Shree Hari prohibits the worship of tamsic demi-gods. Arrival of Shree Hari in Bhaderpur.
Shree Hari prohibits the worship of tamsic demi-gods. Arrival of Shree Hari in Bhaderpur.
Suvrat said:-
O king, the princes of the Bhandirapur who had come to attend the great festival prayed to Sri Hari to visit their kingdom. 1.
On the day of Kapilashasthi, Sri Hari accompanied by his devotees arrived at Bhandirapur to bestow happiness on those princes. 2.
There in that city, Sri Hari was attended with love by prince Vyaghrajit, Mulajit and Desajit who were very pure hearted and loyal. 3.
Devarama and other Brahmin devotees attended to him with devotion. Many merchants, low-caste people and women served according to their abilities. 4.
celibate supreme Swaminarayan offered rich food to thousands of Brahmins in the name of His father (as it was the day of offering libations to the manes). 5.
On that day, at noon, an auspicious meeting was held where He had adorned a beautiful divine throne amidst all the good people. 6.
He looked dignified, his physique even, eyes like lotus petals, arms running knee-length, complexion akin to that of a rain-cloud and his face lit up with a gentle lotus-like smile. 7.
Shoulders high, the neck like a conch, the nose long and sharp, chest broad and the belly beautiful with its three folds, the navel being deep and the feet elevated. 8.
Vertical lines marked his forehead and a garland of Tulasi rested on his neck, he appeared handsome in celibate attire - white raiment. 9.
Being worshipped by devotees with sandal paste, wreath, crest of flowers etc. he held in His right hand a rosary of Tulasi beads. 10.
He cast a merciful look on His devotees and delighted them by being a treat to their eyes. 11.
Looking intently at His face, the Sages and ascetics sat right to His fore. Behind them were seated other men and women according to their ranks. 12.
The whole assembly of devotees was silent and eager to listen to His nectarine speech. Then Sri Hari spoke sweetly thus: 13.
Narayan Muni said:-
‘O ascetics and commoners, please listen to me. I will tell you that which is beneficial to you at all times in all respects. 14.
The Vedas always teach that non-violence towards all is thehighest virtue. Hence all my followers should abandon all types of violence at all times and places. 15.
Those wishing their own well-being should not nurse enmity towards anybody in body, mind and speech. Even sacrificing of animals should not be done in the name of gods. At a Soutramani sacrifice too, my followers should not drink wine. 16 -17.
Those gods or goddesses, to whom animal flesh and liquor is offered and at whose altar an animal is slaughtered, are not adorable to us. 18.
You should not observe any vow for such deities nor recite any of their hymns, and never in routine life should one even bow to them. 19.
You should bear in mind that, you should never listen to or read the texts like ‘Koularnava’ etc. That cult named as ‘Urdhvamna’ is abandoned by the Vedas. 20.
Unless there is contingence as such, my followers should avoid the company of those who are engaged in such acts prohibited by me. 21.
Today onwards, those men who do acts prohibited by me will have to face the destruction of their family. 22.
They will have to witness destruction of their wealth (prosperity), kingdom, their prestige in the society and extensive defeat in the life if they ignore my words. 23.
Preaching of non-violence.
They will not achieve success in any of the four principal objects of human life. And after death, no doubt, they will go to the frightful hells. 24.
Whether or not one should celebrate Navratri.
Suvrat said:-
‘Having listened to the speech of Sri Hari, the good-natured king Vyaghrajit with single minded devotion bowed down at the feet of Sri Hari, brought his palms together and modestly said: 25.
‘O Shri Hari! In the coming days we will be observing annual family vow in the name of the goddess for nine days. 26.
There may be killing of animals and drinking liquor during those days. We are your devotees, therefore, tell us then, whether we should observe it or not. 27.
You are indeed the promoter of noble religion. Please tell us what is proper in this matter’. Then having been asked thus, the Lord Himself being always righteous said: 28.
Narayan Muni said:-
‘O King! There are deities of Rajas (marked by passion and activity) and Tamas (by ignorance and darkness) qualities who are appeased by wine and meat. But those gods and goddesses who possess Sattvika quality of goodness and purity never approve it. 29.
Parvati, like Lakshmi and Sarasvati (Savitri the mother of Vedas) are the goddesses of Sattvik nature; endowed with the quality of goodness, virtue, knowledge, penance, yogic powers and non-attachment. 30.
Know that Parvati, who is the consort of Siva, is worthy of respect to us. Hence the ‘Navaratra’ festival is observed in her name. O King! You should always worship only of those gods and goddesses endowed with qualities of goodness, and never others. 31- 32.
Parvati is always associated with her husband who is engaged in penance. She is not in favour of violence. Those who kill animals for her sake are of demoniac nature. 33.
O King, bear in mind that if there is any such family-vow objected to Her (Parvati) in which animal flesh and liquor is offered, it will be against our religion. 34.
The religion in which violence, drinking of wine and immoral pleasures are recommended should be avoided from a distance. 35.
It is irreligion under the guise of the religion, and hence it is not wrong to disapprove it. On the contrary, O sinless one, abandonment of such pseudo-religion is the real virtue approved by religious texts. 36.
