Shri Krishna Paramaatma’s Deekshaaguru was Upamanyu. His father was Vyaaghrapaada maharshi. Vyaaghrapaada maharshi was an akunthita Shiva deekshaapara and a Shiva bhakti paraayana. He was a shadkaala Shivapuuja-dhurandhara. Vyaaghrapaada Brahmarshi used to goto the aranyas and carefully collect Bilva-dalas, vividha-kusumas, with a lot of prema, for Shiva puuja.
Once Sadaashiva, the Bhaktavatsala, gave His durlabha darshanam to Vyaaghrapaada maharshi. Parama Shiva asked the Brahmarshi to ask for abhiishtam. Vyaaghrapaada maharshi replied “nirantara Shiva bhakti is enough for me”. He had nirmala, nishkaama, nishchala Bhakti on Parameshvara. However Parama Shiva insisted the Brahmarshi to ask for something.
With that Vyaaghrapaada maharshi replied “Karunaamaya! I get Divyaanandam doing Your puuja. Collecting vividha-kusumas, dalas for Your puuja, using them for Your archana — these things give immense aanandam to me. When I try to collect these Vana-dravyas, huge thorns and sharp stones prick and cause pain to me. So make my paadas as kathinam as a Vyaaghra’s”. (In Aadhyaatma tattvam, Vyaaghram represents Moksham) Parama Shiva, with a chiru-mandahaasam, replied “tathaastu”. Vishveshvara was happy with the avyaaja-prema of the Bhakta. Thus the Brahmarshi got the name Vyaaghrapaada.
The great Chidambara Kshetram is known as “Vyaaghrapuri” or “Puliyuur” because Vyaaghrapaada maharshi did Shiva-upaasana here and saw the Divya Shiva Taandavam here. He is the Mantra-drashta of many Mantras in Rug-vedam. The great Paandavas were from Vaiyaaghrapada-gotram, for which Vyaaghrapaada maharshi is the Pravataka.
For Loka-shrayas and to protect Sanaata-Dharmam, Vyaaghrapaada maharshi also wrote “Vyaaghrapaada-smruti”. One can learn about Yuga-dharmas, Aashrama-dharmas, Pinda pradaana – Pitru tarpana Mahaatmyam, Teertha-Kshetra praashastyam, Shraaddhaadi Vignyaanam, Abhisheka, Snaana vidhis etc., by reading this Mahaa-grantham:
- On seeing a Deva-pratima, a Yati, a Sanyaasi, immediately one must do Namaskaaram. If one doesnt then praayashchittam is required.
- When doing Namaskaaram one must do Yathaavidhi by folding both the hands. If one does with one hand, then he will loose all the Punyam which he earned in that janma.
Like this many simple, nevertheless important things are discussed in this Shaastram.
Morals in the story:
- Nishkaama bhakti is what we all need to have. Vyaaghrapaada maharshi showed us that it is this which will impress Parameshvara, not Bhakti with Svaartham.
- Importance of respecting, doing Namaskaaram to Deva-pratima, Yati, Sanyaasi and elders is well shown in the story.
Search Terms: Vyaghrapada, Vyaghrapaada, Siva, Bilvam
Sir can you tell if there are any other children for lord Shiva other than Ganapathy,Muruga and Sastha
Regards
Jagannathan
it is said that manasa devi is the daughter of Lord siva who took birth by the mere wish of lord siva , when he saw maa sarasathi playing her hachapi (veena). she is one of the 18 sakthis and is located in Haridwar.she rules Naga lokam
please make a correction it is kachapi name of the maa saraswathi’s Veena
The Village pedapulivarru called vyaaghrapuram is located in guntur district of andhrapradesh ( pedda puli in telugu meaning tiger)and the siva temple located in the village is more than 1000 years old and attributed to karikala chola-1 as per inscriptions available there and the lord siva manifested there at the request of vyaghrapada giving the village name as vyaaghrapura in the inscriptions available in the village. any further information can be posted.
Please tell the story about vyagrahpada and pantangali finding Lord Shiva in the forest. It has been suggested that this is where tantra yoga differs from classical yoga
Shiva had another son called Vettakkorumakan..when he and parvathi took form as Vedan and his consort to test the valour of Arjuna before granted him Pasupathastra… Later Vettakkoruman was born the the divine couple and they left him at the forest itself… Late he was send to kerala to protect people from demons…. still in north kerala we can find lot of temples dedicated to this great God. In some stories he is often compared to Lord Dharma Sastha… but he is different…
Vyakara padar’s( or Pulikal Munivar’s) Jeeva Samadhi is located at Thriupattoor( 15 Kms from Trichy,TN). His holiness Samadhi is located inside Kasiviswanathar temple. Near by we can found a pond which he created by striking his feet on the floor to do Abhisekam for Lord Shiva. There is a belief that this pond will relieve you from Brahmahatthi thosam.