Lalitopakhyana [ The story of the Goddess Lalita ] 2

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Lalitopakhyana – I [ See Message 11530 ]

 

 

Lalitopakhyana – II

 

Long long ago, there was a thief by name Vajra in Kanchipuram (Tamil

Nadu, South India). He used to steal small things and gradually

amassed large quantum of money. As the wealth accumulated

considerably, he wanted to hide it safely and went to the nearby

forest to do so. In a dense part of the forest, he dug a deep pit

and secured the money therein.

 

However, a hunter by name Veeradanta, sitting on a tall tree

observed all this, quite unexpectedly. After the thief has left the

place, the hunter dug out the pit and after taking only one tenth of

the money, he covered the pit, without causing any doubt to anyone.

The hunter's wife saw the money and knowing how her husband got it,

she said, "It is customary that many Brahmanas visit the home of my

parents.

 

Whenever they saw me, they used to forecast "You will get rich quite

suddenly. Their prediction came true now". The hunter Veeradanta

planned to purchase meat and wine with the money. However his wife

said, "The Brahmana visitors of my parents' home used to tell

something more. They cautioned that hard-earned money only will give

durable enjoyment and that the easy money was sinful. Hence let us

use this unexpected and unearned money for charities. After

prolonged discussions, the wife's opinion won.

 

Then Veeradanta selected a place of water scarcity and arranged the

digging a big water tank for public use. While the work was in

progress, further plans were made and accordingly, he started the

construction of temples for Vishnu and Shiva by the side of the tank.

 

When the projects were half way, the money was exhausted. Hence

Veeradanta started spying like a detective to find out the several

places at which the thief Vajra was hiding the stolen wealth.

Without causing any doubt to the thief, the hunter used to take out

money little by little from the pits and continued the construction

without interruptions. Along with this, he started to donate the

money. However the hunter did not use the money for himself or his

family.

 

Thus, constantly encouraged by his wife, his charities developed.

The Brahmanas of Kanchi were glad and gave the titles "Dvijavarma"

and "Shilavati" to the hunter and his wife. These titles eventually

became their names in vogue. Some time later, the hunter planned and

constructed a city. Instead of giving it his own name, the hunter

named it as "Devaratapura", as a mark of respect to his

guru "Devarata".

 

After a few years, the hunter and his wife died at the same time.

The messengers of Yama (The God of death and the Lord of Hell), and

Shiva and Vishnu arrived to take away the Jivas (the subtle form of

life of the dead). Their debate as to who can take the Jivas could

not be settled.

 

At that time, the sage Narada arrived there. He asked the three

groups of messengers to stop the arguments and revealed another

aspect of the code of righteousness thus, "The hunter has performed

the deeds of merit (Punya) like charities, with the money stolen by

him. Hence as per the rules of righteousness, he must move about in

the form of a ghost until the death of all the owners of the stolen

wealth. Hence none of you have the right to take away the

Jiva. "Next, his wife was great. She didn't commit any sin. As she

was a devotee of Shiva, the messengers of the Lord can take away her

Jiva."

 

Listening to this ruling, Shilavati's Jiva sat down obstinately,

saying "I won't go to Kailasha, the abode of Shiva, leaving my

husband in the form of a ghost". She prayed to the sage

Narada, "Sir! Kindly direct me what I have to do to unburden my

husband's sins".

 

Narada was very much pleased with her chastity and fidelity and gave

initiation of Shiva mantra (chant) to her. By her penance, the

husband and wife attained the grace of Shiva and were accepted to

stay in Kailasha (Shiva's abode). Sometime later, the thief Vajra

and the persons from whom he stole the money died. All the Jivas

reached the Hell, the abode of Yama, the god of death, He asked all

of them to assemble and said, "Though you did not intend to do the

acts of Punya (merit), they were performed with your money. Hence

you are eligible to stay in Kailasha (abode of Shiva) for sometime.

Hence I ask you whether you choose to experience either the effect

of Punya (merit) or Papa (sin) in the first instance. They replied

in chorus "we opt to experience the effect of merit first. By doing

so, we will have a chance of association with the pious which in

turn will wipe out past sins".

 

Yama felt glad by their choice and sent them all as the attendants

of Dvijavarma at Kailasha. By his good association, all their sins

were washed off and they settled in Kailasha happily.

 

Preaching of Bruhaspati

After narrating the story, Bruhaspati said, "Indra! Now you think of

your sins". Indra once again prostrated to the sage and

requested. "Sir! I am unable to realise my sins. Kindly give me

details". Bruhaspati replied "In the distant past, `Diti', the

second wife of Kashyapa gave birth to a son by name Danu and a

daughter named Rupavati. Danu is the predecessor of the race of

Danavas (demons). Rupavati was married to Brahma (the Creator). Her

son was Vishwarupa. He did severe penance. He had many divine

aspects. However he was a nephew of the demons. He was affectionate

towards both the races – the celestials and the demons. After a

while, Indra chose Vishwarupa as his Guru (at that time, Bruhaspati

was not the Guru of the celestials). Indra expected that Vishwarupa

would be partial towards the celestials and that he would destroy

the demons. However Vishwarupa was friendly towards all. Observing

this, Indra suspected that being a friend of the demons, Vishwarupa

was harming the celestials.

