Showing posts with label brahma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label brahma. Show all posts

11 April 2021

Lord Siva Column of Light: Siva Purana



Most devotees are familiar with the legend of the manifestation of Lord Siva as an effulgent column of light without beginning or end, as represented in the Skanda Purana. Below is the legend as represented slightly differently in the Siva Purana.





Chapter Seven

(Siva manifesting as a column of fire in the battlefield)


Isvara said:—

1. Dear children, hail to ye. I hope the universe and the race of the deities, under my suzerainty, flourish in their respective duties.


2. O Gods, the fight between Brahma and Visnu is already known to me. This agitation on your part is like a redundant speech.


3. Thus the consort of Amba consoled the concourse of devas with honey-like speech sweetened with a smile in the manner of appeasing children.


4. In that very assembly the lord announced his desire to go to the battlefield of Hari and Brahma and accordingly issued His directive to a hundred of the commanders of his attendants.


5-6. Different kinds of musical instruments were played to announce the start of the journey of the Lord. The commanders of the attendants were in readiness fully bedecked in their ornaments, seated in their respective vehicles. The lord, consort of Ambika, mounted the holy chariot shaped like Omkara from front to the back and embellished in five circular rings. He was accompanied by his sons and Ganas. All the devas, Indra and others, followed.


7. Honoured suitably by the display of banners of various colours, fans, chowries, scattered flowers, music, dance and the instrument players, and accompanied by the great goddess (Parvati), Pasupati (Siva) went to the battle-field with the whole army.


8. On espying the battle, the lord vanished in the firmament. The play of the music stopped and the tumult of the Ganas subsided.


9. There in the battlefield Brahma and Acyuta desirous of killing each other were awaiting the result of the Mahesvara and the Pasupata weapons hurled by them.


10-11. The flames emitted by the two weapons of Brahma and Visnu burned the three worlds. On seeing this imminent untimely dissolution the bodiless form of Siva assumed the terrific form of a huge column of fire in their midst.


12. The two weapons of fiery flame potential enough to destroy the entire world fell into the huge column of fire that manifested itself there instantaneously.


13. Seeing that auspicious wonderful phenomenon assuaging the weapons they asked each other "What is this wonderful form?"


14. "What is this column of fire that has risen up? It is beyond the range of senses. We have to find out its top and bottom."


15. Jointly deciding like this, the two heroes proud of their prowess immediately set about assiduously in their quest.


16-18. "Nothing will turn up if we are together". Saying this, Visnu assumed the form of a Boar and went in search of the bottom. Piercing through the netherworlds and going very far below, Visnu could not see the root of the fiery column. Utterly exhausted, Visnu in the form of a Boar returned to the former battle-ground.


19. Dear one, your father, Brahma who went high up in the sky saw a certain bunch of Ketaki flower of mysterious nature falling from above.


20-21. On seeing the mutual fight of Brahma and Visnu, lord Siva laughed. When his head shook, the Ketaki flower dropped down. Although it had been on its downward course for many years, neither its fragrance nor its lustre had been diminished even a bit. The flower had been intended to bless them.


22-23. (Brahma said) "O lord of flowers, by whom had you been worn? Why do you fall? I have come here to seek out the top, in the form of a swan." (The flower replied) "I am falling down from the middle of this primordial column that is inscrutable. It has taken me a long time. Hence I do not see how you can see the top."





24-25. "Dear friend, hereafter you must do as I desire. In the presence of Visnu you must say like this. O Acyuta, the top of the column has been seen by Brahma. I am the witness for the same." Saying this he bowed to the Ketaki flower again and again. Even falsehood is recommended in times of danger. So say the authoritative texts.


26. (Returning to the original place) on seeing Visnu there, utterly exhausted and lacking pleasure, Brahma danced with joy. Visnu, in the manner of a eunuch admitting his inability (to a woman), told him the truth (that he could not see the bottom). But Brahma told Visnu like this.


27-28. "O Hari, the top of this column has been seen by me. This Ketaki flower is my witness." The Ketaki flower repeated the falsehood endorsing the words of Brahma in his presence. Hari, taking it to be true, made obeisance to Brahma. He worshipped Brahma with all the sixteen means of service and homage.


29. The Lord taking up a visible form in order to chastise Brahma who practised trickery, came out of the column of fire. On seeing the lord, Visnu stood up and with his hands shaking with fear caught hold of the lord's feet.


30. It is out of ignorance and delusion about you whose body is without a beginning or an end that we indulged in this quest prompted by our own desire. Hence O, Sympathetic Being, forgive us for our fault. In fact, it is but another form of your divine sport.


Isvara said

31. "O dear Hari, I am pleased with you, because you strictly adhered to truth in spite of your desire to be a lord. Hence among the general public you will have a footing equal to mine. You will be honoured too likewise.


