Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Boons Obtained by Hiranyakashipu
1. Not meet death from any of the living entities created by you.
2. Not meet death within any residence or outside any residence,
3. Not meet death during the daytime or at night,
4. Not meet death on the ground or in the sky.
5. death not be brought by any being other than those created by you,
6. Not meet death nor by any weapon,
7. Not meet death by any human being or animal.
8. I not meet death from any entity, living or nonliving.
9. I not be killed by any demigod or demon or
10. Not meet death by great snake from the lower planets.
11. Since no one can kill you in the battlefield, you have no competitor. Therefore, grant me the benediction that I too may have no rival.
12. sole lordship over all the living entities and presiding deities, and Give me all the glories obtained by that position
13. give me all the mystic powers attained by long austerities and the practice of yoga, for these cannot be lost at any time.
Reincarnation of Lord Narasimha and Prahlad
In the Padma Purana, it mentions that Prahalad, Hiranyakashipu, Nrsingadev, they appear many times. It’s not only this one time.
Two different incarnations in other days of Brahma are described in the Padma Purana.
One of those times he (Hiranyakashipu) worshiped Shiva and got the blessing.
When he was worshiping Shiva and he wanted Prahalad to admit that he was supreme, then he said that, “Well, ok if you don’t want to admit I’m supreme at least admit that Shiva is only supreme and Different From Vishnu.” Prahalad didn’t accept that either.
Another time he worshiped Brahma again. What Happened is Known
Two different incarnations in other days of Brahma are described in the Padma Purana.
One of those times he (Hiranyakashipu) worshiped Shiva and got the blessing.
When he was worshiping Shiva and he wanted Prahalad to admit that he was supreme, then he said that, “Well, ok if you don’t want to admit I’m supreme at least admit that Shiva is only supreme and Different From Vishnu.” Prahalad didn’t accept that either.
Another time he worshiped Brahma again. What Happened is Known
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Friday, December 3, 2010
Prahlad Two Previous / Next Births
First Birth on Earth
Prahlada Maharaja said to Nrsimhadeva:
My obeisances to Bhagavan Sri Vishnu
Who appeared in the form of a half man and half lion (nara-simha)
O Lord of all lords, I am Your Bhakta
Please hear my heartfelt inquiry
Oh my master, how did I develop such intense devotion for You?
Kindly tell me how it happened that I became Your devotee?
Nrsimhadeva replied:
Please hear, My greatly intelligent one. My dear son, listen carefully as I explain to you the reason for your devotion to Me that has made you very dear to Me.
Once, you where born as a brahmana, but you didn’t study any of the shastra. Your name was Vasudeva. In that life you became so attached to a prostitute that you did not bother to perform any pious activities, accept for a single vow in relation to Me. As result of observing that vrata – even unknowingly – you developed exalted devotion for Me.
Prahlada inquired:
O Lord Nrsimhadeva, Acyuta. Please tell me who was my father in that life? What was my duty? And how did I observe Your vrata, even though I was attached to a prostitute?
Nrsimhadeva replied:
In ancient times there was a brahmana who was well versed in the shastra. He lived in Avantipura and his name was Vasu Sharma. He used to perform daily agnihotra ceremonies and other vedic rituals. In this way he pleased the devas. He begot five sons with his pious wife. You were the youngest of them.
Due to being attached to a prostitute you became accustomed to drinking wine and performing other sinful activities, so that you never engaged in the study of the Vedas. You spent more time at the house of the prostitute. One day however you and she quarrelled with each other and because of that you missed your meal that day. As a result both of you unknowingly observed a sacred vow in relation with Me – not eating and sleeping the entire day and through the night.
Because of unknowingly observing this vow in relation to Me, you became purified and accumulated heaps of pious merit. By the performance of this vow many devas, Brahma and Mahadeva attained perfection of life and the power they needed to perform their tasks. Dear Prahlada, on the strength of that vow you came to render devotional service unto Me. In the next life the prostitute was born in heaven as an Apsara and after enjoying life there she entered My supreme abode.
In order to propagate devotional service to Me you have incarnated and after completing the task of preaching the glories of bhagavata-dharma you will again enter My eternal abode. Thus who observe this vow in relation to Me will never return to this material existence. This vow grants all material and spiritual benefits. The more that sinful activities increase in Kali-yuga the less people will observe this Caturdasi-vrata.
After considering all these facts one should observe this vow, which occurs in the month of Vaishakha. Dear Prahlada when this auspicious day arrives you should observe this vrata, which destroys all sinful karma. One who glorifies the discussion of this most confidential and sacred vow will obtain the merit of observing this vow and as such all of his desires will be fulfilled.
