WHO IS GREATEST

The Trimūrti is a concept in Hinduism in which the cosmic functions of creation, maintenance, and destruction are personified by the forms of Brahma the creator, Vishnu the maintainer or preserver and Shiva the destroyer or transformer.These three gods have been called "the Hindu triad or the "Great Trinity.

In our ancient land the forest known as Naimisharanya was a vibrant spiritual centre. Several sages and seers lived there performing intense spiritual meditations. To them Maharani Sutha had been narrating the eighteen ancient chronicles known as Puranas. The sages were very inquisitive one day to know the sacred lore of Sri Venakteshwara. Almost everyone including sage Sownka, the learned one expressed their burning curiosity to know the secrets behind the descent of the Lord Sriman Narayana from Sri Vaikundam to the Seshagiri, the present Tirupathi hills. Sutha Maharishi was immensely pleased to fulfill their requests to relate at length the complete Avatara of Sri Venkatesha. "Oh Sages! The Lord of seven hills Sri Venkateshwara has descended to our terrestrial plane mainly to uplift every one of us who are living in the dark cycle of Kali Yuga. The Lord is the only being who is easily accessible to all without even much of a spiritual and yogic discipline. He can alone protect competently everyone from all the tribulations of life at all times.

Sri Naradha is the puranic sage who links all the legends of our ancient lore. He is the mansaputra, the mental image created by Brahma Deva and hence he is the son of Brahma Deva. He is also the foremost among all the devotees of Sriman Narayana. He used to chant the grandeur and the gory of the Lord in all the three worlds during his continuous journeys. Sri Narada is second to none in his tricks to trap the wicked and to protect the helpless. He worked always unerringly with the eternal principles of justice. He cleverly drew strings against tyranny. For this he used to carry tell-tales about others and create confusion in the minds of his solicitors all with a view to avert some unknown or known disasters. For this strange trait in him, he has been known popularly as ‘Kalaha Priya’. He has his main key role in the descent of Lord Narayana from his abode of Vaikuntha to Venkata.


Narada flew up to Sathyaloka, the abode of Brahma Deva. In Brahmaloka great angels from the various brighter worlds such as Indra, Surya, Chandra, the seven great seers, the Ashtadikpalakas and several others have assembled for soliciting favours from Brahma deva. Brahma deva was in contemplation of Lord Sriman Narayana, while his divine consort Sri Saraswathy Devi sat near him. As soon as Narada entered into Brahma’s court, he greeted both his divine parents and in turn Brahma Deva blessed him. Narada’s sudden appearance at Brahmaloka excited curiosity in the minds of the angels present there. They were wondering what news he has brought from his travels of the three great regions, from the nether worlds, the human world or the heaven above. Brahma Deva broke the silence and began to speak, "My beloved son, you are a great devotee of the Lord. Your service to the Lord’s devotees is also matchless.

I would like to assign to you a task of paramount importance. It is for the benefit of the entire humanity. You know well that Lord doesn’t exist in human form in the Dark Age of Kali. If the god fearing nature subsides among humans, the decline of ethical codes of conduct is sure to follow. By unlawful ways men may fulfill their desires and eventually reach hell as fruits of their deeds. "You should use ingenuity and artfully handle the situation so that the Lord Sriman Narayana incarnates in Kali Yuga down on the earth plane. If only the Lord descends down the terrestrial sphere, can the mortals in the dark age of Kali have peaceful life. "By his divine presence in the dark cycle of Kali, the mortals can draw inspiration and guidelines from Him, time to time and thereby attain material prosperity and spiritual awakening. Eventually all of them can attain the immortality of Mukthahood. You should aim at this great event of the Lord Avathara at once. May you be totally successful in your attempts." Hearing these words of Brahma Deva, everyone present was pleased. Sri Narada was persuaded by one and all to follow the wise words of Brahma Deva immediately. Their words touched him most profoundly, at once he devised a masterly plan.

