Showing posts with label Puranas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Puranas. Show all posts

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Three Gunas and Beyond - Uddhava Gita, Bhagavat Purana

|| Hari OM ||

In bhAgavat purANa (BP), canto 11, chapter 25, bhagavAn kruShNa teaches us about three guNa-s and tatvam beyond them. Here we have taken some verses from this chapter BP 11.25.1-36. 


This chapter is also a part of uddhava gItA, Chapter 20, verses (Uddhava gItA a part of BP. It starts with 11.5 (Canto 11, Chapter 5)


11.25.24: The knowledge of the existence of the Self (Sudha AtmaGYAna) is sattvika, that of body, etc is rAjasa, the knowledge of duality (kartA and bhoktA – jIva bhAva) is rAjasika and the knoweldge of only physical body is tAmasika, That [knowledge] which is different from above three, the knowdlge of Me (my nature), svarUpa, is nirguNa (beyond three guNa-s.


11.25.25: Living in forest is sAttvika, living in village is rAjasika, living in gambling-den is tAmasa; but living in Me is nirguNa i.e. established in Me is nirguNa.


11.25.26: To work, do karma, act with a sense of non-attachment is sAttvika, Blinded by the fruits of action, acting in such way is rAjasika, acting (mindlessly) without discriminating between good and bad is tAmasika; the one who acts by taking refuge in e is beyond the guNa-s.


11.25.27: Faith in the Self (AtmaGYAna) is sAttvika, faith in work (karma and it's fruitm kartA and bhoktA) is rAjasa and faith in adharma (athiesim, irreligion) is tAmasa; and faith in service unto Me is nirguNa (beyond guNa-s)


11.25.29: Joy which springs from the Self (by being antarmuktha – introvert mind) is sAttvika, that from sense-objects (extrovert mind) is rAjasa, joy due to ignorance and misery is tAmasa; and that which is based on Me is nirgua (beyond the guNa-s)


11.25.30: Object (vastu, dravya), place, fruit, time, knowledge, work, kartA (agent, doer), faith, state (sthiti), form of demi-gods, gods, humans, animals, etc) and goal – all these verily fall without the range of three guNa-s


11.25.31: O best of men, all emotions (bhAva-s) that are regulated by puruSa and prakriti – whatever is seen, heard, or thought by the intellect – are modifications of the guNa-s. 


11.25.32: All these which make for the transmigration of man are due to the feects of the guNa-s. That jIva (soul) who has conquered these guNa-s which are connected with mind (produced by mind, jIva), is attached to Me through the path of bhakti (devotion), merges in Me or is absorbed in Me svarUpa.


11.25.33: This human body is very rare and it is possible for humans to gain knowledge (GYAna) and abide in truth (viGYAna) with the help of human body, hence after gaining human body, the wise should get rid of three guNa-s and worship Me.


11.25.34: Therefore wise men, with the help of sattva guNa, should conquer rajasa and tamasa guNa-s. The wise should conquer his senses (by being alert and being their witness) and always worship Me.


11.25.35: With the help of [yoga of] meditation (dhyAna), one should stabilze and pacify the intellect and tendencies of mind and should conquer sattva with the help of desirelessness. By this means i.e. conquering sattva or rising beyond sattva, a man is freed from the guNa-s, gets rid of (gives up, renounces) his jIva bhAva (individual existence) and attains Me.



Note: By rising beyond guNa-s, the jIva bhAva is automatically renounced


11.25.36: Such a man (jIva), free from jIva bhAva (individual existence and hence freed from duality), is freed from the guNa-s which springs up [in mind (antakaraNa)] becomes a jivan mukta, a liberated man, such a man, firmly established in brahman, which is Me, has nothing to do with either internal (mental, emotional attachments and longing for fulfilling of sense gratification) or external (sense gratification) as he is absorbed in completeness or as he has attained completeness (pUrNatva)

|| ShrI KruShNa parabrahmapaNamastu ||



Translations adopted from 

Uddhava Gita by Swami Madhavananda of Ramakrishna Mission, Advaita Ashram, Kolkata
Bhagavat Purana, Sanskrit-Gujarati by Gita Press, Gorakhpur.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Brahman divides into four parts during creation, preservation and destruction

In viShNu purANa creation, preservation and destruction is described.


We will take verses VP 1.22.26-27 into consideration. Verse 2.22.23 says that janArdana, during creation, preservation and destruction divides itself into four parts. Later verses describe four parts assumed during creation, preservation and destruction of the world.

VP 1.22.23: [That] janArdana divides itself into four parts while creating and preserving the universe and by dividing itself in four forms destroys the world.
Now, the four parts are described w.r.t. guNa-s. First it starts with creation (rajas), then sattva (preservation) and lastly tamas guNa (destruction)

VP 1.22.24-25: With one part becomes unmanifested brahmA ji, with second part marici, etc prajApati, [lord's] third part is kAla and fourth is all beings.

VP 1.22.26-27 Then that puruShottama with support (getting in tune with) sattva guNa preserves the world. During that time, from first part [1], viShNu [deity of preservation] form preserves the world, with second part, assumes the form of manu, etc and from third assumes the form of kAla (time) and from forth is present in all bhUta-s (all bodies, i.e. is present everywhere).

[1] The literal meaning is - from first part becomes viShNu and preserves the universe.

The word unmanifested brahmA ji indicates that brahmA ji was present even during first creation of universe and later on stayed in unmanifested form. This is also confirmed in kurma purANa.

VP 1.22.28-29: and in the end [when time for destruction of universe has come], that unborn bhagavAn taking AdhAra (support) of tamo guNa (tamas guna), with one part takes rudrarUpa, with second [part] agni (fire) and form of death, with third kAla and with fourth stays in all bodies and worlds (omnipresence)

Hari OM

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Another Classification in padma purANa - a better one

Pranams,

Vaishnava-s claim that not all purANa-s are acceptable and of equal authenticity. They cite a verse from padma purAnA in which it is said that tAmasIka puraNa-s are the ones which leads one to hell.

