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4-Paataal Khand

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19-Worship

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19-Worship
2-Padm Puraan, 4-Paataal Khand, p 575-585

This Khand covers the pages 411-609 (220 pages) of the book. It gives the account of Raam's Ashwamedh Yagya, and Krishn's life.


Naarad Preaches Worship to Ambareesh

Rishi said - "Mahaaraaj, We still want to hear more about Shree Krishn." Soot Jee said - "I tell you another story regarding this. Once Naarad went to Mathuraa Nagaree and met King Ambareesh there. Ambareesh asked the same question as yours - "Hey Muni, Who is Nir-Gun, still takes Sa-Gun Roop, who is unknown even to great Yogee, who is immortal, how He can be worshipped? because who has not worshipped Him he cannot attain Param Pad.. He doesn't get fruits of even Tap, Yagya, and Daan. The question asked about Shree Krishn cleanses all the three - speaker, listener and the questioner."

Naarad Jee said - "You have asked a good question. Bhagavaan, if worshipped with Bhakti, gives all kinds of desired things. Ahinsaa, Satya, Asteya (not stealing), and living without cheating - these are called mental Vrat. Eating once a day, not eating in the night and eating only that food which is got without asking - these are told Kaayik (physical) Vrat for men. Studying Ved, Keertan of Vishnu's name and Leelaa, speaking Truth, and not telling about anybody to anybody else - these are called Vaanik (speech related) Vrat. Keertan cleanses everything

Who follow Varn Aashram Dharm, they also worship Vishnu. This path pleases Vishnu. Women should worship their husband. For Shoodra Dwijaati, and for women their husband is Krishn; therefore they should worship them only. Women and Shoodra are entitled to do only name Jap or name Keertan. Krishn is not pleased only with Vrat, or Jap or Yagya etc, but He is pleased with Bhakti. Women should serve only their husband. This is the only worship for them. Learned man should worship Hari by putting Havishya in Agni (fire), by flowers in water, by meditating in mind, and  by Jap in solar system.

First Ahinsaa, second control on Indriyaan, third to be kind on all living beings, fourth forgiveness, fifth Sham, sixth Dam, seventh meditation, and eighth Truth - these are eight flowers. Krishn is pleased with these flowers. Other flowers are for show only. Water is the flower of Varun Devtaa. Ghee, milk and yogurt are the flowers for Chandramaa. Grains is the flower for Prajaapati, Dhoop and lamp for Agni Dev and fruits and flowers are for vegetation. Kush and roots are the flowers for Prithvi, smell and sandalwood are for Vaayu (air), and Shraddhaa is the flower for Vishnu. Instruments are regarded as the flower for Vishnupad (means to attain Vishnu). By worshipping these 8 types of flowers Vishnu is pleased very soon.

Soorya, Agni, Braahman, cow, Vaishnav, heart, Vaayu, water, Prithvi, soul, and all living beings are the places of worshipping Bhagavaan. One should worship Hari in Soorya by three Vidyaa (Rig Ved, Yajur Ved, Saam Ved); in Agni by offering Aahuti of Havishya; in Braahman by felicitating him; in cows by feeding them with grass and water; in Vaishnav by treating them like brothers; in heart by meditation; in Vaayu by Praanaayaam; in water by offering flowers with water; in Prithvi, or Vedee or clay idol by reading Mantra, and all Bhog etc; in soul by treating all alike; and in all living beings by considering them all as the form of Bhagavaan. It is appropriate to worship Hari's Chaturbhuj Roop in all these places.

When one worships Braahman, he worships Bhagavaan too, and if he insults him, he insults Bhagavaan too. Even if both families' ancestors, mother's family and father's family, are in Narak; and if their any descendent starts worshipping Hari, they go to Swarg at the same time. Now I tell you how to meditate upon Krishn. As a lamp lights in airless place without any disturbance, in the same way who meditates upon Krishn, he becomes free from sorrows, fear, jealousy, greed, Moh, and delusion etc. And as the lamp sucks all the oil while it is burning, his all Karm get destroyed.

Hey Raajan, Shankar has told two types of Dhyaan - Nir-Gun and Sa-Gun. Who are pleasing Paramaatmaa by Yog, Yam, Niyam, they see Paramaatmaa by Gyaan. Paramaatmaa is without hands and feet, still He eats everything, and goes everywhere; smells without nose, and hears without ears. Who meditate upon Brahm with this mind, they attain that shapeless Parampad. His Sa-Gun Roop is like this. He is without diseases, He is without any base. This Universe exists by whose Sankalp (intention) only, the same Bhagavaan is called Vaasudev because He is the cause of its existence. He is called Padmanaabh because a lotus flower has appeared from His navel. Thus there are two types of Dhyaan.

Characteristics of Bhakti

Ambareesh said - "Munivar, Now I want to know something about Bhakti, that which man should which type of Bhakti when, where and how?" Naarad Jee said - "Bhagavaan's Bhakti destroys all kinds of sins. Bhakti is of several types - 

(1) Maanasee Bhakti (by mind) - When Vishnu is pleased by Dhaaranaa, intellect and understanding the meaning of Ved, is called Maanasee Bhakti. 
(2) Vaachikee Bhakti (by speech) - When Bhagavaan is pleased by pronouncing Ved Mantra, Jap, and reading Aaranyak, it is called Vaachikee Bhakti.
(3) Kaayikee Bhakti (by body) - When Bhagavaan is pleased by Vrat (taking any vow), Upavaas (fast), following some discipline, controlling one's five Indriyaan, it is called Kaayikee Bhakti.
(4) Laukikee Bhakti (worldly) - Serving Bhagavaan's feet by Arghya, dance, playing musical instruments, singing, Jaagaran, and worshipping etc is called Laukikee Bhakti.
(5)  Vaidikee Bhakti (according to Ved) - Pleasing Bhagavaan by Jap of Ved Mantra, study of Sanhitaa, offering Aahuti of Havishya in Yagya, or doing Yagya is called Vaidikee Bhakti.
(6) Adhyaatmikee Bhakti (spiritual) - Pleasing Bhagavaan by doing Yagya on Amaavasyaa, Poornimaa, Vishuv Yog (Mesh and Tulaa - Aries and Libra, Sankraanti) is called Adhyaatmikee Bhakti.

