Shiva Mahimna Stotra

Shloka 24

Meaning:   O Destroyer of Kamadeva! Dwelling joyfully in the cremation grounds, being friendly with ghosts and demons, wearing the ashes of burnt dead bodies on yourself and having a garland of human skulls makes you look externally as inauspicious, but O the Giver of Boons!  You are supremely auspicious to your devotees who meditate on you.                                                                                       

Reflections:  In the previous shloka 23, Pushpadanta gave a pleasant picture of Lord Shiva as Ardhanarishwara, being half Shiva and half Shakti (Parvati). In this shloka he gives totally a different picture of Lord Shiva.

Even after reading Pushpadanta’s comments in the previous shloka If anyone still has a doubt about Lord Shiva’s character by looking at the form of Ardhanarishwara, this shloka definitely destroys that doubt by looking at the Shiva who is completely filled with Vairagya (dispassion) and whose mind is fully withdrawn from the transient world.     

Before we reflect on the Lord Shiva’s form described in this shloka, let us try to remember all the forms of Lord Shiva described in the shlokas 1 through 23 of the Shiva Mahimna Stotra. It helps us to meditate on Lord Shiva.

About Lord Shiva’s Various Forms:

(1) In the shloka – 2, Pushpadanta says that You are incomprehensible, but, when You manifest with your divine form, whose mind and speech do not get attracted to You? Meaning, Your form, eventually, attracts everyone’s mind and speech.

(2) In the shloka – 3, Pushpadanta says that You have created nectar-like Vedas. Can the speech of even Brihaspati, the teacher of the Devas, amaze you? Meaning, even Brihaspati’s attempt falls short in describing you.

(3) In the shloka – 7, Pushpadanta says that all religious paths lead to you. Here Lord Shiva has been described as Brahman, the Ultimate Reality.

(4) In the shloka – 8, by making a list of a few items Lord Shiva possess, Pushpadanta gives us a picture of Lord Shiva and His surroundings. Lord Shiva’s slightest graceful look gives abundance of wealth to His devotees, but for himself, He keeps only (i) Nandi (Bull), (ii) a club weapon, (iii) an axe, (iv) tiger-skin cloth, (v) ashes, (vi) snakes, and (vii) a human skull. He remains mostly introvert and in a blissful state. He does not need many things to be happy.

(5) In the shloka – 10, Pushpadanta described the form of Lord Shiva as an infinite luminous pillar of fire that appeared in front of Brahma and Vishnu who were fighting for their superiority.

(6) In the shloka – 14, Pushpadanta gives a picture of Lord Shiva drinking poison to save the world.

(7) In the shloka – 15, Pushpadanta tells us how Lord Shiva burnt Kamadeva, the god of love, to ashes with the fire of His knowledge coming out from His third eye.

(8) In the shloka – 16, we find Lord Shiva was dancing to save the world, but His mighty form created a havoc in the universe. His dancing movements of His mace-like arms were hitting and breaking the planets, His long-matted hairs were breaking the heaven, and His feet movements were shaking the earth.

(9) In the shloka – 17, we have the picture of Lord Shiva as Gangadhara. The mighty Ganga trapped in the Jata (hair) of Lord Shiva and after her prayer, when He moved one of His hairs, then Ganga came out like a little stream. It is like the auspiciousness of Lord Shiva coming out from His head to bless humanity in the form of Ganga.

(10) In the shloka – 18, we have another picture of Lord Shiva who is ready to destroy the demon Tripura. He could have destroyed Tripura with an ease of destroying a blade of grass, but as an act of play, He made the earth as His chariot, sun and moon as its two wheels, Brahma as the charioteer, mountain Meru as His bow, and Vishnu, who holds a discus in hand, as His arrow. 

(11) In the shloka – 22, we see Lord Shiva as a hunter. With the swift of a hunter, He shot an arrow to Brahma who was running like a dear.

(12) Lastly, in the sholka – 23, Pushpadanta gave us a pleasant and loving picture of Lord Shiva as ‘Ardhanarishwara’, half Shiva and half Shakti.

