||Om Nama: Shivaya||

 

Chapter –88  – Rudra Samhitha/Sati Khanda – 27

Lord Bhrama speaks “Oh! Mune, once Dhakshaprajapathi has begun the proceedings of a huge Yajja and invited all the deities, Rishis and Sages to perform the Yajja. The Rishis and Sages who were besieged by the Shivamaya  participated in the Yajja were Sage Bhrighu, Agasthya, Kashyapa, Athri, Vamadeva, Dhadhichi, Vyasa, Bharadhvaja, Gautam, Paila, Parashara, Garga, Bhargav, Kakubha, Sita, Sumanthu, Thrika, Vaishampayana, and various illustrious Rishis, and there were Sages with their wives gathered to witness the Yajja.  There were Suragana, Lokapala with their attendants were assembled to participate in the Yajja. I was reverentially invited from the Sathyaloka to attend the Yajja, I have participated in the Yajja with my mind-born sons and consorts, and Veda assumed divine forms and reached in the Yajja arena. Lord Vishnu was reverentially invited from  Sri Vaikunda, arrived with consorts and Parshadhas. All the deities, Rishis and Sages, assembled were reverentially greeted by Dhaksha, and offered seats to them. There was a huge marvelous Mandapa erected by Vishwakarma for the audience to be seated, and grand thrones were installed for the deities. The Yajja was conducted on the banks of sacred Theertha in Kankahala, and the performer of Yajja was Sage Bhrighu, the preceptor of Dhaksha and illustrious Rishis including myself. Lord Vishnu was the presiding deity of the Yajja, present with Maruthganas. I have been appointed as the chief priest of Vedic rites. The Lokapalas were the guardians of the Yajja arena, equipped with various arms, were surrounded by their attendants. The Yajja proceedings have begun, Yajjadeva invoked with the Vedic chants, the oblations to the deities were offered by Dhaksha with his consort, eighty-six thousand priests/Rithvik performed the offerings to the fire, the priests of four branches of Veda performed offerings in the sacrificial fire. There were Yaksha, Gandharva, Vidhyadharas, Siddhas, Adithyas, and Naga present in the Yajja, there were twice-born of the Kingdom, royal priests, Kings of neighboring Kingdom and ministers, Ashtavasus, were present as guests of Daksha. The grand Yajja Mandapa was decorated in a sophisticated manner, Dhaksha and his consort initiated the proceedings of Yajja, suddenly something flashed in my mind, understood that he did not invite that supreme Lord Mahadeva, considered Kapali is not deserved to accept the oblations of the Yajja. Daksha who has wicked nature did not even consider inviting his dearest daughter Devi Sati, as she has chosen Lord Shiva as her wedded husband.”

The Yajja proceedings were in progress, Sage Dhadhichi noticed the absence of Lord Mahadeva among the trinities, became nervous and spoke “Oh! Rishis, and Sages, listen to me, why Lord Mahadeva has not presented in the Yajja? All the deities, Lokapalas, Rishis and Sages have arrived in the Yajja, all must have forgotten the significance of Yajja, without the presence of Mahadeva no Yajja would achieve fruitful results, the supreme Lord Mahadeva, Vrishadhvaja, Neelagala/bluish throat is not present in the Yajja, he is the provider of fruitful results at the accomplishment of Yajja is eternal Purusha, he is the source of the functioning of the Universe and its living beings, if the Purana Purusha is not present in the Yajja, it would not be auspicious. Oh! Daksha, the five-faced supreme Lord Mahadeva who has Surya, Chandra, and Agni as three eyes on each face is the purifier of souls, and sanctify the places in his presence. Oh! Daksha, you should apologize to that mighty Lord, go along with Lord Vishnu and Bhrama, and reverentially invite that supreme Lord Mahadeva to present in the Yajja. He should be brought to the Yajja Mandapa by Lord Indra, Lokapalaka, Siddhas, and twice-born. Oh! Daksha, listen to me, go to the abode of Lord Mahadeva and invite Devi Sati and the Lord, and then only the Yajja would get purified. He is supreme Lord, uttering his sacred names would bring an abundance of piousness, and bring success to all the endeavors, I am pronouncing the truth, without the presence of that supreme Lord Mahadeva, the Yajja would remain incomplete. Hence, make all efforts to bring Devi Sati and Lord Mahadeva to attendant this grand Yajja, if you want successful completion of it.”

 

Lord Bhrama speaks to Narada “ Oh! Sutha, Dhaksha haughtily laughed listening to the advice of Sage Dhadhichi, Lord Vishnu who is the essence of Veda and Vedanta, and I was present with Agama and Vedas, mind-born sons, along with all those deities, Rishis, Sages, Siddhas,  Lord Indra, Yaksha, Kinnagara, Uraga, Gandharvas were present, except Lord Shiva and Devi Sati. Daksha arrogantly spoke “I have invited Lord Vishnu who is the essence of Veda, and Lord Bhrama, all the deities, Rishis, Siddhas, Sages, Lokapalakas, a large number of twice-born as my guests. You all are scholarly, profound in Vedic rites, and capable to make the Yajja fruitful, so what’s the need of Rudra in this Yajja? I have given Devi Sati to that Rudra in marriage at the advice of Lord Bhrama. Oh! Twice-born, Lord Rudra belongs to an unknown clan and his parents, he is the Lord of spirit/Bhoothaganas, and wanders with them, engages in Tapasya for several years, lives in the funeral ground, smear ashes all over the body, adorn in Mundamala, he is arrogant and Mauni. He is not fit to participate in a grand Yajja like this, so I did not invite him. Hence, there is no need to discuss this matter again, continue to perform the Yajja, and make it successful.”

 

Lord Bhrama speaks to Narada “Oh! Narada, there was a huge argument rose in the middle of the Yajja proceedings, Rishis and Sages assembled did not heed to the words of Daksha. Sage Dhadhichi uttered in anger “Oh! Daksha, Lord Mahadeva is the Yajjapurusha, he is Lord of Yajja, he is the essence of Yajja and fruitful completion of it, you have been arrogant to that benevolent Lord Mahadeva, and therefore you are destined to face your ruin.” Thus, Dhadhichi walked out of the Yajjamandapa, soon, he was followed by a group of Rishis and Sages poured curse on Dhaksha and walked out of the Mandapa. Daksha boisterously laughed and spoke “It is good that those Sages and Rishis left the Mandapa, I did not even wish their presence, and these kinds of ascetics should not be included in the auspicious Vedic rites. Oh! Lord Vishnu and twice-born, kindly proceed with the Yajja and make it successful.” Oh! Vathsa, the Sages assembled were besieged with the Maya of that supreme Lord Shiva, began the Yajja proceedings. Oh! Mune, I have already described the beginning of the grand Yajja of Dhaksha, I shall narrate the destruction of the Yajja as well.”