||Om Nama: Shivaya||

 

Chapter –85  – Rudra Samhitha/Sati Khanda – 24

 

Maharishi Narada speaks “ Oh! Bhraman, Oh! Vidhe, Oh! Prajanatha, Oh! Kripakara, Oh! Mahaprajja, you have brilliantly explained the legend of Lord Mahadeva and Devi Sati which provides an abundance of piousness kindly continue to describe the various sports of the divine couple.”

 

Lord Bhrama speaks “Oh! Mune, you are the fortunate one, you have enthusiastically listened to those glorious legends of Lord Mahadeva and Devi Sati. I have heard from the illustrious Sages spoke about that Mahadevi who is inseparable from the Lord has to undergo the pain of separation from the Lord. Shiva and Shakthi are inseparable, then how could they get separated? The divine couple sported like an ideal Grihastha had to separate from each other. Devi Sati had to self-immolate in the Yogagni in a grand Yaga of her father Dhakshaprajapathi, who humiliated the supreme Lord Mahadeva. Further, Devi Sati took birth as Devi Parvathi, the daughter of Mount Himavan and undertook severe austerities and penances, ultimately achieved the supreme Lord Mahadeva as her wedded husband.”

 

Maharishi Narada speaks “Oh! Vishnushishya, Oh! Mahabhaga, Oh! Vidhe, kindly narrate the cause for the differences between Lord Shiva and Devi Sati, why did that Lord Mahadeva who is inseparable from his consort, full of love for Devi Sati abandoned her? How did he separate from Devi Sati who was dear to his life? Why did Dhakshaprajapathi humiliate Lord Shiva? What was that compelled Devi Sati to sacrifice her in the Yoga Agni? What happened to Lord Mahadeva after this tragic incident? Kindly narrate all that to me; I am eager to listen about all those incidents.”

 

Lord Bhrama speaks “Oh! Thatha, Oh! Narada, you are best among the learned and dearest to me. I shall narrate the glorious legend of Lord Mahadeva and Devi Sati; you can be seated among those illustrious Sages and listen to me carefully. I shall offer my humble salutation to Lord Vishnu and all the deities and Sages who worship Lord Mahadeva, I shall narrate the glorious myths of that supreme Bhramam Lord Mahadeva who has Saguna and Nirgunaswaroopa. He is inseparable from Devi Sati, he is supreme Bhramam, he is Eshwara resides as a soul in living beings, he is Gireesha who is worshiped by deities, Lord Vishnu, Sages and Rishis, Siddhas, and Sanakadhis. The serpent Anantha sings in praise of that supreme Lord Mahadeva, who represents the highest of the philosophies, all-pervasive Bhramam. Once, Lord Mahadeva and Sati mounted on the celestial bull and conducted a journey all over the Earth, arrived in the dense forest of Dhandakaranya. Bhagavan introduced the dense and beautiful forest of Dhandakaranya to Devi Sati. In the meantime, Lord Sri Ramachandra along with Lakshman was in rigorous search of Devi Sita in the forest, without the knowledge of Ravana abducted Devi Sita. Lord Rama who was desperate, in extreme agony and pain of separation from his wife, moved through the dense forest, enquiring the trees, creepers, birds, watercourses, animals, etc. the whereabouts of Devi Sita. Rama was utterly grieving over the separation from his beloved wife, portrayed himself as an ordinary human being, and forgot of his birth in the illustrious clan of Raghu, born in the clan of Surya Dynasty, as a son to the valorous Emperor Dhasharatha and elder brother to Bharatha, Lakshman, and Shatrughana. The compassionate Lord Shiva offered humble salutation, cheering ‘Hail to that Lord Sri Ramachandra” who was walking all over the dense wood of Dhandakaranya in search of Devi Sita. Suddenly, Devi Sati took notice of Lord Shiva who was reverentially greeting Lord Rama, and she was completely surprised by this act and began to speak “Oh! Devadeva, Oh! Parambhrama, Oh! Sarvesha, Oh! Parameshwara, you are the Lord of Lords, all the deities serve you and offer their humble salutation. You are eulogized by Veda and Vedantha, all the Sidhdhas and Sages contemplate upon you and undertake extreme penances to achieve you, and you are Paramaprabhu who is beyond attributes. Oh! Bhagavan, these two youths are looking miserable to me, grieving over the separation of someone close to their heart, and they are in search of their lost one in the forest. The one youth has beautiful cloud complexion, lotus-like eyes, I have a doubt to clarify with you, and who is he? Whom do you offer salutation? Oh! Shankara, kindly remove my qualms, I have not seen the Master offer obeisance to servants, and you did that.”

