SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

(In this edition, the story of King Vishala concludes. It is interesting to know that King Vishala belonged to the same Ikshwaku dynasty in which Sri Rama had taken birth. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

Vishwamitra continues his narration to Sri Rama: “Diti saw with grave concern the horrendous condition her children had reached. She decided to get a son, who could kill Lord Indra as he had got her children killed through you (Lord Vishnu). She obtained the permission of her husband Kashyapa and started worshipping you. Indra came to know about the intentions of Diti and was waiting for Diti to become callous and insane. When Diti inadvertently committed a mistake and became insane, Indra entered her womb and cut the baby there into forty-nine pieces. But they did not die. They started crying and Indra told them “Maa rodee”, which meant “do not cry”. Therefore, they came to be known as Maruts and all of them became the servants of Indra. The moral of this story is that your devotees will always be glorious and your foes will ever be unsuccessful in their life.

There was a noble Apsara called Vishala among the several Apsara women who emerged during the Great Churning. King of this empire, Vishala, was born to Ikshwaku, who is the originator of your dynasty,” said Vishwamitra, concluding the story of Vishala, who also belonged to the same dynasty as Rama.

Vishwamitra was telling similar stories to Rama, Lakshmana and his disciples till arriving at the sub-forest areas that were part of the kingdom of Mithila. It is quite clear from this explanation or substantiation provided by Sri Lakshminarayanachar that Vishwamitra narrated all these stories during his journey from Siddhashram to the country of Videha, where he wanted Rama and Lakshmana to be taken to.     

SRI MADHWAVIJAYA - CHATURTHAHA SARGAHA STANZAS 15 TO 18

SRI MADHWAVIJAYA – CHATURTHAHA SARGAHA SHOLKAS 15 TO 18

(Parents of Vasudeva are worried over the decision of Vasudeva to embrace sainthood. Their agony has been described in these shlokas. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

Sutam yateendrAnucharam virAgiNam nishamya sannyAsanibaddhamAnam|

Suvatsalau rUpyatalAlayasThitam viyOgatAntau pitarau sameeyatuhu||15||

SUMMARY: Hearing the news that their son had renounced everything and that with a firm mind to get ordained into sainthood, he was staying with Achyutapreksha, parents of Vasudeva, who were very much attached to their son, arrived at Rajatapeethapura to see Vasudeva, albeit with a very heart and nostalgia.

VarAshramastE jaratOranAThayOrna jeevatOho syAdayi nandanAvayOho|

SayAchanam vAkyamudeeryatAvidam pareetya putrAya natim vitEnatuhu||16||

SUMMARY: Telling their son “Dear child, it isn’t right on your part to embrace sainthood when your aged and orphaned parents are still alive,” the duo revolved around and prostrated before him.  

Natirna shushrUShujanAya shasyatE natam BhavadBhyAm sPhuTamatra sAmpratam|

AhO viDhAtrA swayamEva dApitA tadaBhyanujnEti jagAda sa praBhuhu||17||

SUMMARY: “What a surprise! It isn’t right for elders to prostrate before young ones. It’s very clear now that you have both saluted me. It means that Lor Sri Hari has himself prompted you to permit me,” Vasudeva told his parents.

Traditionally, elders should never salute youngsters especially parents should not salute their children. However, if the son has become a saint, the father alone can salute the son. With the Madhyageha couple having saluted Vasudeva, it was as good as them having inadvertently agreed to Vasudeva becoming a saint.  

Anuttarajnaha sa tamarThayan punaryateendramAnamya gataha priyAyutaha|

GruhE vasan kalpasamAn kShaNAnnayan sutA

nanEndOranisham tatO(a)smarat||18||

SUMMARY: Unaware of what to reply, Madhyageha requested his son once again to reverse his decision; he (Madhyageha) saluted Achyutapreksha; he went to the house of Achyutapreksha, along with his wife and spent every moment there like a Kalpa, remembering the lotus-like face of his son.

SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

(Vishwamitra completes the story of how Ganga came to earth and then starts narrating the story of Samudra Manthan under the pretext of making Rama know the background of King Vishala. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

“Immediately after completing the Ashwamedha, King Sagara handed over the kingdom to Amshuman, did penance and attained salvation. Subsequently, Amshuman and his son Dileepa too did penance to invoke Lord Brahma seeking Ganga River and demised. Bhageeratha, son of Dileepa, did severe penance in the name of Brahma, who was impressed with his penance and advised him to do penance in the name of Lord Rudra to wear and withstand the force of Ganga. He followed the instructions of Brahma and Lord Rudra appeared before Bhageeratha. As appealed by him, Lord Rudra wore Ganga. Ganga got into the plait of Lord Rudra and from there she went into the nether world. She soaked the ashes of the children of Sagara. As soon as touching the ashes of Sagara’s children, they got relieved from sins. They also attained salvation.

Oh Ramadeva, how can I ever praise the mystic and divine power of this Ganga as she washed your feet?”

