[Advaita-l] Stories from the Shiva Purana - 20 (The Liberation of Devaraja)

[S Jayanarayanan]

(Continued from the previous post. An evil-doer attains to Salvation by listening to the Shiva Purana:
https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/shiva-purana-english/d/doc225537.html
Shiva Purana - Mahatmya, Chapter 2)
 
 
This wonderful narrative of Shiva Purana destroys hosts of sins, purifies the mind, and propitiates Lord Shiva. Who are those among sinners in the
Kali age who get sanctified by this story? Men who habitually commit sins, wicked persons indulging in vicious activities and persons of lecherous
disposition become pure hereby. Men overwhelmed by the thirst of covetousness, those devoid of truthfulness, those who decry even their parents,
haughty vain fellows and persons prone to violent activities become sanctified by this.
 
Those who never practise the duties of their Varnas and Ashramas (castes and walks of life) and those of malicious temperament become sanctified thanks
to the Jnanayajna even in the Kali age. The merit accruing from this Purana destroys great sins, yields worldly enjoyments and salvation and delights
Lord Shiva. In this context, an ancient anecdote is cited as an example, the mere hearing of which removes all sins utterly.
 
In the city of Kiratas there lived a Brahmin extremely poor and deficient in (Brahminical) knowledge. He used to sell various kinds of beverage and
was averse to the worship of gods or to virtuous activities. He never hesitated to deceive credulous persons. His name was Devaraja. Thus by foul means,
much wealth was later accumulated by him. But the sinner that he was, not even the slightest part of his wealth was utilised in virtuous acts.
 
Once that Brahmin went to a lake to take his bath. There he saw a harlot called Shobhavati and was much agitated at her sight. The beautiful woman was
extremely delighted on coming to know that a rich Brahmin had become her willing slave. The Brahmin’s heart was filled with love due to her pleasant talk.
He decided to make her his wife and she consented to have him as her husband. Thus in mutual love they sported for a long time.
 
Once, by chance, he came to the city of Pratishthana. He saw a Shiva temple where saintly men had congregated. During his stay there, he was afflicted
by an acute fever. He heard the discourse on Shiva conducted by a Brahmin. The Brahmin Devaraja suffering from fever died at the end of a month. He was
bound with nooses by Yama’s attendants and forcibly taken to Yama’s city.
 
In the meanwhile, Shiva’s attendants dressed in white, smeared with ashes all over the body, wearing garlands of Rudraksha and wielding tridents in their
hands started furiously from Shivaloka and reached Yama’s city. They threatened the attendants of Yama (the God of death) and thrashed them. Releasing Devaraja
from their clutches they seated in a wonderful aerial chariot. When they were about to start to Kailasa a great tumult arose in the middle of Yama’s city on
hearing which Dharmaraja (the god of death) himself came out of his palace.
 
On seeing the four messengers who appeared like replicas of Rudra Himself, Dharmaraja the knower of virtues honoured them in accordance with the custom.
Yama came to know of everything through his vision of wisdom. Out of fear, he did not question the noble attendants of Shiva. Being duly honoured and adored
by Yama, they went to Kailasa and handed over Devaraja to Shiva, the very Ocean of mercy and to the Divine Mother Parvati.
 
Blessed indeed is the story of Shiva Purana, the Holiest of holy stories, a mere hearing of which qualifies even the greatest sinner for Salvation.
 
 
(Concluded)