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Offline ShAivI

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  • बाबा मुझे अपने ह्र्दय से लगा लो, अपने पास बुला लो।
THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
« Reply #30 on: October 25, 2016, 11:34:26 PM »
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  • THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA

    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 ॥

    Andhaka Again 


    Andhaka had been crowned king in Hiranyanetra’s kingdom. Prahlada and
    Andhaka’s other cousins went to him and said, You are blind. What are you going to
    do with a kingdom? Give it to us. Our uncle made a mistake in accepting a blind son
    from Shiva.

    Andhaka was very hurt at these nasty words. He went away to the forest and started
    to perform tapasya. He prayed to Brahma. For millions of years he stood on one leg,
    with his arms raised high, and prayed. No one since that day has been able to
    duplicate Andhaka’s wonderful feat of meditation. He did not eat or drink at all. He
    chopped off parts of his body and offered it to the sacrificial fire. It came to such a
    pass that there was no more meat of blood left in his body. It had all been offered to
    the fire. He was just a skeleton. It was then that Brahma appeared before him and
    offered a boon.

    Prahlada and my other cousins have taken over my kingdom, said Andhaka. Please
    grant me the boon that I may be able to see. Please also grant me the boon that I may
    not be killed by gods, demons, or humans, or even by the great Vishnu himself.
    Brahma was in a fix. Earlier, many demons had asked for similar boons, but they had
    generaly not mentioned Vishnu. So that , when the need arose, Vishnu had been able
    to kill them. But here was an asura who asking for the boon that even Vishnu would
    not be able to kill him. This would make him virtually immortal.

    Everything that you have asked for is possible, replied Brahma. But all beings have
    to die. Indicate the circumstances under which you will die and the boons will be
    granted.

    Since I have to die, said Andhaka, Let it be under the following conditions. If I ever
    wish to marry a beautiful woman who is like a mother unto me, let that be the hour
    appointed for my death.

    This condition was better than nothing at all and Brahma granted Andhaka the
    boons. Andhaka returned to his kingdom. When Prahala and the other cousins learnt
    that Andhaka had become so powerful because of the boons, they not only returned to
    him his kingdom, but theirs as well. Remember that Andhaka could now see.
    The first thing that Andhaka did was to invade heaven. He defeated Indra and the
    other gods and made they pay taxes to the demons. Next he defeated the snakes
    (nagas), the gandharvas, the rakshasas, the yakshas (companions of Kubera) and the
    humans. Thus he began to rule over all the three worlds. For millions of years
    Andhaka ruled in this fashion. The religion of the Vedas suffered during this period,
    since Andhaka paid no attention to it.

    Once Andhaka went to a visit tot he Mount Mandara. The place was so beautiful that
    he made up his mind to live there. Three of Andhaka’s generals were named
    Duryodhana, Vighasa and hasti.

    These three were exploring the environment of Mount Mandara when they came
    upon a cave. An ascetic was meditating inside the cave. He was dressed in the skin
    of a tiger, wore a garland of skulls, his hair was matted and he wore a crescent moon
    on his forehead. There was a beautiful woman near the ascetic. She was more
    beautiful than any other woman in the three worlds. The three generals concluded
    that this was the right wife for Andhaka.

    When the generals came back to Andhaka and reported on what they had seen, the
    asura king said, What are you waiting for? Go to the ascestic and ask him for the
    woman.

    Duryodhana, Vighasa and Hasti went back to the ascetic. You are only an ascetic,
    they said. You don’t deserve such a pretty wife. Our master is the lord of everything
    and he is immensely rich. He is also handsome because of a boon received from
    Brahma. Give us this woman so that our master Andhaka may marry her.

    Ask your master to come and take the woman himself, replied Shiva, for the ascetic,
    as you have already guessed, was none other than Shiva. And the beautiful woman
    was Parvati.

    As soon as he heard this, Andhaka grasped his sword and came to fight with Shiva.
    The door to the cave was guarded by Nandi, and Andhaka first had to fight with him.
    Nandi easily defeated the asura and also defeated the asura soldiers who had
    accompanied their king. But Andhaka returned and again a fight raged with Nandi for
    five hundred years. Brahma, Vishnu, Indra and the other gods also came to help in
    the fight with the demons.

    The general Vighasa was a very strong warrior. He opened his mouth wide and
    swallowed up all the gods, including Vishnu. So far, Shiva himself had not played
    any part in the fighting. But hearing what Vighasa had done, he ascended his bull and
    came out to fight. He killed Vighasa and rescued the gods from the asura’s stomach.
    The asuras had a preceptor named Shukracharya who knew the art of bringing back
    dead beings to life. So Shukracharya moved around the battlefield, brining back to
    life any demons that were killed. This was not helping the cause of the gods at all.
    Shiva’s companions (gangas) captured Shukracharya and brought him to Shiva. Shiva
    promptly swallowed up Shukracharya.