Lets have a look at these verses.

Controversial verses in padma purANa


There are some verses in Padma Purana, Uttara-khanda, 236.18–21 which categorize each of 18 major purANa-s into sAttvika, rAjasika and tamasika. Lets analyse them.
Satvika Puranas:

वैष्णवं नारदीयं च तथा भागवतं शुभम् ।
गारुडं च तथा पाद्मं वाराहं शुभदर्शने ।
सात्विकानि पुराणानि विज्ञेयानि शुभानि वै ।।

Vishnu Purana, Naradiya Puran, Padma Purana, Garuda Purana, Varaha Purana, Srimad Bhagavata Purana (236.18)

Rajasa Puranas:

ब्रह्माण्डं ब्रह्मवैवर्तं मार्कण्डेयं तथैव च ।
भविष्यं वामनं ब्राह्मं राजसानि निबोधत ।।

Brahmanda Purana, Brahmavaivarta, Markandeya Purana, Bhavishya Purana, Vamana Purana, Brahma Purana (236.19)

Tamasa Puranas :

मात्सयं कौर्मं तथा लैङ्गम् शैवं स्कान्दं तथैव च ।
आग्नेयं च षडेतानि तामसानि निबोधत ।।

Matsya Purana, Kurma Purana, Linga Purana, Shiva Purana, Skanda Purana, Agni Purana (236.20)

सात्विका मोक्षदाः प्रोक्ताः राजसा सर्वदा अशुभाः ।
तथैव तामसा देवि निरयप्राप्तिहेतवः ।।

प.पु. उत्तर 236.21

Among these puranas Satvika Puranas lead one to liberation, Rajasa do not cause good and tamasa puranas lead one to hell. (236.21)

The word devi ( देवि) means goddess pArvatI. Kindly note that the word is not devI (देवी) but devi ( देवि), which has only one meaning, 'goddess'. Here it means devi pArvatI

The word niraya ( निरय) is translated as 'Hell'. While this is one meaning of the word, there are other meanings like profitless, yielding no income, bring or get out.

The word hetu (हेतु) means 'intention'. hetavaH (हेतवः) is the plural form, which can be both subject (pratham vibhakti) or object (dvitiya vibhakti).

So the verse could mean, 

O Devi pArvatI,  by reading tAmasika purANa-s, one will not gain anything.

We will try to give some logical reasoning why we disagree with those verses. There is another classification in matsya purANa.

Matsya Purana 190.13-14 says,

“The glory of Hari is greater in sattvika scripture; the glory of Brahma is greater in rajasika scriptures; and that of Agni and Siva greater in tamasika scriptures. In mixed scriptures the glory of Sarasvati and the pitrs is said to be greater."

[needs to be clarified]

Note, I am not able to find this classification in todays version of matya purana. 

Another Classification in padma purANa - a better one



According to Maharshi Suta, all the Puranas are nothing but the mediums through which Sri Hari manifests himself

एकं पुराण रुप वै तत्र पाद्मं परं महत् । ब्रह्मं मूर्धा हरेरेव ह्रदयं पद्मसंज्ञकम्॥
वैष्णवं दक्षिणो बाहुः शैव वामो महेशितुः । उरु भागवतं प्रोक्तं नाभिः स्यान्नारदीयकम्॥
मार्कण्डेयं च दक्षांग्रिर्वामो ह्याग्रेयमुच्यते । भविष्यं दक्षिणो जानुर्विष्णोरेव महात्मन: ॥
ब्रह्मवैवर्तसंज्ञं तु वामज्जानुस्नदाहृतः । लैऽगैं तु गुल्फकं दर्क्ष वाराहं वामगुल्फकम् ॥
स्कान्दं पुराण लोमानित्वगस्य वामनं स्मृतम् । कौर्म पृष्ठं समाख्यातं मात्स्यं मेदः प्रकी्र्तितम् ॥
मज्जा तु गारुडं प्रोक्तं ब्रह्माण्डमस्थि गीयते । एवमेवाभवद्विष्णुः पुराणाव्यवो हरिः ॥

पद्म पुराण, स्वर्ग खण्ड (६२।२-७)

  1. Brahma Purana is said to be the 'forehead' of Sri Hari,
  2. Padma Purana is said to be the 'heart' of Sri Hari,
  3. Vishnu Purana is said to be the 'right arm' of Sri Hari.
  4. Shiva Purana is said to be the 'left arm' of Sri Hari.
  5. Srimad Bhagawat is said to be his 'thigh',
  6. Narada Purana is said to be his 'navel',
  7. Markendeya Purana is said to be his 'right-foot'.
  8. Agni Purana is said to be his 'left foot',
  9. Bhavishya Purana is said to be his 'right-knee',
  10. Brahma Vaivrata Purana is said to be his 'left-knee'.
  11. Linga Purana is said to be his 'right ankle',
  12. Varaha Purana is said to be his 'left ankle',
  13. Skanda Purana is said to be the hair on the body of 'Sri Hari'.
  14. Vamana Purana is said to be his 'skin'.
  15. Kurma Purana is said to be his 'back'.
  16. Matsya Purana is said to be his 'stomach'.
  17. Garuda Purana is said to be his 'bone-marrow'.
  18. Brahmanda Purana is said to be his 'bone'.
Padma Purana, svarga khaNDa (62.2-7)

Note: These versies are found on both version of padma purana - south Indian with 5 khanda-s and bengali with 7 khanda-s.

