sri vEnkatEswara mahatyam part -2

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SrI:

SrImatE rAmAnujAya nama:

SrI krishNa parabrahmaNE nama:

SrImAn nArAyaNa charaNau saraNam prapadyE

 

dear vaishNavAs,

 

7. Lakshmi dEvi leaves for bhoolokam in anger

 

The sacrifice on the banks of the river ganges continued for forty days. As

promised, mahA vishNu arrived there at the concluding time of the sacrifice and

accepted the offerings in the sacrifice and returned to His abode.

 

Bhrigu hit the vaksha-sthala (chest) of the Lord with his foot, the place where

srI dEvi resides. Mother of universe became angry at such a dishonour to Her in

the very presence of the Lord. Instead of punishing such an offender, Sri Hari

tends him, which adds to the fuel. She tells Her husband, ?You are the Lord of

all fourteen lOkAs (athala, vithala, suthala, talAtala, rasAtala, mahAtala,

pAthAla, bhooloka, bhuvarlOka, suvarlOka, tapOlOka, mahAlOka, janarlOka, and

sathya lOka), thirty three crores of devathAs including brahma and Siva, eighty

four lakhs of types of creatures. And yet, you loved and serve the maharishi who

dared to kick you on your chest and thus put Me to shame. I am unable to

tolerate this.?

 

why do you feel worried? Don?t you know that I am the savior of my devotees?

Bhrigu is our child. Will the parents get angry when their child kicks them?

Moreover the maharishi came here with a purpose. He is our devotee. He doesnot

dishonour us. You please take my word? spoke our Lord soothingly.

 

Our divine mother says> ?dear husband, I know you excel everyone in justifying

your actions. But I am unable to tolerate this. Our bonds are broken from this

day, I am quitting your abode. Yet I will not leave that Brahmin unpunished?.

She cursed entire Brahmin community on earth be deprived of wealth. They would

make their living only by selling their knowledge- (earning by educating

others). SridEvi, the consort of Hari left Sri vaikuntham after paying her

obeisances unto the Lord. Inspite of Hari?s repeated requests, She came down

onto earth a place called Kolhapur and sat on a deep meditation of the Lord. How

inconceivable are the actions of parents of the entire creation.

 

8. Maha vishNu arrives bhoolokam in search of Lakshmi

 

What is left in Sri vaikuntham without our divine mother? All the inhabitants of

vaikuntham are filled in deep sorrow for not being able to serve their divine

mother. The Lord whose heart is already captivated by the beauty of Sri dEvi, is

filled with the deep feelings of seperation from Lakshmi dEvi. The Lord who

creates the entire universe and all the living beings in a sportive spirit by

His mere will is completely lost in thoughts of Sri dEvi. He is helpless. He

doesnot know what to do. He is perplexed. He also left vaikuntham in search of

His beloved. This illustrates the importance of our mother, Sri dEvi in sri

Vaikuntha. He came down onto earth, climbed hills, rushed to the forests, and

searched tirelessly without food or sleep. Alas! He could not find Her.

 

Crying Lakshmi! Lakshmi! Lakshmi! running hither and thither and up and down. He

enquired peacocks, monkeys, animals, birds, elephants, lions, bears etc, if they

know whereabouts of His Consort.

 

Feeling tired and fatigued and getting no hints about Lakshmi?s whereabouts, Sri

Hari atlast reached tirupathi. Under the shade of a tamarind tree, He took

shelter in a vAlmIkam at the Adi varAhA?s shrine. He sat in meditation praying

for the return of his dear wife, Lakshmi.

 

9. nArada meets sri Lakshmi and tells Her about nArAyaNa

 

Narada comes to know about the desertation of sri vaikuntham without srI dEvi

and paramapada nAthan. He understands that his desire that Sri Hari to goto

earth for the restoration of dharma has been fulfilled. He reaches sathya lOka

and explains the situation of Sri mAdhava in search of mAdhavi. The Lord is much

reduced for not having food and sleep. Here the self-satisfied Lord gives a

great opportunity for His devotees to serve Him. NArada requests brahma to

arrange the Lord with some food.

 

Brahma thinks over for a while and asks nArada to go and meet Lakshmi in

kolhapur. He himself starts for kailAsa. In kailAsa, Siva receives brahma with

due honour and enquires about the purpose of his visit. Brahma explains the

whole situtation in sri vaikuntha and the position of their dearest Lord on

earth. He suggests Siva and himself should take the shape of a cow and calf and

feed vishNu with milk, to help him to recoup. Siva readily agrees to such a

great opportunity to serve his Lord.

 

NArada, as directed by brahma goes to kolhapur and meets Lakshmi dEvi. Sri dEvi

duly receives nArada and then nArada speaks: ?oh mother! Why have you left your

rightful place sri vaikunTham, and are suffering here on earth like an ordinary

woman, wearing saffron robes and performing penance??

 

Lakshmi couldnot avoid burst into tears in remembrance of Her Lord?s negligence

towards Herself(?). However she explains her plight to nArada in detail. After

hearing to her, nArada says, ?this is how providence plays. After you left sri

vaikuntha, nArAyaNa also left the place and wandering from place to place in

search of You, is now taking shelter in vAlmIkam under a tamarind tree in

Tirupathi. He is deprived of food and sleep. He has gone down very much. You

please arrange to feed Him with the help of brahma and Siva?.

 

After saying these words, nArada takes leave of Lakshmi.

 

(to be continued ...)

 

dAsOham,

srIperumbUdUru vEnkaTa vinOd.