Jaya Guru Datta The following is taken from a report and a 1996 Navaratri discourse by Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji.
Today Mother Goddess Durga Parameshwari is in the form of Lalitha Parameswari and Aadi Lakshmi forms. Normally 'Lakshmi' will mean Lord Vishnu's Consort. But today's form is not Vishnu's consort but She is Durgilakshmi-'Amsa' of Durga/Chandika. She has worn Lord Shiva as jewel. Shiva has worn 'Ganga' as jewel on His head. Keeping 'Nagabharana' (serpent-like jewel) on Her head, She had invoked Shiva in that crest-jewel of Nagabharana. Today's Lakshmi is the deity Who reside in Kolhapura, in the state of Maharashtra. This Goddess Durgalakshmi has created holy places around Her city and installing Herself in the middle, is gracefully blessing the people. The story which Sri Swamiji is going to narrate happened in one of the age-old yuga and today's method of worship pertain to this story. Mother Goddess in Her Durgi form took the form of Adi Parashakti, exposing her 'sowmya roopa' (peaceful form) has attracted Maharshis including Lord Dattatreya. Who is Durgi Lakshmi? Mahalakshmi in Kolhapura is Herself Durgilakshmi. All the Devathas have installed 'yantras' there. Since She has attracted Maharshis and Dattatreya, She is even called 'Lalitha Parameswari' and Rajarajewari. This Goddess, fulfiller of all wishes is the Durga/Mahalakshmi, the presiding deity of Kolhapur. Sri Swamiji recollects an incident here. Sri Swamiji along with some of the Ashramites/devotees had visited this place few months back and has performed Ksheerabhisheka to this Mahalakshmi. A miracle that took place was explained by Kuppa Krishnamurthy : In the year 1996,Sri Swamiji and devotees and Ashramites left in a bus and two cars to visit Pandaripura, Ganagapura, Kolhapura and some places in the state of Maharashtra, (these Kshetras created by Mother Goddess) Sri Kuppa Krishnamurthy was one of the devotees who accompanied Sri Swamiji during this tour. They visited this Mahalakshmi Temple in Kolhapur. By the time they reached the temple, the 'Abhisheka for Mother was over and they had decorated her with jewels and 'archana' was going on. According to the rules of the temple, no one was allowed inside the sanctum-sanctorum of the temple, be it a Minister, Prime-Minister or any other dignitories holding high position. When Swamiji stood for Darshan, the priests of that temple treated Swamiji like any other ordinary people. There was a heavy crowd due to arrival of a Governor and some dignitories. Because of the presence of Governor and other dignitaries, the head-priest (Pradhana Archaka) had come to perform special pooja. On seeing Sri Swamiji, this Head-priest went inside the sanctum-sanctorum and removing all the jewels that had already been decorated after the abhisheka and made arrangements for 'panchamrita ' keeping milk, curds, ghee, sugar, plantains etc. No one knew what happened but he, immediately prostrating to Sri Swamiji took Sri Swamiji inside the Sanctum-sanctorum. Sri Swamiji performed 'panchamrita abhisheka to the Goddess and decorated Himself the idol of the Mother. He called all the devotees and ashramites who had accompanied Him inside the sanctum-sanctorum to the amazement of everyone. He even tied the 'mangalya' to the idol. The priests and other people talked something in Marathi and they all came to Sri Swamiji requested Him to perform 'sankeertana' in the precincts of the temple. All elaborate arrangements for accommodating and providing food and other things for Sri Swamiji and the devotees were made immediately. The Sankeertana was performed by Sri Swamiji in the evening. There was a big crowd for the Sankeertana of Sri Swamiji and recognising the unique specialty in the concert people were very happy. This is the 'Aakarshana shakti' (attracting power) of Sri Swamiji. Sri Swamiji told Sri Kuppa Krishnamurthy that it was Dattatreya along with Lakshmi's 'Aakarshana'. The practice of the localities is that they keep 'panchamrita' as 'Naivedya' for Dattatreya. Sri Kuppa Krishnamurthy said that he was at a loss to understand whether it was Sri Swamiji who attracted Mother Lakshmi or Mother Lakshmi Herself seeing this Dattatreya (Our Swamiji) attracted Him and also blessed His shishyas (disciples) (i.e. ashramites and others who had accompanied Sri Swamiji), Sri Swamiji sang his new composition. "Jaya Kolhapura Jagadamba, Jaya Mama Hrudaye Jagadamba " Sri Swamiji explained the meaning briefly of the above song. The one who resided in Padmavathipura, brilliant/effulgent with the grandeur or the overflow of mercy - (Here compassion or 'Karuna', mercy is the grandeur of the Mother is the speciality. There is 'Dhanabala Vijrumbhana, 'Adhikarabala Vijrumbhana, Madabala vijrumbhana, santhanabala vijumbhana, rakshasabala vijrumbhana etc. But here, the mercy or compassion of the Mother is showered on the devotee who sees Her, who worships Here.) the one who was away for few months and came back again to Karaveerapura, the one Who has worn Shiva Linga in Her Crown, the