Dindi
Dindi · dindi, “the one who goes flying in the sky”
Dindi is an attendant of Bhagavān Sūrya, a great tapasvin and a leader of gaṇas. The Bhavishya Purāṇa calls him the leader of the ṛshi-gaṇas (Ṛshigaṇa-nāyaka), Gaṇanātha and Gaṇādhipa, and Bhagavān Sūrya addresses him as Dindi Maharshi. He sits on Sūrya’s ratha in its front part, and he stands on the east of Sūrya.
Once Dindi was seized by the pāpa of brahmahatyā (the killing of a brāhmaṇa). He took refuge in Bhagavān Sūrya with a stotra, and Sūrya appeared to him. Dindi asked for nothing but the end of his pāpa and the knowledge that crosses the ocean of becoming. Sūrya taught him the Nirbīja Yoga, and when Dindi said that it was too hard for men whose senses are not conquered, Sūrya taught him the Kriyā Yoga and sent him to Brahmā to learn it in full. Brahmā told him that his brahmahatyā had been shattered by the very darśana of Sūrya. Dindi then became Brahmā’s hearer through the long teaching of the Saptamī Kalpa, and worshipped Sūrya and became his anucara (attendant). Darśana itself, he said, was a great vara.
The Brahma Parva also tells that Bhagavān Śiva, staying in Sūryaloka with the skull of Brahmā in his hand, was told by Sūrya that he would be famed in the world under the name Dindi; and it says that Dindi means Rudra.
Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapters 56, 62–63, 66, 124
In the retinue of Bhagavān Sūrya
The one named Dindi is to be seated on the ratha of Bhagavān Sūrya, in its front part. As Sūrya has the presence of his two wives, Saṃjñā and Chāyā, so the presence of his attendants Dindi, Piṅgala and the others is a chief thing in the ratha yātrā.
Nārada Maharshi tells Sāmba that in front of Sūrya is Vyoma, equal to Mount Meru, with four horns; before that stands Diṇḍi, and in the other directions the devatās. Sāmba then asks who the Diṇḍi in front is, and asks again to hear of all the parivāra devatās (the retinue) of Sūrya: Rājñī, Nikshubhā, Diṇḍi, Piṅgala and the others.
In the rite of the Sūrya temple, the third maṇḍala is made between the front of the temple and the pratimā. Before it, facing Sūrya, Diṇḍi is set.
Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapters 56, 58, 76, 79, 130
Release from brahmahatyā
Sumantu Muni tells a secret dialogue between Dindi and Sūrya, one that destroys all pāpa. Dindi, a great tapasvin, was once seized by the pāpa of brahmahatyā. To be released from it he offered a stotra to Bhagavān Sūrya. Bhagavān Sūrya heard that stotra with its meaning, was greatly pleased, and appeared in person before him.
Āditya said: “O Dindi Maharshi, I am pleased with the stotra you made with bhakti. O knower of dharma, ask for the vara that is in your mind.”
Dindi said: “Deva, that you have come near me and given darśana is itself a great vara to me. Those of pāpa do not obtain your darśana even in a dream. The pāpa of brahmahatyā, condemned by the world, has befallen me. You know the thoughts in the hearts of all. By your grace let this evil deed of mine perish, and whatever other pāpas there are that the world condemns, let those too be destroyed.”
He went on: “However happily a man lives, however high he shines, if Bhagavān Sūrya is not pleased all his wealth and power are in vain. Lift me up, who am sunk in the fathomless saṃsāra. These pleasures of saṃsāra give only sorrow at the end, so in truth they are not pleasures. One does not know what sorrow will come in time to come, nor by whose enduring of it it will be quieted. O Jagatpati, be gracious to me. Teach me the knowledge that can carry one across the ocean of becoming.”
Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 62
The Nirbīja Yoga
So asked, Bhagavān Sūrya, the greatest knower of yoga, taught Dindi the Nirbīja Yoga, the medicine for the sorrow of becoming. Hearing that partless yoga, Dindi was overcome and shone.
