted to know if there was any way in which men
could avoid going to Yama after death.

Parashara told him that Nakula had asked the same question of his grandfather
Bhishma. And Bhishma had told him that he used to have a brahmana friend
from Kalinga. This friend had learned words of wisdom from a jatismara sage.
The sage had told Bhishma’s friend of a conversation that had once taken
place between Yama and Yama’s servant.

Yama told his servant, “Do not touch those who are devoted to Vishnu.
I am the lord of all the others except these. I am not really independent,
I work under the supervision of Vishnu. He is also capable of punishing me.
Even the gods worship the lotus-like feet of Vishnu. Stay away from the
devotees of Vishnu.”

“How does one become a devotee of Vishnu?” asked the servant.

Yama replied, “Those who do not deviate from what is laid down from their
class, those who make no distinction between friends and enemies, those
who are thieves, those who are non-violent and those whose hearts are pure
and free of anger, these are the devotees of Vishnu. They think of Vishnu
all the time. And because they think of Vishnu all the time, they are of pleasing
appearance. When Vishnu is in one’s heart, one commits no sins. Do not go near
such people. For the strength of Vishnu’s chakra is such that your or mine
powers would immediately be destroyed.”

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!