STORY OF JADABHARATA - PART IV

King Rahugana, who was unable to sit or rest properly due to the erratic manner in which the palanquin was swinging up and down due to the way Jadabharata was carrying it. The other three could not control the palanquin. They were also chiding Jadabharata to maintain certain discipline in the walking as the king was being terribly disturbed. When King Rahugana shouted at the servants carrying the palanquin, the three servants said that the whole indiscipline was due to the rugged manner in which the fourth carrier Jadabharata was walking. Rahugana watched the whole scenario for a while and then chided Jadabharata: "Hey you, why are you swinging the palanquin in this manner. You have a giant body and you look to be very strong. Do you know who am I? Can you not understand from my royal robes that I am the king of this country. I can punish you immediately with lashes."

Jadabharata was undeterred. His mystic silence also shocked Rahugana. He sarcastically told Jadabharata: "It looks as though you have been carrying this palanquin for a very long time and hence you are exhausted." Jadabharata retorted: 

"You are cajoling me by sarcastically that I have not been carrying this weight of palanquin and your body for too long to get exhausted. But, for your information, I am neither carrying this palanquin nor moving or walking with the palanquin. I am a parasite. I am not independent at all. You sarcastically said that I am physically very weak. You meant to say that I am very robust and strong. I am nobody to assume or presume the size of my body. You said that you are ordering me as the king of this country. You are not the king and you cannot order because the only king who can order things is the Lord.You are the king because of some good deeds in your previous life. Because of that slight knowledge, I had tried to obey your orders to the best of my capacity. But, there is no use punishing me in whatever manner you may decide to because I have shun the passion and respect for this body." 

The king was surprised, shocked and horrified by the way Jadabharata replied. There was so much much truth, moral, philosophy, logic and sense in each and every word spelled by Jadabharata that it did not take too long for Rahugana to realise that Jadabharata was some great soul. Jadabharata was not the one inside as the one appearing to the outside the world. Rahugana jumps out of his palanquin, falls at the feet of Jadabharata, washes the feet of Jadabharata with his tears, apologises. (TO BE CONTD.....)

STORY OF JADABHARATA - PART III

While Jadabharat was roaming about in the forests and various places, he reached the forest area of the then Sindhu Desha. Rahugana was the ruler of Sindhu Desha in that period. King Rahugana was basically very spirituous, philosophical, pious and righteous. He honored culture and tradition. He had that appetite for knowing the secrets of Vedanta. Kapila Muni was known to possess such knowledge. Kapila Muni was in a remote place and King Rahugana decided to meet him and know from him the hidden meaning of Vedanta. He got into a palanquin and started the journey to meet Kapila Maharshi. The palanquin needed four persons to be carried. There were only three and they started searching for a strong person to carry the palanquin. They found this Jadabharata loitering, ordered him to carry the palanquin and Rahuhana sat in the palanquin. However, Jadabharata did not feel hurt, harassed or exploited. He silently took his position and carried the palanquin on the shoulder, as directed by the servants of Rahugana. The palanquin carriers had to maintain a particular speed and balance. Even if one of the four failed to maintain the speed and the balance, the carrying would become difficult. for the other three. Incidentally that is what happened. Jadabharata was rushing without caring for pits, uneven surface or anything. At times, he would become very slow. He would not bother about thorns on the road. As the palanquin was shaking, wavering and highly insecure to sit, Rahugana was enraged. He chided the carriers, who informed him that the whole imbalance and disturbance was being caused by Jadabharata. When Rahugana abused Jadabharata angrily, the latter retorted: "Oh man, you may not be aware that so many insects are moving about on the earth. I do not want to kill any of them because they have not done any harm to me. You too are not supposed to kill them." Rahugana was surprised by the answer as Jadabharata did not even mention the name of King. He had called Rahugana as "man". Rahugana said: "Do you know who am I? I am the king of this region. You cannot speak to me in this manner." Jadabharata said: "How dare you think you are the king? Do you know who is the real king? You are just a puppet of that King and you have no right to ill-treat your subjects." Rahugana was terribly shaken by the answer. Being a very cultured, pious and righteous person, Rahugana sensed that there was some hidden meaning in what Jadabharata had said. (CONTD.....)

