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Prayers Section => Sai Baba Prayers and Naam Jaap => Group Parayana => Topic started by: ShAivI on September 29, 2016, 01:32:50 PM

Title: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on September 29, 2016, 01:32:50 PM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

OM SAI RAM ॥

Romaharshana and The Other Sages

There were many sages who lived in a forest named naimisharanya. 
One day, these sages accosted Romaharshana and said, Romaharshana,
you are blessed.  You have taught us a lot, but we are still not satisfied. 
You have had the fortune of studying under Vedavyasa and there is
nothing that you do not know, past, present or future.  Tell us about Shiva,
we do not know very much about Shiva. 

Romaharshana replied, I will relate to you that which you want to know. 
And I am not going to make anything up.  Many years ago, the sage
Narada had wanted to find out about Shiva from his father, Brahma. 
Whatever Brahma had instructed his son.  I am going to relate to you.

Brahma

At the beginning of creation, there was nothing in the universe. 
The universe was not there either.  It was only the brahman
(divine essence) which was everywhere.  The brahman was neither
hot nor cold, neither thick or thin.  It had no beginning and no end. 

There was water everywhere.  Lord Vishnu manifested himself in his
great form and slept on the water.  While Vishnu was sleeping, a lotus
flower (padma) sprouted from his navel.  It had many petals and its
stem shone like a thousand suns.  From the cells of the lotus Brahma
was born.  He began to wonder, There seems to be nothing around
except for this lotus.  Who am I?  Where did I come from?  What am
I supposed to do?  Whose son am I ? Who made me? 

Brahma thought he might find the answers to these questions
if he explored the lotus a bit.  Perhaps he ought to try and find
the centre of the lotus. 

Brahma descended down the stem of the lotus and wandered around
for a hundred years.  But he could not find the flower’s centre. 
He then decided that he might as well go back to the cell from where
he had been born.    But despite wandering around the stem for
another hundred years, Brahma could not find the cell.  By then
he was so tired that he gave up and rested. 

Suddenly he heard the words, Brahma, perform tapasya (meditation). 
Brahma meditated for twelve years.  When the twelve years were over,
the fourarmed Vishnu appeared before Brahma.  In the four hands
Vishnu held a shankha (conch shell), a chakra (a bladed discus),
a gada (mace) and a padma. 

Brahma didn’t know who this person was and he asked, Who are you? 

Vishnu didn’t directly answer the question.  Instead,
he replied, Son, the great Lord Vishnu has created you. 

Who are you to call me a son? demanded Brahma. 

Can’t you recognize me? came the reply. 

I am Vishnu.  It is from my body that you have been created. 

But Brahma was not convinced.  He began to fight with Vishnu.

to be contd......

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!
Title: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on September 30, 2016, 11:35:12 PM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

OM SAI RAM ॥

The Linga 

While they were thus engaged in fighting, a shining linga
(Shiva’s image) arrived on the scene.  It seemed to have
no beginning or end. 

Vishnu said, Brahma, let us stop fighting.  There is a third
being here now.  What on earth is this linga? 

And where did it come from?  Let us try and find out what this is. 
You adopt the form of a swan (hamsa) and go up.  I shall adopt
the form of boar (varaha) and go down.  Let us try and find the
extremities of this linga. 

Brahma agreed.  He became a whilte swan and flew up. 
Vishnu became a white boar and went down.  They looked for
four thousand years, but could not find the end of the linga. 
So they returned to where they had started off from and
began to pray. 

They prayed for a hundred years.  After the hundred years were
over, the sound of om was heard and a being with five faces and
ten arms appeared before them.  This was Mahadeva or Shiva. 

Vishnu said, It is good that Brahma and I have been fighting. 
It is because of our fight that you arrived. 

Shiva replied, We are all three parts of the same entity and have
been divided into three.  Brahma is the creator.  Vishnu is the
preserver and I am the destroyer.  There is another being named
Rudra who will be born form my body, but Rudra and I are really
one and the same.  Let Brahma create now. 

Shiva disappeared and Brahma and Vishnu gave up their forms
of a swan and a boar.

Creation 

There was water everywhere.  In the water, Vishnu created
a huge egg (anda).  He then himself entered the egg in his
huge form. 

Meanwhile, Brahma started to pray.  From the powers of his
meditation he created several sages (rishis).  Kardama, Daksha
and Marichi were among them.  Marichi’s son was Kashyapa. 
Daksha had sixty daughters and thirteen of them were married to
Kashyapa.  The children of Kashyapa and these daughters became
adityas (gods), daityas (demons), danavas (demons), trees, birds,
snakes, mountains and creepers.  Thus was the world populated. 

A being named Rudra, who was none other than Shiva himself,
was also born from Brahma.  Rudra lived on Mount Kailasa.  Daksha’s
daughter Sati.

Sati and Shiva

According to Hindu view of life, Shiva, the principle male power,
unites with his female counterpart in order to acquire the ability
to create and destroy. The story of Sati and Shiva, described
in the Purana, presents in simple language, the truth and beauty
of such a lofty vedic concept. In the days of ancient mythology,
Brahma, the Prajapati, mentally created ten sons (manasa putra)
to carry out his task of creation and destruction. Both Shiva and
Daksha were the outcome of such a creation but Shiva had superior
powers. Daksha, however, never liked the supremacy of Shiva.
So, he took Shiva as his rival.

One of the daughters of Daksha, named Sati, was a great devotee
of Shiva. She was beautiful and virtuous. Most of the time Sati
immersed in the thoughts of Shiva and dreamed of being his wife.

Sati, through her sincere and devotional prayers, acquired the
blessings of all gods and goddesses. Shiva finally yielded and
appeared before Sati. She paid her reverence and kneeling
down to Shiva chanted in praise of him.

Shiva asked her to choose a boon. Shiva knew what she would
ask but wanted her to speak for herself.

Sati was hesitant, "How can I say that I want nothing else
but Him!"

After a while Sati gathered her courage and started to say,
"Lord will you ----"

Shiva did not let Sati complete her question, and he blessed
her, "Be my consort Sati."

Soon Sati was married to Shiva amidst numerous gods and
goddesses.

After the wedding, Shiva took Sati to Kailas where they spent
many a happy days.

Then one day, Shiva requested Sati to accompany him to Prayag,
today's Allahabad, to attend a fire- worship ceremony or Yagna.

When Shiva entered the Yagna hall, every one stood up to
pay respect.

After some time Daksha entered the Yagna hall. Everyone stood
up to pay respect except Shiva. Daksha felt insulted.

"How dare my son-in-law, Shiva, did not stand up! This is a deliberate
 insult to me," Daksha said to himself.

Shiva, on the other hand, thought to himself, "Being a superior power,
 it will not be nice if I stand up, and harm may befall on Daksha."
Shiva did not mean to insult Daksha.

Taking this instance as an exception, Daksha promised to insult
Shiva in public. He hurriedly returned home and declared that
he will hold a grand sacrificial ceremony. He invited all gods
and goddesses, but deliberately excluded Shiva.

When Sati, Shiva's beautiful wife and Daksha's daughter, noticed
a large procession of gods and goddesses passing by, she curiously
asked Shiva, "Where are they going?"

Shiva replied, "To the grand sacrificial ceremony to be held by
Daksha, your father."

Sati was amazed.

"Then why have you not been invited?" she demanded angrily.
"You should have been the first to be asked."

Shiva smiled gently at his wife's loyalty and fervor.

"Daksha has always been hostile to me," Shiva tried to explain.

But Sati's disbelief increased, "Does my father not realize that
you are the supreme power and no one can equal you?"

"You are a good and true wife Sati," Shiva replied gently, "but
Daksha thinks differently, he takes me as his rival."

"Invited or not," Sati said furiously, "I think we should go.
It is after all my own father's house and I atleast need
no invitation."

"Then go with my blessings Sati," replied Shiva. "but do not
forget that Daksha will shower insults upon me. You must be
 strong enough to bear it silently and not allow your rage to show
in your father's presence. If you are unable to tolerate his insults,
I fear you may come to harm."

Taking Nandi, the gentle white bull who was Shiva's companion
and mount, Sati arrived at her father's grand sacrificial ceremony.

Daksha reluctantly received her and publicly condemned Shiva -
calling him the demon of death and an impious haunter of
cremation grounds.

"What place has the goblin lord of witches and foul spirits in a
sacred ceremony such as mine?" Daksha boomed.

Sati was hurt by his insults to her husband and begged her father
to stop, but Daksha could not contain himself.

"It is disgraceful for a so-called god to wear filthy rags, cover himself
with snakes and dance like a madman at ceremonies ---" continued
Daksha on and on until Sati could not stand any longer. She remembered
her husband's caution, "Do not allow your rage to get over you."

Sati painfully said, "I am ashamed to be known as your daughter.
As I have promised my husband not to take any revenge, much less
upon you, I merely denounce you before this assembly. I shall consume
myself in a fire and return to mother Earth until I am born again to a
 father whom I can respect."

Daksha ignored the disappearance of Sati and ordered to continue
with the sacrifice.

When news reached Shiva, through Nandi, that his beloved wife was
dead, he let out a mighty roar that shook Heaven and Earth. He soon
created a powerful demon, named Virabhadra, from his matted hair.
Shiva also created a huge army of demons to accompany Virabhadra.
They descended like a hurricane on Daksha's feast, destroying the
sacrificial offering and killing all those who dared defend Daksha.
Finally every one walked over to Shiva's side to seek refuge with
him.

Shiva was about to destroy the universe, when Brahma came with
other gods to calm him down. Shiva was still quivering and shook with
wrath and grief at the loss of Sati. All the gods soothed the furious Shiva
and pleaded with him to forgive Daksha and allow him to complete the
sacrificial ceremony, which he had started, otherwise he would go to
hell.

Relenting, Shiva brought back to life all the people who had been killed
in the battle and cured all those who had been injured. Finally he looked
up, suppressing the power of his destructive third eye, and stated,
"I will return Daksha to life, but he must bear the mark of his foolishness
forever."

The gods agreed to Shiva's condition and Daksha was revived. The mark
of his foolishness was clear for all to see for instead of his own head,
he wore the head of a goat. Daksha fell at Shiva's feet weeping with
gratitude, and finally acknowledged Shiva's supremacy.

With a mighty effort Shiva contained his grief for the loss of Sati,
and he fell into profound meditation, waiting for the time when she
would be reincarnated as Parvati and be his wife once again.

to be contd......

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!
Title: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 01, 2016, 01:04:22 PM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

OM SAI RAM ॥

Tarakasura  

 Taraka wished to defeat the gods. He therefore went to
a place named Madhuvana and began to perform very difficult
tapasya.  He gazed at the sun and stood there with his arms
raised.  He stood on one leg and that too, only on the toes of
his feet. 

A hundred years passed.  For those hundred years,
Taraka drank only water and had no food to eat. 
For the next hundreds, he gave up that also and lived
only on air.  A hundred years were spent in performing
tapasya inside water, another hundred years on earth
and a hundred years more inside fire. 

For a hundred years he performed tapasya upside down,
standing on his hands.  And for yet another hundred years,
he hung upside down from the branches of a tree. 

The meditation was so difficult that Brahma was pleased. 

He appeared before Tarakasura and said, I am pleased
with your tapasya.  What boon do you want? 

If you are pleased, replied Tarakasura, grant me two boons. 

The first boon should be that no one created by you should
be as strong as me.  The second boon should be that
I should be killed only by Shiva’s son. 

Shiva at that point of time had no sons.  Sati had died
and although she had been reborn as Parvati, she had not
been married to Shiva.

Brahma granted Tarakasura the two boons. 

The demon went to a city named Shonitapura and began
to live there.  All the other demons made Tarakasura their
king. 

Thanks to the boon.  Tarakasura was so strong that he easily
defeated the gods.  He conquered the three worlds and
drove the gods out of heaven.  He stole all their belongings
and employed the gods as his servants. 

The despondent gods went to Brahma and asked him to find
a solution to the Tarakasura problem. 

I can’t, said Brahma.  It is because of my boon that the
demon has become so powerful. 

Besides, my boon says that Tarakasura can only be killed by
Shiva’s son.  Shiva has got to have a son. 

He is now performing tapasya in the Himalaya mountains. 
Parvati is also in that region.  Do something so that these
two fall in love with each other and marry. 

The Burning of the God of Love 

The gods decided to follow Brahma’s advice. 

But how could it be ensured that Shiva and Parvati fell
in love with each other? 

The king of the gods was Indra and the god of love was
Kandarpa or Madana. 

Indra summoned Kandarpa.  You have to help us, said Indra. 

There is no other way out.  Shiva is performing tapasya
in the Himalayas.  Parvati is also in the region.  Make sure
that the two fall in love.  That is your job. 

Kandarpa went to the place where Shiva was meditating. 
And as soon as the god of love appeared, the place took
on the traits of a spring which was pernnial.  Flowers bloomed
and bees buzzed among the flowes.  Cuckoos sang and
fragant breezes started to waft throught the forest. 

Shiva tried to concentrate on his meditation.  But
he kept getting distracted.  While all this was going on,
who should arrive there but Parvati? 

She was so beautiful that Shiva was smitten with love
for her.  Parvati also seemed to like Shiva.  But life is
never simple. 

Shiva was, after all, Shiva.  He realized that something
was wrong.  How could his meditation have been disturbed? 

How was it that the season seemed to be spring although
it had no business to be spring? 

