Glories to Lord Shriman Lakshmi Narayana - Part 16

What do you know about Lord Shri Rama ? What do you want to say him ?

The one whose divinity is unreachable. The one whose love is un-comparable. The one whose pativrata dharma (rules of a husband) is a lesson for all. The one who is bhakta-vatsala. The one who is aaradya of his aaradya. The one whose glories can’t be sing as whole even if I take 1000s of re-births. That Param-Purusha that Bhakta-Vatsala is my Shri Rama who is Shriman Narayana himself.

Lord Rama is one in all i.e. “Sarva Ramena, Ramena Sarvam” ! His love towards his devotees is so divine that no one can match it. Just like how Lord Shiva is for Shri Shri Goswami Tulsidas ji Maharaj, I have Lord Shri Ram though I am not that great like his divine and I can never be.

Moreover Lord Rama is something so auspicious and divine that words are less for him to be expressed.

As Goswami Tulsidas ji said :-

कामिहि नारि पिआरि जिमि लोभिहि प्रिय जिमि दाम ।
तिमि रघुनाथ निरंतर प्रिय लागहु मोहि राम ॥

Like a lusty man loves a woman and is not able to think anything else except her. Hence oh Lord Ram you too should be in my heart and become dearest to me and I should love you very much.

Hence I love my Shri Ram like this only.

Even I believe that :-

मसकहि करइ बिरंचि प्रभु अजहि मसक ते हीन ।
अस बिचारि तजि संसय रामहि भजहिं प्रबीन ॥

Even if a Mosquito can become a great sage and even a great sage can become less than Mosquito by Shri Ram. Hence all those who have wisdom thinks about Lord Ram and worship him.

Hence without Ram, what knowledge I am going to have ?

If I leave Ram, how can I get Shiva ? Having Shiva leaving Ram is equal to attaining body without soul and attaining knowledge without guru. I may get the knowledge but its essence will be zero, Its experience will be zero.

For me the Lord of Maa Lakshmi, Shriman Narayana is the one who have always guided me whenever I needed and also where I didn’t. Lord Shri Hari Vishnu is always with me. Sometimes I even felt to burn up all the books and all and only trust what they guides. I don’t trust anyone except my Bhavani Shankar and Lakshmi Narayana.

Lord Vishnu’s life as Lord Shri Ram teaches us all the key concepts of life. His life (Ramayana) looks like a story of Bhagwad Gita. His Nishkaam Karma, his ways, his behaviors and what all his qualities I describe, though I am describing nothing of him, such infinite he is.

Maa Sita on other side is ocean of motherly love (Mamtha). I think so another reason of Maa Lakshmi’s avatar as Maa Sita is because we, her children were lacking some amount of love though drinking whole river of her love, She came on earth from her divine dhaam Vaikuntha. Who can know them more than they themselves.

I know how great Shri Ram is, when Sage Bhrigu kicked his chest, he accepted that and massaged Bhrigu’s feet and closed his Agyaan Netra. I know he was the one who cursed my Lord of Vaikuntha because of which he have to get separated from my Maa many times. That curse actually had 0 effect on him but we all know that the worst quality of my Bhavani Shankar and Lakshmi Narayan is that they are “Bhakta-Vatsala”. They accept anything which their devotees offer with love and pain. When Gandhaari did that in Kurukshetra after the Mahabharata war, he the supreme accepted it. Such the ocean of love he is, I just want to get drowned in it.

I know that Kevat, who intentionally told :-

छुअत सिला भइ नारि सुहाई। पाहन तें न काठ कठिनाई॥
तरनिउ मुनि घरिनी होइ जाई। बाट परइ मोरि नाव उड़ाई

The sand of your feets are so magical that you can make a stone into a very beautiful woman than what’s guarantee of this wood (Boat’s wood) ? If my boat also became a beautiful woman than ? It will also fly away and all my ways of economy will be destroyed because this boat alone is the source of my economy.

