मित्र : गोस्वामी तुलसीदास

मित्र

जे न मित्र दुख होहिं दुखारी। तिन्हहि बिलोकत पातकभारी

निज दुख गिरि सम रज करि जाना। मित्रक दुख रज मेरु समाना

जो लोग मित्र के दुःख से दुःखी नहीं होते, उन्हें देखने से ही बड़ा पाप लगता है। अपने पर्वत के समान दुःख को धूल के समान और मित्र के धूल के समान दुःख को सुमेरु (बड़े भारी पर्वत) के समान जाने॥1॥

जिन्ह कें असि मति सहज न आई। ते सठ कत हठि करत मिताई॥

कुपथ निवारि सुपंथ चलावा। गुन प्रगटै अवगुनन्हि दुरावा॥

जिन्हें स्वभाव से ही ऐसी बुद्धि प्राप्त नहीं है, वे मूर्ख हठ करके क्यों किसी से मित्रता करते हैं? मित्र का धर्म है कि वह मित्र को बुरे मार्ग से रोककर अच्छे मार्ग पर चलावे। उसके गुण प्रकट करे और अवगुणों को छिपावे॥2॥

देत लेत मन संक न धरई। बल अनुमान सदा हित करई॥

बिपति काल कर सतगुन नेहा। श्रुति कह संत मित्र गुन एहा॥3॥

देने-लेने में मन में शंका न रखे। अपने बल के अनुसार सदा हित ही करता रहे। विपत्ति के समय तो सदा सौगुना स्नेह करे। वेद कहते हैं कि संत (श्रेष्ठ) मित्र के गुण (लक्षण) ये हैं॥3॥

आगें कह मृदु बचन बनाई। पाछें अनहित मन कुटिलाई॥

जाकर ‍िचत अहि गति सम भाई। अस कुमित्र परिहरेहिं भलाई॥4॥

जो सामने तो बना-बनाकर कोमल वचन कहता है और पीठ-पीछे बुराई करता है तथा मन में कुटिलता रखता है- हे भाई! (इस तरह) जिसका मन साँप की चाल के समान टेढ़ा है, ऐसे कुमित्र को तो त्यागने में ही भलाई है॥4॥

सेवक सठ नृप कृपन कुनारी। कपटी मित्र सूल सम चारी॥

सखा सोच त्यागहु बल मोरें। सब बिधि घटब काज मैं तोरें॥

मूर्ख सेवक, कंजूस राजा, कुलटा स्त्री और कपटी मित्र- ये चारों शूल के समान पीड़ा देने वाले हैं। हे सखा! मेरे बल पर अब तुम चिंता छोड़ दो। मैं सब प्रकार से तुम्हारे काम आऊँगा (तुम्हारी सहायता करूँगा)॥5॥

gazal

करे दरिया न पुल मिस्मार मेरे
अभी कुछ लोग हैं उस पार मेरे

बहुत दिन गुज़रे अब देख आऊँ घर को
कहेंगे क्या दर-ओ-दीवार मेरे

वहीं सूरज की नज़रें थीं ज़ियादा
जहाँ थे पेड़ सायादार मेरे

वही ये शहर है तो शहर वालो
कहाँ है कूचा-ओ-बाज़ार मेरे

तुम अपना हाल-ए-महजूरी सुनाओ
मुझे तो खा गये आज़ार मेरे

जिन्हें समझा था जानपरवर मैं अब तक
वो सब निकले कफ़न बरदार मेरे

गुज़रते जा रहे हैं दिन हवा से
रहें ज़िन्दा सलमात यार मेरे

दबा जिस से उसी पत्थर में ढल कर
बिके चेहरे सर-ए-बाज़ार मेरे

दरीचा क्या खुला मेरी ग़ज़ल का
हवायें ले उड़ी अशार मेरे

-महशर बदायुनी

इंप्लाइ अपने बॉस के कारण छोड़ते हैं नौकरी

इंप्लाइ अपने बॉस के कारण छोड़ते हैं नौकरी

कर्मचारियों के जॉब छोड़ने की कई वजहें होती है. कुछ अपने साथी कर्मचारियों से परेशान हो कर नौकरी छोड़ते हैं, तो कुछ नयी जॉब में बेहतर सैलरी की वजह से. लेकिन एसोचैम के एक सव्रे में यह बात सामने आयी है कि कई कर्मचारी अपने बॉस के कारण ही अपनी नौकरी से इस्तीफा देते हैं. ऑफिस अच्छा और ग्रो करने के बावजूद लोग अपने ऑफिस से रिजाइन दे देते हैं, क्योंकि उनके बॉस अच्छे नहीं होते हैं.
कुछ इंप्लाइ अपने बॉस से इतने तंग आ जाते हैं कि नौकरी छोड़ने के साथ-साथ वे अपना कैरियर भी बदल लेते हैं. बॉस के बुरे व्यवहार की वजह से उन्हें उस फील्ड से ही नफरत हो जाती है. वे दूसरी फील्ड में अपना कैरियर बनाने की कोशिश करते हैं. 70 प्रतिशत कॉरेस्पॉन्डेंट कहते हैं कि जितने इंप्लाइ नौकरी छोड़ते हैं, उनसे बात करने के बाद पता चलता है कि वे अपने बॉस के अजीब बर्ताव और एटीट्यूट से परेशान रहते थे.
सव्रे में लगभग 2500 एक्जीक्यूटिव्स ने हिस्सा लिया था. लगभग सभी का कहना था कि किसी भी ऑफिस में काम करने के लिए अच्छी सैलरी से ज्यादा अच्छा है कि काम करने के लिए बेहतर माहौल हो. उनका यह भी कहना था कि बॉस के खराब बर्ताव का असर इंप्लाइ की सेहत पर भी पड़ता है. लगभग 62 प्रतिशत लोगों का कहना है कि उनके बॉस तो खराब बोली का भी इस्तेमाल करते हैं, जो कि एक फॉर्मल और कॉरपोरेट ऑफिसों में हरगीज नहीं होना चाहिए.
कई एक्जीक्यूटिव्स का कहना था कि उन्होंने अपने ऑफिस के मैनेजमेंट, सुपरवाइजिंग और माहौल की वजह से ऑफिस छोड़ा. वहीं 50 प्रतिशत लोगों का मानना है कि खराब बॉस के अंडर में काम करने से इंप्लाइ का आत्मविश्वास कम हो जाता है और प्रोडक्टिविटी पर भी काफी असर पड़ता है. जो इंप्लाइ खराब बॉस के अंडर काम करते हैं, वे काम में अपना 100 प्रतिशत नहीं दे पाते हैं और अपने बॉस से भी संतुष्ट नहीं होते हैं. ज्यादातर इंप्लाइ का कहना था कि एक बॉस को इनोवेटिव, क्रि एटिव, एक अच्छा मोटिवेटर और लीडर होना चाहिए, जो इंप्लाइ कीप्रोडक्टिव क्वालिटी को बढ़ा सके.
Source: Prabhat Khabar

Prolonged sitting may shorten our lives, say experts

Health Notes
Prolonged sitting may shorten our lives, say experts

New York: Emerging studies have found that prolonged sitting increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, slows metabolism and even shortens our lives. A University of Sydney study has found that adults who sat 11 or more hours a day had a 40 per cent increased risk of dying in the next three years compared with those who sat for fewer than four hours a day, the New York Daily News reported. “That morning walk or trip to the gym is still necessary, but it’s also important to avoid prolonged sitting,” the paper quoted study author Dr Hidde van der Ploeg of the University of Sydney’s School of Public Health as saying in a statement. According to him, their results suggest the time people spend sitting at home, work and in traffic should be reduced by standing or walking more. For adults, van der Ploeg suggests a moderate intensity activity such as walking for at least 30 minutes in the morning. A similar report was earlier published in The British Journal of Sports Medicine, which highlighted a link between prolonged sitting and health. — ANI

यज्ञोपवीत (जनेऊ) संस्कार - द्विज बालक

यज्ञोपवीत (जनेऊ) एक संस्कार है. इसके बाद ही द्विज बालक को यज्ञ तथा स्वाध्याय करने का अधिकार प्राप्त होता है. यज्ञोपवीत धारण करने के मूल में एक वैज्ञानिक पृष्ठभूमि भी है. शरीर के पृष्ठभाग में पीठ पर जाने वाली एक प्राकृतिक रेखा है जो विद्युत प्रवाह की तरह कार्य करती है. यह रेखा दाएं कंधे से लेकर कटि प्रदेश तक स्थित होती है. यह नैसर्गिक रेखा अति सूक्ष्म नस है. इसका स्वरूप लाजवंती वनस्पति की तरह होता है. यदि यह नस संकोचित अवस्था में हो तो मनुष्य काम-क्रोधादि विकारों की सीमा नहीं लांघ पाता.
अपने कंधे पर यज्ञोपवीत है इसका मात्र एहसास होने से ही मनुष्य भ्रष्टाचार से परावृत्त होने लगता है। यदि उसकी प्राकृतिक नस का संकोच होने के कारण उसमें निहित विकार कम हो जाए तो कोई आश्यर्च नहीं है. इसीलिए सभी धर्मों में किसी न किसी कारणवश यज्ञोपवीत धारण किया जाता है. सारनाथ की अति प्राचीन बुद्ध प्रतिमा का सूक्ष्म निरीक्षण करने से उसकी छाती पर यज्ञोपवीत की सूक्ष्म रेखा दिखाई देती है. यज्ञोपवीत केवल धर्माज्ञा ही नहीं बल्कि आरोग्य का पोषक भी है, अतएव एसका सदैव धारण करना चाहिए. शास्त्रों में दाएं कान में माहात्म्य का वर्णन भी किया गया है. आदित्य, वसु, रूद्र, वायु, अग्नि, धर्म, वेद, आप, सोम एवं सूर्य आदि देवताओं का निवास दाएं कान में होने के कारण उसे दाएं हाथ से सिर्फ स्पर्श करने पर भी आचमन का फल प्राप्त होता है. यदि इसे पवित्र दाएं कान पर यज्ञोपवीत रखा जाए तो अशुचित्व नहीं रहता.
यथा-निवीनी दक्षिण कर्णे यज्ञोपवीतं कृत्वा मूत्रपुरीषे विसृजेत.
अर्थात अशौच एवं मूत्र विसर्जन के समय दाएं कान पर जनेऊ रखना आवश्यक है. अपनी अशुचि अवस्था को सूचित करने के लिए भी यह कृत्य उपयुक्त सिद्ध होता है. हाथ पैर धोकर और कुल्ला करके जनेऊ कान पर से उतारें.
इस नियम के मूल में शास्त्रीय कारण यह है कि शरीर के नाभि प्रदेश से ऊपरी भाग धार्मिक क्रिया के लिए पवित्र और उसके नीचे का हिस्सा अपवित्र माना गया है. दाएं कान को इतना महत्व देने का वैज्ञानिक कारण यह है कि इस कान की नस, गुप्तेंद्रिय और अंडकोष का आपस में अभिन्न संबंध है. मूत्रोत्सर्ग के समय सूक्ष्म वीर्य स्त्राव होने की संभावना रहती है. दाएं कान को ब्रह्मसूत्र में लपेटने पर शुक्र नाश से बचाव होता है. यह बात आयुर्वेद की दृष्टि से भी सिद्ध हुई है. यदि बार-बार स्वप्नदोष होता हो तो  दाएं कान ब्रह्मसूत्र से बांधकर सोने से रोग दूर हो जाता है. बिस्तर में पेशाब करने वाले लड़कों को दाएं कान में धागा बांधने से यह प्रवृत्ति रूक जाती है.
किसी भी उच्छृंखल जानवर का दायां कान पकडऩे से वह उसी क्षण नरम हो जाता है. अंडवृद्धि के सात कारण हैं.
मूत्रज अंडवृद्धि उनमें से एक है. दायां कान सूत्रवेष्टित होने पर मूत्रज अंडवृद्धि का प्रतिकार होता है. इन सभी कारणों से मूत्र तथा पुरीषोत्सर्ग करते समय दाएं कान पर जनेऊ रखने की शास्त्रीय आज्ञा है.

