Bibek Debroy
Open Magazine
Delhi, India
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Past articles by Bibek:
The Omniscient One
FROM THE SHIVA PURANA, I have been speaking about what Shiva had told Devi. And all of it was being recounted to Krishna by the sage Upamanyu. In this column, I will focus on the Panchakshara mantra, one that all of us are familiar with. Upamanyu continued, “For the welfare of the universe, the lord … Continue reading "The Omniscient One" → Read More
Sentiments of Worship
FROM THE SHIVA Purana, I have been describing what Shiva told Parvati. Shiva said, “O beloved! Through the fire of jnana, a person who possesses jnana burns this body down in an instant. Through my favours, a person who knows about yoga casts aside the bonds of karma. Karma can be both auspicious and inauspicious. … Continue reading "Sentiments of Worship" → Read More
Attitudes of Avatar
MOST PEOPLE KNOW a fair bit about Shiva. But I think many do not know that much about the details and nuances of worshipping Shiva and about the specifics given in the Shiva Purana. That is why I have been quoting from the conversation between Krishna and Upamanyu from Shiva Purana. If one wants to … Continue reading "Attitudes of Avatar" → Read More
The Variations of Shiva
UPAMANYU CONTINUED, “This universe, with its mobile and immobile entities, is a form of the lord of devas. Because of the weight of Pashas, Pashus do not know this. Maharshis do not know about his supreme nature, which is without a second. Therefore, though he is one, they speak of him in many ways. Some … Continue reading "The Variations of Shiva" → Read More
Why Shiva Shines
YOU WILL REMEMBER that Upamanyu was speaking to Krishna and I was narrating the story from Shiva Purana. Upamanyu said, “O Krishna! Listen. Mahesha Shiva is the paramatman. Everything in the universe, mobile and immobile, is pervaded by forms of his atman. Using his own forms, Shiva is present in everything. His atman is immeasurable. … Continue reading "Why Shiva Shines" → Read More
The Days of Durga
AT THIS TIME of the year, Durga Puja is celebrated throughout Bengal, indeed, in some other eastern states, too, with similar rituals and practices. I shouldn’t have said Bengal, since Durga Puja is celebrated wherever Bengalis reside and congregate. When I was a student in Delhi, I was often asked by non-Bengali classmates, “What is … Continue reading "The Days of Durga" → Read More
A Father’s Ignorance
IN THE LAST COLUMN, I mentioned Daksha’s sacrifice. The story is narrated in many Puranas. I will narrate the version from Shiva Purana, a Mahapurana, since it has an interesting twist. There is a section in Shiva Purana called ‘Sati Khanda’, the section about Sati. According to Shiva Purana, Daksha prayed to Devi and Sati … Continue reading "A Father’s Ignorance" → Read More
The Divinity of Creation
IN AN EARLIER column, I had spoken about Shumbha and Nishumbha and their death. When they died, the gods prayed to Devi again. This is a famous prayer, known as the Narayani suktam from Devi Mahatmya. Most people will have heard its recital. O Devi! Show us your favours. You are the one who removes … Continue reading "The Divinity of Creation" → Read More
The Eternal Goddess
MANTRAS ARE FINE. But most of us love stories about Devi and Durga. Most of these stories feature in the Puranas. The Puranas are ancient accounts. According to belief, after classifying the Vedas and composing the Mahabharata, Krishna Dvaipayana Vedavyasa composed the Puranas. There are many Puranas. Some of these are major Puranas and are … Continue reading "The Eternal Goddess" → Read More
The Sacred Feminine
I HAVEN’T WRITTEN ON Devi so far. I will start with a few suktams on Devi. The word suktam simply means good saying, well-spoken, well-said. More specifically, suktam is a chant that has been recited properly, a hymn to a divinity. A similar word is stotram. The two words are often used synonymously. A suktam … Continue reading "The Sacred Feminine" → Read More
A 2047 Template
A BOOK HAS JUST been published on Modi@20. That’s on 20 years of Narendra Modi, first as chief minister of Gujarat and then as prime minister of the country. 2022 also happens to be eight years of Narendra Modi as prime minister in Delhi, from May 2014. With the first term from May 2014 to … Continue reading "A 2047 Template" → Read More
A Hunter’s Penance
SUTA TOLD THE rishis a story about a hunter. Bhilla and vyadha are used equivalently for a hunter. “In earlier times, there was a bhilla in a forest. His name was Gurudruha. He was cruel. He went to the forest and hunted animals every day. On one occasion, the extremely beautiful Shivaratri arrived. However, … Continue reading "A Hunter’s Penance" → Read More
The Pursuit of Pleasure
I have been talking about the 12 jyotirlingams on the basis of what is said about them in the Shiva Purana. We are nearing the end, and this column is about Rameshvara. Most of us know the basic story of Rameshvara. Suta said, “After this, I will speak about the lingam known as Rameshvara and about how it originated … Continue reading "The Pursuit of Pleasure" → Read More
The Price of Austerity
IN THE SHIVA PURANA, Suta continued to tell the rishis about jyotirlingams, and now narrated the Vaidanatheshvara story. Suta said, “Ravana was the best among rakshasas, and was respected. With respect and devotion, he worshipped Hara on Kailasa, supreme among mountains. Though the worship continued for a long time, Hara was not pleased. To … Continue reading "The Price of Austerity" → Read More
The Boon of Goutama
IN THE LAST column, we left it at the point where Shiva appeared before Goutama. Maheshvara was pleased. In Suta’s words, “Casting a compassionate glance towards him, Shiva said, “O rishi! You are blessed. Since you know that I am pleased, ask for an excellent boon.” Goutama, best among sages and devoted to Shiva, joined … Continue reading "The Boon of Goutama" → Read More
The Virtuous and the Wicked
I STARTED THE STORY about Goutama and Trayambakeshvara, being narrated by Suta to the sages. Suta said, “O Brahmanas! On one occasion, Goutama sent his own disciples to fetch water. They faithfully went there, with their water pots. There were many wives of the rishis who had gone there for water. When the disciples went … Continue reading "The Virtuous and the Wicked" → Read More
Kashi Consciousness
LET ME FIRST conclude what Shiva told Parvati about Kashi, Shiva’s city. “O, beloved! Such is my divine city. It is most mysterious among everything that is mysterious. O Parvati! Brahma and the others do not know about its greatness. That is the reason this great kshetra is known as Avimukta [a place that grants … Continue reading "Kashi Consciousness" → Read More
A Passage to Varanasi
AMONG JYOTIRLINGAMS, PERHAPS the most famous is Kashi-Vishveshvara jyotirlingam. Let’s turn to that next, basing the account on the Shiva Purana. Suta said, “O supreme rishis! Listen. After this, I will tell you about the greatness of Vishveshvara, who destroys great sins. Everything that can be seen in the world is only a material object. … Continue reading "A Passage to Varanasi" → Read More
A Mighty Lesson
WE WILL NOW move on to the next jyotirlingam, Bhimashankara in Dakini. Most people will identify Bhimashankara as the one in Maharashtra, near Pune. But as you will see from this account in the Shiva Purana, it is not that simple. The Bhimashankara account will take more than one column. Suta said, “After this, I … Continue reading "A Mighty Lesson" → Read More
The Carer and the Slayer
IN THAT FAMOUS shloka about jyotirlingams, Somanatha is the first and I mentioned the Somanatha story in the last column. The next one is Mallikarjuna, in Shrishaila. Hence, here is the Mallikarjuna story, from the Shiva Purana, as told by Suta. Suta said, “After this, I will speak about how Mallikarjuna originated. If a person … Continue reading "The Carer and the Slayer" → Read More