Dear All,
Greetings. Tomorrow (28-Dec-2012) has religious significance in two ways viz. Arudra Darshanam and Dattatreya Jayanti. In that connection, I am happy to share one stuti each.
1. Sri Rudra Stuti From Srimad Bhagavatam
In the South Indian context, the title itself might sound like an oxymoron as Srimad Bhagavatam is invariably identified with Lord Vishnu glory and praise. But what is typically glossed over is that, like any other Purana, Srimad Bhagavatam does not negate other forms of worship of the one and only Parabrahman.
The attached hymn is by Lord Brahma when he goes with other Devas to Mount Kailash to request Lord Shiva to show mercy on Daksha, condone his perpetrations and facilitate the completion of Daksha Yajna. Brahma declares that he knows Lord Shiva to be the Parabrahman, who creates, protects and annihilates all manifestations (a brief gist of the hymn is given in the preface). But this might fly in the face of common knowledge as well as the essence of Bhagavatam (and other texts too) that this equation is normally attributed to Lord Narayana and won't tally if these two are distinct from each other as is presumed to be.
The hymn also has reference to the illusory power (mAyA) that all mortals are subjected to. Perhaps acknowledging this, Sri Bhagavan Narayana himself comes to the rescue and clears the air in the next chapter (Skandha 4, Chapter 7, Verses 50-54) to Daksha who also was under the same illusion and therefore considered Shiva to be inferior to Narayana :
ahaM brahmA ca sharvash ca jagataH kAraNaM param |
Atmeshvara upadraShTA svayaM dRRigavisheShaNaH || 50 ||
Atma-mAyAM samAvishya so.ahaM guNamyaIM dvija |
sRRijan raxan haram vishvaM dadhre saMGYAM kriyocitAm || 51 ||
tasmin brahmaNyadvitIye kevale paramAtmani |
brahma rudrau ca bhUtAni bhedenAGYo .a nupashyati || 52 ||
yathA pumAn na svA~NgeShu shiraH pANyAdiShu kvacit |
pArakya-buddhiM kurute evaM bhUteShu matparaH || 53 ||
trayANAM eka-bhAvAnAM yo na pashyati vai bhidAm |
sarva-bhUtAtmanAM brahman s shAntiM atigacChati || 54 ||
Meaning : I, known as Atma, Ishvara, Jivasakshi and Nirguna, am indeed Brahma and Sharva (Shiva) and the root of the universe. Using my own yogic power and Guna, I create/protect/destroy this universe bearing different names. While I am indeed the Paramatma and Brahman, fools see Brahma/Shiva/Jeevas as being different from me. In the same way as a man does not consider his head and hands being different from himself, scholars who see me as the Paramatma do not differentiate me from these. Only he who does not differentiate the trinity attains eternal peace.
Quixotically, what Lord Narayana says is exactly what Lord Brahma personifies Lord Shiva as.
If this is a hitopadesha, Lord Narayana gives a dire warning in Linga Purana, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 6 (Alakshmi Upakhyanam), Verses 85-88, as below:
shrIviShNuruvAca -
ye rudraM anaghaM sharvaM sha~NkaraM nIla-lohitam |
ambAM haimavatIM vApi janitrIM jagataM api || 85 ||
mad bhaktAn nindayan yatra teShAM vittaM tavaiva hi |
yopi caiva mahAdeva vinindyaiva yajanti mAm || 86 ||
mUDhA hyabhAgyA madbhaktA api teShAM dhanam tava |
yasyAGYayA hyahaM brahma prasAdAd vartate sadA || 87 ||
ye yajanti vinindyaiva mama vidveSha kArakAH |
mad bhaktA naiva te bhaktA iva vartanti durmadAH || 88 ||
teShAM gRRihaM dhanaM xetraM iShTA-pUrtaM tavaiva hi || 89 ||
Meaning : Lord Vishnu tells Alakshmi (who ask where she can reside in this universe) - You may please reside and have your hearts content in the abodes of following people :
- One who does not revere the devotees of myself, Rudra and Haimavati (Uma)
- One who casts aspersions on Lord Mahadeva put worships me. Myself and Brahma are posited in Lord Mahadeva's worship constantly. My bhaktas who don't behave as true bhaktas are your abode.
So, it may indeed be shocking to know that Lord Narayana or Lord Shiva are not at all amused by our assumptions and definitions of bhakti.
2. Dattatreya Stotram - Narada Puranam
This is a short and sweet prayer on Lord Dattatreya, one of the 24 incarnations of Lord Narayana but also considered composite form of the Trinity by Sage Narada from Narada Puranam.
May We Seek Shelter At The Lotus Feet of The Almighty who is Nameless/Formless but has thousands of Names and Forms!
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