फिराक गोरखपुरी की ग़ज़ल

रुकी रुकी सी शब-ए-मर्ग ख़त्म पर आई
वोह पौ फटी, वोह नयी ज़िंदगी नज़र आई


ये मोड़ वोह है कि परछाईयाँ भी देंगी न साथ
मुसाफिरों से कहो, उसकी रहगुज़र आई


फिज़ा तबस्सुम-ए-सुबह-ए-बहार थी, लेकिन
पोहंच के मंजिल-ए-जानाँ पे आँख भर आई


कहाँ हर एक से इंसानियत का बार उठा
कि ये बला भी तेरे आशिकों के सर आई


ज़रा विसाल के बाद आईना तो देख ऐ दोस्त
तेरे जमाल की दोशीज़गी निखर आई


फ़िराक गोरखपुरी

अक्षय तृतीया

अक्षय तृतीया का महत्त्व :-
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अक्षय तृतीया का सर्वसिद्ध मुहूर्त के रूप में भी विशेष महत्व है। मान्यता है कि इस दिन बिना कोई पंचांग देखे कोई भी शुभ व मांगलिक कार्य जैसे विवाह, गृह-प्रवेश, वस्त्र-आभूषणों की खरीददारी या घर, भूखंड, वाहन आदि की खरीददारी से संबंधित कार्य किए जा सकते हैं। नवीन वस्त्र, आभूषण आदि धारण करने और नई संस्था, समाज आदि की स्थापना या उदघाटन का कार्य श्रेष्ठ माना जाता है। पुराणों में लिखा है कि इस दिन [पितृ पक्ष|[पितरों]] को किया गया तर्पण तथा पिन्डदान अथवा किसी और प्रकार का दान, अक्षय फल प्रदान करता है। इस दिन गंगा स्नान करने से तथा भगवत पूजन से समस्त पाप नष्ट हो जाते हैं। यहाँ तक कि इस दिन किया गया जप, तप, हवन, स्वाध्याय और दान भी अक्षय हो जाता है। यह तिथि यदि सोमवार तथा रोहिणी नक्षत्र के दिन आए तो इस दिन किए गए दान, जप-तप का फल बहुत अधिक बढ़ जाता हैं। इसके अतिरिक्त यदि यह तृतीया मध्याह्न से पहले शुरू होकर प्रदोष काल तक रहे तो बहुत ही श्रेष्ठ मानी जाती है। यह भी माना जाता है कि आज के दिन मनुष्य अपने या स्वजनों द्वारा किए गए जाने-अनजाने अपराधों की सच्चे मन से ईश्वर से क्षमा प्रार्थना करे तो भगवान उसके अपराधों को क्षमा कर देते हैं और उसे सदगुण प्रदान करते हैं, अतः आज के दिन अपने दुर्गुणों को भगवान के चरणों में सदा के लिए अर्पित कर उनसे सदगुणों का वरदान माँगने की परंपरा भी है।

धार्मिक परंपराएँ
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अक्षय तृतीया के दिन ब्रह्म मुहूर्त में उठकर समुद्र या गंगा स्नान करने के बाद भगवान विष्णु की शांत चित्त होकर विधि विधान से पूजा करने का प्रावधान है।
नैवेद्य में जौ या गेहूँ का सत्तू, ककड़ी और चने की दाल अर्पित किया जाता है। तत्पश्चात फल, फूल, बरतन, तथा वस्त्र आदि दान करके ब्राह्मणों को दक्षिणा दी जाती है।
ब्राह्मण को भोजन करवाना कल्याणकारी समझा जाता है। मान्यता है कि इस दिन सत्तू अवश्य खाना चाहिए तथा नए वस्त्र और आभूषण पहनने चाहिए। गौ, भूमि, स्वर्ण पात्र इत्यादि का दान भी इस दिन किया जाता है। यह तिथि वसंत ऋतु के अंत और ग्रीष्म ऋतु का प्रारंभ का दिन भी है इसलिए अक्षय तृतीया के दिन जल से भरे घडे, कुल्हड, सकोरे, पंखे, खडाऊँ, छाता, चावल, नमक, घी, खरबूजा, ककड़ी, चीनी, साग, इमली, सत्तू आदि गरमी में लाभकारी वस्तुओं का दान पुण्यकारी माना गया है।
इस दान के पीछे यह लोक विश्वास है कि इस दिन जिन-जिन वस्तुओं का दान किया जाएगा, वे समस्त वस्तुएँ स्वर्ग या अगले जन्म में प्राप्त होगी। इस दिन लक्ष्मी नारायण की पूजा सफेद कमल अथवा सफेद गुलाब या पीले गुलाब से करना चाहिये।

“ सर्वत्र शुक्ल पुष्पाणि प्रशस्तानि सदार्चने।
दानकाले च सर्वत्र मंत्र मेत मुदीरयेत् ।।
अर्थात सभी महीनों की तृतीया में सफेद पुष्प से किया गया पूजन प्रशंसनीय माना गया है।
ऐसी भी मान्यता है कि अक्षय तृतीया पर अपने अच्छे आचरण और सद्गुणों से दूसरों का आशीर्वाद लेना अक्षय रहता है। भगवान विष्णु और माता लक्ष्मी की पूजा विशेष फलदायी मानी गई है। इस दिन किया गया आचरण और सत्कर्म अक्षय रहता है।

संस्कृति में
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इस दिन से शादी-ब्याह करने की शुरुआत हो जाती है। बड़े-बुजुर्ग अपने पुत्र-पुत्रियों के लगन का मांगलिक कार्य आरंभ कर देते हैं। अनेक स्थानों पर छोटे बच्चे भी पूरी रीति-रिवाज के साथ अपने गुड्‌डा-गुड़िया का विवाह रचाते हैं। इस प्रकार गाँवों में बच्चे सामाजिक कार्य व्यवहारों को स्वयं सीखते व आत्मसात करते हैं। कई जगह तो परिवार के साथ-साथ पूरा का पूरा गाँव भी बच्चों के द्वारा रचे गए वैवाहिक कार्यक्रमों में सम्मिलित हो जाता है। इसलिए कहा जा सकता है कि अक्षय तृतीया सामाजिक व सांस्कृतिक शिक्षा का अनूठा त्यौहार है। कृषक समुदाय में इस दिन एकत्रित होकर आने वाले वर्ष के आगमन, कृषि पैदावार आदि के शगुन देखते हैं। ऐसा विश्वास है कि इस दिन जो सगुन कृषकों को मिलते हैं, वे शत-प्रतिशत सत्य होते हैं। राजपूत समुदाय में आने वाला वर्ष सुखमय हो, इसलिए इस दिन शिकार पर जाने की परंपरा है।

प्रचलित कथाएँ
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अक्षय तृतीया की अनेक व्रत कथाएँ प्रचलित हैं। ऐसी ही एक कथा के अनुसार प्राचीन काल में एक धर्मदास नामक वैश्य था। उसकी सदाचार, देव और ब्राह्मणों के प्रति काफी श्रद्धा थी। इस व्रत के महात्म्य को सुनने के पश्चात उसने इस पर्व के आने पर गंगा में स्नान करके विधिपूर्वक देवी-देवताओं की पूजा की, व्रत के दिन स्वर्ण, वस्त्र तथा दिव्य वस्तुएँ ब्राह्मणों को दान में दी। अनेक रोगों से ग्रस्त तथा वृद्ध होने के बावजूद भी उसने उपवास करके धर्म-कर्म और दान पुण्य किया। यही वैश्य दूसरे जन्म में कुशावती का राजा बना। कहते हैं कि अक्षय तृतीया के दिन किए गए दान व पूजन के कारण वह बहुत धनी प्रतापी बना। वह इतना धनी और प्रतापी राजा था कि त्रिदेव तक उसके दरबार में अक्षय तृतीया के दिन ब्राह्मण का वेष धारण करके उसके महायज्ञ में शामिल होते थे। अपनी श्रद्धा और भक्ति का उसे कभी घमंड नहीं हुआ और महान वैभवशाली होने के बावजूद भी वह धर्म मार्ग से विचलित नहीं हुआ। माना जाता है कि यही राजा आगे चलकर राजा चंद्रगुप्त के रूप में पैदा हुआ।
स्कंद पुराण और भविष्य पुराण में उल्लेख है कि वैशाख शुक्ल पक्ष की तृतीया को रेणुका के गर्भ से भगवान विष्णु ने परशुराम रूप में जन्म लिया। कोंकण और चिप्लून के परशुराम मंदिरों में इस तिथि को परशुराम जयंती बड़ी धूमधाम से मनाई जाती है। दक्षिण भारत में परशुराम जयंती को विशेष महत्व दिया जाता है। परशुराम जयंती होने के कारण इस तिथि में भगवान परशुराम के आविर्भाव की कथा भी सुनी जाती है। इस दिन परशुराम जी की पूजा करके उन्हें अर्घ्य देने का बड़ा माहात्म्य माना गया है। सौभाग्यवती स्त्रियाँ और क्वारी कन्याएँ इस दिन गौरी-पूजा करके मिठाई, फल और भीगे हुए चने बाँटती हैं, गौरी-पार्वती की पूजा करके धातु या मिट्टी के कलश में जल, फल, फूल, तिल, अन्न आदि लेकर दान करती हैं। मान्यता है कि इसी दिन जन्म से ब्राह्मण और कर्म से क्षत्रिय भृगुवंशी परशुराम का जन्म हुआ था। एक कथा के अनुसार परशुराम की माता और विश्वामित्र की माता के पूजन के बाद प्रसाद देते समय ऋषि ने प्रसाद बदल कर दे दिया था। जिसके प्रभाव से परशुराम ब्राह्मण होते हुए भी क्षत्रिय स्वभाव के थे और क्षत्रिय पुत्र होने के बाद भी विश्वामित्र ब्रह्मर्षि कहलाए। उल्लेख है कि सीता स्वयंवर के समय परशुराम जी अपना धनुष बाण श्री राम को समर्पित कर सन्यासी का जीवन बिताने अन्यत्र चले गए। अपने साथ एक फरसा रखते थे तभी उनका नाम परशुराम पड़ा।

