Contd: Chapter 1 – The Encounter between Shankar Bhatt and Vyāghreswara Sarma
“According to Datta Purāna, Srī Dattatreya incarnated as Dharma Sāsta[1]. When that Lord took birth as the son of Hari-Hara, He arrived at the capital of the kingdom riding on a tiger. Devendra took the form of that tiger and served as a vehicle for Ayyappa Swamī or Dharma Sāsta[2]. Some people were of the opinion that Srīvallabha was verily Dharma Sāsta Himself. Goddess Amba rides both on a lion and a tiger also. So, some people were of the opinion that Srīvallabha was an inseparable form of the Universal Mother Goddess.
“The moment Srīvallabha dismounted from the tiger after reaching Kuruvapuram, the tiger fell dead. A great person with divine brilliance came out of the body of the tiger. He prayed to Srīvallabha to use the skin of the tiger form of his previous birth as His seat. Srī Charana consented for that. With overflowing love, Srīvallabha said, ‘My son Vyāghreswara, in one of your births, you were a very strong wrestler. During that life you were indulging in all sorts of cruel acts. Those activities include fighting with tigers, injuring them, capturing them, famishing them, and arranging their exhibitions for the recreation of people[3]. On account of the past sinful acts, you are to take animal births in many lives, but with My grace all that accumulated sin is cancelled in this life of a tiger. As you remained in the form of a tiger for a long time, you can assume that form at will at any time. I am granting you this boon. You will meet and obtain the blessings of many siddhas who are carrying out penance in the Himalayas from hundreds of years. May you rise to great heights in the path of yoga.’ Srīpāda blessed Vyāghreswara in the above manner.”
What Shankar Bhatt saw previously was actually the same Vyāghreswara Sarma as a tiger. He lives in the Himalayas. Great sages are averse to public contact. This man stands as a sentinel for such yogis and guards against disturbances from common folk. Great hermits have a system of transmitting ideas and news amongst themselves. They need not come out of their places or employ messengers for that purpose. However, for the sake of sport[4], they employ Vyāghreswara to exchange news. This is all the divine play of Lord Srī Datta.
“My dear Shankar Bhatt, before the Creation, there was the first couple[5]. When a wife becomes pregnant, she will have some desires. It is the duty of the husband to fulfill her desires. When Sharvani[6] became pregnant, Parameswara[7] asked Her if She had any desire. Then Sharvani said, ‘Lord, I experienced all pleasures having the body of a female; I do not know how the experience would be when having a male body. Hence, please oblige me’. Parameswara said, ‘Let it be so’. Immediately Sharvani took the form of a male. That was the form of Maha Vishnu[8]. There was no way for the baby inside Her to come out. Then, a lotus sprouted from the umbilicus of Maha Vishnu. From that lotus, Brahma[9] was born and started Creation. Srī Maha Vishnu created the form of Sharvani again from His body. The secrets of gods and their plays are unthinkable. In this way, Srī Maha Vishnu and Parvati became brother and sister.
“On the full moon day in the month of Sravana[10], Parvati Devi tied rakhī[11] to Srī Maha Vishnu and said ‘Brother, Srī Bhola Shankar[12] grants boons to everyone without thinking about propriety and feasibility. Every such time, you are manifesting in avatars with your Vishnu māya to kill demons thus saving my mangalyam[13]. Brother, let this practice of tying rakhī remain forever as a symbol of love between brother and sister. Srī Maha Vishnu said ‘thathasthu’[14]. In accordance with this pledge only, when there was trouble from Bhasmasura, Srī Vishnu took the form of Mohini[15] and annihilated him. Vishnu māya is unthinkable. It is difficult to guess that it would be like this or that. Dharma Sāsta was born to Mohini and Shankara. After Dharma Sāsta was born, Mohini disappeared. Dharma Sāsta later took the avatar of Ayyappa Swamī in Kali Yuga. There is a divine secret in this. Dharma Sāsta is none other than Srī Maha Vishnu. In that form, Brahma and Rudra also merged with Srī Maha Vishnu, so we can say that it is the Lord Dattatreya with those three forms merging. When Parameswari manifested as the daughter of Pandya Bhūpala[16] with the name of Mīnakshi[17], Parameswar manifested Himself as Sundareswar[18]. Srī Maha Vishnu performed the marriage of Mīnakshi and Sundareswar. But when Parameswari manifested Herself as Srī Kanyaka Parameswari, the marriage did not take place. But the Srīpāda Srīvallabha manifestation is beyond place and time. Srīvallabha manifested Himself in Pithapuram in Kali Yuga. But that same form of Srīvallabha was there from the very beginning of Creation in divine luminous worlds. The divine plays[19] of Srīpāda for thirty years, from 1320 AD when He was born in Pīthikapuram till 1350 AD when He disappeared in Kuruvapuram, cannot be comprehended even by the Seven Rishis. How can we understand?”
I questioned, “Swamī, we are now in 1336 AD. Will that mean that Srīvallabha will remain on earth for the next fourteen years only? Will Heend His avatar so early?”
Sadguru Dev said, “My dear, if Srīvallabha is born, then there will be retreat. However, His play has no birth or death. He is not affected by time and place.”
Word References
[1] A divinity much worshipped in India; a son of Lord Shiva and Mohini
[2] Ayyappa is Dharma Sāsta, born out of the union of Shiva and the female Mohini form of Vishnu
[3] A similar account is given in the “Autobiography of a Yogi, chapter ‘The Tiger Swami’
[4] Sanskrit: Līla
[5] First wife and husband; Shiva and Parvati
[6] The goddess Durga or Parvati
[7] The highest God
[8] The preserver, among the Trinity
[9] The creator, among the Trinity
[10] The 5th month of the Indian year beginning around the end of July and ending in the 3rd week of August
[11] A friendship thread tied at Raksha Bandhan around the wrist of a brother or a sister; Raksha Bandhan is an Indian festival where the love and duties between brothers and sisters are celebrated, also between similar, biologically unrelated relationships.
[12] A name given to Shiva for his propensity to grant boons to whomsoever is in distress
[13] In the Indian marriage ceremonie a thread or necklace that the groom puts around the bride’s neck. After tying three knots, they are officially married.
[14] Let it be so
[15] The only female avatar of Vishnu
[16] A ruler of a kingdom in the south of India
[17] The Fish-Eyed One
[18] The Handsome One
[19] Here: Līlas
Video of Part 3 of Chapter 1 of The Encounter – Sripada Srivallabha Charitramrutam (English) – Coming soon
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