(p 778) Kaartikeya said to his father - "Bhagavan, Now I wish to listen to the method of Shaalgraam worship." Mahaadev Jee said - "The whole Tri-Lok lives in Shaalgraam. Who does Darshan of Shaalgraam, bows to it, bathes it, and worships it, he achieves the fruits of the donation of millions of cows and millions of Yagya. Who drinks Charanaamrit of Shaalgraam, he never comes back to Earth. Even who is attached to pleasures and has no Bhakti, he becomes like Vishnu by worshipping Shaalgraam. Who worships Shaalgraam daily, he never fear with Yam Raaj or death, or birth. Who are proud of my Bhakti and do not regard Vaasudev, they are deluded and are not my real Bhakt. Whatever fruit one gets by worshipping me by millions of lotus flowers, one gets million time more by worshipping Shaalgraam.

In whose house a Vaanprasthee, or a Vaishnav or a Sanyaasee rests even for an hour, his ancestors eat Amrit for 8 Yug. Whatever fruit one gets by doing Keertan of other Devtaa, the same is got by drinking Charanaamrit of Shree Hari; then what is the use of giving Daan and doing  Vrat or Chaandraayan Vrat. Even a small offering to Shaalgraam gives million times more fruit. There are no rules of Mantra, Jap, prayer, Shraddhaa or conduct in worshipping Shaalgraam. One can uplift his seven generations by drawing a Swaastik mark in front of Shaalgraam, especially in Kaarttik Maas. Who draws a Mandal in front of Keshav, with clay or Geroo (a kind of red clay), he lives in Divine Lok for millions of Kalp. Whoever woman draws Mandal in front of Vishnu, she never becomes widow for 7 lives.

Deep Daan and Deepaavalee Festival

Mahaadev Jee said - "Who worships Hari daily with Maalatee flowers, he becomes free from birth and death cycle and old age diseases. Sandal, camphor, saffron, Deep Daan, are specially dear to Vishnu. Lotus, Maalatee, and Agastya flowers, Tulasee leaf and Deep Daan - these five are very dear to Vishnu. One should worship Him with Tulasee in Kaarttik Maas. All Pitar desire that their sons should please Vishnu. Whose Deep (lamp) is lit with Ghee or sesame seed oil, he has nothing to do Ashwamedh Yagya. Even in Kaarttik Maas, five days - Kaartik Krishn 13, 14, Amaavasyaa, and Kaartik Shukla 1, and 2, are very holy. Whatever Daan is given on these days is eternal. Leelaavatee prostitute went to Swarg by lighting even other's Deep. That is why, after sunset, one should always light Deep in houses, under Peepal or banyan tree and temples. One should light lamp even in cremation grounds and on the banks of rivers for his welfare on these five days. By doing this, even those Pitar attain Moksh whose Shraaddh and Tarpan etc have not been performed."

Krishn said - "O Satyabhaamaa, On Kaarttik Krishn Trayodashee, one should light Deep for Yam Raaj outside the house. This saves one from bad kind of death. While lighting the Deep, one should say, "May Yam Raaj be pleased with me by lighting this Deep for him." On Kaartik Krishn Chaturdashee, one, who fears from Narak, should take bath at Moon rise time. Who takes bath in the morning on Chaturdashee, he does not have to see Narak. Then he should do Tarpan with the names of Yam Raaj - "Yamaaya Namah, Dharmraajaaya Namah, Mrityave Namah, Antkaaya namah, Vaivaswataaya namah, Kaalaaya Namah, Sarvbhoot Kshayaaya Namah, Audumbaraaya Namah, Dadhnaaya Namah, Neelaaya Namah, Parameshthiney Namah, Vrikodaraaya Namah, Chitraaya Namah, Chitraguptaaya Namah". After worshipping Devtaa, one should do Deep Daan. As the night has set in, one should do Deep Daan at different places, in temples, in cells, under Peepal and Banyan trees, on the banks of rivers, in streets, in gardens etc.

On Amaavasyaa, one should take bath, worship Devtaa and do Shraaddh, and feed Braahman. One should wake up Lakshmee Jee before Bhagavaan wakes up through women. Who wakes up Lakshmee Jee in Brahm Muhoort and worship her, he never lacks wealth. Next day, on Shukla Pratipadaa, one should worship Govardhan Parvat, cows and bulls. Next day, on Yam Dwiteeyaa, one should worship Yam Raaj and take bath in Yamunaa River. Who does that he does not see Yam Lok.

