rebirth

 

 As God has rendered all souls immortal, Narad too remained in realm of divine light for trillions o f human years and once again took birth as son of Lord Brahma in another Kalpa. The time keeps repeating its even in various realms. So did the drama was reenacted between the father and son. This time the son had the lessons learnt in the past life still alive in his memory. When father called him and said,-“Son! You are so close to my heart. Being your father, I am your best mentor and guide. Believe in my intentions and enter into wedlock for the sake of my happiness. The life of a householder is the best as he alone offers service and shelter to all and attains swargaloka afterwards..”

 The uttering of expectant father reminded the son of the past bickering. Recalling the diatribe his throat dried and lips got stitched. The shadow of past overpowered his present and he stood inert and aghast in front of is hoary father. Yet believing and knowing well that the silence tantamounts to acceptance, he cleared his throat and expressed himself,-“Father! Both of us have suffered much in the past only because of our difference of opinion on this issue. Cursed by you,  I became a gandharv and then the son of a shudra lady. You too lost your share in sacrifices on earth. After such a prolong suffering and penance only, have I been redeemed of those tough lives. It is eternally true that mutual bickering and opposition brings about only misery and stress. One who motivates the other towards devotion to Lord Srikrishna alone is a true friend and meaningful relation. A father who exhorts his son to turn away from lord Srikrishna is no way worthy of respect and trust. Having a wife only culminates in suffering and confrontation. A wife is merely an obstruction to penance, liberation and divine devotion. There are three types of wives,- saintly, desirous and the wicked ones. All of them are selfish. A selfish wife attends upon her husband out of fear of God and to attain glory. The desirous one takes care of him to fulfill her desires and spurns him soon when he is of no use to her. The wicked one is as lethal as a cinder that sets everything afire for she is embodiment of hypocrisy and keeps sticking to new lovers and even kills her husband for her lover. A man who has third type of wife is doomed all the way. Women are read properly only by enlightened men and not by ordinary men. While wearing the face of a lotus, their hearts are as scathing as a razor. Only to serve their purpose they turn sweet. It  takes them hardly a moment to change their colours. They turn venomous in a moment if angered. They are hardly  knowable and even difficult is the task of handling them. Their courage is limitless; impertinence great; hypocrisy unfathomable and wiles unmatchable. Their lust is eight times then that of the men; appetite double; cruelty quadruple; anger and energy six times more then in men.  Their intimate association brings about loss of wealth, strength and honour. When in love they cause loss of  wealth, when in lewd attachment they cause loss of  strength and when in quarrel they cause loss of honour. Not this much alone, when one trusts them fully they cause loss of everything. So what is the point in inviting such misery in otherwise precious and a peaceful life? A man can rule over others only so long as he has money, power and youth. Women never like sick,meak,old and pauper men. They give such husbands food only out of social fear. Lord Brahma you know everything so well. Please spare me and allow me to keep away from them. I long only to worship lord Srikrishna.”

Having poured his heart out, Narad prostrated before his father and clasped his feet. Seeing his son in such plight the father was left speechless though disappointed and disheartened too. Tears silently streamed from his somber eyes. His shattered heart’s  pain caused him to wail bitterly while lifting his aloof son into his arms. While lapping him up he began to hug him, kiss him over and over, again and again.

 Lord Brahma kept on showering affection over his nonchalant son. Still caressing him like an infant he touched his face and said,-“Son! You wish to retreat to solitude. Then what shall I do with this all? I shall also prepare myself to retire to Goloka. Most of my sons do not obey me. Yet I tell you once again the wisdom enshrined in the Vedas. Man should attain right knowledge and then enter into wedlock. Girl born to decent parents serve their husbands well. Not all women are bad as they are offshoots of Goddess Lakshmi. Wise men marry decent girls and retire to forest after begetting worthy sons. As I have imparted you the wisdom enshrined in the Vedas so by my that right over you, do I seek in gurudakshina that get  married now, my son! Your soulmate Malavati too has taken birth as daughter of king Srinjay and is awaiting you. Her name in this life is Ratnamala. Marry her and keep worship Lord Srikrishana at home. Serving lord Srikrishna is the best of toughest of penance performed in the forests. Wife is the best friend of a man. Her company is most comforting. Dearer then a wife is a son who is reflection of a man’s own self. Man enjoys being defeated only by his virtuous and glorious son..”