STORY OF JADABHARATA - PART II

Because of his own folly of forgetting his prime duties of paying obeisance and performing oblations and showing unnatural obsession over a deer, Jadabharata was born as a deer in his next birth on Earth. Due to the hard, sincere and arduous penance he had done during his previous birth, Jadabharata reborn as deer could remember what transpired . He realised that he had committed a sin and the Jadabharata-deer died with deep repentance and regret. In the next life, he was born as the son of a Brahmin called Angirasa. But, he had no interest in worldly life and was roaming about like a lunatic. One day, King Vrushala was searching for offering a sacrifice to Goddess Kalika in the form of a human being. He ordered his servants to find a well-built, strong and healthy man and bring him. The servants brought a person, but he managed to escape. While searching for another prey, the king's servants saw Angirasa's son roaming about and brought him to the King. As there was no alternative to them, they took Angirasa's son to the Kali temple. At that moment, Goddess Kali manifested in person and killed King Vrushala and his servants. Angirasa's son again started roaming about in forests like a mad person. (Contd....) 

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STORY OF JADABHARATA - PART ONE

Born in the dynasty of Priyavrata as the son of a Rajarshi called Rushabhadeva from Jayanti, Jadabharata was a great king. Kushavarta, Ilavarta, Aryavarta, Malayaketu and Bhadrasena were his five brohers. Jadabharata married Panchajani and begot children from her named as Sumati, Sudarshana, Rashtrabhuja, Dhoomraketu and Adarsha. He ruled over the kingdom for a few years after his father Rushabhadeva and very soon developed aversion and dejection over worldly pleasures. He distributed his empire called Ajnabha or Bharata Varsha among his children, went to the forests and undertook serious penance. One day, when he was having bath in a river, a deer came to the river to quench its thirst. Hearing the sound of thunder, it got frightened. As it was carrying, the deer aborted and died. Jadabharata took pity on the deer cub, took it to his hermitage and started bringing it up. Gradually, he became so compassionate and affectionate towards the up and growing deer that he started neglecting his obeisance and oblations for the sake of making the deer happy. Within a few years, he breathed his last but with the memory of deer. As such, he was born as a deer in his next birth, albeit with fully memory of his previous life. (Contd…)

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MERITS OF EXCUSING

Wish to share this good Shloka No. 8 in Chapter 33 of Balakanda in Sri Valmeeki Ramayana:

Kshama danam, kShama satyam, kShama yajnashcha putrikAha|

KShama yashaha, kShama Dharmaha kShamayA viShThitam jagat||

This is a verse used by Kushanabha to his one hundred daughters, who had been de-shaped by Vayu.

Kshama or to pardon someone is like giving donation; it is truthfulness; it is equal to performing a Homa or Yajna; it is glory, culture; what is more, this entire universe stands on the quality of excusing.

It is a great statement and worth emulating. Isn't it?

IS BALI THE CLEVEREST OF DEMONS?

Yes. His great grandfather Hiranyakashipu had those genes of a genius when he outwitted Lord Brahma by not seeking eternity directly and by putting forth such conditions for his killer that no being or form of the present or the past could kill him except Lord Narasihma. Bali overtook Hiranyakashipu by not indulging in any sort of penance but by simply amassing wealth in whatever manner he could and spending it on performing the Yajna. He became highly successful in this endeavor as Lord Vishnu appeared in front of him with a strange demand for three-feet land and stamped him down to Patala Loka, albeit after conceding another intelligent wish or Bali. As a result of this FINAL WISH of Bali, Lord Vishnu not only made Bali the king of Patala Loka but also permitted him to take a look at his CITIZENS on Earth on every Karteeka Masa Padya day to ascertain that his citizens were happy and comfortable. It is another form of eternity, isn't it? Further, by virtue of having completed the Yajna one hundred times, Bali is now one Brahma Kalpa away from occupying the seat of Indra. If the first quarter of Kali Yuga we are all in is so horrible for Dharma to survive, then imagine what will be the fate of people during that Kalpa when Bali will become Indra. After all traits at birth never die. Can be forsake his original demon-traits when he becomes Indra?

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WHO WAS NARAKASURA ?