एहिं प्रतिपालउँ सबु परिवारू। नहिं जानउँ कछु अउर कबारू॥
जौं प्रभु पार अवसि गा चहहू। मोहि पद पदुम पखारन कहहू

Oh Lord ! I am only able to eshtablish my economy through this boat, no other buisness or work I know. So please give me permission to wash your feets.

Such a great devotee he was who got the opportunity to wash the feets of the one who is “Akhilanda koti Brahmanda Naayaka” !

How can I be so great who sings only your glories and that also not properly. I being the devotee knows only Bhakti. Nothing more I want to know and do all the works of mine. This Kaliyuga has its great effect on the devotees and makes their mind also polluted like anything.

But I know you told something very auspicious, pure and universal truth as Lord Dattatreya that :-

ईश्वरानुग्रहादेव पुुंसामद्वैतवासना ।

महद्भयपररत्राणारद्वप्राणामुपजायते ॥ १॥

Through the grace of God alone, the desire for non-duality (Adwaita) arises in wise men to save them from great fear.

:- Lord Dattatreya in Avadhoot Gita

Hence Oh Lord ! As you saved Gajendra and killed that Crocodile, please save me also from black thoughts which brings wrong about You and my Shiva. As you took support of Vaanar Sena and Killed Ravana, Oh Lord ! I will do my karmas which you assigned to me which will be my support to your leela and save me by killing the Ravana inside me. Oh Lord ! As you guided Arjuna and gave him the divine most knowledge of Shri Bhagwad Geeta, give me also knowledge and guide me too on the path of the destruction of ill thoughts and misfortunes in my life. Oh Lord ! I am your refugee alone !!!!!

These all things I wanted to say to Lord Shri Ram and these are my feelings towards it !!!!!

Hope it helps !!!!!

Jay Sita Ram !!!!!!

Jay Lakshmi Narayana !!!!!!!

Miracles of Sri Venkatapathi - Part 1

Hare Krishna!

 Miracles happen in the lives of people who surrendered to him and believe him. If we ask a person who visited Tirumala temple of Sri Venkateswara swamy at least once, he/she will surely tell that they experienced him and his miracles. I’ll share some wonders of Tiruvenkatapathi in this series which aren’t well known/popular.

1. The miracle which I'm sharing now was happened in the 17th century. There lived a couple named Ellamaraju and Lakshmamma in the village Bhanumukkala, Kadapa district (Andhra Pradesh). Ellamaraju was the head of 2–3 villages including his village. He and his wife were great devotees of Sri Venkateswara. They used to give hospitality in their house itself to the people who comes to their village for any work. Due to the grace of Lord, they gave birth to a boy child and named him Venkatappa. One day some people were going to Tirumala and on the way they thought to stay sometime in this village as it was afternoon and they want some rest. So, they asked a person that are there any inns in that village. Then, that person said about Ellamaraju and his address. They felt so happy and went to the house of Ellamaraju. That was Saturday (special for Sri Venkateswara swamy). Ellamaraju and Lakshmamma welcomed them and gave water.

Lakshmamma was preparing food for all. She saw her child (Venkatappa) playing in the balcony. Suddenly he fell down due to snakebite and died. She saw that and ran to her child. He lost his life. She secretly called her husband who was talking with the guests and told him what was happened. Both cried a lot and thought not to tell this to the guests because if they know this they won't have lunch and go away. So, why should they suffer from hunger??? So, they hided the dead body of their child, praying Sri Venkatapathi to protect and went inside as usual. A miracle happened now.

