Friday, July 31, 2020

Sri Maheshvara Stuti By Lord Krishna From Sri Kurma Puranam

Dear All,

Greetings and Namaste. Tomorrow (01-Aug-2020, Saturday) happens to the auspicious Pradosham on a Saturday (known as Shani Pradosham). As Astikas might know, Pradosha Puja/Abhishekam are equally important to Lord Shiva and Lord Nrusimha.

In this context, I am delighted to share a beautiful hymn on Lord Maheshvara by Lord Krishna taken from Kurma Puranam, Purva Vibhaga and Chapter 24. This chapter elaborates on the initiation of Lord Krishna into Pashupata Yoga by His Guru Sage Upamanyu after which Lord Krishna performs a deep penance on Lord Shiva and gets the divine vision of Lord Shiva/Parvati. Lord Krishna propitiates Lord Shiva/Goddess Parvati with this hymn.

The portion preceding this hymn explains the cosmic form of Lord Sadashiva as seen by Lord Krishna - which is very similar to the narration to that of Vishvaroopa Darshan of Lord Vishnu by Lord Arjuna.
tadAnvapashyad girishasya vAme svAtmAnaM avyaktaM ananta-rUpam |
stuvantaM IshaM bahubhir vacobhiH sha~NkhAsi cakrArpita hasta pAdyam ||
(Meaning : Lord Krishna saw Lord Vishnu with his conch and disk on the left side of Lord Shiva and praying to Lord Shiva with many hymns).

At the end of Lord Krishna's hymn, Lord Shiva declares thus:
tvaM hi sA paramA-mUrtir mama nArAyaNAhvayA |
(Meaning : You are indeed the one bearing my murti form of Narayana)

Though there are hundreds and hundreds of such citations maintaining the non-duality of Vishnu and Shiva across all puranas (and we have seen many over the years), another beautiful citation from Padma Puranam, Chyutapuri Mahatmyam and Chapter 3 may be handy. (Chyutapuri is currently known by the name Vazhuvur near Kumbhakonam in Tamil Nadu). The following are Lord Vishnu's words appearing as part of the conversation between Lord Vishnu and Adisesha.

OMkAra-rUpo.ahaM ahIndravIra tadartha vAcyaH shiva eka eva |
na brahma viShNU na ca rudra Ishas sadAshivo nAhaM api dvijendra || 3-12 ||
li~NgAtmako .ahaM parameshvarasya li~NgI ca devaH pramathAtinAthaH |
li~Ngasya bhedo na hi li~Nginashca satyaM punas-satyamahe bravImi || 3-18 ||
svalIlayA.asau jagatAM hitAya dvidhA vibhajya pramathAtinAthaH |
AtmAnaM ekaH svayaM eva sAxI harir harash cA.abhavad ityahIndra || 3-19 ||
ahe shivasyAhaM abhinna-shaktir ityeva mAM viddhi bhuja~NganAtha |
pRRithag janA bhedatayA vadanti man-mAyayA mohita-mAnasAs te || 3-27||
Meaning : I am OMkara and Lord Shiva is its meaning and He is indeed the only one. Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Ishvara and Sadashiva are not different from Him. For Lord Shiva, who is the Lingi (soul), I am the Lingi (a manifestation) but there is no difference between Linga and Lingi. Myself and Hara are the same but two forms. Only deluded people say I am different from Shiva. The truth is that I am the Shakti that is indistinguishable from Shiva.

May We Pray To Lord Shiva with the beautiful hymn by Lord Krishna!


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