We can conclude that, all the Puranas being manifestation of different parts of Sri Hari's body are very sacred and capable of bestowing salvation.  

For a body to function properly, all parts are important.
Source: Padma Puarana, Swarga Khand, International Gita Society / sankshipta Padma Purana
According to Padma Purana, there was just one purana, which was split into 18 by Bhagavan Veda Vyasa.

Points in favour of the claim in simple words are:

  1. Verses in padma purANa classification in padma purana are interpolated / fabricated by vested interest group.
  2. Another classification exists in padma purANa, svarga khaNDa, wihch says that all the purANa-s being manifestation of different parts of Sri Hari's body are very sacred and capable of bestowing salvation.
  3. None of advaita AcArya-s consider any purANa as sAttvika, rAjasik or tAmasik
  4. No veda or upanishad or Mahabharata is classified as sAttvika, rAjasik or tAmasik.
  5. No purana says that Siva is born. rudra, is an aspect of Siva.

The truth of these claims are left to esteemed readers

Detailed article

Friday, February 14, 2014

Shiva Linga is symbolic expression of all the deities and represents NirguNa Brahman (formelss Brahman)


At the time, when this incident of mystical Shiva linga had occurred and after which Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu had stopped quarrelling and started glorifying Lord Shiva, Lord Shiva appeared before them and said,

"I am very pleased with both of you, Both of " O Vishnu! You are the creator, Lord Shiva. This made Lord Shiva extremely pleased and he the preserver as well as the destroyer of this world. I am the supreme you, though having distinct identities have actually manifested from my body-Brahma from my left side and Vishnu from my right." almighty and distinct from all three of you-Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. Lord Vishnu expressed his undiluted devotion towards Lord Shiva.

This made Lord Shiva extremely pleased and he said."O Vishnu! You are the creator, the preserver as well as the destroyer of this world. I am the supreme almighty and distinct from all three of you-Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh."

Linga is the personification of the Almighty God. The term Linga means fusion and the Shivalinga are said to be the symbolical expression of all the deities. 

(Linga Purana 17.2.1)

Origin of Shiva Linga in Linga Purana

 There is a little story of manifestation of Shiva Linga in Linga Purana connecting it with OM

The sages asked Sutji, Lord Shiva is formless then how come Shiva Linga is worshipped? What is the significance of Shiva Linga? What is the proper method of worshipping a Shiva Linga ?

Sutji replied, Once, Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu developed serious different on the matter of superiority. A tremendous duel broke out between them. As they were fighting a mammoth Linga appeared on the scene, the effulgence of which made efforts both of them amazed. Both of them decided to find out the origin of that divine Linga. Lord Brahma transformed his appearance into that of a swan and flew up in the sky to determine the height of that Linga. Lord Vishnu transformed himself into a roar and entered the depth of earth to find the source of that Shiva Linga. But both of them failed in their objectives and returned to the same place exhausted.

Suddenly, they heard a loud sound of AUM emanating from the Shiva Linga. Very soon, the whole form of OM, consisting of all the three letters A, U and M became visible. (The letters A, U and M symbolize Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh respectively).

At last, both of them realized their mistake and stopped quarrelling. This way, Lord Shiva was successful in subduing their arrogance. Lord Rudra is beyond sensual perception. He is the supreme Almighty and the bestowers of divine bliss. The mystical form of Shivalinga is a symbolical expression of sacred mantra-AUM. (Linga Purana 17.1.14)

Trinity themselves play different roles in order to teach us the non-difference between them. One becomes a devotee and one becomes deity of worship.

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Glory of Arunachal Shiva Linga from Skanda Purana

Once, Sutji had gone to Naimisharanya. All the sages residing there asked him about the manifestation of Arunachal Shivalinga. Sutji recounted a tale when Sage Sanak had posed the same query to Lord Brahma – 'Lord Brahma had told Sanak-Son, once Lord Vishnu and I witnessed an effulgent Pillar. It had manifested from nowhere and was limitless in size. It's radiance put the whole world ablaze. Both of us worshiped that marvelous pillar by chanting vedic mantras.' Actually, that effulgent pillar was a Shivalinga. Lord Shiva manifested from it after being pleased by our devotion. We requested him to minimize his size and establish himself in the form of Arunachal Shivalinga.'


'Lord Shiva agreed to minimize his size as well as his effulgence by establishing himself in the form of 'Arunachaleshwar'.The holy place of Arunachaleshwar remains untouched while the whole world gets submerged in water at the time of deluge.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Different Paths for Different Individuals Says Suta Samhita of Skanda Purana

The systems of philosophy to which the Indian mind has given birth   range   from   the   ultra-materialistic   system   of   a Charvaka to the most sublime ultraspiritual system of the Vedanta. It must, however, be borne in mind that all these apparently most divergent systems of thought are necessary steps through which the intellect of man must pass and has passed, marking as they do the various stages of man's intellectual  development. The  various  systems  have  bee intended as the training ground for the varying intellects of man, one system leading to another, each man honestly taking to that system of thought which appeals to him most, as best suited to the grain of his mind, as the system which to him appears to embody rules of conduct based on a most rational basis. When the different systems are viewed in this light, when the value of even the most materialistic philosophy of a Charvaka is recognised as perforce gradually in the course of enquiry leading the intellect to a less materialistic and more spiritual system, the intellect finding no rest till it lands upon the most convicting truth, it becomes easy to understand what the author of the Purana means when he speaks of the different systems of faith in the following terms:

