On the huge pinnacle of beautiful Mount Kailasha, Lord Shiva was sitting in samadhi under a Banyan tree. On His marvelous camphor-white body, His reddish-brown hair was scattered artfully. On His hands, neck and chest, rudraksa beads and snakes were hanging as ornaments, enjoying His soothing touch.
His dear vehicle, Nandi the bull, was sitting in front of Him, and a little further away His attendants were enjoying various love plays. A crescent moon was decorating the top of His matted hair as a symbol of Shiva’s mercy. The silvery current of the Holy Ganga was visible through her coolness. His third eye was calm and quiet. The sacred ashes pasted in three lines on His forehead were so beautiful and captivating that it cannot be described in words.
Suddenly Lord Shiva broke His samadhi by chanting “Rama, Rama” as if a cloud had rumbled. Everybody’s eyes were full of love and joy fully turned towards Shiva. From one bush there appeared a beautiful maiden, Sati, the dearest consort of Lord Shiva.
She found her beloved spouse looking at her with special, graceful eyes. She came forward and stood in front of Him with folded hands and a heart full of love. She spoke amiably, “My Lord, my heart swells in joy after seeing You come out of such a long samadhi. How shall I serve You? May I do any service for you, dear? I feel that You wish to say something.”
Lord Shiva replied, “My dear consort, a very pious and auspicious desire is arising in My Being today. Rama, on whom I meditate and contemplate always, whose heart-captivating pastimes I love to narrate to you, He is coming, descending onto the earth with all the Gods and representatives of celestial and astral planets. They are taking birth in the semi-divine and human races so that the Earth will receive the great fortune of His service. I wonder why I alone should miss this valuable holy occasion? Let me also go to the place where He is.”
The beautiful Sati, dangling between the feelings of pleasure and pain, (since her husband’s pleasure was her pleasure, and the separation from Him was great pain) said, “My Lord, Your desire is all auspicious, all sublime, all natural. As I want to serve You, my beloved spouse, so also You want to serve Your Lord, for service is the only expression of deep love. But my Lord, my heart is tormented by just imagining the future separation. Please give me power so that my heart can enjoy Your happiness in totality.
“My Lord, Your Beloved Lord Rama is descending to unburden the Earth of a most powerful ten-headed monster, King Ravana. But, King Ravana is your great devotee, to whom You have offered many boons, for he has satisfied You through ten thousand years of austerity and by sacrificing his ten heads one by one in the fire. How can You help anyone in killing him?”
Lord Shiva laughed and said, “My dear consort, you are very innocent. You need not be afraid of separation. I shall remain always with you. I can manifest Myself in various forms. At times I shall be taking you to Lord Rama, but by another form which will be the manifestation of my eleventh expansion.
“Be aware that I divide My energy into eleven spheres or bodies. It is the eleventh expansion that will be incarnated on earth as Sri Hanumanji. In the past, the demon King, Ravana, insulted and left My eleventh expansion unsatisfied. Now that eleventh expansion can be used to fight with Ravana and serve My Lord Rama. I have decide to take birth from the womb of Anjana by Kesari. Are you happy?”
Sati smiled, filled with joy and love. Shiva embraced her, and Sati embraced Shiva, and both became the very embrace itself, and that embrace became eternal.
THE BIRTH OF SRI HANUMANJI
Anjana, who became the mother of Hanumanji, was one of the sixteen matrikas. The matrikas are adored and worshipped women of the celestial, astral and material planes of the Universe. Once Anjana assumed the form of a female visitor to the planet Svah, a few million miles beyond the Pole Star. She arrived in the assembly of Indra, the King of Svah. Somehow, the King was attracted to her and requested that she make love with him. She rebuked him severely and said, "Who would like to make love with you, a fallen one with the signs of a thousand eyes?"
King Indra could not bear this insult and cursing her he said, "You are very vain because of your beauty. You will be born in the monkey-faced Vanara race."
While Indra was cursing Anjana, Anjana's dearest friend Adrika (out of love for Anjana), tried to insult Indra by meowing like a cat. Indra then cursed her say, "You will become cat-faced in your next life!"
In course of time, both friends were born as the twin daughters of Kunja, a high-ranking Vanara (the monkey-god race) soldier. When they grew up, Keshari, a famous knight of the Vanara race, married both of them. Then, one day while Keshari was in meditation at the southern seashore, Maharishi Agastya bacame the Atithi* of the soldier Keshari. Both of Keshari's wives welcomed the unexpected guest and served him wholeheartedly. Agastya was highly satisfied and told the wives to ask for any boon they wished.