    Soon all the demons were taken care of, with the exception of Andhaka. He
    continued to fight. Vishnu’s mace could do him no harm and he only laughed at
    Indra’s arrows. Some of the arrows did pierce the asura’s body. But whenever drops
    of blood from his body onto the ground, asuras who were exactly like him in
    appearance were created from this blood. As a result, the battlefield was soon
    populated with thousands and thousands of Andhakas.

    Shiva created a goddess known as Devi from his own body. Devi was appointed the
    task of drinking up the blood of the asuras before it could spill onto the ground. Thus
    aided by Devi, Shiva started to tackle the demons and soon there was only the original
    Andhaka left. Shiva flung a trident at him. The trident struck Andhaka on the chest
    and the asura king fell down dead.

    When the war was over, Shukracharya prayed to Shiva and was released from
    Shiva’s stomach.

    to be contd......

    May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

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

    JAI SAI RAM !!!

    Offline ShAivI

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    • बाबा मुझे अपने ह्र्दय से लगा लो, अपने पास बुला लो।
    THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
    « Reply #31 on: October 25, 2016, 11:36:42 PM »
  • Publish
  • THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA

    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 ॥

    Andhaka Again 


    Andhaka had been crowned king in Hiranyanetra’s kingdom. Prahlada and
    Andhaka’s other cousins went to him and said, You are blind. What are you going to
    do with a kingdom? Give it to us. Our uncle made a mistake in accepting a blind son
    from Shiva.

    Andhaka was very hurt at these nasty words. He went away to the forest and started
    to perform tapasya. He prayed to Brahma. For millions of years he stood on one leg,
    with his arms raised high, and prayed. No one since that day has been able to
    duplicate Andhaka’s wonderful feat of meditation. He did not eat or drink at all. He
    chopped off parts of his body and offered it to the sacrificial fire. It came to such a
    pass that there was no more meat of blood left in his body. It had all been offered to
    the fire. He was just a skeleton. It was then that Brahma appeared before him and
    offered a boon.

    Prahlada and my other cousins have taken over my kingdom, said Andhaka. Please
    grant me the boon that I may be able to see. Please also grant me the boon that I may
    not be killed by gods, demons, or humans, or even by the great Vishnu himself.
    Brahma was in a fix. Earlier, many demons had asked for similar boons, but they had
    generaly not mentioned Vishnu. So that , when the need arose, Vishnu had been able
    to kill them. But here was an asura who asking for the boon that even Vishnu would
    not be able to kill him. This would make him virtually immortal.

    Everything that you have asked for is possible, replied Brahma. But all beings have
    to die. Indicate the circumstances under which you will die and the boons will be
    granted.

    Since I have to die, said Andhaka, Let it be under the following conditions. If I ever
    wish to marry a beautiful woman who is like a mother unto me, let that be the hour
    appointed for my death.

    This condition was better than nothing at all and Brahma granted Andhaka the
    boons. Andhaka returned to his kingdom. When Prahala and the other cousins learnt
    that Andhaka had become so powerful because of the boons, they not only returned to
    him his kingdom, but theirs as well. Remember that Andhaka could now see.
    The first thing that Andhaka did was to invade heaven. He defeated Indra and the
    other gods and made they pay taxes to the demons. Next he defeated the snakes
    (nagas), the gandharvas, the rakshasas, the yakshas (companions of Kubera) and the
    humans. Thus he began to rule over all the three worlds. For millions of years
    Andhaka ruled in this fashion. The religion of the Vedas suffered during this period,
    since Andhaka paid no attention to it.

    Once Andhaka went to a visit tot he Mount Mandara. The place was so beautiful that
    he made up his mind to live there. Three of Andhaka’s generals were named
    Duryodhana, Vighasa and hasti.

    These three were exploring the environment of Mount Mandara when they came
    upon a cave. An ascetic was meditating inside the cave. He was dressed in the skin
    of a tiger, wore a garland of skulls, his hair was matted and he wore a crescent moon
    on his forehead. There was a beautiful woman near the ascetic. She was more
    beautiful than any other woman in the three worlds. The three generals concluded
    that this was the right wife for Andhaka.

    When the generals came back to Andhaka and reported on what they had seen, the
    asura king said, What are you waiting for? Go to the ascestic and ask him for the
    woman.

    Duryodhana, Vighasa and Hasti went back to the ascetic. You are only an ascetic,
    they said. You don’t deserve such a pretty wife. Our master is the lord of everything
    and he is immensely rich. He is also handsome because of a boon received from
    Brahma. Give us this woman so that our master Andhaka may marry her.

    Ask your master to come and take the woman himself, replied Shiva, for the ascetic,
    as you have already guessed, was none other than Shiva. And the beautiful woman
    was Parvati.

    As soon as he heard this, Andhaka grasped his sword and came to fight with Shiva.
    The door to the cave was guarded by Nandi, and Andhaka first had to fight with him.
    Nandi easily defeated the asura and also defeated the asura soldiers who had
    accompanied their king. But Andhaka returned and again a fight raged with Nandi for
    five hundred years. Brahma, Vishnu, Indra and the other gods also came to help in
    the fight with the demons.