During the incarnation of Lord Vishnu as Sri Varaha, a drop of his sweat fell on the ground. Narakasura was born from Mother Earth with the drop of blood of Lord Vishnu that had fallen on ground. According to Sabha Parva in Mahabharata, Narakasura was also known as Bhaumasura. Goddess Earth then requested Lord Vishnu to give her son the Vaishnavastra. Narakasura, who was the ruler of Pragjyotisha City, gradually imbibed all the negative qualities and grew into a tormentor of the people. He stole the Shwetachchatra of Lord Indra, the Karnakundalas of Indra's mother Aditi and the top most tower of Mount Meru. Unable to tolerate the evil deeds of Narakasura, Lord Indra requested Lord Krishna to help. Lord Krishna went to Pragjyotisha City and blew his Panchajanya. Hearing the sound of the conch, Murasura, who was sleeping in water launched a war with Lord Krishna, along with his seven sons and his commander Peethasura. After they were all killed by Lord Krishna, Narakasura also confronts Lord Krishna and gets killed. Later, Goddess Earth took the Shwetachchatra of Indra, the Ear Wares of Aditi and Mount Maniparvat, along with Narakasura's son Bhagadatta and made him prostrate before Lord Krishna.She also surrendered all the three things to Lord Krishna. She appealed to Lord Krishna to protect Bhagadatta.
This is the background of Narakasura, who was also an ardent devotee of the Lord. That is why, the Ashwayuja Krishna Chaturdashi is celebrated as Naraka Chaturdashi. VERY HAPPY DEEPAVALI TO ALL. SHARE THIS STORY IF YOU LIKE.

Origin of Jarasandha

A rugged demon called Viprachitti, who was born to Kashyapa from a wife named Danu, was killed by Mukhyaprana during the Devasura war. This Viprachitta was born again during Dwaparayuga as Jarasandha, son of Bruhadratha, the king of Magadha. The twin daughters of the then king of Kashi, who was the son of Uparicharavasu, were the wives of Bruhadratha. As Bruhadratha did not have children, he appealed to Chanda Kaushika Muni to bless him with a son. The Muni gave him a fruit, which Bruhadratha cut into two pieces and gave one piece each to his two wives. Both of them consumed the fruit and got pregnant. However, they delivered half portion each of a baby boy. Each part was vertically half of human body. Frightened by that unshaped, ugly and horrible semi body, the two wives of Bruhadratha got the body thrown away into garbage. Grama Devata and a female demon called Jara tried to consume the two parts. When tried to bring them together, they joined together and there emerged a baby boy. Immediately, that female demon handed over the child to Bruhadratha. Since the body had been joined, although by accident, by female demon called Jara, the boy was named as Jarasandha, where Jara is the name of the female demon and Sandha is 'joined'. That is how Jarasandha was born.

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WHY DID SHALYA DESERT KARNA?

The war between Karna and Arjuna had assumed importance since great warriors Bheeshma and Drona had come and gone. Moreover, Karna had promised his mother Kunti that he would only try to kill Arjuna and none else among Pandavas. Karna had also given away his Kundala to Indra despite being cautioned by his father Surya (Sun). Karna had the curse of Parashurama to make him forget the hymns at the most critical point of the war. Even this curse was the courtesy of Indra's son. After all this, Karna had promised his mother that he will reuse any Astra during the war. Shalya was highly self-centered, proud and not in support of Duryodhana. Actually, Shalya wanted to join Pandavas, when Duryodhana stealthily appeases and felicitates him on the way to Pandava camp. Shalya was an established Maharathi and Karna had not been established or identified as Maharathi. 

At a critical moment, the Sarpastra was set by Karna and he had aimed at the neck of Arjuna. Shalya knew the trick that Lord Krishna might definitely play. He advised Karna to aim at the chest so that any sinking that Lord Krishna might effect would ultimately slit the neck of Arjuna. Karna said: "I will not change the target once set." The arrow missed Arjuna's neck and removed the crown as Lord Krishna pressed the ground along with the chariot. Now, the arrow, which had a vengeance against Arjuna, returned to Karna and begged him to reuse it. Karna was unprepared. Shalya too forces Karna to reuse the arrow. When Karna refuses, Shalya, who was short-tempered, deserts Karna. That was the inescapable destiny.