जैन धर्म में अक्षय-तृतीया
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जैन धर्मावलम्बियों का महान धार्मिक पर्व है। इस दिन जैन धर्म के प्रथम तीर्थंकर श्री आदिनाथ भगवान ने एक वर्ष की पूर्ण तपस्या करने के पश्चात इक्षु (शोरडी-गन्ने) रस से पारायण किया था। जैन धर्म के प्रथम तीर्थकर श्री आदिनाथ भगवान ने सत्य व अहिंसा का प्रचार करने एवं अपने कर्म बंधनों को तोड़ने के लिए संसार के भौतिक एवं पारिवारिक सुखों का त्याग कर जैन वैराग्य अंगीकार कर लिया। सत्य और अहिंसा के प्रचार करते-करते आदिनाथ प्रभु हस्तिनापुर गजपुर पधारे जहाँ इनके पौत्र सोमयश का शासन था। प्रभु का आगमन सुनकर सम्पूर्ण नगर दर्शनार्थ उमड़ पड़ा सोमप्रभु के पुत्र राजकुमार श्रेयांस कुमार ने प्रभु को देखकर उसने आदिनाथ को पहचान लिया और तत्काल शुद्ध आहार के रूप में प्रभु को गन्ने का रस दिया, जिससे आदिनाथ ने व्रत का पारायण किया। जैन धर्मावलंबियों का मानना है कि गन्ने के रस को इक्षुरस भी कहते हैं इस कारण यह दिन इक्षु तृतीया एवं अक्षय तृतीया के नाम से विख्यात हो गया।
भगवान श्री आदिनाथ ने लगभग ४०० दिवस की तपस्या के पश्चात पारायण किया था। यह लंबी तपस्या एक वर्ष से अधिक समय की थी अत: जैन धर्म में इसे वर्षीतप से संबोधित किया जाता है। आज भी जैन धर्मावलंबी वर्षीतप की आराधना कर अपने को धन्य समझते हैं, यह तपस्या प्रति वर्ष कार्तिक के कृष्ण पक्ष की अष्टमी से आरम्भ होती है और दूसरे वर्ष वैशाख के शुक्लपक्ष की अक्षय तृतीया के दिन पारायण कर पूर्ण की जाती है। तपस्या आरंभ करने से पूर्व इस बात का पूर्ण ध्यान रखा जाता है कि प्रति मास की चौदस को उपवास करना आवश्यक होता है। इस प्रकार का वर्षीतप करीबन १३ मास और दस दिन का हो जाता है। उपवास में केवल गर्म पानी का सेवन किया जाता है। वर्षीतप जब पूर्ण हो जाता है तब भारत विख्यात जैन तीर्थ श्री शत्रुंजय पर जाकर अक्षय तृतीय के दिन पारायण किया जाता है। इस दिन विशाल स्तर पर पारायण की व्यवस्था की जाती है। जहाँ पर तपस्या करनेवाले तपस्वियों को उनके संबंधी पारायण कराते हैं। अक्सर तपस्वी बहन को भाई पारायण कराता है। इसे पारणा कहते हैं। चांदी के बने छोटे से आकार के कलश इक्षु के रस के १०८ भरे कलशों से पारायण आरम्भ होता है। धार्मिक गतिविधियों से ओत-प्रोत इस भव्य समारोह में संवेदनाएँ स्वत: ही उमड़ पड़ती हैं। चारों ओर धर्म चर्चा का वातावरण बन जाता है। पुष्पों की बौछार होती है। रंग-बिरंगे परिधान एवं आभूषण तपस्वी को उनके सगे-संबंधी भेंट करते हैं, फूलों के हार पहनाकर तपस्वियों का आदर सत्कार होता है। चारों ओर हर्ष, उमंग का वातावरण बन जाता है। तपस्वियों का विशेष जलूस समारोहपूर्वक निकाला जाता है और सभी तपस्वियों को तपस्या करने वाले परिवार के सदस्य कुछ न कुछ उपहार भेंट करते हैं। इसे प्रभावना कहते हैं। उपहार में चांदी, स्टील, पीतल आदि के बर्तनों के अतिरिक्त धार्मिक सामग्री भी भेंट दी जाती है। इस प्रकार की तपस्या में हज़ारों नर-नारी भाग लेते हैं। जिसमें वृद्ध, युवा एवं बाल अवस्था के लोग भी सम्मिलित होते हैं। श्री शत्रुंज्य जैसे महान तीर्थ पर अक्षय तृतीय के दिन विशाल पैमाने पर मेला लगता है जिसमें देश के विभिन्न भागों से हज़ारों लोग आते हैं। कई तपस्वी ऐसे होते हैं जो इस तीर्थ पर वर्ष भर रहकर वर्षीतप की आराधना करते हैं। यहाँ तपस्या करने वाले श्री शत्रुंज्य पर्वत की ९९ बार यात्रा करने का लाभ भी उठाते हैं।
भारत वर्ष में इस प्रकार की वर्षी तपश्चर्या करने वालों की संख्या हज़ारों तक पहुँच जाती है। यह तपस्या धार्मिक दृष्टिकोण से अन्यक्त ही महत्वपूर्ण है, वहीं आरोग्य जीवन बिताने के लिए भी उपयोगी है। संयम जीवनयापन करने के लिए इस प्रकार की धार्मिक क्रिया करने से मन को शान्त, विचारों में शुद्धता, धार्मिक प्रवृत्रियों में रुचि और कर्मों को काटने में सहयोग मिलता है। इसी कारण इस अक्षय तृतीया का जैन धर्म में विशेष धार्मिक महत्व समझा जाता है। मन, वचन एवं श्रद्धा से वर्षीतप करने वाले को महान समझा जाता है।
विभिन्न प्रांतों में अक्षय तृतीया

बुंदेलखंड में अक्षय तृतीया से प्रारंभ होकर पूर्णिमा तक बडी धूमधाम से उत्सव मनाया जाता है, जिसमें कुँवारी कन्याएँ अपने भाई, पिता तथा गाँव-घर और कुटुंब के लोगों को शगुन बाँटती हैं और गीत गाती हैं। अक्षय तृतीया को राजस्थान में वर्षा के लिए शगुन निकाला जाता है, वर्षा की कामना की जाती है, लड़कियाँ झुंड बनाकर घर-घर जाकर शगुन गीत गाती हैं और लड़के पतंग उड़ाते हैं। यहाँ इस दिन सात तरह के अन्नों से पूजा की जाती है। मालवा में नए घड़े के ऊपर ख़रबूज़ा और आम के पल्लव रख कर पूजा होती है। ऐसा माना जाता है कि इस दिन कृषि कार्य का आरंभ किसानों को समृद्धि देता है।

TULASI - STORY

TULASI - STORY

Chapter One



THE APPEARANCE OF TULASI DEVI


Narada Muni asked Lord Narayana, "O Bhagavan! How did the pure, chaste Tulasi Devi become Your wife? Where was she born? Who was she in her previous birth? What family did she come from? And what austerities did she perform to get You as her husband--You, who are above the material energy, not subject to change, the Cosmic Self, the Supreme God, the Lord of all, omniscient, the cause of all, omnipresent, container and preserver of all. And how did Tulasi Devi, Your chief goddess, become a tree? O You who resolve all doubts, my mind is curious to know all about these points; therefore, it compels me to ask you these questions. Kindly remove these doubts from my mind."

Lord Narayana then related the following account...

Manu Daksa Savarni was a partial expansion of Lord Visnu. He was extremely virtuous, devoted to the Lord, and very famous for his good deeds. Daksa Savarni's son, Dharma Savarni, was also extremely virtuous. Dharma Savarni's pious son was called Visnu Savarni, and his son, who was a great Vaisnava, was known as Raja Savarni.

However, Raja Savarni's son, Vrisadhvaja, was fanatically devoted to Lord Siva. Lord Siva lived in Vrisadhvaja's house for three celestial yugas (ages) and loved him more than his own sons. Vrisadhvaja did not revere Lord Narayana, Goddess Laksmi or any of the demigods. He abolished the worship of Laksmi in the month of Bhadra (Aug., Sept.) and the worship of Sarasvati in the month of Magha (Jan., Feb.). He did not participate in the sacrifice and worship performed out of respect for Lord Visnu (Narayana) and criticized them rather severely.

The demigods did not curse him because they feared Lord Siva. However, Surya, the sun god, no longer able to restrain his wrath, cursed him: "O King, just as you are completely devoted to Lord Siva and only to Lord Siva, and just as you do not recognize any of the other demigods, I declare that you will now lose your wealth and prosperity!"

When Lord Siva heard this curse, he became angry. Seizing his trident, he ran after Lord Surya. Afraid, the sun god went with his father, Kasyapa Muni, to Brahmaloka, the highest material planet, to take shelter of Lord Brahma. But Lord Siva pursued him there. Lord Brahma, also afraid of Lord Siva, took Lord Surya and Kasyapa Muni to the region of Vaikuntha, the spiritual or eternal world. There, with throats parched due to anxiety, they took refuge of Lord Narayana, the Lord of all. They offered obeisances to Him and praised Him repeatedly and finally explained why they were so apprehensive.

Lord Narayana bestowed His mercy on them and granted them the power to be fearless. He said, "O fearful ones, be consoled. How can you be afraid of anyone while I am here? If anyone remembers Me when he is in danger, wherever he may be, I hurry to him with my Sudarsan disc in my hand and save him. O demigods! I am always the creator, preserver and destroyer of this universe. In the form of Visnu, I am the preserver; in the form of Brahma, the creator; and in the form of Siva, the destroyer. I am Siva, I am you, and I am Surya. I assume numerous forms and preserve the universe. So go back to your respective places. You have nothing to be afraid of. All will be well.

"From this day on, you have nothing to fear from Lord Siva. He is the shelter of the pious, is easily pleased, is the servant and lord of his devotees, and is great minded. Lord Siva and the Sudarsana cakra are dearer to Me than My life. In the world of valor, they excel all. Lord Siva can easily create ten million Suryas and ten million Brahmas. For him, nothing is impossible. He is not conscious of the external world. Meditating on Me, his heart centered, he is absorbed day and night. From his five faces he repeats My mantra with devotion, and he always sings My glories. Day and night, I also always think of his welfare. To whatever degree one worships Me, to that degree I favor one. The nature of Siva is all-auspiciousness."

