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Offline ShAivI

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  • बाबा मुझे अपने ह्र्दय से लगा लो, अपने पास बुला लो।
THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
« on: September 29, 2016, 01:32:50 PM »
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  • THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA

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

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





    OM SAI RAM ॥

    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 !!!


    JAI SAI RAM !!!

    Offline ShAivI

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    • बाबा मुझे अपने ह्र्दय से लगा लो, अपने पास बुला लो।
    THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
    « Reply #1 on: September 30, 2016, 11:35:12 PM »
  • Publish
  • THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA

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

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





    OM SAI RAM ॥

    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 !!!

    JAI SAI RAM !!!

    Offline ShAivI

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    • बाबा मुझे अपने ह्र्दय से लगा लो, अपने पास बुला लो।
    THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
    « Reply #2 on: October 01, 2016, 01:04:22 PM »
  • Publish
  • THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA

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

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





    OM SAI RAM ॥

    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 !!!

    JAI SAI RAM !!!

    Offline ShAivI

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    • बाबा मुझे अपने ह्र्दय से लगा लो, अपने पास बुला लो।
    Re: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
    « Reply #3 on: October 02, 2016, 10:57:27 PM »
  • Publish
  • THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA

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

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





    OM SAI RAM ॥

    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 !!!

    JAI SAI RAM !!!

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    Re: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
    « Reply #4 on: October 03, 2016, 11:33:29 PM »
  • Publish
  • THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA

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

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





    OM SAI RAM ॥

    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 !!!


    JAI SAI RAM !!!

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    Re: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
    « Reply #5 on: October 04, 2016, 11:41:08 PM »
  • Publish
  • THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA

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

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





    OM SAI RAM ॥

    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 !!!

    JAI SAI RAM !!!

    Offline ShAivI

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    THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
    « Reply #6 on: October 06, 2016, 01:22:15 AM »
  • Publish
  • THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA

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

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





    OM SAI RAM ॥

    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 !!!
    « Last Edit: October 06, 2016, 03:57:03 AM by ShAivI »

    JAI SAI RAM !!!

    Offline ShAivI

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    Re: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
    « Reply #7 on: October 06, 2016, 11:18:24 PM »
  • Publish
  • THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA

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

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





    OM SAI RAM ॥

    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 !!!
    « Last Edit: October 08, 2016, 11:05:11 PM by ShAivI »

    JAI SAI RAM !!!

    Offline ShAivI

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    Re: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
    « Reply #8 on: October 08, 2016, 03:16:50 AM »
  • Publish
  • THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA

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

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





    OM SAI RAM ॥

    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 !!!

    JAI SAI RAM !!!

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    THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
    « Reply #9 on: October 08, 2016, 11:04:25 PM »
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    Sri Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha
    Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryeshu Sarvada॥

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





    OM SAI RAM ॥

    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 !!!

    JAI SAI RAM !!!

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    Re: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
    « Reply #10 on: October 09, 2016, 11:19:46 PM »
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    Sri Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha
    Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryeshu Sarvada॥

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





    OM SAI RAM ॥

    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 !!!

    JAI SAI RAM !!!

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    THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
    « Reply #11 on: October 11, 2016, 02:26:09 AM »
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    Sri Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha
    Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryeshu Sarvada॥

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





    OM SAI RAM ॥

    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 !!!

    JAI SAI RAM !!!

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    Re: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
    « Reply #12 on: October 12, 2016, 12:01:04 AM »
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    Sri Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha
    Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryeshu Sarvada॥

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





    OM SAI RAM ॥

    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 !!!

    JAI SAI RAM !!!

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    THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
    « Reply #13 on: October 12, 2016, 12:09:01 PM »
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    Sri Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha
    Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryeshu Sarvada॥

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





    OM SAI RAM ॥

    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 !!!

    JAI SAI RAM !!!

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    Re: THE SHIVA MAHA PURANA
    « Reply #14 on: October 13, 2016, 11:08:37 PM »
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    Sri Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha
    Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryeshu Sarvada॥

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





    OM SAI RAM ॥

    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 !!!

    JAI SAI RAM !!!

     


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