 

One day, Indra suddenly went to Vishwarupa and cut off all his three

heads. By doing so, Indra was afflicted by the sin of Brahmahatya

(killing Brahmana). Not only that. Aggrieved by the death of His

son, Brahma (the Creator) cursed Indra. Terrified by these two

(Brahmahatya and curse of Brahma), Indra accompanied by all the

celestials, sought refuge at the feet of Vishnu, who contemplated

deeply and allocated the effect of Indra's sins to the earth, the

trees and the women.

 

As compensation, Vishnu gave the power that the pits of earth could

be filled up, the power that even the trees once cut off could

revive and the power of women to beget children. Thus Indra was

relieved of the effect of the sin of Brahmahatya (killing a

Brahmin). However, the curse of Brahma (the Creator) still

persisted. Vishnu called for Brahma and requested Him on behalf of

Indra for relief from the curse. Brahma thought over the same and

said, "OK. For the present my curse won't take effect". Vishnu said

nothing.

 

Again Indra became prosperous. However, very soon his pride

increased. This time, Indra was affected by the anger of Shiva and

so he was cursed by the sage Durvasa". Listening to all this, Indra

recollected the past events and sadly asked Bruhaspati "Master! What

have I to do now"? When the guru was about to reply, a demon named

Malaka invaded the Heaven with a huge army and seized the kingdom.

Indra had to escape in a great hurry.

 

He went straight to Brahma and prayed to Him for mercy, who also

pitied Indra. However even the Creator could not decide what to do

and approached Vishnu along with Indra and the celestials. Vishnu

thought of the problem deeply and advised them, "You churn the ocean

to get the Goddess of prosperity". For this purpose, Indra made

reconciliation with the demons and taking their help, he and the

celestials churned the ocean. During the churning, very valuable

things emanated from the ocean. At last, Dhanvantari (the God of

Healing) came out holding the pot of Amruta (nectar). Looking at

him, the demons grabbed the pot and started running away with it.

 

A bitter battle started between the celestials and the demons. There

was utter confusion. Even Brahma and Shiva escaped and reached their

abodes. Observing all this, Vishnu went to a secluded spot and

started meditation of Sri Lalita Devi, who dwells within Him as the

aspect of power. Due to this meditation he manifested as a form of

Lalita Devi. Taking this incarnation as an embodiment of eroticism,

Vishnu approached the celestials and demons.

 

The celestials could realise the form as divine and auspicious.

However, due to their predominating trait of Tamas (ignorance), the

demons were enchanted by the beauty of the form and stopped

fighting. She mesmerised them and took the pot of Amruta (nectar)

from them, taking their consent to her to serve the nectar to all.

She asked the celestials and the demons to sit in separate rows. She

started to give the nectar to the celestials only first. Allured by

her, the demons sat still stupefied.

 

By the time the nectar was given to the celestials, the stock

exhausted. She disappeared suddenly. The demons again started to

fight with the celestials. However as the celestials have already

drunk the nectar by then, the demons were defeated.

 

Thus, the Divine Mother who manifested and enchanted the demons was

called MOHINI (the divine entrantress). Shiva, staying in Kailasha

came to know of these events and wanted to note the speciality of

the new form of Vishnu. Along with his consort Parvati, Shiva went

to Vaikuntha, the abode of Vishnu and pressed Him to show the form

of Mohini. Vishnu suddenly disappeared without saying yes or no.

 

While Shiva was searching for Vishnu, he happened to reach a new

place where he continued to search. There he heard the music of

Veena. He saw a beautiful young lady. Unable to resist his

infatuation, Shiva embraced her. At once a son was born. He was

named SASTA (one who rules). He became a commander in Shiva's army.

At once the lady disappeared. Shiva realised that she was none else

than Mohini, a form of Vishnu. He applauded her beauty and returned

to Kailasha along with Parvati.

 

Thus the Divine Mother incarnated as Mohini and granted success of

the activities of the celestials.

 

 

…………. to be continued

 

[ Extraction from English version of Lalitopakhyana by Ganapati

Sachchidananda ]

[Guest guest]

Please do continue to write more parts of the Lalitopakhyana - they

are delightful to read!

 

Jai Ma!

 

, "N. Madasamy"

<ashwini_puralasamy> wrote:

> Lalitopakhyana – I [ See Message 11530 ]

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