After giving the pictures of all these various forms of Lord Shiva, in this shloka – 24, Pushpadanta gives us a picture of Lord Shiva who is filled with Vairagya and who is teaching us the transitoriness of the world.  

Cremation Ground: Lord Shiva enjoys meditating in the cremation ground. People’s minds get easily filled with Vairagya (dispassion) in the cremation ground. When a person goes to cremate the body of a near and dear one, he/she starts thinking of the ultimate end of the body in the world. One start thinking of the purpose of life. If after all the running around in life for wealth, worldly pleasures, power, position, and to fulfill various other worldly desires, the body dies and it is going to be cremated, then one sees no purpose of all these efforts.

In the cremation ground, spiritually minded people think that the life is short. We don’t know when the body will fall off.  So, it is wiser to focus our minds more on realization of Atman before it falls. Thus, Lord Shiva, by staying in the cremation ground teaches us the urgency to realize Atman and to do service to humanity.

Being friendly with ghosts and demons: Who hang around in the cremation ground? Ghosts and demons. If we want to meditate in the cremation ground, then we must have a friendship with all those who stay there. Because of fear, people hate all the spirits who live in that ground. Lord Shiva is fearless. The fear of all fears is death. One who has conquered death has no fear of anything.

Also, Lord Shiva is compassionate. He embraces all and hates none. He is a friend of all including ghosts and demons. For Lord Shiva, everyone has a part to play in the universe and everyone has a possibility to improve and move on towards the Ultimate Goal, to be one with Brahman.  

Wearing the ashes of the dead bodies:

When I came to USA in December 1971, on February 16, 1972, I found several people wearing ashes on their foreheads. In India, I have seen many devotees wearing ashes (vibhuti bhashma) on their foreheads every day. I was surprised to see similar things in USA. Upon inquiry, I found that it was Ash Wednesday. I was happy to see this connection. I told my non-Indian American friend that Lord Shiva wears ashes on his forehead. Lord Shiva reminds all that this body is temporary and when it is cremated after death, it will turn into ashes.

Body is a useful instrument. Sri Ramakrishna says that human body is a mold. When we realize that everything inside the body and the body itself is nothing but Atman (Pure Consciousness), then its job is done. We must keep our body healthy and clean and use it to realize the above-mentioned goal of life. Too much pampering and decorating the body is a wastage of time.

Wearing a garland of human skulls:

A human skull is like the base.  Inside the skull and on the skull a human face is made. It has eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and brain. People’s charms of the faces and the developments of brains make them look different, but the skulls are basically same. By wearing a garland of skulls, Lord Shiva shows that all beings externally look different, but they are basically same.

Looking inauspicious, but being auspicious:

Being in the cremation ground surrounded by ghosts and demons, and wearing ashes on the body and a garland of human skulls make Lord Shiva’s look as inauspicious. But Lord Shiva’s name is “Bholanath”, a very simple-minded person. Because He loves all and always thinks about the good of all, He can be easily pleased. His very name “Shiva” means auspicious.

Auspicious means bringing success in our spiritual practices. Lord Shiva mostly is in meditative mood. Thinking of Him inspires us to get absorbed in meditation and become one with Brahman. Thus, Lord Shiva is most auspicious.

Scriptural study and prayers:

Spiritual teachers say that when we study scriptures, we have to think that we are going to live for hundred years, but when we sit for prayer, we have to think that the death may come the very next moment, and we don’t have much time to waste. Thus, we must focus our mind fully in our prayer without wasting any time.

Swami Vivekananda’s thoughts on death:

Swami Vivekananda had expressed very clearly what Lord Shiva is teaching us through his external look presented by Pushpadanta in this shloka.

Shri Surendra Nath Das Gupta wrote the following (from the Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda):

“One day, with some of my young friends belonging to different colleges, I went to the Belur Math to see Swamiji (Swami Vivekananda)….He asked us, “What is the grandest of all the truths in life?..As none put forth any reply, he exclaimed in his inspiring language:

Swamiji said, “Look here – we shall all die! Bear this in mind always, and then spirit within will wake up. Then only, meanness will vanish from you, practicality in work will come, you will get new vigor in mind and body, and those who come in contact with you will also feel that they have really got something uplifting from you.”…

I asked, “But Swamiji, will not the spirit break down at the thought of death and the heart be overpowered by despondency?

