||Om Nama: Shivaya||

 

Chapter – 59 – Rudra Samhitha/Shrishti Kanda – 18

 

Lord Bhrama speaks to Narada “Oh! Vathsa, Gunanidhi son of the pious Bhramin Jyanadhaththa, came to know that his father has abandoned the home and the family, he sunk in deep distress, he also left the home and crossed several miles away from the city of Kampilya, he was worn out of exhaustion and hunger. All on his way, Gunanidhi realized that he had made a huge mistake being in the association of the wicked people; at last, he has neither wealth nor knowledge to lead a life, regretted his mistake spent in the association of the unworthy people, that too after taking birth in the illustrious clan of Somayaji.   He understood the power of fate, he was not used to begging for meal or shelter, and no one would be willing to provide shelter without money. All these days, he was taking complete liberty on the love and kindness of parents, his mother used to feed him with the delicious meals before the sunrise. He sat under the shade of tree thinking about the misdemeanor to his own parents, thus the time of sunset has arrived. Soon, he could see a huge gathering of devotees of Lord Shiva in a shrine; those were villagers of Kampilya came in the woods to worship Lord Shiva on the night of Shivarathri. They have brought various offerings for the deity, Gunanidhi could smell the Neivedhya brought for the worship, and the smell was so captivating, he was tired of hunger and thirst joined with the villagers and took a seat with them in the worship. The wicked Gunanidhi had some other plans in his mind, was thinking all the devotees may go to sleep after a few hours of veneration so that he can consume the Prasadha at his heart’s content. Surprisingly, the worship of Lord Shiva continued for several hours, Gunanidhi noticed that at the end of the worship people gathered were dancing and singing merrily, finally, all of them retired to sleep. Soon he entered in the attic in search for the Prasadha found the room was completely dark, there was an earthen lamp in the corner of the attic was almost fading; soon he tore a piece  of cloth from his scarf,  put a new wick on the lamp so that he could get better vision. He took a handful of Prasadha while returning he bumped on to a devotee who was asleep on the floor of the attic. Soon, the person who was sleeping on the attic called out for people; in the meantime Gunanidhi stuffed some of the Prasadha on his mouth eventually met an accidental death in the crowd.”

 

Lord Bhrama continues “Oh! Narada, soon the emissaries of Yama who has the dreadful appearance, holding mace and noose arrived, prepared to take him to the abode of Yamadharma, shortly the emissaries of Lord Shiva who has attired sacred ashes, Rudraksha and trident appeared before them. Shivagana spoke “Oh! Emissaries of Yama, why are you here? This Bhramin is the devotee of Lord Shiva, he is not deserved to be punished, and all his sins are washed off. Therefore, leave the Bhramin at once.” The attendants of Lord Yama was afraid of Shivaganas, spoke amiably “ Oh! Gana, this Bhramin led a miserable life, leaving all the religious and spiritual rites, he misbehaved to his parents, he took the liberty of their affection, he did not follow a righteous and truthful life. He discarded all the customary rites, took great pleasure in the evil deeds, finally he took part in the Naivedhya of supreme Lord, he does not deserve to be here in the first place. Whoever shows disrespect to the Naivedhya and the offerings of the Lord are sinful, whoever misuses the property of Lord Shiva would meet a miserable end. This Bhramin is deserved to be punished, need not worthy of any kind of sympathy. If so, kindly enlighten us.” The Shivagana immersed in the contemplation upon Lord Shiva for a while and began to speak “Oh! Emissaries of Yama, listen to me carefully, 1) Even though he entered the attic to steal the offerings, found the earthen lamp that was almost off; he put a new wick on the lamp with his own scarf and brightened the lamp. 2) He impatiently sat with the villagers and was listening to the glorious names of Lord Shiva 3) He witnessed the veneration of Lord Shiva on the auspicious night of Shivarathri 4) He was tired of hunger and thirst, had no option other than listening to the chants. After considering all these, he is deserved to be in the abode of Lord Shiva and should enjoy the pleasure in the Shivaloka for some time, eventually, he will get relieved from all the previous sins, and would be born as the King of Kalinga. Therefore, this Bhramin is deserved to be in the Shivaloka, Oh! Emissaries of Yama, you can return to your abode.”

 

Lord Bhrama concludes “Oh! Vathsa, I have narrated the piousness of the worship of Lord Shiva and the consumption of the Neivedhya. The emissaries of the Lord Yama returned to the abode of Lord Yama empty-handed, Lord Yama enquired the reason for it was narrated all that conversation took place with the emissaries of Lord Shiva. Lord Yama advised his emissaries “Oh! Emissaries, 1) do not bring people who are adorned in Tripundra of the sacred ashes on the forehead, or ashes smeared all over the bodies,  2)do not bring people who are devotees of Lord Shiva, 3) do not bring people who wear Rudraksha and matted hair locks, 4) do not bring the devotees of Lord Shiva or people who pretend to be the devotees of Lord Shiva.” The emissaries of Lord Yama felt immensely happy listening to their Master. The Brahmin proceeded to Shivaloka with the Ganas, after serving the magnanimous Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi in the Mount Kailash for some time; he has taken birth as the son of King Arindhama of Kalinga. Dhama was a studious and great devotee of Lord Shiva from the early years of childhood, he made great companions with the devotees of the Lord. Later he was crowned as the King of Kalinga at a young age after the death of his father, he ruled the Kingdom wisely, performed various righteous deeds. King Dhama was an excellent ruler, performed various charitable and noble works, he enlightened the Praja the meritorious rewards of lightning lamps in the shrines of Lord Shiva and the piousness of it, and if anyone fails to do so were undergone punishment. Oh! Sutha, Veda highly praise the charity of earthen lamps, it would please Lord Shiva immensely. King Dhama insisted people lighten the lamp in the shrine of Lord Shiva, and compulsorily put them into the practice during his lifetime.  After his death, he took birth as the Lord of Alakapuri, the piousness earned in his previous birth provided him highly commendable status as the Lord of wealth. Oh! Munishwara, I have described the wicked Bhramin Gunanidhi who approached the shrine of Lord Shiva with a selfish motive, and happened to witness all those venerations of Mahashivarathri, he secretly entered in the attic to steal the offerings put new wick made of his own scarf on the earthen lamp and brightened the lamp, he consumed the Neivedhyam of Lord Shiva and met his death. Oh! Vathsa, later he was born as King of Kalinga, performed the same virtue he was holding in the past, throughout his life he encouraged people to lighten the earthen lamp in the shrine of Lord Shiva and after death he achieved the meritorious reward as the Lord of wealth/Lord of Alakapuri. Whoever listens to the legend of Gunanidhi would get all their desires fulfilled.”