While Lord Narayana was speaking, Lord Siva arrived. His eyes red, and he was sitting on his bull carrier holding his trident. He dismounted quickly and humbly offered obeisances with devotion to the Lord of Laksmi, the tranquil Supreme Being.

Lord Narayana, Visnu, was sitting on His jewel-studded throne. He was decorated with a crown, earrings, and a garland, and was holding His disc. His form was extremely beautiful, and His complexion like a fresh blue rain cloud. Each of His attendants had four arms and was fanning Him with four hands. His body was anointed with sandal paste and He was wearing a yellow garment. Lord Visnu, who shows kindness to His devotees, was chewing betel nut that had been offered to Him by His wife Laksmi. Smiling, He was watching and listening to the dancing and singing of the Vidyadharis.

After Lord Siva bowed down to Lord Narayana, he bowed to Lord Brahma. Lord Surya and Kasyapa Muni respectfully saluted Lord Siva. Then Lord Siva worshiped Lord Visnu, the Lord of all, and seated himself on a throne. The attendants of Lord Narayana began to fan Lord Siva with white whisks to relieve him of the fatigue of his journey. Lord Siva, because of being in contact with Lord Visnu's virtues, then assumed a cheerful disposition and adored the Eternal Being with his five mouths.

Lord Narayana was highly gratified. With sweet, nectarean words, He said, "O Lord Siva, you are the symbol of all good and welfare. Thus, to ask about your welfare would be foolish. I would ask you only out of respect for the rules of society and the method prescribed in the Vedas. One who yields fruits of devotion and gives all prosperity should not be asked about his austerities or material prosperity. Since you preside over knowledge, it would be useless to ask if you are increasing in knowledge. It would be equally useless to ask a conqueror of death if he is free from all danger. But you have come to my residence for a reason. What is it? Have you become angry over something?"

"O Lord Visnu!," Lord Siva began. "King Vrisadhvaja is my great devotee. Lord Surya has cursed him and that has made me angry. Out of affection for my son, the king, I was about to kill Surya. But Surya sought shelter of Lord Brahma, and now both of them have sought Your protection. Those who are distressed and take shelter of You, either by speaking about You or by remembering You, become completely safe and free from danger. They overcome death and old age. What to speak of those who come personally to You and take shelter. When one remembers You, his dangers disappear. All good comes to him. O Lord of the world! What will become of my foolish devotee who, by the curse of Lord Surya, has lost his fortune and prosperity?"

Lord Visnu replied, "O Lord Siva! A half hour has elapsed here in Vaikuntha. In that time, twenty-one celestial yugas have passed away. Therefore, King Vrisadhvaja, through the revolution of irresistible and dreadful time, is dead. His son, Hamsadhvaja, in the course of time, also died. Hamsadhvaja begot two noble sons named Dharmadhvaja and Kusadhvaja. They are both great Vaisnavas but, because of Lord Surya's curse, they have become luckless. They lost their kingdoms, including all property and prosperity. But they are now engaged in worshiping Goddess Laksmi, who is pleased with their efforts. Therefore, She has agreed to descend to Earth and expand Herself partially by taking birth from the wives of those two kings. Then, by the favor of Goddess Laksmi, Dharmadhvaja and Kusadhvaja will become prosperous, mighty kings. O Lord Siva! Your devotee Vrisadhvaja is dead, so return to your abode. O Lord Brahma, Lord Surya and Kasyapa Muni--you also should return your realms."

Bhagavan Visnu then went with His wife to the inner apartments. The demigods went cheerfully to their own abodes, Lord Siva continuing his practice of austerity.

Dharmadhvaja and Kusadhvaja performed harsh asceticism and worshiped Goddess Laksmi. Thereafter, they separately obtained the blessings they desired. By Goddess Laksmi's favor, they again became the rulers of the earth. They acquired great spiritual merits, were married, and begot children. King Dharmadhvaja was married to Madhavi. After some time, she became pregnant with a partial incarnation of Goddess Laksmi. However, the infant remained in Madhavi's womb for one hundred celestial years. Day by day Madhavi's luster increased. Then, on an auspicious day and moment, when there was a full moon, in the month of Kartika, on a Friday, she gave birth.

The grace of the Goddess of Fortune, Laksmi, manifested through the baby. There were marks of the lotus flower on the infant's feet. Her face looked like the autumnal moon, her eyes resembled blooming lotuses, and her lips appeared like ripe bimba fruit. Her palms and the soles of her feet were reddish, her navel was deep, and just above it were three folds. Her buttocks were round, and her body was delightfully warm in the winter and cool in the summer--very pleasant to touch. Her breast was firm and her waist thin, and the light shining from her body surrounded her like a halo. Her complexion was white, like a Champaka flower, and her hair looked beautiful. Because her beauty was incomparable, the sages called her Tulasi.




Chapter Two



TULASI PERFORMS AUSTERITIES



As soon as she was born, Tulasi resolved to go to the mountainous region of Badarinatha to practice severe austerities. Though many persons tried to dissuade her, no one was able to; for she was determined to stay and pray in the forest till Lord Krsna appeared and agreed to become her husband. During a period of one hundred thousand celestial years, she endured the following:

In the summer, she exposed herself to four fires around her and the sun above; in the winter, she submerged herself in the icy waters; and in the rainy season, she subjected herself to heavy downpours at the funeral grounds. For 20,000 years, she subsisted on fruits and water; for 30,000 years, she chewed dry leaves; for 40,000 years she lived only on air; and for 10,000 years she ate nothing and just stood on one leg.

Finally, she saw Lord Brahma in the sky, riding on his swan carrier and sweeping down towards her. Believing that he had come to grant her a boon, she bowed down low to him.

Lord Brahma said, "O Tulasi, ask me for a boon. Whether it be devotion to Lord Hari or servitorship to Him or freedom from old age or freedom from death--I will grant it."

"Yes, O Lord, I will ask. Please listen. I will not hide my desires out of fear or shame, since you are all-knowing. My name is Tulasi. Formally I was a cowherd girl in Goloka, and there I served Radharani, the beloved of Sri Krsna. I am a partial expansion of Radharani and was her favorite companion. But one day in the place where the rasa dance had occurred, Krsna became intimate with me and I fainted from excessive joy. While I was lying there, Radharani suddenly appeared and saw me in that condition. She was not at all pleased. Blinded with fury, she first reproached Krsna and then cursed me. She said, `O vile one! Go! And take birth as a human being!'

"Then Krsna said to me, `When you take birth in India, if you practice austerities, Lord Brahma will grant you a blessing. He will arrange for you to marry the four-armed Narayana, who is an expansion of Myself.' Then Krsna disappeared. And out of fear of Radharani, I left Goloka and was born in this world...So please grant me that boon. I want to have that handsome and peaceful Narayana as my husband."

Lord Brahma replied, "O Tulasi, Sudama was a partial expansion of Krsna and was one of Krsna's cowherd boyfriends in Goloka. As a result of a curse by Radharani, he is presently living on earth among the Danavas (demons). His name is Sankhacuda. He is very energetic and no one can compare with him in strength. While living in Goloka, he was very attracted to you and wanted to marry you. But because he feared Radharani, he did not make any overtures.

"Just as you are a jatismara--that is, one who knows her previous births--Sankhacuda also is. Remembering his past desire to be close to you, he has performed severe austerities to obtain you as his wife. I now wish to grant his desire. Therefore, O beautiful one, please agree to wed him. However, later on, by the special arrangement of Providence, you will get the beautiful Narayana as your husband. But after that, He will curse you and you will be transformed into the world-purifying Tulasi plant (holy basil). You will be the best of flowers and dearer to Narayana than His own life. No one's worship will be complete without your leaves. You will remain as a tree in Vrndavana and will be widely known as Vrndavani. The cowherd men and women will worship Lord Hari with your leaves. As the presiding deity of the Tulasi plant, you will always enjoy the company of Krsna, the best of cowherd boys."

Tulasi Devi smiled and gladly said to Lord Brahma, "O Father, I will be honest with you. I am not as devoted to the four-armed Narayana as I am to the two-armed Krsna. For in Goloka, my close encounter with Krsna was suddenly interrupted, leaving me still longing for Him. Thus, it was only because Krsna had asked me that I have been praying to get Narayana for my husband. But now it appears certain that by your grace I will again get Krsna, who is very difficult to attain. However, O lord, please grant me the following boon: that I lose my fear of Radharani."

Lord Brahma replied, "O child, I shall now give you the sixteen-lettered Radha mantra. By this boon you will be as dear to Radharani as Her life, and She will approve of Your intimate dealings with Krsna."

Lord Brahma initiated Tulasi Devi into to the sixteen-lettered mantra, the hymn, and the mode of worship of Sri Radha. Then, blessing her, he disappeared.

As directed, Tulasi engaged herself in worshiping Srimati Radharani and, after twelve years, attained success. Obtaining the desired boon, she reaped the fruits that were unattainable by others. As the pangs of her austerities ended, she became cheerful. When one gets the fruits of one's labor and then considers the difficulties experienced in attaining them, the difficulties then seem pleasurable.

Tulasi was in the prime of her youth and she longed for the company of Sri Krsna. Finishing her food and drink, she lay down on a beautiful bed decorated with flowers and perfumed with sandal paste. She went to sleep with a happy heart. But while she slept, Kamadeva, the god of love, shot five arrows at her--arrows that were meant to enchant her. Consequently, though she was anointed with cooling sandal paste and slept on a bed strewn with flowers, her body began to feel as though it were on fire. Out of joy, the hairs on her body stood on end, her eyes reddened and her body began to tremble. One moment she looked thin and at another moment she grew restless or drowsy. Sometimes she became agitated or warm with desire, at other times she fainted, then recovered, then sorrowed. Sometimes she got up from the bed, walked this way and that way, sat down or lay down.

This abnormal condition of her body and mind increased daily; so much so that her soft bed felt like a bed of thorns; delicious fruits and water tasted like poison; her house seemed like a desert; her soft delicate cloth felt hot like fire; and the vermilion mark on her forehead pained like a boil.

In her dreams she saw a nicely dressed, smiling, jolly youth. He was adorned with jewels, besmeared with sandal paste and garlanded with flowers. Gazing at her face, he spoke to her affectionately, and embraced and kissed her repeatedly. One moment he went away; the next moment he returned; then she cried out, "O Lord of my heart, where are you going? Please don't go!" When she awakened, she wept again and again. In this way Tulasi Devi passed her days at Badarikasrama.