A 70 years old man joined the guests in their house. He had big Naamam on his face. Ellamaraju and his wife served rice to that old man too. After the lunch of the guests, that old man asked the couple “why are you looking so sad??” Then, they were not able to control their sadness and cried in front of them. That couple brought the dead body of their child and kept near the lotus feet of that old man (who is Sri Venkatapathi!!!!!!). They said what was happened. All the guests shocked. Then, that old man asked them to bring some water from well which was digged by that couple long ago. And also some mud. After bringing, he mixed some mud with that water and poured some water in the mouth of that child telling Om Sri Venkatesaya namaha 🙏. The next minute, he became alive. Everyone shocked for that. Then, that old man gave the remaining water to that couple and said to pour again in the well. And if anyone in their village gets affected by snakebite, by pouring water of this well mixed with some mud makes them normal again. And he also told them to go to Tirumala Yatra🥰. After that he disappeared. Then, everyone understood that old man was none other than Venkateswara swamy. They thanked him and surprised for his limitless mercy💖💖💖 This couple and also Venkatappa went to Tirumala with the guests!!!!

Another Miracle: 

A family planned Tirumala yatra. A couple, their children and mother of that man reached Tirupati. His wife had a mokku that she should go to Tirumala from Tirupati by walk. But, her husband has problem in his knees. So, can't go with her. Her mother in law is old. So, she alone should go by walk. Her mother in law was feeling sad that only a single woman should go by walk. So, she said to take children with her and gave a paper in which she wrote a slokam of Sri Vishnu. And thought in her mind that Sri Venkatapathi will take care of everything. That day, devotees going to Tirumala through that way are less. Only 10-20 members are there including this woman in that kaalibata.

That lady was praying Venkateswara and walking. Suddenly, on the way, a small boy appeared there. He's soooooo cute that cute is only a very small word to describe him.🥰🤩😍 He have a small stick in his hand. He turned back and gave a signal to them (who were there including that lady and children ) to follow him. They were no able to move eyes from his divine beautiful feet. They just followed him. He took them to Bus stand at Tirumala.

The family members of that woman who were going to Tirumala through Ghat Road reached Bus stand at Tirumala. Actually, her mother in law told to her that she'll send car to the end of the kaalibata. But, in tension, she forgot that to tell to driver. So, she was in the thoughts “Driver brought us to Bus stand but, I told my daughter in law that I'll send car to her……”

Daughter in law saw that they reached Bus stop. She was thinking “my Mother in law told that she'll send car to kaalibata. But, we came to bus stand following this child!!!!!!!! What to do now!??” After thinking like that she turned her head to other side where she saw her family. And the next minute this boy disappeared!!!!! So, he's none other than Bhakthavatsala Karunamay Sri Venkatachalapathi who came as a child to help his devotees.💖💖💝 (Hope this was happened in 20th or 21st century)

Om Namo Venkatesaya!!!

Lord Shiva in Vedas and Upanishads - Part 3

How can we interpret Lord Shiva as Purusha in Purusha Suktam ?

Note :- This answer of mine is fully written in glorification of the holy lotus and divine feets of Lord Shiva, the supreme purusha and the wonderful philosophies of Shaivism and Shaktism. People in nowadays are rejecting Lord Shiva’s supremacy. They should understand that Hari and Hara are one only. Both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are the supreme Purusha. But many people in today's world are giving long lists of differences they think between Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu and hence rejects the supremacy of Lord Shiva. Here many of my friends have given awesome references and answers for proving Lord Shriman Narayana as the supreme purusha of the purusha suktam and now I will make you realise that even Lord Shriman Mahadeva is too the supreme Purusha of Purusha Suktam.

Lord Shiva is the supreme Purusha of the Purusha Suktam !!!!!

Now the question comes how Lord Shiva is Supreme Purusha ?

The answer written by me here is in such a way that a person who will read it carefully can realize that Shiva is supreme Purusha !!!!!!

I have already written 2 posts on the basis of Lord Shiva’s supremacy declared in Vedas and Upanishads whose links are present at the end of my post.

