--> Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from August 24, 2016


Story of Shalya in the Mahabharata

Shalya was the King of Madra in the Mahabharata. Her sister Madri was married to Prince Pandu. He was the uncle of Nakula and Sahadeva – the last of the two Pandava brothers. In the Kurukshetra battle, he fought on the side of the Kauravas. Legend has it that it was by cheating that Shalya was enticed to join the camp of Kauravas. As Shalya was approaching the Kurukshetra battlefield with his army, he found that, at each halting point, there were arrangements made for his comforts. Shalya thought it had been done by Yudhishtira. After enjoying the comforts at several places, he sent a message through one of the men to go to his master and state that Shalya would serve that master who had accorded such treatment. It was only later he realized that Duryodhana was that master. However, having given his word, he decided to keep it. Shalya fought bravely for Duryodhana. When Karna became commander-in-chief, he was asked to serve as Karna’s charioteer. But throughout his chario

Shalokya – The Abode of Shiva for a Devotee to Attain

Shalokya is a concept in Shaiva Siddhanta. It envisages a four-fold path for a devotee to annihilate evil influence and to elevate the atma to attain bliss or the abode of Shiva. The four-fold path are: Charya Marga – In this path, devotees take care of the temples and sacred places of Lord Shiva. Kriya Marga – praising the glory of Shiva in temples and sacred places. Yogic Marga – is an advanced stage of spiritual experience, in which the devotee finds the entire universe to be equal. Jnana Marga – is reaching the highest through negation of that which is not truth. Through one of the above said path, a devotee freely moves into a new domain called Shalokya – Shiva’s abode. The enchantments of this world caused by Maya are annihilated in the abode of Paramatma.