Aundha Naganatha

Om Jai Sai Ram! Often it is hard for us to accept life as it is. We are frustrated and resist things. At such times one must not lose patience and faith. Hence Sadguru Sainath has given his mantra "Shraddha" (Faith) and Saburi (Patience). One must have faith in the Sadguru. Sadguru is like a mother and knows what is best for us. So if we are not getting what we want now, we would get something far better in a while. Patience is an important virtue along with faith. The two are interconnected. When we lose faith, we tend to become impatient. When we lose patience our faith wavers. Thus we must offer as daxina (offering to God) these two coins, namely Shraddha and Saburi and also offer our ego as the third coin. The third is the hardest to give up, but the best results are obtained when this is done. Since the Sadguru is like our father, mother, friend all in all, he knows what is best for us. Hence we must submit our 5 senses and all our actions and speech at his lotus feet. I am a dullard, and do not know much about these. I therefore submit my ego at the holy feet of Sadgurunath and beseech him to help me sing his glory.

In the previous post, I described how Santha Namadeva by his bhakthi (devotion) and by Lord Vitthala's grace brought back a dead cow to life. This miracle transformed the wicked and intolerant Sultan of North India, who had a very bigotry and narrow view of religion. Fortunate was the Sultan, for he was rid of all his sins the moment he fell at the feet of the Saints. The moment he realized their worth he became transformed. Like the Paras stone (Philosopher's stone) the saints transformed any ordinary metal like iron, however rusted it was into pure gold. The sultan treated the saints with respect and gave them many a gifts. He pledged to do his all to help them in their piligrimage. The saints now again traveled southwards and after meeting several saints like Kabir, Rohidas, and Ghahninath, Gorakshanath they reached Aundha Naganatha one of the twelve Jyotirlingas (Linga of light) of Lord Shiva. This is one of the most powerful places of worship of Devadideva (God of Gods) Lord Shiva. The Jyotirlangas are places where one can feel the presence of the God of Gods.

When the saints went there, they found Visoba Kechara, the old devotee of Lord Shiva whose guru was Lord Jnanadeva and who was the guru of Santha Namadeva.

After exchanging salutations, Namadeva felt ecstatic to be in the presence of Girija Shankar (Lord Shiva). So happy was he, that he started singing beautiful bhajans (devotional songs) in praise of Lord Shiva. Fortunate were the devotees who came to visit Lord Shiva on that day. They got to see some of the Lord's manifestations namely Avataras, Sadgurus and Saints there. The songs of Namadeva were like nectar to the ears. They assembled near the galaxy of Saints and were in a trance listening to the beautiful bhajans of Namadeva. Some of them started dancing with glee. Such was the beautiful bhajans of Namadeva. It was shocking still that, in such an environment of pure love and devotion, jealousy found it's way.

The priests of Shoolapani (Lord Shiva) at the temple became jealous that none of the people were listening to the mantras that they chanted but were attracted to the bhajans of Namadeva. When they could stand it no more, they came to Namadeva and accosted him thus. "Namadeva! Let us have none of your drama here! Your bhajans are distracting us from our prayer to Lord Shiva. Besides you are a devotee of Panduranga! Why come here and sing praises of GirijaPati (The consort of Parvati). You should stay at Pandharpur and sing praises of Panduranga. You are a Vaishnava (Devotee of Lord Vishnu). What are you doing here at a temple of Lord Shiva?"

Namadeva was deeply hurt. Lord Jnanadeva said "Oh revered priests! Do you not know that there is only one god, who is Parabrahma. He is worshipped by some as Shiva and some as Vishnu. Do not our scriptures say "Shivaaya Vishnu roopaaya Shiva roopaaya Vishnave, Shivasya hrudayam Vishnuhu, Vishnusya hrudayam Shivaha" (Shiva is Vishnu and Vishnu is Shiva, In Shiva's heart lies Vishnu and in Vishnu's heart lies Shiva). Why then this bickering of being a Vaishnava or being a Shiva bhaktha (Devotee). This has no meaning!". However the priests were deaf to this advice as they were seething with jealousy. They said " We must perform our prayers and please our Girijapati. We must please him by chanting the Rudra and Chamaka. Only by this will he be pleased. Not by your lame bhajans. If you still wish to sing, you may go to the back of the temple and sing your songs."

Namadeva was deeply hurt by this attitude of the priests. He went along with the other saints and devotees to the back of the temple and sang soulfully "Oh Girijapati! Is this right? Oh Panduranga! Do you not wish to hear my voice. I only wish to sing to you. I only wish that my prayer reach you. Please do not turn me away! I have come seeking refuge in you".

No sooner had Namadeva said this, the entire temple rumbled shook at it's foundations and started rotating. The priests inside were immersed in their prayer and did not realize what was happening. The temple rotated so the entrance of the temple should face Santha Namadeva and the Galaxy of Saints. Lord Shiva had given his verdict. He loved his devotees who offered songs sung in pure devotion and love. Namadeva was exceedingly pleased. Once the priests finished their prayer, they were stunned to see no Nandi (The bull Gana or servant of Lord Shiva) at the entrance and the outside looking very much like the back of the temple. Then they realized that the temple had rotated so that Namadeva and the saints could glance at the Jyotirlinga. This also proved that Lord Shiva loved his devotees who offered things to him out of pure love and that Lord Shiva himself is Panduranga and Panduranga is lord Shiva. The priests immediately realized their folly and went and fell at the feet of the saints and apologized.

Even to this day, the Nandi is at the back of temple unlike all the other Shiva temples where Nandi will be at the entrance. It is customary for devotees to prostrate first before the devotee (Nandi) and then prostrate before Lord Shiva (God). But this temple is a standing testimonial of the miracle that occurred before the galaxy of saints. A lifetime is not enough to sing their glory. Their deeds are sweeter than nectar. I am only a dullard. It is their grace that makes me type these words. I prostrate before them and submit my ego before them.

Jai Jai Ram Krishna Hari!

Shree Satchitananda Sadguru Sainath Maharaj Ki Jai!

Bow to Shree Sai! Peace be to all!