Talk:Īshvara is Unequalled and Unique in the Universe

By Sri Vishal Agarwal

Verily in the beginning this world was Brahman, the infinite one infinite in the east, infinite in the south, infinite in the west, infinite in the north, and above and below, infinite in every direction. For Him, indeed, east and the other directions exist not, nor across, nor below, nor above. Incomprehensible is that Supreme Self unlimited, unborn, not to be reasoned about, unthinkable. Yajurveda, Maitrāyaṇīya Upaniṣad 6.17

Indeed, it is the Immortal Brahman that extends in the east, Brahman that extends in the west, Brahman to the south and to the north, below and above – it is Brahman alone that is this entire universe. Brahman is the highest. Atharvaveda, Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 2.2.12

Sage Vedavyāsa said to Sage Śukadeva He is neither above (completely), nor below; He is neither in the vicinity, nor in the middle. No finite region can encompass Him completely, nor does Bhagavān travel from one location to the other. All these worlds are situated within Him, and no region or part of the universe is outside Him. Mahābhārata 12.239.26

Even though a person were to run with the speed of an arrow shot from a bow, or run with the speed of mind continuously, non-stop, he will not be able to reach the end of Paramātmā, the cause of this entire universe. Mahābhārata 12.239.27cd–28ab

The wise say that this Brahman has no beginning, middle, or end. He has no duality, is the originating cause of this universe, eternal, unchangeable, and transcendental. Mahābhārata 12.301.102

Bhagavan Shiva humbles the pride of Mighty Ravana

Story: Bhagavān Śiva Humbles the Pride of Mighty Rāvaṇa

Rāvaṇa was an evil King who ruled a country called Laṅkā. He had ten heads. He had a stepbrother named Kubera, who was very rich. Rāvaṇa attacked Kubera’s palace and looted everything that Kubera had. Then, he started returning to Laṅkā in his flying chariot.

Suddenly, the chariot stopped in front of a mountain. He tried a lot, but the chariot would not go above the mountain. He discovered that this mountain was Mount Kailāsa, on which lived Bhagavān Śiva with Devī Pārvatī.

Rāvaṇa was very arrogant and proud of his strength. He did not want to return to Laṅkā by another route. So he decided to uproot Mount Kailāsa and then go back to Laṅkā by the same route that he wanted.

He got off the chariot and started uprooting the mountain from the earth. The mountain started shaking. All the companions of Śiva and even Devī Pārvatī became worried and scared. At last, Rāvaṇa uprooted the entire mountain and lifted it on his strong arms.

But Śiva just smiled. He pressed the mountain with the little toe of His right foot. Immediately, the mountain came crashing down on Rāvaṇa. Now Rāvaṇa was trapped under the mountain. He was getting crushed.

Rāvaṇa realized that it was wrong of him to be proud of his own strength. Śiva used just the little toe of His foot and was able to crush Rāvaṇa under the mountain. Therefore, Rāvaṇa apologized to Śiva, and he sang prayers from the Sāmaveda to Him and asked for forgiveness. Bhagavān Śiva forgave Rāvaṇa and asked him to go back to Laṅkā.

This story shows that although Rāvaṇa was the most powerful person on this earth, Bhagavān Śiva was able to defeat him very easily by pressing the mountain with His little toe. No matter how strong we are, we should remember that there is no one who is stronger than Bhagavān because He alone is Almighty, the most powerful!