|| Shri Ganeshaya Namaha ||
All Glories, All Glories, All Glories to those who regularly worship Lord Shiva. Those who wear the Rudraksha beads and smear the holy ash on their bodies are glorified in the three worlds.
The holy scriptures recommend wearing a different number of beads on different parts of the body. One bead on the shikha, 16 on each of the upper arms, 12 on each wrist, 6 on each ear, 24 on the forehead, 32 on the throat, and 108 around the neck.
The scriptures also tell us that the single-faced rudraksha bead is especially beneficial for bestowing special fortune when it is worshipped. The 5,6,8 and fourteen-faced rudraksha beads are said to bestow wealth. Worshipping rudraksha beads is equivalent to worshipping Lord Shiva himself.
Let us narrate a story that tells us the importance of worshipping Lord Shiva with proper prayers.
King Bhadrasen ruled the kingdom of Kashmir, where he was known for his righteousness and was beloved by all his citizens. He was fortunate to have a beautiful and chaste wife, as well as a young son, Prince Sudharma. The king's loyal minister also had a son, Taraka, who was the same age as Prince Sudharma. The two children were inseparable and spent all their time playing together as constant companions.
These two special children were unlike most others their age. They kept to themselves and didn't enjoy the typical pleasures of childhood. They were indifferent to their expensive garments and ornaments, preferring instead to wear rudraksha beads and smear holy ash on their bodies. When pressured to dress like royalty, they would simply donate their clothes and jewels to poor Brahmins and discuss Lord Shiva with them. Their unwavering devotion to Lord Shiva was evident at all times. Naturally, both fathers were worried about the future of their children and the kingdom that Prince Sudharma was destined to rule one day.
As fate would have it, Sage Parashar visited King Bhadrasen along with his disciples. Both the King and his minister welcomed and revered the Sage, who was the grandson of Sage Vashistha and the father of Sage Vyas. King Bhadrasen shared his worries with Parashar Muni and sought his guidance. The sage then narrated the following story:
In the distant past, in the kingdom of Kashmir, there was a wealthy prostitute named Mahananda. She resided in the city of Nandigram and was renowned for her beauty and charm. Mahananda was not only a talented dancer and singer but also enjoyed immense wealth with servants to attend to her every need. However, it was not these attributes that made her special and sought-after by men. She had a unique policy that she had followed for years - she remained faithful to each of her customers as if he were her husband and was ready to share in all his sorrows and misfortunes, just like a chaste and faithful wife would. This was unheard of anywhere. During the time her customer was with her, she would dedicate herself fully to him and serve him as his maid. Her devotion to her man was so strong that not even Indra, with his immense charm, could sway her resolve.
Mahananda was a devout follower of Lord Shiva, strictly observing the Somwar Vrat, Pradosh Vrat, and Mahashivratri. She was known for her charitable nature and ensured that nobody went hungry at her house as she regularly donated food. Mahananda engaged learned priests to perform the Rudrabhishek regularly and chanted the Rudra Hymns to glorify Lord Shiva. During her performances in the dance hall, she worshipped Lord Shiva in the Linga form and danced and sang to please him. She offered a hundred thousand bilva leaves daily in Lord Shiva's worship, and during the month of Shravan, she made ten million Shiv Lingas.
Mahananda always listened to the glories of Lord Shiva and shared her devotion with her pets, a cock, and a monkey, who she had adorned with Rudraksha beads and sacred bhasma. She sometimes allowed them to dance and play in the dance hall while she performed for Lord Shiva, and through her association, these two creatures also benefitted greatly from her devotion.
One day, a handsome trader arrived at Mahananda's residence, and she was immediately drawn to him. She cordially welcomed him and offered him a seat on her ornate chair. While conversing, Mahananda noticed a divine bracelet on his wrist and marveled at its intricate beauty. She exclaimed that such a masterpiece could only be crafted by Vishwakarma, the designer of the Gods in heaven. The trader, enchanted by her admiration, gifted her the bracelet. In return, Mahananda promised to be his companion for three days. However, the trader soon revealed a divine object that he worshiped, the 'Atma Linga,' which radiated a brightness unlike that of the sun. As a devotee of Lord Shiva, Mahananda was instantly captivated by its splendor and pledged to protect it during his stay. The trader disclosed that he had taken a vow to give up his life by fire if the Linga was damaged or burned. Mahananda, accepting the responsibility, readily agreed to safeguard the Atma Linga.