32. Hereafter, you will be separate from me having separate temple, installation of idols, festivals and worship."


33. Thus, formerly, the lord was delighted by the truthfulness of Hari and offered him a footing equal to his own even as the assembly of the devas was witnessing the same.



Chapter Eight

(Siva's forgiveness of Brahma)


Nandikesvara said:--

1. Mahadeva then created a wonderful person, Bhairava, from the middle of his brows to quell the pride of Brahma.


2. This Bhairava knelt before the lord in the battle-field and said—"O lord, what shall I do? Please give me your directives quickly."


3. "Dear, here is Brahma, the first deity of the universe. Worship him with our sharp-pointed quick-moving sword."


4. With one of his hands he caught hold of the tuft of Brahma's fifth head that was guilty of haughtily uttering a falsehood, and with the hands he furiously shook his sword in order to cut it off.


5. Your father trembled like a plantain tree in a whirlwind, with his ornaments scattered here and there, his cloth ruffled and loosened, the garland displaced, the upper cloth hanging loose and the glossy tuft dishevelled, and fell at the feet of Bhairava.


6. Meanwhile the sympathetic Acyuta desirous of saving Brahma, shed tears over the lotus-like feet of our lord and said with palms joined in reverence just like a child lisping words of entreaty to its father.


Acyuta said:—

7. O Lord, it was you who gave him five heads as a special symbol, long ago. Hence please forgive him his first guilt. Please favour him.


8. The lord thus requested by Acyuta relented and in the presence of all devas asked Bhairava to desist from punishing Brahma.


9. Then the lord turned to the deceitful Brahma who bent down his neck and said "O Brahma, in order to extort honour from the people you assumed the role of the lord in a roguish manner.


10-11. Hence you shall not be honoured, nor shall you have your own temple or festival.


Brahma said:—

O Lord, be pleased. O flourishing one, I consider this sparing of my head itself a great blessing and a boon. Obeisance to Thee, the lord, the kinsman, the originator of the universe, the forbearing, the forgiver of defects, the benevolent one, wielding the mountain as his bow.


12 February 2010

Thazhampoo, Ketaki, Screwpine

It is only on the day of Mahashivaratri (third Kala Puja) that the Screwpine flower is used for the worship of Shiva. As a result of a dispute between Brahma and Vishnu the Lord declared that henceforth the flower which hitherto had adorned his head in worship would no longer be used in his adoration.

The story of the dispute goes like this:


Dispute of Brahma and Vishnu

In the days of antiquity a controversy arose between Brahma and Vishnu as to which of the two was greater. Brahma said to Vishnu, "I have created the five elements and all the living beings with their endless differences in form and sound. Therefore I am the Absolute God." Vishnu said, "The whole universe is but an aspect of mine. Of what use is your creation if I do not protect it? It is my thought-power that creates, sustains and destroys the whole Universe. So I am the Absolute God" Their dispute resulted in misery in the manifested world. Supreme Being Parameshwara saw this and was filled with compassion. To settle the discord and subdue their pride, Lord Shiva appeared before them in the form of blazing column of light and a voice issued from it asking them to seek its upper and lower limits and he who found either of these is the superior one. Both gods stopped fighting and decided to explore the ends. Brahma took the form of a swan and flew up to reach the top of the column of light, whereas Vishnu became a boar and started burrowing into the earth to find its base.

A thousand years passed as Vishnu dug deep into the nether worlds and the journey seemed endless. With all this power he could not discover the base and he got lost in meditation with the result that he experienced the Supreme Light which dwells in the hearts of all. He soon realised and recognised that his true strength was derived from this Supreme Light, that is Lord Shiva. He prayed to Shiva seeking His pardon and then returned to earth. Brahman who flew up as a swan was mounting the sky and the higher he soared, the column of light rose higher before him. He was growing despondent and was about to return when he saw a fragrant flower called Ketaki (screw-pine) falling towards the earth. On asking from where it had come, the flower revealed that it had come from the crest of the fire column that was none other than Shiva himself and that it had been descending for thousands of four-fold Yugas. Brahma requested the flower to say that both of them came down after seeing the crest and thus the flower swore to Vishnu in the presence of the Column of Effulgence that Brahma had reach the summit.

Splitting asunder the column of Light, Shiva appeared before the two Gods. When the lotus-eyed Vishnu saw him, he danced with joy. The guilty Brahma on seeing the Lord’s true form was confused and frightened. Mahadeva said, "The two of you need not be ashamed for having transcended your limits. Hari (Vishnu) pondered deeply and became enlightened. But Brahma has uttered falsehood and I now cut off his fifth head for that perjury. Brahma shall not hereafter be installed in any Temple. And this flower, which bore false witness, shall never again find a place on my head and shall not be used for my worship." After cursing Brahma and the screw-pine flower thus, Shiva turned to Vishnu and said, "Child! Be composed, I am pleased with you. You are one of my foremost devotees. You originated from me and are my sattwic part. At the end of the kalpa you shall merge in me."

