३७ सप्तत्रिंशदशकः - त्िष्णुमहत्त्वम् 37 saptatrimshadashakah' - vishnumahattvam–The greatness of Lord Vishnu

 ३७ सप्तत्रिंशदशकः - त्िष्णुमहत्त्वम्

37 saptatrimshadashakah' - vishnumahattvam–The greatness of

                                           Lord Vishnu

(this chapter deals with the special position of Lord Vishnu and the

incarnations that he took. This is available in 13th chapter of the third book of

Devi Bhagawatham. Also refer to narayaneeyam dashakams 20 & 21.

In the country of Bhadrāśva, Viṣṇu resides as Hayasīrā (the horse-headed); in

Ketumāla, as Varāha (the boar); in Bhārata, as the tortoise (Kūrma); in Kuru, as

the fish (Matsya); in his universal form, every where; for Hari pervades all

places: he, Maitreya, is the supporter of all things; he is all things. In the eight

realms of Kimpuruṣa and the rest (or all exclusive of Bhārata) there is no

sorrow, nor weariness, nor anxiety, nor hunger, nor apprehension; their

inhabitants are exempt from all infirmity and pain, and live in uninterrupted

enjoyment for ten or twelve thousand years )

पुरा हररस्त्ाां किल सात्त्वििेन

प्रसादयामास मखे न दे कि ।

सुरेषु तां श्रेष्ठतमां चिर्थ

स तेन सिथत्र बभूि पूज्यः ॥ ३७-१॥

puraa haristvaam kila saattvikena

prasaadayaamaasa makhena devi .

sureshu tam shresht'hatamam chakartha

sa tena sarvatra babhoova poojyah' .. 37-1..

1.Oh Goddess! Once Vishnu, pleased you by conducting a saatvik

Yajna. Then, you made him the greatest among Devas. Because of

which he was worshipped by all.

It has already been mentioned before, about the benefits of,

meditating, praying and worshiping devi. This chapter explains the

benefits of not just praying to Devi, but also of praying to the

devotees of devi.

It has already been explained before how the trimurti’s sat on an air-

plane and went and saw bhuvaneshwari devi in her abode in

manidweepa and got 3 powers from her. [check dashakam 10]. With

the help of the powers, brahma built satyaloka, Vishnu built vaikunta,

and rudra built kailash. Also with the powers they started the process

of creating, preserving and annihilating the universe. Around this

time, Vishnu performed a saatvik yagna in vaikuntam, to please devi.

As soon as the yagya was completed, a divine voice was heard by

everyone. That divine voice established Vishnu as the most valuable

and superior to all in heavens. All those who took part in the yagya

were very happy. From that onwards Vishnu began to be worshipped

by all. [this story can be found in devi-bhagavatham skanda 3

chapter 13]

अधमथिृत्त्विश्च यदा कत्रलोिे

धमथक्षयश्चाकप तदा भित्या ।

धमं समुितुथमधमथमृिां

मार्ष्ुं च दे व्येष कनयुज्यते कह ॥ ३७-२॥

adharmavri'ddhishcha yadaa triloke

dharmakshayashchaapi tadaa bhavatyaa .

dharmam samuddhartumadharmamri'ddham

maarsht'um cha devyesha niyujyate hi .. 37-2..

2.Oh Goddess! Whenever there is an increase in unrighteousness in

the 3-world, and a decline in righteousness, then, for reinstating

Dharma and also to wipe out the growing unrighteousness from the

world, you appoint Vishnu to perform this duty.

As soon as Vishnu completed the the yagya, a divine voice was

heard.The gist of what the divine voice said is:- “vishnu is superior

among the devas. Whenever there is an increase in unrighteousness

and a decrease in righteousnous, then I will be delegating Vishnu to

get rid of unrighteousness and also to restore righteousness. To do

all this, I will provide him with the necessary powers at that time.” On

hearing this divine voice all were happy. Everybody was convinced

that Vishnu was a great devotee of devi. Everybody began to respect,

worship and pray to Vishnu.

स ईड्यते सिथत एि सिवः

पत्न्या च भूतैश्च समां किरीशः ।

इलािृतेऽपूरुषसकिधाने

सङ्कषथणाख्यां भजते मुराररम् ॥ ३७-३॥

sa eed'yate sarvata eva sarvaih'

patnyaa cha bhootaishcha samam gireeshah' .

ilaavri'te'poorushasannidhaane

sankarshanaakhyam bhajate muraarim .. 37-3..