Swamiji said, “Quite so. At first, the heart will break down, and despondency and gloomy thoughts will occupy your mind. But persists; let days pass like that – and then? Then you will see that new strength has come into the heart, that the constant thought of death is giving you a new life and is making you more and more thoughtful by bringing every moment before your mind’s eye the truth of the saying, ‘Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!’

Swamiji Continued, “Wait! Let days, months, and years pass, and you will feel that the spirit within is waking up with the strength of a lion, that the little power within has transformed itself into a mighty power! Think of death always, and you will realize the truth of every word I say. What more shall I say in words!””

Happiness and miseries; life and death:

In the Karma Yoga, Swami Vivekananda says, “The only way of getting out of misery is giving up the idea of happiness, because these two are linked to each other. On one side there is happiness, on the other there is misery. On one side there is life, on the other there is death. The only way to get beyond death is to give up the love of life. Life and death are the same thing, looked at from different points. So, the idea of happiness without misery, or life without death, is very good for school-children; but the thinkers sees that it is all a contradictions in terms and gives up both.”

Bhagavad Gita:

Shri Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita (2.27),

“Anything that is born, its death is certain, and anything that dies, its birth is certain. Therefore, O Arjuna, you should not grieve over a situation that is unavoidable.”

In the next shloka of the Bhagavad Gita (2.28), Shri Krishna says,

“O Bharata! All beings are unmanifest in their beginning, manifest in their middle state, and unmanifest again in their end. Why, then, lament for them?”

Initially, we were one with the Brahman that is Unmanifested, in the middle we take forms as beings, and in the end we again merge in the Brahman. Therefore, we should not lament in losing these forms.

Shri Krishna says that this Atman (Brahman) cannot be destroyed by the weapons, fire cannot burn it, water cannot drown it, and wind cannot blow it. It is eternal and that is our true nature.

We never die:

In Raja Yoga Swami Vivekananda says, “When by analyzing his own mind, man comes face to face, as it were, with something (Atman) which is never destroyed, something which is, by its own nature, eternally pure and perfect, he will no more be miserable, no more unhappy. All misery comes from fear, from unsatisfied desire. Man will find that he never dies, and then he will have no more fear of death. When he knows that he is perfect, he will have no more vain desires, and both these causes being absent, there will be no more misery – there will be perfect bliss, even while living in this body.”

What we learn:

Lord Shiva’s external look described in the shloka 24 of the Shiva Mahimna Stotra seems inauspicious, but it teaches us great lessons and helps us attain the goal of human life, God-realization. Thus, this inauspicious look is in reality auspicious. May Lord Shiva bless us to attain this goal.

Shiva Mahimna Stotra

Shloka 23

Meaning:  O Puramathana (Lord Shiva)! Mother Parvati saw that in front of her, Kamadeva, the god of lust, who was holding a bow in his hands, was burnt to ashes within seconds. But, despite this, if she thinks that you are attracted by her beauty because you kept her on your left side, then, O Shiva who has total self-control! O Giver of the boons! women are self-deluded.  

Reflections:  In the 15th shloka of Shiva Mahimna Stotra, we mentioned that Brahma gave a boon to the demon Tarakasura that he could be killed only by the son of Lord Shiva. For that reason, all the gods sent Kamadeva, the god of lust, to break Lord Shiva’s Samadhi and infuse lust in his mind, so Shiva and Parvati can have a son. But, Lord Shiva, who has total self-control, immediately burnt Kamadeva to ashes with his fire of Knowledge. At that time, Mother Parvati was around Lord Shiva. She witnessed this scene.

