29 - The Arrival of Parashurama at Kailasa 

Narayana said - On hearing the words of Brahma, Parashurama bowed in reverence to him and after getting blessed by him, went to Shivaloka with great enthusiasm. This Shivaloka is located a lakh of yojanas above Brahmaloka. 

This is more astonishing than the abode of Brahma having glory which cannot be explained and is floating in the air besides being quite charming. Vaikuntha is located to its north and the abode of Gauri is located below. The region of the Dhruva is located still below it and it is beyond all the lokas. 

The Goloka is located at a distance of fifty crore yojanas and above that there are no other lokas. It is the topmost of all. This has been stated in the scriptures. 

That Parashurama the best of the yogis who could move with the speed thought reached there is an instance. Shivaloka which was incomparable, immensely astonishing and was the dwelling place of great yogis, siddhas, for crores of kalpas was purified by the auspicious souls. 

It was surrounded by kalpavrksas which fulfil the desires of all, besides innumerable herds of Kamadhenu cows, innumerable forests of Parijata trees, infatuated with black-wasps always greedy for honey, filled with freest tree leaves and the sweet notes of cuckoos. It was built as per the desires of Shiva and the yogis. Such a type of construction had not been witnessed to even by Vishvakarma, the teacher of the architects. О Brahmana, Shivaloka was surrounded by yogis and healthy wild animals. 

There were hundreds of divine pools with lines of lotus flowers and orchards, which added to the beauty of the place.

There were many pedestals made of gems and the roads were also decorated with gems besides hundreds of dwelling places which were made of the best of precious gems and the astonishing type of decorated bases. 

He found the abode of lord Shiva surrounded by beautiful buildings which were surrounded by a beautiful boundary wall. 

It was quite high almost touching the sky, white in colour like milk and had sixteen entrance gates besides other buildings. 

It had charming pillars and doors which were studded with gems. 

There were beds of fine decorations with sapphire gems, best of gems and many types of beautiful paintings. 

He found again the main gates in front of the palace, which had a gate in which the best of the gems were studded. He then saw the palace having the pedestal decorated with gems and precious stones besides beautiful paintings. He found two terrific looking gatekeepers guarding the gate. Their teeth were protruding, were terrific to look at, with red and deformed eyes. They looked like a bumt-out mountain, were quite valorous and great warriors. They had applied ashes on their bodies, were clad in tiger skins, having broad pinkish eyes, wearing matted locks of hair on the head, having three eyes and held a strident and a pattisa in their hands and appeared like burning fire flames. The sight of those gate-keepers frightened Parashurama but inspite of that he spoke to them. 

Becoming meek and humble, appearing miserable, he narrated the pathetic story before the gate-keepers. 

On hearing the story of the Brahmana both of them felt pity and getting permission from lord Shiva, they allowed him to have an audience with the lord. At the command of the lord Parashurama reciting his name entered the chamber of Shiva. 

Thus he crossed sixteen gates, all of which were quite charming to look at and were guarded by astonishing types of gate-keepers.

After witnessing all the gate-keepers he entered the court of lord Shiva which was surrounded by the siddha people and ascetics. The breeze carrying the fragrance of Parijata flowers pervaded the place. He found there Shiva, the lord of the gods, wearing a crescent on his head. He was holding a trident and pattisa, wore the skin of a tiger with all the limbs plastered with ashes, wearing the yajnopavita of nagas and was seated in sukhdsana on the gem-studded lion-throne, adorned with all the ornaments studded with gems. 

He bestowed welfare, the seed of prosperity, refuge of welfare, the great soul, the one who fulfils all the desires, having the lustre of crores of suns. Wearing a serene smile on his face, he was having a delightful face. He is the one who is always merciful towards his devotees, always having the form of flame and the one who takes to the human forms for the welfare of all, wearing matted locks of hair, accompanied by Gauri. He is the result of tapas and bestower of all the riches, having the spotless complexion like a crystal gem, having five faces, three eyes and was imparting the divine knowledge to his pupils in tattva and the divine knowledge of Brahmana. He was adored by the yogis, served the siddhas all round, served by the attendants with white fly-whisks, form of flame and reciting the name of blissful lord Krishna, who is primeval and beyond Prakruti, meditated upon by people as MahaShiva, getting emotional. They were loudly reciting the name of the lord who happens to be oceans of virtues and the tears were flowing from their eyes. He was surrounded by bhutas, Rudras and kshetra-palas. Thereafter Parashurama bowed in reverence to him; Kartikeya appeared to his left, Ganesha appeared to his right, while Nandikesvara, Mahakala and Virabhadra were seated in front of him. Parvati the daughter of the king of mountains was seated in his lap. With his mind filled with devotion Parashurama offered his salutation to lord Shiva bowing his head. Finding Shiva there, Parashurama was satisfied and he started offering prayers to him. He was feeling miserable, his eyes were filled with tears and he stood there with folded hands. He then started reciting the glory of lord Shiva with a choked voice. 

Parashurama said - О lord, I intend to eulogise you but am unable to do so. What type of prayer can I offer to the one who is imperishable, eternal and without any desire? 

I cannot think about it but still I venture to do so being an utterly foolish person because the one whose glory is beyond the reach of the Vedas, then who else can recite your glory. 

You are beyond speech, wisdom and the mind; you are the essence of the essence, beyond everything. You are the one who can be achieved only by divine knowledge. You are the siddha and are served by the siddhas. 

You are without beginning, middle or end, like the sky, without destruction, tantra of the universe, beyond tantra, independent, the seed of tantra, difficult to achieve even by meditation, difficult to meditate upon and are most merciful. Therefore, О ocean of mercy, О lover of the down-trodden, I am in a miserable condition, therefore, you kindly protect me. 

Му life has been a successful today because the one who is beyond the reach of the devotees even in dream, him I am visualising with my own eyes. 

From whose race, the gods like Indra have emerged and all the movable and immovable things on earth are his reflection alone. I bow in reverence to such a type of Maheshvara. 

I bow in reverence to Maheshvara who is having the form of a man, a woman, impotent, possessing great prowess and the base of all; I bow in reverence to Maheshvara. 

The one who is the form of the sun, the moon, fire, water and the wind, I bow in reverence to the same Maheshvara. 

The one who can destroy the entire universe in an instant, I bow in reverence to the same Maheshvara. 

Thus speaking Parashurama fell at the feet of Shiva who getting delighted blessed him. 

Whosoever recites the stotra composed by Parashurama, he is relieved of all sins and he ultimately achieves Shivaloka.