    The general Vighasa was a very strong warrior. He opened his mouth wide and
    swallowed up all the gods, including Vishnu. So far, Shiva himself had not played
    any part in the fighting. But hearing what Vighasa had done, he ascended his bull and
    came out to fight. He killed Vighasa and rescued the gods from the asura’s stomach.
    The asuras had a preceptor named Shukracharya who knew the art of bringing back
    dead beings to life. So Shukracharya moved around the battlefield, brining back to
    life any demons that were killed. This was not helping the cause of the gods at all.
    Shiva’s companions (gangas) captured Shukracharya and brought him to Shiva. Shiva
    promptly swallowed up Shukracharya.

    Soon all the demons were taken care of, with the exception of Andhaka. He
    continued to fight. Vishnu’s mace could do him no harm and he only laughed at
    Indra’s arrows. Some of the arrows did pierce the asura’s body. But whenever drops
    of blood from his body onto the ground, asuras who were exactly like him in
    appearance were created from this blood. As a result, the battlefield was soon
    populated with thousands and thousands of Andhakas.

    Shiva created a goddess known as Devi from his own body. Devi was appointed the
    task of drinking up the blood of the asuras before it could spill onto the ground. Thus
    aided by Devi, Shiva started to tackle the demons and soon there was only the original
    Andhaka left. Shiva flung a trident at him. The trident struck Andhaka on the chest
    and the asura king fell down dead.

    When the war was over, Shukracharya prayed to Shiva and was released from
    Shiva’s stomach.

    to be contd......

    May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

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

    JAI SAI RAM !!!

    Offline ShAivI

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    • बाबा मुझे अपने ह्र्दय से लगा लो, अपने पास बुला लो।
    THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
    « Reply #32 on: October 25, 2016, 11:40:48 PM »
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  • THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA

    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 ॥

    Ruru 


    There was another demon who wanted to marry Parvati as well. His name was Ruru.
    He happened to see Parvati and decided that this was the woman who would be his
    wife. He began to to perform tapasya so that his desire might be satisfied.
    Brahma appeared before him and asked, Ruru, why are you performing such difficult
    tapasya? Can I offer you a boon?

    That is a boon that not even I can grant you, said Brahma.

    Brahma departed and Ruru continued with his meditation. This meditation was going
    on in a mountain named Malaya. And such was the power of Ruru’s meditation that
    the mountain started to burn. The fires were so strong that even Shiva and Parvati had
    to run away from the mountain.

    Lord, why are we running away? asked Parvati. Why don’t you do something about
    the fire?

    I can’t, answered Shiva. This fire is on account of Ruru’s tapasya and he is
    performing this tapasya so as to marry you. It is up to you to do something about
    Ruru.

    Parvati decided that she would. While they were conversing, they saw a lion fighting
    with an elephant. Parvati slew the lion and skinned it. She wore the lion’s pelt as
    clothing. Her hair became smeared with the lion’s blood. Her appearance became
    terrible.

    With a thunderous roar, Parvati went to where Ruru was. Ruru, she said. I have
    come. I am Parvati. I am the one you have been praying for. Now stop meditating.
    Rubbish, replied the demon. Parvati is beautiful. Her face is like the moon, her hue
    is golden, and her arms are like lotus stems. Just look at yourself. Your looks are
    terrible. You can’t be Parvati. You are lying. Go away, I don’t want you.

    Saying this, Ruru struck Parvati with a mace. Parvati was angry at this and she hit
    Ruru with her fits. The two fought, with Ruru flinging boulders and trees at the
    goddess. Parvati used her nails and her teeth to get at the demon. Ruru created
    several other asuras from his body. In retaliation, Parvati created many goddesses
    known as shaktis from her body. The shaktis began to eat up the demons.
    Ruru fled. But Parvati pursued him to the ends of the earth. He fled to heaven.
    Parvati followed him there. He fled to the underworld, but Parvati pursued him there
    as well. Finally, Ruru could flee no more. Parvati caught hold of him and tore off his
    head with her nails. She then drank the demon’s blood. Parvati also skinned the
    demon.

    Thus it was that Ruru was killed. On her return to Shiva, Parvati gave him the lion’s
    pelt that she had so far been wearing and Shiva donned it. For her own clothing,
    Parvati put on Ruru’s skin.

    to be contd......

    May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

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

    JAI SAI RAM !!!

    Offline ShAivI

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    • बाबा मुझे अपने ह्र्दय से लगा लो, अपने पास बुला लो।
    Re: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
    « Reply #33 on: October 25, 2016, 11:42:53 PM »
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  • THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA

    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 ॥

    A False Parvati 


    Shiva had once gone on a visit to a city named Shonitapura. He was accompanied by
    many gandharvas and apsaras. Parvati was left behind in Kailasa and Shiva felt
    lonely without her.

