Mohini to Ayyappa!
Hello all,
Namaste! Last week we discussed who Goddess Mohini was and how she can get transformed into Maya or the grand illusion.We also tried to investigate how we can capture the Mohini while keeping in mind that if we are not Self-aware, we will be presented with her Maya form. In some mythological stories, this Maya is called Vishnu-Maya, who is sometimes considered as the Goddess Durga. As you can see Mohini was formed as a female avatar of Vishnu. So Vishnu-Maya makes sense because Vishnu is the eternal strategist as we discussed before and one of his strategies is to test our faith and devotion by creating a grand illusion or the Vishnu-Maya.
Today let us discuss another story, which is the birth of Hari-Hara Putra (Son of Vishnu and Shiva, what! A son to two male Gods? J) or Ayyappa. Many may know the story, but there may be many who don't know; so this is for them.
All of us know Vishnu, took the avatar of Mohini, the female form and how she took upon herself the task of distributing the eternal nectar or Amrit. We also discussed how all the Devas as well as the Asuras and even Gods like Shiva where enchanted by her divine beauty.
Now, remember Shiva has his consort Parvathi. She was already worried that her husband had taken the Halahala poison and she caught hold of his neck almost before the poison went into his stomach. Oh, God! How can these husbands survive without their dear wives? Now she would have definitely got even more worried that Shiva was becoming enchanted with Mohini and would have told her husband Shiva, 'It is getting late dear! Let us go back to Kailasa, our abode!'. So they would have gone back to Kailasa and all was well and good. But then itself Shiva was slightly enraptured by Mohini. (I am putting this from the perspective of humans. Why not have some fun while reading? :), Divine is definitely Self-aware and all these are the Leelas or play of the divine, maybe even this writing. J)
Okay, let us continue. There is a sage in mythology called 'Narada', who likes to broil fights between the Gods, have fun and in that way make things happen for the welfare of the World. Narada once went to Kailasa and started describing the beauty of Mohini and how the Asuras were enchanted and got cheated of Amrit. Shiva was previously enchanted by Mohini, but this time thought that he is not going to get affected by Mohini. What a confidence on oneself! Sometimes circumstances can be so strong, you fall for it. ;)
So Shiva and Parvathi went to Vaikunta to visit Vishnu. Vishnu was nicely laying on his serpent-bed, Anantha. After all the greetings, Shiva put forward a request to Vishnu that he wants to see the Mohini form again. Vishnu reminded him that it may not be a good idea. But Shiva really wanted to see once more Mohini and requested again and again. Now Vishnu obliged and meditated on the Goddess Tripura Sundari (The Universal Mother Goddess, which is another form of Parvathi, Shiva's consort) and with a smile on his face, disappeared and lo! Mohini was in his place, all bedecked in jewelry, enchanting, seductive and enticing.
Now, what happened to Shiva seeing Mohini? Was he able to resist the temptation of Mohini? No! He again became all enraptured by lust and started rushing behind Mohini asking her to marry him. Goddess Parvathi would have thought, we never should have visited Vaikunta. Alas! her husband was in hot pursuit of another lady. Parvathi hung her head in shame and embarrassment. Shiva had fully succumbed to the Vishnu-Maya form, which is the grand illusion where a person behaves in a way not being aware of his true Self. So if Shiva himself, the Yogi incarnate gets allured into Maya, think about us mere humans? How can we escape the snake-like grip of the grand illusion designed by the eternal strategist Vishnu? Only by the grace of the divine.
Anyway, Shiva started rushing behind Mohini and Mohini was running in front so that Shiva cannot catch her. This went on for some time and Shiva was not able to catch her and in the rush, Shiva's seed fell on the ground. This took the shape of a very powerful God called Sasta or Ayyappa. Now Mohini disappeared and Vishnu came back and after all this drama, Shiva and Parvathi returned to Kailas. Most probably after returning home, they had a huge fight!
Now the God Ayyappa who arose from the seed took the form of a baby boy and placed himself in the forest in a place called 'Panthalam' in Kerala state in India. The king of Panthalam found the baby in the forest, brought him to the kingdom where he grew up to become a fourteen-year-old boy.
Later due to some peculiar circumstances, Ayyappa was asked to go to the forest to bring some milk of the Tiger for his queen mother's illness. The boy Ayyappa instead of bringing the mere Tiger milk, came back to the kingdom riding a female Tiger. That showed that he was no ordinary boy and later the king made a temple for Ayyappa in the nearby mountains called the Western Ghats. This temple is called 'Sabarimala'. There are also several temples dedicated to Ayyappa in Kerala and in many parts of the World. In every temple of Ayyappa, there is a Sanskrit saying written in the front called 'Tatwam Asi'. Next week we will discuss more of Ayyappa and what is 'Tatwam Asi'!