When Shiva glanced around, his eyes fell on Kandarpa
who was hiding. 

He realized that it was Kandarpa who was responsible for
all this mischief.  Shiva was angered.  He had a third eye
in the middle of his forehead.  From this third eye flames
sprouted and these flames burnt Kandarpa to ashes. 

Kandarpa’s wife was Rati.  When Rati saw that her husband
had been burnt to ashes, her grief knew no bounds.  At first
she lost consciousness.  When she recovered, she lamented,
Woe is me.  What is going to happen to me?  My husband,
my love, where have you gone?  The gods and Rati sought
out Shiva. 

They explained that it had been no fault of Kandarpa’s. 
He had been asked to disturb Shiva’s tapasya because of
the Tarakasua problem. 

What would happen to Rati now?  Shiva replied, What has
happened has happened.  Nothing can be done about kandarpa
now.

He will eventually be born in the city of Dvaraka as Krishna’s
son Pradyumna.  Rati will then be reuntied with Kandarpa.  But
till such time, let her simply wait.  The gods dispersed, still
despondent. 

The matter of Shiva and Parvati’s marriage had not progressed
at all.

Parvati’s Tapasya 

But Parvati had fallen in love with Shiva and she didn’t know
what she could do about it.  She thought of Shiva all the time. 

One day the sage Narada came and told her, Shiva is only
pleased with tapasya.  Without tapasya, even Brahma and the
other gods do not get to see Shiva.  Why don’t you perform tapasya? 

Parvati decided to do what Narada had asked her to.  She asked
her parents for permission.  Her father agreed with alacrity. 

Although her mother Menaka was not at all keen that Parvati
should perform difficult tapasya, she too eventually agreed. 

Parvati gave up her jewellery and handsome clothes.  She
wore deerskin instead.  There is a peak in the Himalayas
known as Gouriskikhara.  It is there that Parvati went for
her tapasya. 

The meditation was very difficult.  During the monsson
Parvati meditated while seated on the ground. In the
winter she mediated under the water.  Wild beats dared not harm her. 

All the gods and sages assembled to see this wonderful tapasya. 
The gods and the sages also began to pray to Shiva. 

Lord, can’t you see that Parvati is performing difficult tapasya? 

They asked.  No one has meditated like this before.  No one will
meditate like this in the future.  Please grant her what she wants. 

Shiva adopted the form of an old brahmana (the first of the four
classes) and appeared at Parvati’s hermitage. 

Parvati welcomed the old man and worshipped him with flowers
and fruits. 

Why are you meditating? asked the brahmana. 
What is it that you want? 

I wish to have Shiva as a husband, replied Parvati. 

You are indeed stupid. Said the brahmana. 

That is like giving up gold for a piece of glass or giving
sandalwood for mud.  Does anyone give up the water of the
Ganga and drink water from a well instead?  Marry one of the
gods instead, go and marry Indra.  Shiva is a stupid fellow. 
He has three eyes and five faces.  His hair is matted and his
body is smeared with ashes.  He wears snakes as garlands. 
He is always accompanied by ghosts,  He has no clothes and
no wealth.  No one knows who his parent are.  He lives in the forest
and his throat is blue with poison.  I think you are making a big
mistake.  Forget about Shiva and don’t waste your life. 

The brahmana’s words angered Parvati.  It is you who are stupid,
she said. 

You don’t know a thing about Shiva.  He is the lord of everything. 
You have insulted Shiva and cursed am I that I made the mistake
of worshipping you.  You are again going to say something nasty
about Shiva.  But before you can do that, let me go away. 
I shall not stay to hear Shiva insulted. 

As Parfati was about to depart, Shiva adopted his own form
and said, Where are you going?  I thought that you were praying
for me.  You can’t forsake me now.  I am not going to let you go. 
Ask for a boon. 

Please marry me according to the prescribed rites, replied Parvati. 
Shiva agreed and Parvati returned home.



to be contd......

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!
Title: Re: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 02, 2016, 10:57:27 PM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

OM SAI RAM ॥

The Marriage 

Shiva called the seven great sages (saptarshis) and asked them to go to Himalaya as
his messengers. The message was that he wished to marry Himalaya’s daughter
Parvati. Himalaya was delighted to see the sages and even more delighted to learn
that Shiva wanted to marry Parvati. A date was fixed for the marriage.

The day of the marriage dawned. Gandharvas (singers of heaven) sang and apsara
(dancers of heaven) danced. All the gods came to Kailasa to accompany Shiva on the
procession. Himalaya had also got ready. He had built many gates in front of his
house and had placed flags on them. The beauty of Himalaya’s residence at that time
is impossible to describe. When the procession arrived at the residence, Parvati’s
mother Menaka rushed out.

Let me see Shiva, she exclaimed. Let me see my son-in-law. My daughter Parvati
has performed tapasya to obtain Shiva as a husband. He must be exceedingly
handsome.

The first person Menaka saw was Vishvavasu, the king of the gandharvas.
Vishvavasu was very handsome and, at first, Menaka thought that this was Shiva. But
when she was told that this was only a singer who entertained Shiva, she thought that
Shiva would be more handsome. Then her eyes fell down on the handsome Kubera,
the god of wealth, and she thought that this had to be Shiva. Kubera was more
attractive than Vishvavasu. But Menaka was told that this was not Shiva either. Then
came Varuna, more attractive than Kubera. But this was not Menaka’s son-in-law.
Nor was her son-in-law the great god Yama, handsomer than Varuna. The handsome
gods Indra, Surya and Chandra passed by. But Narada told Menaka that these were
not Shiva, they were simply Shiva’s servants.

Menaka’s joy knew no bounds. If these were the servants, what was the master going
to be like? She mistook Brahma, Vishnu and Brihaspati for Shiva, and each time
Narada told her that she was wrong. Where then was Shiva? Finally Shiva came and
Narada pointed him out to Menaka. At the sight of her son-in-law, Menaka fell
unconscious.

Shiva was surrounded by ghosts on all sides. The faces were fierce, their
complexions were dark and they made a tremendous racket. Shiva himself rode on
bull. He had three eyes, five faces and ten arms. He was smeared with ashes and the
moon adorned his forehead. He was dressed in a tiger’s skin and a garland of skulls
hung around his neck. No wonder Menaka fainted.

When she recovered, she began to lament. She scolded Himalaya, Narada and
Parvati for her misfortune. Brahma, the other gods, and the sages tried to pacify
Menaka. But to no avail.

I will not permit my daughter to be married to Shiva, Menaka said. I will give her
poison instead. I will throw her into a well and kill her. I will chop her up into pieces
with a weapon. I will hurl her into the sea. I will kill myself. I will get Parvati
married to someone else. Not to Shiva.

Parvit resolved, I shall not marry anyone other than Shiva. Is a jackal a fit
replacement for a lion?

Vishnu then tried to pacify Menaka. But this did not succeed either. Fianlly Narada
asked Shiva to display his beautiful form and Shiva obliged. This form is exhibited
only to those who are very faithful to Shiva. Everyone was charmed by this beautiful
form, even Menaka. His body shone like a thousand suns and a crown sparkled on his
head. His clothes glittered and the lustre of his jewels put the stars to shame.
Menaka begged forgiveness for her foolishness and now there were no further
obstacles to the marriage. Under Brahma’s supervision, the marriage ceremony took
place and Shiva and Parvati returned to Kailasa.

to be contd......

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!
Title: Re: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 03, 2016, 11:33:29 PM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

OM SAI RAM ॥

Kartikeya 

Shiva and Parvati’s son was Skanada or Kartikeya. When the baby was very small, it
got lost in some reeds. Six princesses discovered the baby in the reeds and each
wanted to bring up the baby as her own son. All of them finally cooperated in
bringing up the body. These princesses were the Krittikas and the boy came to be
known as Kartikeya.

The gods got to know from Narada that Kartikeya had been brought up by the
Krittikas. They came and appointed Kartikeya their general. The army of gods then
invaded Tarakasura’s city Shonitapura. A terrible fight raged for ten days. The gods
completely decimated the demons and Katikeya killed Tarakasura.

After the victory celebrations were over, Kartikeya was restored to his parents.

Tripura

Tarakasura had three sons named Vidyunmali, Tarakaksha and Viryavana. These
three began to perform tapasya. For a hundred years they meditated standing only on
one leg. For a thousand more years they lived on air and meditated. They stood on
their heads and meditated in this posture for yet another thousand years.

Brahma was pleased at this difficult tapasya. He appeared before them and said,
What boon do you want?

Make us immortal, answered Tarakasura’s sons.

I can’t make you immortal, replied Brahma. I don’t have the power. Ask for
something else instead.

Very well, then, said Viyunamali, Tarakaksha and Viryavana Grant us the following.
Let three forts be made. The first will be of gold, the second of silver and the third of
iron. We will live in these forts for a thousand years. At the end of the thousand
years, the forts will become one. This combined fort will be called Tripura. And it
anyone can then destroy Tripura with only a single arrow, that shall be the death
destined for us.

This rather unusual boon Brahma granted. There was a danava named Maya who
was very good at building work. Brahma asked him to build the forts. The golden
fort was built in heaven, the silver one in the sky and the iron one on earth.
Tarakaksha got the golden fort, Viryavana the silver one and Vidyunmali the iron
one. Each of the forts was a big as a city and had many palaces and vimanas (spaces
vehicles) inside.

The demons populated the three forts and began to flourish. The gods did not like
this at all. They first went to Brahma, but Brahma said he could not help them. After
all, the demons had got Tripura thanks to his boon. The gods then went to Shiva for
help. But Shiva said that the demons were doing nothing wrong. As long as that was
the case, he did not see why the gods wre so bothered. The gods then went to
Vishnu. Vishnu’s suggestion was as follows. If the problem was that the demons
were doing nothing wrong, the solution was to persuade them to become sinners.
Out of his powers Vishnu created a man. This man’s head was shaven, his clothes
were faded and he carried a wooden water-pot in his hands. He covered his mouth
with a piece of cloth and approached Vishnu.

What are my orders? he asked Vishnu.

Let me explain to you why you have been created, replied Vishnu. I will teach you a
religion that is completely against the Vedas. You will then get the impression that
there is no svarga (heaven) and no naraka (hell) and that both heaven and hell are on
earth. You will not believe that rewards and punishments for deeds committed on
earth are meted out after death. Go to Tripura and teach the demons this religion,
which they are dislodged from the righteous path. Then we will do something about
Tripura.

The being did as he had been asked to. He and four of his disciples went to a forest
that was near Tripura and began to preach. They were trained by Vishnu himself.
Therefore, their teachings were convincing and they had many converts. Even the
sage Narada got confused and was converted.

In fact, it was Narada who carried news of this wonderful new religion to king
Vidyunmati.

King, he said, there is a wonderful new teacher with a wonderful new religion. I have
never heard before. I have got converted.

Since the great sage Narada had got converted. Vidyunmati also accepted the new
religon. And in due course, so did Tarakaksha and Viryavana. The demons gave up
revering the Vedas, they stopped worshipping Shiva’s linga.

Vishnu and the other gods then went to Shiva and began to pray to him. When Shiva
appeared, they told him that the demons had now become evil and should be
destroyed. They had even stopped worshipping Shiva’s linga.

Shiva agreed to destroy Tripura. Vishvakarma was the architect of the gods. Shiva
called Vishvakarma and asked him to make a suitable chariot, bow and arrow. The
chariot was made entirely out of gold. Brahma himself became the charioteer and the
chariot was speedly driven towards Tripura. The gods accompanied Shiva with
diverse weapons.

By then a thousand years had passed so that the three forts had become a single
Tripura. Shiva instilled a divine weapon known as pashupata into his arrow and shot
it at Tripura. The arrow burnt up Tripura into ashes in a split second.

While the celebrations were going on, the shaven-heads religious teachers arrived.
What are we supposed to do now? they asked.

Brahma and Vishnu told them to go and live in the desert. The last of the four eras
was kaliyuga and in kaliyuga, evil would reign supreme. When kaliyuga arrived, they
were to come back and begin their teaching afresh.

to be contd......

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!
Title: Re: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 04, 2016, 11:41:08 PM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

OM SAI RAM ॥

Sita and the Ketaki Flower 

Romaharshana told the assembled sages, It is easy to please Shiva. But Shiva must
never be worshipped with a ketaki or a champaka flower.

Why, what is wrong with these flowers? asked the sages.

Let me tell you about the ketaki flower first, replied Romaharshana.

Rama’s father Dasharatha asked Rama to spend fourteen years in the forest. So
Rama went to the forest with his brother Lakshmana and his wife Sita. The three of
them started to live on the banks of the river Falgu. News reached the forest that
Dasharatha had died in their absence and a shraddha (funeral) ceremony had to
performed for the dead king.

Rama sent Lakshmana to a nearby village to get the necessary ingredients. Time
passed and Lakshmana did not return. Rama then went to get the ingredients and look
for Lakshmana. But Rama too did not return. It was almost noon and the ceremony
had to be performed before noon. In desperation, Sita decided to perform the
ceremony herself. She went and bathed in the Falgu river and lit an earthen lamp.
She then made the offerings (pinda) to the dead ancestors herself.

Immediately, a voice was heard. Sita, you are blessed, it said. We are satisfied.

In utter amazement Sita watched some disembodied hands appear in the air to accept
the offerings.

Who are you? Asked Sita.

I am your dead father-in-law, answered the voice. The funeral ceremony has been
successful. I have accepted your offerings.