In earlier times, on this day, Yamunaa fed her brother Yam Raaj. On that day all sinners were released and they got free from all sins. Then they celebrated the occasion. That is why this Tithi was known as Yam Dwiteeyaa. Wise people should not eat food at their own house, they should go their sister's house and eat food there. If somebody has his real sister it is the best otherwise one can take food at any sister's house and give her clothes, money, jewelry etc."

Prabodhinee Ekaadashee

Mahaadev Jee said - "Kaarttik Shukla Ekaadashee is called Prabodhinee Ekaadashee. By keeping fast on this one Ekaadashee, one gets the fruit of 1,000 Ashwamedh and 100 Raajsooya Yagya. Who does Jaagaran on this night his many sins are destroyed. One should read Puraan, and worship Vishnu on this night. One should do Aaratee every three hours. Who worships Vishnu by Purush Sookt daily in Kaarttik Maas his worship equals to millions of years worship. Who worships Hari with "Aum Namo Naaraayanaaya", or reads Shree Vishnu Sahstra Naam Stotra, he never goes to Narak and attains Moksh. One should donate beautiful Kalash on Dwaadashee day."

Bheeshm Panchak Vrat

"Bheeshm Panchak Vrat is very good Vrat. This Vrat is done in the last five days of Kaarttik month. Bheeshm Jee got it from Vaasudev, that is why it is known as Bheeshm Panchak Vrat. Who is anybody else other than Keshav who can describe its qualities? Vashishth, Bhrigu, Garg etc many Rishi have done it in the beginning of Sat Yug. King Ambareesh also did it in Tretaa Yug. It cannot be done by those people who do not follow Satya (Truth) and fools. Who has completed this Vrat, he has completed all Vrat.

One should take up this Vrat on Kaartik Shukla Ekaadashee (Prabodhinee Ekaadashee) after taking bath. He should take bath three times, do Tarpan for Rishi, Devtaa and Pitar, donate five gems to Braahman, and worship Hari with Lakshmee everyday. Offer Arghya to Bheeshm. Keep incense and lamp burning day and night for five days. Offer the best Naivedya to Vishnu. Do Jaap of "Aum Namo Bhagavatey Vaasudevaaya" 108 times; and do Havan by the same Mantra after adding "Swaahaa" word in its end. Sleep on the floor.

On Ekaadashee, one should keep complete fast eating a little cow dung, on second day drink cow urine, on third day drink cow's milk only, on fourth day eat cow's yogurt only. Thus after keeping complete fast on four days, on fifth day morning, worship Keshav and feed Braahman. Be busy in Keshav worship eating only Phalaahaar or Tinnee rice. Later first drink Panchgavya then eat normal food. Who love to eat food, this Vrat is not for them. It gives Moksh and anybody can do it."

Mahaadev Jee said - "Kaarttikeya, This Vrat is not to be told to everybody. If the detached people do this Vrat, then I am unable to tell you its Punya and fruits." Krishn said - "Mahaadev told him this Vrat to his son with the desire to do his good."

Bhakti, Glory of Shaalgraam

Paarvatee Jee asked - "Hey Vishweshwar, What is the form of the best Bhakti?" Mahaadev Jee said - "Bhakti has been told of three types - Saatwik, Raajasik and Taamasik. Among them Saatwik is the best, Raajasik is medium and the Taamasik is the lowest kind of Bhakti. Who desire for Moksh, they should do Saatwik type of Bhakti of Shree Hari. Whatever Bhakti is done with pride, or to boast himself, or with jealousy, or to destroy somebody, that kind of Bhakti is called Taamasik. Who does Bhakti with worldly desires or to get wealth, it is called Raajasik Bhakti. Whatever Bhakti is done with the desire of destroying the Karm bondage and attaining Moksh with the feeling of surrendering to Hari, that kind of Bhakti is called Saatwik. That is why one should worship Vishnu with Lakshmee."

Paarvatee Jee further asked - "There are many Shaalgraam's stones, among them how many idols should be worshipped?" Shankar Jee said - "In whichever house Shaalgraam's idol is present, there live all Teerth. Braahman should worship five, Kshatriya should worship four, a Vaishya should worship three and Shoodra should worship only one idol of Shaalgraam. Shaalgraam stone is the greatest idol of Vishnu."

Bhakti

Paarvatee Jee asked - "Prabho, How to remember Bhagavaan Vaasudev?" Mahaadev Jee said - "I bring His real form in front of me and remember it. As a thirsty man remembers water, in the same way I also remember Him. As a person remembers fire in cold; a greedy man thinks only about money; swan remembers Maansarovar; animals remember green pastures; bumble bee remembers flowers; and a man longs for lamp in dark; in the same way I also remember Vishnu. Only Bhakti Yog can bring Bhagavaan near to you. Still deluded with His Maayaa, people call Him "This is Tattwa, this is Tattwa". Bhakti is such an Amrit after getting which one does not feel any sorrow. Whatever is done with this body without Bhakti, that is all useless.

