NAARAAYANA appeared in front of Brahma.
Naaraayana’s form:
Beautiful form; all over shining like a blue gem; compassionate eyes; four arms; the four hands holding SHANKHA,CHAKRA, GADA, and KAMALA - Conch, Wheel, Mace and Lotus; a shining golden cloth covering his person; a bejeweled crown of unparalleled beauty resting on his head; curly black hair kissing his manly shoulders; curly locks of extreme charm dancing on the fore-head; a beautiful TILAK adorning the centre of the fore-head covering his third eye; big round ear ornaments with designs of fish on them; garlands of basil and flowers adorning his huge manly chest; KOUSTHUBHA GEM on his necklace dazzling the eyes of the onlookers; Lakshmi in his physical heart and Taijasaa’s thoughts in his ‘heart-beats’; winds blowing a pleasant perfume all around his person; some divine music echoing somewhere from unseen regions.
Naaraayana appeared in front of Brahma.
A charming smile adorned his face; the smile of a GEETACHAARYA; the ‘All Knowing’ smile!
A smile which invites everybody to confide their problems to him freely!
A smile which blocks the SHIVALOKA from the seekers of Heavens!
A smile which is the first obstacle to the ‘World of SHIVA’!
After seeing Naaraayana, there are very few who can think of the ash covered repulsive figure of Shiva.
And SHIVA and SHAKTI continued their love-sports at KAASHI, undisturbed.
NAARAAYANA appeared in front of BRAHMA.
Brahma was stunned; shocked by the immense fortune of his!
He felt like a child, who saw his father after getting lost in a jungle.
He choked; he cried; he fell at the lotus feet.
The beautiful form disappeared immediately.
Brahma ran madly searching for that beautiful form.
Then he stopped! The word ‘TAPA’ again flashed in his mind.
He again performed penance on the beautiful form of VISHNU.
Sound of waves disturbed his meditation.
He opened his eyes.
He saw in front of him a white ocean with the sweet smell of milk spreading out beyond the horizons.
A giant serpent with innumerable hoods was floating like a huge ship on the milk ocean; huge…; very large; so big that countless Earths could just rest on one scale of that serpent.
ADI SHESHA, the serpent brother of VISHNU was acting like a bed to his tired brother ; always guarding his brother from the attack of demons, and of course from the beautiful damsels of Heaven too; and melting in the thoughts of the little pretty girl he took care of in his other form of BHAIRAVA, the RUDRA.
As he rocked the tired form of his twin brother in his cold soft coils, the Serpent-God was meditating on the pretty charms of the beloved child.
Yes! A child! DURGA’S daughter who could melt BHAIRAVA’s stone-like heart by her youthful charms
was yet to grow in mind.
She knew only her Mother UMA; the greatest divinity according to her!
She knew only her father SHIVA, as somebody always fond of penance!
She knew only brother SHANMUKHA, as the eternal rival in every game!
She knew only GANESHA as a playmate who rocked her in his trunk and made her laugh hysterically!
She knew only her uncle NAARAAYANA as one who loved pranks of all kind and supported her naughty behavior! But, not as a lover!
She knew only BHAIRAVA the good gentle figure, whose rough hands rocked her tired limbs to sleep - as her protector whom she loved despite his devilish looks! But, not as a lover!
She never ever understood the plight of the two brothers who were romantically inclined towards her. She was still a child, who loved only her dear dear Mother madly!
The brothers sighed at the same time in the thoughts of their beloved TAIJASAA;
And Brahma was there in their presence.
The serpent hissed sending smoky flames in its breath.
The ocean roared with high waves dashing against the rocky beach.
As Brahma stepped away in fright, he felt annoyed.
‘He suffering all alone in some dark waters ...
And this fellow lolling on the bed, sleeping his time off…!
He suffering alone and crying for help …
And, this blue-hued fellow is enjoying his rest unconcerned about anybody else.
At least he could get up and talk a few words! Lazy idiot!’
Brahma looked at the serpent and the ocean with anger.
‘He was a Brahmin and his curse could be dangerous!’
The serpent withdrew his fangs; the ocean became calm.
Brahma approached the sleeping figure.
He called out – “Hey you. Get up”.
VISHNU continued to sleep. Brahma roughly pulled him up and holding him by the hand, slapped him hard. VISHNU got up with a shock. He of course never felt the slap.
But, something had disturbed his quiet repose.
He rubbed his eyes and tried to see who was shouting at him.
“Hey! You wake up! Tell me who you are!” Brahma was rudely trying to wake him up.
VISHNU slowly removed the tender hand of the four-faced Brahmin from his person and flashed a smile.
He spoke with honeyed voice.
“Welcome, welcome, my dear child!
You are indeed the great grandfather of the world!
Oh! What a luster emanates from you!
Don’t be afraid. I will help you. I will give you whatever you want.
Come and take your seat. Feel at home.”
Brahma looked at this blue form in disgust.
‘What was he trying to do?
Not a bit of respect..?
No manners at all?
Doesn’t he even know how a great Brahmin like him should be welcomed!
Where is the ARGHYA, PAADYA etc – the worshipping materials?!
And, asking him to sit on this disgusting serpent! The cold cold coils! Oof!
Of all the things, a slithering serpent for a bed!
Always sleeping and lazing around! And, look at him smiling to cover up his faults’.
Brahma shouted at his own father in disgust.
“Child? Who is a child? Are you mad? Who do you think I am? I am surprised! Don’t you know me to be the Greatest God, the Creator of one and all? I am AJA! I am not-born at all! I am the First One! Without me nothing can arise. And, you have the audacity to address me as a child? Praise me with various hymns. I am a figure of greatest penance. I am to be worshipped by you. It is not too late even now. Mend your ways and try to understand my greatness.”
VISHNU’S lotus like eyes reddened with anger. He spoke with extreme patience. He tried telling his ignorant son, the truths about himself and the appearance of the Lotus etc. He tried to explain the principles of his own SELF and the Creator’s also. He said that he was the father and explained his own greatness,
which was not a self-praise, but a fact! But all these words of wisdom fell on deaf ears. Brahma was not convinced. He retorted with anger.
“Hey! Who do you think you are? Shut up. Don’t exceed the limits of decency. You are not the Supreme Lord. Some one else must be your creator. You are deluded.”
Indecent words flowed from the mouth of Brahma. Brahma without Knowledge; Brahma with arrogance!
Angry words from both led to a war. Father and son fought.
Father knew the son; so was careful. Son did not know the father; so he fought with a vengeance.
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