Chapter Three


THE BIRTH OF SANKHACHUDA



The sage Kasyapa was the son of the prajapati (forefather) Marici and the grandson of Lord Brahma, and was very learned. Daksa, another prajapati, gave him thirteen of his daughters in marriage. One of Kasyapa Muni's wives was known as Danu. She was very attractive and chaste, and Kasyapa cared for her with love and devotion. Danu bore many mighty sons, one of whom was Vipracitti, who was exceedingly powerful and courageous. His son Dambha was self-controlled and a great devotee of Lord Visnu. But he could not beget a son, so he became anxious. Therefore, to improve the situation, he went to Puskara forest and performed severe austerity for a hundred thousand years. There, sitting in a steady posture and uttering the Krsna mantra, he practiced japa.

While practicing, an intolerable effulgence shot out from Dambha's head and spread everywhere. It was so hot that all the demigods, sages and Manus were scorched by it. Thus, with Indra leading, they all sought shelter of Lord Brahma.

Arriving at Lord Brahma's abode, they praised him and then informed him of the situation. After hearing about it, Lord Brahma, to relate the problem to Lord Visnu, led them to Vaikuntha. There, with palms joined reverentially, they praised the great savior and Lord of the three worlds. The demigods then asked, "O Lord, we do not know what has caused this. Please tell us. What is that light by which we have been scorched?"

Lord Visnu laughed and lovingly said, "O demigods, do not be afraid; remain calm and unshaken. No flood will occur and it is not the time of universal dissolution. The asura Dambha, one of my devotees, is performing asceticism to obtain a son. I shall soon bless him and that will quiet him."

Encouraged by this, Lord Brahma and the other demigods returned to their own realms.

Lord Visnu then went to Puskara where Dambha was practicing austerity. Seeing that Dambha was repeating His name, the Lord consoled him and asked, "What blessing do you want Me to grant you?"

Dambha offered his obeisances with great devotion and praised the Lord repeatedly. Then he said, "O Lord of lords, O lotus-eyed one, obeisances unto You. O Lord of Laksmi, O Lord of the three worlds, please be merciful to me. Please give me a powerful and courageous son who will be Your devotee, be invincible to the demigods, and be the conqueror of the three worlds."

Lord Visnu asked Dambha to stop his austerity, granted him the blessing, and disappeared. As the Lord vanished, Dambha offered obeisance in that direction and returned home. Within a short while his blessed wife became pregnant. She radiated an effulgence that illuminated the inner apartment of her residence. The soul residing in her womb was Sudama, one of Lord Krsna's leading cowherd companions who had been cursed by Srimati Radharani.

When Dambha's chaste wife gave birth to a radiant-looking son, Dambha invited the sages to his place and had the post-natal rites performed. There was great jubilation and, on a favorable day, the father named him Sankhacuda.

The son grew up in his father's residence like the moon in its bright half. In his childhood he learned all the traditions, customs, injunctions and prohibitions, and became resplendent. Engaging in childhood play, he delighted his parents and became the favorite of all the family members.

Later on, to obtain a boon from Lord Brahma, Sankhacuda performed an austerity in Puskara for a long while. He concentrated his mind, restrained his senses and organs of action, and chanted a mantra that his preceptor, Jaigisavya, had imparted to him. Finally, Lord Brahma went to Sankhacuda to grant him a blessing. Lord Brahma asked, "Tell me what boon you want."

Seeing Lord Brahma, the Danava king bowed to him humbly and praised him with devotional words. Then he said, "Please make me invincible to the demigods, and also enable me to marry Tulasi.

"So be it," Brahma replied. Then he gave Sankhacuda the Divine amulet of Lord Sri Krsna. This amulet, called Sarvamangalamaya (Conqueror of the World), was considered the most auspicious of all auspicious things in the world, for it guaranteed victory everywhere.

Brahma continued, "Now you should go to Badarikasrama. Tulasi Devi is performing penance there by her own will. You should marry her there. She is the daughter of King Dharmadhvaja." Lord Brahma then disappeared.

Sankhacuda, whose austerity had now borne fruit at Puskara, tied that most precious amulet round his neck. He then set out for Badarikasrama, his face beaming with joy.


Chapter four




TULASI DEVI TESTS KING SANKHACHUDA


Tulasi saw Sankhacuda approaching in his jeweled airplane and noticed that he was in the prime of his youth. He was handsome like Cupid, white-complexioned like the Champaka flower and decorated with gems. His face resembled the full moon of autumn, his eyes looked like lotuses in full bloom, and his cheeks flashed with the glow of his earrings. A Parijata flower garlanded his neck, musk and saffron anointed his body, and sandal paste perfumed his person.

As he came closer, Tulasi hid her face in her shawl and smiled at him with sidelong glances. Blushing at the thought of this first meeting, she bowed her head nervously and eagerly drank in with her eyes the lotus of his face.

Sankhacuda also gazed at Tulasi, seated as she was on a lovely bed strewn with flowers and sandalwood. Her teeth shown like pearls, her lips were like Bimba fruit, her nose was graceful and her complexion golden. She resembled the autumnal moon. Adding to her grace, just below the parting of her hair, was the mark of sandal paste and musk; and, just below them, a mark of vermilion. She had a low yet deep navel, and below it, three lovely abdominal folds. Her palms were reddish, her fingernails were glowing, and her feet were radiant and crimson, colored with lac-dye. Her glowing toenails surpassed the glow of the autumn moon, giving her an unrivaled beauty.

Tulasi was adorned with lovely jingling ornaments, and the knot of hair at the back of her head was decorated with a jasmine wreath. Shark-shaped earrings adorned her cheeks while a diamond necklace beautified her breast. She wore gorgeous bangles of conch on her arms and wrists, as well as precious jewels on her fingers.

Sankhacuda sat down and said to her, "O beautiful girl, whose daughter are you? And how have you come to this forest? You look most fortunate and blessed. Indeed, you are the personification of heavenly joy--the best of women! You are a model of loveliness and can certainly bewilder even the saints!"

When Tulasi gave no reply, he asked, "O gracious one, why don't you speak? I am your servant, so please greet me with the melody of your speech."

Her head lowered, her face smiling, the beautiful-eyed Tulasi said, "I am the daughter of King Dharmadhvaja and have been practicing asceticism here. But who are you? And why are you talking to me? If a noble man sees a virtuous woman alone, he does not talk to her. So go away--wherever you please."

But Sankhacuda did not move.

Tulasi continued. "The sastras say that only a degraded man desires a woman. At first a woman is sweet to a man, but later proves fatal. Though her mouth rains honey, her heart is like a jar of poison. She uses sweet words but her heart is sharp like a razor. To achieve her own selfish ends she is submissive to her husband; otherwise, she is unsubmissive. While her face looks cheerful, her heart is dirty. Even the Vedas and the Puranas

cannot fathom her character. A wise man never trusts a base woman. She has no friend or enemy; for all she wants are new lovers. When a woman sees a well-dressed man, she inwardly desires him, but outwardly she appears chaste and modest. She is naturally passionate, attracts men's minds, and eagerly engages in sex. Though outwardly she hides her lust and appears modest, when she meets her lover in secret, she is ready to swallow him up. When she does not have sex with him, she feels offended, her body burns with anger, and she begins to quarrel. When her passions are fully satisfied, she becomes cheerful; when unsatisfied, morose.

"A woman likes a good lover more than sweet foods or refreshing drinks; she likes him even more than her own son; he is dearer to her than her life. But if the lover becomes impotent or aged, she regards him as an enemy. Quarrels and anger ensue. Then she devours him as a snake eats a rat. She is rashness personified and a mine of vices. A woman is hypocritical, obstinate and unfaithful. Even Lord Brahma and other gods are deluded by her. She is a hindrance on the path of austerity, an obstacle to liberation, an impediment to developing faith in Lord Hari, a refuge of all delusion and a living chain that binds men to the world. She is like a magician and is as false as dreams. She appears to be very beautiful, but is she is a bucket of stool, urine, gas and blood. When God created her, he arranged that she should become the spirit of delusion to the deluded and poison to those who desire liberation. Thus, on no account should a woman be desired, and by all means she should be avoided."

Sankhacuda smiled and then answered, "O goddess, what you have said is not completely false. It is partly true and partly false. From the Creator have come chaste and unchaste women. One is praiseworthy, the other isn't. Examples of chaste women are Laksmi, Sarasvati, Durga, Savitri and Radha. Women who are expansions of them are auspicious, glorious and very commendable, such as Satarupa, Devahuti, Svadha, Svaha, Daksina, Anasuya, Ganga, Diti, Aditi, Vedavati, etc. In every yuga cycle these women are excellent. The heavenly prostitutes are also expansions and partial expansions of the above women, but they are not praiseworthy because they are unchaste.

Women who are in the mode of goodness are virtuous and pure. The sages declare them to be excellent. But those who are in the modes of passion and ignorance are not so praiseworthy. The passionate ones are fond of sense pleasures, indulge in them, and always want to fulfill their selfish goals. Such women are usually insincere, deluded and irreligious. Generally, they are unchaste. But woman in the mode of ignorance are considered the worst. They are irresistible.

"A virtuous man would never court another man's wife in either public or private. But I have come to you by Lord Brahma's command--to marry you according to the Gandharva rite. (In this, the bride and bridegroom meet each other of their own accord and consummate their meeting in sexual union. No sacred rituals are necessary.

"My name is Sankhacuda. When the demigods see me, they flee in fear. In my previous birth, I lived in Goloka and was a cowherd boy named Sudama. I was a close friend of Sri Krsna's, one of His attendants. I was one of the eight celebrated cowherds. Then Srimati Radharani cursed me to be born in India in a demon family. By Krsna's grace and by His mantra, I am a jatismara, that is, I know the history of my previous birth. You also are a jatismara. So you know that in your previous birth, in Goloka, when Radharani caught you alone with Krsna, she became angry and cursed you to be born here, in India. In Goloka I very much wanted to consort with you; but because I feared Radharani, I did not do so."

Sankhacuda stopped talking. Then Tulasi smiled and cheerfully said, "Persons like you are famous in this world and good women desire such husbands. You have defeated me in argument. A man who is conquered by a woman is very impure and condemned by people in general. The forefathers and the demigods regard men who are conquered by women as low and contemptible. Even their fathers and mothers mentally despise them. The Vedas say that when a child is born or a relative dies, the brahmanas are purified in ten days; the ksatriyas in twelve days; the vaisyas in fifteen days; and the sudras as well as other low classes in twenty-one days. But a man conquered by a woman always remains impure. Only when his body is burned to ashes does he become purified. Neither the ancestors nor the demigods accept from him offerings of cakes, flowers, etc. Men whose hearts are totally conquered by women acquire no fruits from their knowledge, austerities, japa, fire sacrifices, worship, learning or fame.