 Thus explaining him father turned quiet. The son was however a hard nut to crack. His mind hardly received the instructins explained by the father. He confidently counterd him,-“ Father! This entire creation is mere illusion. The creation is nothing but a bubble arising from the ocean called supreme consciousness. Lord Srikrishna is the ocean of bliss, security and peace. All forms of life are ephemeral and transient. Who is whose’ wife and who is whose’ son? Relations are mere waves of ocean that appear and disappear in due course. The waves know no identity and merely represent flow of water. I understand fully this wisdom yet for your satisfaction shall I enter into wedlock. But before that I shall move to mount Badrinath and seek proper direction and counsel from sage Narayan there..”

 Hearing such assurance the father cheered up and smile spread over his five faces. Heavens showered flowers over the prospective groom. Seeing the obedient son bowing in front of him father Brahma felt relieved and could not but thank Lord Srikrishan who had ultimately graced the mind of his esurient devotee.

 The son then raised his head and said,-: Father1 Please give me a mantra to please lord Srikrishna and narrate to me his stories in detail.. . that enthrall my heart so much, then only shall I marry the girl you suggest.

 

 An ebullient father replied back with a jubilant smile,-“Mantra should not be taken from the father or husband for that is merely a biological relation. Lord Shiv is the best guide in spiritual matters. Go to him and then come back to me..”

 Narad thanked his lord and after bowing to his father moved to Shivlok to salute his spiritual guide.

 As he stepped in the Shivlok his soul felt an ineffable relief and insouciance. The entire sphere was replete with matchlessly serene and beautiful abodes of siddhas, yogis, bhairavas and parshads etc. Scintillating lights of various coulors glittered amazingly all around. No sign of darkness no smell of earthly matter and nothing unpleasant had a room in the entire Shivlok. The glorious sphere of Lord Shiv was fragrant and so calming that Narad wished not to move away from there for even a single moment. He remembered the devotion of lord Shiv to lord Srikrishna and mentally saluting the duo moved on to have a meeting with Lord Shiv.

 As he found himself standing in front of Lord Shiv, who with his five heads adorned with three enlightened eyes reflecting serenity of wisdom and warmth of divine devotion, looked as resplendent as a full moon rendering calm brilliance of moonlight in the dark sky. Countless sages, seers, siddhas, yogis, bhairavas etc. surrounding him were fully absorbed in prayers with utmost veneration. Narad found lord Shiv holding rosary made of lotus seeds in his hand and chanting names of Lord Srikrishna on beads. He bowed before him and strummed his veena sportingly to amuse the master devotee of lord Srikrishna. Lord Shiv rose up from his throne and hugged Narad. He then asked him to sit beside him as a son. But the overwhelmed Narad forgot to sit and kept on playing his veena in the praise of Lord Srikrishna. Equally bemused Lord Shiv smiled and made Narad sit beside him on his left side to enjoy his vicinity.

 “Lord! Please enlighten me about the daily routine one should pursue to attain God.” He beseeched with folded hands.”

 “ Son! one should get up early in the morning and worship  the guru first imagining that the guru is immanent in the top of one’s head. Imagine that the guru is gracing with a smile and thus meditate over the guru believing the guru to be a stretch of the supreme light.”

IV Disciple of Brahma and Shiv

How could Vishnu go astray?

 

 

 

 Narad was in the association of Lord Brahma in Brahmalok. His benign father was narrating to him various tales of past to which he had been a witness. While discussing the queer vicissitude of time and law of karma, father explained to the son that time can invariably turn all the tables in any direction. When Narad learnt that lord Vishnu gladly accepted invitation to a function organized by king Daksh in which lord Shiv was not invited, he could not believe this. Lord Brahma had told him that King Daksh had deliberately not invited lord Shiv with the sole intention to hurt and humiliate lord Shiv.  He divulged to Narad that once it so happened that in a conference where all celestial beings were present when king Daksh entered, lord Shiv being in meditation, remained seated and did not rise up from his seat to salute his father- in-law Daksh. Proud king could not bear with this and took it to his heart as a delinquent gesture of his vagabond son-in-law. He looked for an opportunity to humiliate lord Shiv as day and night he had been searing in the fire of anger and jealousy to lord Shiv. To settle score with lord Shiv he organized a great function and sent royal invitation to all celestial beings but for lord Shiv.

     When Narad learnt that the inseparable ally of lord Shiv, Lord Vishnu had consented to join the function where Lord Shiv was to be disgraced, he got confused about such a strange and unbelievable attitude of lord Vishnu. He asked Lord Brahma,-“Father! Why did lord Vishnu attend this function where his favourite lord Shiv was intentionally let down by his father in law? Not only did he attend the function but I have heard that he even fought on behalf of king Daksh against lord Shiv. How could he do so?”

