Shiva Mahimna Stotra

Shloka 13

Meaning: O Giver of Boons (Lord Shiva)! Banasura acquired so much wealth that it tarnished even the glories of Indra’s supreme wealth. Also, he brought the three worlds under his control. It is not a surprise for Banasura to acquire this wealth and power because he bowed down at your feet. Who does not rise after taking refuge at your feet?                         

Reflections: Bana has imbibed divine and demonic qualities from his lineage and has nurtured both in his life. Let us look into his lineage.                                                      

Brahma’s son was Marichi. Kashyapa, the son of Marichi, was a great soul. He married Daksha’s daughter Diti. Kashyapa and Diti’s sons were Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha. In Shloka 11, we learned that Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha were the gatekeepers, called Jaya and Vijaya, of Lord Vishnu.

Hiranyakashipu’s son was the great devotee, Prahlada. We know how Hiranyakashipu tried to stop Prahlada from taking the name of God and when Prahlad didn’t obey, he tried to kill his own son. Finally, Lord Narayana came in the form of Narasimha and killed Hiranyakashipu.

Thus, in these stories demonic and divine personalities were intertwined.

Prahlada’s son was Virochana. The kind Virochana was known for his charity. Virochana’s son was Bali. He is also known as Mahabali.  He has given his kingdom of the three worlds and himself to Lord Vishnu who came as a dwarf Brahmin and asked for a land covered by his three steps.

Bana was Bali’s son. Bana was a devotee of Lord Shiva. With his devotion and special worship, he pleased Lord Shiva. When Lord Shiva asked him for a boon, Bana requested him to protect him, and his city, called Shonitapura. Since Lord Shiva protected him, he became invincible. He conquered the three worlds and acquired much more wealth than Indra, the king of devas.    

Shri Pushpadanta says that Bana acquired all this wealth and power because he bowed down to Lord Shiva. This is the glory of Lord Shiva who is very compassionate and gives boons to all who take refuge at his feet.

We all know that wealth and power do not give us infinite bliss, supreme knowledge, fearlessness, and liberation. Wealth, power, and other material gains give us limited happiness and lots of miseries. Happiness and miseries go together. We cannot have happiness without misery. Only Knowledge and Devotion can give us everything that fulfills our life. Therefore, we recite the following mantra at the beginning of our spiritual practices:

“May my resolves be accomplished. May my good wishes be fulfilled. May I begin this spiritual practice to acquire the knowledge of the Ultimate Reality and devotion to God.”  

One more thing we can learn from this shloka is to surrender ourselves at the lotus feet of God. Our ‘little ego’ is the cause of all our problems. If we surrender that ego and pray to God to reveal Itself in our heart, and we do our spiritual practices, then one day we will achieve the highest that a human being can attain in human life.