In the 21st shloka of the Shiva Mahimna Stotra, we learned that Mother Sati was born as Mother Parvati. She wanted to marry Lord Shiva, so she did lots of austerities to please Lord Shiva. As Lord Shiva remains mostly in Samadhi, it was not easy to please Him. But Mother Parvati’s determination, sincerity, commitment, and severe austerity pleased Lord Shiva. Not only did Lord Shiva agree to marry Mother Parvati, but to express His love for Her, He gave her a place on His left side.

This is symbolic. Lord Shiva is called “Ardhanarishwara”. In the picture of Ardhanarishwara, we find the right half is Lord Shiva and the left half is Mother Parvati. This tells us that Brahman and Its power Shakti or Maya are inseparable. Sri Ramakrishna said that in the inactive state, we call the Ultimate Reality Brahman, and when It is in the active state of creation, preservation, and dissolution of the universe, we call It Shakti or Maya. Mother Parvati is the power of Lord Shiva.

Now, Pushpadanta gives a human touch to Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati by bringing a ‘loving tease’ in their relationship which usually we find between husband and wife. Pushpadanta says that Mother Parvati witnessed Lord Shiva burning Kamadeva, the god of lust, to ashes within a fraction of a second, like burning a blade of grass. Despite this, if Mother Parvati, by looking at the Ardhanarishwara Form of Lord Shiva, thinks that He was infatuated by her beauty, then definitely she is self-deluded.

Through this, Pushpadanta also sends a message to all other people who, by looking at the Ardhanarishwara Form, think that Lord Shiva is infatuated with the beauty of Mother Parvati. Pushpadanta tells them to remember that Lord Shiva has total self-control and He burnt Kamadeva to ashes within a fraction of a second. Only out of love, Lord Shiva gave Mother Parvati a place on His left side.

Many times, we make mistakes and misunderstand the behavior of gods and goddesses or of spiritual teachers by projecting our own human weaknesses into them. Many people thought that Sri Ramakrishna was a crazy man. They used to call him “Pagal Bhattacharya”. Little did they know about the high spiritual state of Sri Ramakrishna. Similarly, people are interested in gossiping about the behavior of spiritual teachers. A sincere devotee and a spiritual seeker should stay away from such gossip. It spoils our minds and we do not get any benefit out of it. On the other hand, we should not be totally blind in following spiritual teachers’ guidance. We have to be alert and try to understand the spiritual guidance and keep our eyes open. Sri Ramakrishna asked his disciples first to watch him day and night to check whether he was practicing what he was preaching, and then follow his guidance.  All genuine spiritual teachers say the same things. They are unselfish and guide others on the spiritual path out of love.

Notice that, in this shloka, Pushpadanta addressed Lord Shiva as (1) Puramathana, the destroyer of the Tripura. The three cities represent three gunas; Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas. Lord Shiva destroyed these cities means He is beyond the three gunas. (2) Varada, the giver of the boons. Lord Shiva out of compassion gives boons to the devotees and fulfills their desires. He fulfilled the desire of Mother Parvati to marry her. (3) Yama Nirata, one who enjoys self-control. Lord Shiva has total self-control. With these three names Pushpadanta made it clear that only out of love, Lord Shiva kept Mother Parvati on His left side in the Ardhanarishwara Form.

Let us pray to Lord Shiva to help us acquire total self-control.

Shiva Mahimna Stotra

Shloka 22

Meaning:  O Lord Shiva! Lustful Brahma wanted to have a lustful act with his own daughter. Out of fear, the daughter became a hind and ran. Brahma took the body of a stag and ran after her. To punish Brahma for his unethical motive, O Lord, with the swift of a hunter you took a bow in your hand and shot an arrow at Brahma. The fearful Brahma thinking about the pain of being pierced by the arow ran into heaven. But, even today, the arrow is not giving up its chase of Brahma.

Reflections: 

This shloka teaches us how Lord Shiva as Brahman protects the righteousness on earth and punishes even Brahma for an unethical motive. This is how ultimately righteousness prevails on earth for the good of humanity to survive. When the earth is filled with only unrighteousness, then it is an indication of the time of dissolution of humanity.

This shloka also teaches us not to underestimate the power of lust.   

