Bhagavadgita Pages, Chapters 1 to 18
BG01 BG02 BG03 BG04 BG05 BG06 BG07 BG08 BG09 BG10 BG11 BG12 BG13 BG14 BG15 BG16 BG17 BG18
V.Krishnaraj
Brahma and Vishnu witness the Fiery Lingam
12/10/2019 revised. Copyright
Once upon a time, the Yogin of yogins cum
master of Maya was having his siesta on a bed of coiled snake. He had the
goddess of wealth, Mahalakshmi by his side with his attendants. Brahma, the
Vedic scholar of scholars, dropped in on Vishnu by happenstance unannounced.
Haughty Brahma fired off a salvo of insults at Vishnu, for he thought that
Vishnu was not paying respects to a scholar of such colossal intelligence and
learning. Brahma put the lotus-eyed Vishnu on the defensive by blaming him for
being haughty. Brahma told Vishnu that he was his Lord, and respect was not
forthcoming from Vishnu. He suggested that Vishnu would have to perform
expiatory rites to erase the infraction and called him the most wretched of the
wretches.
Vishnu, a cool god under all circumstances, was so shocked that his hair,
including the mark of Srivatsa, stood on end. He bristled up with anger, and
such was the anger that seethed inside him when Hiranyaksa took the earth to the
bottom of the ocean, and Lord Vishnu in the form of Boar had to rescue Bhumidevi,
the Earth Goddess, who was hanging to Lord Boar’s tusk by the toenails. He was
boiling inside, but being Mayin, he was cool outside. He invited Brahma to sit
on his snake couch and accorded him formalities of reception fit for the Lord of
Creation. He, in a concerned voice, asked him why his face was contorted and
showed agitation and why his eyes were blazing with the fire of anger. He never
saw such angry eyes before, which was almost equal to the fire emitted by
Sankarshana at the beginning of the fiery dissolution of the Universe.
Brahma said to Vishnu that he traveled at the speed of wind, mind, and time,
that he expected him to receive him with an honor fit for the Creator and
protector of the Universe and that he was his protector too. Vishnu replied,
“Sonny, you sprang from me. But for me, your existence would not have come
about. What are you talking about? Remember, you were born on the lotus of my
navel. You are talking nonsense, and your words are frivolous.” They were
arguing back and forth, quoting citations about the superiority of one over the
other. It soon worsened, and they were fighting like (Rocky Mountain) goats (Oreamnos
americanus,[their Indian cousins]) who try to defend and augment their harem,
with a band of females watching from a safe distance sporting a mirthful grin on
their faces.
Both of them summoned Vedas to tell them who the unchanging entity in the
Universe was. They assumed a human form and voice. Rgveda said that Rudra was
the repository of all Bhutas (elements) and origin of everything, and he was the
highest entity. Yajurveda said that Siva was the object of worship, sacrifice
and meditation and that Siva was the sole Seer. Samaveda said that the Universe
existed because of Siva, he was the object of meditation by Yogins, and that he
was the Light of the Universe. Atharvaveda said that Siva was the most
auspicious One beyond all misery, that he was the Lord of gods, and that
devotees obtained the vision of Siva. Brahma and Vishnu then went ahead and
leveled attacks on Siva's personal appearance and hygiene. They said, " You
(Vedas) lost your mind, relevance, and meaning. You have no wisdom. Siva is
naked, of yellow complexion, and laden with dust. He is ugly, and his dress is
atrocious. He rides a bull, he wears a matted russet hair, and he wears snakes
around his neck. How is it possible he could be Brahman?
Pranava (OM) glorified Siva about his Sakti, effulgence, eternality, and Bliss.
Brahma and Vishnu were unconvinced on account of Maya of Siva having sway on
them.--Siva Purana
Brahma was seated on his graceful Swan, his vehicle of choice, and not to be
outdone, Vishnu was sitting on his glorious Garuda, the possessor of power and
devotion. They fought and fought, and feathers were flying all around. Soon
blows were exchanged, and they stepped back to regroup and use more lethal
weapons. The Devas and other celestials, who always enjoyed a good fight,
started gathering to witness the battle of the Kalpa. They came in aerial cars
and hung in the midair for a while, but soon began to scamper, looking for a
vantage point to witness the mother of all fights. They knew that they had to
share their stories with their consorts; the one with the best story always got
the best review. They knew this was no ordinary fight like what they always had
with the Asuras. This battle was unique: a battle between the Creator and the
Preserver. They had high regard for both because their very existence depended
on the fighting gods. They took a stand, and it was to stay neutral and out of
the way. They showered flowers from celestial trees, which have both ripe fruits
and flowers in full blossom at the same time.
