||Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran||

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 24 – The significance of sunset

Shukadev Maharaj describes to King Pareekshith “ Oh! King, I shall narrate the conversation between Vidura and Sage Maitreya.”

Vidura said “ Oh! Illustrious Sage, You have described the glorious incarnation of Lord Narayana as wild boar and protection of Mother Earth from under the ocean.  Thus the demon Hiranyaksha was killed by Yajjavarahamoorthi.  Oh! Bhramajja, why did the battle take place between Varahamoorthi and Demon Hiranyaksha?”

Sage Maitreya said “I shall narrate the glorious myth of Lord Narayana which could remove the worldly bondage and liberate the souls from the repeated births.  Maharishi Narada described the glories of Lord Narayana to small boy Dhruva who is the son of Uththanapadha, he conducted extreme penance contemplating upon the supreme Lord and attained the grace of Lord Narayana.  I shall narrate the myth I have heard while Lord Bhrama described it to the deities.  Oh! Vidura, it was during the hours of sunset, Dhithi who is the daughter of Dhakshaprajapthi approached her husband Sage Kashyapa who is the son of Sage Mareechi, was tormented with the cupid arrows of Kamadeva, she wanted to have a child.  He found Sage Kashyapa in the fire sacrifice arena; he was immersed in the worship of Lord Vishnu who has the tongue of fire, and the protector of the fire of Agnihotra.  Dhithi lustfully approached the Sage Kashyapa, she expressed her desire to have a son like him.”

Dhithi Said “ Oh! Illustrious one, my father Dhakshaprajapathi had a great love for all his daughters, he asked our willingness to marry the groom of our choice, we thirteen daughters had an intense love for you, and thus we got married to you.  Oh! Mangalathman, kindly fulfill my desires. Oh! Mahapurusha, kindly shower your grace upon me to have a child-like you.”

Sage Maitreya continued “ Vidura, in this way Dithi praised her husband and persuaded him, but Sage Kashyapa took effort to put off her fire of love by praising her virtues and advised her to wait until the sunset is over.  He explained, the dusk is the hours of Rudra and it is the hours Lord Bhoothanatha wanders all around with his Ganas.  Therefore it is the hours to worship Bhoothanatha who symbolizes auspiciousness and virtues, he is the protector of spirits, he rides on the bull accompanies by spirits.  During these hours, Lord Rudra who is the husband of your sister has crimson colored matted hair lock, smeared in sacred ashes all over the body, watching the Universe and its living beings with his three eyes wide opened.  He is dispassionate, none of the Maya could win over him, and he had won over the sense.  It is a pity to note that we are trying to control our senses with extreme vows and austerities.  The pious souls contemplate upon the supreme ascetic Lord Rudra during the hours of sunset.  The people who have no knowledge of self would adorn the body with various fragrances and exquisite costumes, without the knowledge that the body is consumable for dogs.  He is supreme Lord, he is the Lord of Lord who is sincerely worshiped by all the deities, and even his consort Goddess Shakthi follows his command.”