Lord Brahma got pensive and said,-“Son! There is a cause behind every effect. In good olden days there was a king named Kshuv. He was very close to muni Dadhichi. Both were great souls. However with the passage of time jealousy crept in between them. Muni believed in superiority of Brahmans while the king believed in superiority of kshatriyas. Once they got into a heated argument over this issue. King blatantly said,-“King is superior to all, by all means.” Enraged muni boxed at the forehead of the king to proclaim superiority of Brahmans. King Kshuv applied his celestial weapon Vajra and axed down Dadhichi. Guru Shukracharya resurrected Dadhichi somehow. Shukracharya then gave a mantra to Dadhichi to please lord Shiv. The muni began to chant mahamrityunjay mantra to win favours from Lord Shiv. In due course, lord Shiv appeared before muni. “ seek any thing. I am pleased with you.” Offered lord Shiv.

“Lord! I am deeply obliged to you for this grace. Please make by bones as strong as Vajra. Make me so strong that no one could kill me and may I become so energized that before none should I feel low and weak.” Lord Shiv said,-“Be it so. You will receive all this.” Thus he blessed the muni and disappeared. Dadhichi was filled with pride and he straight away reached in the court of king Kshuv and kicked him at his head in front of all. Kshuv was also equally enraged that he applied his vajra on muni which however, could not harm even a bit the strong skeleton of muni. King was shocked to see the strength of muni. Realizing the potential of his enemy he retreated and went to forest to gain strength. He began to perform penance to please lord Vishnu. When lord Vishnu appeared before him he said,-“Lord! Muni Dadhich has become too arrogant. So much so that he kicked my head in front of my courtiers. What makes him so powerful?” Lord Vishnu replied,-“King! Devotees of lord Shiv become fearless. If I dare harm Dadhichi then I shall invite wrath of lord Shiv which I can by no means dare do. So I can not accompany you in the fray to defeat Dadhichi. Rather I shall find some way to teach Dadhichi a lesson all alone.” Assuring his devotee so, lord Vishnu disappeared.

To keep his words, Lord Vishnu disguised as a Brahman and appeared before muni Dadhichi. The Brahman exhorted,-“O great devotee of lord Vishnu! Heard from wise men that you are a great devotee of lord Shiv who never goes back on his word and never refuses anything to mendicants have I reached here. I intend to beg something. Please show your magnanimity and give me what I seek.”

 Dadhichi asked,-“Brahman! I very well know what you are going to ask for. I also know that you are only Vishnu in disguise who has reached here to help your devotee Kshuv. Lord Shiv has made me all knowing and fearless from all. Now give up this drama and better worship lord Shiv.”

 Lord Vishnu replied back,-“Dadhichi! Blessed by lord Shiv you have become so fearless. But please for my sake go to king Kshuv and just tell him,-‘I am afraid of you’.”

 Even though lord Vishnu implored so Dadhichi showed no sign of yielding and replied,-“Lord Vishnu! Blessed by lord Shiv I need not fear anyone. I therefore, can not do what you say.” Thus lord Vishnu applied various tactics to bring muni to do what he wished for but the adamant muni yielded not a bit. Vishnu then applied his illusory power Maya seeing so muni retorted,-“O large armed Vishnu! Give up your illusory power. I have attained supreme status in spiritual spheres. See the entire cosmos within me and the entire folk of deities too. Whatever you wish to see you can see floating within me. I give you the ability to see all in me.’ As he said so the entire folk of celestial beings rushed to see the charisma of spiritual power of muni Dadhichi.  Vishnu felt enraged and wished to curse muni but Lord Brahma appeared and calmed down lord Vishnu. Vishnu accompanied by all deities found the entire cosmos with innumerable beings floating in muni. All worshipped and saluted muni Dadhichi. King Kshuv was also a witness to the lofty heights attained by his former friend turned enemy. He saluted muni with folded hands and accepted his supremacy wholeheartedly. Kshuv was overwhelmed and said,-“O best of all devotees of lord Shiv! Be pleased with me. Bless me please. I salute you all the way.” Dadhichi was pleased with Kshuv and blessed him generously.

 Dadhich could however not accept please of Vishnu and still felt enraged to him. He therefore said in front of all,-“O you all Gods! Listen carefully. Cursed by me now, all of you including lord Vishnu shall face defeat from my lord Shiv and his ganas in the battlefield.” Saying so, he convinced Kshuv that the supreme consciousness or Brahm is hidden in all and can be realized by self effort. The place where muni Dadhichi had shown divine vision to lord Vishnu and other gods is known as Sthaneshwar or Thanesar as is known now a days.