See Svetashvatar Upanishad in its chapter 3 explains the highest reality which is highest of all and that's this :-

Eko hi rudro na dvitīyāya tasthur
ya imāṃl lokān īśata īśanībhiḥ
pratyaṅ janāṃs tiṣṭhati sañcukocānta-kāle
saṃsṛjya viśvā bhuvanāni gopāḥ

"Rudra is truly one; for the knowers of Brahman do not admit the existence of a second, He alone rules all the worlds by His powers. He dwells as the inner Self of every living being. After having created all the worlds, He, their Protector, takes them back into Himself at the end of time."

:- Svetashvatar Upanishad

So by taking this as main source of my inspiration, I will try to prove that Supreme Purusha of Purusha Suktam of Rig Veda.

So let us start with 1st verse :-

सहस्त्रशीर्षा पुरुष:सहस्राक्ष:सहस्रपात् |

स भूमि सर्वत: स्पृत्वाSत्यतिष्ठद्द्शाङ्गुलम् ||१|

sahasraśīrṣā puruṣaḥ sahasrākṣaḥ sahasrapāt

sabhūmiṃ viśvato vṛtvātyatiṣṭhad daśāṅghulam

The Purusha has thousand heads,
He has thousand eyes,
He has thousand feet,
He is spread all over the universe,
And is beyond the count with ten fingers.

Veda Purusha is said to have 'Thousand' heads, 'Thousand' eyes etc. Here Thousand doesn't mean just 1000. Thousand(Sahasra) implies almost infinite. The Rishis used the words 'Sata'(100) and 'Sahasra'(1000) not only for the respective figures but also to denote "uncountable" in number. Scriptures say that God has uncountable names and all names are his names. But still we use 'Satanama' and 'sahasranamas' while worshiping God. The words 'Sata and 'Sahasra' are not meant for restricting it to 100 or 1000 but to convey the 'Wholeness'. This verse explains the unity of all living beings.

Now let us see what Skambha (Linga) sukta of Atharva Veda says on it :-

yád éjati pátati yác ca tíṣṭhati prāṇád áprāṇan nimiṣác ca yád bhúvat

tád dādhāra pr̥thivī́ṃ viśvárūpaṃ tát saṃbhū́ya bhavaty ékam evá

That which hath power of motion, that which flies, or stands,which breathes or breathes not, which, existing, shuts the eye. Wearing all forms that entity upholds the earth, and in its close consistence, Sambhu still is only one.

:- ( Atharvana Veda 10-8-11)

Even Taittirya Aranyaka (10-24-1) of Yajur Veda clearly says Lord Rudra is the Purusha in Vedas by telling “purusho vai rudrah” and even Kaushitaki Brahmana (6-1-13) of Rig Veda calls Lord Rudra as "sahasrakha sahasrapat".

The same thing is confirmed in Svetasvatara Upanishad :-

viśvataś cakṣur uta viśvato-mukho

viśvato-bāhur uta viśvatas-pāt

saṃ6 bāhubhyāṃ dhamati sampatatrair

dyāv-ābhūmī janayan deva ekaḥ

"His eyes are everywhere, His faces everywhere, His arms everywhere, everywhere His feet. He it is who endows men with arms, birds with feet and wings and men likewise with feet. Having produced heaven and earth, this God (deva ekaḥ) remains as their non—dual manifester".

:- Svetasvatara Upanishad (3–3)

Hence here it proves it’s Lord Shiva who is the Purusha of Purusha Sukatm.

Now the 4th and 5th verse of Purusha Suktam says :-

त्रिपादूर्ध्व उदैत्पुरुष:पादोSस्येहाभवत्पुनः |

ततो विष्वङ् व्यक्रामत्साशनानशनेSअभि ||४||

tripādūrdhva udait puruṣaḥ pādo.asyehābhavat punaḥ |

tato viṣvaṃ vyakrāmat sāśanānaśane abhi ||

Above this world is three quarters of Purusha,
But the quarter, which is in this world,
Appears again and again,
And from that is born the beings that take food,
And those inanimate ones that don’t take food.
And all these appeared for every one of us to see.