The mean gods and goddesses who love liquor and animal flesh are the deities of men who are influenced by Tamas qualities of ignorance and darkness. You should not observe their vows and worships. 37
For those who have taken refuge under me and who are desirous of spiritual progress devoted to Vishnu of sattvik qualities, it is not proper to worship the deities who recognize violence and alcoholism as worship. 38.
Violence goes with irreligion and non-violence is in tune with religion; irreligious men prefer the former and religious people the latter. 39.
The devotees of Krishna should not at all be afraid of the people who are of Tamas nature influenced by ignorance and darkness; because Krishna Himself is the controller of Time and Maya, the cosmic illusion. 40.
Moreover, you being my followers should never criticize those deities or their followers or make dispute with the followers of ‘Shakta’ cult. 41.
Suvrat said:-
King Vyaghrajit, listening to the speech of the Lord, became free from all his doubts. He accepted the orders of the Lord by bowing down his head in the affirmative. 42.
Then Brahmins approached Lord Narayan and saluted Him in all humbleness. They said – ‘we have something to ask you about the ‘nine-days vow’ (Navaratra). Please listen, O Lord! 43.
We all are Vaisnavas and we wish to surrender at your feet. Generally we do not observe the vows of deities of Tamas qualities. 44.
Some of us do observe only it being the family tradition. But now onwards they certainly will not follow it. 45.
But as our daily livelihood depends upon the performance of the rites like installing (the idol of deity), daily worship, chanting of hymns etc. (for our supporters) 46.
O Lord of the universe, please tell us, shall we follow it or not? Tell us what is proper for us. Then Lord Nilakanth said to those Brahmins asking thus. 47.
O Brahmins you may worship Chandika and other deities for your livelihood or in a pressing crisis situation. 48.
If it is done by oneself or through others in crisis, having no other way, you should observe atonement for your purification for the same accordingly. 49.
You may observe vows like Chandrayan etc., for expiation of the resultant blemish, keeping the patron unaware of it. 50.
Vow for expiation may be observed secretly if there is a possibility of the patron being offended from finding out and therefore riding him off his livelihood. 51.
Suvrat said:-
O King, thus listening to the words of the lord, the Brahmins were pleased for having got rid of ambiguities in their comprehension. They asked Him again. 52.
The Brahmins asked - O Lord tell us what prayers should such people chant who are afflicted with diseases like leprosy and are haunted by ghosts, goblins etc. How may children and the old, disturbed by planetary movements rid themselves of their miseries? 53.
What chants should be recited by people, who are on their death bed; and what should be recited which may lead Him to better state hereafter, though one may be a sinner. 54.
O Lord! Please tell us a hymn of praise that will bestow the desired fruit to those who chant it being motivated or unmo- tivated. 55.
Suvrat said:-
Thus asked by those Brahmins Narayan Muni in His delighting speech said to them and the whole assembly. 56.
Sri Narayan Muni said:-
‘O Brahmins and all other (members of the assembly) devotees, listen to me carefully. I am going to tell you about an auspicious devotional song, which can be called as the best of all the hymns. 57.
According to me, VishnusahasraNama appearing in the epic MahaBharat in Danadharma parva (a portion dealing with charity) narrated to Yudhisthir by Bhishm, should be recited. 58.
All the desired objects are obtained by reciting VishnusahasraNama. O Brahmins, it should be recited on all occasions. 59.
A hymn called ‘Narayan Kavach’ from SrimadBhagavat, which destroys all your troubles and misfortunes, should be recited by you. 60.
Chanting of these two hymns should be observed with regard to one’s objectives and monetary ability. Doing it according to the special ritualistic procedure Purascharan will benefit men with their desired objects. 61.
If done with stringent adherence to Purascharan, men will accomplish their desired fruit. Hence these two hymns should be chanted by all twice born (men of all three castes). 62.
In any circumstance, my devotees should not recite any base chants, although it may give them immediate results. 63.
At the same time, the hymns of deities of Rajas and Tamas qualities, who are fond of animal flesh and liquor, should not be recited for it will nip the sprout of spiritual progress. 64.
Those men who recite such hymns are reborn as ghosts, and women as female goblins. 65.
Hence, O good Brahmins, motivated or unmotivated, you should always recite these two hymns only (Vishnusahasranama and Narayankavach) on all occasions. 66.
Otherwise, one should recite the hymn of Hanuman according to the rules and the capacity observing celibacy. It gives fruits instantly’ 67.
Suvrat said:-
O King! Having listened carefully to the words of Swaminarayan, the Brahmins, King Vyaghrajit and all the people accepted Lord’s advice and saluted Him. 68.
Thus delighting all the devotees and staying there till Annakut festival (putting heaps of food-offerings in front of Lord Krishna), Shri Hari proceeded to Moda town, O King! 69.
Arrival of Shree Hari in Moda and Alaiya.
On the way Shri Hari he halted in various towns for two or three days before arriving in Moda with His attendants. 70.
In Moda town He was worshipped by Dalijit and others belonging in the warrior class. After staying there for five days bringing happiness to the people, He left for Alaya town. 71.
Thus ends the sixteenth chapter entitled ‘Negating vows observed in the name of base deities’ in the second Prakarana of Satsangijivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as ‘Dharmashastra’ (the rules of the code of conduct). 16
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