That fateful night, while both were fast asleep, the trader, who was revealed to be none other than Lord Shiva, set fire to her opulent palace. In the chaos and confusion that ensued, Mahananda managed to save her beloved pets, the cock and the monkey, by releasing them into the open ground. As the flames engulfed her home, the trader demanded his Atma Linga. It was then that Mahananda realized her grave mistake, having completely forgotten about the precious possession. Overcome with guilt and remorse, she begged for his forgiveness. The trader, however, held her responsible for the loss of his most valuable possession and reminded her of his sacred vow. Without a second thought, he lit a colossal pyre and chanted "Om Namah Shivai" as he climbed into the inferno. Not wanting to break her own vow, Mahananda gave away all her material possessions and after taking a purifying bath, fearlessly entered the raging flames to be with her man.
His body was adorned with elephant skin and tiger skin, and the Ganga flowed through his matted locks. His three eyes shone with a divine light that could mesmerize anyone who gazed upon them. The ashes smeared over his body and the garland of human heads around his neck added to his intimidating aura. With a blue throat and a snake around his neck, the Lord had assumed the form of Chandramouli, the protector of his devotees.
And in his arms, he held Mahananda, who had proved her love and devotion for him by following him into the fire.
When the King regained consciousness, Sage Parashar advised him to perform Rudrabhishek with the chanting of Rudra Hymns for the benefit of the boy. The King was instructed to have this done by the best priests, ten thousand times every day for seven days. At the end of the seven days of worship, the holy water was to be sprinkled on the boy, so that he would live longer.
As Mahanada gained consciousness, still in the arms of Lord Shiva, felt a sense of deep peace and fulfillment. She had fulfilled her vow to her beloved and had been granted a boon beyond her wildest dreams.
Looking up at the Lord's face, she felt a sense of gratitude and wonder. How fortunate she was to have been blessed with his divine presence, to have been granted such a great boon.
Lord Shiva, sensing her thoughts, smiled down at her and spoke, "My dear Mahanada, you have shown great devotion and selflessness. You have earned the highest reward. But there is one more gift that I have for you."
With these words, he gently placed her on the ground and disappeared from sight. In his place, a magnificent temple stood, its spires reaching towards the sky, its walls adorned with intricate carvings of gods and goddesses.
Nandigram had been transported to Shiva Loka, the eternal abode of Lord Shiva.
Sage Parashar informed Bhadrasen that the two children were none other than the cock and the monkey that Mahananda had previously released, and in this birth, they were born as devotees due to their association with her in their past life.
Upon learning of the prince's fate, the grateful king beseeched Sage Parashar to reveal the duration of his son's life, to which the sage disclosed that the boy was destined to pass away on the seventh day hence.
Overwhelmed by grief, the King immediately fell to the ground in a faint, while the Queen's sorrow erupted in loud cries and frantic chest beating as she clung to her child.
On the seventh day, all the Vedic sacrifices had been completed, when suddenly the young Prince fell to the ground. He had died. Everyone panicked and the King broke out in tears. Just then, Sage Parashar sprinkled the holy water on the boy and called out to him. The boy awoke as if he had been asleep. The sage asked him to describe what he had seen. The boy said that he was being taken away by Yamaraj, the God of Death when four Shiva Dootas (messengers of Lord Shiva, who have a form similar to the Lord himself) came to his rescue.
Just as everyone paid their respects to Sage Narada, the revered sage began to explain that Lord Shiva had dispatched his agent, Virabhadra, to confront Yamaraj regarding his attempt to take the young Prince's life. It so happened that Yamaraj had calculated the young Prince's fate and had missed the horoscope's clear indication that the Prince would be revived through the power of prayer to Lord Shiva and would live for over ten thousand years. Realizing his error, Yamaraj pleaded for the Lord's forgiveness, which was granted.
The young prince was eventually crowned as the king and his dear friend became his loyal minister, ruling their kingdom for over ten thousand prosperous years. After their earthly duties were fulfilled, both Bhadrasen and his minister ascended to the divine abode of Lord Shiva. It is said that those who read this chapter of the Shiv Leelamrut with devotion will be blessed with a long and healthy life, and an abundance of progeny, and will reside in the abode of Lord Shiva after death. The mere act of reading this chapter once a day will annihilate all grave sins. And if recited thrice a day, it will not only prolong life but also remove the malefic effects on all the planets. Those who are afflicted with the curse of a short life as per their horoscopes are especially advised to read this chapter to negate the effects of the curse.
|| Aum Namah Shivay ||