    He called Nandi and said, Go to Kailasa and ask Parvati to come here.
    Nandi went to kailasa and told Parvati that Shiva wanted her. Parvati said that this
    would take a little time, since she wanted to get ready first. Nadi went back and
    reported to Shiva what Parvati had said. Shiva waited for a little while, but Parvati
    did not come. He therefore sent Nandi again to Kailasa with the injuction that he
    should not come back without Parvati.

    The apasaras meanwhile decided that they would play a trick on Shiva. One of them
    would disguise herself and pretend to be Parvati. An apsara named Chitralekha
    agreed to do this. Another apsara named Urvashi diguised herself as Nandi. Other
    apsara disguised themselves as companions of Parvati. So good were their disguises
    that it was impossible to detect them as being false.

    The false Nandi then brought the false Parvati to Shiva and said, Parvati has come.
    Her companions, the other goddesses, have also come.

    Shiva was delighted. He was not able to detect that this was a false Parvati. While
    they were having great fun, the real Parvati, the real Nandi and the real goddesses
    turned up and there was utter confusion. No one could tell the real ones from the false
    ones. Finally the mess was sorted out when the apsaras adopted their real forms.
    Neither Shiva nor Parvati were angry at this practical joke.

    to be contd......

    May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

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

    JAI SAI RAM !!!

    Offline ShAivI

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    • बाबा मुझे अपने ह्र्दय से लगा लो, अपने पास बुला लो।
    THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
    « Reply #34 on: November 02, 2016, 10:16:21 PM »
  • Publish
  • THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA

    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 ॥

    Another False Parvati 


    This is an incident from the time when Parvati went away to do tapasya so as to
    become fair. Before going away to meditate, she called Nandi to her and said, My
    husband does not know the difference between real Parvatis and false ones. Keep
    careful guard at the gate and do not let any false Parvatis enter.

    There was an asura named Adi. He performed tapasya and wanted a boon from
    Brahma which would make him immortal. Brahma refused to grant him this, but
    granted him the boon that Adi would be very strong. Happy with this boon, Adi
    wandered around the Himalayas and discovered Nadi standing guard at the gate to
    Shiva’s palace.

    What are you doing here? the asura asked Nandi.

    Nandi reported the conversation that had taken place with Parvati.

    The demon went away. But he soon returned, this time disguised as Parvati. Lest
    Nandi not let him pass, he slimed through the gate disguised as a snake. And once
    inside the palace, he resumed his form of Parvati. He then went to meet Shiva. Shiva
    did not realize that this was a false Parvati and he came forward to embrace Adi. But
    no sooner had Shiva embraced him, than the asura adopted his own form and tried to
    kill Shiva. The two fought and Shiva killed Adi. But before dying, the asura played
    another trick.

    He told Shiva, I have a brother who is stronger than me. He will return here in the
    form of Parvati and will kill you. This was a blatant lie. Adi had no brother.
    The real Parvati returned after finishing her tapasya. But Shiva thought that this was
    demon disguised as Parvati. He created many beings from his body so as to kill
    Parvati. But Parvati also created many beings from her own body and these
    swallowed up Shiva’s beings. When this had gone on thousands of times. Shiva
    realized that this must be the real Paravati.

    Shiva and Parvati were united.

    There were not more false Parvatis.

    Yama’s Story

    The sage Sanathkumara was Brahma’s son, Sanathumara had gone to visit Yama, the
    god of death. While they were conversing, a shining vimana brought a man to Yama
    who immediately stood up to honour the guest.

    Yama worshipped him and said, I am honoured. I hope you had no problems on the
    way. The vimana will take you to Brahma’s residence in Brahmaloka.
    After this guest had left, another shining vimana brought another guest who was also
    worshipped in similar fashion by Yama.

    Sanatkumara was mystified at this. He asked Yama, Who are these two people? I
    have never heard of Yama worshipping anyone in such glowing terms. These two
    must be holy men indeed. They must have accumulated a lot of punya. Who are
    they? Tell me their stories.

    Yama obliged.

    There was a city named Vaidisha. The king who ruled there was named Dharapal.
    Nandi was cursed by Parvati that he would have to spend twelve years on earth as a
    jackal. His crime was that, when Parvati had gone to perform tapasya, Nandi had
    permitted a false Parvati to enter Shiva’s palace. Nandi was born as a jackal. The
    jackal went to the confluence of the rivers Vitasta and Vetravati. There it set up a
    linga and prayed before it, going without food and water. After the twelve years
    passed, the jackal died and adopted a shining form. In this form, Nandi returned to
    Shivaloka.

    King Dharapala had seen the jackal fasting and praying. He also witnessed its
    strange death. The king’s wonder knew no bounds. He erected a temple in that
    wonderful place. He brought several brahmanas to the temple and made them recite
    the Puranas there. When Dharapala died, it was decided that he would go to
    Brahmaloka because of all this punya. This was the first guest who had come before
    Yama. Such are the wonderful virtues of worshipping Shiva and the Puranas.
    What about the second guest? asked Sanatkumara.