Dindi, great in tejas, bowed and said: “Destroyer of darkness, Deva of Devas! This yoga you have spoken cannot be practised by me, nor by other men who have not conquered the senses. The objects of the senses, which always draw the senses, are hard to conquer. The mind, known for ahaṅkāra (the sense of I) and mamakāra (the sense of mine), is restless and very hard to conquer. Even across hundreds of births, rāga, dvesha and the rest cannot be given up. Deva, tell me how those who cannot give up rāga and the rest may by your grace have their pāpa worn away and reach moksha.”
Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 62
The Kriyā Yoga taught by Bhagavān Sūrya
Sūrya Deva said: “Gaṇanātha, if you desire moksha, hear the Kriyā Yoga, which destroys all kleśas (afflictions).” This is what he taught:
- Be my bhakta, keep your mind on me alone, do pūjā to me alone and bow to me alone. By offering yourself to me you will reach me. Those who dwell on me and make yajña to me alone are absorbed into me.
- See me, Īśvara, by whom you have been made a doer, in all beings, and you will be freed from pāpa. Knowing that I alone am everywhere in the moving and the unmoving, rāga and dvesha perish, and through this the fulfilment of all duty is gained.
- If the mind cannot stay in one place, fix it on me with great bhakti and love, and prepare a mūrti of me: in gold, silver, stone, clay or wood, or by a painting. Do pūjā to me, the three-eyed one, with many kinds of pūjā and naivedya. Keep the mind on that mūrti, take refuge in it, and meditate on it.
- Going, standing, lying down, eating; before, behind, above, below, at the side: filled with that alone, dwell on me.
- Offer baths of tīrtha water, beautiful flowers, anointing with gandha, garments, ornaments, foods to chew and eat, delightful songs and instruments. With food and other things, as you like and however little, with bhakti and humility, delight me.
- If rāga for singing draws you, keep the buddhi on me and sing my kathā (sacred account). If your mind delights in kathā, listen with love to the kathās that tell of my forms.
- Offering mind and buddhi to me and leaving the vile pāpas, remain in happiness. Even if rāga and dvesha have not perished in you, you will become the object of my love and reach the supreme state. Do not fear.
- Leaving all things in me, be one who strives. Do your karmas for me alone. Do not act against dharma.
“In this way you will destroy all pāpas, brahmahatyā and the rest, and reach mukti (release). Keep your mind on me alone and be devoted to Kriyā Yoga.”
Dindi said: “Jagannātha, for my good explain the nectar of Kriyā Yoga still further. O Teacher of the world, who other than you is able to speak of it? Explain this secret, holy yoga further and bless me.” Bhagavān Sūrya said: “All of that, free of doubt, will be explained to you.” Saying this, Sūrya, the lamp of all the worlds, withdrew from sight. Dindi, great in tejas, at once travelled away by the path of the sky.
Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 62
Dindi before Brahmā
Sumantu Muni tells that Dindi bowed his head to Brahmā, the eldest of the suras, Lokeśa, the four-faced one, and said: “By your darśana, great one, I am blessed. I have been ordered by Bhagavān Sūrya to learn Kriyā Yoga from you. Teach me in the way that keeps Bhagavān Sūrya, Deva of Devas, always pleased.”
Brahmā said: “Come, come, Gaṇādhipa! Your fault of brahmahatyā has been shattered by the very darśana of him. You have become one worthy of the grace of Sūrya Deva, of measureless tejas.”
Brahmā told him that one who wishes to serve Sūrya must first be one of niyama (rule of life), and spoke of the Saura dīkshā (the initiation of Sūrya). Dindi asked what lakshaṇas make men fit for dīkshā and what those who have received it should do. Brahmā taught him these and the fruits of Sūrya’s pūjā, and told him how he himself created the worlds by worshipping Bhagavān Sūrya, how Bhagavān Vishṇu set about protecting the worlds by worshipping him, and how Rudra gained Bhavānī by his prasāda. He closed: “You too should worship that Deva of Devas for one year with fasts and the like, and make him pleased. Contented, he gives peace here and hereafter.”
Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 63
Dindi’s questions to Brahmā
Dindi asks and Brahmā answers through the Saptamī Kalpa, and Brahmā addresses him as Gaṇādhipa. These are Dindi’s questions, in the text’s order:
- How is Bhāskara Deva contented by fasts, what must those who fast give up, and what acts are to be done in Sūrya‘s pūjā?
