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The Descendents of Påthu Mahäräja (1-15) The sage Maitreya narrates the lineage from Mahäräja Påthu till the appearance of the Pracetäs. Mahäräja Påthu’s eldest son Vijitäçva (Antardhäna) became emperor and gave his younger brothers different directions of the world to govern. Vijitäçva begot three sons (previously fire-gods) through his wife Sikhaëdini and another son (Havirdhäna) through his wife Nabhasvati. After retiring from his executive duties, Vijitäçva engaged himself in the performance of sacrifices and devotional service thus attaining the Lord’s abode. (Contd) 5

The Descendents of Påthu Mahäräja (1-15; Contd) Havirdhana gave birth to six sons of whom Präcinabarhiñat was the most eminent and became a Prajapati. Through his wife Satadruti, he begot the ten Pracetäs. Ordered by their father to marry and beget children, the Pracetäs entered the ocean for a 10,000 year-performance of austerities. They met Lord Çiva who instructed them in the absolute truth. 6

The Pracetäs Meet Lord Çiva (16- 32) Because of their pious nature the Pracetäs faithfully sought to execute the instructions of their father. While proceeding to the west they came across a large picturesque reservoir of water from which emerged Lord Çiva, accompanied by musicians glorifying him. Lord Çiva began to address them. Lord Çiva explained that Krsna’s devotees are dear to him, that the qualifications required to occupy Brahma’s post, approach him and attain the spiritual planets, and that devotees of the Lord are as respectable as the Lord. Lord Çiva shared a special transcendental mantra, which glorifies the Supreme Lord. 7

The Prayers of Lord Çiva, Part I: (33- 43) The Prayers of Lord Çiva, Part I: Obeisances to the Supersoul, the Supreme Creator and Controller (33- 43) Lord Çiva begins by offering his obeisances to the all- pervading Supersoul, Väsudeva, the fully transcendental origin of all creation, and the supreme controller of the senses and sense objects. ü Lord Çiva then offered his obeisances to Sankarñaëa, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha, the masters of the senses and the mind—the all 4 aspects (catur-vyüha) of the Supreme Lord, who are expansions of Viñëu with specific functions in the universal creation. Loving and surrendering to Krsna first require a careful understanding of these four expansions of the Lord. (Contd) 8

The Prayers of Lord Çiva, Part I (Contd) Lord Çivas’ prayers acknowledge these potent four as aspects of Krsna’s all-powerful position as the original SPG   Sankarñaëa is the master of integrating subtle elements and of disintegration at the time of dissolution   Pradumna is responsible for universal growth & maintenance   Aniruddha is the director of the mind, which is needed to execute ds One cannot perform devotional service without the Lord’s permission. Simply by chanting the holy name we can understand everything in both the material and spiritual worlds. Lord Çiva then glorified the Lord as the cause of a person’s inclinations and disinclinations, and source of false ego, knowledge & the activities of the Vedic injunctions. 9

The Prayers of Lord Çiva, Part II: Seeing & Serving the Lord’s Glorious Form (44- 52) The Pracetäs have just heard Lord Çiva offer many obeisances to glorify the Lord and His unlimited potencies. They have now understood that they are fully dependent on God, even for their spiritual advancement. Lord Çiva wished to lead the Pracetäs closer so that they could see God’s form. Lord Çiva prays to see the Lord’s particular form worshiped by His devotees and that can satisfy the senses. He describes the form he desired to see in great details. Although Krsna does have a formless aspect devoid of qualities, Lord Çiva clearly desired to see His wonderful form, on which the formless rests (brahmano hi pratiñthäham) 10

The Prayers of Lord Çiva, Part III: Devotional Service, the Topmost Process, Can be Attained by Devotee Association (53-59) After hearing Lord Çiva’s discription of the Lord’s all- attractive form, one naturally wants to know how to find that wonderful Lord. Therefore, Lord Çiva will describe the glories of ds as well as what grants the privilege of its performance—devotee association. Those desiring to purify their material existence, execution of their occupational duties, and freedom from fear must take up the practice of bhakti-yoga—desired even by Indra. Pure ds is difficult even for liberated persons to discharge and that alone can satisfy the Lord. Even the formidable time does not approach the surrendered devotee. (Contd) 11

The Prayers of Lord Çiva, Part III (Contd) After hearing the glories of pure ds, one wonders how to attain it and what causes one to become a pure devotee? Lord Çiva’s next prayer answers these questions (57)—association of an exalted devotee even for a fraction of a moment. Therefore, Lord Çiva prays the Lord for this particular benediction. Lord Çiva says further that a devotee thus favored does not become bewildered by mäyä. Thus purified from material contamination, he is able to understand the Lord’s name, fame, form, activities, etc. 12