    The second quest used to be evil. He had never donated anything in his life. But he
    once heard the Paranas being recited and was completely converted. He arranged
    many recitals of the Puranas on his own and donated gold to the reciters.

    This punya was going to take him to Brahmaloka. Such are the wonderful virtues of
    hearing and reading the Puranas. Doing this is tantamount to worshipping Brahma,
    Vishnu and Shiva.

    to be contd......

    May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

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

    JAI SAI RAM !!!

    Offline ShAivI

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    • बाबा मुझे अपने ह्र्दय से लगा लो, अपने पास बुला लो।
    THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
    « Reply #35 on: November 03, 2016, 10:28:10 PM »
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  • THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA

    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 ॥

    Shatanika and Shasranika 


    In the region named Jambudvipa, there used to rule a king named Shatanika. He was
    the best among warriors. But he was also very religious. He donated alms and treated
    his guests well. Every day, the brahmanas received gold and clothes from Shatanika.
    When Shatanika died, his son Sahasranika became king.

    Sahasranika also ruled well and righteously. But he did not donate as much of alms
    to the brahmanas as his father used to. They took their complaint to the king and said,
    You do not give as much of alms to us as your father used to. Many brahmanas have
    already left your kingdom. So will the others, unless you increase the alms you give
    us.

    I have indeed heard that the donation of alms to brahmanas brings punya, replied
    Sahasranika. I have also heard that all this punya takes one to heaven after death,
    until the time one has to be born again. Since my father accumulated all this punya by
    donating alms to brahmanas, he must be in heaven. You are all learned brahmanas.
    Why don’t you tell me where my father is right now?

    The brahmanas could not reply. They had no idea where Shatanika was. But later
    on, they met a learned sage named Bhargava. Bhargava was so powerful that the
    brahmanas were sure that he would be able to tell where Shatinika was. They begged
    Bhargava to help them. Bharagava was not very interested in helping the brahmanas.
    He was busy meditating and had no desire to waste his time on idle pursuits like
    finding out where dead people now were. But the brahmanas kept begging him and
    Bhargava eventually agreed.

    The sun god himself led the way and, following the sun god, Bhargava went all the
    way to Yama’s abode. It was a long distance away.

    The sun god led Bhargava straight to where the twenty-eight crores of narakas (hells)
    were. The wailings of sinners who were being tortured could be heard. Before they
    could go any further, their way was barred by a brahmana.

    Bhargava, said the brahmana, You owe me a coin for services rendered. You have
    not paid this and I am dead. Pay me the coin and only then can you proceed further.
    I am not carrying any coins on me, replied Bhargava. When I return home, I will
    collect a coin and bring it back to you. Now let me move forward.
    Nonsense, said the brahmana. This is hell. Here payments are strictly on a cash
    basis. There is no question of paying up later. Pay or you shall not proceed. If you
    do not have any coins, why then , pay me one-sixth of all the punya that you have
    earned through your meditations.

    Bhargava paid what was asked for and edged forward. He was successively stopped
    by a cowherd, a washerman, a tailor, a priest and a builder. To each of them
    Bhargava owed some money and they would not let him go until the debts were
    cleared. In each case, Bhargava parted with one-sixth of his punya so that he was left
    with none at all.

    When these accounts were settled, the sun god led Bhargava to the hell where
    Shatanika was. Bhargava was bewildered to find such a righteous king as Shatanika
    in a hell. The king was hung upside down in a pot and was being boiled in oil.
    Bhargava asked Shatanika, What is all this? Why are you in hell? You had
    accumulated a lot of punya through your righteous deeds.

    Not really, replied the king. I did donate a lot of alms, especially to brahmanas. But
    all the money for the alms came from taxing my subjects severely. So it brought no
    punya at all. Go and tell my son that punya is best acquired by associating with
    righteous people. And most important of all, tell him to pray to Shiva in the month of
    Chaitra and on chaturdashi tithi (fourteenth day of the lunar fortnight).

    When Bhargava returned, he related what he had been told to Sahasranika.
    Sahasranika did not stop donating alms. But the money for such alms no longer came
    out of the royal treasury. The king worked as a labourer and used this money for the
    donation of alms. He also observed the vrata that his father had asked him to observe
    in honour of Shiva.

    to be contd......

    May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

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


    JAI SAI RAM !!!

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    THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
    « Reply #36 on: November 04, 2016, 11:28:23 PM »
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    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 ॥

    Parashurama 


    There was a king named Gadhi. His daughter was name Satyavati. Satyavati was
    married to the sage Richika.