3. Everywhere he was being praised by everyone. Even Lord Shiva

along with his wife and Bhoothas, worshipped him in Ilavrutha, a

continent where there are no men. The killer of Mura who is called

Sankarshana over there.

The residents of heavens were praying to Vishnu, who was a devotee

of devi, to acquire boons from devi and Vishnu. Now examples are

going to be given for this. Vishnu is prayed by Shiva who stays in a

continent called illavritham along with Parvathi and other bhootas. In

this continent Shiva is the only male member. In case any male

member happen to come there, that male person will change into a

lady. [check 5th dashakam of Devi narayaneeyam]

The story of how brahma stayed in satyaloka and started creating the

universe, has already been mentioned earlier. After creating plants

and trees and animals and birds, he created humans. That 1st human

was called swaayambhuvan. He had 5 children- 2 sons and 3

daughters. Their names were priyavartan, uttanapadan, aakuti,

devahuti and prasuti. Priyavartan had 2 wives and he had 13 sons

from them. Out of that 3 became head of manvantaras, 3 took up

sanyaas. He was left with only 7 sons as decendents.

After sunset, getting onto an illuminated chariot priyavartan went

round the earth. Those areas where the wheels of the chariot made

an impression, it became oceans and places where the wheels of the

chariot did not make an impression became islands. Because of this

act of priyavartan, the earth was divided into 7 islands and 7 oceans.

He allotted the 7 islands to his 7 sons. These 7 sons allotted to their

respective sons the portions that had been allotted to each of them.

Priyavartans eldest son was agnindran he got from his father an

island named jambu. He divided this island into 9 parts and gave one

portion each, to each of the 9 sons. Amongst one of them is the

continent of illavrata. This is described as surrounding the Meru

mountain. Staying here is where shiva prayed to sankarshana.

In Ilāvṛta-varṣa, Lord Śiva is always encircled by ten billion

maidservants of goddess Durgā, who minister to him.

The quadruple expansion of the Supreme Lord is composed

of Vāsudeva, Pradyumna, Aniruddha and Saṅkarṣaṇa. Saṅkarṣaṇa,

the fourth expansion, is certainly spiritual, but because his activities

of destruction in the material world are in the mode of ignorance, He

is known as tāmasī-तामसी, the Lord’s form in the mode of ignorance.

Lord Śiva knows that Saṅkarṣaṇa is the original cause of his own

existence, and thus he always meditates upon Him in trance by

chanting the following mantra.

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

oṁ namo bhagavate mahā-puruṣāya

sarva-guṇa-saṅkhyānāyānantāyāvyaktāya nama iti.

श्रीभगवानुवाच

ॐ नमो भगवते महापुरुषाय

सववगुणसङ्ख ्यानायानन्तायाव्यक्ताय नम इतत

“The most powerful Lord Śiva says: O Supreme One, I offer my

respectful obeisances unto You in Your expansion as

Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa. You are the reservoir of all devotional qualities.

Although You are unlimited, You remain unmanifested to the non-

devotees.” (sb/5/17/17)

Taken from SB canto 5 chapters 1 and 2

When Mahārāja Priyavrata, following the instruction of Lord Brahmā,

accepted the royal throne, his father, Manu, left home for the forest.

Mahārāja Priyavrata then married Barhiṣmatī, the daughter of

Viśvakarmā. In the womb of Barhiṣmatī he begot ten sons, named

Āgnīdhra, Idhmajihva, Yajñabāhu, Mahāvīra, Hiraṇyaretā, Ghṛtapṛṣṭha,

Savana, Medhātithi, Vītihotra and Kavi. He also begot one daughter,

whose name was Ūrjasvatī. Mahārāja Priyavrata lived with his wife

and family for many thousands of years. The impressions from the

rims of Mahārāja Priyavrata’s chariot wheels created seven oceans

and seven islands. Of the ten sons of Priyavrata, three sons named

Kavi, Mahāvīra and Savana accepted sannyāsa, the fourth order of

life, and the remaining seven sons became the rulers of the seven

islands. Mahārāja Priyavrata also had a second wife, in whom he

begot three sons named Uttama, Raivata and Tāmasa. All of them

were elevated to the post of Manu.