Brahma and Vishnu entertained thoughts on weapons of mass destruction. Vishnu
shot arrows on the chest of Brahma. It was an endless rain of arrows, and Brahma
started looking like he was growing steely hairs on his chest. The arrows rained
and rained, and it was like the rain that Indra sent to the cowherds, Gopis and
the animals, who took shelter under the Govardhana hill held aloft by Lord
Krishna. Brahma returned the favor and sent a shower of arrows to Vishnu. The
Devas and the Celestials were shaking in fear and wonder. They never saw a fight
of this intensity; the battle with Asuras was a picnic compared to this. Vishnu,
the cool, collected, benevolent God of great Grace, started showing traces of
annoyance towards Brahma and uttered a few Mantras (like the software program
[and hardware of the modern-day weapons]) and shot the Mahesvara weapon. Brahma
was so agitated knowing the launch of such a weapon that he sent an antimissile
missile called Pasupata weapon. The missiles met in the air and destroyed each
other. (The idea of missiles and antimissile missiles existed in Indian
Mythology.)
Soon they realized that they were equal in weapon systems, called a truce, and
went to Siva for arbitration. Siva, the Supreme Brahman, who bears the Trident
(!), is the Creator, the Preserver, and the Destroyer of the Universe, and no
one (I mean no one) exceeds him in Obscuration and Grace (Tirobhava and Anugraha).
Nothing moves in this world and Universe (including galaxies, high seas, air,
and land) from Brahma to a blade of grass without his knowledge and consent.
Such is his Greatness. Siva is the Creator of the Universe, and Intel
(intelligence) flows into him in a continuous stream. They (Brahma and Vishnu)
both knew Siva’s Abode, the summit of Kailas, where the God who sports the moon
on his forelocks lives. Kailas shone like a thousand suns, and the peak was of
the shape of Omkara (OM), the first sound of the Universe. Brahma and Vishnu
hung their heads in deep reverence and entered the Palace of palaces, the abode
of Siva. They went into the council chamber. There he was, the Lord of the
Universe, Siva himself. He sat on the Throne of thrones, studded with precious
diamonds and gems of all kinds. Uma sat beside him. His right leg rested on the
knee of the left leg. His lotus-like hands rested on his legs. He was
auspiciousness personified. His attendants were standing all around him. The
attending celestial ladies were fanning him. The sound from the recital of Vedas
praising his virtues filled the large chamber. Tears of joy ran down from the
eyes of Devas when they witnessed this grandeur. The auspicious Lord was
conferring his Grace on everyone. The Devas fell prone like sticks and performed
Danda-Pranama to the Lord by falling prostrate towards the feet of Lord Siva
with all eight parts of their body on the floor: the outstretched hands, the
chest, the forehead, the eyes, the throat, the body, the knees, and the feet.
What a spectacle of respect, reverence, devotion, and Grace!
Siva called the Devas to come close and addressed them in the manner of a parent
to children (Vatsalya). He inquired about their welfare and wondered aloud why
they were so concerned about the fight between Brahma and Vishnu. He smiled at
them benignly and used sweet words to soothe them, saying that he was already
aware of the battle and that he would do everything in his power to prevent any
catastrophe. He announced that he would personally lead his army and ordered the
commanders to get their men ready for war (a strategy). Hundreds of commanders
went out and readied their men and weapons. The army set in motion with
accompanying the music. The Lord himself mounted a vehicle shaped like Omkara;
His sons, Ganas (attendants), Devas (gods), Indra, and other celestials, were in
tow. The banners were flapping in the wind, showers of flowers were pouring down
from the sky; music filled the air; chowries and fans cooled the commanders, and
goddess Parvati and Pasupati (Siva) went to the battlefield. (Siva without Sakti
[goddess Parvati, the Sakti or power of Siva] is unthinkable.)
Siva, on the way to the battlefield, suddenly disappeared into thin air. There
was a sudden silence; the music stopped, and the attendants and field commanders
wondered what happened to their Lord, the Commander-in-Chief.
Meanwhile, Brahma and Vishnu were wondering whether the missiles, Mahesvara and
Pasupata, launched by them reached their target. As the missiles were cruising
in the sky, they left in their trail a tail of fiery flame which burned the
three worlds. Upon seeing what looked like the end of the world by fire, the
incorporeal (bodiless) form of Siva assumed the terrifying form of a colossal
tower of fire with no ends at sight.
Brahma and Vishnu, seeing the column of
fire, exchanged glances and words, wondering what it was. They never saw a fire
of this magnitude and shape. According to Linga Purana (Chapter 17), a pillar of
flame with a thousand tongues appeared in front of them. It had no beginning, no
end, no middle, and no distinct parts. It was beyond comprehension and
explanation. The Eternal First letter A appeared on the right side of the column
of fire, the letter U on the left side, the letter M in the middle, and the
sound of AUM came from the end. In a flash, the configuration changed. Vishnu
saw the First Syllable A in the south, which appeared as a brilliant disk of the
sun. The letter U appeared in the north and had the fiery brilliance of the
fire. The letter M appeared in the middle and looked as bright as the full moon.