"Listen with faith, O sages, to what I say as to the truth of the various paths. Vedas, Dharmasastras, Purana, Bharata, Vedangas and minor Vedas; Kamika and other agamas; Kapala and Lakula in all their variety; the Pasupata, Soma, Bhairava and other agamas with their hundred varieties: Vaishnava and Brahma agamas; the agamas of the Buddhas and the Arhats; Lokayata, and the Tarkasastras in all their vastness; the profound Mimamsa, as also Sankhya and Yoga; all these and many more Sastras, the Omniscient Divine Being has made in brief. It is only by the Grace of Rudra that Devas like Brahma and Vishnu, Siddhas, Vidyadharas, Yakshas, Rakshasas, Munis and men make the Sastras again, in brief or in extenso. The wise say that each of these sastras is intended for a particular class according to the individual qualification, not all for one. These paths are not to be rudely handled by the learned subjecting them to rigorous unrelenting logic. As all streams ultimately empty themselves into the ocean, so all these paths ultimately lead to the Mahesvara Himself. Worshipped in what form soever by people as ordained in their respective scriptures. He assumes that form and takes the devotee on to the next higher step, By His Grace man attains to superior paths. The Divine Being worshipped in the form in which He is represented in these paths takes the devotee step by step onward to the path of the Veda. The form which the Divine Being assumes  in  the  path  of  the  Veda  is  the  immediate  cause  of salvation. Even there the form of the Divine Being as represented by the ritualistic portion of the Veda only stimulates a longing for knowledge; while, worshipped in the form presented in the theosophical portion  He  leads  the  devotee  to  moksha  through wisdom.

"As the highest salvation is only of one kind, the knowledge which leads to it must be of one kind and of one kind' only. The Vedanta treats of Sankara as the non-dual Atman. No other path treats of Him directly as the Vedanta does. Therefore knowledge produced by the Veda is alone wisdom. Knowledge obtained by other means is avidya, unwisdom. The other paths cannot themselves lead to moksha; they are serviceable only as leading to it through the intervening steps. Mahadeva, as known by the Vedanta, directly gives moksha; as known and worshipped in the other paths He leads to moksha by gradually taking the soul on to the direct path. Wherefore he  who  treads  the  path  of  the  Vedanta  should  not change it for any other. To those who tread the path of the Veda, nothing is hard to attain. There alone lie the supreme mukti and other enjoyments in plenty.

"Wherefore   the   different   paths   are   useful   to   the   different individuals for whom they are specially intended. Whenever other paths are opposed to the Vedanta in their theories as to the nature of  Isvara, as  to the cause of bondage, as  to  the cause of  the Universe, as to mukti, and as to what constitutes wisdom, and so on, those theories, to be sure, have been furnished in accordance with the prevailing desires of the ignorant whose minds are darkened by the mighty delusion: not because they are absolutely true in themselves, but because they serve, by holding out some legitimate pleasures to ultimately bring them round to the right path when their sins have been washed away in the waters of the more or less pure morality therein inculcated. As man allures an erratic cow by holding out grass, so does Mahesvara first hold out some  pleasure  and  then  gives  supreme  wisdom  as  the  mind becomes perfected.

"Thus these paths, laid out as they are by Siva, are all of them true and serviceable. How can Siva be a deceiver? He is supremely merciful, omniscient, and altogether stainless. Yet of all the paths, the  path  of  the  Veda  is  the  best.  as  conducing  to  all  good." 

(Skanda-Purana, Suta-Samhita, Yajna-Vaibhava-Khanda, 22nd adhyaya).

This unique attitude of the Purana towards the several antagonistic systems of religion and philosophy only gives expression to the consciousness of the fact that mankind, made up as it is of different individuals who have reached different stages of intellectual and moral progress, cannot all think to order, in one and the same way

Source: Dakshinamurti Stotra With Manasollasa Of Sureshwaracharya Translated by Alladi Mahadeva Sastri. Pages 35-37

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Lord Shiva in Srimad Bhagavatam


Har Har Mahadev,

Please find some quotes dedicated to Lord Shiva from Srimad Bhagavatam, describing the Lord as  'Supreme Brahman' 

For convenience I am quoting SB from vedabase, a site dedicated to spreading teachings of Srila Prabhupada. If you are a not a Vaishnava, specially if you are not a Gaudiya Vaishnav, at times you will have to ignore purports.


Taking refuge in Lord Shiva, the saviour


SB 8.7.19: O King, when that uncontrollable poison was forcefully spreading up and down in all directions, all the demigods, along with the Lord Himself, approached Lord Śiva [Sadāśiva]. Feeling unsheltered and very much afraid, they sought shelter of him.

SB 8.7.20: The demigods observed Lord Śiva sitting on the summit of Kailāsa Hill with his wife, Bhavānī, for the auspicious development of the three worlds. He was being worshiped by great saintly persons desiring liberation. The demigods offered him their obeisances and prayers with great respect.

SB 8.7.21: The prajāpatis said: O greatest of all demigods, Mahādeva, Supersoul of all living entities and cause of their happiness and prosperity, we have come to the shelter of your lotus feet. Now please save us from this fiery poison, which is spreading all over the three worlds.


Shiva, the creator


SB 8.7.22: O lord, you are the cause of bondage and liberation of the entire universe because you are its ruler. Those who are advanced in spiritual consciousness surrender unto you, and therefore you are the cause of mitigating their distresses, and you are also the cause of their liberation. We therefore worship Your Lordship.


SB 8.7.23: O lord, you are self-effulgent and supreme. You create this material world by your personal energy, and you assume the names Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara when you act in creation, maintenance and annihilation.



SB 8.7.24: You are the cause of all causes, the self-effulgent, inconceivable, impersonal Brahman, which is originally Parabrahman. You manifest various potencies in this cosmic manifestation.


Shiva as source of OM


SB 8.7.25: O lord, you are the original source of Vedic literature. You are the original cause of material creation, the life force, the senses, the five elements, the three modes and the mahat-tattva. You are eternal time, determination and the two religious systems called truth [satya] and truthfulness [ṛta]. You are the shelter of the syllable oḿ, which consists of three letters a-u-m.


