Source : Sudha Nagraj : http://www.sudhanagaraj.com
At the end of a kalpa, Sri Hari (Vishnu) was lying on a small banyan leaf (a Vata Patra).
He was curious about himself and how he had come into existence and he was curious about all that was around him.
Then Devi who is Sarva Caitanya – the consciousness of all spoke, “All that you see is Me!”. Sri Hari wondered about the voice and the words and meditated on the Devi.
Then she appeared in the form of Sri MahaLakshmi (Light) surrounded on all sides by all the Sakthis personified. Some of these Sakthis were.. Rati, Bhûti, Buddhi (Intellect), Mati, Kîrti (Fame), Smriti(Memory), Dhriti, S’raddhâ, Medhâ, Svadhâ, Svâhâ, Kshudhâ, Nidrâ (Sleep), Dayâ (Compassion), Gati, Tusti, Pusti, Ksamâ (Forgiveness), Lajjâ, Jrimbhâ Tandrâ. All of them were beautiful and well decked.
Each possessed a clear distinct form and was endowed with a clear distinct feeling. In the hands of them all were divine weapons; on their necks, necklaces and garlands of Mandâra (Hibiscus) flowers; and all the limbs of their bodies were decorated with divine ornaments. They stood above the surface of the water without their feet touching it.
This raised a whole lot of new questions in Sri Janardhana’s (Vishnu’s) mind. Was she her mother or Maya? Was he to be a baby forever or would he grow up? Why was he on a banyan leaf?
Then MahaLakshmi reminded him that she was always his consort and after every pralaya, when srishti or creation happened again Vishnu would come into existence and marry her. Under the influence of MahaSakthi he had forgotten.
Then MahaLakshmi reminded him of what took place every kalpa : “ That Highest Mahâ S’akti is transcendent of all the Gunas; but you and I are with Gunas. Know me as the S’akti, all of Sattva Guna who is widely known as Mahâ Laksmî. After this the Prajâpati Brahma, full of Rajo Gunas, the creator of all the Lokas, will come into existence from your navel lotus and will create the three worlds. Then he will perform severe tapasyâ and acquire the excellent power to create, and will create the three worlds by his Rajo Guna. That highly intelligent Prajâpati will create first, the five Mahâ bhûtas (great elements), all endowed with Gunas and then create mind with sensory organs and the presiding deities of the senses, and thus with all the ingredients, fit for creation, will create all the worlds. Therefore He is denominated by all as the Creator of Brahmânda. O highly fortunate one! You will be the Preserver of this Universe. When the Prajâpati Brahmâ will be angry at the beginning of the creation on his four mind-born sons, Rudra Deva will appear. He will appear then from the centre of his eye brows. On being born this Rudra Deva will practise very severe tapasyâ and will get the Samhâra S’akti, who is all of Tamo Guna and at the end of the Kalpa will destroy all this universe of five elements. O highly intelligent one! So I have come to you for this work of creation, etc. So take me to you as your Vaisnavî S’akti full of Sattva Guna. O Madhusûdana! I will take refuge at your breast and will remain always with you. ”
Madhusuddhana (Vishnu), wanted to know about The Voice he had heard before MahaLakshmi had appeared. Then Lakshmi Devi explained to him, that He had heard the voice of Adi Sakthi, who transcended all the gunas (satva, rajas and tamas). She said that the words he had heard spoke by the guNAtIta Adi s’aktti were the essence of all the Vedas.
Hearing the words of the Devî Mahâ Laksmî, the four-armed Bhagavân took that semi stanza as a Mantra to be repeated in right earnest within his mind and cherished that for ever within his heart. After some time, Brahmâ born of the lotus of the navel of Visnu, became afraid of the two Daityâs Madhu and Kaitabha, took refuge of Bhagavân Visnu; Visnu killed the two demons and began to do distinctly the japam (contemplative repetition) of the semi-stanza.
Brahmâ, born of the lotus, then asked Visnu with a gladdened heart :– “O Lord of the Devas! what japam are you doing? Lotus eyed! Is there any other body more powerful than you? O Lord of the Universe! whom do you think and thus feel yourself so happy?” Hearing Brahmâ, Bhagavân Hari said :– “O highly fortunate one! Think out yourself once of the Primordial Force, the auspicious Bhâgavatî Âdya S’akti who is reigning everywhere as the cause and effect and you will be able to understand everything. My presiding Deity is that immeasurable eternal Mahâ S’akti Brahmamyî; on whose S’akti, as a receptacle with form on this ocean rests the whole Universe; I am thinking of that, by which is created (often and often) this entire Universe, moving and non-moving. When the Devî Bhâgavatî, the giver of boons, become graciously pleased, the human beings become freed of this bondage of Samsâra; and again that highest Eternal Wisdom, the cause of Mukti, becomes the source of bondage to this world, of those who are deluded by Her.
She is the Îs’varî of the Îs’varas of this universe. O Brahmâ! You, I and all other things of the entire Universe are born of the Chit S’akti (the power of consciousness) of Her and Her alone; there is no manner of doubt in this. The semi-stanza by which She has sown within me the seed of Bhâgavata will get expanded by the beginning of the Dvâpara Yuga.”
My Thoughts :
Instead of getting distracted by the wonderful details of the story.. if we concentrate on the essence., we see that it is c’it (chitta) or consciousness that is eternal and is the cause of all that we see around us moving or unmoving. Some may refer to it as the Purusha and some as the Devi.
Please Read : Tat Tvam Asi
Sri Krishnarpanam.
Authorship and Copyright Notice : All Rights Reserved : Satya Sarada Kandula
