In the Moksha dharma parva of Santhi Parva of the Mahabharatha there is a very interesting Conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna! The Lord tells Arjuna the names by which he is and explains the meaning and the significance of those names. The name ‘Govinda’ means one who has attained the earth! (Go means earth). ‘Aja’ is one who has no birth. He was never born, is not born and will never be born! He is called Krishna as he is dark in color. He is called ‘ Achyuta’ because he never fails Dharma. He is worshipped as 'Ananta, Anadhya and Amadhya as none could find his beginning,middle or end! During the Varaha avatar the Lord had three humps on his back. Hence he was named ‘ Trikakuth’. The sun and the moon wake up the world and make people happy respectively.Thus the Lord is called ‘ Hrishikesa’. He is called ‘ Sipivishta’ because he has no hair or Indriyas or parts of the body!The body is composed of the three dhatus or elements viz Vata(air), pittha(bile), Sleshma( phlegm). When these decline the body dies. Thus he is called ‘ Tridhatu’. He always hears the deserving and pure speech not the sinful talk. Hence He is named ‘ Suchisrava’
Lord Krishna continues and tells Dhanajaya that for some reason he was born as the son of Dharma and came to be called as ‘ Dharmaja’. He also took birth as Nara and Narayana! Following the path of Dharma he performed severe tapas in those two forms on the Gandamadana mountain! It was at that time that Daksha Prajapati performed the great yajna. Arrogant Daksha denied the ‘ havirbhaga’( offering)to Lord Siva who became angry and sent his trident, flaming Trisula to destroy the Yajna! The Trisula, after totally destroying the Yajna, came to Badarikaranya where Nara and Narayana were immersed in severe penance! Thus started the battle between Narayana and Lord Siva! The trident of Lord Siva came suddenly with lightning speed and pierced the chest of Narayana! The radiance of the trident covered the locks of hair of Naryana and thus he came to be called “ Munjakesa”! Repulsed by Narayana’s roar, the trident went back to Lord Siva! In his anger, Lord Siva went after the sages involved in penance! Observing this, Narayana grabbed the throat of Lord Siva! Siva’s throat became black because of Narayana’s hold! Thus Lord Siva came to be called as ‘ Siti kanta’!
Nara then chanted a mantra and sent an axe to attack Lord Siva! But that terrible axe broke into pieces! Thus he got the name ‘ Khanda parasu’! Hearing this narration of the battle between the two Gods, Arjuna was wonderstruck! He was inquisitive and wanted to know who won the battle. Lord Krishna said that the entire universe became agitated. God of Fire refused to accept offerings. The earth trembled! The sun lost his dazzling brilliance! The sea became dry! Creator Brahma slipped from his seat! The Himalayas developed cracks! Terribly afraid, the Devas and Brahma came to the scene of battle between Nara Narayana and Lord Siva! Brahma requested Siva to relent from his anger and become calm for the sake of the welfare of the world. He pointed out that Nara and Narayana have arrived to establish Dharma. They are great ‘tapasvis’. Lord Siva was impressed with the words of the Creator. He controlled his anger and grew calm.
Lord Siva pleased Narayana and even surrendered to him! Lord Siva and Narayana
greed for a truce! Narayana was much pleased and told Siva that if one who knows him he shall know Narayana also. There is no difference between Siva and Narayana! He said that the mark left by the Trisula on his chest shall henceforth be called ‘ Srivatsa’! He will be called ‘Srikanta’ hereafter since his throat turned black when he caught it! Later Nara and Nrayana continued their penance. Lord Krishna told Arjuna that he has been moving about the earth and the Goloka with his many forms! He has protected Arjuna to win the Kurukshetra war! It is Rudra advancing before him who was born out of Krishna’s anger! It is He who has killed the Kauravas before Arjuna killed them. Lord Krishna directed Arjuna to bow down to Lord Siva and offer his respects!
It is significant to note that Lord Krishna himself explains how he came to be called in different names. We have heard about a war between Sri Rama and Anjaneya but not the battle between Siva and Krishna! The events belong to Krita Yuga and appear to be impossible and miracles for us in this Kaliyuga! The authority of the Mahabharatha has to be believed whatever be our opinion! There are many such incredible situations in the Mahabharatha and other epics and Itihasas like the Bhagavata Purana!
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