Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1 -The Soft, Brilliant & Independent Lord has proficiency & prowess to create uniqueness and bring about auspiciousness

Srimad Bhagavatam cleanses kalimala or the pollutant of Kali, destroys sins, shows the indweller, the Lord, in oneself by bringing Vairagya towards the materialistic world, and gives pure devotion, crystal clear, and clean knowledge. 

|| Hari Om ||

Hare Srinivasa

कल्यण अद्भुत गात्राय कामितार्थ प्रदयिने ।

श्रीमद् वेन्कटनाथाय श्रीनिवासय ते नम: ॥

Your benevolence for granting wishes is incredibly vast and unsurpassed.

Divine Lord Venkateshwara! Destroyer of Sins! An abode of Mahalakshmi! Srinivasa!

My salutations to you.

भवाय नस्त्वं भव विश्वभावन त्वमेव माताथ सुहृत्पतिः पिता ।

त्वं सद्गुरुर्नः परमं च दैवतं यस्यानुवृत्त्या कृतिनो बभूविम ॥ ७॥

Vishwabhavana! From you, the whole universe has arisen. Suhrtpati! You are the mother, the father, you are the friend, as well as our teacher. Sadguru! It is you, who makes us walk on the right path. You are our lord, as well as being worshipped. We are safe and successful by taking refuge in your lotus feet which are auspicious. 

Lord! You are the only cause of our success.

व्यासाय भव नाशाय श्रीशाय गुण राशऐ ।

हृद्याय शुद्ध विद्याय मध्वायछ नमो नमः ॥

Charming & the beloved Vyasa, the destroyer of emotional & behavioral disorders, the Lord of Goddess of abundance having heaps of attributes, bestower of clean knowledge, my repeated salutations to you and Acharya Madhwa.

यः स्वानुभावमखिलश्रुतिसारमेकमध्यात्मदीपमतितितीर्षतां तमोऽन्धम् ।

संसारिणां करुणयाह पुराणगुह्यं तं व्याससूनुमुपयामि गुरुं मुनीनाम् ॥

This Srimad Bhagavatam gives the experience of the Lord and has the essence of all Vedas and Vedanta. It sheds spiritual light on the transcendental philosophy required to surpass the intense cycle of death and birth which is wrapped in ignorance. However, it is very secretive in nature. Hence, I pray to you Sri Shukacharya for your continued blessings.

दयादाक्षिण्यवैराग्यवाक्पाटवमुखाङिकतः ।

शापानुृग्रहशक्तोऽन्यो राघवेन्द्रन्नविध्यते ॥

The face symbolizing Compassion; Modesty; Dispassion towards sensual pleasure; Eloquence; Power to remove curses is none else than you, Guru Raghavendra. 
My salutations to you.

ज्ञानं विरक्तिरैश्वर्यं शौर्यं तेजो धृति स्मृतिः ।

स्वातन्त्र्यं कौशलं कान्ति सौभगमार्दवमेव च ॥ २७॥

Lord has an attribute of स्वातन्त्र्यं or He is Independent. Neither has he had a dependency on Goddess Mahalakshmi, or the Prakriti that she influences nor is he dependent on Jiva starting from God Brahma to a blade of Grass. The whole happenings that we see around are as per Vedas, but Lord is not dependent on Vedas. In fact, all four Vedas are being recited by Lord at the same time. Hence, he has his name as Veda without the influence of time.

The Lord is Svadheena or only relying on himself with Ananta Gunapurna or immeasurable stainless attributes causing the creation. Worshipping the Lord this way, doing Yoga that it is only Lord who is independent, the Lord will bless the below two

1.    Paradheena or dependency is the cause of sorrow. Particularly to those who cannot take care of themselves. By worshipping the Lord as Svatantra or Independent, Lord would bless with loneliness or isolation with wicked and bestow enough strength to manage oneself. 

2.    As Sva gives the meaning as Lord and tantra is an instrument, the awareness that one is under control of the Lord who is independent dawns.