- How do brāhmaṇas, kshatriyas, vaiśyas, śūdras and women, who are in the mire of saṃsāra, reach a good state?
- Why may oil not be touched on Saptamī, and what fault comes of wearing a blue garment?
- What are the fruits of Sūrya-pūjā, of dāna made for his pleasing, of namaskāra, of service with dance, song and instruments, and of reciting and hearing the itihāsa and purāṇas before him? What is the fruit of cleaning the Sūrya mandira and of smearing it and adorning it with muggulu (floor-patterns)?
- He asks for the Saptamī Kalpa in full, saying that by its rule he will keep the upavāsa on Saptamī and take refuge in Bhagavān Sūrya. Brahmā tells him that Aruṇa once asked Sūrya the same.
- What fruits come to those who worship Sūrya Deva on Bhānu Vāra (Sunday), and do snāna and dāna on that day? He adds that a Saptamī joined with a Sunday is called Puṇyā Saptamī and also Vijayā, and wishes to hear how holy it is.
- Of the seven Saptamī tithis, the first having been told at length, what are the other six? By keeping them, he says, he will be able to go to Sūryaloka.
- What is it that is called Bhadrā, how should it be adorned, what fruit comes from offering it, and by what rule should it be offered?
Nārada Maharshi recalls the fourth of these to Sāmba: Diṇḍi once put this very matter to Brahmā, the Lokapitāmaha. In these chapters Brahmā also addresses his hearer as Śaṅkara, Tripurāntaka and Trilocana. Brahmā tells Dindi that one who has the Purāṇa heard in the temple of Sūrya Deva reaches the highest gati (state).
At the close of the Saptamī Kalpa, Sumantu Muni says that Brahmā formerly told Dindi of the Saptamī vrata, and that he has told it as he heard it.
When Brahmā had finished and left for his own loka, Dindi worshipped Bhagavān Sūrya and became his anucara.
Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapters 64–66, 80–82, 94, 96–97, 99, 101
The name Dindi
Brahmā says: “Dindi, I shall now explain to you the chief ones of Sūrya‘s parivāra.” Then he tells this account.
In former time Bhagavān Śiva cut off the head of Brahmā, and carrying the skull of that head in his hand he wandered. Digambara, he came for bhikshā (alms) to Dāruvana, a fine āśrama of ṛshis, full of fruits, flowers and water, where the munis lived. Seeing that Parameśvara, the women and children were disturbed. Some munis went to him gladly. But others among the munis, the “chief munis”, struck him with clods of earth, with pieces of wood and with their staffs.
Not wishing to stay there any longer, Bhagavān Śiva left the ṛshis and came to Sūryaloka. Seeing him coming, the pramathas (the attendant hosts) there asked: “Deveśvara, why do you always wander thus?” Īśvara replied: “To be freed from pāpas I wander through many tīrtha places and the lokas of the devas.”
The pramathas said: “Deva, stay here before Sūryadeva. He will be able to purify you. After you are purified you may go to your own Rudraloka.” So Bhagavān Śiva stayed there to please Sūrya: digambara, with jaṭās, the Brahma-kapāla in his hand, of a form without equal in the three worlds. Bhagavān Sūrya said gladly: “Deva, we are greatly delighted at your coming. By our darśana you will be purified, and you will become famed in the world under the name Dindi.”
Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 124
His place on the east of Sūrya
Among the Pravaras, the chief attendants of Bhagavān Sūrya, Raivata and Dindi stand on the east of Sūryadeva. Brahmā says that Dindi means Rudra, and that Revata is the son of Sūrya. The word Dindi is formed as a nipāta (an irregular form) from a dhātu meaning going; because he always goes flying in the sky he is famed as Dindi.
Brahmā speaks of the devatās who stand in the directions along with Dindi, namely Rājña, Sausha and the others. When he counts the Pravaras again, he names the two Aśvinī Kumāras; Daṇḍanāyaka and Piṅgala; the two, Rājña and Sausha; the two, Revata and Dindi; and eighteen others called by such names. All of them, bearing many kinds of slaying weapons, surround Sūryadeva.
Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 124
Sources
- Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapters 56, 58, 62–66, 76, 79–82, 94, 96–97, 99, 101, 124, 130