 

Lord Bhrama speaks “ Devi Adi shakti, Sathi, ShivA, Parameshwari, who was completely besieged in the Shivamaya.  Devi Sathi who is an inseparable female force, Parameshwari was overpowered by the Maya of that Lord enquired the reason for offering salutation to Lord Rama who is the son of Emperor Dhasharatha of Ayodhya. Bhagavan Parameshwara understood the dilemma of Devi Sati, smilingly replied to her “Oh! Devi Sati, Oh! Priye, listen to me carefully, I have offered salutation to that Paramathma Parambhramam  Lord Vishnu who was incarnated in the illustrious clan of Raghu, as the son of Dhasharatha, the elder one is Rama who has dark cloud complexion, the younger brother is Lakshmana who is the personification of Adishesha. They have personified on the Earth for the protection of noble souls and welfare of the Universe and its people.” Lord Shiva immersed in deep silence, but Devi Sati could not understand the truth behind it, because she was completely under the clutches of powerful Maya of the Lord that does not spare the three worlds. The supreme Lord Mahadeva understood the strange situation of Devi Sati, and spoke “Oh! Priye, Oh! Devi, I have understood that you are not convinced with my answers, if you want you can take a test on that Paramathma Parambhramam personified as Rama, kindly proceed to test him with your knowledge. All I want you should get cleared your qualms.” Lord Shiva quietly moved towards a Banyan tree, took a seat beneath it and immersed in meditation.”

 

Lord Bhrama speaks “Oh! Vathsa, Devi Sati proceeds at the command of Lord Shiva to test Rama, but she was all confused about how to conduct a test on Rama? She has decided to assume the form of Devi Sita and approach Rama so that she could understand the real nature of him. Devi Sati who was already besieged under the Maya of Lord Mahadeva assumed the form of Devi Sita and appeared before Rama.  Rama took notice of Devi Sati and spoke “Oh! Devi, Oh! Maheshani, why are you alone in the dense forest? Where is Lord Mahadeva? Why did you assume the form of Devi Sita? What was the reason behind it?”. Devi Sati was taken aback and lost consciousness for a while, listening to the kind words of Lord Rama, immediately she was plunged into a deep sense of guilt and shame. Devi Sati assumed her real form and offered salutation to Lord Vishnu, contemplating upon the lotus feet of supreme Lord Mahadeva, spoke “ Lord Shiva with me and Ganas took an extensive journey through the Earth, finally arrived in this forest. Lord Mahadeva saw you grieving over the separation from Devi Sita, offered his salutation to you, and praised the virtues of you and Devi Mahalakshmi. He took a seat under the Banyan tree, was highly pleased to watch your personification as Rama and Lakshmana. I was besieged under the Maya of that Lord; I could not believe his words, so I have come to take a test on you at his command. Oh! Mahamathe, all my queries and qualms have vanished, how did that supreme Lord Mahadeva immensely devoted to you? Kindly explain to me for the welfare of the Universe and its people.” Oh! Vathsa, Rama’s lotus-like eyes shone like the freshly blown lotus flower, after listening to the words of Devi Sati, soon he was transported to the state of bliss contemplating upon that supreme Lord Mahadeva.”