Greatness of Shiva : Mahimnastava of Pushpadanta with commentary

fs} MAHIMNASTAVA.

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In order to measure thy greatness! which is Light and Fire?

Of Thee who art embodied of Fire

Virinchi? one day went upwards of Thee and Harit+ downwards

(Yet they failed to measure Thee)

But oh Girisha®

When They prayed to Thee with streneth of faith and devotion®

It was then that Thou did'st appear to Them.

How then is it possible that service of Thee can be without fruit ?

to Thee from the promptings of a heart full of devotion to Thee, Let the doctors dispute, the course of piety is straight, certain and sure,

1 According to past traditions (Pura kila) as it is said in Sanskrit or in ancient time as we should say, Brahma and Vishnu were one day disputing which of the two were the greater. Shiva then to humble their vanity appeared in the form of a fiery Linga which they set out to measure. Their failure to do this made them humble seeing that they, great though they be, were nothing in the presence of the Supreme.

2 One of the Ashéamirti is fire.

3 Brahma. Virinchi comes from the prefix Vz indicating various kinds of beings, Rach to make or create and the affix fn in active voice for He is tle aspect of the Trinity (Trimiurti) which creates.

4 Vishnu.

5 A name of Shiva from Giri +Sha « mountain-sleeping.” He who,was greatly attached to his wife. Girisha is from Giri + Isha Lord of the Mountain KailAsa.

6 As J. C. says Shraddha (faith) is mental worship (Manasikaseva) whilst Bhakti (devotion) is bodily service (Kayikaseva) for in it there is also bodily action, such as obeisance, kneeling, the folding of the hands in supplicatory prayer and so forth. True service of Shiva must bring forth the appropriate fruit for the worshipper,

SSS Sy ca

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