MARRIAGE OF SHIVA AND PARVATI

Himavantha, the ruler of the Himalayas and his wife Meena Devi, were devout followers of Lord Shiva. They even wished that their daughter grew up to be Shiva’s wife. Meena Devi performed a 3-day long Tapasya to gratify Gauridevi, Shiva’s wife. Appeased by Meena Devi’s meditation, Gauridevi promises her to be reborn as her daughter. She jumps into the fire, only to be reincarnated as Parvati.

Meanwhile, Shiva went on long meditation to mourn the death of his wife.

 When Himavantha learned about Shiva’s plight, he asked Narada for help. Narada told Himavantha that Parvati could earn Shiva’s love only through prayers. Parvati spent days and night worshipping Lord Shiva.

  Impressed by Parvati’s devotion, Shiva resolved to test her love. He disguised as a Brahmin and said that it would be futile for her to marry someone who has no wealth and lived the life of a beggar. Parvati became furious hearing these and replied in anger, “I would marry none, but Shiva”. Pleased with her answer, Shiva returned to his original form and agreed to marry Parvati.

VARAHA AVATAR STORY OF LORD VISHNU

One day Lord Vishnu was resting in his palace, when Lord Brahma’s four sons came to meet him. They were stopped at the entrance by two guards Jaya and Vijaya. They did not allow them to enter as their master was resting, Brahma’s sons were very angry and cursed Jaya and Vijaya to be born as humans on earth and to leave their godly status.

 A little while later Lord Vishnu arrived at the spot and apologized for Jaya and Vijaya’s behaviour as they were merely doing their duty. So as a compensation Brahma’s sons said that curse would be lifted when Jaya and Vijaya in human forms would meet their death at Lord Vishnu’s hands.

 So Jaya and Vijaya were born as humans on Earth. They were named Hiranya­kashyap and Hiranyaksh. When they were born both the earth and the heaven shook violently. Indra went to Lord Vishnu and said, “At their birth itself, there is so much chaos. What will happen when they’ll grow up?”

 “Don’t worry, Indra,” said Lord Vishnu. “I’ll kill them when the time comes and no harm will come to anybody.”

 Many years went by and Hiranyaksha became a young man. He was a great devotee of Lord Brahma. He gave a lot of time in penance when Lord Brahma appeared and gave him a boon. According to the boon, no God, human, Daitya or Asura would be able to kill him. So Hiranyaksha started displaying his strength as he was assured of his immortality.

 He turned his waist side to side and began churning the sea. Due to this, waves lashed the sea. Varun Dev got very scared on seeing such a scene. He started searching for a place to hide. But Hiranyaksh confronted him and challenged him. At this, Varun Dev accepted his defeat and declared that he could not defeat Hiranyaksha as he was the strongest of all. And then Hiranyaksha was filled with pride. He went on churning the sea waters and walked through the sea. Then he met Narad Muni. Hiranyaksh asked him,” “Is there anyone as strong as or stronger than me?” Narad Muni said, “Yes, Lord Vishnu is the strongest.” Hiranyaksha searched for Lord Vishnu everywhere but could not find him. Then he gathered the whole Earth into a round ball and went underwater to Pataal Lok to search for Lord Vishnu. All the Gods were worried. They got together and rushed to Lord Vishnu for help. They said, “Lord please save us. Hiranyaksh has taken Earth and disappeared.”

“Don’t worry. I know he has taken Earth to Pataal Lok. I’ll soon get Earth back at its position.”

Then Lord Vishnu took the form of a Varaha, a wild boar with two tusks. He went to Pataal Lok and challenged Hiranyaksha so they had a fierce fight. Hiranyaksha used many weapons to strike Varaha but they had no effect on him. Lastly, Hiranyaksha wound his strong, muscled arms round the wild boar’s neck to strangle him.

At that very moment, Lord Vishnu left his Varaha form and appeared in his true self.

And then Vishnu directed his chakra at Hiranyaksha . The chakra separated his head from his body. Hiranyaksha died then and there.

Then Lord Vishnu again took the Varaha form. He picked the Earth, which was like a ball, balanced on his two tusks and left Pataal Lok through the sea. He placed Earth at its original position and again appeared in his true form.

Lord Vishnu was praised by all the Gods on hearing the news of Hiranyaksha’s death.

Importance Of Rama Mantra - Sri Rama Rameti

श्री राम राम रामेति रमे रामे मनोरमे ।
सहस्रनाम तत्तुल्यं रामनाम वरानने ॥

Shri Rama Rama Rameti, Rame Rame Manorame;
Sahasranama tattulyam, Rama Nama Varanane

Meaning:
1: By meditating on "Rama Rama Rama" (the Name of Rama), my Mind gets absorbed in the Divine  Consciousness of Rama, which is Transcendental.
2: The Name of Rama is as Great as the Thousand Names of God (Vishnu Sahasranama-stotra)

BENEFITS:

Goddess Parvathi asks the Lord, which is the easiest way to recite this prayer. God tells that it is also called the Rama Mantra. Sri Rama Rameti sloka which when recited 3 times gives the same effect as reciting the whole of Vishnu Sahasranama Stotra.

HOW VIBHISHANA BECAME KING OF RAVANA DYNASTY

Once Vibhishana, Ravana & their brother KumbhaKarna decided to meditate on Brahma until he appeared, so that they could ask boons of him. Their sister Shurpanakha kept watch of them until they fulfilled their desire.

As the trio of brothers meditated dedicatedly, Indra, the king of Astral world got worried. Anyone who has higher capacity worried him as they could overthrow him and assume his position. So he created illusions in their mind that their entire kingdom was being burnt, family dragged and killed, civilians roasted.

Knowing these tricks of Indra, they did not give in and wake up from their continued meditation. They meditated one minded and finally Lord Brahma the creator of this particular world had to appear.

 "Oh my stubborn children, I'm pleased with your efforts, what do you desire from me, I grant you each a boon." said father Brahma.
 "I want to be immortal Sir." said Ravana.
"My dear Son, ask for 10000 years, or even million but not for immortality, you can ask who you don't want to die from. But not to die." said Brahma.
Ravana being the genius he is, thought for a while and then said "I want not to die from Devas (demigods), Yakshas, Gandharvas, Rakshasas and so on" They were the most powerful beings while humans were weak and which he neglected.
"TathAstu (So Be it)" said Lord Brahma.
"My Lord, there is pleasure in sleeping and eating, I want my joy in these two multiplied." asked KumbhaKarna. "TathAstu" said Lord Brahma.
"What do you want child? " he asked Vibhishana, the youngest of the three.
"I want to be righteous, bless me that I never give up Dharma even if I have to stand against my own people for the sake of it. Let me never be swayed away from Dharma" asked Vibhishana, like a true son of a sage, which he was.
"My Child you already have that, Now I'll Bless you with Immortality." said the Brahma and made him an immortal.
 As destiny had it, Vibhishana later in life had to fight against his own brothers and kingdom for the sake of Dharma. He gave up kingdom, blood relatives for the sake of Dharma. Eventually he was crowned the king of Kingdom that his brother Ravana ruled.