कौशलं  Kaushalam or prowess in creating unique, distinctive, and exclusive features. In the entire creation of the Lord, everything is distinctive. There are different types of plants and trees. In a family of trees, all are of not the same size, shape, trunk, branches, leaves, and so on. Even a single leaf is distinctive having a unique blade, midrib, vein, and apex tip. Even two veins of the leaf are not alike but have uniqueness. So too in a vein, the beginning, the middle, and the end portion have uniqueness and exclusivity. The current estimate is about 780 crore people on this earth and each one has the same eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and so on in the face. Yet each one is unique. This is the prowess or Kaushalya in the Lord. He himself shows-up in a unique way as Lord Rama, or Krishna, Narsimha, or Veda Vyasa, and in so many forms. He blesses each one in a unique way. His blessings to Sudhama are unique and so too to Prahalada, Shabri, Druva, Gajendra, Gopikas, Bheeshma, Kunti, Uttara Devi, and so many. All have been blessed in an exclusive and unique way. Be it in creation, or sustenance, or destruction, or regulation, or bestowing ignorance, or knowledge, our Lord has prowess.

By worshipping the attribute of Prowess in Lord or doing Yoga would be blessed to have Prowess in the field of their interest like sculpting, or drawing, or machining, or artwork or painting or even in a medical operation to the individual capacity.  The challenge for a sculptor, or painter, or writer is to bringing in uniqueness, exclusivity with different styles in their work. Worshipping the attribute of prowess in the Lord would be blessed with different styles and uniqueness not just by those in the creative field, but even the ordinary will become witty or brimming with creativity.

कान्ति  is the divine captivating glow or the brilliance emanating from the form of Lord. The captivating glow in a stone makes it Gem. The inherent glow of any material or living beings makes it special and exclusive. Also, a flower that has bloomed afresh has a glow to hold one's attention.  The Sun, Moon, and the Stars have the brilliance to provide light to the common people. The diamond gains brilliance by holding a larger illuminance of light within itself. The glow or the brilliance emanating from the object and object cannot be separated. Also, the Lord and his divine captivating glow cannot be separated. In fact, the God Sun, God Moon, God Fire, and Stars have gained brilliance by only worshipping the brilliance of Lord and doing Yoga of this attribute of Lord. The indweller Lord in them reflects his captivating glow and what we see as Sun, or Moon, or Stars is the reflection of the divine captivating glow or the brilliance emanating from the form of Lord.

The yogis have been worshipping the divine brilliance of the Lord. The Vishwamitra, friendly to one, and all is the rishi of the Gayatri mantra. He has applauded the divine brilliance of the Lord in the form of Lady Gayatri is an indweller of Prana or life force of God Sun. By worshipping this attribute of divine brilliance of the Lord, doing the Gayatri mantra, we will be attracted to the divine charm of the Lord and captivated. Our desire for him will increase.  

सौभगं or auspiciousness or filled with divine fortune. The cause and the ownership of auspiciousness are Lord. The attributes of the Lord are immeasurable filled with auspiciousness is causing divine favor to each one. He has no wickedness causing sorrow, nor decline filled with flaws causing stains. Therefore, those dear devotees of the Lord keep repeatedly calling him as Stainless having immeasurable attributes.

Also, in all that is aversive to a common man, hating to see or hear, or smell or taste is Lord. He is Niranjana or untouched by any inauspiciousness engrossed in his divine bliss. The दुर्भग or inauspiciousness is hurriedly been taken away by the Kali and his fellow associates.       

This description of the fundamental nature of good and evil is depicted in the distribution of Amruta or divine nectar by the Lord in the form of Mohini. In the Forms & Fame of Lord, we hear

धान्वन्तरं द्वादशमं त्रयोदशममेव च ।

अपाययत्सुरानन्यान् मोहिन्या मोहयन् स्त्रिया ॥

During this churning of Milky Way or Kshirasamudra mathana, the Lord appeared from the Milkey Way in the twelfth time form of Dhanvantari holding a pitcher full of Amruta or Nector. In this form, Lord blesses good health to humanity and knowledge of Ayurveda. Immediately after that, He appeared in the thirteenth form of Mohani. The Lord mesmerized and captivated the demons and served the Nector of Immortality to only Gods.

