Vishnu maya

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Visnu maya is a concept in Hinduism that refers to the illusory power of God.[1]

[edit] Origin

According to Hindu mythology Lord Shiva (parama Shiva) while on a hunt (pakki vetta) happened to hear a sweet voice in the jungle. Taking the voice for a ghandharva he was surprised to find that it belonged to a girl Koovlika a girl of immense beauty .. the solitude in koolivanam along with wild beauty of the forest girl made the Lord lust full. He informed koovilaka of intentions and told her to wait for him until he returned from his hunt

Koovilaka, who was a devotee of Parbathi realized that mating with lord would bring forth the wart h of the goddess upon her. But she feared the wrath of Shiva also in case she refused him.. She prayed to her Goddess to save her from her predicament ..Devi (goddess) pleased with her innocence appeared before her and revealed the old story

In her previous birth Koovalika was Mansawani, a servant in the retinue of Parvati. One day she happened to breast feed lord vinayaka who was a baby at that time. Parvati didn’t appreciate the fact of a servant breast feeding her baby. She cursed manaswini that she would be born in a chandala(outcaste)family., when devis anger subdued she realized her folly and she blessed Manaswini that although she be born as a chandal she would get the opportunity to breast feed the sun of Shiva.

Devi disclosed that it was the determination of fate, that of lord Shiva’s meeting and his passion for Koovalika. She told the girl that she herself would take on the form of Koovalika and deceive the Lord. She also informed koovalika that the son born from such a union would be the killer of jalandhara (N POWERFUL ASURA).thus revealing the course fate was to take she sent the innocent girl away.

The Pseudo Koovalika swung on the creeper of a jackfruit tree and waited for the arrival of Lord Shiva. A child with divine power was born through this holy union. Lord Shiva settled a buffalo for the protection of the child

Chathan lived with Koovilaka up to seven years. The tribal Loved the boy who served as their protector from many dangers, he roamed the jungle riding his buffalo and praying a musical instrument known as Ezhara

On his seventh birthday the tribals held a feast in his honor. During the feast the sage narada manifested himself. He revealed ti chathan I the secret of his birth. Moreover Narada advised chatan to visit his true parents in kailasa .he also told chathan the true propose of his birth

Chathan started his journey to kailasm with the permission of his step mother and friends the buffalo was gis means of conveyance. When he was about to reach Kailasam he realized that Nandikeshwar would not allow him to pass to kailasm in his Present form. So he invoked The form of Lord Vishnu .On seeing their son Shiva and Parvathis hugged their son .Lord Shiva blessed him saying that since you invoked the form of Vishnu by Maya(magic).you will be known as Vishnu Maya. More over he taught him the art of warfare and secrets to Kill jalandhara.(an asura who had been harassing the devas(demigods)

Jalandhar WAS an asura who had got boon from devendra and he was terrorizing the three worlds (heaven, hell and earth).Chathan challenged him to battle. After a fierce battle chathan took the firm of an Sudarsana charka intent on beheading Jlalandhar sensing danger escaped and hid in the seas. Chathan as charka followed him. due to the heat of the charka the waater where jalandhar was hiding started to boil. unable to bear the heat jalndhara came out and he was promptly beheaded thus came the end of Jalandhara.with his death and chathans victory the power of chathan was recognized by the devas. .devendra invited him to paradise. but chathan declined saying that his place was among th poor people who needed his protection. thus declining indras invitation he returned to earth.

Another Powerful Asuran called Brigan saw Koovlika in the forest and wanted to thak her as gis wife .he had come eith a large force and tried to capture her. Chathan along with his trusted follower Karinkutty resisted the attack.C hathan swami was injured in the ensuing conflict, from the blood that falls on the ground, dther arises 400 kuttiuchathans. Sensing his immediate defeat brigan uses ten Bramastras against Chathan, the ten kuttichathans valiantly swallow the weapon and give up thir llifethe remaining 390 kutti chathans defeated the army while chathan swami killed Brigan with his Kuruvadi.

[edit] Appendix

Asura - Demons, the enemies of devas
Devas- gods
Nandikeshwar - the doorman of lord Shiva
Parvati- goddess, Wife of Lord Shiva
Devendra - another name for indra, king of gods
Asura - Demons, the enemies of devas