But Rama and Lakshmana are going to believe me, said Sita. They will never believe
that such disembodied hands appeared out of thin air to accept the offerings.
They have to. answered the voice. You have four witnesses. The first is the Falgu
river. The second is the cow over there. The third will be the fire. And the last one
will be the ketaki bush.

Rama and Lakshmana returned and said, Cook the food quickly. There is very little
time left. We have to complete the funeral ceremony before noon.

Sita told them what happened, and naturally, the two brothers did not believe her.

They made fun of her and suggested that she was lying. Sita called upon her four
witnesses, but each denied that it had seen anything. Without arguing any further,
Sita cooked the food and Rama made offerings to his ancestors.

A voice was then heard from the sky. Why are you calling us again? it said. Sita has
already satisfied us.

I refuse to believe that, said Rama.

Indeed, it is true, retorted the voice. Ask the sun god.

The sun god confirmed that everything had happened just as Sita had said it had.

Rama and Lakshmana were ashamed that they had doubted Sita and were also
impressed with the power of her virtue. But Sita cursed the four false witnesses. She
cursed the Falgu river that it would henceforth only flow underground.

She cursed theketaki flower (pandanus odoratissimus) that it would never be
accepted by Shiva as an offering.

She cursed the cow that its mouth would henceforth become impure. It had,
after all, lied with its mouth. The hind sections of the cow would however continue
to be pure.

And finally Sita cursed the fire that it would consume everything
indiscriminately.

That is the reason why a ketaki flower must never be used to worship Shiva.

Narada and the Champaka Tree.

Nor must a champaka flower be used.

In the land of Gokarna there was a temple dedicated to Shiva. Narada decided that he
would go and visit the temple. On the way, he saw a flowering champaka tree and
stopped to admire it. A brahmana came there to pluck flowers from the tree. But
seeing that Narada was there, the brahmana refrained from plucking any flowers.

Where are you going? asked Narada.

The brahmana lied and replied, To beg some alms.

Narada went to the temple. Meanwhile, the brahmana plucked flowers from the
champaka tree and placed them in a basket that he covered up well. Narada met the
brahmana again on his way back from the temple.

Where are you going now? He asked the brahmana.

The brahmana lied again, Home, he said, I could n’t get any alms.

Narada’s suspicions were aroused. He went to the champaka tree and asked, Has that
brahmana plucked any flowers?

What brahmana? replied the tree. I don’t know of any brahmana. No one has
plucked any flowers.

Narada went back to the temple and discovered fresh champaka flowers lying there
on top of the Shiva linga. There was another devotee praying there. Narada asked
him, Do you know who came to worship with these champaka flowers?

Yes, I do, replied the devotee, It is an evil brahmana. He worships Shiva every day
with champaka flowers. Thanks to Shiva’s blessings, he has completely brainwashed
the king and has secretly been stealing the king’s wealth. He also oppresses other
brahmanas.

Narada asked Shiva, Why do you encourage such evil?

I am helpless, replied Shiva. I cannot resist it if someone worships me with
champaka flowers.

Just then, a brahmana woman came running with her tale of woe. Her husband was
crippled. But they had managed to get some money from the king so that their
daughter could be married. They had also received a cow from the king. But the evil
brahmana was claiming that half of whatever they had received was his. It was due to
his good offices that the king had been so generous, he was saying. The evil
brahmana had already appropriated half of the money. But how was a cow to be
divided?

Narada then decided that something needed to be done about the champaka tree and
the evil brahmana.

Apart from everything else, the champaka tree was a liar. Naradacursed the
champaka tree that its flowers would never be accepted by Shiva as an
offering.

He cursed the evil brahmana that he would be born as a rakshasa (demon)
named Viradha. But the brahmana had been a devotee of Shiva. So the curse was
qualified by the stipulation that Viradha would be killed by Rama and would then
again become a brahmana.

to be contd......

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!
Title: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 06, 2016, 01:22:15 AM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

OM SAI RAM ॥

Ganesha 

The door to Parvati’s place was guarded by two of Shiva’s companions, Nandi and
Bhringi. But Parvati’s companions, Jaya and Vijaya, didn’t like this at all. They
thought that there should be a guard who would be answerable to Parvati rather than
to Shiva. It was Parvati’s place, not Shiva’s. Moreover, Shiva was in the habit of
walking in at awkard moments, and Nandi and Bringi never stopped Shiva. Jaya and
Vijaya asked Parvati to do something about this.

Parvati took some clay of a pond and fashioned the clay into a very handsome son.
She dressed the son in beautiful clothes and jewellry. He was named Ganesha.
Parvati told Ganesha, You are my son. Stand at the gate and do not allow anyone to
enter.

Ganesha picked up a rod and began his duty as sentry. Parvati went to have a bath.
Soon Shiva turned up with his companions. Where are you going? asked Ganesha.
You cannot pass. My mother is having her bath.

I am Shiva, answered Shiva.

Who is Shiva? retorted Ganesha. I don’t know of any Shiva. You cannot go in.
Shiva tried to ignore Ganesha and enter, but Ganesha started to beat Shiva with the
rod. Shiva then asked his companions to remove this upstart. But they only got
thrashed by Ganesha in the process. Nandi tried to grasp one of Ganesha’s legs and
Brhringi the other. But Ganesha uprooted a wooden door and beat them so hard that
they fled. The gods and the sages all came to see what the uproar was about.
Shiva told Brahma, Why don’t you try to pacify that creature?

Brahma advanced to reason with Ganesha. But Ganesha didn’t know Brahma; he
thought that this was another one of Shiva’s companions. He therefore grabbed
Brahma and tore off Brahma’s beard by the handful. Brahma fled in pain.
This had become a matter where Parvati felt her pride to be at stake. So she kept
Ganesha supplied with weapons. The gods attacked Ganesha with all sorts of
weapons. He drove them back.

Vishnu told Shiva, This fellow can only be killed with some trickery. Otherwise, he
seems to be invincible.

Ganesha flung a mace at Visnu and hurt him considerably. He struck down Shiva’s
bow with another mace. Vishnu and Ganesha then began to fight, with the sudarshana
chakra being used by Vishnu and maces by Ganesha. While this duel raged, Shiva
crept up stealthily from behind and cut off Ganesha’s head with his trishula (trident).
This was the trickery that Vishnu had planned for.

When Parvati learnt of Ganesha’s death, her ire was roused. She got ready to destroy
the universe and everyone was alarmed. Narada was sent to Parvati as a messanger.
He was to try and pacify Parvati. But Parvati agreed to relent only if two conditions
were satisfied. The first condition was that Ganesha should be brought back to life.
The second condition was that Ganesha should be accepted as a god and should enjoy
all divine rights.

These conditions were readily accepted. Ganesha’s headless body was cleaned and
bathed. But the head could not be found. It had been lost in the heat of the battle.
Shiva sent his companions out with the head of the first living being that they saw.
This happened to be an elephant with one tusk. The elephant’s head was stuck onto
Ganesha’s body and Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva combined their powers to bring back
life to the dead body.

Shiva accepted Ganesha as his son. He also made Ganesha the lord of all his
companions, the ganas. That is why the elephant-god is called Ganapati. It was also
decreed that worship to any god would be useless unless it was preceded by prayers to
Ganesha.

Chaturthi tithi is the fourth lunar day. Krishnapaksha is that part of the lunar
fortnight during which the moon wanes. Since Parvati created Ganesha in the month
of Kartika and on chaturthi tithi in krishnapaksha, that is the day on which Ganapati is
worshipped.

to be contd......

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!
Title: Re: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 06, 2016, 11:18:24 PM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

OM SAI RAM ॥

Ganesha and Kartikeya Quarrel 

Shiva  and Parvati had two sons, Ganesha and Kartikeya. Both sons wanted to get
married. And Shiva and Parvati found it difficult to decide who should be married
first. The other one was bound to feel hurt. Both the sons were equally dear to them.
They decided to have a test. They called Ganesha and Kartikeya to them and said,
We have devised a competition. Both of you have to travel around the world and
return here. Whoever returns first will be married first. That should be fair and
square.

As soon as these words were out, Kartikeya dashed out on his journey. But Ganesha
tarried and pondered. He realized that this was a task that was impossible for him to
accomplish. He found it difficult enough to travel a couple of miles.

Ganesha found a solution. First, he bathed. Then, he made Shiva and Parvati sit on
two seats. He worshipped them and circled them seven times. After he finished
circling them. Ganesha said, Now please make arrangements for my wedding.

What do you mean, exclaimed Shiva and Parvati. Didn’t you hear what we said? We
asked the two of you to travel around the world and come back. You’d better hurry.
Kartikeya has already left. If you don’t take care, he will beat you to it.

But I have already been round the world seven times, replied Ganesha. Haven’t I
circled the two of you seven times? The Vedas say that circling one’s parents is the
same thing as circling the world. If you do not wish to argue that the Vedas are
wrong, then you have to agree that I have circled the world seven times.

Shiva and Parvati could not very well argue that the Vedas were wrong. They
therefore had to accept Ganesha’s logic. Arrangements were made for his wedding.
Vishvarua, the son of Kashyapa, had two daughters named Siddhi and Buddhi. These
two were married to Ganesha with a lot of fanfare. Ganesha and Siddhi had a son
named Laksha and Ganesha and Buddhi had a son named Labha.

Kartikeya returned to Kailasa after traveling around the world and discovered that
Ganesha was already married and was already the proud father of two children. He
heard the entire story from Narada and felt that he had been cheated. He decided that
he would no longer live with his parents. He also decided that he would never marry.
That is the reason why Kartikeya is called Kumara, someone who is married.

Kartikeya began to live on Mount Krouncha. Shiva goes to visit him there on the day
of the new moon (amavasya) and parvati goes to visit him on the day of the moon
(purnima).


to be contd......

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!
Title: Re: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 08, 2016, 03:16:50 AM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

OM SAI RAM ॥

Linga A linga is an image of Shiva.  

 There are several lingas.  Whichever is the place where devotees congregate,
there Shiva manifests himself in the form of a linga.  However, there are
twelve important lingas and these are known as jyotirlingas are Somanatha,
Mallikarjuna, Mahakala, Omkara, Kedara, Bhima-shankara, Vishvanatha,
Trymbaka, Vaidyanatha, Nagesha, Rameshvara and Ghushnesha.

Nandikeshvara Tirtha  A tirtha is a place of pilgrimage.  At a tirtha named
Nandikeshvara, there is a famous Shiva linga. 

In a city named Karnaki there used to live a brahmana. He left his two sons
with his wife and went to visit the city of Varanasi. 

It was then learnt that the brahmana had died in Varanasi.  His widow brought
up her sons and eventually married them off.  She became old and it was time
for her to die.  But death would not come.  It seemed to the sons that their
mother was hankering after something and would not die until her wish
had been satisfied. 

Mother, they asked, What is it that you want? 

I have always wanted to visit the tirtha of Varanasi, the mother replied. 
But now I am going to die without ever visitng the place.  Promise me that
when I am dead, you will take my ashes to Varanasi and throw them
into the river Ganga there.

We will, said the sons.  You can die in peace. 

The mother died and the sons performed her funeral ceremony.  Then the eldest s
on, Suvadi, set out for Varanasi with his mother’s ashes.  The way was long and
he stopped to rest and spend the night in a brahmana’s house. 

A cow was tied in front of the house and it was time for milking.  Suvati saw that
when the brahmana tried to milk the cow, the calf would not permit the milking and
kicked the brahmana.  The brahmana then hit the calf with a stick.  The brahmana went
away after the milking.  But Suvadi was still there and and he heard the cow tell her calf,
I am distressed that the brahmana struck you.  Tomorow I am going to gore the
brahmana’s son to death. 

Next day, the brahmana’s son came to do the milking.  The cow gored him with horns
so that he died.  Bu this meant that the cow had committed the sin of killing a brahmana. 
Immediately, because of the sin, the while cow turned completely black.  The cow left
the house.  Suvadi followed, amazed at this strange sight.  The cow went to the banks
of the river Narmada, to the place named Nandikeshvara.  She bathed in the river and
became white once again.  This meant that the sin of killing a brahmana had been
completely washed away.  Suvadi marvelled at this and realized what a powerful
tirtha Nandikeshvara was. 

He was about to leave for Varansi after bathing in the river himself, when he was
accosted by a beautiful woman.

Where are you going, Suvadi? asked the woman.  Throw your mother’s ashes in the
river here.  This is a far greater tirtha than Varanasi. 

Who are you? asked Survadi. 

I am the river Gangaa, came the reply. 

The woman vanished and Suvadi did as he had been bidden. 

As soon as he had done this, his dead mother appeared in the sky and
told him that she was immensely gratified.  She would now go straight to
heaven.  Nandikeshvara is a wonderful tirtha because a brahmana woman
named Rishika had earlier performed very difficult tapasya there to
please Shiva.


to be contd......

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!
Title: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 08, 2016, 11:04:25 PM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

OM SAI RAM ॥

Atrishvara Tirtha   

 There was a forest named Kamada.  It did not rain there for a hundred years. 
The leaves dried up and the dwellers of the forest started to suffer. 

The sage Atri decided that he would meditate to try and bring the rains. 
Atri’s wife was Anasuya and she thought that she might as well perform
tapasya together with her husband.  Both of them started to pray to Shiva
and it was very difficult to decide whose tapasya was the more difficult. 

