[RamanujaMission] Salakramam's Story- The real story part 1

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--- sambhatter <sambhatter wrote:

 

> adiyen ramanuja dasan,

>

> I have read one article about salakramam story in

> kumudam weekly 3

> weeks ago. It says that, to demolish one asura,

> narayana to remove

> his wife's pathnithvam change himself as asura and

> lived with her.

> After she knows that she curses the Narayana to

> become stone. that is

> why narayana become saligrama.

>

> I cannot digest that one? Is it true? Please

> clarify.

Chapter One

 

THE APPEARANCE OF TULASI DEVI

 

Narada Muni asked Lord Narayana, "O Bhagavan! How did

the pure, chaste Tulasi Devi become Your wife? Where

was she born? Who was she in her previous birth? What

family did she come from? And what austerities did she

perform to get You as her husband--You, who are above

the material energy, not subject to change, the Cosmic

Self, the Supreme God, the Lord of all, omniscient,

the cause of all, omnipresent, container and preserver

of all. And how did Tulasi Devi, Your chief goddess,

become a tree? O You who resolve all doubts, my mind

is curious to know all about these points; therefore,

it compels me to ask you these questions. Kindly

remove these doubts from my mind."

 

Lord Narayana then related the following account...

 

Manu Daksa Savarni was a partial expansion of Lord

Visnu. He was extremely virtuous, devoted to the Lord,

and very famous for his good deeds. Daksa Savarni's

son, Dharma Savarni, was also extremely virtuous.

Dharma Savarni's pious son was called Visnu Savarni,

and his son, who was a great Vaisnava, was known as

Raja Savarni.

However, Raja Savarni's son, Vrisadhvaja, was

fanatically devoted to Lord Siva. Lord Siva lived in

Vrisadhvaja's house for three celestial yugas (ages)

and loved him more than his own sons. Vrisadhvaja did

not revere Lord Narayana, Goddess Laksmi or any of the

demigods. He abolished the worship of Laksmi in the

month of Bhadra (Aug., Sept.) and the worship of

Saraswati in the month of Magha (Jan., Feb.). He did

not participate in the sacrifice and worship performed

out of respect for Lord Visnu (Narayana) and

criticised them rather severely.

The demigods did not curse him because they feared

Lord Siva. However, Surya, the sun god, no longer able

to restrain his wrath, cursed him: "O King, just as

you are completely devoted to Lord Siva and only to

Lord Siva, and just as you do not recognise any of the

other demigods, I declare that you will now lose your

wealth and prosperity!"

When Lord Siva heard this curse, he became angry.

Seizing his trident, he ran after Lord Surya. Afraid,

the sun god went with his father, Kasyapa Muni, to

Brahmaloka, the highest material planet, to take

shelter of Lord Brahma. But Lord Siva pursued him

there. Lord Brahma, also afraid of Lord Siva, took

Lord Surya and Kasyapa Muni to the region of

Vaikuntha, the spiritual or eternal world. There, with

throats parched due to anxiety, they took refuge of

Lord Narayana, the Lord of all. They offered

obeisances to Him and praised Him repeatedly and

finally explained why they were so apprehensive. Lord

Narayana bestowed His mercy on them and granted them

the power to be fearless. He said, "O fearful ones, be

consoled. How can you be afraid of anyone while I am

here? If anyone  remembers Me when he is in danger,

wherever he may be, I hurry to him with my Sudarsan

disc in my hand and save him. O demigods! I am always

the creator, preserver and destroyer of this universe.

In the form of Visnu, I am the preserver; in the form

of Brahma, the creator; and in the form of Siva, the

destroyer. I am Siva, I am you, and I am Surya. I

assume numerous forms and preserve the universe. So go

back to your respective places. You have nothing to be

afraid of. All will be well.

"From this day on, you have nothing to fear from Lord

Siva. He is the shelter of the pious, is easily

pleased, is the servant and lord of his devotees, and

is great minded.  Lord Siva and the Sudarsana cakra

are dearer to Me than My life. In the world of valour,

they excel all. Lord Siva can easily create ten

million Suryas and ten million Brahmas. For him,

nothing is impossible. He is not conscious of the

external world. Meditating on Me, his heart centred,

he is absorbed day and night. From his five faces he

repeats My mantra with devotion, and he always sings

My glories. Day and night, I also always think of his

welfare. To whatever degree one worships Me, to that

degree I favor one. The nature of Siva is

all-auspiciousness." While Lord Narayana was speaking,

Lord Siva arrived. His eyes red, and he was sitting on

his bull carrier holding his trident. He dismounted

quickly and humbly offered obeisances with devotion to

the Lord of Laksmi, the tranquil Supreme Being.