Narad was amazed to hear from Lord Brahma such history and then realized why lord Vishnu and other deities fought with lord Shiv and his ganas in the function of king Daksh after goddess sati gave up her body there and faced humiliating defeat from Lord Shiv. How great is the power of penance that can enable a mortal to curse even god he learnt.

Lineage of groom Shiv

 

 

 With the arduous efforts of deities finally Shiv agreed to wed goddess Parvati.But when he sat at the alter as a groom the pundit of his father-in-law Himvant who was solemnizing the ceremony asked the groom,-“ Pleases tell the names of your forefathers and details of lineage of  your family tree..” The groom Shiv was always reluctant to enter into wedlock turned pale for he knew nothing about his father and mother. It was so embarrassing for the groom’s party that none could dare say anything in front of in-laws of lord Shiv.

The groom was reeling in mysterious silence. All enlightened beings who were great devotees of lord Shiv could see the groom in doldrums turning pale. Sage Narad however lost not his wits and immediately rose up to handle the situation. He smiled and explained comfortably to king Himvant,-“King of Great Mountains! You seem to be indeed deluded. You do not even understand as to what should you say and what not in front of an enlightened master such as lord Maheshwar. You are so extrovert. You want to know the family tree and lineage of lord Shiv! Indeed your query is ridiculous. King Not even lord Brahma and lord Vishnu know of his origin then what to talk of other lesser  beings. King you are able to see him only because of the penance performed by your daughter Parvati. His one day equals creation and destruction of millions of worlds. He is ever far away from the reach of nature and is accountable to none. He is actually formless, birhtless and ever free from all bondages. He manifests himself only to bless his deserving devotees NO man however learned he may claim to be can ever know lord Shiv completely. Bow to your daughter whose penance had mad e it possible for you and all others present here to see lord Shiv. His lineage is only a sound. The holy sound is incarnation of lord Shiv. It is with his blessing only tht I know the science of sound and music so perfectly that leaving behind all attractions I roam freely in cosmos singing glory of lord Shiv..”

 

Thus narration of spiritual status of lord Shiv from the mouth of sage Narad saved the groom from a critical situation as his father in-law became dumb to hear such mysterious qualities of his son-in-law.

V LEFT HAND OF DWARKADHISH

Testing patience of a unique servitors

The rajsuuya yajna organized by scions of Kuru clan was going on. Each one of the royal descendents was given a responsible role to make the event successful. Duryodhan was assigned the task of maintaining  and overseeing financial accounts. Dwarkadhish being a younger cousin of King Yudhishtar also sought a role. “Brother! Please assign me some role in this momentous task.” He supplicated with folded hands before king Yudhishthira with utmost modesty. Yudhishthira being very-well aware of the might of his younger cousin was in a quandary. He had wished that Krishna who was endowed with all divine qualities and had been showing his miraculous powers time and again in tricky situations, should be the right person deserving agrapuuja i.e. first and foremost worship by all participants. He dared not assign any corporal role to his officious cousin and therefore did not divulge his mind to him. Krishna, however offered himself,-“Brother! Let me earn some  reward by serving the saints and sages coming to grace the occasion. I shall stand guard at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum and wash their pious feet.” Yudhishthira was without speech for he knew the greatness of his cousin who wished to honour great souls by serving them as their servitor. Thus Dwarkadhish wore the mantle of an attendant in the great even of rajssuy yajna and chose to turn into a servitor to honour his favourite guests. He sat down to wash feet of sages and yogis arriving in to bless the scions of Kuru clan. Sage Narad lost no opportunity as he was ever eager to test the might of his lord performing as an attendant to royal invitees. As he appeared there, he found lord Krishna steeped in perfect humility of an attendant servitor present at the entrance of the great hall where yajna was to be performed. Dwarkadhish also saw his favourite muni Narad standing in front of him and bowed before him with profound modesty and reverence and then washed his feet with his own hands. He then took his towel and gently dried his feet. Narad enjoyed the feeling so much so that he took round of the pageant and again stood before the attendant for refeeling the the touch of his lord and at the same time testing his patience. To his pleasant surprise his royal atandant again bowed with courtesy and washed the feet of sage Narad as if seeing and serving him for the first time. Thus Narad repeated the game over and over to irritate the attendant. Lo, Narad was tired of testing his royal attendant but the unique servitor showed no sign of irritation or even objection while repeatedly washing and drying the feet of sage Narad. Yes Dwarkadhish proved to be unique and unparalleled in serving as an attendant. He is matchless in all the roles, thought sage Narad. None can match him in any role, - be it of a yogi, a lover, a son, a husband, a ruler, a warrior, a disciple, a master, a friend or even an attendant realized sage Narad.

VI A THIRSTY HEART