Now I tell you about Adhyaatmic Bhakti through Yog. This Saadhak does Praanaayaam by controlling his Indriyaan. He does not get attached to the subjects of Indriyaan. Dev worship, Yagya, taking bath in a Teerth, Vrat, Tapasyaa and various types of Karm also cannot cleanse a person as meditation upon Anant does. Bhagavaan Himself has produced Maayaa, that is why Maayaa doesn't affect Him. Saadhu people attain Him by Bhakti only. You know this thing very well. There is nothing about Dharm which you do not know, still you are asking about Him. You are doing it because you are glorifying Vaishnav. I don't see any other satisfying thing greater than when Saadhu talk and sing about Bhagavaan. All things are the form of the same Bhagavaan. Who sees Braahman as Vishnu, he is the true Vaishnav.

Importance of Vaishaakh Maas

This is Vaishaakh Maas. This is the favorite month of Vishnu. On Shukla Saptamee, Jahnu drank Gangaa and then threw her out through his right ear. That is why Gangaa is considered Jahnu's daughter and is known as Jaahnavee. Who worships Gangaa and takes bath in Gangaa water today, he becomes free from all sins. There is no month like Vaishaakh month and there is no river like Gangaa River. It is rare to get this combination - Vaishaakh Shukla Saptamee and Gangaa River. There is no month like Maadhav (Vaishaakh) Maas and there is no Devtaa like Maadhav. Whatever Punya are done in this month, their fruits are multiplied by millions and are immortal.

As Naaraayan is the highest among Devtaa, Gaayatree Mantra is the greatest among Mantra, Gangaa is the highest among rivers, Paarvatee is the highest among women, Sun is the highest among burning things, health is the best among benefits, Braahman is the highest among people, to do good to others is the highest among Punya, Ved are the highest among Vidyaa, Truth and following one's own Dharm are the highest among Tapasyaa, self-cleansing is the highest among cleansing, to make someone fearless is the highest among Daan, and abandoning greed is the highest among qualities, in the same way Vaishaakh Maas is the best among all months. 

All sins are washed away by taking bath in the morning in Vaishaakh Maas, darkness ends when Sun rises, Punya are exhausted when somebody says bad about others. In Kaartik Maas, when Sun enters Tulaa Raashi (Libra sign), in Vishuv Yog, Daan, Punya done at that time becomes trillion-fold. This becomes thousand-fold than Kaartik Mas, when done on Makar Sankraanti, and this becomes thousand-fold than Maagh Sankraanti when done on Vaishaakh Sankraanti. In Kali Yug, its importance will increase because at that time Ashwamedh Yagya cannot be performed, so people will take bath in Vaishaakh Maas only."

Soot Jee said - "Hearing Naarad Jee, Ambareesh got surprised, he said - "Mahaamuni, Why do you praise only Vaishaakh Maas leaving Maargsheersh etc sacred months? And if Maadhav Maas is said to be the most sacred month, then what is the method of Snaan (taking bath) in that month? What thing should be donated, which Tapasyaa should be done, and which Devtaa should be worshipped? It is very rare that some preaching is heard from Guru, so please tell me all these things."

Naarad Jee said - "As Brahmaa Jee said - "First thing, it is very difficult to be born in Bhaarat Varsh, second thing to be born in human species, third thing to be inclined to follow one's Dharm, fourth thing to have Bhakti in Vaasudev, and lastly getting chance for Snaan in Maadhav Maas. This Maas is very dear to Naaraayan. The last five days of Vaishaakh Maas (from Ekaadashee to Poornimaa) are equal to the whole month. Who have worshipped Naaraayan in this month, they have got everything in their life.

In Vaishaakh Maas, one should take bath in Gangaa, or Narmadaa, or Yamunaa or Saraswatee River before sunrise and worship Mukund. After worshipping Vishnu, one should take vow on Chaitra Poornimaa. Vratee should follow Yam and Niyam, donate something according to one's capacity, eat Havishya Ann, sleep on floor, observe Brahmcharya. When Vaishaakh Poornima comes, donate some honey and sesame seeds, feed good Braahman, and donate cow with Dakshinaa, and ask for forgiveness for the shortcomings in his Snaan. Thus he should observe it for 12 years and do Udyaapan in the end."

Ambareesh said - "In this Snaan, labor is less and fruit is more, I can't believe it." Naarad Jee said - "You are right, but believe me, this is true because Brahmaa Jee himself told this. Karm are strange and their powers are also strange. The same Karm is great whose fruit is told great in Shaastra. Even the smallest thing can destroy a very big thing. Dharm's behavior can be known in several ways. Who worships Bhagavaan with clear heart and Bhakti after taking bath in Vaishaakh Maas, I cannot describe his earned Punya. If somebody reads "Paap-Prashaman" named Stotra after the worship once, or twice, or thrice, his all sins are destroyed."

 

 

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Created by Sushma Gupta on 3/15/05
Contact:  sushmajee@yahoo.com
Updated on 05/11/13