Many people preach others in this world, but who follows them is only one in millions. Frog lives in water, and a bumble bee lives in forest, but only bumble bee knows about blooming of Kumudinee flower, not the frog; in the same way a Bhakt knows Hari by his Bhakti. As Ghee is always in the milk, fire is always in the wood, oil is always in sesame seeds, a plant is hidden in seed, in the same way Bhagavaan Vishnu also lives everywhere but we cannot see him. As milk has to be churned to take out Ghee; or wood has to be rubbed together to ignite fire, or seeds have to be grind to extract oil, seed has to be sown in the ground to grow a plant, in the same way one has to meditate upon Vishnu to see Him.

It is the same Paramaatmaa, who is seen in all things; or He manifests Himself in various forms on this Prithvi. As fools say that "Soorya is not there" when he is hidden behind clouds; in the same way fools do not know Parameshwar. Paramaatmaa has no alternative, no form. Upanishad describes His form, that He manifests Himself according to His wish. Space, which was soundless, has appeared only from that Paramaatmaa. From the same space appeared air, and since then sound was heard. Whoever ignorant believe in Karm, they do not know Bhagavaan because of their ignorance. Who do their duties at proper time according to their Varn, his Karm goes to Vishnu and thus does not become the cause of rebirth.

One's own mind is the only means to decide about auspicious and inauspicious. When somebody's mind is pure, all activities become pure. Mind is one's friend, and mind is one's foe. One should do all Karm only outwardly, but from inside his heart, he should be detached from them. Who acts thus, he doesn't become attached to them - as lotus leaf lives in water still it is not in the water. When somebody becomes a Bhakt, he does not like Mukti, because it shows you Vishnu, while Vedaant helps you attain only knowledge, and knowledge helps to know the Gyeya (who is to be known). Feelings and ideas are important everywhere. Whose feelings are good he sees the world good. What is the use of reading four Ved without Bhakti? When somebody's body is shaken in Bhakti of Hari, his eyes are tearful,  Mukti becomes his maid. Any sin committed by speech is destroyed by singing His praise; in the same way any sin committed by mind is destroyed by His meditation.

Destiny and Karm

Brahmaa Jee produced all Varn and got them busy in their own Dharm. Who earns money by doing his own Dharm, that is called Pure money or Shukla money. Whatever Daan is given from that money, only that Daan brings Punya. Who does Karm to comfort for his Indriya, he takes birth according to his Karm. All sinners always suffer, but if somehow they enjoy some pleasures, it means that is the fruit of their some good Karm (Punya) of their previous life. A man is always bound to his Karm (destiny). A man who does good Karm has no reason for suffering. If one has to suffer while doing his good Karm from any kind of sorrow, it might be the fruit of his bad Karm only in his previous life. Devtaa and Rishi are also bound to their Karm. Snakes, although wound to my body (Devtaa's body), still have poison in them, because the Yoni (species), got on the basis of one's Karm, is very powerful. Wise say that Soorya gives beautiful body, but his own charioteer is lame. That is why one's Karm are more powerful than any other thing.

This whole world depends on its Karm, and Karm depends on Keshav. They can be destroyed only by doing Jaap of Keshav's name. Some sing praise of Devtaa, some sing praise of herbs, some say that Mantra and Siddhi obtained by it are good, but I praise the importance of Karm, because all follow Karm.

Some abandon everything in anger, some abandon because of scarcity, and some abandon with lots of difficulty, but all these types of sacrifices are of medium class only. One should abandon everything after considering well, without anger, and with Shraddhaa. Who abandon in such a way, only their detachment is considered the best. If somebody cannot complete his Yog in this life, or leave his Yog by his Praarabdh Karm, then he takes birth in some good household and attains good Gati soon.

As soil cannot be cleaned by soil, and blood cannot be washed away with blood, in the same way how can a Yagya Karm with Hinsaa can destroy the Karm-produced dirt? Whichever Yagya are done with the desire of Swarg, they give only short term pleasures; pleasures attained by good Karm are also not eternal; in fact there is no pleasure without Bhagavaan's Bhakti. Whoever Bhagavaan creates the world, the same Bhagavaan destroys it also, that is why one can get Mukti only by praising him with Bhakti."