Shri Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita (16.21),

“Lust, anger, and greed are three gates to hell which bring destruction of an individual soul. Therefore, these three should be avoided.”

In the Gospel, Shri Ramakrishna told his devotees, again and again, to renounce ‘lust and greed’. These two are great forces that bring the human being’s mind down to the lower level. They do not let the mind rise to a higher level which brings Knowledge, Peace, fulfillment, and Bliss. Initially, lust and greed may bring some pleasure, but they bring tons of miseries. People do all kinds of evil things motivated by lust and greed. Anger follows lust and greed.

That is the reason that in the Hindu scriptures, many stories tell us how great personalities fell from their higher level of consciousness due to lust and greed, especially lust. Whenever a man was performing severe austerities, Indra, the king of gods thought that he was trying to take away his position. So, Indra sent beautiful girls to deviate the mind of the man from spirituality, and most of the time he succeeded.

Let us remember two stories of Devarshi Narada.

(Note: The following two stories have been written to learn the important lesson they teach us. These stories have different versions. For the exact wording of the stories, please go through the Hindu scriptures.)

Narada conquering lust:

Devarshi Narada is a great Rishi and a beloved devotee of Lord Vishnu. Once Narada was meditating. Indra sent lots of distractions including the Kamadeva, the god of lust. But nothing disturbed Narada’s meditation. When Narada conquered the god of lust, he was very happy and proud of himself. He got up from his meditation and immediately went to Lord Shiva to tell him about it. Lord Shiva was very happy listening to Narada about his victory over the lust. Then, Lord Shiva told Narada that this was a very interesting experience, but he should not tell this to Lord Vishnu. However, Narada was so proud of himself that he went to Lord Vishnu and bragged about his victory over the lust. Lord Vishnu admired him and smiled.

To teach Narada and all of us a lesson, Lord Vishnu created a situation. Mother Lakshmiji became a princess of a king. The king announced that his daughter was going to select her husband in a big “Swayamvara” ceremony. Narada was passing by, and he found out about this event. Out of curiosity to see the princess, he went to the king’s palace. The king received him with honor and asked him to see the palm of his daughter and give advice about what kind of husband she should select. Narada, looking at the palm of the princess, mentally fell in love with her, and mentally he decided that he would like to marry this princess. He thought that Lord Vishnu was very handsome and if he got the beauty of his face, then definitely the princess would select him as her husband. He went to Lord Vishnu and told him his wish. Lord Vishnu told Narada that he had conquered the lust a while ago, and how come now he was eager to marry. Narada said, “At this moment this is my decision, and I want the face of Hari. Please grant me that boon.” Lord Vishu said, “So be it.”

Narada was extremely happy and on the day of the “Swayamvara,” he dressed up nicely and stood in the line of princes who wanted to marry the princess. Mother Lakshmiji as princess came with a garland of flowers to select her husband. She went to each one, listened to the candidate, looked at the candidate, and moved on. Narada was sure that he would be selected. When the princess came to Narada, she laughed at him and moved on. Narada was confused and disappointed. He didn’t know why the princess laughed at him. Then, he found that the princess put the garland on the neck of a handsome man and chose him as her husband. After that, both, the princess, and the handsome man, disappeared.

Upon someone’s suggestion, Narada looked at his face in the pool of water and found that he had a ‘monkey face’. Narada was enraged. He felt that he was cheated by Lord Vishnu. He had asked for the handsome face of Hari (Vishnu), instead Lord Vishnu took another meaning of Hari, which means monkey. He ran to Lord Vishnu and found that the princess was none other than Mother Lakshmiji and Lord Vishnu was wearing the garland. Narada’s anger knew no bounds. He cursed Lord Vishnu and Mother Lakshmiji that they both would be born as human beings on earth, both would go through the pain of separation from each other, and monkeys would help them to be united. Lord Vishnu accepted the curse with a smile. He said for the good of the world, we will go through this. Later, Lord Vishnu was born as Sri Rama, and Mother Lakshmiji was born as Mother Sitaji.

Thus, the power of lust deluded even Devarshi Narada who had easy access to Lord Vishnu. What to talk about ordinary people. Therefore, we should never think and boast that ‘we have conquered the lust’.