ततो विराडजायत विराजोSअधि पूरुषः |

स जातोSअत्यरिच्यत पश्चाद्भूमिमथो पुर:

tasmād virāḷ ajāyata virājo adhi pūruṣaḥ |

sa jātoatyaricyata paścād bhūmimatho puraḥ ||

From him Virāj was born;

again Puruṣa from Virāj was born.

As soon as he was born,

he spread eastward and westward over the earth

Now in the 4th verse also we see Lord Shiva as Brahman. The word "Brahman" has its root in the word 'Brihat' which means Large or massive.

Regarding this, Sri Rudram of Yajurveda it says to Lord Shiva namo brihate cha which means Salutations to Lord Rudra who is 'Brihat' ie., Brahman.

Yajurveda (v. 5. 9. i ) says "The Rudra in the fire, in the waters, in the plants, the Rudra who has entered all beings, to that Rudra be homage"

Even we can see in Puranas like Shiva Purana, Kurma Purana, Linga Purana, Vaayu Purana and Skanda Purana that Lord Vishnu after understanding that there is no limit of this Anantha Linga said that to Lord Shiva as Lingam :-

“Ohh Lord, you have no end and no starting. You are Anantha. In your Linga, all the three worlds and universe is there. You are starting and you are end and you yourself as Anantha”

This can be even seen in Atharva Veda’s Skambha Suktam :-

"Great, verily, are those Gods who sprang from non-existence into life. Further, men say that that one part of Skambha (linga) is nonentity"

"Where Skambha (Linga) generating gave the Ancient World its shape and form, They recognized that single part of Skambha(pillar or Linga) as the Ancient World,"

Now coming to the 5th verse, it basically says :-

This verse says that Virat was born from Purusha. Virat is the Shining world. It is also called Hiranyagarbha by the Upanishads. The Vedas call it by name Prajapati (Bramha). The Prajapati is responsible for creation. He is the first being to be born. From Prajapati the Purusha himself took his birth. As soon as he was born he spread out over the earth in all the directions, i.e. he multiplied and new species evolved.

Purusha ---------> Prajapati (Bramha) --------> Purusha.

Now each and every Shaivite or Shiva devotee might have got what I am trying here to hint. Remember the story of “Manifestation of Rudra” which is told in Mahabharata and all the Puranas. All Puranas mention the Manifestation of Lord Shiva through Lord Bramha because of the Bramha’s boon.

Hence by here I prove that Lord Rudra as SadaShiva actually manifested himself or appeared himself from Lord Bramha but in reality he is unborn and I am not saying this, Rig Veda is saying this and same thing is said in Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda is saying this. Here Lord Shiva is called as Vratya or Ascetic form i.e. the form we all see him as a great Yogi :-

vrā́tya āsīd ī́yamāna evá sá prajā́patiṃ sám airayat ||

sá prajā́patiḥ suvárṇam ātmánn apaśyat tát prā́janayat ||

tád ékam abhavat tál lalā́mam abhavat tán mahád abhavat táj jyeṣṭhám abhavat tád bráhmābhavat tát tápo 'bhavat tát satyám abhavat téna prā́jāyata ||

"There was Vratya( Ascetic form of Lord Shiva). He roused Prajapati to action. Prajapati beheld gold in himself and engendered it. That became unique, that became distinguished, that became great, that became excellent, that became Brahman, that became Tapas, that became Truth: through that he was born."