While so excellently ruling the universe, King Priyavrata once became

dissatisfied with the circumambulation of the most powerful sun-

god. Encircling Sumeru Hill on his chariot, the sun-god illuminates all

the surrounding planetary systems. However, when the sun is on the

northern side of the hill, the south receives less light, and when the

sun is in the south, the north receives less. King Priyavrata disliked

this situation and therefore decided to make daylight in the part of

the universe where there was night. He followed the orbit of the sun-

god on a brilliant chariot and thus fulfilled his desire. He could

perform such wonderful activities because of the power he had

achieved by worshiping Vishnu.

When Priyavrata drove his chariot behind the sun, the rims of his

chariot wheels created impressions that later became seven oceans,

dividing the planetary system known as Bhū-maṇḍala into seven

islands.

The names of the islands are Jambū, Plakṣa, Śālmali, Kuśa, Krauñca,

Śāka and Puṣkara. Each island is twice as large as the one preceding it,

and each is surrounded by a liquid substance, beyond which is the

next island.

The seven oceans respectively contain salt water, sugarcane juice,

liquor, clarified butter, milk, emulsified yogurt, and sweet drinking

water. All the islands are completely surrounded by these oceans,

and each ocean is equal in breadth to the island it surrounds.

Mahārāja Priyavrata, the husband of Queen Barhiṣmatī, gave

sovereignty over these islands to his respective sons, namely

Āgnīdhra, Idhmajihva, Yajñabāhu, Hiraṇyaretā, Ghṛtapṛṣṭha,

Medhātithi and Vītihotra. Thus they all became kings by the order of

their father.

When Mahārāja Priyavrata went off for spiritual realization, his son

Āgnīdhra became the ruler of Jambūdvīpa, in accordance with

Mahārāja Priyavrata’s instructions, and maintained its residents with

the same affection a father feels for his sons. Once Mahārāja

Āgnīdhra desired to have a son, and therefore he entered a cave of

Mandara Mountain to practice austerity. Understanding his desire,

Lord Brahmā sent a celestial girl named Pūrvacitti to Āgnīdhra’s

hermitage. After dressing herself very attractively, she presented

herself before him with various feminine movements, and Āgnīdhra

was naturally attracted to her. The girl’s actions, expressions, smile,

sweet words and moving eyes were fascinating to him. Āgnīdhra was

expert in flattery. Thus he attracted the celestial girl, who was

pleased to accept him as her husband because of his mellifluous

words. She enjoyed royal happiness with Āgnīdhra for many years

before returning to her abode in the heavenly planets. In her womb

Āgnīdhra begot nine sons — Nābhi, Kiṁpuruṣa, Harivarṣa, Ilāvṛta,

Ramyaka, Hiraṇmaya, Kuru, Bhadrāśva and Ketumāla. He gave them

nine islands with names corresponding to theirs. Āgnīdhra, however,

his senses unsatisfied, was always thinking of his celestial wife, and

therefore in his next life he was born in her celestial planet. After the

death of Āgnīdhra, his nine sons married nine daughters of Meru

named Merudevī, Pratirūpā, Ugradaṁṣṭrī, Latā, Ramyā, Śyāmā, Nārī,

Bhadrā and Devavīti.

तमेि भद्रश्रिसो हयास्यां

भद्राश्विषे मुनयः स्तुित्त्वि ।

प्रह्लाद उच्चैहथररिषथ िासी

किश्वाकतथशान्त्यै नृहररां च नौकत ॥ ३७-४॥

tameva bhadrashravaso hayaasyam

bhadraashvavarshe munayah' stuvanti .

prahlaada uchchairharivarshavaasee

vishvaartishaantyai nri'harim cha nauti .. 37-4..

4.In the continent of Bhadrashwa, The sages called bhadrashravaa,

are only praying to Vishnu, in his horse headed form. In the

continent of Harivarsha, Prahladha is loudly praying to Vishnu, in the

form of a Narasimha, for the betterment of the worlds.

Now we are going to describe the rulers of these islands and the

form of Vishnu that they pray to:-

We start from the east. To the east of illavritha is the continent

named bhadrashvam. The rishis who stay there are called

bhadrashravas, pray to that form of Vishnu called hayagreeva. [ the

story of vishnu’s hayagreeva avataram has been explained in

dashakam 2.]

