As I Know: The Lord of the Mountains – Shiv Purana: 152

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Monk Upamanyu speaks about the manifestations of lord Shiva, who performs Pasupata rites, and turns men into perfection …Krishna expresses desire to know and understand the meaning of words exchanged between lord Shiva and goddess Parvati – elucidation of real meaning, substance and devotion to Shiva

On the request of Krishna, monk Upamanyu gives portrayals of manifestations of Shiva as the gurus of Yoga and his attendants in different cycles of Yugas. In the seventh Manavantara in the age of Varaha, there were twenty-eight yogacharyas – the teachers of yoga. Each had four disciples of calm and harmonious intellects. Thus, the monk gives a complete list of gurus of yoga and the disciples. They perform Pasupata rites, turn into siddhas – men of perfection, and then, smear bodies with bhasma. They are learned men, know principles and fundamental nature of sacred scriptures, and people and the devotees think them as the perfect scholars of the Vedas and Vedangas.

Devoted to Shiva they never cultivate attachment and always focus minds on Shiva alone. Immune to the vagaries of weather, they are straight, mild and possess healthy bodies, and are bereft of anger, and they keep senses under restraint. On foreheads marks of tripundas with bunch of matted hair or tresses they have. They keep shaven heads and mostly survive on fruit and root. They adhere to strict laws of discipline, deliberate on Shiva only and so, ultimately, attain union with the lord because of deep bhakti.

Krishna wants to know the essence of conversation that took place between goddess Parvati and Shiva on the mountain of Mandrachal. He knows that there is nobody among the gods and danavas, who could explain the true nature of Shiva – the Shiva-tattva except Upamanyu. Krishna, an ardent devotee of Shiva, is still not satisfied about the extent of true nature of Shiva, the wise monk tells. It is very important that the unwise and injudicious or ordinary men on earth, who do not evince interest in spiritual principles, they should even as they exercise self-control, work hard to cultivate love for Shiva. Faith is essential if any man wants to be a devotee of lord Shiva. For he is always under the control of devotees, the lord tells.

Duties toward all classes and castes performed with faith are compulsory. To obey laws of varna-dharma is necessary and the social obligations have roots in the Vedas as Brahma revealed. It is Brahma’s dharma. Faith in social duties and correct performance without the desire of reward is the first step to put him under control – so the learned men and sages rightly say that Shiva works under the control of devotees.

Faith in him bestows virtues, love, and riches, and ensures liberation from the dirt and filth of worldly maya-delusion, and it is the path to attain him, goddess learns. He tells that knowledge of Pasu, pasa and pati is good. Kriya acts as an agent of purification where men perform rites religiously and it is possible if yogic discipline guides devotees, who nurse faith. Yoga is restraint, obedience to the lord and detachment from worldly allurement, O dear goddess, he further tells. Then, the real path it is that grants freedom from karmic bondage, for, it eschews desires for reward and so karma-yajna with detached heart is again very essential lord told.

When monk narrates the dialogue in brief, Krishna continues to listen to him attentively. He tells about the internal and external worship and religious import while adhering to rites. If men pursue the teachings of the lord religiously, through the path of penance, correct rites, chanting, meditation and knowledge, they would be eligible to attain the objective. Chanting of five-syllable mantra or the pranava or concentration on rudraksa is good. The lord reveals that a devotee of unflinching faith and determined mind is fit to attain true wisdom and knowledge. Devotion is the eternal dharma without the desire for reward and it depends upon the intensity of faith.

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