Soon Sri Narada left the abode of Brahma Deva and came down to Bhuloka, our globe. He was reciting melodiously the Narayana Mantra for the successful completion of his plan. On the shores of the Ganges he saw a circle of great seers like Sri Kasyapa gathering together for performing a Yagna. Over viewing the scene of Yagna from above, Sri Narada descended to the Yagna bhumi. Sri Narada was excited to see double coincidence- holy sages in holy spot- in that spiritual gathering. The presence of Sri Narada also inspired the sages. They warmly welcomed him. Finally a highly conducive climate for his plan, Sri Narada proposed to begin his plan there. So he spoke to the sages, "O sages! You are all illustrious spiritual luminaries. Each one of you is capable of creating a separate universe by your potential powers. Pouring out your hearts devotion, I am happy to note, that you are performing this great sacrifice.

Yet a doubt lurks in my mind. To whom are you dedicating this fruits of Yagna? Who is the recipient of your offerings among the Trinities - Brahma, Vishnu or Shiva? I am also curious to know who can grant you all the benefactions you expect from this yagna." To this strange question of Narada everyone was struck dump with shock. For a moment they could not decide as to who among the divine trinity should be preferred as the sole recipient of the fruits o the yagna. Silence reigned supreme for a while. Then again Sri Narada himself spoke to them. "Devored sages, without a clear thought to whom you should offer the sacrifices, you should not meaninglessly proceed the Yagna further more. By a deliberate test find out who among the Trimoorthis can grant thee all your aspirations including Moksha, the ultimate salvation. Incidentally he should be above all really Shantha Murthy, unperturbed by our solicitations. First demonstrate to yourself who is that Supreme Being is and then the salvation from earthly bondage."

Aside Sri Narada thought to himself that his master plan will work out easily, "By my inducement the rishis and sages would seriously test the divine trinities. Beyond all doubts, Brahma Deva and Lord Shiva will not succeed in the acid test of the wise sages. Sriman Narayan will alone eventually be successful . This will lead to separation of Lord Narayana with Sri Lakshmi, whereupon both of them shall be descending down to the globe. This is the solution to all miseries of Kaliyuga or every one. Who among the Divine Trinities are really tranquil, unperturbed at all times? All sages began to doubt the Trimoorthis. Opinion was divided among them. Some held the view that Lord Shiva is the tranquil being, while some others said Brahma Deva alone is the unperturbed mighty being. A few had the thinking that Sriman Narayan alone is incapable of any irritation by anyone. Then the question of determining who is the most high among the trimoothis haunted the minds of the sages. Some blamed Sri Narada for raising unnecessary questions in their minds and leaving them to their own fate! The anxiety to explore the final truth rose so high in the minds of the sages that they forgot their yagna and for the time being abandoned the yagna.

Observing this some wise one among them began to settle the question by a simple compromise, "O Sages you are all supermen, endowed with deep penetrating intuition and insight. You should not be tossed about by every wind of doctrine that blows around. Neither you should blame Sri Narada nor any of you. The Godhead should be above the three qualities of Nature- satva, tamasa, rajasa and should be exaltant in Shantha Guna. As the devotees should know the nature of his deity. Among the divine trinities who exalts in the untrammeled serene temperament should be put to tests beyond all cavel and criticism. Let us choose among someone who is capable of testing the Trimoorthis and through him we shall resolve our doubts." This sounded to be only ultimate solution. Everyone agreed to test the Trimoorthis. But to test the great ones who are beyond all the veils of Maya is not an easy task. Among them, they began to search for an exaltant sage, who could with unshakable resolution test the Trimoorthis and declare to them the ultimate truth. Some of them suggested a name of seer who by dint or severe penance for several years had attained super human powers. He was Brugu Maharishi. Brugu loomed with a large head and shoulders among them all as a superseer. Finally everyone joined together to request Brugu Maharishi to take up the task of testing the Trimoothis.