To the south of illavritham is harivarsham. Prahlada who stays there,

for the upliftment of the world, worships the Narasimha form of

Vishnu

श्रीः िेतुमाले खलु िामरूपां

तां रम्यिे मत्स्यतनुां मनुश्च ।

कहरण्मये िूमथ शरीरभाजां

स्तुित्त्वि नारायणमयथमा च ॥ ३७-५॥

shreeh' ketumaale khalu kaamaroopam

tam ramyake matsyatanum manushcha .

hiranmaye koormashareerabhaajam

stuvanti naaraayanamaryamaa cha .. 37-5..

5.That Vishnu is worshipped, in the form of kamadeva by laxmi in

kethumala, in the form of a fish by Manu in Ramyaka, and in the

form of a tortoise by Aryama in Hiranmaya.

To the west of illavrita is the island kethumala, to its north is the

island ramyakam. To the north of ramyakam is hiranmayam. It means

that in different places Vishnu is prayed to in different forms.

महािराहां िुरुषूत्तरे षु

भू राघिां किम्पुरुषे हनूमान् ।

तां नारदो भारतिषथिती

नरां च नारायणमाश्रयिे ॥ ३७-६॥

mahaavaraaham kurushoottareshu

bhoo raaghavam kimpurushe hanoomaan .

tam naarado bhaaratavarshavartee

naram cha naaraayanamaashrayante .. 37-6..

6.That Vishnu is worshipped in the form of Nara-Narayana by the

sage Narada of Bharatha varsha, as Sri Rama by Lord Hanuman in

Kimpurusha and as Mahavaraha by goddess earth in Utharakuru

regions.

To the north of hiranmayi is the region of uttarakuru. To the south of

harivarsham(which is to the south of illavratha) is kimpurusham; to

the south of kimpurusha is bharathavarsha. Like this jambu dweepa

was divided into 9 continents, 9 rulers, 9 forms of Vishnu. Refer to

the table below:

                      Jambudweepam

  bhuvibhagam              rulers             The form of Vishnu

                                              that is worshipped

 Illavritham          Shiva                   shankarshanan

 Bhadrashwam          Bhadrashravasaas        Hayagreevan(horsehead)

 Harivarsham          Prahalaad               Nrisimham(Man-lion)

 Ketumaalam           Lakshmidevi             Kaamadevan(cupid)

 Ramyakam             Vaivasvatha Manu        Matsyam(Fish)

Hirannmayam            aryamaa               Koormam(tortoise)

Uttarakuru             bhoomidevi            Mahavaraaham(boar)

Kimpurusham            Hanuman               Sri Rama

Bhaaratham             Sri Narada            Nara-Narayana

It is explained in the next shloka the importance of the continent of

bharata amongst the other continents

सत्कमथभूकमभथरतस्य राज्यां

सन्त्यत्र िैिुण्ठिर्ैिसक्ाः ।

तीर्ाथ कन पुण्याश्रमपिथताश्च

जन्मात्र दे िाः स्पृहयन्त्यजस्रम् ॥ ३७-७॥

satkarmabhoomirbharatasya raajyam

santyatra vaikunt'hakathaikasaktaah' .

teerthaani punyaashramaparvataashcha

janmaatra devaah' spri'hayantyajasram .. 37-7..

7. Bhaaratham the country of Bharatha, is the land to perform good

acts. People here are interested only in stories of Vaikunta. Here

there are places for pilgrimage, sacred hermitages and sacred

mountains. The devas are always longing to be born there.

Illavrita and other continents are the heaven on earth. It is the place

where one reaps the benefits of doing good deeds-‘bhogbhoomi’.

Bhaaratam is the place commited to do good deeds. This is a

peculiarity of bharatham. Bharatham has only people who are

interested in listening to stories of vaikuntam and devi stories. In

devaloka this is not there. This is another peculiarity. The 3rd

peculiarity is-it is believed that there are many sacred ashramas and

sacred rivers, here. Due to several reasons like this, the devas also

wish to be born-live in-bharata continent.

Brahma-swaayambhuvan-priyavartan-aagneedhran, try to remember

this family lineage once more. It was already mentioned earlier that

Aagneedran divided jambudweep-which he got from his father-into

9 parts and gave 1 part to each of his 9 sons. It is these 9 continents

that we travelled.