- Hari Bhakti Vilasa
Second Birth in Vaikuntam
In Vaikuntam, Lord Sri Hari has Sri Maha Lakshmi to His service apart from others servants. Sri Maha Lakshmi also has several maids who are charming and beautiful. Shanku Karna is one among the servants of Lord Sri Hari. He was once appointed by Lord Sri Hari to serve Lord Brahma, the Creator.
Lord Brahma took birth from a beautiful lotus that evolved from the navel of Lord Sri Hari. His consort is Goddess Saraswathi Devi. Once Lord Brahma wanted to know where exactly this lotus evolved from. So He followed the stalk of the lotus flower to find it's beginning, only to His vain. He came back and sat in His seat. Yet, His heart was eager to know where the lotus evolved from. Suddenly He heard two alphabets "tha" "pa"(Thapas) from somewhere. He turned around to see who uttered these words and could not find any one. So He decided to do Thapas(Deep Meditation) itself to find an answer. Goddess Saraswathi Devi gave Him a Mantra to recite without any distractions. And Brahma had done it with utmost devotion. Suddenly, the Vaikuntam(abode of Lord Sri Hari) with the Lord Himself, along with His consort Sri Maha Lakshmi appeared in front of His eyes. Ah ! Ultimately He found His birth place(Vaikuntam) ! And He was satisfied. Lord Sri Hari spoke to Brahma and educated Him about the creation and the nature of this Universe. He gave Brahma the Gayatri Mantra and appointed Sri Shanku Karna as Brahma's servant.
Though Shanku Karna was serving Lord Brahma, his heart was totally pre-occupied by Lord Vishnu(Sri Hari). What ever his job was, his heart revolved around the feet of Lord Vishnu. The petals of the lotus seemed like the beautiful eyes of Sri Maha Vishnu to him, the lotuses as the countenence of Sri Hari, their stalks as the beautiful hands, and every part of the lotus seemed to be a part of Lord Sri Hari to Shanku Karna. The swans moving there seemed like Sri Maha Lakshmi Herself. To Shanku Karna's eyes, Sri Vani and Lord Brahma seemed like Sri Lakshmi Narayana.
Once it happened that one day, Shanku Karna was enthralled by the Veena recital of Sri Vani while his heart was meditating about Lord Sri Hari. Lord Brahma noticed this and thought that Shanku Karna was not paying proper attention to His needs. He was angry with Shanku Karna's behavior and cursed him to take birth on earth as a human being. At that time, it was Krutha Yuga in the Bhuloka(Earth). The demon king Hiranya Kashyapa was performing a great penance in favor of Lord Brahma. His wife Leelavathi was pregnant and Shanku Karna entered her womb.
In fact, Lord Brahma was not angry with Shanku Karna but was very happy with the devotion Shanku Karna showed towards Lord Vishnu. The Mother Earth was mourning with the sins that were increasing drastically. To reduce these sins, one such true devotee of Sri Hari was required on the Earth. That was the reason why Lord Brahma had to curse and send Shanku Karna to the Earth.
Whatever might be the reason, Shanku Karna had to leave Vaikuntam and come down to the Earth for a good cause.
Next Two Births
Prahlada Maharaja said to Nrsimhadeva:
My obeisances to Bhagavan Sri Vishnu
Who appeared in the form of a half man and half lion (nara-simha)
O Lord of all lords, I am Your Bhakta
Please hear my heartfelt inquiry
Oh my master, how did I develop such intense devotion for You?
Kindly tell me how it happened that I became Your devotee?
Nrsimhadeva replied:
Please hear, My greatly intelligent one. My dear son, listen carefully as I explain to you the reason for your devotion to Me that has made you very dear to Me.
Once, you where born as a brahmana, but you didn’t study any of the shastra. Your name was Vasudeva. In that life you became so attached to a prostitute that you did not bother to perform any pious activities, accept for a single vow in relation to Me. As result of observing that vrata – even unknowingly – you developed exalted devotion for Me.
Prahlada inquired:
O Lord Nrsimhadeva, Acyuta. Please tell me who was my father in that life? What was my duty? And how did I observe Your vrata, even though I was attached to a prostitute?
Nrsimhadeva replied:
In ancient times there was a brahmana who was well versed in the shastra. He lived in Avantipura and his name was Vasu Sharma. He used to perform daily agnihotra ceremonies and other vedic rituals. In this way he pleased the devas. He begot five sons with his pious wife. You were the youngest of them.