Universe is inside Shiva


SB 8.7.26: O father of all planets, learned scholars know that fire is your mouth, the surface of the globe is your lotus feet, eternal time is your movement, all the directions are your ears, and Varuṇa, master of the waters, is your tongue.


Shiva Stuti


SB 8.7.27: O lord, the sky is your navel, the air is your breathing, the sun is your eyes, and the water is your semen. You are the shelter of all kinds of living entities, high and low. The god of the moon is your mind, and the upper planetary system is your head.

SB 8.7.28: O lord, you are the three Vedas personified. The seven seas are your abdomen, and the mountains are your bones. All drugs, creepers and vegetables are the hairs on your body, the Vedic mantras like Gāyatrī are the seven layers of your body, and the Vedic religious system is the core of your heart.

SB 8.7.29: O lord, the five important Vedic mantras are represented by your five faces, from which the thirty-eight most celebrated Vedic mantras have been generated. Your Lordship, being celebrated as Lord Śiva, is self-illuminated. You are directly situated as the supreme truth, known as Paramātmā.

SB 8.7.30: O lord, your shadow is seen in irreligion, which brings about varieties of irreligious creations. The three modes of nature — goodness, passion and ignorance — are your three eyes. All the Vedic literatures, which are full of verses, are emanations from you because their compilers wrote the various scriptures after receiving your glance.


Shiva, the Brahman


SB 8.7.31: O Lord Girīśa, since the impersonal Brahman effulgence is transcendental to the material modes of goodness, passion and ignorance, the various directors of this material world certainly cannot appreciate it or even know where it is. It is not understandable even to Lord Brahmā, Lord Viṣṇu or the King of heaven, Mahendra.


Shiva, The destroyer


SB 8.7.32: When annihilation is performed by the flames and sparks emanating from your eyes, the entire creation is burned to ashes. Nonetheless, you do not know how this happens. What then is to be said of your destroying the Dakṣa-yagya, Tripurāsura and the kālakūṭa poison? Such activities cannot be subject matters for prayers offered to you.


Shiva Stuti


SB 8.7.33: Exalted, self-satisfied persons who preach to the entire world think of your lotus feet constantly within their hearts. However, when persons who do not know your austerity see you moving with Umā, they misunderstand you to be lusty, or when they see you wandering in the crematorium they mistakenly think that you are ferocious and envious. Certainly they are shameless. They cannot understand your activities.

SB 8.7.34: Even personalities like Lord Brahmā and other demigods cannot understand your position, for you are beyond the moving and nonmoving creation. Since no one can understand you in truth, how can one offer you prayers? It is impossible. As far as we are concerned, we are creatures of Lord Brahmā's creation. Under the circumstances, therefore, we cannot offer you adequate prayers, but as far as our ability allows, we have expressed our feelings.

SB 8.7.35: O greatest of all rulers, your actual identity is impossible for us to understand. As far as we can see, your presence brings flourishing happiness to everyone. Beyond this, no one can appreciate your activities. We can see this much, and nothing more.

SB 8.7.36: Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Lord Śiva is always benevolent toward all living entities. When he saw that the living entities were very much disturbed by the poison, which was spreading everywhere, he was very compassionate. Thus he spoke to his eternal consort, Satī, as follows.

SB 8.7.37: Lord Śiva said: My dear Bhavānī, just see how all these living entities have been placed in danger because of the poison produced from the churning of the ocean of milk.

SB 8.7.38: It is my duty to give protection and safety to all living entities struggling for existence. Certainly it is the duty of the master to protect his suffering dependents.

SB 8.7.39: People in general, being bewildered by the illusory energy, are always engaged in animosity toward one another. But devotees, even at the risk of their own temporary lives, try to save them.

SB 8.7.40: My dear gentle wife Bhavānī, when one performs benevolent activities for others, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, is very pleased. And when the Lord is pleased, I am also pleased, along with all other living creatures. Therefore, let me drink this poison, for all the living entities may thus become happy because of me.

SB 8.7.41: Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: After informing Bhavānī in this way, Lord Śiva began to drink the poison, and Bhavānī, who knew perfectly well the capabilities of Lord Śiva, gave him her permission to do so.

SB 8.7.42: Thereafter, Lord Śiva, who is dedicated to auspicious, benevolent work for humanity, compassionately took the whole quantity of poison in his palm and drank it.

SB 8.7.43: As if in defamation, the poison born from the ocean of milk manifested its potency by marking Lord Śiva's neck with a bluish line. That line, however, is now accepted as an ornament of the Lord.

SB 8.7.44: It is said that great personalities almost always accept voluntary suffering because of the suffering of people in general. This is considered the highest method of worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is present in everyone's heart.

SB 8.7.45: Upon hearing of this act, everyone, including Bhavānī [the daughter of Mahārāja Dakṣa], Lord Brahmā, Lord Viṣṇu, and the people in general, very highly praised this deed performed by Lord Śiva, who is worshiped by the demigods and who bestows benedictions upon the people.

SB 8.7.46: Scorpions, cobras, poisonous drugs and other animals whose bites are poisonous took the opportunity to drink whatever little poison had fallen and scattered from Lord Śiva's hand while he was drinking.

SB 4.4.11: The blessed goddess said: Lord Siva is the most beloved of all living entities. He has no rival. No one is very dear to him, and no one is his enemy. No one but you could be envious of such a universal being, who is free from all enmity.

SB 4.4.12: Twice-born Daksha, a man like you can simply find fault in the qualities of others. Lord Siva, however, not only finds no faults with others' qualities, but if someone has a little good quality, he magnifies it greatly. Unfortunately, you have found fault with such a great soul.