Plaksham. Shaalmalam, kusham, krauncham, shaakam pushkaram are

the remaining 6 continents. Priyavratan’s 6 sons went along

protecting these 6 islands. In all the places the glories of god are

sung-the way we remember god is different, that is the only

difference. There are many stars in the sky also many planets. These

are controlled by Vishnu devotee, Dhruva. Devi devotee vishnu’s

devotee can control the wheels of astrology. Atalam, vitalam,

sutalam, talaatalam, mahaatalam, rasaatalam, paataalam are 7 worlds

below the earth. All are very prosperous. Here the peculiarity of

sutalamm is explained in the next shloka.

प्रह्लादपौत्रः सुतलाकधिासः

सुरकक्षतश्चात्मकनिेदनेन ।

िाधथक्यरोिक्लमभीकतमुक्ो

महाबकलिाथ मनमेि नौकत ॥ ३७-८॥

prahlaadapautrah' sutalaadhivaasah'

surakshitashchaatmanivedanena .

vaardhakyarogaklamabheetimukto

mahaabalirvaamanameva nauti .. 37-8..

8. One who is well protected due to his self-offering, who is free

from aging, diseases, burns and fear, who lives in suthala, who is the

grandson of Prahlada, that mahabali, always prays to the Vamana

form of Vishnu.

The 7 worlds were all prosperous was mentioned earlier. In 6 worlds

there was a fear-that any moment all these can be destroyed. This

fear was not there for the residents of suthala. Because mahabali’s

protection has been taken over by vamana Moorthy. When Vishnu

incarnated as vamana, at that time mahabali had offered himself to

Bhagavan. Because of which vamana Moorthy had no choice but

protect mahabali. He who lived in suthala never experienced aging,

burns or diseases. He is the grandson of prahalaada who was a great

devotee of Bhagavan. Can Vishnu ignore that mahabali?-no. even

today vamana is present in the suthala regions as mahabali’s security

guard. That devotee spends his time praying to vamana all the time.

सहस्रशीषथः कशरसा दधत् क्ष्ाां

हली हरे स्तामसमूकतथरायवः ।

सांस्तूयमानः सहनाििन्यः

पातालमूले च सलीलमास्ते ॥ ३७-९॥

sahasrasheershah' shirasaa dadhat kshmaam

halee harestaamasamoortiraaryaih' .

samstooyamaanah' sahanaagakanyah'

paataalamoole cha saleelamaaste .. 37-9..

9.the 1000 headed one, the one who supports the earth on one

head, one who holds a plough, one who is prayed to by great

people, who is always with snake-nymphs, vishnu’s-taamasa

moorthy- Sankarshana, sportively lives in paataalam.

The lowermost area of paataalam is the root of paataalam. There in

the form of a snake lives sankarshana, Ananthan and other names. In

his one hand he holds a plough. Great people sit near to him and

pray to him. There are a lot of snake-nymphs in front of him. He is

vishnu’s taamasa Moorthy-that form where tamo guna is prominent.

His glories are sung by sri narada muni in brahma lokam.

At the bottom of this Pātāla, and at a distance of the thirty Yoyanas;

the Portion of Bhagavān in the shape of the infinite Darkness is

reigning there. O Devarṣi! All the Devas worship this Form. The

devotees call Him by the name of Saṇakarṣaṇa, as He is the

manifested emblem of “Aham” and the common ground where the

Seer and the Seen blend into one. He is the thousand-headed

Controller of all, moving and non-moving; He is of infinite forms; He

is Śeṣa; this whole universe is being held as a mustard bean on His

head; He is of the Nature Intelligence and Bliss and He is Self-

manifest. When he wants to destroy all this during the Pralaya, the

very powerful Saṅkarṣaṇa Rudra, well arrayed with the eleven Vyūhas,

military (squadrons) arrangements, springs up from Him. From His

Central Eyebrow, looking wide with His Three Eyes and raising His

Trident, resplendent with three flames. All the (prominent) principal

snakes, ruling over many others, come to Him during the nights

filled with devotion and surrounded with Bhaktas (devotees) and

bow down to Him with their heads bent low and look at each other’s

faces, enlightened with the lights from the jewels shining with clear

lustre, on the nails of the red toes of His Lotus-Feet. At that time

their faces become brilliant with the rays emitting from the jewels on

the top of their very gay encircled hoods; and their cheeks look

beautiful and shining. The daughters of the Nāga Rāja also do like

this; when very beautiful rays come out of their perfectly excellent

bodies. Their arms are wide extended; they look very clear and they

are beautifully white. They use always Sandalpaste, Aguru and

Kāṣmīri unguents. Being overpowered by the amorous passion, due

to their contact with those scented things, they look at Him with

bashful glances and sweet smiles and expect Āsiss (benedictions)

from Him. And then His eyes roll maddened with love and express

signs of kindness and mercy. The Bhagavān Ananta Deva is of

boundless strength; His attributes are infinite; He is the ocean of

infinite qualities. He is the Ādi Deva, of a very good nature and His

Nature is highly luminous. He has abandoned anger and envy and

He wants the welfare of all. All the Devas worship Him and He is the

repository of all Sāttvic qualities.

