Shri Shirdi Sai Speaks-20th April/ Shiv Puran with never before seen blissful pictures

Devarshi Narad who was listening to the divine tales of Shiva, narrated by lord Brahma with rapt attention, requested him to describe about other characteristics of Shiva. Brahmaji said-

In the age of Treta, Shiva, accompanied by His consort Bhavani Sati, went to visit Rishi Khumbajh. The Rishi being pleased with Shiva's visit, began to narrate the eternal story of Ram. Shiva listens with great pleasure and then they return back towards their abode. Around these exact days Ram had descended on earth and was wondering the Dandaka forest with Sita and Lakshman. Shiva ponders how he can catch sight of Ram. He finally sees Ram, who is frantically searching for Sita, and instantly joins his palms and prays "Glory to the Redeemer of the universe, who is Truth, Consciousness and Bliss".

Sati couldnot recognise Ram and wonders why her Supreme Shiva is praising a mortal. Shiva is the knower of all truth and instantly reads Sati's thoughts.Shiva told Sati that he (Sri Ram) was his deity and an incarnation of lord Vishnu. He advises her to not harbour such doubts and accept that she had seen Ram, whom Agastya had praised earlier.But Sati was not satisfied by this reply. He finally says that if she is still not convinced then she should seek to verify this truth herself. Shiva observes as Sati takes the guise of Sita. Ram and Lakshman instantly see through Sati's disguised and asks about Shiva's whereabouts. Sati feels very uncomfortable and heads towards Shiva, thinking of how she is going to explain her stupidity of questioning His word.

Shiva asks her to tell the truth of how she tested Ram. Sati is unable to tell the truth and says that she did not test Ram, but praised his as You had. Sati forgets that Shiva knows all that has happened and is disappointed that she was disguised as Sita.Lord Shiva stopped looking at Sati, as her consort, because she had personified herself as Mother Sita. This fact was even corroborated by a heavenly voice. Now Sati's heart was filled up with sorrows. He decides that Sati is too chaste to abandon and it is a sin to continue to be her Husband and so from then he has no connection with Sati in her current body. Sati followed disenchanted Shiva to the Kailash mountain, where he commenced his meditation and went into Samadhi. She sat down without saying a word. Many years pass and Shiva finally ends his trance whilst praising Ram.When lord Shiva came out from his Samadhi, he saw Sati still sitting there. He felt pity on her and drove away her guilt and sorrows, by giving discourses.

Once Durvasav Rishi meditated, praying to Devi Jagatambika. She became very satisfied and thus gave him a flower chain necklace from her body to him. One day, he went to the palace of Daksha wearing this flower necklace. Daksha was very much fond of this necklace and so he told Durvasav about his wish to own it. Thus, Durvasav gave him the necklace without any hesitation. With extreme happiness, Daksha took the necklace and placed it inside his bedroom. But one night he performed sex with his wife in front of the holy necklace thus making it polluted. Lord Siva came to know about this incident and he scolded Daksha immediately. Being humiliated by Siva, Daksha developed an anger against Shiva and swore revenge against him.

Later, several saints decided to conduct a grand Yagya. They selected a place called Prayaga as a venue for it. Several important personnel such as BrahmaDev, Sanatanists, scholars, devas, kings. Pundits etc gathered to take part in it. There were many competitions and debates going on in the venue. Most of them were related to science, mathematics, art, dance and music. Lord Siva arrived there with his wife Sati. Everyone stood up in respect to the Lord of All and sat back discussing how lucky they are to have Lord Siva with them . At that time, unexpectedly, Daksha arrived there and after making salutations to lord Brahma sat down without showing any kind of respect to Shiva. After that, Everyone came to him to show gratitude and respect whereas Lord Shiva didn't move from his seat knowing that Daksha is an egoist having pride to own all the luck and fortune without deserving it. Whereas Daksha seeing that Lord Siva was immobile, became angry."See his pride. Claiming to be a great person. Always hanging out with ghosts and demons while residing in a graveyard, yet he don't have respect towards me. This is adharma. Everyone walking, talking, sitting, befriending you will become sinners. You will become a transgender. I'm cursing you. From this day forward you will be kicked out of all four casts. You will become terribly ugly and won't have a proper life. " By hearing Daksha's words all those saints present there agreed to his opinion. They misunderstood Rudra as a cruel. Devas joined with Daksha and began insulting Shiva. But Shiva sat silently hearing all this without any reply.Being a witness to the insult of Daksha and others towards Siva, Nandi became very angry. His eyes turned red. He shouted out," Insulting the person who balances creation,protection and destruction you fool? What do you have to insult my master like this? You are attacking against the person who is the main cause of this Yagya to be successful. How dare you make fun of him?"Daksha became uncontrollable hearing the words from Nandi. He once again started to insult and curse Shiva. Nandi replied with equal force and cursed all Brahmins including Daksha as an anger towards him. Lord Shiva cracked a smile seeing Nandi's aggression towards Daksha. He calmed Nandi and said,"Hey Nandi, you are a scholar. Therefore, aggression is not appropriate for you. You have just cursed Brahmins because of slight misunderstanding. Whoever can curse us but that will not affect us. Daksha's curse will never do a slight harm to us ever. You can believe me. Therefore, be cool.". Nandi turned calm hearing Shiva's philosophy. They went back to Kailas.Angry Daksha returned to his palace yet he had his aggression towards Shiva building up in his mind. He spent most of his time planning to take revenge on Siva. He even started to insult those who pray to Lord Siva. He thus became a arch enemy of Shiva. Thus he decided to conduct a grand Yagya and swore not to invite Shiva and Sati to it.