Narada’s experience of Maya:

Shri Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita (7.14):

“My divine Maya, made of the three gunas, is very difficult to overcome. Only those who take refuge in Me can cross over this Maya.”

Once Narada asked Shri Krishna, “What is Maya?” Shri Krishna said, “You will find out yourself. Let us go for a walk.” They both walked and walked into a deep forest. Finally, Shri Krishna said that he was very tired and thirsty. He could not walk anymore. He asked Narada to bring some water for him.

Narada walked around and found that there was a small village nearby. He went to the doors of a house and said, “Om Namo Narayanaya”. The doors opened and a beautiful girl greeted him. The girl was so charming that Narada forgot all about the water and got engaged in a conversation with her. He found that the girl was the daughter of the parents who owned the house and was not married. The girl invited him inside the house. Her parents welcomed Narada with lots of love and offered him food and water. In the conversation, the parents mentioned that they are looking for a young man for their daughter to get married. Narada was overjoyed and said that if it was okay with the daughter and the parents, then he would be happy to marry her. They were all happy. Narada and the girl got married. Narada started working to make money. He built a house near a river. Several years passed. Narada and his wife had a couple of children. They were living happily.

One day, the weather changed suddenly.  A big storm came and brought torrential rain for several days. Everything was flooded. The river swelled and it started flowing with a strong current. Houses, animals, and people started drowning in the river. Narada’s house was filled with water, and they were dragged into the river by its current. Narada kept his two children in his two arms and his wife was holding him around his neck. Thus, Narada was trying to swim in the forceful river. At one point his wife could not hold him and she was dragged away by the powerful current of the river. Slowly, he started losing his grip on his children. One by one he lost both of his children. Narada was struggling to remain on the top of the water. Finally, he lost his consciousness. When he was awake, he found himself on the bank of the river lying in the sand. He was profusely crying for losing everything. At that time, he heard the voice of Shri Krishna, “Did you get my water?” He was dumbfounded. What did he experience? Was that experience real? How many years passed? He saluted Shri Krishna and said, “Now I know what Maya is.”

Another Story about the Dominance of Lust:

In the shloka 22 of the Shiva Mahimna Stotra, Pushpadanta is referring to a story of how lust deluded even Brahma, the creator of the universe.

It seems to me that after looking at constellations, someone had made this story to show the power of lust.

Brahma is the creator of the universe. He creates things and people from his mind. He created many people, men, and women. But then they should have their children for the creation to continue. The story goes that first, he created 10,000 people. He asked them to do spiritual practices first and then raise families. Narada went to all of them and told them that to remain absorbed in God’s Consciousness is blissful. He told them not to get involved in marriages and raising families. They all renounced and didn’t marry. Brahma was upset.

Brahma then created another set of people. He also created Kamadev, the god of lust, and a beautiful girl, called Sandhya. Brahma gave a boon to Kamadeva that to whom he shot his arrows, their minds would get filled with lust. In an assembly, Kamadeva started shooting his arrows toward all, including his father Brahma. Everyone’s mind was filled with lust. Brahma’s mind also got filled with lust and he looked at his daughter with lustful eyes. Sandhya got afraid and to save herself she became a hind and ran. Brahma under the influence of the lust became a stag and ran after her. Lord Shiva saw this and he was disgusted. He scolded Brahma. Lord Shiva wanted Brahma to come back to his senses and stop chasing Sandhya. So, he, with the swiftness of a hunter, shot an arrow which started chasing Brahma. The fearful Brahma ran to heaven to save himself from this arrow. The arrow is still chasing Brahma even today.

Brahma came back to his senses and got ashamed of himself. He was angry with Kamadeva for polluting his mind and he cursed him that he would be burnt to death by Lord Shiva.

The mental forces of lust and anger are very strong. For most of the people, it takes years of spiritual practices to control them. People easily become victims of these forces. That is why Shri Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita (5.23):

“A person is a Yogi and acquires happiness who can withstand the force of lust and anger in this life before his/her body falls off.”