Why Shiva did not behave like a Yogi? : Shiva is considered as the mystic or the Yogi incarnate. He is always doing meditation or penance and always in a Yogic state. For a person of such high stature, Shiva did not behave appropriately. Parvathi had to hang her head in shame. Why did Shiva behave like that? The answer most probably is Vishnu's Maya or the grand illusion is so strong, even God Shiva fell culprit to it. Without realizing he was in the grip of the Maya, Shiva behaved as a normal being, not as divine. If Shiva himself got affected by it, think of us the normal beings? Most of us never realize the Moh-Maya we are in and play as puppets according to the threads being pulled by Vishnu or the preserver part of the divine.
Another interpretation is, Vishnu before taking the form of Mohini in this story meditated on Tripura Sundari, the Supreme mother Goddess. Vishnu knew that Shiva cannot be duped easily as he has the Yogic powers in him due to his constant meditation. So to trick Shiva, Vishnu first prayed to the Mother Goddess for whom nothing in this Universe is impossible, as she herself is the creative energy or Shakthi. So she blessed Vishnu, which made sure that Shiva was trapped in the Maya for sometime before he woke up and realized what had just happened.
Now another way to interpret will be the birth of Ayyappa was needed for the welfare of the World. There was a female demon Mahishi (Sister of Mahishasura, who came in the Durga story), who was creating terror for people on earth. She was extremely strong and only somebody who had both the merged energies of Shiva and Vishnu was powerful enough to kill her. So Shiva was supposed to become enchanted with Mohini and Ayyappa had to take birth to kill Mahishi.
Another inference we can make is Vishnu meditated on Goddess Tripura Sundari ( The most beautiful one in the three worlds) before changing to the form of Mohini. Tripura Sundari is another form of Parvathi who is Shiva's wife. Parvathi also is considered as the sister of Vishnu. So due to her blessings, Shiva would have been made to feel that Mohini looks like Parvathi. So this again was a trick made to happen by the brother and sister ( Vishnu and Parvathi), to bring Ayyappa and in turn the welfare of the World.
Anyway, I have heard that Parvathi used to love Ayyappa dearly even though he was not her son, but her husband's son. This can be analyzed that, Parvathi or Tripura Sundari knew her part in the divine plan and that Ayyappa was born because of her part in the effort and he was needed for the welfare of the world. So from this, we can also extrapolate that those who work with the underlying intention of 'welfare of the world' becomes dear to the divine. So that can be Ayyappa as well as us, who should keep an intention for the welfare of all.
These all are just a few of the elucidations we can come up with. But finally who can really fully understand the play of the divine? Our vision as human beings is so limited and small. The only thing we can hope for is that Vishnu, Shiva, Parvathi, Tripura Sundari or Ayyappa (and every form of the divine) should bless us so that we can come out of this majestic illusion called Maya and discover our true authentic Self! May the divine bless us all for that wisdom!
I wish you a good weekend and I'll see you next Friday! 😉
Next week: Tat Twam Asi!
Note: Images taken from Wikimedia Commons, in the Public domain of the U.S.A.
Ralph Waldo Emerson writes, "There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance ; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better for worse as his portion that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till. The power which resides in him is new in nature, and none but he knows what that is which he can do, nor does he know until he has tried".
All rights reserved to the author (SwaroopaStargazer) and SwaroopaBlog.
To my Blog readers: As all of you know, the European Union has passed laws regarding the collection of user data. This is just to inform all my EU blog readers, I use Google Analytics, which Google provides, to look at from where readers are reading my blogs. I also use Specific feeds for their service for subscription. I don't collect or intend to collect user data to sell or provide to third-party applications. Regards,
SwaroopaBlog.
Disclaimer: This is a personal blog. The opinions and viewpoints shared here are that of the author/owner only. Even though the author/owner will try to research well before posting the information, the author/owner of this blog does not make any portrayal of the accuracy or correctness of the content on this blog or the links provided. The author/owner will not be liable for any omissions or inaccuracies occurred. The author/owner will not be liable for any damages or losses due to the use or display of this blog. These terms and conditions can change at any time. This blog is purely for informational purposes only.
©SwaroopaStargazer and Swaroopa, 2017.