"I tested you to determine how strong you are in knowledge. One should choose one's husband by examining a man's merits and defects. If one gives his daughter in marriage to a man devoid of all good qualifications, to an old man, to a man who is ignorant or poor, illiterate, diseased, ugly, wrathful, harsh, lame, limbless, deaf, dumb, inactive, or impotent--this sin is equivalent to the sin of murdering a brahmana. But if one gives his daughter in marriage to a young Vaisnava who is learned, well-qualified and peaceful, one acquires the fruits of performing ten horse sacrifices. If one raises a daughter and then sells her out of greed for profit, he falls to the hell known as Kumbhipaka. There, for a period equal to fourteen of Lord Indra's lifespans, such a sinner has to drink his daughter's urine and eat her stool as well as be bitten by worms and crows. When this period ends, he has to be born in this world as a diseased person and earn his livelihood by selling and carrying meat."



Chapter five




TULASI MARRIES SANKHACHUDA


When Tulasi Devi stopped speaking, Lord Brahma suddenly appeared there. After Sankhacuda and Tulasi offered him their respects, Lord Brahma said, "O Sankhacuda! Why are you wasting your time in such empty talks with Tulasi? Marry her now by the Gandharva rites. As you are a gem among males, she is a gem among females. When a clever couple marry, the union is very happy. And who would abandon happiness when it is at hand? Anyone who would do so is worse than a beast. And you, Tulasi! Why are you testing this noble and qualified person who can subdue both the gods and the demons? Marry Sankhacuda, just as Laksmi is married to Narayana, Radhika to Krsna, my Savitri to me, Saci to Indra and Aditi to Kasyapa. Stay with the handsome Sankhacuda for a long time and, as you like, wander with him to various places. When Sankhacuda leaves his body, you will return to Goloka and get Krsna as your husband." Lord Brahma then blessed them and returned to his own abode.

Sankhacuda then married Tulasi by the Gandharva rite. Glorifying the marriage, the demigods sounded their drums and showered flowers on them from the sky.

Sometimes the newly married couple would go to a flower grove and at other times to a river bank. There they would sleep on flower beds smeared with sandal paste and enjoy marital pleasures. Tulasi easily stole the heart of her husband, and Sankhacuda also attracted Tulasi's heart. After Tulasi garlanded her husband with parijata flowers, which prevent disease and old age, she placed a precious jeweled ring on his finger and offered him rare beautiful gems. Bowing down to his feet with devotion, she repeatedly said, "I am at your service!"

Sankhacuda smiled. He then presented Tulasi with clothes he had obtained from Lord Varuna's house; he also gave her a precious necklace of jewels, an armlet he had gotten from Svaha (Agni's wife), armlets from Chhaya (the sun god's wife), earrings from Rohini (the moon god's wife), finger rings from Rati (Cupid's wife), conch ornaments from Visvakarma, as well as excellent bedding adorned with pearls and jewels. After further adorning her, he placed her feet on his chest and said, "I am your servant."

They left the hermitage and began to travel to various places. They went to different mountains, flower gardens, caves, beaches, riversides and forests. Wherever they went, they enjoyed each other's company with great satisfaction, never tiring of one another. Sankhacuda then brought Tulasi to his own kingdom and there they continued to delight in each other's company.

Chapter six




LORD VISNU HELPS THE DEMIGODS


Sankhacuda enjoyed his kingdom for one Manvantara (4,320,000 years) and, during that period, gained control over all the Devas, Danavas, Gandharvas, Kinnaras and Raksasas. He dispossessed the gods of their realms and privileges, deprived them of their rights with respect to worship and offerings, and seized their weapons and ornaments. Consequently, they wandered about the universe like helpless beggars. Finally, they united in a group and went to Lord Brahma's assembly. Sobbing, they related the whole story of how Sankhacuda had oppressed them. Lord Brahma took them to Lord Siva's realm and related to Siva the details of the case.

Lord Siva then took them all to the highest place, Vaikuntha, where there is neither old age nor death. As they approached the first gate, they saw the watchmen guarding the gate and sitting on jeweled seats. The watchmen had beautiful dark blue bodies and looked effulgent. They had smiles on their faces, lotuslike eyes, and four arms--each hand holding a conch, mace, disc and lotus. They wore yellow garments, were decorated with jeweled ornaments, and were garlanded with forest flowers.

Lord Brahma asked them for admittance and they nodded their approval. Then, after passing through sixteen gates, the group finally arrived before Lord Narayana. The assembly hall was filled with saints and four-armed attendants who resembled Narayana and were wearing Kaustubha jewels. The assembly hall was so brilliant with rays of light that it appeared as though the moon had just arisen. By Lord Narayana's mercy, there were diamonds, gems and necklaces of jewels placed in various areas. In some spots there were rows of pearls that shed their splendor and brilliance, and in other spots there were mirrors arranged in a circle. In certain areas there were jewels called Padmaragas which were artistically arranged to appear like lotuses spreading their radiant beauty everywhere. There were rows of steps made of Syamantaka jewels. Throughout the hall were wonderful pillars built of Indranilam jewels. There were sandal leaves strung high from pillar to pillar. There were also golden jars full of water. All around were parijata-flower garlands, sweet-scented sandal trees, and saffron and musk; the whole atmosphere was permeated with sweet fragrances.

The Vidyadharas were dancing in one area. The assembly hall measured eight thousand miles in circumference. All over, numerous servants were engaged in various services. Lord Brahma, Lord Siva and other demigods saw Lord Hari (Narayana) sitting in the center on a precious jeweled throne; He looked like the moon surrounded by many stars. He was wearing a crown on His head, earrings, a wildflower garland round His neck and sandal paste on His body. Holding a lotus in His hand, He was smiling, watching the dancers and listening to the music. He looked very tranquil. Laksmi was gently holding His feet and He was chewing the sweet-scented betel she had given Him. Ganga was fanning Him devotedly with a white chamara, and others were singing hymns to Him with their heads lowered in devotion.

Lord Brahma and the other gods offered their obeisances to Lord Visnu. As they did, their hairs stood on end, tears flowed from their eyes and their voices were choked with emotion. Then Lord Brahma, his hands clasped and his head bowed, informed the Lord about Sankhacuda's doings.

Lord Hari smiled and said, "O lotus born! I know all about Sankhacuda. In his previous birth he was my great devotee, a very energetic cowherd boy in Goloka. I will tell you something about him which is quite sanctifying. His name was Sudama and he was my chief attendant. He is now a Danava because in Goloka Radha pronounced a terrible curse on him. Here is how it happened...

"One day I left Radha's company and went to the rasa dance area with the gopi named Viraja. Radha soon heard from one of Her maidservants that I had flirted with Viraja. Blinded with fury, She hastened there with Her attendants to see if this were true. Seeing that it was, Radha immediately converted Viraja into a river. I myself disappeared, so Radha rushed home angrily with Her attendants.

"Later, when I was with Sudama and She saw me, Radha rebuked me very much. However, I remained silent. But Sudama could not tolerate this, so he rebuked Radha in My very presence. This was quite intolerable to Her dignity. Her eyes became red with anger and She immediately ordered thousands of Her attendants to drive him away. Sudama then trembled with fear. As Radha's attendants tried to drive him away, he resisted and repeated his reproaches against Her. When She heard them, She cursed him, saying, `May you be born in the womb of a Danavi (demon woman)!'

"Sudama bowed down to Me and, crying, began to leave. But Radha, who is quite merciful, began to melt. Weeping, she tried repeatedly to stop him from leaving. "Wait!" She called. "Wait! Where are you going? You don't have to go. Please come back." She became distressed, and Her attendants and the cowherd boys began to weep. I then explained to them, `In about a half a moment Sudama will return, having fulfilled the conditions of the curse. Of course a half moment here is equal to about one Manvantara (4,320,000 years) on Earth.' I then called to Sudama. `O Sudama, when the curse expires, please come back here!'

"O demigods, that expert mystic and devotee Sankhacuda will return to Goloka. Therefore, O gods, take My trident and go quickly to India. Lord Siva will kill the Danava with the trident. The demon is wearing My auspicious amulet around his neck. It is called the "Conqueror of the World." As long as he keeps wearing it, no one can kill him. So I will go to him disguised as a Brahman and beg the amulet from him. But you have granted him the boon that he cannot die unless his wife's chastity is violated. I will take care of this as well. Then he will surely die. Later, when his wife leaves her body, she will become my dearest wife." Narayana then gave Lord Siva his trident.

Chapter seven



AN ENVOY SENT TO SANKHACHUDA

Lord Brahma and the other demigods returned to their respective abodes. Later, to gain victory for the demigods, Lord Siva pitched his big tent and camped on the banks of the Chandrabhaga River under a beautiful fig tree. He then sent Puspadanta, the leader of the Gandharvas, as a messenger to Sankhacuda. When Puspadanta arrived at Sankhacuda capital, he noticed that it was more beautiful than Indra's realm and more opulent than Kuvera's.

The city was 40 miles wide and 80 miles long. It was built of pearl and jewel crystals, and on all sides there were roadways. Seven inaccessible moats, one after another, surrounded the city.

There were hundreds of shops full of trade articles and marketable commodities. Palatial buildings of traders and merchants were all over. Thousands and thousands of beautiful buildings, constructed with scarlet gems, inlaid with various ornaments and decorated with fancy articles, gave the place a boundless charm.

The Gandharva chief saw that Sankhacuda's palace was spherical like the moon. Four successive moats with fiery flames encircled it. On top of the palace were ramparts, made of jewels, that touched the sky. The palace was inaccessible to enemies but offered no hindrance to friends.

The twelve gates, decorated with lotuses, jeweled mirrors, paintings and statues, were guarded by twelve gatekeepers. On all sides the place was protected by very powerful, graceful, well-dressed and richly adorned demons who were holding heavenly weapons in their hands. When Puspadanta approached the first gate, he saw that it was guarded by a man who had a hideous face, copper complexion and tawny eyes, and who was smiling and holding a trident in his hand. Puspadanta explained to him the purpose of his mission--that he was a war ambassador--and the guard allowed him to pass inside; the other gatekeepers did the same. At the last gate he said to the guard, "O guard, quickly inform your king that a war is about to occur."

The guard did so and, obtaining Sankhacuda's permission, ushered the messenger inside. There, the Gandharva saw the well-formed, handsome demon seated in the center of the royal assembly on a golden throne. One attendant was holding a jeweled umbrella over the king's head while other attendants were fanning him with white chamaras (whisks). Countless demons surrounded him and armed guards walked here and there. Sankhacuda was beautifully dressed in heavenly garments, covered with garlands, and anointed with fragrance.