In the spiritual path, just controlling lust and anger is not enough. One must develop a love for God, or an intense desire to realize Atman, one’s true divine identity. If one develops intense love for God or an intense desire to realize Atman, one can easily control lust because he/she will not be interested in sensual desires as they drag one away from God or Atman. Similarly, when one intensely seeks God or Atman, one moves towards Oneness in which case one does not want to hurt anyone.

Also, we must remember that we should not dwell much on the lust stories even if they are teaching us some lessons because our mind plays tricks and enjoys thinking of the stories rather than learning lessons. We must read and think of the stories that increase our love for God, intensify our Viveka (sense of discrimination between right and wrong), and renunciation, and encourage us to acquire Knowledge about Atman.

Shiva Mahimna Stotra

Shloka 21

Meaning:  Daksha Prajapati was the host of the yajna. He was the lord of all beings and an expert in performing yajnas. The yajna was conducted by the rishis and the devas were attending the yajna. O giver of refuge (Lord Shiva)! Even though You are always eager to give rewards to the yajnas, you destroyed Daksha Prajapati’s yajna. Because one who performs a yajna without any faith definitely brings destruction to the yajna.                                      

Reflections:

Shri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita (17.28) says,

“Without faith whatever sacrifice or gift is made, whatever austerity is practiced, whatever ceremony is observed, it is all called ‘Asat’ (not beneficial). It will not give any favorable result in this life or the next life.”

Daksha Prajapati’s yajna was not only devoid of faith, but he performed his yajna to insult Lord Shiva. Let us briefly remember the story behind this yajna. 

The Story of Daksha Prajapati’s Yajna: 

Once, in Prayaga, there was a big gathering of the devas, rishis, and others. Brahma and Shiva were also present there. At that time, Daksha Prajapati entered the hall. All, except Brahma and Shiva, stood up to give an honor to Daksha Prajapati. It seems Lord Shiva must have felt Daksha’s inflated ego and wanted to teach him a lesson.

Considering Brahma as his father, Daksha saluted him. Daksha thought of himself as higher than Lord Shiva. So, he was angry at Shiva for not giving him honor. Daksha abused Lord Shiva in front of all. Lord Shiva remained quiet and peaceful. Daksha’s anger grew more like a fire. He was not satisfied with his abuse. He wanted to do something more.

After some time, Daksha organized a yajna to insult Lord Shiva. He invited all the devas, rishis, and many other people except Lord Shiva. He did not even keep a place for Shiva. On the day of the yajna, Lord Shiva’s wife, Sati, saw everyone going to her father’s yajna. She was surprised to find out that she and Shiva were not invited to the yajna. Sati expressed her desire to go to see this yajna. Lord Shiva knew the reason for not being invited. He told Sati not to go to the yajna. But Sati felt an intense desire to go to the Yajna and see what was going on. She went to the yajna. Forget about receiving her cordially, no one in the yajna, including her father Daksha, even looked at her. She found that there was no seat kept for her husband Lord Shiva. She felt it was a great intentional insult to both. She could not bear it. To stop the yajna, she jumped into the fire of the yajna. The news of Sati’s giving up her life went to Lord Shiva. He sent his disciple Virabhadra to destroy the Yajna. Virabhadra and his army destroyed the whole yajna and killed those who opposed him.

Pushpadanta says that Lord Shiva is usually eager to reward the results of yajnas as it was mentioned in the previous shloka-20 of the Shiva Mahimna, but this yajna he destroyed because it was done for a malicious reason. It was clear that there was no faith in the performance of the yajna. In the end, out of compassion, Lord Shiva gave Daksha his life back. Mother Sati was born as Mother Parvati and married to Lord Shiva.

Reflections continue:          

Sri Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita (17.3);

“The faith of each person is per his/her natural disposition. O Bharata (Arjuna)! A person is made of his/her faith. As is the faith, so is the person.”

In Chapter 17 of the Bhagavad Gita, Shri Krishna describes three kinds of faiths: Sattvika (superior), Rajasika (mediocre), and Tamasika (inferior).

