Arjuna and Lord Shiva

Posted by VIBHOR MAHAJAN on [MAY 10, 2012](https://vibhormahajan.wordpress.com/2012/05/10/arjuna-and-lord- shiva/)

In Mahabharata, Duryodhana with help of his uncle Shakuni robbed the Pandavas of their rightful share of the kingdom in a game of dice. As a result of this, the Pandavas had to spend many years in the forest. While they were in the forest, Vedavyasa (Sage who wrote Mahabharata) came to visit the Pandavas. Vedavyasa told them that they should pray to Lord Shiva. But since Arjuna was the best suited amongst the Pandavas for worshipping Lord Shiva, Vedvyasa taught Arjuna a special mantra (incantation). Then he asked Arjuna to go to Mount Indrakila and pray to Shiva there. Mount Indrakila was on the banks of the river Bhagirathi.

Kali Yuga (kalyug) – “Age of Vice”

Posted by VIBHOR MAHAJAN on [MAY 9, 2012](https://vibhormahajan.wordpress.com/2012/05/09/kali-yuga-kalyug-age-of- vice/)

“yada yada hi dharmasya
glanir bhavati bharata
abhyutthanam adharmasya
tadatmanam srjamy aham” _ –_ (bhagavad Gita, Chapter-4)

“Sri Krishna said: “Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion—at that time I descend Myself.”

Kali Yuga (Kalyug) that is “age of (the demon) Kali”, or “age of vice” is the last of the four stages the world goes through as part of the cycle of yugas described in the Indian scriptures. The other ages are:-

End of Mahabharata and Start of Kali Yuga

Posted by VIBHOR MAHAJAN on [MAY 9, 2012](https://vibhormahajan.wordpress.com/2012/05/09/end-of-mahabharata-and- start-of-kali-yuga/)

“karmany evadhikaras te
ma phalesu kadachana
ma karma-phala-hetur bhur
ma te sango ’stv akarmani” (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 47)

“Sri Krishna said: _ You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.”_

Once while travelling around the universe Lord Brahma reached the abode of Lord Vishnu. He saw Lord Vishnu resting on Shesh-Nag and being attended by Garuda and other attendants.

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Lord Vishnu did not get up to receive Lord Brahma. This act of Lord Vishnu got him angry. Very soon, verbal dual erupted between them to determine who is superior. It became so severe that a battle was fought between them, which continued for very long time.

An avatara is an incarnation, which that a god adopts a human form to be born on earth. The purpose is to destroy evil on earth and establish righteousness. Lord Vishnu is regarded as the preserver of the universe and it is therefore Lord Vishnu’s incarnations that one encounters most often. Lord Vishnu has already had nine such incarnations and the tenth and final incarnation is due in the future. These ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu are :-

Varaha Avatara (Boar Incarnation)

Lord Vishnu’s third incarnation was in the form of a boar. Sage Kashyapa and his wife Diti had a son named Hiranyaksha, who became the king of the asuras (Demons). Hiranyaksha’s meditation pleased Lord Brahma and Lord Brahma granted him the boon that he would be invincible in battle. Thus armed, Hiranyaksha went out to fight with the devas (Gods). He comprehensively defeated the gods and conquered heaven. He also defeated Lord Varuna (God of the ocean). Thus, Hiranyaksha became the king of heaven, Earth and the underworld. But he was not particularly fond of the earth and he himself had begun to live in Lord Varuna’s palace under the ocean. So he hurled the earth into the depths of the ocean. Gods went to Lord Vishnu and prayed that something should be done about Hiranyaksha. They wished to be restored to heaven and they wished that Earth should be brought back from the depths of the ocean. In response to these prayers, Lord Vishnu adopted the form of a boar and entered the ocean. Hiranyaksha did not know that this boar was none other than Lord Vishnu. He thought that it was an ordinary boar and attacked it. The two fought for many years. But finally, Hiranyaksha was gored to death by the boar’s tusks. The boar raised the earth up once again with its tusks. Lord Vishnu thus saved the gods and the principles of righteousness or dharma.

Vamana Avatara (Dwarf Incarnation)

Prahlada’s grandson was Bali Chakravarthi and he was one of the greatest kings. Though he was a demon by birth, he never deviated from the path of Truth and Dharma (religious ethics). His power and strength kept on increasing as he has been following Dharma. With the help and advice of his preceptor, King Bali had conquered all the three worlds, and dethroned Indra from Heaven and occupied Amaravathi, the capital of Indralok.

Lord Vishnu – Dashavatharam (Part – IV)

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“JAI SHRI RAM”
”जय श्रीराम”

Lord Brahma came out of Lord Vishnu’s navel. Lord Brahma’s son was Marichi, Marichi’s son Kashyapa, Kashyapa’s son Surya, Surya’s son Vaivasvata Manu, Manu’s son Ikshvaku, Ikskhvakku’s son Kakutstha, Kakutstha’s son Raghu, Raghu’s son Aja, Aja’s son Dasharatha, Dasharatha’s sons were Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna. Since Lord Rama was descended from Kakutstha and Raghu, he was also called Kakutstha and Raghava. Since his father’s name was Dasharatha, he was also called Dasharathi. Lord Rama’s story belongs to the solar line (surya vansha), since one of his ancestors was Surya. Lord Vishnu himself wished to destroy Ravana and the other rakshasas (demons). He therefore divided himself into four parts and was born as Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna. Rama was Koushalya’s son, Bharata was Kaikeyi’s, Lakshmana and Shartrughna were the sons of Sumitra.

Lord Vishnu – Dashavatharam (Part – V)

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“Jai Shri Krishna”
“जय श्री कृष्णा”

Lord Krishna was born during turbulent times in Mathura. Kansa, son of Ugrasena, audaciously disbanded the Yadava ruling council and declared himself dictator of Mathura with the support of his father-in-law, Jarasandha, the powerful king of Magadha. All those who protested were either killed or imprisoned.

Kansa’s younger sister, Devaki had married Vasudeva. On the wedding day, oracles foretold that the eighth child born of this union would be the killer of Kansa. A terrified Kansa wanted to kill his sister, but was persuaded to let her live on condition that Vasudeva would present to him their eighth child as soon as it was born.

Lord Vishnu – Dashavatharam (Part – VI)

With the departure of Lord Krishna, the Kali yuga set in. In this age, the true devotion to Vedas was replaced by empty rituals. To enlighten the world, Lord Vishnu descended to Earth as Lord Buddha, the enlightened one.

Lord Buddha was born as the crown prince of the Kapilavastu to King Suddhodana and Queen Maya. He was named Siddhartha, meaning “All thing fulfilled”. On his birth the wise men made predictions – “O King,” they said, “the signs of the Prince’s birth are most favourable. Your son will grow up to be even greater than you are now!”