Fifty-four passed and they meditated without eating or drinking anything. 
Atri’s meditation was finally over and he felt thirsty.  He therefore asked
his wife to go and fetch some water so that he might quench his thirst. 

While Anasuya was going to fetch the water, the river Gang appeared before her. 
I am pleased with your tapasya, said Ganga.  What boon do you desire? 

If you are pleased with me, replied Anasuya, please make a pond here
and fill the pond with your water. 

Ganga  obliged.  Anasuya filled her water-pot from the pond and brought
the water to her husband. 

Atri drank the water and found that it was far tastier than the water
they were used to. 

When he asked Anasuya why this was so, she told him what happened. 

Both husband and wife came back to the pond.  Anasuya had earned a lot of
punya (store of merit) thanks to her tapasya. 

Ganga agreed to stay on provided Anasuya handed over to Ganga whatever
punya she had acquired in one year of tapasya.  This conditon Anasuya
agreed to. 

Meanwhile, Shiva appeared and offered to grant Anasuya a boon. 

Anasuya desire the boon that Shiva would always be present in that forest. 
Shiva consented.  This sacred place is known as Atrishvara tirtha


to be contd......

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!
Title: Re: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 09, 2016, 11:19:46 PM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

OM SAI RAM ॥

Chandra and Somanatha 

Twenty-seven of Daksha’s daughters were married to the moon-god Chandra. One of
these wives was named Rohini and Chandra loved Rohini more than he loved the
other wives. The other wives felt neglected and they complained to their father.
Daksha repeatedly warned his son-in-law to devote himself equally to all twentyseven
wives. But Chandra was in no mood to listen.

Daksha thereupon cursed Chandra that he would gradually fade away. Chandra
didn’t know what to do. He went and sought advice from Brahma and Brahma told
him that the only rescourse was to pray to Shiva. Chandra went to Prabhasa tirtha and
made a linga on the banks of the river Sarasvati. He prayed to Shiva for six months.
At the end of the tapasya Shiva appeared before Chandra and offered to grant him a
boon. Chandra explained what the problem was.

Well, said Shiva, Daksha’s curse cannot be entirely ignored. Let us have a
compromise. During krishnapaksha you will wane. And during shuklapaksha (the
bright part of the lunar fortnight) you will wax. That should satisfy everybody.
Chandra was delighted. The linga to which Chandra prayed is Somantha, the first of
the jyotirlingas. Shiva is always present at that tirtha.

Mallikarjuna

What about the second jyotirlinga. Mallikarjuna?

You already know that Kartikeya felt cheated when Ganesha got married. He
decided that he would not live with Shiva and Parvati any longer, and began to live on
the mountain Krouncha.

Parvati was miserable that her son had left her. She sent gods, sages, gandharvas
and apsaras to bring her son back. But Kartikeya would not return. Shiva and Parvati
then went to visit Kartikeya themselves, but Kartikeya would not let them get too
close.

Shiva and Parvati started to live at a place that was about six miles away from where
their son was living. They are always there, so as to be near their son. This place is
known as Mallikarjuna.

to be contd......

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!
Title: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 11, 2016, 02:26:09 AM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

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OM SAI RAM ॥

Dushana and Mahakala   

The third of the jyotirlingas is Mahakala.  The city of Avanti is on the banks
of the river Kshipra (Shipra).  A brahmana named Vedapriya used to lived
in the city of Avanti.  He used to worship Shiva everyday and he had brought
up his four sons to do the same.  These sons were named Devapriya,
Priyamedha, Suvrita and Suvrata.  Not very far away, on a hill named Ratnamala,
there used to live an asura named Dushana.  Dushana was evil, he could not
stand the idea of the Vedas being read and the religion prescribed in them
followed.  He went about destroying this righteous religon wherever he could. 
Dushana got to know that in the city of Avanti there lived four brahmanas
who followed the righteous religion and worshipped Shiva.  These were Devapriya,
Priyamedha, Suvrita and Suvrata.  Their father Vedapriya had died by then. 
Dushana and his cohorts came and attacked the city of Avanti.  They threatened
to kill the four brahmanas, but the brothers were not at all perturbed.   
They continued to pray to Shiva.  They bowed in obeisance before the linga. 
Suddenly a tremendous sound was heard and a pit appeared in the ground
in front of the linga.  Shiva himself appeared in this pit.  Dushana was burnt
into ashes from the force of Shiva’s roar.  And Shiva put all of Dushana’s
soldiers to flight.  The brahmanas prayed that Shiva might always be present
at that place and Shiva agreed.  This is the place that is known as Mahakala.

Vindhya and Omkara

The fourth of the jyotirlingas is Omkara.  Narada had once gone on a visit
to the mountain Vindhya.  Vindhya worshipped Narada.  But because
Vindhya was slightly proud, he also said.  I am full of all the desirable
that one can think of.  Perhaps, replied Narada.  But Mount Sumeru is
superior to you, becaue the gods are always there.  Vindhya decided to
become the equal of Sumeru.  He began to pray to Shiva.  For six months
he prayed.  When Shiva appeared, Vindhya desired that Shiva might always
be present there so that he might become the equal of Sumeru.  The linga
that Vindhya worshipped as called Omkara.

Naranarayana and Kedara 

The fifth of the jyotirlingas is Kedara.  In one of Vishnu’s incarnations,
he revealed himself as the two sages, Nara and Narayana. 
These two sages prayed for a long time in the hermitage known
as vadrikashrama.  Near this hermitage there was a peak of the Himalayas
named Kedara.  After the two sages had prayed to Shiva for a very long time,
Shiva appeared and said, I don’t understand why the two of you worshipping me. 
It is you who should be worshipped.  But since you have been praying to me,
let me grant you a boon.  Nara and Narayana desred that Shiva should
always be present in the form of a linga on the peak Kedara.

to be contd......

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!
Title: Re: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 12, 2016, 12:01:04 AM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

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OM SAI RAM ॥

Bhimashankara     

The sixth of the jyotirlingas is Bhimashankara.  You know about Rama and
Ravana from the Ramayana and you also know that Rama killed not only
Ravana, but also his brother Kumbahakarna. 

A rakshasa woman named Karkati used to live on the mountains named Sahya. 
Karkati had been married to Kumbhakarna and her son was named Bhima. 

One day, Bhima asked Karkati, Mother, whose son am I? 
Why do we live alone in this forest? 

Karkati said, Let me tell you my sad story. 

I used to be married to the rakshasa Viradha.  But Rama killed Viradha. 
Later on, Kumbhakarna came and married me here and you were born. 

Kumbhakarna had promised to take me to Lanka.  But he was killed by Rama
and I never got to see Lanka. 

That is the reason we live here alone.  We have nowhere else to go. 

Bhima was very sorry to hear this story.  He resolved to avenge himself on
Vishnu because he knew that Rama had been an incarnation of Vishnu. 

For a thousand years he prayed to Brahma with his hands raised up to the sky. 
When Brahma appeared, Bhima wished for the boon that he might become
very strong.  This boon Brahma granted. 

The first target of Bhima’s attention was the king of Kamarupa.
 
The king’s crime was that he was devoted to Vishnu. Bhima attacked the king,
stole all his belongings, conquered his kingdom and imprisoned him and his wife.
 
He then proceeded to conquer the rest of the world.  In their prison, the king and
his wife started to pray to Shiva. 

This news was brought to Bhima by the rakshasa guards and Bhima decided
to kill the king.  He found the king praying before a Shiva linga. 

When Bhima raised his sword to cut off the the king’s head, Shiva appeared
from the linga and repelled the sword with his trident.
 
Bhima flung a spear at Shiva, but this too was driven back by the trident. 
Whatever weapon was used by Bhima, Shiva’s trident destroyed them all. 
Finally, Shiva killed Bhima and all his rakshasa cohorts.  The gods were gratified
and they craved that Shiva might always remain in the place in the form
of the linga.   

Vishvanatha and Varanasi

The seventh of the jyotirlingas is named Vishvanatha and it is located in the city
of Varanasi or Kashi.

Varanasi is a very sacred place.  Brahma himself performed difficult tapasya
there.  So difficult was the tapasya that Vishnu shook his head in disbelief. 

When Vishnu shook his head, a jewel (mani) fell down from Vishnu’ ear (karna). 
The place where the jewel fall is known as Manikarnika and it is a famous tirtha. 

Varanasi is not destroyed when the rest of the world is destroyed.  Shiva himself
raises it on the point of his trident and protects it while destruction rages all around.

When the world is re-created.  Shiva replaces Varanasi to its appointed place. 

Shiva and Parvati once went to visit Brahma.  Brahma began to chant hymns in
Shiva’s praise with all of his five mouths. 

One of the mouths however made mistakes in the pronunciation of the hymns. 
This angered Shiva and Shiva severed the offending head with a gaze of his third eye. 
But this effectively amounted to the killing of a brahmana and Shiva committed a crime. 

The severed head therefore got stuck to Shiva’s back would would not come off, no matter
where Siva went.  But when Shiva arrived in Varanasi, the head fell off his back. 
Shiva realized that Varanasi was a special place and he resolved that he would always
be present there.

to be contd......

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!
Title: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 12, 2016, 12:09:01 PM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

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OM SAI RAM ॥

Goutama and Trymbaka 

Towards the south of the country there was a mountain named Brahmaparvata. 
There the sage Goutama and his wife Ahalya performed tapasya for ten thousand
years. 

While they were meditating, there were no rains in the forest for a hundred
years and there was a shortage of water.  Living beings died from the drought. 

Goutama prayed to Varuna, the god of the ocean and the rain. 

Varuna appeared and offered to grant a boon. 

Please grant the boon that it might rain, said Goutama.  I can’t do that,
replied Varuna.  That is beyond my powers.  Ask for something else instead. 

Then let us have a pond in the forest that will always be full of water, said Goutama. 

This was within Varuna’s powers and the pond was created.  The other sages also
began to use water from this pond.  Normally, Goutama sent his disciples to fetch
water.  But the disciples complained that the wives of the other sages did not let them
take the water. 

So Ahalya herself started to fetch the water.  The wives of the other sages annoyed
and pestered Ahyalya, but she never reacted.  These wives then complained to their
husbands about Ahalya and Goutama. 

At first the sages did not listen, but eventually, they were convinced that Ahalya
and Goutama were wicked.  They therefore sought to devise a plan so that these
two might punished. 

They began to pray to Ganesha.  When Ganesha arrived, the sages said, Please grant
us the boon that Goutama and Ahalya might be banished from the hermitage. 

Although Ganesha realized that this was an unfair boon, he decided to grant it because
he realized that the sages and their evil wives needed to be punished. 

Goutama had some fields of paddy and grain.  Ganesha adopted the form of a lean
and starving cow and began to eat up the crop.  Goutama tried to drive away the cow
with a blade of grass.  But as soon as he struck the cow with the blade of grass,
the cow fell down and died. 

This was a terrible calamity.  It was the killing of a cow.  The other sages banished
Goutama and Ahalya from the hermitage.  They had to set up an ashrama (hermitage)
that was a fair distance away. 

The other sages completely disassociated themselves from Goutama and Ahalya. 
Goutama began to think of ways of performing prayashchitta (penance) for the crime
that he had committed. 

The other sages told him that he would first have to travel around the world. 
After that, he would have to pray very hard for an entire month.  The next task was
to circle Brahmaparvata a hundred times and bathe in  a hundred pots of water. 
This would complete the penance. 

All this Goutama and Ahalya did.  They also prayed for a long time to Shiva. 
Shiva appeared before them and offered them a boon. 

Goutama desired the boon that the river Ganga might always be present in the
hermitage. 

Ganga said that she would agree subject to the condition that Shiva and Parvati
were also always present in the hermitage.

Parvati and Shiva agreed to do this. 

This established Trymbaka, the eighth of the jyotirlingas.  The river Ganga which
flowed there came to be known as the Godavari. 

So Trymbaka is on the banks of the Godavari. 

What happened to the evil sages and their wives? 

Goutama asked that they might be pardoned.  They performed penance by
circling Brahmaparvata one hundred and one times, and begged forgiveness
from Goutama and Ahalya.

Ravana and Vaidyanatha


The ninth of the jyotirlingas is named Vaidyanatha.  Ravana, the king of the rakshasas,
meditated in the Himalayas so as to please Shiva.  First he prayed on Mount Kailasa,
but Shiva did not appear.

He then went to a place named Vrikshakhandaka which was a little towards the south. 
He prayed there, but Shiva did not appear. 

Ravana next dug a pit in the earth and started to pray inside the pit.  He established
a Shiva linga inside the pit.  Shiva still not appear. 

Ravana therefore decided that he would immolate himself.  Ravana, as you know,
had ten heads. 

He lit a fire and severing his heads, began to offer them one by one to the fire. 

When nine of the heads had thus been offered, Shiva appeared. 

Enough is enough, said Shiva.  What boon do you want? 

Please grant me the boon that I may be very strong.  And please restore my nine heads,
replied Ravana. 

These boons Shiva granted and the place where Ravana prayed is known as Vaidyanatha. 

The gods were not at all happy that Ravana had become so strong.  They were afraid that
 the rakshasa might start to oppress them. 

They therefore sent Narada to create some mischief.  Narada met Ravana and asked
him why he was looking so happy. 

Ravana related the story of the boon.  Boon, exclaimed Narada. Who believes in Shiva? 

Let me see if you can lift up Mount Kailasa.  If you can do that, I shall indeed believe
that you have become strong. 

