Greatness of Hari

Bhisma said - Listen Yudhistira while I tell you more.One who worships Govinda with many gifts gets blessings from the Lord. If one bathes Vishnu on the twelfth day of the lunar cycle (Dwadashi) that falls on a Monday, he is blessed and he and his generation is taken to the abode of Vishnu. One who fasts on the day of Krishna Janamashtami and bathes Krishna with milk and water is relieved from all sins by Narayana. Let me tell you about this.
There was a king called Yagyadhwaja. He used to beg for forgiveness at the temple of Hari. His priest, worried, asked him the reason for this. The king said - In my previous birth I was the son of a merchant and my name was Yagyamali. I was an evil person. Seeing my deeds my family expelled me. What ever I had I spent on cheap women. Seeing this, my brothers tied me up, beat me and then left me far away.
In the forest, I was hungry when I came across a temple of Vishnu. It was dirty. I cleaned the temple and went to sleep there. A snake happened to come there and it bit me. Two attendants of Yama came to fetch me but were stopped by the attendants of Vishnu. Yama's attendants said this is a great sinner and he needs to go with us.
Vishnu's attendants said this person has come here, fasted and cleaned the temple of Vishnu and is subject to forgiveness. Saying this Vishnu's attendants took me with them.
Unknowingly I had prayed in the temple of Vishnu and thus I am freed.
The priest hearing this, bowed down to the king.

Greatness of the name of Hari

Yudhistira asked Bhishma - Please tell me about those who have sinned and who they get relief.
Bhishma said - Yama's abode is huge. It measures sixteen hundred miles. The one gives cows to a brahmin gets the protection of Vishnu. They go to Yama's abode and treated like Gods. Chitragupta, who is Yama's assistant, weighs the sins with the virtues. One who worships Narayana and prays to Him regularly is worshiped like Vishnu, when he dies. Vishnu comes there and takes the person with him. One who gives gifts of food and clothing does not go unrewarded. They are worshiped by the Gods.
Yama is the giver of justice. The person gets exactly what he deserves. To get relief one needs to take the name of Govinda. One day Narada went to Brahma. Brahma wanted to know why Narada had come there. Narada said I want to know about the greatness of the name of Hari.
Brahma said He is the soul of the Universe. I do not know the significance. Go to Shiva, He should be able to help.
Narada went to Shiva. Shiva said I am unable to explain this. Go to the one who is only One.
Narada then went to Vaikuntha, the abode of Vishnu. He prayed to Vishnu.
Pleased Vishnu said I am difficult to grasp but I am captivated by my devotees and bow down to them. Do tell me why you are here.
Narada said he wanted to know the reason behind the greatness of the name. Vishnu smiled and said - Go to Sanjivanipura, the abode of Yama. There you will see a form of mine. Ask Him. He will answer you.
Narada saw the four handed divine form, dark in color, wearing yellow garments. The form asked Narada to go to a certain place where he would get the answer. Narada went there. It was a wet place infested with crocodiles. People were being tormented there. Scared Narada began taking the names of Krishna. The moment Narada had uttered the names, the sins of the sinners vanished. The place changed to a beautiful place.
Narada realized the greatness of the name of Hari.

Bhishma then said - I have not told you about the North gate of Yama. The ones who take the name of Hari go there and are worshiped by Yama himself. 

Hara Hari Together

The sages listening wanted to know if apart from the Devas, did the Asuras also get something from the Ocean.
Sauti continued.
When Dhanvantari came out of the ocean with nectar, the asuras snatched that from the Devas and ran away. They said everything that came up, the devas kept. Even they had been part of the churning and deserved something.
A quarrel started between the Devas and the asuras. All wanted the nectar that would give immortality.
Shiva who was there said instead of fighting they should get someone who would be able to divide the nectar amongst them evenly.
They began thinking of such a person.
Suddenly there appeared a beautiful woman. This was Vishnu in the form of a woman, Mohini. This form of Mohini was amazing to look at. Her beauty lit up the heavens. Everyone wanted Mohini.
Shiva could not control himself either. Spreding his arms he went to grab Mohini. Amazed Mohini said, Was this fit for a Yogi like Shiva? Shiva said O deer eyed one, who are you? Where have you come from?
Mohini started making fun of Shiva. You have ashes on your body, you wear animal skins, why should I introduce myself to you?

Shiva said I do not know you, so why do you make fun of me. I am yogi among all yogis. Mahamaya worships me. I am easy to please. Ganga resides on my head. With my eyes I have destroyed Kama.

Convinced, Mohini came towards Shiva with her hands outstretched.  And a wonderful thing happened.  The bodies got joined into one.  What the other devas saw was a wonderful sight. A half man, half woman form.
One half had matted hair, one had flowing hair.
Half a garland of bones, half a garland of flowers.
One half clad in ashes, one half with sandal paste.

Everyone watched spellbound, this ArdhaNarishwar form of Shiva and Vishnu.