SPLIT PERSONALITY OF KARNA (ii PART)

Sri Mdhwacharya  clarifies this point thus: 

When Kunti wanted to test the power of Mantras that Rudramshasambhoota Durvas had taught her, she first recited the Mantra to invoke and propitiate Sun God. She took bath during her periods and invoked the Sun casually. The Shloka in this regard is:

Rutau tu sA samAplutA pareekShaNAya tanmanOho|

SamAhwayad DivAkaram sa chAjagAm tatkShaNAt||

After she invoked the Sun, he appeared in front of her and she could not send him away without sensuously satisfying him. 

Sa tatra jajnivAn swayam dwiteeyarUpakO viBhuhu|
SavarmadivyakunDalO jwalanniva swatEjasA(Mahabharata Nirnaya- Canto 11 Shloka 155)||
Adorned with divine Kundalas and sparkling with his natural rdiation, Sun entered Kunti in his alternate form. The real clarification is this:
PurA sa VAlimAraNapraBhUtadOShakANAt|
SahasravarmanAminAsrENa vEShTitO(a)jani||

Earlier (during Tretayuga), since he (Sun) had prompted Srirama as Sugreeva to kill Vali (Indramsha), he (Sugreeva or Sun) had attracted a sin. Therefore, he (Sun) was born in Kunti with the traits of a demon called Sahasravarma.
TaThApi RAmasEvanAddarEshcha sanniDhAnayuk|
SudarshaneeyakarNataha sa KarNanAmakO(a)Bhavat||

However, since the Sun had greatly served and revered (as Sugreeva) Srirama, he had the good fortune of being very close to the Lord. Since he had very beautiful ears, he came to be called as Karna. 

Whenever his mind was being afflicted by the traits of Sahasravarma (demon), Karna used to be uncultured, uncivic, amoral, unjust and cunning.

SPLIT PERSONALITY OF KARNA

Karna is known for loyalty, modesty, kindness, stoicism, steadfast mind, gifting, love, affection and so on. His loyalty to Dluryodhana is unquestionable. After being made the head of Anga Desha by Duryodhana at a very critical juncture, Karna's foster father was hesitating to meet him. But, Karna goes to his foster father and hugs him. When he was approached by Kunti and Lord Krishna and was told to shift to Pandavas' camp, Karna exhibits utmost loyalty to Duryodhana and a very high degree of stoicism. Despite being cautioned by his father Sun, Karna gives away his Kundala. He was known gift away anything to anyone at an point of time, even if such gifting was detrimental to his very existence. 

However, Karna's attitude at the time of Rape of Draupadi and the killing of Abhimanyu smack of sheer lack of reasoning, culture or morality. As Duryodhana was very intimate to him, Karna could have asked Duryodhana to abstain from all his evil deeds, ill-motivated acts etc. But, Karna never even opposed Duryodhana. On the contrary, he supported and encouraged Duryodhana in all his mischievous acts and thoughts. What was the reason for this split personality? Read tomorrow for the justification.

How did Vishnu repay Vali in Dwapara yuga?

When Srirama hit Vali with an arrow from behind a tree to kill him during Tretayuga, Vali questions Srirama's action. Srirama explains to Vali: "First of all, Sugreeva had surrendered to me and in turn, I had promised to protect him from you and make him the King of Kishkindha. If I had appeared in front of you now, you too would have surrendered to me and I would not have been able to keep the promise made to Sugreeva. Secondly, I have a mission to save this Earth rom Ravana. If you would have killed, which you might not have succeeded in doing, my mission would have failed. Why you could not have killed Ravana is because you cannot forego the boons bestowed upon Ravana by Lord Brahma. Thirdly, I had to punish for banishing a sincere and honest brother and for living with his wife as it is amoral and illegal. Fourthly, you are a powerful Vanara and hunting animals from behind a tree is quite a common practice. However, if you still want, I will make you alive again. Choice is yours." Vali concedes and says: "I am quite happy to die at your hands Rama and if you make me alive now, I will not get another opportunity to get killed by you, the Lord. Please take proper care of Angada, my son." In spite of this conversation, Lord Vishnu did not want to leave the matter there. Vali was the Amsha of Indra and he was again born during Dwapara as Arjuna. Lord Kirshna, an incarnation of Maha Vishnu, serves Arjuna as a charioteer, friend, philosopher (by preaching Geeta) and guide to him till the very end. That is the conviction which is beyond explanation. Lord is always gracious, kind, compassionate and considerate to his devotees. Om Sri VishnuvE Namaha. 