Incited by Narada, Ravana returned to Kailasa and lifted up the mountain. 

As the mountain shook, Shiva and Parvati were disturbed.  Shiva cursed Ravana
that soon a being would be born who would kill Ravana. 

This being was of course Rama, Vishnu’s incarnation.

to be contd......

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!
Title: Re: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 13, 2016, 11:08:37 PM
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

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OM SAI RAM ॥

Nagesha 

The tenth of the jyotirlingas is named Nagesha.

There used to be a rakshasa name Daruka. His wife was named Daruki. They lived in
a forest on the banks of the western sea. Parvati had granted Daruki the boon that
wherever Daruki went, the forest would follow.

Using this forest as a base, Daruka and Daruki began to oppress the world. They
destroyed the yajnas and killed all the righteous people. In desperation, the survivors
went to a powerful sage named Ourva. They told Ourva that he alone could save the
world from the depredations of these rakshasas. Ourva cursed the rakshasas that if
they committed any violence on earth, they would immediately die.

As soon as the gods got to know about this curse, they attacked the rakshasas. The
demons were in a fix. If they did not fight with the gods, they would be slaughtered.
But if they fought with the gods, they would die because of Ourva’s curse. They
decided that they would go and live in the ocean. Thanks to the boon that Daruki had
received from Parvati, the entire forest was also submerged in the ocean and became
the home of the rakshasas.

There the rakshasa lived. They did not return to earth. But they imprisoned and
killed any people who travelled in boats across the ocean.

In this fashion, they once captured a vaishya (the third of the four classes) who was
devoted to Shiva. The vaishya set up a linga in the prison and began to pray to Shiva.
When the rakshasas saw this, they attacked him with weapons so as to kill him. This
vaishya was named Supriya. Shiva gave Supriya a pashupata, a divine weapon
associated with Shiva. With this the vaishya killed many demons. The remaining
rakshasas were saved by Parvati’s intervention.
The linga that Supriya worshipped is Nagesha.

Rama and Rameshvara

The eleventh of the jyotirlingas is named Rameshvara.

Ravana had kidnapped Sita and Rama looked for her everywhere. He was aided in
his search by the monkeys. The search brought them to the shores of the ocean.
While Rama was trying to decided how to cross the ocean, he felt very thirsty. He
therefore asked the monkeys to fetch him some water. But when the water was
brought, Rama realized that he should not drink the water without first praying to
Shiva.

Rama constructed a linga and worshipped it with many fragrant flowers. Such were
the powers of Rama’s prayers that Shiva, Parvati and their companions appeared
before Rama. Shiva blessed Rama and Rama requested him to stay in that place
forever. It is this linga, on the shores of the ocean, that is known as Rameshvara.

to be contd......

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!
Title: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 14, 2016, 10:39:25 PM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

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OM SAI RAM ॥

Ghushna and Ghushnesha  

The twelfth and last of the jyotirlingas is named Ghushnesha. 

To the south, there is a mountain named Deva.  A brahmana named Sudharma
used to live there.  His wife was called Sudeha.  Husband and wife were righteous
and regularly prayed to the gods.  They had only one reason for complaint:
they had no son. 

Sudeha was especially disturbed at this.  Other women tended to insult her
because she had no son.  Sudharma decided to conduct an experiment.  He plucked
two flowers and offered them in front of a sacred fire. He mentally associated one of
the flowers with having a son and asked his wife to choose a flower.  Unfortunately,
his wife chose the flower that was not associated wtih having a son. 

From this Sudharma concluded that they were not going to have a son and he did
his best to console Sudeha.  But Sudeha refused to be consoled, she was miserable. 

Why don’t you marry again? asked Sudeha. 

Perhaps you will then have a son.  Marry my niece Gushna. 

No, replied Sudharma.  You love her now because she is your niece.  But if she does
indeed have a son, you will become jealous and will come to hate her. 

Sudeha convinced her husband that this would never happen. 

So Sudharma married Ghushna.  Every day, Ghushna made a hundred and one lingas
out of clay and worshipped them.  When the day’s prayers were over, she immersed the
 lingas in a pond. 

When one lakh lingas had thus been worshipped, Ghushna gave birth to a handsome boy. 

Shiva had taken pity on Sudharma and Ghushna.  But when the son was born, Sudeha’s nature
changed.  As her husband had warned her, she felt jealous. 

She thought that Gushna got more important and she was treated like a maid. 

In the middle of the night, Sudeha slew the boy with a knife and threw the dead body
into the pond.

This was the pond where the lingas had been immersed.  As was her wont,
Ghushna got up in the morning and began to worship a linga. 

Blood was discovered on the bed, the boy could not be found and everyone raised
the alarm.  But Ghushna was not distracted by this racket and did not leave her prayers.

Shiva was so impressed with Ghushna’s devotion that he restored her son back to life. 

He also wished to kill the evil Sudeha with his trident, but Gushna begged for her aunt’s life
and Shiva spared Sudeha. 

Shushna’s act of forgiveness so impressed Shiva  that he wished to grant Ghushna
another boon, apart from restoring her son.  Ghushna desired that Shiva might always be
present in a linga near the pond.  This is known as Ghushnesha.

to be contd......

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!
Title: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 14, 2016, 10:43:13 PM
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

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OM SAI RAM ॥

Arjuna and Shiva   

Duryodhana robbed the Pandavas of their rightful share of the kingdom
in a game of dice. 

As a result of this, the Pandavas had to spend many years in the forest.
 While they were in the forest, Vedavyasa came to visit the Pandavas. 
Vedavyasa told them that they should pray to Shiva.  But since Arjuna was
the best suited amongst the Pandavas for worshipping Shiva, Vedvyasa taught
Arjuna a special mantra (incantation).  Then he asked Arjuna to go to Mount
Indrakila and pray to Shiva there.  Mount Indrakila  was on the banks of the
river Bhagirathi. 

Arjuna went to Mount Indrakila.  He made a linga out of clay and started to
pray to Shiva.  The news of Arjuna’s wonderful tapasya spread everywhere. 

Arjuna stood on one leg and continualy chanted the mantra that Vedavyasa had
taught him.   Suddenly, Arjuna saw a boar.  Arjuna thought that this fierce boar
might have come to distract him from his tapasya. 

Alternatively, it might be a relative of the several demons that he had killed
and therefore might  wish him harm.   Thinking this, Arjuna picked up his bow
and arrow and let fly an arrow at the boar.  Meanwhile, Shiva had decided to
subject Arjuna to a test and he had also arrived at the spot disgusted as a hunter. 
When Arjuna shot an arrow at the boar, so did Shiva.  Shiva’s arrow struck the boar
in its hindquarters and Arjuna’s arrow struck the boar in its mouth.  The boar fell
down dead.

A dispute started between Arjuna and the hunter about who had killed the boar. 
Each claimed it for his own.  They began to fight.  But whatever weapons were hurled
by Shiva were easily repelled all of Arjuna’s weapons.  When all the weapons were
exhausted, the two started to wrestle.  After the fight had gone on for a while,
Shiva gave up his disguise of a hunter and displayed his true form to Arjuna. 
Arjuna wa ashamed that he had been fighting with the very person to whom
he had been praying. 

Please forgive me, said Arjuna. 

It is all right, replied Shiva.  I was just trying to test you.  Your weapons have been like
offerings to me, you are my devotee.  Tell me, what boon do you desire?  Arjuna wanted
the boon that he might obtain glory on earth.  Shiva gave Arjuna his pashupata weapon.  T
his was such a divine weapon that its possession made Arjuna invincible.

to be contd......

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!
Title: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 14, 2016, 10:45:56 PM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

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OM SAI RAM ॥

Sudarshana Chakra   

 Sudarshana chakra (a bladed discus) was Vishnu’s weapon.  Vishnu received this
wonderful weapon as a result of Shiva’s grace. 

Many years ago, the demons oppressed the gods and the gods went to Vishnu for
deliverance.  Vishnu said that the demons were so powerful, that he would first have to
worship Shiva if something was to be done about the asuras.  Vishnu went to Mount Kailasa
and bean to pray to Shiva. 

He chanted many mantras, but there was no sign of Shiva.  Shiva has a thousand names
and Vishnu next started to chant these names.  Each day he chanted the thousand names
and offered a thousand lotus flowers to Shiva.  Shiva decided to test Vishnu.  One day, he
stole a lotus flower from the thousand that were to be offered.  When Vishnu realized that
there was one lotus flower less, he gouged out his own eye and offered it in place of the
missing lotus flower.  Shiva was now pleased and appeared before Vishnu.  He offered to
grant Vishnu a boon.  You know that the powerful demons have been oppressing the gods, 
said Vishnu.  I need a weapon to fight the demons with.  Please give me a weapon. 
Shiva then gave Vishnu the sudarshana chakra.   And with this weapon, Vishnu killed
the demons.

to be contd......

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!
Title: Re: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 17, 2016, 11:08:04 PM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

OM SAI RAM ॥

Shiva’s Thousand Names   

When the sages heard this story, they said, Romaharshana, what are these thousand
names of Shiva that you have mentioned? Relate them to us.

Romaharshana obliged. For convenience, let us list out these thousand names in a
hundred groups of ten each.

(1) Shiva, Hara, Mrida, Rudra, Pushkara, Pushpalochana, Arthigamya, Sadachara,
Sharva, Shambhu.

(2) Maheshvara, Chandrapida, Chandramouli, Vishva, Vishvamareshvara,
Vedantasara-sandoha, Kapali, Nilalohita, Dhyanadhara, Aparicchedya.

(3) Gouribharta, Ganeshvara, Ashtamurti, Vishvamurti, Trivargasvargasadhana,
Jnanagamya, Dridaprajna, Devadeva, Trilochana, Vamadeva

(4) Madadeva, Patu, Parivrida, Drida, Vishvarupa, Virupaksha, Vagisha,
Shuchisattama, Sarvapramanasamvadi, Vrishanka.

(5) Vrishavahana, Isha, Pinaki, Khatvanga, Chitravesha, Chirantana, Tamohara,
Mahayogi, Gopta, Brahma.

(6) Dhurjati, Kalakala, Krittivasah, Subhaga, Pranavatmaka, Unnadhra, Purusha,
Jushya, Durvasa, Purashasana.

(7) Divyayudha, Skandaguru, Parameshthi, Paratpara, Anadimadhyanidhana, Girisha,
Girijadhava, Kuberabandhu, Shrikanatha, Lokavarnottama.

(8.) Mridu, Samadhivedya, Kodandi, Nilakantha, Parashvadhi, Vishalaksha,
Mrigavyadha, Suresha, Suryatapana, Dharmadhama.

(9) Kshamakshetra, Bhagavana, Bhaganetrabhida, Ugra, Pashupati, Tarkshya,
Priyabhakta, Parantapa, Data, Dayakara.

(10) Daksha, Karmandi, Kamashasana, Shmashananilaya, Suksha, Shmashanastha,
Maheshvara, Lokakarta, Mrigapati, Mahakarta.

(11) Mahoushadhi, Uttara, Gopati, Gopta, Jnanagamya, Puratana, Niti, Suniti,
Shuddhatma, Soma.

(12) Somarata, Sukhi, Sompapa, Amritapa, Soumya, Mahatejah, Mahadyuti,
Tejomaya, Amritamaya, Annamaya.

(13) Suhapati, Ajatashatru, Aloka, Sambhavya, Havyavahana, Lokakara, Vedakara,
Sutrakara, Sanatana, Maharshi.

(14) Kapilacharya, Vishvadipti, Vilochana, Pinakapani, Bhudeva, Svastida,
Svastikrita, Sudhi, Dhatridhama, Dhamakara.

(15) Sarvaga, Sarvagochara, Brahmasrika, Vishvasrika, Sarga, Karnikara, Priya,
Kavi, Shakha, Vishakha.

(16) Goshakha, Shiva, Bhishaka, Anuttama, Gangaplavodaka, Bhaya, Pushkala,
Sthapati, Sthira, Vijitatma.

(17) Vishayatma, Bhutavahana, Sarathi, Sagana, Ganakaya, Sukirti, Chinnasamshaya,
Kamadeva, Kamapala, Bhasmoddhulita-vigraha.

(18) Bhasmapriya, Bhasmashyai, Kami, Kanta, Kritagama, Samavarta, Nivritatma,
Dharmapunja, Sadashiva, Akalmasha.

(19) Chaturvahu, Durvasa, Durasada, Durlabha, Durgama, Durga,
Sarvayudhavisharada, Adhyatmayoganilaya, Sutantu, Tantuvardhana.

(20) Shubhanga, Lokasaranga, Jagadisha, Janardana, Bhasmashuddhikara, Meru,
Ojasvi, Shuddhavigraha, Asadhya, Sadhusadhya.

(21) Bhrityamarkatarupadhrika, Hiranyareta, Pourana, Ripujivahara, Bala,
Mahahrada, Mahagarta, Vyali, Siddhavrindaravandita, Vyaghracharmambara.

(22) Mahabhuta, Mahanidhi, Amritasha, Amritavapu, Panchajanya, Prabhanjana,
Panchavimshatitattvastha, Parijata, Para-vara, Sulabha.

(23) Suvrata, Shura, Brahmavedanidhi, Nidhi, Varnashramaguru, Varni, Shatrujita,
Shatrutapana, Ashrama, Kshapana.

(24) Kshama, Jnanavana, Achaleshvara,Pramanabhuta, Durjneya, Suparna,
Vayuvahana, Dhanurdhara, Dhanurveda, Gunarashi.