"I want the mightiest son, who will be very bold and stong in the world, totally devoted to universal welfare," Anjana requested.
"So be it," Maharishi Agastya approved the wish for both of them, and in due course of time, Anjana gave birth to Sri Hanumanji who became all powerful; and Adrika gave birth to a son, Adri by name, who became governor of all the goblins.
Soon after he granted this boon, Maharishi Agastya realized that Lord Shiva Himself was going to be born as the son of Anjana. He ordered her to go to meditate on Venkatadri Hill in Vrishabhachal on the bank of the Akashaganga. This was the most appropriate place to materialize her desire. Thus, one day, as she was absorbed in a long meditation, Vayu the Wind God, appeared and said, "Adorable devi, I am very pleased with you. You will attain a mighty son, one who will not be affected by any weapons whatsoever. I shall become your son myself. He will be equal to me in power and speed." Thus saying, Vayu infused his light into Mother Anjana.
*Atithi means a Holy Guest whose date of arrival is not fixed, not known. Some Holy People constantly travel from one Holy Place to another. (A Holy Place is a town, village or woodland where some Enlightened Saint was born or which the Supreme Lord, during His incarnation in human form, has sanctified by His footprints or pastimes. Such places are plentiful in India. Meditation is effortlessly deep and blissful in such places. You can relax very easily.) Since the Holy Person's journey is unorganized and unplanned they desperately need shelter. Of course, they do not pay much attention to it, but as far as the body is concerned it has its own requirements, and shelter in the night and food and water in the midday is a main necessity.
Such people may arrive at any town at any time without pre-information. They may be sitting under some tree or they may request shelter. Holy People who are constant pilgrims to Holy Places or constant travelers for broadcasting the wisdom of the Vedas and tantras are known as Atithis. In Vedic civilization, to invite and welcome an Atithi with all the warmth of one's heart, and to offer them food and shelter was a great meritorius act, and those who did not do that were taken as a curse or disgrace to their family.
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LORD SHIVA INCARNATES AS SRI HANUMAN
On the huge pinnacle of beautiful Mount Kailasha, Lord Shiva was sitting in samadhi under a Banyan tree. On His marvelous camphor-white body, His reddish-brown hair was scattered artfully. On His hands, neck and chest, rudraksa beads and snakes were hanging as ornaments, enjoying His soothing touch.
His dear vehicle, Nandi the bull, was sitting in front of Him, and a little further away His attendants were enjoying various love plays. A crescent moon was decorating the top of His matted hair as a symbol of Shiva’s mercy. The silvery current of the Holy Ganga was visible through her coolness. His third eye was calm and quiet. The sacred ashes pasted in three lines on His forehead were so beautiful and captivating that it cannot be described in words.
Suddenly Lord Shiva broke His samadhi by chanting “Rama, Rama” as if a cloud had rumbled. Everybody’s eyes were full of love and joy fully turned towards Shiva. From one bush there appeared a beautiful maiden, Sati, the dearest consort of Lord Shiva.
She found her beloved spouse looking at her with special, graceful eyes. She came forward and stood in front of Him with folded hands and a heart full of love. She spoke amiably, “My Lord, my heart swells in joy after seeing You come out of such a long samadhi. How shall I serve You? May I do any service for you, dear? I feel that You wish to say something.”
Lord Shiva replied, “My dear consort, a very pious and auspicious desire is arising in My Being today. Rama, on whom I meditate and contemplate always, whose heart-captivating pastimes I love to narrate to you, He is coming, descending onto the earth with all the Gods and representatives of celestial and astral planets. They are taking birth in the semi-divine and human races so that the Earth will receive the great fortune of His service. I wonder why I alone should miss this valuable holy occasion? Let me also go to the place where He is.”
The beautiful Sati, dangling between the feelings of pleasure and pain, (since her husband’s pleasure was her pleasure, and the separation from Him was great pain) said, “My Lord, Your desire is all auspicious, all sublime, all natural. As I want to serve You, my beloved spouse, so also You want to serve Your Lord, for service is the only expression of deep love. But my Lord, my heart is tormented by just imagining the future separation. Please give me power so that my heart can enjoy Your happiness in totality.
