Thread by @gowkinkara

KATHA SRAVANTHI (BEDTIME STORY 7/2/22):
Once upon a time, there was a Brahmin boy by the name VICHARA SHARMA, who was a student of Vedas, and also a very staunch Shiva Bhakta. Though a young boy of 12, he was very self-disciplined, and would get into deep meditation while doing

NAMAKAM CHAMAKAM and ABHISHEKAM to Shiva. One day, while going home after meditating waist deep in the River, chanting Shiva nama, he comes across a man who was beating a cow, who has just delivered a calf , because she attacked him as he was coming near her calf. Knowing that he

Was the person who would take all cows in the village for grazing, he stopped the man, and after reaching the village, volunteers to take all cows in the village to graze free of cost. All the villagers happily agree to this. From that day,he would take all the cows to the forest

And while.they were grazing he would start reciting vedas. Soon all the cows would come to him and willingly pour their milk to him. Seeing this, VICHARA SHARMA starts filling the milk in pots and built a Shiva Linga made of sand(SAIKATHA LINGAM), and going into deep meditation

Started doing abhisheka with that milk, chanting NAMAKAM and. CHAMAKAM. After a few days, a man from their village sees this, and thinks that VICHARA SHARMA is pouring the milk in sand, complains to the owners that the cows are giving more milk, and VICHARA SHARMA is wasting it.

All of them complain to VICHARA SHARMA's father YACCHANA DUTTA, and humiliate him. Enraged with this he goes to the forest too see his son pouring the milk on SAIKATHA LINGAM. With great anger, he takes a stick and starts beating VICHARA SHARMA black and blue. But as he was in

Deep meditation, he wouldn't respond, and continues with the ABHISHEKAM. Furious that his son isn't responding, he in mad anger, kicks the Shiva LINGAM. VICHARA SHARMA then opens his eyes and seeing what happened, with great anger takes an axe lying next to him and throws it at

His Father, chopping off both his legs. He then asks his father for forgiveness and says anyone though his father, deserve death if they do SHIVA APACHARA. He slips into meditation again while his father bleeds to death. Amazed by his principles, equanimity, and Bhakti, Shiva

Appears and brings YACCHANA DUTTA back to life, and hugs the ecstatic VICHARA SHARMA for his commitment. Shiva overwhelmed with his equanimity and bhakti, gives VICHARA SHARMA a great boon. He makes him the Fifth member of his family on par with his two children, and also gives

Him the rare and most precious boon of eating the food left over by him,which actually is the right of Ma Parvati, followed by Ganesha and Skanda. He says anyone can take the Prasada home from any Shiva temple only after seeking his permission and gives him the name
CHANDEESHWARA

Every Shiva temple does and should have CHANDEESHWARA temple in the northeast corner facing the Sanctum sanctorum, which houses Shiva Linga. He is depicted to be in serious and deep meditation, and after performing pooja, and taking the prasada, we should all go to CHANDEESHWARA,

And snap our fingers or clap our hands, so that his meditation breaks. Immediately, we should show him the Prasada and ask his permission to take it home. That Prasada which is abandoned in Shiva temple, or which is taken home without seeking CHANDEESHWARA'S permission,gives

Adverse effects. The story of CHANDEESHWARA, is a great example of uniformity in application of principles. Whether it is Father or anyone dear, to believe and abide by what is preached and learnt in the Vedas and scriptures, and have faith on them makes Paramatma most pleased.