one who is carrying 'akshaya vessel' in Her hands , having the name of Mahalakshmi,, one who possesses the power of Sachchidananda shakti- May Victory be Hers. The story of Kolhapuri Mahalakshmi is contained in this song itself. Sri Swamiji had narrated that a powerful 'Shakti' was sent to vanquish the demon Mahishasura who was possessing Rajoguna and thamoguna qualities.That Shakti taking the form of Chamundewari and vanquishing the demon, thereby redressing the suffering and woes of saintly people and then She went to Karavirapur and taking the 'sowmya' (pleasing and peaceful form ) and sitting on the diamond-seat, granting 'Shakti' (strength), bhakti (devotion), Mukti (liberation) virakti (dispassion), and fulfilling the desires/wishes of Her devotees. Such a Shakti stayed permanently in that Kolhapur or Padmavathipura. Lord Vishnu, Brahma &Shiva have a 'Sankalpa' of keeping an amsa of Mother Goddess wherever on earth or any other worlds, she incarnates. That is why She stayed in Durga form in Padmavathipura. All the Devathas were happy and prayed to Goddess to give darshan whenever they prayed. She should come and protect them. Mother Goddess granted their wishes by staying in Padmavthipura in sookshma/subtle (astral) form. On the banks of river Venna, stood in a permanent form. At that time the son of Yadu, named Padmavan had built that beautiful city of Padmavathipura, which was in the form of a lotus. At this time, Lord Brahma creates 3 sons viz. Gaya, Lavana and Kolaha. These three sons of Brahma occupied different places and started attracting the results/fruits of the power that had accumulated for performing penances over several thousands of years. Now,of the three sons of Brahma, (who became demons) Gaya, Lavana and Kolaha, Gaya and Lavana were killed by Mahavishnu. The place the demon Gaya was killed, came to be known as 'Gaya' itself. All the three became very powerful demons and hence Mahavishnu had to kill them. Out of these 3 sons, Kolaha had a little of the sattvic qualities though he possessed more of tamasik qualities and that is why he had not been killed. This Kolaha demon went to Padmavathipura and performed severe penance. While he was doing penance, there comes another demon named 'Sukesa' and occupies that kingdom of Padmavathipura. Devathas had fought wth him many times but could not succeed in killing or conquering him. Because he was destined to be killed by Kolaha demon and that was the boon the demon Sukesa had got from Brahma. But Kolaha was in penance. So Devathas woke him up from the penance to kill sukesa. After waking up, Kolaha comes to know that his kingdom had been occupied by Sukesa while he was in penance. Angered at this, they fight and Kolaha kills Sukesa. Devathas were happy. But to wake him up Brahma bribes him by granting boon and this boon brought all the troubles to him. He had two sons, The eldest named Karavira was coronated on the throne by his father, kolaha and Kolaha leaves for doing penance again to accumulate more powers. Karavira had become like a 'visha rakshasa' (when a small portion of poison is injected daily to one's system from the childhood, as food, one becomes poisonous person, full of poison in the body) with body full of poison. Even Nalaguru the second son also becomes like that. These two demons troubled the saintly people very much and they suffer much at the hands of these demons. Again the devathas and these saints prays Lord Shiva and Lord Shiva kills karaveera. But Karaveera was a Shiva devotee and asks for a boon from Shiva that the place where he lived should be called by his name only. Shiva grants the boon but kills Karaveera. Kolaha comes to know of his son's death and thinking how powerful these devathas were, decided to fight and conquer the devathas. Then he thinks of how these devathas got so much power after their arrival to Padmavathipura . Then he comes to know that it was because of the presence of Padmavathi or Mahalakshmi. Then he prays to Mahalakshmi to leave the place and not to come back till the completion of one year. She, granting the boon leaves Padmavathipura. Now the Rakshasa rule reign over that kingdom and again devathas and other saints suffered at the hands of kolaha demon. Again devathas and rishis pray to Goddess Lakshmi requesting Her to go back to Padmavathipura as they had lost their powers because of Her absence there and had weakened and suffering at the hands of the demon kolaha. But Goddess Lakshmi says since She had granted Kolava the boon of leaving the city for a period of one year, She was not in a position to go till the completion of period of one year. As the days passed, the stipulated period of one year lapsed without the demons noticing it as they were enjoying and taking pleasures in cruelly hurting and harming people, being pride and egoistic over the victory they had gained over the devathas. Then, Goddess Mahalakshmi comes to Padmavathipura, after the completion of one year and kills the demon Kolaha. After that realisation dawns on him and he recollects