Seeing all this, Puspadanta was thunderstruck and said to Sankhacuda, "O King, I am a messenger of Lord Siva and my name is Puspadanta. My lord has ordered me to tell you the following: The demigods have sought the protection of Lord Hari. So you had better restore to them their kingdoms and rights. Lord Hari has given His own trident to Lord Siva and asked him to wage war against you if necessary. Presently, Lord Siva is residing under the shade of a fig tree on the bank of the Puspabhadra River. Either you must return to the demigods their property or you must be ready to fight with Lord Siva...What shall I tell my lord is your reply?"

The demon laughed loudly and said, "You had better leave. I shall go to him in the morning."

The messenger returned to Lord Siva and conveyed the demon's message. In the meantime the following group of persons appeared before Lord Siva: Kartika, Nandi, Mahakala, Bana, Manibhadra, the eight Bhairavas, the eleven Rudras, the eight Vasus, the twelve Adityas, Indra, Agni, Chandra, Visvakarma, the two Asvini-kumaras, Kuvera, Yama, Jayanta, Nala-kuvara, Vayu, Varuna, Budha, Mangala, Dharma, Sani, Kama, Ugra-chanda, Kottari, the hundred-armed Bhadrakali, as well as many other personages.

Bhadrakali was seated on an excellent chariot. Her paraphernalia, clothing, garland and sandal paste were red. Inspiring her devotees with courage and infusing fear into the enemy, she began dancing, laughing and singing. Her rolling tongue and the skull she held in her hand were each eight miles in circumference. She carried a trident, an iron spear, conches, a wheel, mace, lotus, bow, arrows, dumbbells, a scimitar, thunder, the weapons of Visnu and Varuna, a snake noose, the weapons of Agni, Narayana, Brahma, Gandharva, Garuda, Pasupata, a pestle, shield, staff, as well as other irresistible weapons. This fearsome goddess was accompanied by millions of devotee Yoginis and Dakinis, and also countless ghosts, goblins and demons known as Bhutas, Pretas, Pisachas, Kusmandas, Brahma Raksasas and Raksasas, as well as Yaksas and Kinnaras. Then Kartikkeya arrived and he bowed down to his father Lord Siva, who asked him to sit on his left side and help him. The army remained there in battle array.

Chapter eight




SANKHACHUDA CONSOLES TULASI



At the palace, the mighty Sankhacuda went to the women's quarters and informed Tulasi about the imminent war. Hearing this, her palate, lips and throat became dry. With a sorrowful heart, she said to him, "O my lord, my friend, my master! Stay for a moment and sit within my heart. Fill me with life for a moment. Please satisfy my human desire. Let me gaze at you fully so that my eyes may be satisfied. My breathing is very agitated now. For at the end of night I had a very bad dream. Therefore, I feel a burning within myself."

The king finished his meal and, in truthful and beneficial words, said to Tulasi, "O my queen, when it is time to reap the results of one's past acts, one experiences good and evil, pleasure and pain, fear and sorrow. In time, trees grow, branches develop, flowers blossom and fruits appear. In time, the fruitful tree decays. Similarly, in time, human beings grow and decline. In time, the creator creates, the preserver preserves and the destroyer destroys. This is the law of creation, preservation and destruction. Therefore, you should always adore Lord Krsna, as He is the Lord of Brahma, Visnu and Siva; He is the creator, maintainer and destroyer, He has no beginning nor end, and He does not depend on material nature. Lord Krsna, by His own will, has manifested nature with its animate and inanimate objects.

"All things, from Lord Brahma down to a blade of grass, are artificial and temporary. In time, they grow and decay. Thus it would be better for you to adore Radha's consort, Lord Krsna, who is distinct from the three modes of material nature, who is the Supersoul within all and the Lord of all. Take shelter of Krsna, for it is by His command that the wind blows swiftly, the sun radiates heat, Indra pours rain, death visits human beings, fire burns, and the moon travels through the sky. Seek the Supreme Krsna, who is the death of death, the time of time, the creator of the creator, the preserver of the preserver and the destroyer of the destroyer. Take refuge in Him. My dearest, no one is a friend of anyone, but Lord Hari (Krsna) is the friend of all. Therefore, pray to Him and serve Him.

"My love, who am I and who are you? By our karma, Providence has united us. Providence will also separate us. When danger comes, only fools are disturbed. The wise are never thus shaken. Like wheels, pleasure and pain always revolve. In Badarikasrama you absorbed yourself in austerities to obtain Lord Narayana as your husband. Surely you will get Him. I myself practiced austerities to obtain you as my wife. And by Lord Brahma's grace I have gotten you. Very soon you will get Govinda in Goloka Vrndavana. And when I leave my demoniac body, I too shall go there. In that realm we will regularly see one another. By Radha's curse I was born in the precious land of India. But I will return to Goloka. Therefore, my dear, do not worry about me. You too will quit your human form and assume a spiritual form and go to Lord Hari. So you need not sorrow."

Tulasi was thus consoled.

Sankhacuda spent the night with Tulasi in the temple of gems, which was lit by diamond lamps. They rested on a nicely decorated bed that was strewn with flowers and anointed with sandal paste. Then Tulasi, who had not eaten any food and thus looked thin, became overwhelmed with grief and began weeping. The king, who knew the truth about life, clasped her to his chest and again appeased her in various ways. The spiritual instructions he had received in Bhandira forest from Lord Krsna, which were capable of destroying all sorrows and delusions, he now carefully conveyed to Tulasi. Upon receiving them, her joy knew no bounds, for she realized that everything in this world is temporary. She and her husband then spent the remainder of the night in loving exchanges.

Chapter nine




SANKHACHUDA PREPARES FOR WAR


At Brahma Muhurta (before sunrise), Sankhacuda got up from his flower-strewn bed. He discarded his night clothes, bathed in pure water, put on freshly washed clothing, and smeared his body and forehead with bright tilaka markings. He performed his necessary rites and worshiped his personal Deity.

He then saw such auspicious things as curd, ghee, honey, parched rice, etc., and, as usual, distributed to the brahmanas the best jewels, pearls, clothing and gold. To make his departure for war favorable, he gave to his guru some pearls, gems and diamonds, and he gave to the poor some horses, elephants and cows. He then gave to the brahmanas a thousand storehouses, three lakhs (300,000) of towns and seven lakhs (700,000) of villages. He installed his son Suchandra as the acting king and entrusted to him the care of his family, kingdom, treasury, subjects, wealth, storehouses and conveyances.

Sankhacuda dressed himself for war and armed himself with bow and arrows. The king ordered the armies to gather, so three hundred thousand horses, one hundred thousand elephants, ten thousand chariots, three crores of archers (30 million), three crores of armed soldiers and three crores of trident holders readied themselves for battle. After counting his forces, the king appointed a maharatha, an expert in the science of warfare, as commander-in-chief over three lakh aksauhini forces (300,000). [An aksauhini is a whole army consisting of 109,000 foot soldiers, 65,610 horses, 21,870 chariots and 21,870 elephants]. Ordering three aksauhinis to beat war drums, he remembered Lord Hari and emerged from the pavilion. Sankhacuda rode on a fine chariot and, headed by his guru and his elders, left for Lord Siva's place.

Lord Siva at that time was staying on the banks of the Puspabhadra River at Siddhasrama. This holy place was known to enable sadhus to easily attain perfection in yoga. It was here that Lord Kapila practiced asceticism, and thus devotees of Lord Kapila went there and did the same. The place was bounded on the west by the western sea, on the east by the Malaya mountain range, on the south by the Sri Saila mountain and on the north by the Gandha-madana mountain. The Puspabhadra River was forty miles wide and four thousand miles long. This auspicious river offered great spiritual merit, and was always full of transparent, sparkling water. She is the favorite spouse of the Lavana (salt) ocean and is indeed very sacred. This river issues from the Sarasvati in the Himalayas and, keeping the Gomati River on her left side, she eventually merges with the western ocean.

Chapter ten




LORD SIVA'S COUNSEL


When the demon arrived there, he saw Lord Siva sitting in a yogic meditation posture at the root of a fig tree. Looking as bright as a million suns, Lord Siva was smiling. He appeared as though the Infinite Light were radiating from every pore of his body. He was wearing a tiger skin and holding a trident and ax, and his head was covered with bright bunches of matted hair. He had five faces and three eyes in each, and there were sacred snakes coiled around his neck. He was the death of death, the destroyer of the world and a powerful lord. His face was serene and beautiful. He immortalizes his devotees, awards the fruits of asceticism and is a source of prosperity. He destroys the world and rescues sinners from hell.

Upon seeing Lord Siva, Sankhacuda got down from his chariot and, with his entire army, bowed low to him. He also saluted Bhadrakali, who was on Lord Siva's left side, and Kartikkeya, who was in the front. In response, they bestowed blessings on him. Nandi and other devotees of Lord Siva got up and greeted him in a suitable manner. Sankhacuda spoke cordially to them and then sat down beside Lord Siva, who greeted him cheerfully and said, "O King, Lord Brahma, the creator of the world and the father of religious duty, had a Vaisnava son named Marici, who begat the virtuous Kasyapa. Daksa, another son of Lord Brahma, bowed to Kasyapa and gave him his thirteen daughters in marriage. Of these daughters, Danu, who was very blessed and chaste, gave birth to forty sons. They were all very spirited and known as Danavas. Amongst them, Vipracitti was prominent--he was most valorous, pious and devoted to Lord Visnu. His son's name was Dambha and he obtained Sukracarya as his guru. Following his teacher's advice, he worshiped Lord Krsna at Puskara by reciting the Krsna mantra for one hundred thousand years. Consequently, by Lord Krsna's boon, he was able to get a son like yourself.

"In your former birth, in Goloka, you were very religious and were the chief cowherd friend of Lord Krsna. By Radha's curse you have become lord of the demons here. But you are also a Vaisnava. And a Vaisnava regards everything--from the form of Lord Brahma down to the form of a blade of grass--as very illusory. Even if the four kinds of liberation are offered to him, namely, Salokya, Sarsti, Sayujya and Samipya (to live on the same planet as Lord Visnu, to have the same opulences as Lord Visnu, to merge with Lord Visnu and to have have equal association with Lord Visnu, respectively), he does not care at all for them; for he is only interested in serving Lord Visnu. Nor does he care to have the position of Indra, Kuvera or Brahma, for he thinks them all insignificant. He only cares to worship and serve Lord Krsna. Now you are a true Krsna devotee. Therefore, why do you care for those things that belong to the demigods and which are false to you? Better return to the demigods their kingdoms and please me by this act. Let the demigods be reinstated in their own positions and you govern your own kingdom happily. You are all descendants of Kasyapa Muni. So it is not desirable for relatives to feud. In fact, the sin committed by killing a brahmana is not even one sixteenth as great as that of creating hostilities amongst one's relatives.