Once, While Shiva was with Sati, the air suddenly filled with celestial beings. Sati asked Shiva what the occasion was. Shiva explained that Her father Daksha has organised a great sacrifice where many demigods were invited. Sati thinks of Her father and asks if She may visit him at this time. Shiva says that they had no formal invite and that all of Sati's sisters are invited but because of his animosity towards Shiva, Her father has not invited us. Shiva tries to reason with Sati, that no good can come of Her attending, but Tulsidas explains that a daughters ties to her father are very strong.

When she reaches her father's abode, no one welcomes Her apart from Her mother. Daksha does not even acknowledge Her and actually burns with anger that She has turned up uninvited. Sati looks around and sees no oblations set apart for Shiva and the lack of respect of her father causes Her mind to rage with great anger. She faces Her father's court and announces that Shiva is the father of the universe and the beneficent of all. It is the same Shiva that Her own father vilifies. She declared that she would give up her life in everybody's presence. After the declaration her mind was engrossed by the thoughts of Shiva.Sati then sat in padmasan and closed her eyes. She burned Her body with the fires of Yoga.And thus by her yogic powers she united with Shiva and her lifeless body fell into the yagya-kunda.

As Sati was about to die, She asked Lord Hari of the boon that she be devoted to Shiva's feet in successive births. She was thus reborn as Parvati, the daughter of Himachal and Mena.

This incident shocked everybody and the rudraganas furiously picked up their weapons.

Right then a heavenly voice was heard.

"O mean Daksha! Share on you! you are a sinner and a fool. Now you are certain to face the wrath of Shiva. Because of your act, the deities too will have to suffer."

When Nandi informed Shiva about Sati's death, he became very furious. He angrily pulled out a locks of hair and dashed it against the mountain, which got divided into two parts. From one part manifested the valiant Veerbharda and from the other part Mahakali. Veerbhadra and Mahakali were instructed by Shiva to destroy the yagya of Daksha and to kill all the people who were present during the time of Sati's death, including the deities and the sages.After getting the instructions from lord Shiva, Veerbhardra marched with a huge army which included the mighty Shivaganas like Dakini, Bhairav and Kapalish etc. Goddess Kali to joined him with her army which consisted of all her nine incarnations like Katyayani etc. As the army marched on numerous auspicious signs were visible.

On the other hand Daksha experienced many inauspicious signs. His left eye, left army and left thigh started throbbing. He saw the vultures flying over his head. He heard the sounds of jackals howling. Lord Vishnu Preaches DakshaDaksha then prayed to lord Vishnu to rescue him from the imminent wrath of lord Shiva. Lord Vishnu preached Daksha and said- "Daksha! Since you have committed the greatest sin by dishonouring Shiva and Sati. Even I can not prevent the calamities which you are certain to face." As lord Vishnu was preaching Daksha suddenly there was a loud commotion. The army of Veerbhadra had arrived. Daksha was frightened and again prayed to Vishnu to save his life. Lord Vishnu again expressed his helplessness and told him that because of him all the deities too would have to suffer.

A terrible battle was fought between the armies of Veerbhadra and the deities. The deities got defeated and fled away. They went to lord Vishnu and sought his help. Lord Vishnu decided to fight on the side of the deities. The battle recommenced for the second time. Lord Vishnu having a dual fight with Veerbhadra and the deities were fighting against his army. Suddenly everybody heard a heavenly voice which said that Veerbhadra was invincible. Hearing this, Lord Vishnu and Brahmaji went to their respective abodes. Daksha ran for his life and hid himself behind the attar where the yagya was being performed. But Veerbhadra pulled him out from there and severed his head. He then threw his head in the agni-kunda

[Tomorrow we will continue with the sacred Shiv puran abt the story why did Lord Vishnu fight a battle against Veerbhadra despite knowing about his invincibility]

http://www.scribd.com/doc/89595500/Baba-May-I-Answer-By-C-B-Satpathy