Fwd: Shiva lila

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This message was forwarded to me, but it is actually meant for you

>Tue, 25 Feb 2003 23:22 +0100

>"Damana Krishna JPS" <Damana.Krishna.JPS (AT) pamho (DOT) net>

>"ISKCON India (news & discussion)" <ISKCON.India (AT) pamho (DOT) net>

>Shiva lila

>Lines: 32

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>

>Ref: "yogayAtrA-4", pp.45-48; published by Shrii Akhil Bhartiya Yoga Vedanta

>Seva Samiti, Santa Shri Asharamji Ashram, Sabarmatii, Ahmedabad-380005.

>****************************************************************************

> In 1879 the British had , under the leadership of Colonel Martin

>from the British Cantt. at Malwa, attacked Afghanistan. In the beginning

>Col. Martin used to send messages to his wife. But the battle continued for

>long and the Lady Martin did not get any more messages from her husband. She

>was very much worried. Riding on a horse one day she went out and on the way

>she saw in a temple some people worshipping Lord Shiva. She asked what they

>were doing. One old Brahmin replied that they were worshipping Lord Shiva.

>On enquiry from Lady Martin, he explained the greatness of Lord Shiva.

>Seeing her very worried, he asked her what was the matter. She told him the

>situation. He suggested her to observe the 11-day "laghu-rudrii anuSThAna"

>of the mantra "Om namaH ShivAya". The Lady Martin prayed to Lord Shiva that

>if her husband returned safely from the battle-field, she would build a

>Shiva temple and started to observe the "11-day anuSThAna". At the end of

>11th day, a messenger came to the temple and handed over a letter from

>Colonel Martin to her. In the letter he had written:" In the battle-field we

>were surrounded by the PaThAna soldiers. I would have died along with the

>British soldiers. Under such precarious situation I observed a yogii with

>matted hair from India appearing in the battle-field, who was wielding a

>trident weapon (trishUla). By seeing the yogii the PaThAna soldiers fled

>away. Then he said to me:'Do not be afraid. I am Lord Shiva. I am pleased

>with the worship of your wife and have come to save you'." Reading the

>letter the Lady Martin burst into tears and bowing her head she started

>praying Lord Shiva.

>

> After a few days Col. Martin returned to the Cantt. Now both

>husband and wife started praying Lord Shiva regularly. As per the wish of

>his wife, Col. Martin built a Shiva temple in 1883 at the expenditure of Rs

>15000/-. The inscription in that temple at Malwa still exists. This is the

>only temple built by an Englishman in India.

 

Your servant,

 

 

Ananta Purusottama das.

 

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