Shivlilamrut
Shivlilamrut is a devotional poem composed by the Marathi poet-saint Shridhar Swami Nazarekar.[1][2]
It was composed in 1718 AD (Hindu calendar 1640). Shridhar Swami wrote it on the banks of the river Brahma Kamandalu in Baramati in the vicinity of the Kashi Vishveshwar temple. It literally means "The Nectar of Shiva's Play".[3]
It has 14 chapters (adhyaya) and 2453 couplets (ovis in Marathi). Mostly, it is based on BrahmottarKhanda from the Skanda Purana but some parts of it are from Linga Purana and Shiva Purana. It also has a 15th chapter but many are of the opinion that this was added later and not composed by Shridhar Swami.
The 11th chapter (adhyay) is called 'Rudra Adhyay' and is considered the most important as per Shridhar Swami.
The Shivalilamrut talks about the Rudraksha that can be worn as necklaces by worshipers of the God Shiva.[4]
References
- Shivlilamrut. Sahitya Sangam. 2000.
- Lokrajya, Volume 37. Directorate-General of Information and Public Relations. 1981.
- Dinakar Dhondo Karve (1963). The New Brahmans: Five Maharashtrian Families. University of California Press. p. 19.
He mentions Harivijay (Victory to God Hari [Shiva]), Ramavijay (Victory to Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu), Shivlilamrit (The Nectar of Shiva's Play), and Laghu-Guru-Charitra (The Story of Guru [the God Dattatreya]). These collections of legends about gods and supernatural figures are typical of traditional Marathi vernacular literature. The first three are by Shridhar (1678- 1728), the most prolific of marathi poets.
- Maharashtra State Gazetteers: Botany. pt. 1. Medicinal plans. pt. 2. Timbers. pt. 3. Miscellaneous plants. pt. 4. Government of Maharahtra. 961. p. 485.
Rudraksha. A large tree found in Konkan and Kanara ghats. The five grooved and elegantly tubereled nuts are worn in the form of necklaces by Shivabhaktas (worshipper or followers of Shiv) in order to obtain Shivloka (heaven wherein the god Shiv resides), and to gain his graces. A good account relating to this practice is found in Shivlilamrut