(25) Gunakara, Satyasatyapara, Dina, Dharmaga, Ananda, Dharmasadhana,
Anantadrishti, Danda, Damayita, Dama.

(26) Abhivadya, Mahamaya, Vishvakarma, Visharada, Vitaraga, Vinitatma, Tapasvi,
Bhutabhavana, Unmattavesha, Pracchanna .

(27) Jitakama, Ajitapriya, Kalyanaprakriti, Kalpa, Sarvalokaprajapati, Tarasvi,
Tavaka, Dhimana, Pradhanaprabhu, Avyaya.

(28) Lokapala, Antarhitatma, Kalpadi, Kamalekshana, Vedashastrarthatattvajna,
Aniyama, Niyatashraya, Chandra, Surya, Shani.

(29) Ketu, Varanga, Vidrumacchavi, Bhaktivashya, Anagha, Parabrahmamrigavanarpana,
Adri, Adryalaya, Kanta, Paramatma.

(30) Jagadguru, Sarvakarmalaya, Tushta, Mangalya, Mangalavrita, Mahatapa,
Dirghatapa, Sthavishtha, Sthavira Dhruva.

(31) Aha, Samvatsara, Vyapti, Pramana, Parmatapa, Samvatsarakara, Mantrapratyaya,
Sarvadarshana, Aja, Sarveshvara

(32) Siddha, Mahareta, Mahabala, Yogi, Yogya, Siddhi, Mahateja, Sarvadi, Agraha,
Vasu.

(33) Vasumana, Satya, Sarvapaphara, Sukirti, Shobhana, Shrimana,
Avanmanasagochara, Amritashashvata, Shanta, Vanahasta.

(34) Pratapavana, Kamandalundhara, Dhanvi, Vedanga, Vedavita, Muni, Bhrajishnu,
Bhojana, Bhokta, Lokanantha.

(35) Duradhara, Atindriya, Mahamaya, Sarvavasa, Chatushpatha, Kalayogi,
Mahanada, Mahotsaha, Mahabala, Mahabuddhi.

(36) Mahavirya, Bhutachari, Purandara, Nishachara, Pretachari, Mahashakti,
Mahadyuti, Ahirdeshyavapu, Shrimana, Sarvacharyamanogati.

(37) Vahushruta, Niyatatma, Dhruva, Adhruva, Sarvashaska, Ojastejodyutidara,
Nartaka, Nrityapriya, Nrityanitya, Prakashatma.

(38) Prakashaka, Spashtakshara, Budha, Mantra, Samana, Sarasamplava,
Yugadikrida, Yugavarta, Gambhira, Vrishavahana.

(39) Ishta, Vishishta, Shishteshta, Shalabha, Sharabha, Dhanu, Tirtharupa,
Tirthanama, Tirthadrishya, Stuta.

(40) Arthada, Apamnidhi, Adhishthana, Vijaya, Jayakalavita, Pratishthita,
Pramanajna, Hiranyakavacha, Hari, Vimochana.

(41) Suragana, Vidyesha, Vindusamshraya, Balarupa, Vikarta, Balonmatta, Gahana,
Guha, Karana, Karta.

(42) Sarvabandhavimochana, Vyavasaya, Vyavasthana, Sthanada, Jagadadija,
Guruda, Lalita, Abheda, Bhavatmatmasamsthita, Vireshvara.

(43) Virabhadra, Virasanavidhi, Virata, Virachudamani, Vetta, Tivrananda,
Nadidhara, Ajnadhara, Tridhuli, Shipivishta.

(44) Shivalaya, Balakhilya, Mahachapa, Tigmamshu, Badhira, Khaga, Adhirma,
Susharana, Subrahmanya, Sudhapati.

(45) Maghavana, Koushika, Gomana, Virama, Sarvasadhana, Lalataksha,
Vishvadeha, Sara, Samsarachakrabhrita, Amoghadanda.

(46) Madhyastha, Hiranya, Brahmavarchasi, Paramartha, Para, Mayi, Shambara,
Vyaghralochana, Ruchi, Virinchi.

(47) Svarbandhu, Vachaspati, Aharpati, Ravi, Virochana, Skanda, Shasta,
Vaivasvata, Yama, Yukti.

(48) Unnatakirti, Sanuraga, Paranjaya, Kailashadhipati, Kanta, Savita, Ravilochana,
Vidvattama, Vitabhaya, Vishvabharta.

(49) Anivarita, Nitya, Niyatakalyana, Punyashravanakirtana, Durashrava,
Vishvasaha, Dhyeya, Duhsvapnanashana, Uttarana, Dushkritiha.

(50) Vijneya, Duhsaha, Bhava, Anadi Bhurbhuvakshi, Kiriti, Ruchirangada, Janana,
Janajanmadi, Pritimana.

(51) Nitimana, Dhava, Vasishtha, Kashyapa, Bhanu, Bhima, Bhimaparakrama,
Pranava, Satpatchachara, Mahakasha.

(52) Mahaghana, Janmadhipa, Mahadeva, Sakalagamaparaga, Tattva, Tattavit,
Ekatma, Vibhu, Vishvavibhushana, Rishi.

(53) Brahmana, Aishvaryajanmamrityujaratiga, Panchayajnasamutpatti, Vishvesha,
Vimalodaya, Atmayoni, Anadyanta, Vatsala, Bhaktalokadhrika, Gayatrivallabha.

(54) Pramshu, Vishvavasa, Prabhakara,, Shishu, Giriraha, Samrata, Sushena,
Surashatruha, Amogha, Arishtanemi.

(55) Kumuda, Vigatajvara, Svayamjyoti, Tanujyoti, Achanchala, Atmajyoti, Pingala,
Kapilashmashru, Bhalanetra, Trayitanu.

(56) Jnanaskandamahaniti, Vishvotipatti, Upaplava, Bhaga, Vivasvana, Aditya,
Yogapara, Divaspati, Kalyanagunanama, Papaha.

(57) Punyadarshana, Udarakirti, Udyogi, Sadyogi, Sadasanmaya, Nakshatramali,
Nakesha, Svadhishthanapadashraya, Pavitra, Paphari.

(58) Manipura, Nabhogati, Hrit, Pundarikasina, Shatru, Shranta, Vrishakapi, Ushna,
Grihapati, Krishna.

(59) Paramartha, Anarthanashana, Adharmashatru, Ajneya, Puruhuta, Purushruta,
Brahmagarbha, Vrihadgarbha, Dharmadhenu,Dhanagama.

(60) Jagaddhitaishi, Sugata, Kumara, Kushalagama, Hiranyavarna, Jyotishmana,
Nanbhutarata, Dhvani, Araga, Nayandyaksha.

(61) Vishvamitra, Dhaneshvara, Brahmajyoti, Vasudhama, Mahajyotianuttama,
Matamaha, Matarishva, Nabhasvana, Nagaharadhrika, Pulastya.

(62) Pulaha, Agastya, Jatukarnya, Parashara, Niravarananirvara, Vairanchya,
Vishtarashrava, Atmabhu, Aniruddha, Atri.

(63) Jnanamurti, Mahayasha, Lokaviragranti, Vira, Chanda, Satyaparakrama,
Vyalakapa, Mahakalpa, Kalpaviriksha, Kaladhara,

(64) Alankarishnu, Achala, Rochishnu, Vikramonnata. Ayuhshabdapati, Vegi,
Plavana, Shikhisarathi, Asamsrishta, Atithi.

(65) Shatrupreamathi, Padapasana, Vasushrava, Pratapa, Havyavaha, Vishvabhojana,
Japaya, Jaradishamana, Lohitatma, Tanunapata.

(66) Vrihadashva, Nabhoyoni, Supratika, Tamisraha, Nidagha, Tapana, Megha,
Svaksha, Parapuranjaya, Sukhanila.

(67) Sunishpanna, Surabhi, Shishiratmaka, Vasanta, Madhava, Grishma, Nabhasya,
Vijavahana, Angira, Guru.

(68) Atreya, Vimala, Vishvavahana, Pavana, Sumati, Vidvana, Travidya,
Naravahana, Manobuddhi, Ahamkara.

(69) Kshetrajna, Kshetrapalaka, Jamadagni, Balanidhi, Vigala, Vishvagalava,
Aghora, Anuttara, Yajna, Shreye.

(70) Nishshreyahpatha, Shaila, Gaganakundabha, Danavari, Arindama, Rajanijanaka,
Charuvishalya, Lokakalpadhrika, Chaturveda, Chatrubhava.

(71) Chatura, Chaturapriya, Amlaya, Samamlaya, Tirthavedashivalaya, Vahurupa,
Maharupa, Sarvarupa, Charachara, Nyayanirmayaka.

(72) Nyayi, Nyayagamya, Nirantara, Sahasramurddha, Devendra,
Sarvashastraprabhanjana, Munda, Virupa, Vikranta, Dandi.

(73) Danta, Gunottama, Pingalaksha, Janadhyaksha, Nilagriva, Niramaya,
Sahasravahu, Sarvesha, Sharanya, Sarvalokadhrika.

(74) Padmasana, Paramjyoti, Parampara, Paramfala, Padmagarbha, Mahagarbha,
Vishvagarbha, Vichakshana, Characharajna, Varada.

(75) Varesha, Mahabala, Devasuraguru, Deva, Devasuramahashraya, Devadideva,
Devagni, Devagnisukhada, Prabhu, Devasureshvara.

(76) Divya, Devasuramaheshvara, Devadevamaya, Achintya,
Devadevatmasambhava, Sadyoni, Asuravyaghra, Devasimha, Divakara,
Vibudhagravara.

(77) Shreshtha, Sarvadevottamottama, Shivajnanarata, Shrimana, Shikhishriparvatapriya,
Vajrahasta, Siddhakhadgi, Narasimhanipatana, Brahmachari,
Lokachari.

(78) Dharmachari, Dhanadhipa, Nandi, Nandishvara, Ananta, Nagnavratadhara
Shuchi, Lingadhyaksha, Suradhyaksha, Yogadhyaksha.

(79) Yugavaha, Svadharma, Svargata, Svargakhara, Svaramayasvana, Vanadhyaksha,
Vijakarta, Dharmakrit, Dharmasambhava, Dambha.

(80) Alobha, Arthavit, Shambhu, Sarvahbutamaheshvara, Shmashananilaya, Tryksha,
Setu, Apratimakriti, Lokottaras-futaloka, Trymbaka.

(81) Nagabhushana, Andhakari, Makhaveshi, Vishnukandharapatana, Hinadosha,
Akshayaguna, Dakshari, Pushadantabhit, Dhurjati, Khandaparashu.

(82) Sakala, Nishkala, Anagha, Akala, Sakaladhara, Pandurabha, Mrida, Nata, Purna,
Purayita,

(83) Punya, Sukumara, Sulochana, Samageyapriya, Akrura, Punyakirti, Anaymaya,
Manojava, Tirthakara, Jatila.

(84) Jiviteshvara, Jivitantakara, Nitya, Vasureta, Vasuprada, Sadgati, Satkriti, Siddhi,
Sajjati, Kalakantaka.

(85) Kaladhara, Mahakala, Bhuasatyapraryana, Lokalavanyakarta,
Lokottarasukhalaya, Chandrasanjivana, Shasta, Lokaguda, Mahadhipa, Lokabandhu.

(86) Lokanatha, Kritajna, Krittibhushana, Anapaya, Akshara, Kanta,
Sarvashastrahadvara, Tejomaya, Dyutidhara, Lokagranti.

(87) Anu, Shuchismita, Prasannatma, Durjjeya, Duratikrama, Jyotirmaya, Jagannatha,
Nirakra, Jaleshvara, Tumbavina.

(88) Mahakopa, Vishoka, Shokanashana, Trllokapa, Trilokesha, Sarvashuddhi,
Adhokshaja, Avyaktalakshana, Deva, Vyaktavyakta.

(890 Vishampati, Varashila, Varaguna, Saramandhana, Maya, Brahma, Vishnu,
Prajapala, Hamsa, Hamsagati.

(90) Vaya, Vedha, Vidhata, Dhata, Srashta, Harta, Chaturmukha,
Kailasashikharavasi, Sarvavasi, Sadagati.

(91) Hiranyagarbha, Druhina, Bhutapa, Bhupati, Sadyogi, Yogavit, Yogi, Varada,
Brahmanapriya, Devapriya.

(92) Devanatha, Devajna, Devachintaka, Vishamaksha, Vishalaksha, Vrishada,
Vrishavardhana, Nirmama, Nirahamkara, Nirmoha.

(93) Nirupadrava, Darpha, Darpada, Dripta, Sarvabhutaparivartaka, Sahasrajit,
Sahasrarchi, Prabhava, Snigddhaprakriti, Sahasrarchi, Prabhava,
Snigddhaprakritidakshina, Bhutabhavyabhavannatha.

(94) Bhutinashana, Artha, Anartha, Mahakosha, Parakaryaikapandita, Nishkantaka,
Kritananda, Nirvyaja, Vyajamardana, Sattvavana.

(95) Sattvika, Satyakirti, Snehakritagama, Akampita, Gunagrahi, Naikatma,
Naikakarmakrit, Suprita, Sumukha, Suksha.

(96) Sukara, Dakshinaila, Nandiskandhadhara, Dhurya, Prakata, Pritivardhana,
Aparajita, Sarvasattva, Govinda, Adhrita.

