॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Thursday, 17 November 2022 IV.24 - Lord Shiva's prayer to Bhagavan Maha Vishnu and his teaching to the Prachetas.
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One thing should be absolutely clear by now as we are into the 92nd day of the reading of the Srimad Bhagavatam that began last August. Srimad Bhagavatam is about prayer. Here, today, we have Lord Shiva praying ardently to Bhagavan Maha Vishnu!
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King Vijitashwa took over from his father, Prithu. He gave his worthy younger brothers parts of the kingdom for governance in the four directions. Vijitashwa was taught by Indra, in that Ashwamedha episode, the powerful Siddhi of disappearance/becoming invisible at will. Hence he was also called Antardhana.
Vijitashwa begot three sons from his first queen Shikhandini, named Pavaka, Pavamana, Shuchi, but as they were amsha avataras of Agni due to a curse from Sage Vasishtha, they did not live long and merged back into their original Agni state. His other queen Nabhaswati gave birth to a son, Havirdhana.
Antardhana was spiritually inclined and loathe to discharge the unpleasant duties of a king like meting out harsh punishment. So he handed over the kingdom to his son and took the spiritual path to realisation.
Havirdhana's son was Prachinabarhi, world-renowned for his extensive and endless Yajnas. He married Varuna's daughter, Shatadruti, in a grand wedding ceremony. Even the gods like Agni who came to the wedding were infatuated with the bride's extraordinary beauty and womanly grace enhanced by her many adornments.
Shatadruti gave birth to ten sons, all equally pious and accomplished. Together, they were called the Prachetas. When their father, the king, asked them to extend their progeny well, they went to perform a great Tapas to purify and fortify themselves.
On their way towards the west where lay the ocean, the Prachetas encountered a great lake which looked oceanic in its vastness. It was pristine and full of songbirds, fringed by a lovely forest. The enchantment was enhanced by the endless lotuses that bloomed in that lake during the day and even during the night (Indivara).
The Prachetas then witnessed something extraordinary. Amidst divine chants and celestial music, Lord Shiva himself emerged from the lake!
Overwhelmed by the Darshan of the almighty Lord Shiva, the Prachetas bowed low. Lord Shiva's Darshan is extremely rare, as only spiritually advanced persons can hope to get even a glimpse. He constantly roams the earth with Devi, in a fierce appearance. However, here he was, the most divine and benevolent being, smiling most graciously. His bodily lustre was just like molten gold, his throat was bluish, and he had three eyes, which looked very mercifully upon his devotees. He was accompanied by many musicians, who were glorifying him. As soon as the Prachetas saw Lord Shiva, they immediately offered their obeisances in great amazement and fell down at the lotus feet of the lord.
Lord Shiva said, "You are all the sons of King Prachinabarhi, and I wish all good fortune to you. I also know what you are going to do, and therefore I am visible to you just to show my mercy upon you."
"Any person who is surrendered to the Supreme Being, Bhagavan Vasudeva, is actually very dear to me."
स्वधर्मनिष्ठ: शतजन्मभि: पुमान्विरिञ्चतामेति तत: परं हि माम् ।
अव्याकृतं भागवतोऽथ वैष्णवं पदं यथाहं विबुधा: कलात्यये ॥
T: "Dedicated to their Swadharma, after a hundred births, meritorious ones attain Brahma Loka. Thereafter, by increased merit, they get to attain to me. But the highest state called Vaishnavi is attained by the Lord's devotees, a state even Brahma and I will attain only at the dissolution of this creation."
"The Lord's devotees and I share great mutual love and respect."
"Now I shall chant one mantra which is not only transcendental, pure and auspicious but is the best prayer for anyone who is aspiring to attain the ultimate goal of life. When I chant this mantra, please hear it carefully and attentively."
I have decided to scan and share this prayer, called Rudra Geeta, here.
This is an extensive prayer full of devotion, highlighting several aspects of the path of Bhakti. To keep the blog not too long, I shall quote only five verses and translate them.
श्रीरुद्र उवाच
जितं त आत्मविद्वर्यस्वस्तये स्वस्तिरस्तु मे । भवताराधसा राद्धं सर्वस्मा आत्मने नम: ॥
T: Lord Shiva or Rudra said: "Glory to You, Supreme among the self-realised! May auspiciousness come to me by Your grace! Even prayers are possible only by Your gracious instructions. You are the Sarvatma (Paramatma) and I bow down to You!"