The Devas, Siddhas, Asuras, Uragas, Vidyādharas, Gandharbas, and

Munis always meditate on Him. On account of His constant Mada

Rāga the enthusiasm and intoxication, His sight appears intoxicated

and His eyes look perturbed with emotions. He is always pleasing to

those who surround him and to the Devas by His sweet nectar-like

words. The Vaijayantī garland hangs from His neck; it never wanes

and it is always decorated with the fresh and clear Tulasī leaves. The

maddened bees make their humming noises incessantly and thus

add to the beauty. He is the Deva of the Devas and He wears a blue

coloured cloth and He is ornamented with only one earring. He (the

God Viṣṇu) Undecaying and Immutable; resting His fleshy arms on

the Halakakuda (the lofty portion of the plough), He is upholding the

golden girdle as the elephant Airāvata of Indra upholds the golden

girdle. O Nārada! The devotees describe Him as the Source of this

Leelā of the Universe and the Controller of the Devas.

From Vishnu puranam

Below the seven Pātālas is the form of Viṣṇu, proceeding from the

quality of darkness, which is called Śeṣa[4], the excellencies of which

neither Daityas nor Dānavas can fully enumerate. This being is called

Ananta by the spirits of heaven, and is worshipped by sages and by

gods. He has a thousand heads, which are embellished with the pure

and visible mystic sign[5]: and the thousand jewels in his crests give

light to all the regions. For the benefit of the world he: deprives the

Asuras of their strength. He rolls his eyes fiercely, as if intoxicated.

He wears a single ear-ring, a diadem, and wreath upon each brow;

and shines like the white mountains topped with flame. He is clothed

in purple raiment, and ornamented with a white necklace, and looks

like another Kailāsa, with the heavenly Gaṅgā flowing down its

precipices. In one hand he holds a plough, and in the other a pestle;

and he is attended by Vāruṇī (the goddess of wine), who is his own

embodied radiance. From his mouths, at the end of the Kalpa,

proceeds the venomed fire that, impersonated as Rudra, who is one

with Balarāma, devours the three worlds.

Śeṣa bears the entire world, like a diadem, upon his head, and he is

the foundation on which the seven Pātālas rest. His power, his glory,

his form, his nature, cannot be described, cannot he comprehended

by the gods themselves. Who shall recount his might, who wears this

whole earth, like a garland of flowers, tinged of a purple dye by the

radiance of the jewels of his crests. When Ananta, his eyes rolling

with intoxication, yawns, then earth, with all her woods, and

mountains, and seas, and rivers, trembles. Gandharvas, Apsarasas,

Siddhas, Kinnaras, Uragas, and Cāraṇas are unequal to hymn his

praises, and therefore he is called the infinite (Ananta), the

imperishable. The sandal paste, that is ground by the wives of the

snake-gods, is scattered abroad by his breath, and sheds perfume

around the skies.

The ancient sage Garga[6], having propitiated Śeṣa, acquired from

him a knowledge of the principles of astronomical science, of the

planets, and of the good and evil denoted by the aspects of the

heavens.

Śeṣa is commonly described as being in this situation: he is the great

serpent on which Viṣṇu sleeps during the intervals of creation, and

upon whose numerous heads the world is supported. The Purāṇas,

making him one with Balarāma or Saṅkarshana, who is an

impersonation or incarnation of Śeṣa, blend the attributes of the

serpent and shiva in their description.

किकचत्ररूपां जिताां कहताय

सिे स्तुिन्त्यच्युतकमिभक्त्या ।

एनां िुरु त्वां िरदानदक्षां

मातः िृपाद्रे िरदे नमस्ते ॥ ३७-१०॥

vichitraroopam jagataam hitaaya

sarve stuvantyachyutamiddhabhaktyaa .

enam kuru tvam varadaanadaksham

maatah' kri'paardre varade namaste .. 37-10..