The Prayers of Lord Çiva, Part IV: The Relationship Between the Lord and the Material Creation (60-68) The all-pervading Supersoul as time and through His energies, and thus He is the only object of worship   Lord Çiva next describes that the Lord manifests potent energies in relationship to the material world as creator, maintainer, and destroyer. He is the ultimate source and nondifferent from the impersonal Brahman.   Everything rests on the Lord. He is independent of everything, but nothing is independent of Him. Yet conditioned soul, bewildered by mäyä, fail to realize this fact. (Contd) 13

The Prayers of Lord Çiva, Part IV (Contd)   According to Jiva Goswämi, Lord Çiva’s prayers in verses show that w/out the mercy of bhakti- yoga, the true principles of Brahman, Paramätmä, and time are extremely difficult to understand.   As the Supersoul in everyone’s heart, the Lord simply witnesses and gives the living entity sanction for sense enjoyment. As time, He destroys everything and everyone. Everything is controlled by the laws of material nature and these laws are enacted and enforced under His direction.   Lord Çiva concludes his prayers by saying that even Lord Brahmä know the Lord as the Supreme Brahman and the Supersoul. W/out worshiping Him, one’s entire life is spoiled. He is the fearless destination of all. 14

15 Highlights of Rudra- gita ( ) 1) Obeisances to the Supersoul, the Supreme Creator and Controller (33- 43) 2) The Supreme Lord has a glorious form to see and serve (44-52) 4) Relationship between the Lord as the Supersoul, time & His energies, and material creation (60- 68) 3) Privilege of devotional service to see and serve the Lord through devotee association as the mean and goal (53-59)

16 1) Obeisances to the Supersoul, the Supreme Creator and Controller (33- 43) The quadruple expansion (catur-vyüha) of the Lord for the purpose of material creation, maintenance, & dissolution Väsudeva  The all-pervading Supersoul  The controller of the sense & sense objects  Benediction of sense control by being engaged in devotional service (33-34)Sankarñaëa  The master of all- integration and -disintegration (35)  Gross and subtle elementsPradumna  The master of all- intelligence, -growth & -maintenance (35)Aniruddha  The controller of the mind, as the moon-god, sun-god, fire-god, false ego, the Universal Form, the Supersoul, and Bhagavän(36-43)  The holy name of the Lord (40)  Benediction of the mind control in perfect cleanliness by being inspired to be fixed on Lord’s lotus feet in devotional service, tongue control by tasting Krsna- prasädam  Please give me the desire to serve You in ds, since we don’t have it

17 2) The powerful Supreme Lord has a glorious form to see and serve (44-52) Wishes to see the Lord in the form that His very dear devotees wish to see But describes in great details the all- attractive, four- arms, Näräyana form The Lord’s merciful smile and sidelong glance upon His devotees  The inhabitants of Vrndävana are the Lord’s dear-most devotees  But they long to serve the two-arms, Shyämsundar, or Vrndävana-Krsna form of the Lord  How to reconcile the apparent conflict between the four-arms, Näräyana versus the two-arms, Vrndävana-Krsna forms?  Advanced devotees are on the räga-märga platform with the two-arms, Rädha-Krsna form  Devotees in practice, however, must follow the vidhi-märga, regulative principles of the päncarätrika-vidhi and thus must worship the four-arms, Laxmi-Näräyana form, acceptable by the Lord  Krsna’s merciful smile generate genuine desire in devotees’ heart to attain Him through devotional service  Krsna’s sidelong glance upon His devotees represent His great affection for them

18 3) The privilege of devotional service through devotee association as the mean and goal to see and serve the Lord (53-59)  Devotional service (ds) as the topmost process & it is the association of advanced devotees that grant one the privilege of being engaged in it  The Lord’s unlimited time potency causes fear among nondevotees  Devotees, on the other hand derive shelter from the same time potency of the Lord  Being thus completely purified by all material contamination by rendering pure ds, the devotee now able to understand & appreciate the Lord’s holy name, form, fame, activities, etc.

19 4) Relationship between the Lord as the Supersoul, as time, and through His energies; and the material creation (60-68)  The Lord is present everywhere as the Supersoul, as time, and through His energies.  Thus He is the only object of worship  He manifests potent energies in relationship to the material world as creator, maintainer, and destroyer.  Everything rests on the Lord, but He is independent of everything, although nothing is independent of Him.  Without devotional service, the principles of Brahman, Paramätmä (or the Supersoul), Bhagavän, and time are extremely difficult to understand

Instructions on Reciting the Prayer, and a Description of its Glories (69- 79) Lord Çiva next suggested how the Pracetäs could best take advantage of the prayer: Execute your occupational duty as kings with pure heart. Chant this prayer, always fix the mind and meditate on the Lord’s lotus feet. This will bring all good fortune. Further glory of reciting Lord Çiva’s prayers (74- 76, 79): A devotee whose mind is thus fixed and reverentially chants this prayer will achieve the greatest perfection of life w/out delay. He will very easily be able to invoke the mercy of the Lord. 20

21 Discussion Points Understanding (Und) Çiva-tattva (23-30) The Song Sung by Lord Çiva (33- 69)