Towering all these elements, Lord Siva appeared as a pure crystal, which was the
fourth dimension, which had no interior or exterior, and no duality of
opposites. It was void and Bliss. It was the Source itself. Lord Vishnu, the
Mayin of mayins, was himself deluded by the Maya of Siva. They agreed that they
had to find the ends of this fiery column. There was no benefit if both went
together in search of the bottom and the top. So saying Vishnu took the form of
a Boar (he looked like a moving glob of black collyrium—Linga Purana) and went
in search of the bottom end of the column of Fire. The Black Boar measured a
hundred Yojanas in length and ten Yojanas in girth (1 Yojana = 8 miles). It was
as big as Mount Meru. It had glistening curved white teeth. It had the splendor
exceeding that of the sun and a grunt louder than a thousand thunderclaps. Its
body on closer inspection was multicolored, and its legs were short. Brahma
assumed the form of a swan and flew at the speed of wind, mind, and thought to
find the top of the column. Vishnu dug and burrowed his way through the
netherworlds and utterly exhausted, not seeing the bottom, came back to the
battlefield in dejection. Brahma, flying higher and higher hoping to reach the
top, saw a flower falling from above him. This flower dropped from the head of
Siva as Siva was laughing at the childish fight between Brahma and Vishnu.
Brahma, noticing the flower, asked it who was wearing it and why it was falling.
The talking flower replied that he was falling from the middle of the fiery
column for eons, that it never saw the top of it, and that it would be
impossible for Brahma to reach the top. Brahma hit upon the idea of recruiting a
false witness in the talking flower who would back his claim that he (Brahma)
reached the top of the column. He bowed again and again to the Ketaki flower and
persuaded the flower to conspire with him. On reaching the battleground and
seeing Vishnu thoroughly depressed and unhappy, Brahma jumped for joy. Siva
Purana mentions that Vishnu admitted to Brahma his failure to find the bottom of
the fiery column was worse than a eunuch’s inability to mount a conjugal
response (7.26). Brahma addressed Lord Hari (Vishnu), saying that he found the
top and the Ketaki flower was his witness. The flower supported what Brahma said
and spoke in words confirming what Brahma said to Vishnu. Vishnu paid homage to
Brahma and worshipped him ritually in sixteen ways. Siva, the True Witness of
the Universe and the Repository of intel (intelligence), came out of the fiery
column to punish Brahma for his false claim and a false witness. Vishnu, on
seeing Lord Siva, immediately stood up in respect, paid homage, fell prostrate
at his feet, and held them. He spoke to Siva, saying that out of foolishness,
ignorance, delusion, and false pride, he undertook the journey to find the ends
of his body of the fiery column, which was unfathomable. He wanted a full pardon
and forgiveness and wondered aloud whether this was a divine sport of Lord Siva
to test and teach him a lesson.
Lord Siva told Vishnu that he admired his honesty and adherence to the truth,
though, in a moment of temporary delusion, he wanted to be the Lord of the
Universe. He further stated that from then on, he would be equal to him in every
way and that he would appropriately receive from his devotees. Vishnu was glad
to hear from Siva that he would have his separate temples of worship, idols,
images, devotees, festivals, rituals, and rites. Devas witnessed all these
happenings in the Hall of Siva.
Mahadeva (Siva) created from his glabella (forehead between the eyebrows) a
person by name Bhairava for the specific purpose of teaching a lesson to Brahma
and to redress his misplaced pride, untruth, and false testimony. Bhairava knelt
before Lord Siva, waiting for orders. Shiva ordered Bhairava (Lord Fear himself)
to cut the lying head off from Brahma’s five head cluster with a sword. Bhairava
caught hold of the tuft of the lying head of Brahma, the fifth head that
pronounced the falsity and menacingly shook the sword. His body shook like a
plantain tree caught in a storm, his jewels fell here and there, his clothes
became loose and slid down, the garland was hanging around his neck askew, the
once-glorious tuft was mussed up, and the head fell at the feet of Bhairava.
