Mandala
Sri Brhadbhagavatamrtam:
I heard wonderful sounds of singing and instrumental music. Happy, I looked at that direction and saw, coming from above, a person different from all the others, riding on a bull his body fair with camphor, having three eyes, his only clothing the four directions, crowned with a half-moon, graceful, holding a trident, his matted locks holding the Ganges' water, anointed with ashes, wearing a necklace of glorious bones
pleased by goddess Gauri sitting on his lap, and served with very splendid paraphernalia by associates whose handsome forms and graceful actions were like his. I became filled with joy and wonder. I thought: "Who is this that, surrounded by his associates, stands above impersonal liberation?
His opulences seem unworldly and he seems better than all the liberated souls, but yet he looks like a great hedonist who does not care to act rightly." When, my heart overcome with bliss by seeing him, I bowed before him and his associates, he mercifully glanced at me. Joyfully approaching the leader of the associates, who was named Sriman Nandisvara, I asked about him.
Nandisvara laughed and said: "O cowherd boy, O devotee worshipper of Lord Gopala, you don't know Lord Shiva, who is the Lord of the universes who gives both material pleasures and liberation, who increases devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is worshipped by the liberated souls, and who is dear to the Vaishnavas?"
"Conquered by the devotion of his friend Kuvera, from his own abode, which is like himself, and which is attained by the devotion of they who see that Lord Shiva and Lord Krishna are not different, he is now going, along with his beloved Parvati and his many associates, to decorate Mount Kailasa."
Sri Gopa-kumara said: Hearing this, I became happy, and I desired to get the blissful mercy of Lord Shiva.
Understanding my heart, Lord Shiva gave a meaningful glance to Nandi. Nandi then explained to me the pure truth, which was at once manifested before me. The truth was that Lord Shiva, who increases one's love for Lord Krishna, is not different from Lord Madana-Gopala, my Lord, who is more dear to me than life.
I happily joined their company and all of Lord Shiva's associates treated me well. From Sri Nandi I heard of Lord Shiva's extraordinary glories.
Always in the same form, Lord Shiva stays in his own abode eternally. There he is always seen by his devotees, who have faith in him alone, and who are pleased to stay in his abode.
He is always filled with devotion for Lord Krishna, who is not different from him. With singing, dancing, and other pastimes he delights his associates.
Although he is the Lord of the universes, Lord Shiva always worships thousand-headed Lord Sesa with great love, as if he were His servant.
I heard wonderful sounds of singing and instrumental music. Happy, I looked at that direction and saw, coming from above, a person different from all the others, riding on a bull his body fair with camphor, having three eyes, his only clothing the four directions, crowned with a half-moon, graceful, holding a trident, his matted locks holding the Ganges' water, anointed with ashes, wearing a necklace of glorious bones
pleased by goddess Gauri sitting on his lap, and served with very splendid paraphernalia by associates whose handsome forms and graceful actions were like his. I became filled with joy and wonder. I thought: "Who is this that, surrounded by his associates, stands above impersonal liberation?
His opulences seem unworldly and he seems better than all the liberated souls, but yet he looks like a great hedonist who does not care to act rightly." When, my heart overcome with bliss by seeing him, I bowed before him and his associates, he mercifully glanced at me. Joyfully approaching the leader of the associates, who was named Sriman Nandisvara, I asked about him.
Nandisvara laughed and said: "O cowherd boy, O devotee worshipper of Lord Gopala, you don't know Lord Shiva, who is the Lord of the universes who gives both material pleasures and liberation, who increases devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is worshipped by the liberated souls, and who is dear to the Vaishnavas?"
"Conquered by the devotion of his friend Kuvera, from his own abode, which is like himself, and which is attained by the devotion of they who see that Lord Shiva and Lord Krishna are not different, he is now going, along with his beloved Parvati and his many associates, to decorate Mount Kailasa."
Sri Gopa-kumara said: Hearing this, I became happy, and I desired to get the blissful mercy of Lord Shiva.
Understanding my heart, Lord Shiva gave a meaningful glance to Nandi. Nandi then explained to me the pure truth, which was at once manifested before me. The truth was that Lord Shiva, who increases one's love for Lord Krishna, is not different from Lord Madana-Gopala, my Lord, who is more dear to me than life.
I happily joined their company and all of Lord Shiva's associates treated me well. From Sri Nandi I heard of Lord Shiva's extraordinary glories.
Always in the same form, Lord Shiva stays in his own abode eternally. There he is always seen by his devotees, who have faith in him alone, and who are pleased to stay in his abode.
He is always filled with devotion for Lord Krishna, who is not different from him. With singing, dancing, and other pastimes he delights his associates.
Although he is the Lord of the universes, Lord Shiva always worships thousand-headed Lord Sesa with great love, as if he were His servant.
