|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 292 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  143

Rudramokshanam

King Pareekshith speaks “ Oh! Bhraman, which is the most auspicious deity Lord Shiva or Lord Hari? Heard that the worship of the supreme Lord Shiva makes wealthiest than the worship of Lord Hari who is adorned Goddess Mahalakshmi on his chest.”

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, the human mind and intellect consist of Thriguna, in the same manner, Shiva and Shakthi are inseparable entities, Shakthi has Shodashavikara/sixteen types of emotions.  Hari is Purusha, he is beyond Prakrithi, he is Nirguna who is void of Gunas, resides as Sarvadhrik/witnessing everything, and therefore the worship of Lord Hari makes the worshiper beyond virtues and Prakrithi.  Oh! Rajan, it was the same question raised by your grandfather Dharmaputhra to Lord Krishna, during the time of Rajasuya Yagna in Indraprastha.”

Yasyaham Anugrihnami Harishye  Thadh Dhanam Shanai: | Thathoadhanam Thyajanthyasya  Swajana Dhukhadhukhitham || Sa  Yadha  Vithadhodhyogo Nirvinna: syath Snehaya | Mathparai: Kritha Maithrasya Karishye  Math Anugraham || That Bhramam Paramam Sookshmam Chinmathram Sa Ananthakam | Atho Mam Sudhuraradhyam Hithvanyan Bhajathe Jana: ||

Bhagavan speaks “Oh! Dharmaputhra, If I want to bless my devotees, slowly but surely I would take him away from all his richness, wealth, possessions, and fame, eventually he will be discarded by his own people, then he/she would be drench in extreme distress, ultimately all his relation with the material world and bondage would leave him/her, take shelter in me.  In this way, I would elevate him and unite with me, with the knowledge of my all-pervasive nature/Bhramam, Paramam which is beyond perception and description, Sookshmam/subtle nature, Sath/indestructible nature and  Anantham/eternal, an ignorant without understanding my nature keep himself away from me.”

Shuka Bhramam speaks “Oh! Rajan, I shall narrate an interesting legend, there was a demon named Vrikasura, he met Maharishi Narada, and asked which deity can be pleased easily. Maharishi Narada mentioned the glories of deity Ashthoshi who gets pleased easily and gets angry in no time.  Thus, Vrikasura undertook extreme penance to please Lord Shiva, as per the advice of Maharishi Narada.  Vrikasura arrived in Kedhara and began severe penance; he conducted fire sacrifice offering his body parts in it, in this way he continued austerities and fire sacrifice, offering each and everybody parts for seven days.  Finally, he lost patience, prepared to cut off his head and offer in the sacrificial fire.  Suddenly Lord Shiva appeared before him and patted him affectionately, immediately he regained all those lost body parts in the fire, he stared at the supreme Lord who informed his willingness to offer any boon.  Vrikasura asked for a unique boon, whoever receives the touch of his finger on their heads would turn into ashes.  Thus, Lord Shiva offered the boon to Vrikasura, soon he had a wicked idea to possess Devi Gauri, decided to experiment the boon on the head of Shambhu, and eventually Vrikasura chased Lord Shiva for long hours.  Finally, Lord Shiva rushed to the abode of Sri Vaikundham and eulogized supreme Lord Vishnu.  Soon Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of a Vatu, and called out for Vrikasura, understood the reason for chasing Lord Shiva.  Vatu distracted the attention of Vrikasura and his very idea to test the boon on Lord Shiva.   Further Lord Vishnu passed a derisive comment on Lord Shiva that none of his boons will work due to the curse of Dhakshaprajapathi oh him.  In this way, he prompted Vrikasura to test the boon on himself.  Vrikasura believed the words of Vatu, immediately put his hands on the top of the head, alas! Vrikasura burnt into ashes.  All the deities assembled in the sky and showered flowers upon Lord Vishnu who appealed to Mahadeva not to give boons like this to anyone.”