Due to being attached to a prostitute you became accustomed to drinking wine and performing other sinful activities, so that you never engaged in the study of the Vedas. You spent more time at the house of the prostitute. One day however you and she quarrelled with each other and because of that you missed your meal that day. As a result both of you unknowingly observed a sacred vow in relation with Me – not eating and sleeping the entire day and through the night.
Because of unknowingly observing this vow in relation to Me, you became purified and accumulated heaps of pious merit. By the performance of this vow many devas, Brahma and Mahadeva attained perfection of life and the power they needed to perform their tasks. Dear Prahlada, on the strength of that vow you came to render devotional service unto Me. In the next life the prostitute was born in heaven as an Apsara and after enjoying life there she entered My supreme abode.
In order to propagate devotional service to Me you have incarnated and after completing the task of preaching the glories of bhagavata-dharma you will again enter My eternal abode. Thus who observe this vow in relation to Me will never return to this material existence. This vow grants all material and spiritual benefits. The more that sinful activities increase in Kali-yuga the less people will observe this Caturdasi-vrata.
After considering all these facts one should observe this vow, which occurs in the month of Vaishakha. Dear Prahlada when this auspicious day arrives you should observe this vrata, which destroys all sinful karma. One who glorifies the discussion of this most confidential and sacred vow will obtain the merit of observing this vow and as such all of his desires will be fulfilled.
- Hari Bhakti Vilasa
Second Birth in Vaikuntam
In Vaikuntam, Lord Sri Hari has Sri Maha Lakshmi to His service apart from others servants. Sri Maha Lakshmi also has several maids who are charming and beautiful. Shanku Karna is one among the servants of Lord Sri Hari. He was once appointed by Lord Sri Hari to serve Lord Brahma, the Creator.
Lord Brahma took birth from a beautiful lotus that evolved from the navel of Lord Sri Hari. His consort is Goddess Saraswathi Devi. Once Lord Brahma wanted to know where exactly this lotus evolved from. So He followed the stalk of the lotus flower to find it's beginning, only to His vain. He came back and sat in His seat. Yet, His heart was eager to know where the lotus evolved from. Suddenly He heard two alphabets "tha" "pa"(Thapas) from somewhere. He turned around to see who uttered these words and could not find any one. So He decided to do Thapas(Deep Meditation) itself to find an answer. Goddess Saraswathi Devi gave Him a Mantra to recite without any distractions. And Brahma had done it with utmost devotion. Suddenly, the Vaikuntam(abode of Lord Sri Hari) with the Lord Himself, along with His consort Sri Maha Lakshmi appeared in front of His eyes. Ah ! Ultimately He found His birth place(Vaikuntam) ! And He was satisfied. Lord Sri Hari spoke to Brahma and educated Him about the creation and the nature of this Universe. He gave Brahma the Gayatri Mantra and appointed Sri Shanku Karna as Brahma's servant.
Though Shanku Karna was serving Lord Brahma, his heart was totally pre-occupied by Lord Vishnu(Sri Hari). What ever his job was, his heart revolved around the feet of Lord Vishnu. The petals of the lotus seemed like the beautiful eyes of Sri Maha Vishnu to him, the lotuses as the countenence of Sri Hari, their stalks as the beautiful hands, and every part of the lotus seemed to be a part of Lord Sri Hari to Shanku Karna. The swans moving there seemed like Sri Maha Lakshmi Herself. To Shanku Karna's eyes, Sri Vani and Lord Brahma seemed like Sri Lakshmi Narayana.
Once it happened that one day, Shanku Karna was enthralled by the Veena recital of Sri Vani while his heart was meditating about Lord Sri Hari. Lord Brahma noticed this and thought that Shanku Karna was not paying proper attention to His needs. He was angry with Shanku Karna's behavior and cursed him to take birth on earth as a human being. At that time, it was Krutha Yuga in the Bhuloka(Earth). The demon king Hiranya Kashyapa was performing a great penance in favor of Lord Brahma. His wife Leelavathi was pregnant and Shanku Karna entered her womb.
In fact, Lord Brahma was not angry with Shanku Karna but was very happy with the devotion Shanku Karna showed towards Lord Vishnu. The Mother Earth was mourning with the sins that were increasing drastically. To reduce these sins, one such true devotee of Sri Hari was required on the Earth. That was the reason why Lord Brahma had to curse and send Shanku Karna to the Earth.
Whatever might be the reason, Shanku Karna had to leave Vaikuntam and come down to the Earth for a good cause.
Next Two Births
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