    Richika arranged for a spectacular sacrifice. Some rice pudding was obtained from
    the yajna and Richika gave it to his wife Satyavati. He said, Split this rice pudding
    into two halves. Eat half yourself and give the remaining half to your mother. Here,
    let me divide it. This is your half and that is your mother’s. We are brahmanas. So
    we will have a son who will display the traits of a brahmana. Your father is a
    kshatriya and your mother will have a son who will behave like a kshatriya.
    Saying this, Richika went off to meditate in the forest. But mother and daughter
    managed to mix up their halves. In the course of his meditations, Richika realized
    that Satyavati was going to give birth to a brahmana son who would display kshatriya
    traits. Through his powers, he managed to postpone this birth by a generation. So
    Satyavati gave birth to Jamadagni. It was Jamadagni’s son Parashurama who
    exhibited all the kshatriya like characteristics.

    Gadhi’s son was Vishvamitra. Vishvamitra was born a kshatriya. But because of the
    mixing up of the rice pudding, Vishvamitra turned out to be brahmana-like.
    There was a king of the Haihaya dynasty named Arjuna. He had a thousand arms.
    He had also obtained the boon that flaming fire itself would be perpetually present on
    the tip of his arrow. Whenever he shot an arrow, the fire from the tip of the arrow
    burnt up the target. In this fashion, Arjuna used to burn up villages, cities and forests.
    He once burnt up the hermitages of sages. And one of the sages cursed Arjuna that he
    would killed by Parashurama.

    Parashurama learnt the art of fighting from Shiva himself. While Parashurama was
    away learning how to fight, Arjuna arrived in Jamadagni’s hermitage. Jamadagni had
    a wonderful cow (dhenu), known as a kamadhenu because it produced whatever
    objects one asked (Kama) from it. Using this kamadhenu, Jamadagni treated Arjuna
    and his entrie retinue to a royal feast.

    Arjuna asked Jamadangi to give him this cow, but the sage refused. Arjuna then
    asked his soldiers to forcibly take away the cow. But just as this was going on,
    Parashurama arrived. He killed Arjuna, slicing off Arjuna’s thousand arms in the
    process.

    Having disposed of Arjuna, Parashurama went off to meditate and pay another visit
    to Shiva.

    Taking advantage of Parashurama’s absence, Arjuna’s sons invaded Jamadagni’s
    hermitage. They killed Jamadagni. When Parashurama returned, he exacted
    vengeance for this evil deed. He killed Arjuna’s sons. Since Arjuna and his sons
    happened to be kshatriyas, Parashurama also killed all the kshatriyas in the world. He
    did this not once, but twenty-one times over. Why twenty-one times? The reason was
    that there were twenty-one weapon-marks on the dead Jamadagni’s body.

    But killing was a crime and Parashurama had committed a sin. As penance,
    Parashurama donated cows and performed a lot of tapasya. He also arranged an
    ashvamedha yajna. All this did not prove to be atonement enough. To complete the
    penance, Parashurama sought the advice of the sage Kashyapa.

    Kashyapa told him to perform the donation that is known as tulapurusha. A tula (or
    tuladanda) is a pair of scales. The person (purusha) who is performing the donation is
    placed on one side of the weighing scale. On the other side are placed objects like
    honey , clarified butter, molasses, clothing and gold. The weight of the objects being
    donated has to be equal to the weight of the person performing the donation. This is
    known as tulapurusha. Parashurama performed tulapurusha and was freed from his
    sin.

    to be contd......

    May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

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


    JAI SAI RAM !!!

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    THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
    « Reply #37 on: November 06, 2016, 02:27:58 AM »
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    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 ॥

    Hells 


    There are several hells. Each hell is earmarked for a specific type of sinner.
    A killer of brahmanas, a false witness, a liar and a drinker of wine is sent to the hell
    named rourava. Shukara is for thieves and killers of cattle. Killers of kshatriyas and
    vaishyas are also sent there. Those who commit infanticide are sent to taptalouha. A
    person who insults his teacher or criticizes the Vedas goes to taptakhala. Those who
    insult gods, brahmanas or kings are sent to krimibhaksha. Lalabhaksha is reserved for
    those who eat without offering food to the gods. A brahmana who eats what he
    should not goes to vishasana.

    Sellers of wine are to be found in rudhirandha and killers of bees in vaitarani. Cheats
    are sent to krishna and destroyers of trees to asipatravana. A hunter of deer goes to
    vahnijvala, Agnimaya is for arsonists and sandamsha for those who fail to complete a
    vrata. If you accept your son as a teacher, you are sure to go to shvabhojana.
    The punishment is strictly in proportion to the crime committed. But penance
    diminishes the severity of the sin. The best form of penance is prayer to Shiva. Even
    if one merely remembers Shiva, that is enough.

    to be contd......

    May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

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


    JAI SAI RAM !!!