“My Lord, Your Beloved Lord Rama is descending to unburden the Earth of a most powerful ten-headed monster, King Ravana. But, King Ravana is your great devotee, to whom You have offered many boons, for he has satisfied You through ten thousand years of austerity and by sacrificing his ten heads one by one in the fire. How can You help anyone in killing him?”
Lord Shiva laughed and said, “My dear consort, you are very innocent. You need not be afraid of separation. I shall remain always with you. I can manifest Myself in various forms. At times I shall be taking you to Lord Rama, but by another form which will be the manifestation of my eleventh expansion.
“Be aware that I divide My energy into eleven spheres or bodies. It is the eleventh expansion that will be incarnated on earth as Sri Hanumanji. In the past, the demon King, Ravana, insulted and left My eleventh expansion unsatisfied. Now that eleventh expansion can be used to fight with Ravana and serve My Lord Rama. I have decide to take birth from the womb of Anjana by Kesari. Are you happy?”
Sati smiled, filled with joy and love. Shiva embraced her, and Sati embraced Shiva, and both became the very embrace itself, and that embrace became eternal.
THE BIRTH OF SRI HANUMANJI
Anjana, who became the mother of Hanumanji, was one of the sixteen matrikas. The matrikas are adored and worshipped women of the celestial, astral and material planes of the Universe. Once Anjana assumed the form of a female visitor to the planet Svah, a few million miles beyond the Pole Star. She arrived in the assembly of Indra, the King of Svah. Somehow, the King was attracted to her and requested that she make love with him. She rebuked him severely and said, "Who would like to make love with you, a fallen one with the signs of a thousand eyes?"
King Indra could not bear this insult and cursing her he said, "You are very vain because of your beauty. You will be born in the monkey-faced Vanara race."
While Indra was cursing Anjana, Anjana's dearest friend Adrika (out of love for Anjana), tried to insult Indra by meowing like a cat. Indra then cursed her say, "You will become cat-faced in your next life!"
In course of time, both friends were born as the twin daughters of Kunja, a high-ranking Vanara (the monkey-god race) soldier. When they grew up, Keshari, a famous knight of the Vanara race, married both of them. Then, one day while Keshari was in meditation at the southern seashore, Maharishi Agastya bacame the Atithi* of the soldier Keshari. Both of Keshari's wives welcomed the unexpected guest and served him wholeheartedly. Agastya was highly satisfied and told the wives to ask for any boon they wished.
"I want the mightiest son, who will be very bold and stong in the world, totally devoted to universal welfare," Anjana requested.
"So be it," Maharishi Agastya approved the wish for both of them, and in due course of time, Anjana gave birth to Sri Hanumanji who became all powerful; and Adrika gave birth to a son, Adri by name, who became governor of all the goblins.
Soon after he granted this boon, Maharishi Agastya realized that Lord Shiva Himself was going to be born as the son of Anjana. He ordered her to go to meditate on Venkatadri Hill in Vrishabhachal on the bank of the Akashaganga. This was the most appropriate place to materialize her desire. Thus, one day, as she was absorbed in a long meditation, Vayu the Wind God, appeared and said, "Adorable devi, I am very pleased with you. You will attain a mighty son, one who will not be affected by any weapons whatsoever. I shall become your son myself. He will be equal to me in power and speed." Thus saying, Vayu infused his light into Mother Anjana.
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*Atithi means a Holy Guest whose date of arrival is not fixed, not known. Some Holy People constantly travel from one Holy Place to another. (A Holy Place is a town, village or woodland where some Enlightened Saint was born or which the Supreme Lord, during His incarnation in human form, has sanctified by His footprints or pastimes. Such places are plentiful in India. Meditation is effortlessly deep and blissful in such places. You can relax very easily.) Since the Holy Person's journey is unorganized and unplanned they desperately need shelter. Of course, they do not pay much attention to it, but as far as the body is concerned it has its own requirements, and shelter in the night and food and water in the midday is a main necessity.
Such people may arrive at any town at any time without pre-information. They may be sitting under some tree or they may request shelter. Holy People who are constant pilgrims to Holy Places or constant travelers for broadcasting the wisdom of the Vedas and tantras are known as Atithis. In Vedic civilization, to invite and welcome an Atithi with all the warmth of one's heart, and to offer them food and shelter was a great meritorius act, and those who did not do that were taken as a curse or disgrace to their family.
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