SHIVA AS SHARBHA

Shivaya Vishnu rupaya

Vishnave Shiva Rupine

शिवाय विष्णु रूपाय

विष्णवे शिवा रू पेने

Shiva is Vishnu

Vishnu's avatar is none other than Shiva

They are one and the same

An earlier story on fablesrus narrates the legend of Prahlada, the son of the demon King Hiranyakashipu. In this feature we continue further with this fascinating legend.

Prahlada’s father, Hiranyakashipu, was very angry with Lord Vishnu because the Lord had killed his brother Hiranyaksha. Hiranyaksha was also a dreadful demon who had captured the earth and was making the lives of all living creatures miserable. In order to save the earth Lord Vishnu had taken the form of a boar and killed the wicked asura (demon) Hiranyaksha. This made Hiranyaksha’s brother Hiranyakashipu very, very angry. He was determined to destroy Lord Vishnu.

The cunning Hiranyakashipu began to pray to Lord Brahma. He knew that if he propitiated Lord Brahma, the Lord would have to come to him and offer him a boon. It took him several years of severe penance and prayer to invoke Lord Brahma. When Lord Brahma finally appeared to him, he asked for a boon that made it impossible for him to be killed by anyone.

Once Hiranyakashipu was granted this boon from Lord Brahma he became indestructible. Confident that no one could defeat or kill him, Hiranyakashipu began his tyrannical rule of the whole Universe. Everyone feared him and bowed to his orders. Hiranyakashipu then insisted that all his subjects pray to him and not to Lord Vishnu. He wished to eradicate even a thought of the Lord from everyone’s minds.

Ironically this evil asura King had a son, Prahlada, who was Lord Vishnu’s greatest devotee. Prahlada’s every word, thought and action was in praise of Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu was livid that his son had chosen to love and adore, his worst enemy, Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu was so furious that he made several attempts to kill, Prahlada, his own son, but each time Lord Vishnu saved the child.

Finally, the Lord decided that the malevolent Hiranyakashipu had to be killed. The Lord could no longer bear to see his beloved devotee suffer any more. Lord Vishnu took the form of Narasimha, half man and half lion, to exterminate Hiranayakashipu. Lord Vishnu took this form because with the boons granted to the asura by Brahma it was only in this form that he could slay Hiranyakashipu. The Lord killed the demon. The universe was finally rid of the horrific asura.

Unfortunately, even after tearing Hiranyakashipu to shreds the Lord’s anger had not abated. His rage was so ferocious that the Gods and all the living beings trembled in fear. The God’s aware of Lord Vishnu’s love for Prahlada requested the young boy to sit on Narasimha’s lap to calm him down. Though Prahlada tried he could not soothe the angry Lord. The God’s then rushed to Goddess Laxmi and begged her, “Goddess Laxmi we need your help. The Lord in his Narasimha form is in such fury that we fear that he may destroy the whole Universe. If you approach him, your words will surely appease him”

The beautiful Goddess Laxmi too tried to calm down her beloved spouse but even she failed in her attempts.

Knowing that there was no hope for the survival of the Universe if Narasimha’s anger was not abated, the God’s rushed to Mt. Kailash in search of Lord Shiva. Falling at Lord Shiva’s feet the God’s said, “Lord, you are our only hope. Lord Vishnu in the form of Narasimha has become uncontrollably angry. Even after destroying the dreadful demon Hiranyakashipu, his fury has not been quelled. We fear that if he remains this angry the whole Universe may be destroyed.”

Lord Shiva seeing the anguish and fear of the Gods agreed to help them. At first Lord Shiva took the fierce form of Veerabhadra a strong and valiant warrior and tried to calm Narasimha. Unfortunately Veerabhadra too failed to soothe or control the incensed Narasimha.

Shiva then concluded that as Narasimha was so strong and powerful it would take a far more formidable force to handle the angry Narasimha. Shiva decided to take the form of Sharabha, a part bird part animal form to face Narasimha and curb his ferocity. Sharabha had many arms, many legs, piercing, long claws, sword sharp teeth, huge wings and a long monstrous tail at the back. He had flowing matted hair and a large dome shaped crest at the top of his head. Sharabha’s voice was booming and louder than thunder and everyone who heard him would tremble with fear. He had three eyes that glowed red like burning hot fire and as he moved he made a dreadful hissing sound. Sharabha resembled a vicious, giant dragon. Lord Shiva as Sharabha headed towards Narasimha to pacify him, by force if necessary, and restore Lord Vishnu to his original benevolent form.

On seeing that Narasimha was in no mood to be appeased the mighty Sharabha effortlessly lifted Narasimha with his sharp talons and flew far, far away. When he had reached very high up, flown quite a distance away and was just about to drop Narasimha, Narasimha realized that Sharabha was none other than Lord Shiva, himself. He immediately began to propitiate Lord Shiva by praying to him using the most exquisite epithets and he asked for forgiveness. These verses later came to be known as the Ashtottara, the 108 names of the victorious deity. It was in his avatar as Sharabha that Lord Shiva was able to calm Narasimha and restore him to his divine form. Lord Vishnu as a mark of respect for Sharabha took off his lion skin and gifted it to Sharabha.

The God’s were relived. They and the rest of the Universe would no longer be in fear of the uncontrollable anger of Narasimha. They were truly grateful to Lord Shiva and prayed to him in gratitude and in reverence.

Lord Shiva addressing the God’s who had gathered before him said, “Lord Vishnu took the form of the terrible Narasimha to protect his devotee, Prahlada. I took the fearsome form of Sharabha to abate Nasrasimha’s anger. But always remember Lord Vishnu and I are one and the same. Just as water poured into water or milk into milk are inseparable Lord Vishnu and I are inseparable and should be worshipped as one.”

In one of the Puranas it is said that the God’s having faced Narasimha’s uncontainable fury were afraid that one day Sharabha’s temper might, like Narasimha’s, become irrepressible. Prostrating before Lord Shiva they requested him to abandon his Sharabha form for ever.

The ever compassionate Lord Shiva smiled and willing agreed to the Gods’ demands.

In the Vamana Purana it is said that Sharabha then turned into the lingam which is Lord Shiva’s symbol.

LIFE LESSONS

1.We must be careful not to lose our temper because our temper could get uncontrollable.

2.Uncontrolled anger can only cause destruction.

3. No matter how dire the circumstances if we pray to God he will come to our aid.

4. Like Lord Shiva even in victory we must never lose our humility.

5. Our Gods may have many forms and names but in truth there is just one God.