SB 4.6.35: The demigods saw Lord Siva situated in his perfection as the master of the senses, knowledge, fruitive activities and the path of achieving perfection. He was the friend of the entire world, and by virtue of his full affection for everyone, he was very auspicious.

SB 4.6.36: He was seated on a deerskin and was practicing all forms of austerity. Because his body was smeared with ashes, he looked like an evening cloud. On his hair was the sign of a half-moon, a symbolic representation.

SB 4.6.37: He was seated on a straw mattress and speaking to all present, including the great sage Narada, to whom he specifically spoke about the Absolute Truth.

SB 4.6.38: His left leg was placed on his right thigh, and his left hand was placed on his left thigh. In his right hand he held rudraksha beads. This sitting posture is called virasana. He sat in the virasana posture, and his finger was in the mode of argument.

SB 4.6.39: All the sages and demigods, headed by Indra, offered their respectful obeisances unto Lord Siva with folded hands. Lord Siva was dressed in saffron garments and absorbed in trance, thus appearing to be the foremost of all sages.

SB 4.6.40: Lord Siva's lotus feet were worshiped by both the demigods and demons, but still, in spite of his exalted position, as soon as he saw that LordBrahma was there among all the other demigods, he immediately stood up and offered him respect by bowing down and touching his lotus feet, just as Vamanadeva offered His respectful obeisances to Kasyapa Muni.

SB 4.6.41: All the sages who were sitting with Lord Siva, such as Narada and others, also offered their respectful obeisances to Lord Brahma. After being so worshiped, Lord Brahma, smiling, began to speak to Lord Siva.

SB 4.6.42: Lord Brahma said: My dear Lord Siva, I know that you are the controller of the entire material manifestation, the combination father and mother of the cosmic manifestation, and the Supreme Brahman beyond the cosmic manifestation as well. I know you in that way.

SB 4.6.43: My dear lord, you create this cosmic manifestation, maintain it, and annihilate it by expansion of your personality, exactly as a spider creates, maintains and winds up its web.

SB 4.6.44: My dear lord, Your Lordship has introduced the system of sacrifices through the agency of Daksha, and thus one may derive the benefits of religious activities and economic development. Under your regulative principles, the institution of the four varnas and asramas is respected. The brahmanas therefore vow to follow this system strictly.

SB 4.6.45: O most auspicious lord, you have ordained the heavenly planets, the spiritual Vaikuntha planets and the impersonal Brahman sphere as the respective destinations of the performers of auspicious activities. Similarly, for others, who are miscreants, you have destined different kinds of hells which are horrible and ghastly. Yet sometimes it is found that their destinations are just the opposite. It is very difficult to ascertain the cause of this.

SB 4.6.46: My dear Lord, devotees who have fully dedicated their lives unto your lotus feet certainly observe your presence as Paramatma in each and every being, and as such they do not differentiate between one living being and another. Such persons treat all living entities equally. They never become overwhelmed by anger like animals, who can see nothing without differentiation.


Shiva Advaita - Shiva is one, there is no second


SB 4.6.47: Persons who observe everything with differentiation, who are simply attached to fruitive activities, who are mean minded, who are always pained to see the flourishing condition of others and who thus give distress to them by uttering harsh and piercing words have already been killed by providence. Thus there is no need for them to be killed again by an exalted personality like you.

SB 4.6.48: My dear lord, if in some places materialists, who are already bewildered by the insurmountable illusory energy, sometimes commit offenses, a saintly person, with compassion, does not take this seriously. Knowing that they commit offenses because they are overpowered by the illusory energy, he does not show his prowess to counteract them.

SB 4.6.49: My dear lord, you are never bewildered by the formidable influence of the illusory energy, Maya.Therefore you are omniscient and should be merciful and compassionate toward those who are bewildered by the same illusory energy and are very much attached to fruitive activities.

Note: Ignore the purport on this verse by Srila Prabhupada


Shiva Advaita


SB 8.12.8: My dear Lord, Your Lordship alone is the cause and the effect. Therefore, although You appear to be two, You are the absolute one. As there is no difference between the gold of a golden ornament and the gold in a mine, there is no difference between cause and effect; both of them are the same. Only because of ignorance do people concoct differences and dualities. You are free from material contamination, and since the entire cosmos is caused by You and cannot exist without You, it is an effect of Your transcendental qualities. 

ekas tvam eva sad asad dvayam advayam ca
svarnam kritakritam iveha na vastu-bhedah
ajnanatas tvayi janair vihito vikalpo
yasmad guna-vyatikaro nirupadhikasya

SYNONYMS

ekah -- the only one; tvam -- Your Lordship; eva -- indeed; sat -- which is existing, as the effect; asat -- which is nonexistent, as the cause; dvayam -- both of them; advayam -- without duality; ca -- and; svarnam -- gold; krita -- manufactured into different forms; akritam -- the original source of gold (the gold mine); iva -- like; iha -- in this world; na -- not; vastu-bhedah -- difference in the substance; ajnanatah -- only because of ignorance; tvayi -- unto You; janaih -- by the general mass of people; vihitah -- it should be done; vikalpah -- differentiation; yasmat -- because of; guna-vyatikarah -- free from the differences created by the material modes of nature; nirupadhikasya -- without any material designation.

TRANSLATION

My dear Lord, Your Lordship alone is the cause and the effect. Therefore, although You appear to be two, You are the absolute one. As there is no difference between the gold of a golden ornament and the gold in a mine, there is no difference between cause and effect; both of them are the same. Only because of ignorance do people concoct differences and dualities. You are free from material contamination, and since the entire cosmos is caused by You and cannot exist without You, it is an effect of Your transcendental qualities. 

