Srimad Mahabhagavatham : 4.1 - Swami Krishnananda.

 ================================================================

================================================================

Tuesday, April 12,  2022. 06:00.

Chapter-4: The Stories of Siva and Sati, and of Rishabhadeva and Bharata-1.

==============================================================

The Srimad Bhagavata Mahapuranam is filled with glorious stories of all the gods and divinities. That is why the Bhagavata is considered as a god by itself. It is a divinity in its own scope. To have the Srimad Bhagavata in one's house is to plant God Himself on the altar of one's residence.

In the Fourth Skandha we have the glorious katha of Siva and Sati, which will strike us with wonder and consternation.

When Brahma was about to create the world, from him the four Kumaras—Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana, Sanatkumara—were manifested for the first time. The moment they were born, Brahma told them to assist him in creation.

The Kumaras said, “We would rather concentrate our minds on the Supreme Being than engage ourselves in creation.”

Brahma was in a state of discomfiture at the total disregard that they paid to his request. He was annoyed, and anger burst through his forehead. But as these Kumaras were equally powerful due to their centralisation in God Almighty, this anger could not be directed towards them; and since Brahma could not swallow the anger, he released it. At that moment, a fiercely roaring being arose from his forehead, demanding an immediate abode for itself. It cried out. Then Brahma said, “Oh, Rudra!” Because it cried the moment it was born, it is designated as Rudra—one who makes roaring sounds, and yells and shouts.

Brahma said, “Help me in creation.”

Immediately this being created an endless variety of demoniacal creatures which were frightening even to Brahma's eye.

Brahma said, “Please stop your creation!”

“Then what shall I do?” asked Rudra.

“I shall give you an abode. Go there, and keep quiet. Don't do anything at all,” replied Brahma.

Then Brahma named him Siva, Rudra, Bhava, and many other names, and also gave him the Shaktis; and Rudra, who is Siva, retired to Kailasa. He did not interfere with anybody.

One day, Brahma was holding his audience, and all the gods, including Siva, were seated there. At that time Daksha, who was also a progeny of Brahma, entered the hall. In honour of his great entrance into the hall, all the gods stood up in obeisance. But Siva did not get up. He remained seated, minding not the coming of Daksha. Incidentally, Sati, the daughter of Daksha, was married to Siva, so Siva was Daksha's son-in-law. But Siva showed utter disregard for his father-in-law and did not rise from his seat when all others stood up offering obeisance.

This enraged Daksha, who stood with uplifted arms and said, “Oh, you gods! Please listen to what I am saying. Here is an idiotic fellow seated in the audience of the gods. Shameless is he. He has no respect for anybody. He wanders about half-naked and lives like a beggar. To him I gave my daughter; what a mistake I have committed! Shame to all for having him in this audience!”

Daksha went on shouting like this for a long time, and all the gods shut their ears because they could not bear to hear it. Siva also heard all the abuses poured upon him by Daksha, but he did not utter even one word. He just walked out of the palace and returned to his abode in Kailasa, where he lived with Sati.

One day, Sati observed celestials travelling in their aerial cars. She looked up and asked them, “Where are you going?”

“You don't know?” asked one of the gods, “How is it that you do not know? Your own father is performing a glorious yajna, to which he has invited all the celestials, and we are all going there. How is it that you, his daughter, do not know?”

To be continued .....

================================================================