Srimad Bhagavatam – day 462
Vāmadevaya namah
In various ways the Devatas begged Śiva to save them from the dreaded poison that was enveloping the three worlds.
The heat from a small lamp kept at a distance travels towards us. The heat from regular a homa being conducted travels greater distances. In this case, the unbearable heat emanating from this dreaded kālakūṭa poison was rapidly enveloping everything in the creation. In addition to the poison, the fiery poisonous flames intensified the suffering of all beings. The trees and creepers that were in the path of these poisonous flames, were being burnt completely. Such was the intensity of this poison! In fact, even when the poison was at a great distance, mountains were cracking and bursting. The waters of the ocean were turning black. Śiva was their only solace.
The Devatas continued, “Mahatmas who are immersed in the Self’s bliss and who propagate knowledge eternally retain Your lotus feet in their heart and meditate upon them. O Lord You are eternally engaged in meditation.
Nevertheless, some people mistakenly misunderstand that You eternally wander enjoying the company of your wife Mother Parvati. At times, they wrongly accuse that You cruelly wander in crematoriums. The foolish, who make such nasty comments about You, O Lord, are definitely are unaware of Your transcendental nature.”
Śiva is the creator of this universe. How can such creator be inclined towards enjoyments in the world created by Him? Is there any logic in such statements? How can such Lord want to enjoy sensual pleasures with his wife? Those who speak thus are ignorant fools. This Lord bestows auspiciousness when He wanders in the crematorium. He blesses the inauspicious beings with auspiciousness, calmness and peace. He ensures the living entity reaches higher planes.
“The illusionary energy remains beyond all cause and effect (kārya-kāraṇa). O Lord, You are beyond this illusionary energy (māya). Even Lords Brahma and others fail to understand Your original form which is beyond the limitations of time and place. How can they describe Your form accurately when they are unaware of it? O Śiva, anyone who cannot understand Your real essence can never satisfactorily praise You. He will not possess the worthiness to praise You”.
To praise Vishnu, Śiva, Sadguru one should have some fair idea of their greatness, their compassion, their mystical powers etc.
“O Lord kindly forgive the ignorant who, without understanding Your essence, make impolite comments about You. You, the Supreme Lord, are eternally engrossed in meditation. You are the ardha-nārīśwara form (half male-half female). How can differences of male-female exist in You, when you are both? Only for demonstrating to the ignorant, You have taken on a half male-half female form”.
Shiva is Pitamaha. He is the supreme father who creates and nourishes this creation.
“O Lord, this world that is tenderly nourished by You is now burning. Brahma and other Lords fail to understand You completely. We, the Devatas, have been created by the Prajāpatis, who in turn were created by Brahma. How can we have the worthiness to understand and glorify You aptly? Even then to the best of our abilities we are praying to You, O Lord.
Etat paraṁ prapaśyāmo na paraṁ te maheśvara
Mṛḍanāya hi lokasya vyaktis te ’vyakta-karmaṇaḥ
O Mahesśwara! We are able to perceive only this visible form of Yours which is perceptible to the eyes. We are unable to understand Your real form which lies beyond this. Your divine transcendental sports are unfathomable, O Lord. For the purpose of protecting this creation You, manifest with form, O Lord”.
The ever-compassionate Lord Śiva was deeply aggrieved seeing the plight of the Devatas. This Lord, who is ever engaged in ensuring the well-being of all living entities, addressed his dearest wife Pārvati and said,
“O Bhavani! The terrible kālakūṭa poison has emerged when the milk-ocean is being churned. Isn’t it astonishing that poison arises due to churning of milk? This ocean is replete with herbs. Lord Vishnu bears the mountain on His back and Vāsuki is the churning rope? Isn’t is strange that poison emerges from such an ocean?”
Hrishikeshaya namah