People with superior faith have high regard for the noble virtues. Their ideals are gods or people who exemplify such virtues in their lives. Such people also practice these noble virtues in life. These virtues are beneficial to humanity.

People with mediocre faith have high regard for material glories, like wealth, power, position, worldly skills, external appearances, and others. These people have high regard for gods or people who exhibit material glories.

People with inferior faiths are whimsical. They want inferior kinds of sensations. Such people worship spooky things that are terrifying and imaginaries, like ghosts, evil spirits, and others. 

Knowingly or unknowingly, people have faith in many things, but in the spiritual path, they become skeptical. Swami Adiswarananda (Spiritual Head of Ramakrishna Vivekananda Center, New York) used to say that we have faith in the advertisements, carpenters, plumbers, doctors, pilots, and others, but we don’t have faith in the scriptures or spiritual teachers. Strangely, we have faith in the words of selfish-minded people, but not in the words of totally unselfish spiritual teachers.

In the spiritual path, one needs faith in God or Divinity, or Some Power that creates, preserves, and dissolves the universe, or some higher level of state of existence or of consciousness. Vedanta calls It Brahman, Pure Consciousness, or Sat-Chit-Ananda (Existence-Knowledge-Bliss Absolute). Vedanta says that the universe which we grasp by our senses and mind is limited by space, time, and causation. It is projected on the infinite and unlimited Brahman. In other words, Brahman appears as the limited universe due to an illusion created by the power of Brahman. What is in the macro is in the micro. The true nature of an individual is infinite and unlimited Atman (Pure Consciousness) and out of an illusion we think we are individuals limited by our body and mind. Atman is the same as Brahman.

To accept the fact mentally that (i) my true identity is divine Atman, (ii) Brahman is appearing as the universe out of illusion, and (iii) Brahman is Atman, is considered faith in the Vedanta.

Swami Vivekananda says that according to the old religions, a person is an atheist (faithless) who does not believe in God. But, according to the new religion, a person is an atheist who does not believe in himself/herself, meaning who does not believe that his/her true nature is divine, Atman.

We suffer, get filled with fear, limit ourselves, and do all kinds of evil things because we don’t have faith in our true divine identity. This lack of faith creates a ‘false ego’ like that of Daksha and it brings our destruction even though we perform religious rituals.

Shri Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita (4.39):

“One who is full of faith and zeal and has subdued his senses obtains Knowledge; having obtained Knowledge, he/she soon attains the Supreme Peace.”

To attain fulfillment in our life, we must first develop a genuine faith in our true divine identity through readings of the scriptures, or the teachings of realized spiritual teachers and reflecting upon their meanings. Then, if we follow the guidance of the scriptures and the realized spiritual teachers to do spiritual practices, we will be able to realize the Atman, ‘our true divine identity’ which we believed in. After the direct realization of Atman, the faith and the fact become one. Then, we don’t need to present reasons for having our faith. If we are enjoying sunlight on a cloudless day and someone asks us to prove that the sun exists, then we just smile and say ‘I don’t need to prove it. I am enjoying it.’

One important thing is that we must hold on to the faith we had started with until we get the direct experience. Doubts and questions come to the mind to test our faith. At that time, our own conviction, spiritual teachers’ guidance, and our sincere prayers help us to hold on to that faith.

Sri Ramakrishna told a mythological story which has a great significance. Once a man wanted to cross the ocean. He asked Vibhishana what to do. Vibhishana wrote something on a piece of paper and tied it to the man’s cloth. He told the man that he can now walk on the water and cross the ocean easily. Vibhishana told him not to look at the paper to see what had been written on it. The man started walking on the water. He reached halfway and a curiosity arose in his mind to see what was written on the paper. He could not resist. He untied the knot, took out the paper, and saw it. It was just written ‘Rama’. He thought, ‘What? Just ‘Rama’? He lost his faith and then got drowned.

Thus, in the spiritual path, we must hold on to the faith we had started with until we have a direct experience. Regular spiritual practices and holy company help us nurture this initial faith and help make it stronger.