SB 8.12.9: Those who are known as the impersonalist Vedantists regard You as the impersonal Brahman. Others, known as the Mimamsaka philosophers, regard You as religion. The Sankhya philosophers regard You as the transcendental person who is beyond prakriti and purusha and who is the controller of even the demigods. The followers of the codes of devotional service known as the Pancaratras regard You as being endowed with nine different potencies. And the Patanjala philosophers, the followers of Patanjali Muni, regard You as the supreme independent Personality of Godhead, who has no equal or superior.

Canto 8: Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 8.12.9

tvam brahma kecid avayanty uta dharmam eke
eke param sad-asatoh purusham paresam
anye 'vayanti nava-sakti-yutam param tvam
kecin maha-purusham avyayam atma-tantram

SYNONYMS

tvam -- You; brahma -- the supreme truth, the Absolute Truth, Brahman; kecit -- some people, known as the Vedantists; avayanti-- consider; uta -- certainly; dharmam -- religion; eke -- some others; eke -- some others; param -- transcendental; sat-asatoh -- to both cause and effect;purusham -- the Supreme person; paresam -- the supreme controller; anye -- others; avayanti -- describe; nava-sakti-yutam -- endowed with nine potencies;param -- transcendental; tvam -- unto You; kecit -- some; maha-purusham -- the Supreme Personality of Godhead; avyayam -- without loss of energy; atma-tantram -- supremely independent.

TRANSLATION

Those who are known as the impersonalist Vedantists regard You as the impersonal Brahman. Others, known as the Mimamsaka philosophers, regard You as religion. The Sankhya philosophers regard You as the transcendental person who is beyond prakriti and purusha and who is the controller of even the demigods. The followers of the codes of devotional service known as the Pancaratras regard You as being endowed with nine different potencies. And the Patanjala philosophers, the followers of Patanjali Muni, regard You as the supreme independent Personality of Godhead, who has no equal or superior.

|| Om Namah Shivaya ||

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Contradictory stories in Puranas 'same moral of the story'


In linga PurANa, there is a story of Dadhichi (Brahmin) v/s Kshupa (kshatriya) as who is superior. Later Dadhichi did penance to Lord shiva and in turn was blessed to be protected by him and so was undefeated by Kshoopa (kshupa). So Kshupa took refuge in Vishnu and did penance. Vishnu replied that I do not punish Brahmins specially then they are devotees of Rudra, but still Vishnu said he will tryo. The end result was that Vishnu and all devata-s would not defeat Dadhichi.

Later when Dadhichi almost won and there was dialogue, he even argued with Lord Vishnu.

Moral

Here Dharma wins. You should not pray to God and expect to win over dharma. Vishnu who has himself took oath to protect dharma cannot let adharma win. So it was obvious that Vishnu was defeated.

But victory gave pride, which is ego and so the behaviour of Dadhichi. This concludes that when we are in victorious mood, we would not even hesitate to defame and deny God.

Later, there is a story in which BANAsura's daughter had abducted Krishna's son in order to marry him. BANAsura was protected by Lord Shiva. Krishna,when came to know the fact of his son being kidnapped, came with an army to fight with BANAsura. He found it difficult to fight Shiva, but Krishna was undefeated. Shiva had to plead Krishna to stop fighting and asked BANAsura to stop fighting.

Moral:

Here too, dharma wins. Even Lord Shiva could not win against Krishna who was on side of dharma.

---

When we read about stories like Vishnu worshipping Shiva and offering shiva his eye as a flower. we wonder why would Vishnu would worship Shiva

Technically there is no need, but Lord himself shows us the way. For us, Lord takes incarnation to teach us dharma and maryAdA. He does not need to practice any maryAdA i.e. he is not bound by it, as he is God.

But here when I read this story, my heart vibrated with devotion. such a high standard was kept by Lord that he offered one of his eyes to Shiva (deity of worship). I may have worshipped Lord Shiva, but bhakti was taught by Lord Vishnu. For teaching Bhakti, he even became a devotee for us. So there is a deep reverence for Vishnu along with reverence for Shiva.

---

When we read Shiva destroying Tripura, our devotion deepens. He gets a name TripurAri. So when we read Shiva Sahasra Nama, and come across name tripurAri, we at once remember the story and are filled with devotion for Lord Shiva.

But if we think - Shiva could not do it alone, it was Vishnu who sat on top of arrow and Brahma and other Gods helped him.

In this case, will I be able to increase devotion? The purpose of story is defeated. isn't it?

Stories produce bhAva, which is important for spiritual progress.

---

Krishna Lila

We would rad Krishna bleeds. Technically that is not possible. but still Krishna bleeds. So Draupadi, tore end peice of her saree and tied it to her Brother Krishna. Now Krishna is under her debt. When there is vastraharaNa of Draupadi, she calls Krishna for help. Note that she did not remembered him first. She turned to Krishna as last resort after no one present would help her. Krishna obliged. and what did he do? he saved her dignity. How much did he gave in return of a piece of cloth? we all know. Sri Ramakrishna says, if we take one step towards God, God takes 9 steps towards us.

Krishna did what only god could do and the amount and the timing when he returned the dept and at the same time fulfilling his duty as Brother. Now we understand that Lord knew the future and so he bleeded for safety of Draupadi. Lord bleeds for us not because he is not Supreme.

BAla lilA

We see Krishna as prankster and enjoy his pranks

He would eat mud and the nharress his mother. But when she opens Krishna's mouth, she sees whole universe. So can we conclude that to to KalyANa of devotees, Lord also eats dust?

MakhAn chor

We enjoy this mischief too.

But if we think that it was bhagava who always eat first and then the food became prasad and was distributed to poor kids, else it may be taken away as tax, our perception changes. Prank does not remain prank. It is not to say that we should not enjoy his prank.