Brahma and Vishnu prayed to Shiva to abide there forever as a Tejo Lingam. In answer to their heartfelt request, Parameshwara established himself as the Arunachala Hill and also as a small Siva Lingam at the eastern foot of the Hill for the welfare of the world and for those who desire to worship Him and obtain illumination.

[Abridged – The Glory of Arunachala]



For those of you interested in learning more about the infamous Screw Pine, which is allowed in the worship of Shiva only during the night of Mahashivaratri, go to this link here.


29 August 2008

Brahma and the Lie


In the upcoming Arunachala Grace Newsletter there is a narrative on the Screw-Pine focusing in particular on its ayurvedic and medicinal uses. The Newsletter will be sent out within some days, so if you are not yet a subscriber, please check out the 'facility' at the left hand margin of this page and receive the free monthly Newsletter direct to your email inbox.

Even though the Screw-Pine did in fact lie to Shiva, I've always felt a great sense of compassion towards it - 'It wasn't his fault, he got bad advice! Give him another chance!'.

To find out about the Column of Effulgence (i.e. Arunachala), Brahma and the lie, and also to learn more about the Screw-Pine, read on:


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Brahma:

“. . . saw a white streak approach him and as it came near, he saw that it was a flower of the screw-pine. Though faded, it was very fragrant and pure. Brahma took it in his hands, whereupon the flower spoke to him, “Ah! Why do you stop me? I have been travelling for many thousands of years and am tired. Please let me go.”

Brahma turned to the flower and asked:

“Who are you? Where are you coming from?” It replied, “I am a flower of the screw-pine. I am sentient. I dwelt on the crest of this column for a long time at Siva’s command. I am now coming down as I desire to see the world.”

Brahma asked the flower:

“How far away is the top of this Column of Effulgence?”

The flower of the screw-pine derisively smiled at Brahma and said:

“Who are you? You seem to know nothing. You cannot know the origin of this column. There are crores and crores of Brahmandas inside this column. They are countless. Who can measure its dimensions? I have been coming down for many thousands of four-fold yugas. Yet I have not perceived the earth which is its middle region.”

When Brahma heard this he abandoned his pride, clasped his hands, bowed to it and prayed:

The Column of Light

“O great soul in the form of a flower of the screw-pine! I am Brahman, the Creator. There arose a dispute between Vishnu and myself. Both of us forgot the glory of Shiva. We became proud of our work, creating and sustaining the world. It is said that friendship arises even by exchanging seven words. You are a great soul. You must forgive my ignorance and be gracious to me. We began seeking the top and bottom of this Column of Effulgence in order to establish superiority over each other. Vishnu took the form of a boar and I, that of a swan. I am unaware of Vishnu’s fate. I who came to find the summit have flown for thousands of years and become weary. My life seems to be ebbing.

Friend! Fortunately I have met you. I am helpless. You are now my saviour. Pray, grant my wish. I beseech you. You must utter a life for me, your friend. Kindly avow in the presence of Vishnu that I have seen the summit of the Column of Effulgence and that you were witness to it since you (the flower) always decorates Siva’s head. Further, declare that I (Brahma) am superior to Vishnu.”

Implored thus, the screw-pine supported Brahma in his lie in the presence of the Column of Effulgence that the God had reached the summit. To punish them for this Shiva announced:

“Brahma . . . has uttered a falsehood, and I now cut off his fifth head for that perjury. Brahma shall not hereafter be installed in any Temple. And this screw-pine flower, which bore false witness, shall never again find a place on my head and shall not be used for my worship.”

[Abridged from The Glory of Arunachala]



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Screwpine

The Screw Pine is a shrub with fragrant flowers found wild in Southern India and grows in abundance along seacoasts and banks of rivers.

It is also known by the name of: Umbrella tree, Tamil: Thazhampoo and in Sanskrit: Ketaki. The shrub’s botanical name is Pandanus Odoratissimus of the Screw Pine family: Pandanaceae.

The Pandanus is also known as the Screw Pine due to the swirl of the leaves. It is one of the most useful plants in the tropics. Practically every part of the Screw Pine is used for all types of purposes: clothing, bowls, house building, food, medicine and fragrance.

It is only the male flowers of the tree that have a scent, which has been described as heavily fragrant, unforgettable and something similar to hyacinth-honey. The male flower of the Pandanus Odoratissimus can weigh two pounds or more and is also known as one of the five arrows of Kaman (the Indian Cupid).


Male Flower

A mature flower with opening petals. But, the flower is at its best as a bud.

Unripe Fruit



Ripe Fruit