(97) Sattvavahana, Svadhrita, Siddha, Putamurti, Yashodhana, Varahabhringadhrika,
Bhringi, Balavana, Ekanayaka, Shrutiprakasha.

(98) Shrutimana, Ekabandhu, Anekakrit, Shrivatsalashivarambha, Shantabhadra,
Sama, Yasha, Bhushaya,Bhushana, Bhuti.

(99) Bhutakrit, Bhutabhavana, Akampa, Bhaktikaya, Kalaha, Nilalohita, Satyavrata,
Mahatyagi, Nityashantiparayana, Pararthavritti.

(100) Vivikshu, Visharada, Shubhada, Shubhakarta, Shubhanama, Shubha, Anarthita,
Aguna, Sakshi, Akarta.

You will notice that a few of the names are repeated so that the total number of
names do not quite add up to one thousand.

to be contd......

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!
Title: Re: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 19, 2016, 12:32:38 AM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

OM SAI RAM ॥

Shivarati Vrata   

Shivaratri is the tithi (lunar day) on which Brahma and Vishnu had worshipped
Shiva. A vrata is a special religious rite that is performed. A vrata observed on
shivaratri (the night dedicated to Shiva) is particularly important. It brings undying
punya. One stays up at night and prays to a linga. One also has to observe a fast.
There used to be a hunter named Rurudruha. He was not at all righteous. In fact, he
was quite evil and cruel. He killed many deer and he was also a robber and thief.
Naturally, Rurudruha knew nothing about shivaratri vrata.

But it happened to be shivaratri when the hunter’s parents, wife and children felt very
hungry. They asked Rurudruha to go and get some meat so that they might eat. The
hunter went to the forest to kill deer, but could not find any. It was already evening
and no game was to be seen. Rurdruha found a water-hole and decided that he would
keep a vigil there. Sooner or later, some animal was bound to turn up. He climbed up
onto a bilva tree that was by the side of the water-hole. And in case he should feel
thirsty, he kept a pot full of water next to him. There he waited.

Soon a doe turned up to drink water. The hunter picked up his bow and arrow.

When he did so, the tree shock and a few bilva leaves fell on a linga that was right
under the tree. Bilva leaves are sacred to Shiva. Some water spilled from the pot and
also fell on the linga. Rurudruha did not of course know this.

But the doe saw the hunter. Don’t kill me right now, said the does. My children and
husband are at home. Let me go and bid them farewell. When I return, you are
welcome to kill me.

The hunter was in no mood to let the doe go. Does an animal return to be killed? But
the doe took an oath and Rurdruha let her go.

After a short while, another doe turned up to drink water. The two does were sisters
and both of them married to the same deer. As before, the tree shook and bilva leaves
and some water fell on the linga.

The doe saw the hunter and said, Wait for sometime before you kill me. Let me say
goodbye to my husband and children.

The hunter was reluctant to let the doe go. But the second doe also took an oath that
she would return. So Rurudruha decided to wait.

After the doe had gone, the deer turned up to drink water. And when the hunter
picked up his bow and arrow, bilva leaves and water again fell on the linga.
The deer said, Hunter, let me go now. I will come back and you can kill then. I wish
to bid adieu to my two wives and children.

The deer also took on oath that he would return and Rurudruha let him go.
After some time had passed, the two does and the deer came to where Rurdruha was.
Each said, Kill me and spare the others. They need to stay alive to look after the
children. The baby deer had also accompanied their parents. They said,Kill us. We
don’t wish to stay alive when our parents are gone. The hunter was so surprised at
these developments that the tree shook again. Bilva leaves and water fell on the linga.
Shiva now took pity on Rurdruha and removed all evil thoughts from his mind. The
hunter spared the deer. Shiva himself appeared before Rurudruha and said, From now
on your name will be Guha. You will be so blessed that Rama will become your
guest.

This story demonstrates that even if shivaratrivrata is performed unconsciously, great
punya is

to be contd......

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!
Title: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 19, 2016, 11:37:15 PM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

OM SAI RAM ॥

Vedanidhi   

In the city of Avanti there used to be a righteous brahmana. He had two sons,
Sunidhi and Vedanidhi. Vedanidhi was wicked.

The king of Avanti was so pleased with the brahmana that he gave him a golden
bangle as a present. The brahmana took it home and gave it to his wife to store
safely. There it was discovered by Vedanidhi. Vedanidhi stole the ornament and
gave it to a dancing-girl.

It so happened that the king was watching a dance performed by the dancing-girl and
he noticed the bangle on the girl’s hand. He found out from the girl that the bangle
had been given to her by Vedanidhi. He retrieved the bangle and called the
brahmana. Do you remember the golden bangle that I had give you? said the king.
Can you please return it to me? I need it.

The brahmana hurried home and asked his wife for the bangle. But it could not be
found and they realized that it was Vedanidhi who had stolen it. Vedanidhi was
banished from his parents’ house.

He wandered around here and there and begged food so that he might eat. One day,
he did not get any food at all. That day happened to be shivaratri. But Vedanidhi
didn’t know this. He saw several people going to Shiva’s temple with all sorts of
offerings, including food, in their hands. The evil brahmana thought that he might be
able to steal and eat this food. He followed the devotees to the temple and waited till
they should fall asleep.

When they did so, Vedanidhi crept up to the place where the offerings had been
placed. This was right in front of the linga. It was very dark there and Vedanidhi
could not see very well. A lamp was burning and the shadow of the lamp fell on the
linga. Vedanidhi tore off a piece of cloth from his clothing and stuffed it into the
lamp so that it might burn better. The flame rose and the shadow on the linga was
removed.

But when Vedanidhi was about to steal the food, the devotees awoke. They gave
chase to the thief and shot at him with arrows. These arrow struck Vedanidhi and he
died.

Yama’s messengers arrived and wanted to take the evil brahmana to hell. But
Shiva’s companions also arrived and they would not permit Vedanidhi to be taken to
hell. The brahmana had fasted on shivaratri day, he stay awake at night and he had
removed the shadow from the linga. These were acts of the faithful, even if they had
been performed unconsciously. Vedanidhi’s sins were all forgiven.

to be contd......

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!
Title: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 20, 2016, 11:50:53 PM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

OM SAI RAM ॥

Chandrashekhara 

Parvati once asked Shiva, Lord, tell me, why do you wear a crescent moon on your
forehead? What is the story behind this?
Shiva told her the story.

Earlier, Parvati had been born as Sati, the daughter of Daksha. As Sati, she had been
married to Shiva. Since Daksha insulted her husband Shiva, Sati gave up her life.
When Sati died, Shiva no longer found pleasure in anything. He began to live in the
forest and started to perform tapasya. Such was the power of the tapasya that any
trees or mountains that were near the place where Shiva was meditating used to be
burnt into ashes. As Shiva moved from place to place, the earth started to burn and
wither away . The gods were greatly alarmed at these developments. They went to
Brahma to seek advice as to how the earth might be saved.

Brahma, said, Let us take the moon god Chandra with us and make a present of him
to Shiva. Chandra’s visage is so pleasing that Shiva may feel happy and pacified.
The gods placed Chandra in a pot of amrita (a life-giving drink). They also had
another pot that was full of poison. With these two pots they went to Shiva and
offered him the pots.

Brahma said, The gods have brought you two pots. Please accept them.
Shiva first accepted the pot that contained the amrita. As soon as he did this, the
crescent moon came out and got fixed to Shiva’s forehead. Next Shiva accept the pot
of poison and touched it with his middle finger. He touched his throat with the finger
and the throat became blue. That is the reason why Shiva is known as Nilakantha,
blue of throat. And because the moon is like a crown to Shiva. Shiva is called
Chandrashekhara.

At the sight of the moon, Shiva was pacified.

to be contd......

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!
Title: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 22, 2016, 01:17:17 AM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

OM SAI RAM ॥

The Ashes  

Parvati said, I understand about the moon now. 
But why do you always smear ashes on your body?
 What is the reason for that? 

Shiva told her the story. 

There used to be a brahmana who was descended from the great sage Bhrigu.
 
This brahmana began a very difficult tapasya. 

The tremendous heat of the summer made no difference to him. 
Nor was he disturbed by the downpour of the monsoon.   He was only
interested in meditating.  When he felt hungry, he used to ask the bears,
the deer, the lions and the jackals to fetch him some fruits.  The wild beasts
had lost  all fear of him, they served him instead.  Later on, the brahmana
gave up eating fruits also.  He ate only green leaves.  And because leaves are
called parna, the brahmana came to be known as Parnada.  He performed tapasya
for many years. 

One day, Parnada was cutting some grass and his scythe slipped and sliced
off his middle finger.  Parnada was amazed to find that no blood issued from
the severed joint.  Instead, a sap like that which issues from plants came out. 

Parnada’s vanity knew no bounds.  He realized that his was due to the fact that
he had been living on green leaves for such long time. 

Parnada began to jump with delight.  Shiva decided that Parnada needed to be
taught a lesson.  He disguised himself as a brahmana and arrived before Parnada. 

Why are you so happy? asked Shiva. 
Can’t you see? replied Parnada.  My tapasya has been so successful that my blood
has become like the sap of plants. 

This sort of vantiy destroys the fruits of all tapasya, said Shiva. 
What have you got to be so proud about?  Your blood has only turned into the
sap of plants.  What happens when you burn plants?  They become ashes. 
I myself have performed so much tapasya that my blood has becomes ashes. 

Shiva sliced off his middle finger and ashes came out of it.  Parnada was impressed. 
He realized that there was nothing that he could be proud about; here was a far
greater hermit than he.  He asked Shiva who he was and Shiva then displayed his
true form to Parnada.  Ever since that day, there have always been ashes on Shiva’s body.

to be contd......

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!
Title: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 23, 2016, 12:00:37 AM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

OM SAI RAM ॥

Nandi   

There was a sage named Shilada.  He once saw that his ancestors were being tortured in hell. 
When he tried to find out why this was so, he was told that this was because Shilada
did not yet have a son. 

To obtain a son, Shilada began to pray to Shiva.  He prayed for a thousand years. 
At the end of the tapasya, Shiva appeared and offered to grant Shilada a boon. 
Shilada wanted the boon that he might have a virtuous son.  A few days later,
when Shilada was ploughing the land, he discovered a baby boy on the blade of the
plough.  The boy was as bright as the sun and the fire. 

Shilada was frightened and started to run away.  But the boy called after him,
Father, stop. Father, stop,  A voice was then heard from the sky.  This voice told Shilada
that this was the son he had wanted. 

Since this son would make everyone happy, he was to be named Nandi.  Shilada
brought nandi home to his mermitage. 

He taught his son the Vedas, the arts of the medicine and fighting, dancing and singing
and several other sacred texts.  All this Nandi mastered within fifteen days.  When nandi
was seven years old, two powerful sages arrived in Shilada’s hermitage.  Their names were
Mitra and Varuna. 

Shilada worshipped them and presented Nandi before them.  The sages blessed Nandi
with the words,  Be learned, be faithful to your teacher. 

Shilada said, Sages, why didn’t you bless my son with a long life? 

We couldn’t, replied the sages.  Your son is going to die when he is eight years old.

That is written in his stars.  Shilada was crestfallen to hear this, but Nandi consoled his father.

He promised his father that he would do something so that this fate would have to be rewritten. 

He would pray to Shiva.  And when he met Shiva, he would ask of him a boon. 

Meeting Shiva, exclaimed Shilada.  I had to meditate for a thousand years before I could get
to meet Shiva.  How do you expect to meet Shiva in the one year tha this left to you?’ 

Wait and see, father,  replied Nandi. 

Shiva is difficult to meet if you only perform tapasya or thirst for knowledge. 
The secret lies in faith and devotion.  I will manage. 

There is a river named Bhuvana.  Nandi entered this river and began underwater prayers
 to Shiva . 

His efforts pleased Shiva so much that Shiva appeared before him. 
What boon do you want? asked Shiva. 

Please grant me the boon that I may be devote to you, replied Nandi.  I don’t want to be
born become old and die. 

Shiva granted Nandi the boon that he and his father would get to live in Shiva’s residence
in Shivaloka. 

Shiva’s companions are known as ganas.   Shiva made Nandi ganapati, the chief of the
ganas and retained him as a perpetu companion.  Shiva also gave Nandi a wonderful
garland to wear.  As soon as he put this garland on, Nandi became resplendent with three
eyes and ten hands.

to be contd......

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!
Title: Re: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 23, 2016, 11:27:16 PM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

OM SAI RAM ॥

Nimesha 

The smallest unit of time is nimesha. This is the amount of time it takes to blink.
Fifteen nimeshas make one kashtha and thirty kashthas are one kala. Thirty kalas
make one muhurta and thirty muhurtas are one day. Thirty days are one month. Each
month is divided into two lunar fortnights, shukapaksha and krishnapaksha. Six
months are called an ayana. There are thus two ayanas in a year. Three hundred and
sixty human years are equivalent to one year for the gods.

The lengths of the four yugas (eras) are defined in terms of years of the gods, not in
terms of human years. There are four eras and their names are kritayuga or
satyayuga, tretayuga, dvaparayuga and kaliyuga. Satyayuga lasts for four thousand
divine years, tretayuga for three thousand, dvaparayuga for two thousand and
kaliyuga for one thousand. This adds up to ten thousand divine years. The sandhyas
and sandhyamshas are the intervening periods between the yugas and these add up to
two thousand divine years. Thus, the four yugas taken together last for twelve
thouand divine years.