10.All people with increased devotion, for the good of the world,

pray to Vishnu who has several forms with folded hands. You make

him capable of granting boons. Oh merciful Goddess! who grants

boons, My salutations to you.

In devi bhagavatham skandam 8 chapters 4-21 we can find the

details of creation of this universe, bhoogola details, details

about the wheels of fortune, the details of the netherworlds.

Amongst these the important devotional-important chants-portions

has only been offered in this chapter. All the devotional chants are

good for the betterment of this world. A wish, or devotional poem, is

not offered to the devas. All are praying to Vishnu only-vishnu is a

devotee of devi. if you pray to a devi devotee, the benefits gained is

equivalent to benefits gained by praying to devi.

The poet ends this chapter by praying to devi to give Vishnu the

strength to fulfil the wishes and give happiness to all devotees.

Thus ends the 37th chapter

The seven lower planetary systems

"...below the earth by 70,000 yojanas are the 7 lower planetary systems—

Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talātala, Mahātala, Rasātala and Pātāla. Demons

and Rakṣasas live in these lower planetary systems with their wives and

children, always engaged in sense gratification and not fearing their next

births. The sunshine does not reach these planets, but they are

illuminated by jewels fixed upon the hoods of snakes. Because of these

shining gems there is practically no darkness. Those living in these

planets do not become old or diseased, and they are not afraid of death

from any cause but the time factor, Bhagavan.

In the planet Atala, the yawning of a demon has produced three kinds of

women, called svairiṇī (independent), kāmiṇī (lusty) and puṁścalī (very

easily subdued by men). Below Atala is the planet Vitala, wherein Lord

Śiva and his wife Gaurī reside. Because of their presence, a kind of gold is

produced called hāṭaka. Below Vitala is the planet Sutala, the abode

of Bali Mahārāja, the most fortunate king. Bali Mahārāja was favored by

the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāmanadeva, because of his

intense devotional service. The Lord went to the sacrificial arena

of Bali Mahārāja and begged him for three paces of land, and on this plea

the Lord took from him all his possessions. When Bali Mahārāja agreed to

all this, the Lord was very pleased, and therefore the Lord serves as his

doorkeeper.

Below Sutala is the planet Talātala, the abode of the demon Maya.

This demon is always materially happy because he is favored by Lord

Śiva, but he cannot achieve spiritual happiness at any

time. Below Talātala is the planet Mahātala, where there are many

snakes with hundreds and thousands of hoods. Below Mahātala

is Rasātala, and below that is Pātāla, where the serpent Vasukī lives with

his associates."

                    Jambudweepam-ilavritam

                            Uttarakuru

                             Bhoomidevi-

                               vaaraaha

                             Hiranmaya

                               Aryamaa

                              koormama

                              Remyaka

                            Vaivasvatha Manu

                                matsyam

     Ketumala                  Ilavrita         Bhadrashwa

     Lakshmi devi                Shiva          Bhadrashravaas

     kaamadevan              shankarshanan       hayagreevan

                             Harivarsha

                                Prahlaad

                               Nrisimham

                            Kimpurusham

                                Hanuman

    KEY                            Ram

Bhuvibhagam

    Rulers

Form of Vishnu                   Bharatha

  worshipped                      Sri Narada

                                Nara-Narayana

The adho-loka

The first planetary system, known as Atala, is situated on the waist;

the second, Vitala, is situated on the thighs; the third, Sutala, on the

knees; the fourth, Talātala, on the shanks; the fifth, Mahātala, on the

ankles; the sixth, Rasātala, on the upper portion of the feet; and the

seventh, Pātāla, on the soles of the feet.

The seven patalas

Atala-loka – Atala is ruled by Bala, who is a son of Maya. Maya

possesses mystical powers.

Vitala-loka – Vitala is ruled by the god Hara-Bhava, who is a form of

Shiva.

Sutala-loka – Sutala is the kingdom of the demon king Bali.

Talatala-loka – Talatala is the realm of Maya. Shiva is also here under

the protection of Maya.

Mahatala-loka – Mahatala is where many nagas (serpents) live.

Rasatala-loka – Rasatala is the home of the demons Danavas and

Daityas.

Patala-loka (or Naga-loka) – This is the lowest realm. It is the

region of the nagas, ruled by Vasuki a King serpent.