Lord Narayana, Visnu, was sitting on His jewel-studded

throne. He was decorated with a crown, earrings, and a

garland, and was holding His disc. His form was

extremely beautiful, and His complexion like a fresh

blue rain cloud. Each of His attendants had four arms

and was fanning Him with four hands. His body was

anointed with sandal paste and He was wearing a yellow

garment. Lord Visnu, who shows kindness to His

devotees, was chewing betel nut that had been offered

to Him by His wife Laksmi. Smiling, He was watching

and listening to the dancing and singing of the

Vidyadharis.

After Lord Siva bowed down to Lord Narayana, he bowed

to Lord Brahma. Lord Surya and Kasyapa Muni

respectfully saluted Lord Siva. Then Lord Siva

worshiped Lord Visnu, the Lord of all, and seated

himself on a throne. The attendants of Lord Narayana

began to fan Lord Siva with white whisks to relieve

him of the fatigue of his journey. Lord Siva, because

of being in contact with Lord Visnu's virtues, then

assumed a cheerful disposition and adored the Eternal

Being with his five mouths.

Lord Narayana was highly gratified. With sweet,

nectarean words, He said, "O Lord Siva, you are the

symbol of all good and welfare. Thus, to ask about

your welfare would be foolish. I would ask you only

out of respect for the rules of society and the method

prescribed in the Vedas. One who yields fruits of

devotion and gives all prosperity should not be asked

about his austerities or material prosperity. Since

you preside over knowledge, it would be useless to ask

if you are increasing in knowledge. It would be

equally useless to ask a conqueror of death if he is

free from all danger. But you have come to my

residence for a reason. What is it? Have you become

angry over something?"

"O Lord Visnu!," Lord Siva began. "King Vrisadhvaja is

my great devotee. Lord Surya has cursed him and that

has made me angry. Out of affection for my son, the

king, I was about to kill Surya. But Surya sought

shelter of Lord Brahma, and now both of them have

sought Your protection. Those who are distressed and

take shelter of You, either by speaking about You or

by remembering You, become completely safe and free

from danger. They overcome death and old age. What to

speak of those who come personally to You and take

shelter. When one remembers You, his dangers

disappear. All good comes to him. O Lord of the world!

What will become of my foolish devotee who, by the

curse of Lord Surya, has lost his fortune and

prosperity?" Lord Visnu replied, "O Lord Siva! A half

hour has elapsed here in Vaikuntha. In that time,

twenty-one celestial yugas have passed away.

Therefore, King Vrisadhvaja, through the revolution of

irresistible and dreadful time, is dead. His son,

Hamsadhvaja, in the course of time, also died.

Hamsadhvaja begot two noble sons named Dharmadhvaja

and Kusadhvaja. They are both great Vaisnavas but,

because of Lord Surya's curse, they have become

luckless. They lost their kingdoms, including all

property and prosperity. But they are now engaged in

worshiping Goddess Laksmi, who is pleased with their

efforts. Therefore, She has agreed to descend to Earth

and expand Herself partially by taking birth from the

wives of those two kings. Then, by the favor of

Goddess Laksmi, Dharmadhvaja and Kusadhvaja will

become prosperous, mighty kings. O Lord Siva! Your

devotee Vrisadhvaja is dead, so return to your abode.

O Lord Brahma, Lord Surya and Kasyapa Muni--you also

should return your realms."

Bhagavan Visnu then went with His wife to the inner

apartments. The demigods went cheerfully to their own

abodes, Lord Siva continuing his practice of

austerity.

Dharmadhvaja and Kusadhvaja performed harsh asceticism

and worshiped Goddess Laksmi. Thereafter, they

separately obtained the blessings they desired. By

Goddess Laksmi's favor, they again became the rulers

of the earth. They acquired great spiritual merits,

were married, and begot children. King Dharmadhvaja

was married to Madhavi. After some time, she became

pregnant with a partial incarnation of Goddess Laksmi.

However, the infant remained in Madhavi's womb for one

hundred celestial years. Day by day Madhavi's lustre

increased. Then, on an auspicious day and moment, when

there was a full moon, in the month of Kartika, on a

Friday, she gave birth.

The grace of the Goddess of Fortune, Laksmi,

manifested through the baby. There were marks of the

lotus flower on the infant's feet. Her face looked

like the autumnal moon, her eyes resembled blooming

lotuses, and her lips appeared like ripe bimba fruit.

Her palms and the soles of herfeet were reddish, her

navel was deep, and just above it were three folds.

Her buttocks were round, and her body was delightfully

warm in the winter and cool in the summer--very

pleasant to touch. Her breast was firm and her waist

thin, and the light shining from her body surrounded

her like a halo. Her complexion was white, like a

Champaka flower, and her hair looked beautiful.

Because her beauty was incomparable, the sages called

her Tulasi.

 

 

 

 

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