Essentials of Hinduism - Srimad Bhagavatha - Volume

Essentials of Hinduism

Srimad Bhagavatha

Volume - 2

This chapter comprises of the activities of Kardama Prajapati, Kapila and Kapila’s advice, the marriages of 9 daughters of Kardama, the enmity between Daksha and his Son-In-Law Lord Paramashiva, the death of Sati, wife of Lord Paramashiva, the punishment given to Daksha by Lord Paramashiva, the death of Daksha and his restoration to life by Lord Shiva, Stories of Dhuruva, Sanath Kumara, Vena, Prithu, Priyaviratha, Agnidhara, Nabi and Rishabha and their Upadesas (Blessings) are narrated.

SELECTED STORIES:

1) Kabila: Lord Vishnu’s another Avatar is Kabila, He was born to Karthama Prajapathi and Devahuti in appreciation of their Penance and Wishes. After Kabila’s Birth, Karthama went to the forest for further Penance to attain the Mukthi (the Abode of Lord Vishnu). Though Lord Vishnu is Birthless, His Avatar as Kabila was to teach the human beings the True Knowledge about Soul. As per the Wishes of His Mother Devahuti, He had imparted the Soul’s Absolute Truth, how to relinquish the Worldly Pleasures, how to control the Mind and attain Mukthi etc. Accordingly, Devahuti made Penance keeping Lord Vishnu’s Divine characteristics in her Mind and ultimately attained Paramatma and her Body became a River.

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2) Daksha: He was the Son of Lord Brahma, Married Prasuthi daughter of Manu, and they had 16 daughters. One of his daughters is Sati and she Married Lord Paramashiva. When Prajapathi performed Sattra Yajna, Daksha came there to participate in it. When he came there all Saints and others, other than Lord Paramashiva saluted him with due deference. On seeing this as an insult to him, got angry and he scolded Lord Paramashiva forgetting Lord Paramashiva’s good qualities and cursed Him that henceforth Lord Paramashiva will not get havis bagha (his Portion in all such functions). Though Lord Paramashiva was not worried, his follower Nandi Deva got angry about the treatment given to Lord Paramashiva and cursed that Daksha will get Goat Head and all those Brahmins who supported him in this discourtesy of Lord Paramashiva will live by begging and immerse themselves in Worldly Affairs. After some time Lord Brahma made Daksha as the chief of all the Prajapathis which made him egoistic and think that there is nobody above him. Then he performed one ‘Brhaspati Sava’ Yajna for which he had invited all but Lord Paramashiva and his followers. Sati, Wife of Lord Paramashiva, on seeing that all people attended the Yajna performed by her father, She wanted to participate in it. But Lord Paramashiva did not agree. In spite of his objection, She went there and got humiliated by her father’s conduct of not giving a portion of havis in the Yajna to Lord Paramashiva and committed suicide there. On hearing this Lord Paramashiva got angry and sent Veerabadra to the place of Yajna who destroyed it and tore the head of Daksha and put it in the Yajna fire. As this Yajna is performed for Lord Vishnu the Devas went with Lord Brahma to Lord Paramashiva and pacified him to restore the Yajna and give life to Daksha who is performing it. Accordingly, Daksha got his life as before but with goat head and the yajna was fully performed. Daksha also regretted his rash behavior and offered one portion of havis to Lord Paramashiva.

3) Dhuruva: The Story of Dhurava was covered in the earlier Chapter and will not be repeated again.

4) King Prutu: He was born from King Vena by the Grace of Lord Vishnu (a part of Vishnu) due to the efforts of Saints. When he was made as King, he was endowed with many gifts by all the Devas for his ruling. At that time, there was no rain and acute drought conditions prevailed in his Kingdom and people had no food and so they proceeded to Lord Vishnu for relief. King Pruthu tried to kill the Bhumi Devi for keeping all the Wealth with Her. Bhumi Devi prayed to him to spare her life as the conduct of the previous King was against good people so She kept all the Wealth as otherwise it will be wrongly used against good people, and offered to give back all the Wealth. Accordingly, King Pruthu got all the Wealth back and used them for betterment of his people. He also created vast plain area in his country by levelling many hills so that rain can be retained/used in more area instead of going waste to Ocean. Then, he ruled the country for a long time as per Lord Vishnu’s order without any desire for the Worldly Matters. After getting Upadesas from Sanath Kumara and 3 other Saints, he handed over the Country to his Son and went to the Forest with his Wife to live as Vanaprastha and performed Penance and left for the Abode of Lord Vishnu, his Wife also accompanied him.

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Chapter Re-cap:

1) When mind is involved in the Worldly Matters the Soul (Athma) also gets involved and prevents Moksha to the Soul. Hence if mind is controlled from straying into worldly matters (desireless) but kept involved in Bhagavan’s Stories, his Good Qualities will pave way to Moksha.

2) Those who are patient, empathize animals, no enmity with any one, treats all with equal respect regardless of Caste, Wealth, Position etc; People who can focus their Minds on Lord Vishnu, perform all the prescribed Duties without expecting fruits for their Actions, have the interest to chant/propagate Lord Vishnu’s Stories; People with above Qualities are called Sadhus (Saints/Mahas) are liked by Lord Vishnu and bestows them with Moksha.

3) Body is not Soul. Thinking otherwise is only due to Maya. Soul is Pure, Permanent, Characterless, does not feel Pain or Suffering, but body is not Pure, it has Character, feels Pain/Sufferings and not Permanent. Soul takes different bodies according to the Karmas done in previous/present Births till all the sins and Punyas are exhausted and reaches Moksha by the Grace of Lord Vishnu if one Wishes, Surrenders and Pray for the Moksha.

4) Devotees of Lord Vishnu treats Wealth, Sufferings or Happiness equally.

5) To keep the Mind clear and devoid of enmity and desire, one has to follow the following: He has to follow the duties according to his Dharma as much as possible within his capacity, be Self Content, Worship the Devotees of Vishnu, not involve in Worldly Desires but keep the Mind towards Vishnu, eat pure food (50% food, 25% water and 25% for air), live in secluded and un-interrupted places, speak the Truth, not to hurt anyone Mentally or Physically, do not steal other people’s Property, earn for necessities only, control his body organs from Worldly Matters, control his Prana Vayu, be Steady and also observe Silence.

6) As Lord Vishnu resides in all living Beings, we should not insult or hurt or discriminate anyone. This behavior will only please the Lord. If such an Attitude is practiced, we will see only Lord Vishnu in Everyone.

This article is a snippet from the Book Essentials of Hinduism, Authored by G.S Nilakantan. Hinduism for All is available online at www.giri.in and across Giri Trading Agency Private Limited, A chain of Speciality Stores dealing in all kinds of products needed in Indian Culture and Tradition.