The Worship Of Sri Saila Sikaram

Anecdotes

-Staff

By Staff

Thursday, November 13, 2008, 16:33

Once a group of people from Vimalapuram embarked on a pilgrimage to Sri Sailam, one of the Jyotir Lingas of Lord Shiva in Andhra Pradesh. Sri Sailam, apart from holding on to its holiness, has a lot of other important places of worship in and around it. The Sri Saila Sikaram is an important part of the Sri Sailam pilgrimage where the very darshan or the worship of it bestows mukti or liberation on devotees with a devout heart.

As the saying goes, 'Many are called, but a few are chosen', Lord Mallikarujna (Lord Shiva) and Bhramaramba Devi (Goddess Parvati) the presiding deities of Sri Sailam, sought to test the devotees who thronged to worship the Sri Saila Sikaram, which was capable of asundering their Karmic cords instantly. The test was followed after Goddess Parvati's doubt put forward to Lord Shiva as to whether any one who worshipped Sri Saila Sikaram would be blessed with liberation, the ultimate blessing.

Lord Shiva and Parvati hence disguised themselves as a couple, travelling in a bullock cart, as was the practice with regards to old people and children who undertook the pilgrimage. The divine couple on purpose pretension of getting their cart stuck in the mud called out for help. Many came forward but the couple put forward a condition that only a person who is free of sins could volunteer in helping them move the cart.

On hearing the condition of the couple, the people who came forward to help them withdrew from the endeavour and watched helplessly at the helpless couple. However, a prostitute came forward to help them. As she was about to indulge in moving the cart, Goddess Parvati asked whether she was free of having committed sins. The prostitute replied that indeed she had about she was absolved of them at the very moment she worshipped the Sri Saila Sikaram. Lord Shiva and Parvati thus pleased with her devotion blessed her with Moksha, liberating her once for all.

It is just not devotion that wins the Lord's heart but devotion from a devout heart that transports one directly to His feet.