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    Re: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
    « Reply #38 on: November 07, 2016, 12:02:42 AM »
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    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 ॥

    Geography 


    The earth is divided into seven regions (dvipas), The names of these regions are
    Jambudvipa, Plakshadvipa, Shalmalidvipa, Kushadvipa, Krounchadvipa,
    Pushkaradvipa and Shakadvipa. These seven regions are surrounded by seven seas.
    The names of the seas are Lavana, Ikshu, Sarpi, Dadhi, Dugdha, Jala, and Rasa.
    Mount Sumeru is right in the middle of Jambudvipa. To the north of Sumeru are the
    mountains Nila and Shvetabhangi and to the south of Sumeru are the mountains
    Himavana. Hemakuta and Nishada. These mountains are full of all sorts of jewels.
    Jambudvipa is divided into many parts (varshas). Right in the centre, where Mount
    Sumeru is located, is Ilavritavarsha. To the south of Sumeru are Bharatavarsha,
    Kimpurushavarsha and Harivarsha. To the north of Sumeru is Ramyakavarasha.
    Next to this is Hiranmayavarsha and further north is Uttarakuruvarsha.

    The four major mountains in Ilavritavarsha are Mandara, Gandhamadana, Vipula and
    Suparshva. They are respectively to the east, south, west, and north of Sumeru.
    Bhadrashvavarsha is to the east of Sumeru and Ketumalavarsha is to the west. On the
    top of Mount Sumeru is Brahma’s famous city. The holy river Ganga flows through
    the sky and divides into four. The names of these tributaries are Sita, Alakanada,
    Chakshu and Bhadra. Sita flows to the east of Sumeru, Nanda or Alakananda to the
    south. Chakshu to the west and Bhadra to the north.

    Bharatavarsha is bounded by mountain ranges on the north and the sea on the south.
    Bharatavarsha is divided into nine parts. The names of eight of these parts are
    Indradyumna, Kaseru, Tamraparna, Soumy, Gabhastimana, Nagadvipa, Gandharva
    and Varuna. The ninth part is an island surrounded by the ocean. On the eastern side
    of Bharatavarsha live the kiratas, on the western the yavanas, on the southern the
    andhras and ont he northern the turaskas.

    The seven major mountains in Bharatavarasha are named Mahendra, Malaya, Sahya,
    Shuktimana, Riksha, Vindhya and Pariyatra From each of these mountains several
    rivers flow.

    Bharatavarsha is a sacred place. Only those who have accumulated punya over a
    thousand human lives get to be born in Bharatavarsha. Shiva is always present here to
    offer salvation to the residents.

    to be contd......

    May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

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

    JAI SAI RAM !!!

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    THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
    « Reply #39 on: November 07, 2016, 10:28:59 PM »
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    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 ॥

    Astronomy 


    How far do the boundaries of bhuloka (earth) extend? These boundaries extend to
    the furthest points that can be lit up by the rays of the sun and the moon. Above the
    region of the sun is that of the moon. This is successively followed by the regions of
    Budha (Mercy), Shukra (Venus), Mangala (Mars), Brihaspati (Jupiter), Shani (Saturn)
    and the nakshatras (stars). Next comes saptarshiloka, the circle of the seven great
    sages (the constellation Ursa majoris), These regions beyond the earth are known as
    bhuvarloka. Beyond it is svarloka or svarga (heaven). Bhuloka, bhuvarloka and
    svarloka are destroyed in the destruction that comes at the end of a kalpa.
    Regions which are further beyond are not destroyed at the end of a kalpa. The first of
    these regions is dhruvaloka, the circle of the Pole Star. Next come maharloka,
    janaloka, tapaloka and satyaloka. Including the earth, there are thus seven regions
    (lokas) that have been mentioned.

    Under the earth is the underworld (patala). This is also divided into seven regions.
    Their names are patala, sutala, vitala, nitala, mahatala, agryasutala and rasatala.
    Manvantaras

    Each manvantara is ruled over by a Manu and there are fourteen manvantaras in any
    kalpa. The gods (devas), the seven great sages (saptarshis), and the Indra, change
    from one manvantara to another.

    The first Manu was Svayambhuva. The names of the gods then were yama and the
    names of the seven sages were Marichi, Atri, Angira, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu and
    Vashishtha.
    The second Manu was Svarochisha. The names of the gods then were tushita and the
    names of the seven sages were Agnidhra, Agnivaha, Medha, Medhatithi, Vasu,
    Jyotisvana and Dyutimana.

    The third Manu was Outtama. The names of the gods then were rishabha and the
    names of the seven sages were the urjjas. (The individual names of the sages are not
    given).

    The fourth Manu was Tamasa. The names of the gods then were satya and the names
    of the seven sages were Gargya, Prithu, Agni, Janya, Dhata, Kapinka and Kapivana.
    The fifth manu was Raivata. The names of the gods then were raibhya and the names
    of the seven sages were Vedavahu, Jaya, Muni, Vedashira, Hiranyaroma, Parjanya
    and Urddhavahu.

    The sixth Manu was Chakshusha. There were five types of gods in the sixth
    manvantara and their names were adya, prasuta, ribhu, prithugra and lekha. The
    names of the seven sages were Bhrigu, Naha, Vivasvana, Sudharma, Viraja, Atinama,
    and Asashishnu.

