THE GRET DEVOTEES OF GOD SHIVA-SAMBARA - PULINDI MOKSHA

SAMBARA - PULINDI MOKSHA ------------------------------------ Long ago, in a forest, lived a hunter named Sambara. Compared to his valor and stamina animals like lion or elephant seemed to be very insignificant. Once during his usual hunting trip he happened to reach a ruined Lord Shiva temple located deep inside the jungle. Even though the temple was in a verge of destruction without the pooja and dhyana, the Shiva Linga idol inside the temple appeared to be radiant. Sambhara with a lot of deep adoration took the idol with him. After going some distance, he saw a large number of army marching towards him. It was the army of Simhaketu ,the king of Panchala kingdom who came for the hunting sport at the jungle. Sambhara showed his idol to the King SimhaKetu . He said “Victory to the king of kings, this divine idol i got it from the jungle. If possible i want to anoint this idol in an appropriate place but since i belong to the lower caste i don’t know the rituals to be performed for the anointment. Please enlighten me about the correct way performing the rituals." The king smiled and told him " Hey Sambhara, i could understand the purity of your intentions. You may anoint this idol in any of the rock and worship it according to the ritual ways laid for lower caste. Daily you should clean it with pure water and smear it with the ashes from the cremation ground. You can offer the food such as fruits, cereals and meat to the deity. You must keep your mind and body pure. The ash from the cremated dead body is most ideal for the Shiva Pooja. This is the worshipping way for the lower class" Sambara started worshiping the idol according to the way prescribed. He did the pooja with the help of his wife Pulindi. Once after a long search he could not find the cremated ash for pooja. He became indescribably sad. By seeing the mourned face of her husband Pulindi enquired the matter. Sambhara replied that today even after a long search he could not find the cremated ash, he don’t know how to pay the homages. After listening to her husband’s dilemma Pulindi told" Don’t worry , i sacrifice my self in the burning fire, thus we get enough ashes for pooja". Sambhara was shocked to hear this statement from his beloved wife, he exclaimed " Shiva ! Shiva! what are you saying ? Why you want to immolate yourself in such a tender age? No way i can’t allow this to happen" but she was adamant in her decision “No my dear husband if this perishable body can be use of such a noble cause, am happy to part with it”. Thus after a lot such arguments Sambhara yielded to his wife's wishes. Pulindi started the fire by igniting the hut and with deep faith deserted her body by jumping into it. Sambhara took that ash and smeared it in the idol of Lord Shiva and conducted the rituals as per instructed. After the rituals, as usual he called his wife to give away the fruits and the water. Pulindi came and received the "Prasad'. Suddenly Sambhara came into consciousness, he was awe stricken by seeing his wife in flesh and blood in front of him. She told him that she did not felt the heat of the fire . For her all seemed like just waking up from a dream. Both Sambhara and his wife humbly prostrated before the idol of Lord Shiva. At that moment Shiva parshadas appeared in front of them and took the couple to the Shiva loka. Thus with the selfless love and purity of mind they have attained the divine lands.