:- Atharva Veda 15:1:1–3

sò 'vardhata sá mahā́n abhavat sá mahādevò 'bhavat ||

sá devā́nām īśā́ṃ páry ait sá ī́śāno 'bhavat ||

sá ekavrātyò 'bhavat sá dhánur ā́datta tád evéndradhanúḥ ||

nī́lam asyodáraṃ lóhitaṃ pr̥ṣṭhám ||

nī́lenaivā́priyaṃ bhrā́tr̥vyaṃ prórṇoti lóhitena dviṣántaṃ vidhyatī́ti brahmavādíno vadanti ||

"He grew, he became great, he became Mahadeva.He gained the lordship of the Gods. He became Ishana. He became Eka Vratya. He held a bow, even that Bow of Indra. His belly is dark-blue, his back is red( Nila Lohitam) . With dark-blue he envelops a detested rival, with red he pierces the man who hates him: so the theologians say."

:- Atharva Veda 15:1:4-8

Hence from 4th and 5th verse also, I proved that it’s Lord Shiva who is the Purusha of Purusha Sukatm.

Now seeing the 13th verse of Purusha Suktam :-

चन्द्रमा मनसो जातश्चक्षो: सूर्यो अजायत |

श्रोत्राद्वायुश्च प्राणश्च मुखादग्निरजायत

candramā manaso jātaścakṣoḥ sūryo ajāyata |
mukhādindraścāghniśca prāṇād vāyurajāyata ||

The Moon was gendered from his mind, and from his eye the Sun had birth;
Indra and Agni from his mouth were born, and Vāyu from his breath.

Now again, here we are able too see that all Devas are said to be created from Veda Purusha Rudra. He was the origin of all gods. At the same time he himself manifests as gods. We all know that Lord Shiva is called as “Surya Chandra Agni lochana” in every Puranas and Itihaasas which means “whose Eyes are Surya (Sun) Chandra (Moon) and Agni (Fire)”.

Now let’s see some more references.

tásya vrā́tyasya || yád asya dákṣiṇam ákṣy asáu sá ādityó yád asya savyám ákṣy asáu sá candrámāḥ ||

yò 'sya dákṣiṇaḥ kárṇo 'yáṃ só agnír yò 'sya savyáḥ kárṇo 'yáṃ sá pávamānaḥ || ahorātré nā́sike dítiś cā́ditiś ca śīrṣakapālé saṃvatsaráḥ śíraḥ ||

"Of that Vratya (ascetic form of Lord Shiva), The right eye is the Sun and the left eye is the Moon. His right ear is Agni and his left ear is Pavamana. Day and Night are his nostrils. Diti and Aditi are his head and skull."

( Atharvana Veda 15:18:1-4)

Even Shri Rudram in Yajur Veda says :-

“Salutation to God Rudra who is Soma

who is the redness of the rising Sun, and to the rosy hue of the Sun which has risen.

Salutation to the God (Rudra) who is the giver of weal, and to the lord of knowledge.

Salutation to the God (Rudra) who is dread, and to the terrible.

Salutation to God (Rudra) who is him who slays in front, and to him who slays at a distance.

Salutation to the God (Rudra) who is slayer, and to the special slayer {at the time of deluge).

Salutation to the God (Rudra) who is trees with green tresses.

Salutation to the God (Rudra) who is deliverer. Salutation to the source of peace and who is originated by himself (Sambhave)

Salutation to the God (Rudra) who being Shankar and creates peace and is the creator of delight

Salutation to the God (Rudra) who is also called as Shiva and being it is the most auspicious and more then auspiciousness, he is absolute”

Hence 13th verse of Purusha Suktam again proclaims Lord Shiva as the supreme Purusha of Purusha Suktam.

Hence Lord Shiva is declared as the supreme Purusha of the Purusha Suktam.

The posts of mine in which I gave references that Lord Shiva’s supremacy declared in Vedas and Upanishads are :-

1. https://shrisanatanamadwaitam.blogspot.com/2020/12/lord-shiva-in-vedas-and-upanishads-part.html

2. https://shrisanatanamadwaitam.blogspot.com/2020/12/lord-shiva-in-vedas-and-upanishads-part_21.html

Hope it helps !!!!!!

Dhanyawaadam !!!!!

Jay Uma Maheshwara !!!!!!