Overcome difficulties, both
natural and man-made
By Sri Bharadwaj Swamigal
Are you oppressed by superiors in profession?
Are you threatened by blackmailers and miscreants?
Are you ill-treated by the family members?
Then, worship Lord Sarabeswara, who will come to your rescue readily.
The present day world is affected by natural calamities like earthquake,
tsunami, floods, cyclone and lightning, besides man-made afflictions causing
Ozone-belt depletion, Nuclear Holocaust, Abichara Prayoga, accidents, etc.
The worship of Sri Sarabeswara, the most powerful manifestation of Lord
Shiva, is very essential to combat these evils and to save the mankind from
such catastropies. It is but curious to note that Lord Rudra, true to his
name, took the avatar of Sri Sarabeswara to control the anger of Sri
Narasimha
(an incarnation of Lord Vishnu) , when the latter did not
get appeased, even after annihilating the demon King Hiranya Kasipu.
Sri Sarabeswara in Vedas and ancient works
The advent of Sri Sarabeswara has been vividly mentioned in Atharva Veda,
Linga Purana, Skanda Purana and Brahmanda Purana. Special mention is also
made in Rigveda and Thaitriya as well, at the Uttara bhaga of Sri Lalitha
Sahasranama.
"Paayaanno Deva: Sarabasthva Payaath
Sathaarirogath Vipinorakaapyam
Vaiswanaro Kugari Ritchakebya:
Prethebyo Bhoothebyo Rusha: Krudanthan" ||
(Atharva Veda)
The Veda mantras affirm that all our sins are wiped off by chanting the
powerful mantra of Sri Sarabha. Sage Veda Vyasa in his Linga Purana (96th
Chapter) categorically says that those who worship Sri Sarabeswara, will get
rid of all the afflictions caused by bad dreams, chronic ailments, poisonous
bites, besides the great disasters caused by earthquake, floods, cyclone,
thunder, lightning and such bad conglomerations.
"Sarva Vigna Prasamanam, Sarva Vyadi Vinasanam
Arichakra Prasamanam, Sarva Dukka Vinasanam,
Atraanyothpada Bookamba thaavagni Paamasu Vrishtisu
Thatho duswapna Samanam, Sarvabhootha Nivaranam,
Vishagraha Kshayakaram Puthra powthraadhi Vardhanam,
Thathraksha Daaranam Kuryaath Jangamaangey Varaananey"|| Linga Purana
- 96
Avatar of Lord Sarabeswara:
According
to the Puranas, Hiranya Kasipu, the demon king, due to augmented audacity
and ego, proclaimed himself as
'God' and entreated everybody to
worship him. His pious and upright son Sri Prahlada refuted his father's
action, by saying that only Lord Vishnu
(Narayana) is the
protector of the universe who is an all pervader. Out of rage and being
exasperated by his son's continued disobedience, one day Hiranya hit one of
the pillars in his palace with his mace, to find out whether Lord Narayana
was hiding there, as believed by his son. To make his devotee's words come
true, Lord Narayana appeared from inside the broken pillar, in the form of
Narasimha, a man with a Lion's head, who killed the demon King in an
encounter. Unfortunately His anger and fierceness did not subside, even
after annihilation of the demon and the three worlds trembled in fear. All
the Devas headed by Lord Brahma appealed to Lord Shiva to appease the anger
of Lord Narasimha. The compassionate Lord Shiva sent His lieutenant Agora
Veerabhadra to do the job, but it went in vain. The
'rajoguna' caused
by tasting the blood of the demon did not let Lord Narasimha to calm down.
Veerabhadra unable to subdue Sri Narasimha, prayed to Lord Shiva to
intervene. There appeared the most terrible form of a combination of man,
bird and animal. It was a queer combination of man with Saraba (Bird) and
Yaali
(animal), celebratedly known and worshipped by the name Sri
Sarabeswara, being the Thirtieth avatar of Lord Shiva amongst His Sixty four
incarnations.
Sri Sarabeswara, sporting two huge wings,
(representing Soolini Durga
and Prathyankira Devi), eight legs, the nose of an eagle, four arms
carrying fire, serpent, a deer and the ankus, with fingers having sharp
nails looking very fierce and turbulent, came flying and comforted Sri
Narasimha with his two wings to calm down. But the fiery energy stored in
the latter came out in the form of a bird called
'Kandaberunda' and
started to fight with Sri Sarabha and this divine encounter continued for
eighteen days.
Lord Sarabeswara decided to conclude this 'sport'. By
His will, Goddess Prathyankira Devi came out of one of his wings, took a
huge physical form, gulped the
'Kandaberunda'bird and brought its
end. Sri Narasimha realising his erroneous action, praised Lord Sarabeswara
with beautiful epithets, which later became the Ashtothra
(108 Names)
of the victorious Lord. Lord Shiva then revealed to all the Devas that
"to annihilate the Asura, Lord Narasimha came, and to appease Lord
Narasimha, I have come as Sarabeswara. Be aware that we are both one and the
same like water and water, milk and milk, ghee and ghee, both inseparable
and to be worshipped as one".
"Yatha Jaley Jalam, Kshiptham, Ksheeram, Ksheeray Kruthang Kruthey|
Yekayeva Thatha Vishnu: Shiva Leetho Nachanyatha"||
Lord Brahma, out of gratitude for saving the universe from the anger of Sri
Narasimha, worshipped Lord Sarabeswara with
"Sri Sarabeswara
Ashtothra". At the very appearance of Lord Sarabeswara glittering
like thousand Suns, the rage of Narasimha subsided and the entire universe
heaved with relief. Let Sri Sarabeswara protect us for ever, from any
disaster.
Gayatri Mantra of Sri Sarabeswara:
"Saluvesaya Vidmahey Pakshi rajaya Deemahi Tanno Sarabha:
Prachodayath" ||
Moola Mantra :