Namaste! Last week we discussed who Goddess Mohini was and how she can get transformed into Maya or the grand illusion.We also tried to investigate how we can capture the Mohini while keeping in mind that if we are not Self-aware, we will be presented with her Maya form. In some mythological stories, this Maya is called Vishnu-Maya, who is sometimes considered as the Goddess Durga. As you can see Mohini was formed as a female avatar of Vishnu. So Vishnu-Maya makes sense because Vishnu is the eternal strategist as we discussed before and one of his strategies is to test our faith and devotion by creating a grand illusion or the Vishnu-Maya.
Today let us discuss another story, which is the birth of Hari-Hara Putra (Son of Vishnu and Shiva, what! A son to two male Gods? J) or Ayyappa. Many may know the story, but there may be many who don't know; so this is for them.
All of us know Vishnu, took the avatar of Mohini, the female form and how she took upon herself the task of distributing the eternal nectar or Amrit. We also discussed how all the Devas as well as the Asuras and even Gods like Shiva where enchanted by her divine beauty.
Now, remember Shiva has his consort Parvathi. She was already worried that her husband had taken the Halahala poison and she caught hold of his neck almost before the poison went into his stomach. Oh, God! How can these husbands survive without their dear wives? Now she would have definitely got even more worried that Shiva was becoming enchanted with Mohini and would have told her husband Shiva, 'It is getting late dear! Let us go back to Kailasa, our abode!'. So they would have gone back to Kailasa and all was well and good. But then itself Shiva was slightly enraptured by Mohini. (I am putting this from the perspective of humans. Why not have some fun while reading? :), Divine is definitely Self-aware and all these are the Leelas or play of the divine, maybe even this writing. J)
Okay, let us continue. There is a sage in mythology called 'Narada', who likes to broil fights between the Gods, have fun and in that way make things happen for the welfare of the World. Narada once went to Kailasa and started describing the beauty of Mohini and how the Asuras were enchanted and got cheated of Amrit. Shiva was previously enchanted by Mohini, but this time thought that he is not going to get affected by Mohini. What a confidence on oneself! Sometimes circumstances can be so strong, you fall for it. ;)
So Shiva and Parvathi went to Vaikunta to visit Vishnu. Vishnu was nicely laying on his serpent-bed, Anantha. After all the greetings, Shiva put forward a request to Vishnu that he wants to see the Mohini form again. Vishnu reminded him that it may not be a good idea. But Shiva really wanted to see once more Mohini and requested again and again. Now Vishnu obliged and meditated on the Goddess Tripura Sundari (The Universal Mother Goddess, which is another form of Parvathi, Shiva's consort) and with a smile on his face, disappeared and lo! Mohini was in his place, all bedecked in jewelry, enchanting, seductive and enticing.
Now, what happened to Shiva seeing Mohini? Was he able to resist the temptation of Mohini? No! He again became all enraptured by lust and started rushing behind Mohini asking her to marry him. Goddess Parvathi would have thought, we never should have visited Vaikunta. Alas! her husband was in hot pursuit of another lady. Parvathi hung her head in shame and embarrassment. Shiva had fully succumbed to the Vishnu-Maya form, which is the grand illusion where a person behaves in a way not being aware of his true Self. So if Shiva himself, the Yogi incarnate gets allured into Maya, think about us mere humans? How can we escape the snake-like grip of the grand illusion designed by the eternal strategist Vishnu? Only by the grace of the divine.
 |
| Shiva being enticed by Mohini By Published by P.P.C [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons |
Anyway, Shiva started rushing behind Mohini and Mohini was running in front so that Shiva cannot catch her. This went on for some time and Shiva was not able to catch her and in the rush, Shiva's seed fell on the ground. This took the shape of a very powerful God called Sasta or Ayyappa. Now Mohini disappeared and Vishnu came back and after all this drama, Shiva and Parvathi returned to Kailas. Most probably after returning home, they had a huge fight!
Now the God Ayyappa who arose from the seed took the form of a baby boy and placed himself in the forest in a place called 'Panthalam' in Kerala state in India. The king of Panthalam found the baby in the forest, brought him to the kingdom where he grew up to become a fourteen-year-old boy.
 |
| Ayyappa By Abhilash Pattathil (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 |
Later due to some peculiar circumstances, Ayyappa was asked to go to the forest to bring some milk of the Tiger for his queen mother's illness. The boy Ayyappa instead of bringing the mere Tiger milk, came back to the kingdom riding a female Tiger. That showed that he was no ordinary boy and later the king made a temple for Ayyappa in the nearby mountains called the Western Ghats. This temple is called 'Sabarimala'. There are also several temples dedicated to Ayyappa in Kerala and in many parts of the World. In every temple of Ayyappa, there is a Sanskrit saying written in the front called 'Tatwam Asi'. Next week we will discuss more of Ayyappa and what is 'Tatwam Asi'!