    The seventh manvantara is the manvanatara that is now going on. The seventh Manu
    is Vaivasvata. The names of the seven sages are Atri, Vashishtha, Bhavya, Kashyapa,
    Goutama, Bharadvaja and Vishvamitra.

    The remaining seven manvantaras will come in the future.

    The eight Manu will be Savarni. The Shiva Purana gets extemely confused here and
    it is not possible to make out clearly who the gods will be in the future manvantaras.
    But the names of the seven sages of the eighth manvantara are Viravana, Avanivana,
    Sumantra, Dhritimana, Vasu, Varishnu and Arya.

    The nine Manu will be Rohita. The names of the seven sages will be Medhatithi,
    Vasu, Bhargava, Angira, Savana, Havya and Poulaha.

    The tenth Manu will be Merusavarni. The names of the gods then will be
    dvishimanta and the names of the seven sages will be Havishmana. Pulaha, Sukriti,
    Ayomukti, Vashishtha, Prayati and Nabhara.

    The eleventh Manu will be Brahmasavarni. The names of the seven sages will be
    Havishmana, Kashyapa, Vapushmana, Varuna, Atreya, Anagha and Angira.
    The twelfth Manu will be Dharmasvarni. The names of the sages will be Dyuti,
    Atreye, Angira, Tapasvai, Kashyapa, Taposhana and Taporati.

    The thirteenth Manu will be Rouchya. The names of the seven sages will be
    Kashyapa, Magadha, Ativahya, Angirasa, Atreya, Vashishtha and Ajita.
    The fourteenth and last Manu will be Bhoutya. The names of the seven sages are not
    mentioned.

    What about the gods of the seventh manvantara, the era that is now current? The
    gods now are forty-nine vayus, eleven rudras, two ashvinis, twelve adityas and eight
    vasus.

    to be contd......

    May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

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

    JAI SAI RAM !!!

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    THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
    « Reply #40 on: November 09, 2016, 12:10:36 PM »
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    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 ॥

    Vaivasvata Manu 


    The sages wished to know from Romaharshana the details of Vaivasvata Manu’s
    birth.

    The sage Kashyapa’s son was Vivasvana or the sun. The sun was married to
    Tvashta’s (same as Vishvakarma) daughter Samjna. Vivasvana and Samjana had
    three children, Vaivasvata, Yama and Yamuna.

    Samjna could not however stand the strong energy of her husband, the sun. From her
    own body she created Chhaya, a woman who looked just like her. Samjna and
    Chhaya could not be distinguished from each other.

    Samjna told Chhaya, Stay here and retend to be Samjna. Look after my three
    children, Vaivasvata, Yama and Yamuna. I am going off to my father’s house. Don’t
    tell anyone that you are not Samjna.

    I will do your bidding, replied Chhaya, But the moment someone grasps me by the
    hair, I will dvulge the truth.

    Samjna went to Tvashta’s house. When she had spent quite some time there, her
    father got suspicious and wanted to know why she was not returning to her husband.
    Samjna therefore adopted the form of a mare and began to live in the kingdom that is
    known as Uttarakuru.

    Meanwhile, the sun and Chhaya had a son named Savarni. It was clear that Chhaya
    doted on Savarni. In comparison, Yama felt neglected. Yama was still very young
    and in a fit of rage, he kicked Chhaya. Chhaya cursed Yama. Yama was very
    surprised at this, since no mother curses her own son. He went and reported it to the
    sun. The sun deduced that Chhaya could not be Yama’s mother. He grasped Chhaya
    by the hair and the truth came out.

    The sun then went to Tvashta in search of Samjna. It was discovered that Samjna had
    done all this because she could not bear the energy of her husband. Tvashta chiselled
    off some of the sun’s energy so that his radiance become muted.

    Learning that Samjna had adopted the form of a mare, the sun adopted the form of a
    horse. He went and met his wife. As horse and mare, they had two children. These
    were the twin gods known as the Ashvinis. They were also called Nasatya and Dasra.
    Vaivasvata Manu performed a yajna so as to have a son. From the sacrifice, a
    daughter Ila was born. Chandra’s son Budha married Iia and they had a son named
    Pururava. This was the origin of the lunar dynasty which started with Pururva.

    Later on, Vaivasvata Manu had nine sons. Their names were Ikshvaku, Shivi,
    Nabhaga, Dhrishnu, Sharyati, Narishyanta, Isha, Karusha and Priyavrata. These sons
    were the originators of the solar dynasty.


    Epilogue

    The assembled sages were gratified at Romaharshana having recited for them the
    Shiva Purana. They worshipped Romaharshana. But, warned Romaharshana, never
    divulge what I have told you, to those who are disrespectful or to those who do not
    believe in god.

    Repeatly, Shiva himself appears in order to bless his devotees. A person
    who donates the Shiva Purana, along with gold and a bull, gets to live for ever in
    Shivaloka.

    So with this ends the  final section of the Shiva Maha Purana

    May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

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

    JAI SAI RAM !!!

     


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