We always hear that evil is powerful. The demons snatched the picture of divine nectar from Dhanvantri and started running away. In that fight of gods and demons, having the divine nectar would have given immortality to the demons. Hence, the Lord appeared in the form of Mohini to rescue the Gods. Seeing him, the Satvika Gods realized the divine auspiciousness in him. Whereas the glamorous beauty of Lord stupefied the demons.    

This is the metaphysics or the nature of reality, where the evil lures us towards the glamour binding to the cycle of death and birth and bringing दुर्भग or inauspiciousness. While Gods bringing सौभगं or auspiciousness or filled with divine fortune.

By worshipping the Lord as सुभगः or auspicious or filled with divine fortune and doing Yoga with this attribute of him, one will be blessed with popularity among good, receive their liking, and auspiciousness. Therefore, the Sadhus, Sants, Priests, dear devotees of the Lord, and the elders get high reverence in the Sanatana or oldest indoctrination. They have a higher presence of auspiciousness of Lord in them and are worthy to bless.

मार्दवं or Softness.  The Lord is strict and tough. He deals with sinners with a heavy hand. He has created lower regions of Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talatal, Rasatala, Mahatala, and Patala to punish. With severe punishments like 28 Deadly Punishments Listed in Garuda Puran. 

Also, he has an attribute of तितिक्षा or forbearance to the Sinners. He is भक्त अपराध सहिष्णु or Lord has forbearance to the offenses or crimes done against him by his dear devotes. Moreover, he is full of Daya or Compassion. He melts down to other’s distress caused by physical, or mental, or emotional difficulties.  The form of our Lord is complete with an immeasurable attribute of Compassion filled with grace, elegance, and is balanced. The kind-hearted Lord is helpful at all times and never has a disassociation with this attribute of compassion. When a devote propitiates to him seeking pardon, the compassionate Lord becomes मार्दवं or turns soft.

By worshipping this way the Lord would not react immediately to sins or offenses against him conducted by both good and evil. Also, worshipping him having the attribute of compassion, and मार्दवं or softness, seeking pardon by taking refuge in his lotus feet for the sins done, the so-called subconscious mind would not throw-up anger arbitrarily. The anger in the individual causing knee jerk reactions would soften. Such are the blessings of the Lord.

Continuing to answering Shaunaka rishi, Sri Suthacaharya started narrating the conversation between God Dharma in the form of Bullock and Goddess Earth as Bhoo Devi. Bhoo Devi sang,

प्रागल्भ्यं प्रश्रयः शीलं सह ओजो बलं भगः ।

गाम्भीर्यं स्थैर्यमास्तिक्यं कीर्तिर्मानोऽनहङ्कृतिः ॥ २८॥

The Lord having कौशलं or prowess in creating unique, distinctive, and exclusive features have प्रागल्भ्यं or proficiency. In all his acts, he shows absolute proficiency without any self-doubt nor confusion.

Even as he told Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna in the middle of battle field-leading him into tattva jnana, he exhibited proficiency. Lord Sri Krishna said,

अज्ञश्चाश्रद्दधानश्च संशयात्मा विनश्यति ।

नायं लोकोऽस्ति न परो न सुखं संशयात्मनः ॥BG-04-40॥

The ignorant having no faith nor belief in me nor in the scriptures would become the target for evil to instill wickedness. Hence, such beings, would not have a place in this world nor in the other. He would have no comfort anywhere.

By worshipping this attribute of the Lord, doing yoga with this attribute, proficiency starts manifesting in our acts. Even when we have to take the right stand, or stand-up for truth, or establish a premise, or carrying out our day-to-day duty, self-confidence, and proficiency manifest. Even if the whole world stands against, or even if the government uses all its might, the yogi would stand firm exhibiting proficiency.

This way, the Sanathana or the oldest dharma working on individual personality builds the Character of an individual. The Independence, the Prowess to create uniqueness,  Brilliance, Auspiciousness, Softness, Proficiency are all relevant to the modern-day personality. Hence, branding Hinduism as Credulous & Superstitious is far from truth having mala fide intentions.

|| Hari Om ||

|| Sri Krishnarpanamastu ||