In a kalpa (cycle), each of the four yugas occurs a thousand times. A kalpa has
fourteen manvantaras (eras). In a manvantara, each of the four yugas thus occurs
seventy one times. One kalpa corresponds to one day for Brahma. One thousand
kalpas are one of Brahma’s years and eight thousand of Brahma’s years make one of
Brahma’s yugas. One thousand such yugas make up one savana and Brahma lives for
three thousand savanas. This period is known as a trivrita.

During each of Vishnu’s days, one Brahma is born and dies. And during each of
Shiva’s days, one Vishnu is born and dies.

to be contd......

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!
Title: Re: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 25, 2016, 12:46:34 AM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

OM SAI RAM ॥

Daksha Yajna 

The sages aid, Romaharshana, you have not told us the story of the quarrel between
Daksha and Shiva which led to Sati’s death. You have only mentioned it in passing.
Tell us the story now.

Romaharshana related the following story.

Daksha’s daughter Sati was married to Shiva. One day, the gods, the demons and the
sages went to visit Shiva and Sati in the Himalyas. Daksha accompanied the other
gods on this visit. When the gods arrived, Shiva was seated and did not get up. He
showed no special honour to Daksha because Daksha happened to be his father-inlaw.
Daksha interpreted this as a sign of disrespect. He felt insulted.

Subsequently, Daksha arranged for a yajna and sent invitations to all his other sonsin-
law and their wives. He did not invite Shiva or Sati. But Sati heard about the
sacrifice and resolved that she would attend it, invitiation or no invitation. In a
beautiful vimana, Sati travelled to her father’s house.

Daksha was not at all pleased to see Sati. In fact, he ignored her completely and
devoted all his attention to his other daughters. When Sati wished to know the reason
for this, Daksha told her that this was because of her husband, who happened to be a
worthless fellow and did not deserve any respect. Hearing this, Sati gave up her life.
The mountain Himalaya had prayed that Sati might be born as his daughter. Sati was
born as his daughter Parvati and married Shiva again. This story you already know.
Several years later, Daksha resolved to hold an ashvamedha yajna (horse sacrifice) in
the Himalayas. The gods and the sages were all invited to this sacrifices, although
Shiva was not amongst the invites. The sage Dadhichi did not like this slight to Shiva
and he boycotted the yajna in protest.

Parvati heard about this sacrifice and she began to incite Shiva to do something.
Shiva created a being named Virabhadhra. Virabhadhra shone with energy and he had
thousands of mouths and eyes. His hair glistened like lighting and his hands were full
of all sorts of weapons. When he spoke, it was like thunder. From his body,
Virabhadra created a female demon named Bhadrakali.

What are our orders?, asked Virabhadra and Bhadrakali of Shiva.
Go and destroy Daksha’s yajna, was the order.

To help them in their endeavour, Virabhadra created several other demons from parts
of his body. All of them had a thousand arms and carried weapons. Virabhadra,
Bhadrakali and these other demons headed for Daksha’s sacrifice.

When they got there, they found that the sacrifice had already started and the sacred
fire was burning. The sages were reciting hymns and the gods were watching.

Musical instruments were being played. Virabhadra roared and the sound of the roar
was so terrible that several of the gods began to run away. The earth shook with the
sound of the roar. There were tidal waves in the ocean.

Daksha was frightened. But he summoned up courage and asked, Who are you and
why have you come here?

We are Shiva’s servants and we have come to take part in the sacrifice, replied
Virabhadra.

Virabhadra and the other demons then proceeded to burn down the structure where
the sacrifice was being held. They tied up the priests and threw all the offerings
away. With their weapons, they attacked the gods. Whatever resistance the gods tried
to put up was taken care of by Virabhadra’s trident and Bhadrakali’s spear. The
goddess Sarasvati lost her nose and the god Agni lost his arms. The sage Bhaga had
his eyes gouged out and the sage Pusha lost all his teeth. Virabhadra sliced off
Daksha’s head and gave it to Bhadrakali, who proceeded to kick it around as one
kicks a football. Thousand and thousands of gods died and the sacrifice became a
battlefield.

Vishu tried to fight it out and he and Virabhadra shot arrows at each other. But one
of Virabhadra’s arrows struck Vishnu on the chest and he fell down unconscious.
Spurred on by Brahma, the gods began to pray to Shiva. These prayers pacified
Shiva and he asked Virbhadra and Bhadrakali to refrain from causing any further
damage.

Brahma asked, What about the gods who have been killed? Please bring them back
to life, Since Shiva’s anger had been appeased, he restored life to the dead gods. Those who
had lost parts of their anatomy got them back again.

But what was to be done about Daksha? His head could not be found. A goat’s head was therefore stuck onto
Daksha’s body. Thus restored to life. Daksha begged forgiveness of Shiva.

to be contd......

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!
Title: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 25, 2016, 11:26:25 PM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

OM SAI RAM ॥

Parvati Becomes Gouri 

There were two asuras named Shumbha and Nishumbha. They meditated a lot and
pleased Brahma. Brahma thereupon gave them the boon that they could not be killed
by males. Having obtained the boon, the two demons started to oppress the world.
They drove the gods out of heaven and the gods went to Brahma so that a solution
might be found to the problem.

Brahma went to Shiva. You have to help the Gods, he told Shiva. I have given
Shumbha and Nishumbha the boon that they cannot be killed by males. Find a way so
that a female is born out of Parvati’s body. She will kill Shumbha and Nishumbha.
I will try, replied Shiva.

When Shiva next met Parvati, he addressed her as Kali. This angered Parvati, since
kali means black or dark.

Why did you marry me if you thought I was so dark? she asked Shiva. Why do you
pretened to love me? Cursed is the woman who is not loved by her husband. I am
going to perform tapasya so that I may become fair. I am going to pray to Brahma.
Parvati went off to meditate. She meditated for many years.

There was a tiger which saw Parvati meditating. It was not a good tiger at all, but an
evil one. It thought that Parvati would provide a good meal. It sat down in the front
of Parvati to appreciate for a while the treat that was in store for it. Parvati did not
realize that the tiger was planning to eat her. She thought that it had sat down in front
of her because it wanted to protect her from other wild beasts. She thought that the
tiger was one of her devotees and she therefore entered the tiger’s soul. As soon as
she did this, all thoughts vanished from the tiger’s mind. Now it was indeed one of
her devotees.

Meanwhile, Brahma arrived to find out who Parvati was meditating. Parvati said that
she wanted to become Gouri, that is, someone who was fair. She was sick and tired of
being addressed as kali. Brahma granted the boon.

Parvati shed off all the dark cells (kosha) from her body became Gouri. From the
cells emerged a dark-hued goddess named Koushiki. Parvali handed over Koushiki to
Brahma. Endowed with weapons by Brahma, Koushiki killed Shumbha and
Nishumbha.

Parvati returned to her husband as Gouri.

What happened to the tiger? Shiva turned him into a man and he was employed by
Nandi as one of Shiva’s guards. He was named Somanandi.

to be contd......

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!
Title: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 25, 2016, 11:28:29 PM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

OM SAI RAM ॥

Upamanyu 

The sage Vyaghrapada had a son named Upamanyu. When he was small, he wanted
some milk from his mother. But he was not at all happy with the milk that his mother
gave him. He complained that it did not taste like milk at all.

Naturally, said his mother. I did not give you milk. How can we afford milk? We
are not rich. I powdered some rice and mixed it with water. That is what I gave to
you as milk. Unfortunately, you have tasted milk in your uncle’s house and you could
make out the difference.

Upamanyu’s mother began to cry. But Upamanyu consoled his mother. Don’t cry,
please, he said. I will pray to Shiva and get milk for myself.

His mother taught him the mantra that was to be used for praying to Shiva. She also
taught him another mantra which would summon up a terrible divine weapon named
aghorastra. This was just in case there was any danger.

Upamanyu went to the Himalayas and started to meditate. He lived only on air and
chanted the incantation that his mother had taught him. He prayed in front of an
earthen linga. Demons came to disturb his meditation, but Upamanyu paid no
attention to them. Shiva himself was impressed by Upamanyu’s difficult tapasya.
But he thought that he would test Upamanyu first.

He arrived in front of Upamanyu in the disguise of Indra and asked, Upamanyu, what
are you doing?

I am blessed that the king of the gods has arrived before me, replied Upamanu. I am
praying to Shiva.

Shiva! Why pray to that useless fellow? asked Shiva.

Upamanu could not stand this insult to Shiva. He summoned up aghorastra by means
of the mantra and let it loose at the person he thought was Indra. Shiva then
manifested himself in his own form and aghorastra was repelled by Nadi, who had
also turned up. Shiva himself taught Upamanu all sorts of sacred knowledge, and
arrangements were made so that Upamanyu need never suffer from a lack of milk.
Krishna once came to meet the sage Upamanyu, many years after the milk incident.
Upamanyu taught Krishna the words of wisdom that he learned from Shiva; he also
taught Krishna to pray to Shiva. It was by praying to Shiva that Krishna obtained his
son Samba. For sixteen months Krishna had to pray before Shiva appeared, to grant
the boon regarding the son. Parvati also granted Krishna several boons.

to be contd......

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!
Title: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 25, 2016, 11:30:15 PM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

OM SAI RAM ॥

Andhakasura 

Shiva was once sitting on Mount Mandara. Paravati came up from behind, so that
Shiva could not see her, and covered Shiva’s eyes with her two hands. Shiva could
not see and everything seemed to be dark to him. Parvati’s hands sweated from the
exertion and the sweat fell down on the ground. From this sweat, a dark and fierce
creature was born and started to roar.

Parvati, said Shiva, What are you up to ? First, you cover up my eyes so that I can’t
see. Next, you roar so as to frighten me.

Not I, replied Parvati. See for yourself. I wonder where this creature has come from.
She removed her hands and Shiva saw the being in front of them. It is our son, said
Shiva. It was born from your sweat when you covered my eyes. Since it was born
when my eyes were in darkness, let it be called Andhaka.

Andhaka was born blind, as Shiva was effectively blind when Andhaka was born.
There was an asura named Hiranyanetra. (In other Puranas, this same asura is
referred to as Hiranyaksha.) Hiranyanetra had no sons. He therefore began to pray to
Shiva so that he might have a son. Shiva told Hiranyanetra that it was impossible for
him to have a son. However, if he so desired, he could have their son Andhaka and
bring him up as his own son.

Hiranyanetra gladly agreed to this.

to be contd......

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!
Title: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 25, 2016, 11:32:06 PM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

OM SAI RAM ॥

Digresssions on Hiranyanetra and Hiranyakashipu 

Hiranyanetra was very strong and powerful. He conquered the three worlds and
drove the gods out of heaven. He even took the earth down to the underworld. In
desperation, the gods prayed to Vishnu for deliverance.

Vishnu adopted the form of a boar (varaha) and went down to the underworld in
search of Hiranyanetra. When he found the asura, he killed him with his sudarshana
chakra. He also killed several other asuras with his boar’s tusks. Then, he lifted up
the earth with his tusks and replaced it where it should be. So far as Hiranyanetra’s
kingdom was concerned, Vishnu crowned Andhaka king there.

Hiranyanetra had a brother named Hiranyakashipu. This brother prayed to Brahma
and obtained a boon that made him virtually impossible to kill. Armed with this boon,
Hiranyakashipu conquered the three worlds and drove the gods out of heaven. The
gods again started to pray to Vishnu for deliverance.

Vishnu adopted the form of a lion and entered Hiranyakashipu’s captial. The lion
had a huge mane and sharp teeth and claws. The lion killed several asuras and this
news was brought to Hiranyakashipu. He decided to kill the lion.

Hiranyakashipu had several sons, one of whom was named Prahlada. Prahala alone
thought that there was something fishy about the lion and about the way it had
suddenly appeared. He thought that the lion might very well be Vishnu in disguise.
Prahlada therefore tried to dissuade his father from fighting the lion. He first asked
some of his soldiers to capture the lion, but they were all killed. Hiranyakashipu then
himself attacked the lion with all sorts of weapons. But all the weapons wre
exhausted and the demon could do the lion no harm.

Finally, the lion grasped Hiranyakashipu and tore the asura’s heart out with its claws.
This was the narasimha (half-man, half-lion) incarnation of Vishu.
Having killed Hiranyakashipu, Vishnu crowned Prabhlada king.

to be contd......

May BABA BLESS us and our family abundantly !

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAY JAY SAI RAM !!!
Title: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 25, 2016, 11:34:26 PM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

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 !!!
Title: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 25, 2016, 11:36:42 PM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

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 !!!
Title: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 25, 2016, 11:40:48 PM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

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 !!!
Title: Re: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on October 25, 2016, 11:42:53 PM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

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 !!!
Title: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on November 02, 2016, 10:16:21 PM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

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 !!!
Title: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on November 03, 2016, 10:28:10 PM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

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 !!!
Title: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on November 04, 2016, 11:28:23 PM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

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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 !!!
Title: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on November 06, 2016, 02:27:58 AM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

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 !!!
Title: Re: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on November 07, 2016, 12:02:42 AM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

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 !!!
Title: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on November 07, 2016, 10:28:59 PM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

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 !!!
Title: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
Post by: ShAivI on November 09, 2016, 12:10:36 PM
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

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAYCPcggpMk/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/426165758708559873/NyH64L4C.jpeg)

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 !!!