Acyuta (Vishnu) standing by Lord Siva saw all that happened, was shocked,
saddened and overtaken by compassion, shed rivers of tears on the compassionate
feet of the Lord, begged him to spare Brahma’s life, held his palms together as
a mark of reverence and prattled like a baby. Vishnu continued to speak to Siva,
saying that He (Siva) was the one who gave Brahma the five heads, that He was
the one who cut off his fifth head and that He should spare his life. Siva
turned towards the four-headed Brahma and told that henceforth, he would receive
no honors any more and that no temple would exist for him. He turned to the
talking and yet wilted Ketaka flower, guilty of perjury, and told that
henceforth, the Ketaka flower would not be used or worn by Him (remember that it
fell off his head before) and the Devas in worship. But out of consideration and
compassion, Siva told that Ketaka flowers are for decorative purposes only. That
was the fall of the Ketaka flower from Grace.
Brahma, Vishnu and the Devas praised the Lord who, having been pleased, declared
that henceforth, that day would be celebrated as “Sivaratri, the night of Siva.”
Anyone who worships the Lord in the form of Linga on that day would benefit from
merits equal to one year of worship. Linga confers joy, salvation, and complete
liberation from samsara. Since the fiery Linga rose like a mountain of fire, the
Linga would become famous as Red (Aruna, meaning red) mountain. In Tamil Nadu,
the Arunachala mountain of Tiruvannamalai represents the fiery Linga.
Worshipping the Linga form confers five kinds of salvation: Salokya, Samipya,
Sarupya, Sarsti, and Sayujya.
The dead soldiers and attendants of Lord Brahma and Vishnu came back to life
from the Grace of Siva. He told them that he has two forms: the Manifest and the
Unmanifest. Siva is formless and Unmanifest Brahman; Linga is his manifest form.
Brahman is Brahmatva, and Linga is the embodied Isatva. The symbolic fiery
column is his Brahmatva. Siva performs fivefold duty: creation, maintenance,
destruction, veiling and Grace. Sarga is creation, Sthiti is preservation,
Samhara is destruction, Tirobhava is veiling, and Anugraha is liberation. The
Lord’s activities are in evidence in the five elements: Creation in the earth,
maintenance in water, destruction in the fire, veiling in the wind, and Grace in
ether.
The five faces of Siva preside over these five activities. Brahma and Vishnu
receive the portfolio of creation and maintenance, respectively, Rudra is in
charge of destruction, and Mahesa (Mahesvara) in charge of veiling. But Grace,
the fifth function, is the exclusive right, privilege, and portfolio of
Sadasiva. Siva tells that Brahma and Vishnu forgot their assignments and
regarded themselves as Mahesa, the giver of Grace, which is impossible. This
lack of knowledge was because of the failure to worship Lord Siva by Brahma and
Vishnu. He urged them to resume worship of him. He taught them the Omkara
mantra. 'A' comes from the north face, 'U 'comes from the west face, 'M' comes
from the south face, and the Bindu comes from the east face. Nada, the mystical
sound, comes from the middle face, the one pointing to the sky. Mantra Om,
pervading Name, and form is Siva and Sakti. Om is also the origin of Namasivaya,
the five-syllabled Mantra. Siva, in the presence of Ambika, his consort, placed
his hands on the heads of Brahma and Vishnu and taught them the Mantra, when
they were facing north. Mantra, Yantra, and Tantra accompanied worship performed
by Brahma and Vishnu, who repeated the Mantra three times. Mantra is a magical
formula based on a sound, a syllable, a word, a phrase or a verse which, when
chanted in silence, solo, or chorus, creates wholesome vibrations and energy.
Yantra is a mystical diagram made of alphabets, syllables, and line drawings
etched on metals and stones, whose purpose is to invoke God for progeny, health,
wealth, etc. The computer circuit board is a comparable analogy for Yantra.
Tantra is the sacred text comprised of descriptive, instructive, and
prescriptive scriptures about religion, science, practices (Pranayama, breathing
exercises), and mystical knowledge. Yantra is the hardware, Mantra is the coded
computer language, and Tantra is the software application.
Brahma and Vishnu held their hands against their chest with opposing palms as a
mark of reverence and paid their fees by dedication to the cause. They sang his
glory. Siva's qualities are the following: formlessness full of luster; the Soul
of all souls, including theirs; the origin of Pranava, Om; and the Creator, the
Preserver, and the destroyer. Siva proceeded to instruct Brahma and Vishnu on
Pranava and five-lettered Mantra, Na-Ma-Si-Va-Ya, and later vanished into thin
air.
Yantra
Notes from Exodus.
When God's servant Moses led his people out of Egypt, they were directed by a
pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. It is interesting to note
the pillar of fire is another manifestation of fiery Lingam. Cloud and fire are
the God's guiding elements. It appears that all the elements that Hindus
consider as Brahman or God came to the rescue of Moses and his people. Clouds
and fire served as guide; the waters parted as the wind blew and held the sea
back as two walls to their left and right. When the wet mud clogged the chariots
of the pursuing Egyptians, the Lord in the pillar of fire and cloud looked down
upon and discomfited the host of Egyptians.