Another side of Kamsa!

In one of the Pravachanas I have heard through an audio, without knowing who he is, I was surprised and to a great extent convinced about another angle from which Kmsa can be understood. The narration goes like this....

When Kamsa tries to summon Krishna from Gokul to his palace, he had a clear understanding of his fate. He just wanted Krishna to come and kill him as he had foreseen that he had enough of this world and that the time had come for his departure from this world. He eagerly waited for Lord Krishna to get killed. But, his action, words and messages were all misunderstood by the world that in reality, Kamsa wanted to kill Krishna. This reminds me of another instance where even Duryodhana had realised the power of Krishna better than any of the Pandavas. When Krishna was coming to Hastinavati, Duryodhana actually planned to arrest Krishna. However, Krishna pressed his toe on the threshold while entering the royal hall making Duryodhana fall from his seat at the feet of the Lord. While Krishna tried to lift him up saying "Why should a great King like you fall at my feet?" Duryodhana whispered in the Lord's ear "I know, you prompted me to think of arresting you and then you have made me fall at your feet. Now, you are addressing me as the King, whereas you are the real king of this whole universe. I am just a puppet and you are playing with me as you do with all the beings." This sort of thought never crossed the minds of anyone and only other exceptions were, perhaps, Bheeshma and Karna. Duryodhana surprises everyone in this instance.

About Jatayu, king of birds

Jatayu and Sampati were the sons of Aruna, son of Vinate, and Shyene was their mother. In Adi Parva of Mahabharata, there is a mention of these two brothers challenging each other on their speed in flying. When they had flown a very long height in the sky, Jatayu started fumbling due to the heat and Sampati tried to cover his younger brother from the heat with his wings. By that time, Jatayu had lost consciousness and he fell in Dandakaranya. Sampati too could not withstand the heat as his wings were burnt and he fell on the shores of South sea, where a sage called Nishakara was doing penance. Seeing the bird on the verge of death, the sage treated the bird. The bird recovered. However, since that moment, the two brothers did not meet each other at all. Jatayu was unaware of where his elder brother was till death as he died while trying to prevent Ravana from escaping with Seetha. Sampati saved the Vanaras, including Hanumantha, from committing suicide by providing them with the information about the whereabouts of Ravana, Lanka and Seetha. Jatayu also died only after informing Rama and Lakshmana about Ravana. What a great service these two birds rendered to the Lord in their dying moments?

GOOD AFTERNOON TO ALL 

Who are Apsaras and Gandharvas?

Apsaras originated during the Great Churning of Milk Sea. Basically, they are very attractive, beautiful, enchanting celestial concubines. According to Bhagavata, they were born out of the palm of Lord Brahma. Their basic duty is to sing and dance in the conventions organized by Indra to entertain the deities. Normally, they do not marry. At times, they try to breach the penance of Rishis at the behest of Lord Indra. Urvashi, Menaka, Rambha, Tilottame and a few others are prominent among them. Gandharvas are basically musicians and singers meant to entertain the deities. Gandharvas are men and are believed to be descendants of Sage Kashyapa and Arishta. They generally accompany Apsaras. They are choristers and are endowed with great skill to sing. They are also known to guard the Soma, but are barred from consuming Soma. Yakshas are a section of deities created by Lord Brahma at the very beginning, preceded only by the creation of Udaka or water. Some of these beings, who were actually meant to protect water, pronounced the word Jaksha (eat0 and some said Raksha (protect). Then, Lord Brahma called those sying Jaksha as Yakshas and those saying Raksha as Rakshasas. Later, Kubera impressed Lord Shiva with penance at the confluence of Kaveri and Narmada Rivers and secured the kingdom of Yakshas. Pannagas are a race belonging to Nagas or serpents and believed to be descendants of Kadru. Vidyadhara literally means a person of great wisdom. These Vidyadharas mentioned by Lord Brahma may be semi-deities with super-natural powers to reduce or expand their sizes at will. Kinnaras are said to be beings with human body and horse’s face born from deities. They are all subjects of Kubera. They were born to Surase from Kashyapa.