If Krishna says sanyAsa from Upamanyu and chants Shiva's name, he is guiding us. Obviously he will not chant his own name. so he will chants Shiva's name. In turn he gave us Shiva Sahasranama.

When Krishna stole cloths of gopi's bathing, we find him as - bad boy . But the reason. Women are not allowed to bath fully naked in public pond. So this was needed. Also the anger or any emotions actually binds us towards God. We get angry to whom we love. In turn what they got - bhAva Samadhi. See the extend Krishna goes for good of his devotees !!! Only Krishan can do it.

---

When Brahma ji praises lord Shiva or Vishnu, it is for our own benefit. From praise, we get bhAva for that particular deity. So Brahma does not even mind his own status as supreme but shows us the way to worship NArAyaNa.

When Both Brahma and Vishnu could not find end or beginning of Shiva Linga in form of light, Vishnu accepted Shiva's supremacy and Brahma didn't. In turn Vishnu was blessed while Brahma and Ketki and Cow were cursed.

Moral:

Truth wins. It fetches rewards. To make us understand all three played their roles.

So what we thought as contradictory has common moral, and some values.

In this sense, I ask, is there any need to reject any of these stories?

Now about classification of purANa-s

Do TAmasic purANa-s give more and more ignorance or do they remove ignorance? Is it a not good thing to remove ignorance? Infact it is first thing to be removed. Avidya is a AvaraNa, it has to be removed to gain Jnana.

Same with other purANa-s.

Bhagavad PurANa says, there is no difference between Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. But in that purANa. Shiva is not praised a supreme. So it is praised in another purANa. I see nothing wrong in it.

What we and how we think is more important. Intention behind action is more important than action itself. Krishna is great e.g. of this fact. So, how should we interpret stories? positively or negatively.

What is more important to to critical analysis or think in a way that it generates bhAva.

Emotions are like seeds. Which one of them do we have to be watered and nurtured? positive or negative?

Symbolism

Similarly if we take symbolism it helps us.

If we think that Shiva who destroyed Tripura was symbolic in a sense that tripura, three cities are symbolic to trinity

satva, rajas, tamas
waking, dream, deep sleep, etc

It will help us too.

If we think kauravas and purANas are inside our mind, it is not wrong. Abhinava Gupta ji wrote this in his Gita BhAshya.

Later Adi Shankara in his Gita bhasya, 6.1-6 says that it is not wrong to think that everything is inside mind. it is both inside and outside. So the event actually took place, but we can take it symbolically

If Shiva worships Vishnu, then it is not because Shiva is inferior to Vishnu, but it is to cultivate and increase bhakti in the heart of Vishnu Bhaktas

This type of approach is called as Nahi Ninda Nyaya

Tarka Sastra (science of dialectics, logic and reasoning) proposes “nahi ninda nyay” to support one’s theory. Glorify your view, but that doesn’t mean that the other view is flawed.

With this nyaya, almost all contradictions can be neutralized.

Hari OM

Monday, September 2, 2013

Puranas are embodiment of Sri Hari

According to Suta, all the Puranas are nothing but the mediums through which Sri Hari manifests himself

  1. Brahma Purana is said to be the forhead of Sri Hari, 
  2. Padma Purana is said to be the 'heart' of Sri Hari, 
  3. Vishnu Purana is said to be the 'right arm' of Sri Hari. 
  4. Shiva Purana is said to be the 'left arm' of Sri Hari. 
  5. Srimad Bhagawat is said to be his 'thigh', 
  6. Narada Purana is said to be his  'navel',  
  7. Markendeya  Purana  is  said  to  be  his 'right-foot'.  
  8. Agni  Purana  is  said to  be  his  'left foot', 
  9. Bhavishya Purana is said to be his 'right-knee', 
  10. Brahma Vaivrata Purana is said to be his 'left-knee'.  
  11. Linga  Purana  is  said  to  be  his  'right  ankle',  
  12. Varaha  Purana  is  said  to  be  his  'left  ankle', 
  13. Skanda Purana is said to be the hair on the body of 'Sri Hari'. 
  14. Vamana Purana is said to be his 'skin'.  
  15. Kurma  Purana  is  said  to  be  his  'back'.  
  16. Matsya  Purana  is  said  to  be  his  'stomach'.  
  17. Garuda Purana is said to be his 'bone-marrow'. 
  18. Brahmanda Purana is said to be his 'bone'.  

All the Puranas being manifestation of different parts of Sri Hari's body are very sacred and capable of bestowing salvation.

Source: Padma Puarana, Swarga Khand, International Gita Society

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Ravan abducted illusionary Sita


Happy JanmAShTami

Namaste, on this holy occasion of Krishna Janma-ashTami, let us shed some light into something that not known to all. For a change, inspite of talking about Krishna, we will talk about Sita.

According to Kurma Purana, Ravan Abducted illusionary Sita and not the real Sita.

It is certain that you know the story of the Ramayana and you therefore also known that Ravana, the king of lanka, abducted Sita, Rama’s wife. 

This story clearly illustrates that no harm can come to a person who is righteous.

Ravana disguised himself as a hermit and came to abduct Sita. But Sita got to know of Ravana’s plan and was determined to foil it. She therefore began to pray to Agni, the god of fire.

Thus stirred by Sita’s prayers, Agni appeared and produced a Sita who was really an illusion. This maya sita he left in the real Sita’s place. As for the real Sita, she was absorbed into the fire. Without realising the substitutions, Ravana abducted the illusory Sita and the entire war was fought over a Sita who was not even real.

When Rama triumphed over Ravana and recovered Sita, a test by fire (agni pariksha) was held.
In the process, the sita who was an illusion was returned to the fire and the real Sita emerged once again. Thus the real Sita was never tainted by Ravana’s touch.

(The story of the Sita who was an illusion is also given in the Brahmavaivarta Purana).

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