his previous births and repenting for all his crimes and cruelty and in asking Her, the Mother of the three worlds to go away from Padmavathipura begs Her to pardon him and requests Mother to name the place as Kolhapura so that people who visited this Kshetra (holy place) and whoever possessed tamasik qualities like him should get destroyed of their tamasik qualities by having Her Holy Darshan at this place and become sattvic and further asks Her to stay there permanently and make it a 'Siddha Kshetra' and created kshetras for those devathas who had resided in the other places around this Kolhapura and had helped Her to take a permanent residence. Even the great Sage Agasthya who had ordered Mount Vindhya in the northern part of India to bend and not to grow to keep the balance of the earth, came to south and stayed in this place and doesn't go to north since Mount Vindhya would grow again causing imbalance of the earth. Even Lord Dattatreya asks Goddess Lakshmi to give Him alms everyday at noon when He would come to Kolhapura after wandering in places around Sahyadri mount range to bless people and after taking bath in Gaya and Prayaga. Even today Dattatreya goes to Kolhapura to receive 'Bhiksha' from the hands of Mahalakshmi. Then Kolaha prays to Goddess Lakshmi after he gets realisation as below: "Kshamasvaparaadham Mahalakshmi Deveem Kshamasavaparaadham Varam me Pradehi " Oh Mahalakshmi please pardon me for all my mistakes. I have suffered punishment for having asked You to leave Your own place. " prays Kolaha to Mahalakshmi and 3 boons were given by Goddess Mahalakshmi, viz. that Mahalakshmi has to stay wherever She is now all the time; to make this holy place as Siddha Kshetra; and to name the place after his name only with an intention of remembering his story for those people who possessed tamasik qualities like him and learn lessons and to become sattvic. Even after getting realisation, why did he ask to name the place after him? Many people may get a doubt. Sri Swamiji clarifies in ancient times, whenever great mahatmas built temples after giving crores of rupees, they used to get their names and figures carved on the step-stones so that devotees who would walk on it would trample their feet on their names and thereby would destroy the donors' ego completely and would humble them further. But nowadays people get carve their names on the stones and place it on the walls or high over the ceiling or on the tube lights etc. for having donated money. In fact it is said that what one gives from right hand, even left hand should not know. It should be kept so secret and not go on boasting and telling everybody about their huge donations of money for any cause. In fact, they should not even think of it once they have given away and forget it entirely. If they remember, it is a sin. If at all they remember accidentally also they should be ashamed of getting the remembrance of it. So Kolaha was killed by Devi's Brahmastra and Devi gives him 'jeevanmukti' (liberation). That is why this is to teach a lesson for those who have in view of earning name and fame and to avoid such recurrence of acquiring such bad qualities again and again, once it is destroyed. Some people mention their names in many places when they give donations and some unselfish people do not even mention of it. But why does people not learn such unselfish service ? Another point of view is to encourage such unselfish service by taking their examples. That is why the names should never be put on top but always should be put on the ground. It is said Goddess has four hands. "Matulungam Gadaam Khetam Paana paatram cha bhibhrathi..." 'Matulungaphalam' (a kind of fruit), spear, mace, vessel containing nectar, a Nagabharana (serpent-like crest jewel), in the Nagabharana jewel, Shiva bimbam, Yonimudra means srichakra mudra or creation,srsti chakra, those who worship Goddess and touches Her, they need never worship or perform pooja of Srichakra. To touch Her and to serve Her is a Yoga. The mahima or greatness of that kshetra and the other kshetras surrounding the Kolhapura are: " Karaveeram Viroopaksham Srisailam Pandurangakam Srirangam Sethubandham cha Bhukti Mukti Pradaayini shat !" These 6 kshetras viz. Karaveera, Hampe Virupaksha, Srisailam, Pandarapura, Sriranga and Rameswaram, are known as "Bhakti (devotion) and Mukti Kshetras. (the visit and darshan of these 6 holy places will not only bestow bhukti, (food)) ,bhakti (devotion) and Mukti (liberation) . Since we have got 'karma shareera, bhukti (food) will be bestowed. Then devotion and ultimately mukti can be got. Sri Swamiji cites a verse here: "Namastestu Maha Maye Srepeete Surapujithe Shankha chakra Gadaa Haste, Mahalakshmi Namosthuthe" and sang the following bhajans "Lalithadevi Mama Sharanam , Kalitha Shivaanka Mama sharanam " and "Dum Dum Dum Dum Durga, Lam Lam Lam Lam Lalitha " JAI GURU DATTA ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/JjtolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! 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