"Lord, You created Brahma out of Your navel, who then created this universe. You are the all-pervading Vasudeva, self-luminous, and beyond the six modifications that all else is subject to."
"By You is everything created, and finally dissolved. You provide for the Pitris and the gods. You are the original source of satisfaction for all living entities."
सर्वसत्त्वात्मदेहाय विशेषाय स्थवीयसे । नमस्त्रैलोक्यपालाय सह ओजोबलाय च ॥
T: "Your gigantic form holds within all living entities. You maintain the three worlds, and give the energy to enliven the body, mind and senses. My prayers!"
"Lord, You are the meaning of everything in creation, expanding by only Your vibrations! You are the final goal of all existence."
"Lord, You are the witness of all activities and originate both good and bad. The Karma that imposes suffering, too, is within Your purview."
"Lord, You are the supreme master of all spiritual wisdom, the cause of all causes, and Your intelligence is beyond bounds. My prayers!"
शक्तित्रयसमेताय मीढुषेऽहङ्कृतात्मने ।
चेतआकूतिरूपाय नमो वाचो विभूतये ॥
T: "You are the Lord of Karma - the doer, the instrument, the content and the result. As Rudra (myself), You embody the ego. You are the Lord of all types of verbal expression! My prayers!"
Now Lord Shiva gave a most detailed description of the bewitching, divine, form of Bhagavan Maha Vishnu in several shlokas. A visualiser artist will be able to develop an elaborately intricate image of the Lord by simply following the description. You can read those shlokas embedded above.
पदा शरत्पद्मपलाशरोचिषा नखद्युभिर्नोऽन्तरघं विधुन्वता ।
प्रदर्शय स्वीयमपास्तसाध्वसं पदं गुरो मार्गगुरुस्तमोजुषाम् ॥
T: My dear Lord, Your two feet are so beautiful that they appear like two blossoming petals of the lotus flower which grows during the autumn season. Indeed, the nails of Your lotus feet produce such a great effulgence that they immediately dissipate all the darkness in the heart of a conditioned soul. My dear Lord, kindly show me that form of Yours that can dispel the deepest darkness in the heart of the devotee!"
"Those who desire to purify their existence must always engage in meditation upon Your lotus feet, as described above. Those who want to observe Swadharma and overcome fear need to practise Bhakti!"
"Those who meditate upon "Aham Brahmasmi" also attain You, but with great difficulty, whereas You are easily attainable by Bhakti."
"Pursuit of Bhakti is not easy for even advanced souls. However, it is most efficacious, and hence anyone serious about liberation should take that path. Even Kaala or Time cannot harm one surrendered to You."
"Satsang with your devotee is powerful and can dispel the confusions of Karma rituals and Jnana meditations. Even the gods hold no attraction for one who has tasted Bhakti. Please bless me, oh, Bhagavan, to get the company of your true devotees, who desire nothing else in life but You."
यत्रेदं व्यज्यते विश्वं विश्वस्मिन्नवभाति यत् । तत् त्वं ब्रह्म परं ज्योतिराकाशमिव विस्तृतम् ॥
T: "Bhagavan, You alone are that Brahman which pervades this universe, and is ever expanding. It is the supreme light. It is the limitless sky. And that is You!"
"I can see how Your manifestation of this creation appears to be different from You, although You only create it and finally dissolve it."
क्रियाकलापैरिदमेव योगिन: श्रद्धान्विता: साधु यजन्ति सिद्धये ।
भूतेन्द्रियान्त:करणोपलक्षितं वेदे च तन्त्रे च त एव कोविदा: ॥
T: "Those engaged in Yajna rituals and Yogis in ascetic meditation with dedication are all finally worshipping only You, oh, Bhagavan! This world of entities, the five elements, the senses, the Antahkaranas (mind, ego, intellect) are all Your manifestation alone. Those who know this or discover this are indeed the masters."
Lord Shiva concluded this prayer with the words to the Prachetas to pursue this prayer he had taught them, and rule their kingdom well, offering everything as a worship of the Lord. That would earn Bhagavan's grace and bring prosperity.
"All of you should take this important mantra within your minds and promise to keep it in order to become great sages. By acting silently like a great sage and by giving attention and reverence, you should practice this method of devotion."
"Know this prayer was first made by Brahma, then Bhrigu and others, and we have all prayed thus to Bhagavan. This is what gives us all our energies and abilities."
"If one resonates with this prayer, or simply reads this prayer composed and sung by me, he will very easily be able to invoke the mercy of the Supreme Lord."
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