"O King, pause. If you think that by restoring to the demigods their kingdoms, you will lose prestige, you should also consider that no one's position is stable or unchanging. When the world is completely dissolved, even Lord Brahma disappears; then, by the will of God, he subsequently reappears. And later, by virtue of his knowledge, he again creates everything. But the type of knowledge, intellect and memory that people receive depends on the amount of austerity they practiced in their previous births.

"Also, consider this: truth is the support of dharma or virtue. In the Satya-yuga (golden or truthful age), virtue is complete; in the Treta-yuga (silver age), it is reduced by one fourth; in the Dvapara yuga (copper age) by one half; and in the Kali yuga (iron age or age of quarrel), by three fourths; and at the end of the Kali yuga, virtue becomes reduced even more, like the moon on the dark-moon night.

"Or consider the sun: in the summer its light is very intense; but not so in the winter. At noon, the sun is very hot; but not so in the morning and evening. In time, the sun rises; in time, it becomes powerful; and in time, it sets. By the working of time, it is obscured by clouds.

"Then consider the moon: when the moon is devoured by Rahu (as in a lunar eclipse) it trembles; when it is released, it becomes bright again. In the full-moon night it becomes full, but does not remain so. In the bright fortnight it waxes daily, but in the dark fortnight it wanes daily. In the bright fortnight, the moon looks healthy and rich but in the dark fortnight it looks decreasingly thinner, as if afflicted by consumption. Thus at one time the moon looks powerful and at another time it looks weak and pale.

"Similarly, Bali Maharaja is presently living in Patala loka (one of the planets beneath the earth) but at another time he will become lord of the demigods. At one time the earth is lush with grains and is the resting place of all beings, but at another time it becomes covered with water. The entire world, including everything moving and nonmoving, appears at one time and disappears at another.

"Only Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, remains the same. It is by His grace that I obtained the name Mrtyunjaya (the Conqueror of Death). I have witnessed many dissolutions of the world and I shall continue to witness them. Lord Krsna is both material nature and the Supreme Being. He is the individual soul as well as the Supreme Soul. Though He assumes many forms, He is beyond those forms. Whoever repeats His name and sings His glories can conquer death; he does not come under the influence of birth, death, disease, old age and fear. Lord Krsna has created Brahma, the creator; Visnu, the preserver; and me, the destroyer. By His will we possess those potencies and influences. O King! I have delegated Kala, Agni and Rudra to do the work of destruction, whereas I myself only repeat His name and sing His glories incessantly, day and night. For this reason I am called Mrtyunjaya, and by my knowledge, I have conquered death. I am fearless. When death sees me, he flies away just as snakes flee when they see Garuda."

King Sankhacuda thanked and praised Lord Siva repeatedly, and replied modestly. "What you have said is quite true. But please allow me to say a few words. Kindly listen...You have just said that fighting with one's relatives is a great sin. Then why did the Lord, on behalf of the demigods, take away all of Bali Maharaja's possessions and send him down to Patala? And why did the Lord, for the same reason, kill Hiranyaksa, Hiranyakasipu, Sumbha and other Danavas (demons)? Long ago the demons and the demigods worked hard together churning the ocean to obtain nectar from it; but why did the Lord give the nectar to the demigods? O lord, this universe is the sporting ground of Lord Krsna; and anyone He favors with fortune and glory obtains them. The quarreling between the demigods and the demons is eternal. Victory and defeat come to each party alternately. So it is improper and unnecessary for you to interfere in our quarrel. For you, O great lord, are both my relative and my friend. And your nature is of the Highest Self. To you, the demigods and the demons are equal. So it is certainly shameful for you to become our opponent and favor the demigods. If you win this battle, the glory and fame you would gain would not be as great as if we win. And if we defeat you, the disgrace and infamy you would earn would be much greater than that which we would if we were defeated: for we are small and you are great.

Lord Siva smiled and gently said, "O King, you have descended from a Brahman family, so if I am defeated by you, how shall I incur shame? In former days the Lord fought with Madhu and Kaitabha as well as Hiranyakasipu and Hiranyaksa. And I fought with Tripura. And the universal mother, Durga Devi, fought with Sumbha and other demons. But none of the demons just mentioned, who were killed in the war, can be compared to you in prowess. You are the best of Lord Krsna's attendants. The demigods have sought Lord Hari's protection, so He has sent me on their behalf to approach you. If I am defeated by a sublime person like yourself, how can I be disgraced? But I'm surprised to hear you talk of disgrace and infamy. There is no point in continuing this useless talk. Now, either return to the demigods their kingdoms or prepare to fight with me. I am firm in my determination."





Chapter eleven



THE WAR BEGINS


Sankhacuda quickly got up, bowed down to Lord Siva, and ascended his chariot with his ministers. Lord Siva ordered his army to be ready immediately, and Sankhacuda did the same. Musical instruments blared out, formally announcing the start of war. There was a great clamor along with the cries of the warriors. Then the fight between the demigods and demons began, and both sides fought righteously. Indra fought with Vrsaparvan, Bhaskara (the sun god) with Vipracitti, Nisakara (the moon god) with Dambha, Fire with Gokarna, Kuvera with Kalakeya, and Visvakarma with Maya. Mrtyu (the death god) battled with Bhayamkara, Yama with Sambara, Vayu with Bala, Varuna with Vikamka, Budha with Dhritapristha, Sani with Raktaksa, Jayanta with Ratnasara, the Vasus with the groups of Varchasas, the two Asvini Kumaras with the two Diptimans, Nala-kuvara with Dhuma, and Dharma with Dhurandhara. Mangala contended with Ganakaksa, Vaisvana with Sobhakara, Mammatha with Pipita, the twelve sun gods with Gokamukha, Curna, Khadga, Dhumra, Samhala, Visva and Palasa. The eleven Rudras fought with eleven terrible and powerful asuras, Mahamani fought with Ugracanda and others, and Nandisvara and the rest fought with the leading demons.

Lord Siva, the goddess Kali and their son Kartikkeya encamped at the root of the holy fig tree.

King Sankhacuda, adorned with gems and surrounded by millions of demons, sat down on a beautiful jeweled throne.

Then a great battle ensued. Many mystical and supernatural weapons were hurled, and numerous demigods and demons were killed. Maces, long and short swords, Pattisas, Bhusundis, Mudgaras (different types of iron clubs), javelins, spears, axes and other weapons glowed in the soldiers' hands. Fighting with these weapons, the jubilant warriors roared and cut off each other's heads. Elephants, horses, chariots and foot soldiers, along with their drivers and passengers were hit and torn apart. Arms, thighs, hands, hips, ears and feet were cut off. Flags, arrows, swords, coats of mail and beautiful ornaments were split apart. From the tussle, glowing heads with earrings as well as elephantlike thighs were strewn about the earth. Severed arms with their ornaments and weapons were scattered about like honeycombs. Warriors running on the battlefield saw several headless bodies that jumped and which were still holding their weapons. The warriors discharged so many arrows at each other that the sun became obscured and it appeared as if the rainy season had arrived. Heroes roared like lions, blew conches loudly and fought furiously. Though the combat was terrible and tumultuous, it was pleasurable to the fighters. Then the demigods were defeated. Many were wounded by weapons and missiles, and, frightened, they fled the battlefield.



Chapter twelve



KARTIKKEYA AND KALI ENTER THE BATTLE


The demigods returned to Lord Siva and sought refuge in him. Disturbed, they cried out, "O Lord, please save us! Save us!"

Lord Siva, noting the demigods' defeat and hearing their fearful cries, became greatly enraged. Glancing at the demigods sympathetically, he assured them of his protection. He ordered his son, the great hero Kartikkeya, to attack the enemy. Fighting courageously with the hosts of demons, Kartikkeya shouted angrily and roared heroically, killing one hundred aksauhinis in the battle. Then Kali, her eyes like a red lotus, chopped off their heads, drank their blood and rapidly ate their flesh. She fought in many ways, frightening both the demigods and the demons. Wherever she went, she drank the Danavas' blood. With one hand she grabbed ten million elephants and ten million men and playfully shoved them into her mouth. Thousands of headless bodies appeared to be dancing on the battlefield. All the cowards were terrified by the overwhelming tumult.

Kartikkeya again became furious. Showering countless volleys of arrows, he struck thousands of demon leaders within a few seconds. Terrified, many of the Danavas fled, but those who stayed were slain. The demons Vrsaparvan, Vipracitti, Danda and Vikampana fought with Kartikkeya by turns, and all of them were wounded by his spear. Kali assisted Kartikkeya, and together they won the battle. In the heavens, the celestials pounded their drums and showered down flowers. Sankhacuda saw the appalling spectacle wrought by Kartikkeya and Kali; it appeared as terrible as the final dissolution of the world. Furious, he prepared for battle. Accompanied by many heroes, he climbed into his diamond-studded airplane, which was equipped with weapons and missiles. This enlivened and encouraged his men, especially when Sankhacuda, sitting in the middle of the plane, drew his bowstring to his ear and discharged volleys of arrows. The shafts were terrifying and could not be endured. They resembled a shower of rain and covered the battlefield with intense darkness, relieved only by occasional flashes of fire.

At this, Nandisvara and the other demigods fled, however, Kartikkeya stayed. Then the Danava king showered mountains, serpents, pythons and trees so horrendously that they could not be resisted. Thus Kartikkeya looked like the sun covered by thick sheets of frost. Sankhacuda broke Kartikkeya's car, cut to pieces his bow, chariot and horses, and shattered his peacock carrier. Then he hurled his effulgent spear at Kartikkeya's chest, and the force of the blow caused him to fall unconscious.

Quickly regaining consciousness, Kartikkeya mounted his sturdy, bejeweled chariot, took up his weapons and missiles and fought awesomely. Using his mystic weapons, he furiously split the weapons that had been hurled at him, namely, the serpents, mountains, trees and rocks. Then he put out a fire with his water weapon, split apart the demon's bow and chariot, and killed his charioteer. Roaring and shouting repeatedly like a hero, he split Sankhacuda's armor and crown, and then hurled his blazing spear at the demon's chest. Sankhacuda collapsed unconscious.

But within a second that powerful asura regained consciousness and, with the strength of a lion, got up and roared. The demon grabbed another bow and more arrows and mounted another chariot. Foremost in the use of mystic powers, the demon caused a tremendous downpour of arrows on Kartikkeya that completely enshrouded him. Then the demon grabbed an invincible iron spear, which was filled with Lord Visnu's energy; it was radiant like a hundred suns and looked like the vast fire that occurs at the end

of the world. Sankhacuda hurled it at Kartikkeya and it hit him with the impact of a massive fireball, causing him to drop unconscious.

Kali immediately went to him, lifted her son to her breast and carried him to Lord Siva. By virtue of his deep knowledge, Lord Siva revived Kartikkeya and endowed him with inexhaustible strength. He then got up full of vigor but remained guarded by Lord Siva.