Why Shiva did not behave like a Yogi? : Shiva is considered as the mystic or the Yogi incarnate. He is always doing meditation or penance and always in a Yogic state. For a person of such high stature, Shiva did not behave appropriately. Parvathi had to hang her head in shame. Why did Shiva behave like that? The answer most probably is Vishnu's Maya or the grand illusion is so strong, even God Shiva fell culprit to it. Without realizing he was in the grip of the Maya, Shiva behaved as a normal being, not as divine. If Shiva himself got affected by it, think of us the normal beings? Most of us never realize the Moh-Maya we are in and play as puppets according to the threads being pulled by Vishnu or the preserver part of the divine.
Another interpretation is, Vishnu before taking the form of Mohini in this story meditated on Tripura Sundari, the Supreme mother Goddess. Vishnu knew that Shiva cannot be duped easily as he has the Yogic powers in him due to his constant meditation. So to trick Shiva, Vishnu first prayed to the Mother Goddess for whom nothing in this Universe is impossible, as she herself is the creative energy or Shakthi. So she blessed Vishnu, which made sure that Shiva was trapped in the Maya for sometime before he woke up and realized what had just happened.
Now another way to interpret will be the birth of Ayyappa was needed for the welfare of the World. There was a female demon Mahishi (Sister of Mahishasura, who came in the Durga story), who was creating terror for people on earth. She was extremely strong and only somebody who had both the merged energies of Shiva and Vishnu was powerful enough to kill her. So Shiva was supposed to become enchanted with Mohini and Ayyappa had to take birth to kill Mahishi.
Another inference we can make is Vishnu meditated on Goddess Tripura Sundari ( The most beautiful one in the three worlds) before changing to the form of Mohini. Tripura Sundari is another form of Parvathi who is Shiva's wife. Parvathi also is considered as the sister of Vishnu. So due to her blessings, Shiva would have been made to feel that Mohini looks like Parvathi. So this again was a trick made to happen by the brother and sister ( Vishnu and Parvathi), to bring Ayyappa and in turn the welfare of the World.
Anyway, I have heard that Parvathi used to love Ayyappa dearly even though he was not her son, but her husband's son. This can be analyzed that, Parvathi or Tripura Sundari knew her part in the divine plan and that Ayyappa was born because of her part in the effort and he was needed for the welfare of the world. So from this, we can also extrapolate that those who work with the underlying intention of 'welfare of the world' becomes dear to the divine. So that can be Ayyappa as well as us, who should keep an intention for the welfare of all.
These all are just a few of the elucidations we can come up with. But finally who can really fully understand the play of the divine? Our vision as human beings is so limited and small. The only thing we can hope for is that Vishnu, Shiva, Parvathi, Tripura Sundari or Ayyappa (and every form of the divine) should bless us so that we can come out of this majestic illusion called Maya and discover our true authentic Self! May the divine bless us all for that wisdom!
I wish you a good weekend and I'll see you next Friday! 😉
Next week: Tat Twam Asi!
Note: Images taken from Wikimedia Commons, in the Public domain of the U.S.A.
Ralph Waldo Emerson writes, "There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance ; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better for worse as his portion that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till. The power which resides in him is new in nature, and none but he knows what that is which he can do, nor does he know until he has tried".
All rights reserved to the author (SwaroopaStargazer) and SwaroopaBlog.
To my Blog readers: As all of you know, the European Union has passed laws regarding the collection of user data. This is just to inform all my EU blog readers, I use Google Analytics, which Google provides, to look at from where readers are reading my blogs. I also use Specific feeds for their service for subscription. I don't collect or intend to collect user data to sell or provide to third-party applications. Regards,
SwaroopaBlog.
Disclaimer: This is a personal blog. The opinions and viewpoints shared here are that of the author/owner only. Even though the author/owner will try to research well before posting the information, the author/owner of this blog does not make any portrayal of the accuracy or correctness of the content on this blog or the links provided. The author/owner will not be liable for any omissions or inaccuracies occurred. The author/owner will not be liable for any damages or losses due to the use or display of this blog. These terms and conditions can change at any time. This blog is purely for informational purposes only.
©SwaroopaStargazer and Swaroopa, 2017.
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