||Om Nama: Shivaya||

Chapter – 43 – Rudra Samhitha/Shrishti Kanda – 1

Vishwothbhava Sthithi Layadhishu Hethumekam Gauripathim Vidhitha Thaththvam AnanthaKeerthim| Mayashrayam Vigathamayam Achinthyaroopam | Bodhasvaroopam Amalam Hi Shivam Namami || Vandhe Shivam Tham  Prakither Anadhim Prashanthamekam Purushoththamam Hi | Swamayaya Krithsnamidham Hi Shrishta  Namovadhanthar Bahirasthitho Ya: ||

Lord Vishnu eulogizes “ I shall prostrate before the supreme Lord Shiva who is Gauripathi, he is the essence of creation, preservation, and destruction of the Universe and its living beings, he symbolizes greatest philosophies, he is Lord Maya, he is shelter place of Maya, he is the dearest consort of Devi Gauri, he is unblemished and pure, he is the essence of wisdom and knowledge.  I shall prostrate before supreme Lord who is Purushoththama, he is beyond Prakrithi, resides as a soul in living beings, he is all-pervasive, he is the essence of living and non-living things, he symbolizes serenity, he has created the Universe with the influence of Maya, and he is omnipresent.  I shall prostrate before the supreme Lord who resides as soul/subtle form, in living beings, he creates Universe and wanders all over the Universe, like the Earth rotates on its own axis.”

Jagatha: Pitharam Shambhush Jagatho Matharam ShivAm | Thath Puthrashcha Ganadheesham Na  Thvaithdhairnnyamahe||

Maharishi Vyasa speaks “ I shall offer humble salutation to the supreme Lord Shambhu who is the father of the Universe, and I shall offer humble salutation to the Goddess ShivA who is the Mother of the Universe, I shall offer humble salutation to Lord Ganesha who is Lord Ganas as well. I shall offer humble salutation to the supreme Lord and begins to recite Rudrasamhita.”

Once, the Sages and Rishis assembled in Naimisharanya enquired the Sutha Pauranika with great devotion “Oh! Sutha, Oh! Mahabhaga, we have listened to that marvelous legend from Sadhya Sadhana Khanda in Vindhyeshwara Samhitha, it was a great legend capable to attract the mind of noble souls, Oh! Sutha, live a joyous life and live long because you are narrating the highly meritorious legends of Lord Shankara. We are not satisfied with the nectar-like wisdom earned from you, Oh! Sinless one, we would like to hear more from you. Oh! Sarvajja, beloved of Maharishi Vedavyasa, you have achieved the highest of the piousness, you are the knower of past, present, and future. You are a sincere disciple of Maharishi Vedavyasa, thus you have achieved the greatest of the knowledge and serenity, with the perpetual grace of your preceptor. Oh! Learned one, kindly narrates the glorious form of Lord Shiva and his various legends.  Lord Shiva is absolute Bhrmam/Nirguna Bhramam, when did he achieve the Sagunaroopa? We are not aware of the true form of supreme Lord Shiva. Kindly narrate the initiation of supreme Lord Shiva who is Nirguna Bhramam, at the beginning of the Universe, and how did the creation begin? How did the supreme Lord Shiva perform deluge? How could the devotees please that supreme Lord Shiva who is a compassionate one? Kindly describe what would the devotees achieve once the supreme Lord Shiva gets highly pleased with their devotion. Kindly narrate everything in detail to us. We have heard that the supreme Lord Shiva gets highly pleased easily, he is a compassionate one, could not bear the hardships of his devotees.  The Lord Bhrama, Lord Vishnu and Mahesha were created from the limb of Lord Shiva, Oh! Sutha, kindly narrate the incarnations of Lord Shiva and various legends of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. Kindly tell us the birth of Goddess Uma and her wedding with the supreme Lord Shiva. Oh! Sinless one kindly narrates their household living and various sports as well.”

Maharishi Vyasa speaks “ Maharishi Sutha Pauranika engaged in meditation upon supreme Lord Shiva for a while, after listening to the series of queries of Shuka Shaunakadhis.”

Sutha Pauranika speaks “Oh! Sages, you have raised a brilliant question, you are too graceful and well versed in scriptures, especially highly devoted to supreme Lord Shiva. Oh! Mune, listening to the glorious myths of supreme Lord Shiva would purify three people, 1)Vaktha/speaker 2) Pricchakam/questions raised by the Sages, 3) Shrotha/listeners. Oh! Brahmana, except the people who take pleasure in killing and eating animals, everyone takes immense delight in listening to his legends.  The legends of the supreme Lord Shiva should be recited without lust, desire, or greed, it is the best cure for the miseries and sorrows of worldly existence, and it would please the ears of listeners as well. Oh! Twice-born, I shall narrate all those legends and various sports of supreme Lord Shiva according to my knowledge, kindly listen to them.  Oh! Mune, as you have raised the question, Lord Hari had the same was narrated by Lord Shiva, later Maharishi Narada learned it from Lord Bhrama who is a staunch devotee of the supreme Lord Shiva was highly pleased with it and described the glorious legends to Maharishi Narada.”

Maharishi Vedavyasa speaks “listening to the speeches of Sutha Pauranika, the Sages assembled were extremely eager to know more about the legends of supreme Lord Shiva and the conversation took place between the deities.”

Shaunakadhis speaks “ Oh! Sutha, Oh! Mahabhaga, we are curious to learn the legends of supreme Lord Mahadeva, kindly narrate the conversation took place between Lord Bhrama and Narada in detail, when was it taken place? And what are the sports of supreme Lord Shiva was discussed? We are curious to know about them all. Kindly enlighten us.”

Sutha Pauranika was extremely pleased to listen to the curiousness of Shaunakadhis, and their devotion to supreme Lord Shiva and he began to narrate them all.