Vishwamitra went on describing the exemplary qualities of Ganga and crossed the river too, along with Rama and Lakshmana. 

While proceeding further after crossing the Ganga, they came close to a city called Vaishali, which was under the protective governance of King Vishala. As soon as hearing that Vishwamitra was about to arrive in his town, King Vishala personally offered a warm welcome to the sage and took him to his palace with reverence. King Vishala felicitated Srirama with devotion. Sage Vishwamitra began narrating the background of King Vishala to Rama: “Oh Ramadeva, when the gods and demons began churning Mount Mandara, which was then used as the churning rod, king of serpents was used like a rope. Due to continuous and forceful churning, Mount Mandara immersed in the ocean. Then, you took the form of a giant tortoise (Kurma Avatar) with a back that was as wide as one Yojana and wore the entire mountain on the back. You also manifested in Vasuki and Mount Mandara to give them the power and strength to bear the pain and fatigue being caused due to the friction and churning. Still, the gods and demons soon got tired. You then assumed two forms to stand on either side of the mountain and you only churned the mountain. Lord Vayu consumed the entire quantity of poison that erupted. Lord Rudra, who swallowed a little bit in the end, without the concentration, lost his consciousness. You showered sympathy on him and saved him. As you continued to churn the mountain, the Moon, five-tusked elephant Airavata, a horse named Uchchaishravas, the tree of Parijata, Apsara women, Mahalakshmi and others came out. In the end, you appeared as Dhanvantari and brought the Kalash containing Elixir or Amrita. Once again, you assumed the form of Mohini and lured the demons. You distributed the elixir among all deities, gods and goddesses. When all the enraged demons launched a fierce war, you killed some of them and the others were killed by the deities. Thus, even though the churning of mountain was undertaken by both gods and demons, the fruits did not go to demons.  

SRI MADHWAVIJAYA - CHATURTHAHA SARGAHA - SHLOKAS 12 TO 14

SRI MADHWAVIJAYA – CHATURTHAHA SARGAHA SHOLKAS 12, 13 AND 14

(A platform is created in these stanzas for the holy meeting of Achyutapeksharu with Vasudeva. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

IteedamAdishya vachO vachaswini swakE gurau lOkamaThAnyameeyuShi|

AsEvatAlochya muhurgurOrgiram sa rUpyapeeThAlayamindirAvaram||12||

SUMMARY: After his wise and eloquent Guru advised him in that way and passed away, Achyutapreksha kept on contemplating and pondering over the words or his Guru for a long time and started serving Anantasana, the cosort of Indira, who had settled down in Rajatapeethapura.

It is pertinent to recall the advice of his Guru to Sri Achyutapreksha: “Oh Modest! This unifying principle or the oneness of Atma and Paramatma being imposed by Mysticism or Mayavada on the worship has not been established as true by either my Guru or his ancient Gurus; therefore, to acquire the philosophical knowledge, please believe in Lord Mukunda with compassion and devotion.”

Sri Madhwacharya went on to critically analyse and evaluate the tenets of Mayavada in his works “Mayavada Khandana”, “UpAdiKhandana”, “PrapanchamiThyAtwAnumAna Khandana”, TattvOdyOta”, “ViShNutattvanirNaya”, “AnuvyAKhyAna” and other works.

SuBhaktinA tEna BhaktavatsalO niShEvitastatra param buBhutsunA|

BhaviShyastaha shiShyavarAddhi viddhi mAmiti praviShTaha puruSham tamaBhyaDhAt||13||

SUMMARY: Lord Hari, who loves his devotees, voiced through a person there and told Achyutapreksha, who had made up his mind to know the Paratatva or the Haritava and was serving Sri Hari with occult devotion, “You can learn about me from a disciple who is about to come and meet you.”

Sri Chalari Acharya in his treatise substantiates this point: “Hi Achyutapreksha, madviShayatatvajnAnArTham twayA sEvitO(a)ham parituShTO(a)smi, matprasAdAdEva uttamashiShyO BhavitA, taduktaprakArENaiva mAm jAneehi ityabraveet iti|

PrateekShamANam tamanugraham mudA niShEvamANam punarambujEkShaNam|

SatAm guruhu kAraNamAnuShAkrutiryatim prashAntam tamupAsasAda saha||14||

SUMMARY: Vasudeva, the Master of all the righteous, who had descended on earth in the form of an ordinary human being due to certain circumstances, arrived to meet Achyutapreksha, who had continued to serve Lord Pundareekaksha with a fervent belief that he would one day be blessed with such distinct grace.

The “grace” and “blessings” that Achyutapreksha is stated to be waiting for is the good fortune of securing a disciple of the status that Lord Pundareekaksha had indicated to him through a human voiceover. The distinct “chance” of coming in contact with Lord Vayu was bestowed upon Achyutapreksha by Lord Hari   

SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

(In this portion, the origin of Ganga and the oceans has been explained by Vishwamitra to Rama. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

Sage Vishwamitra continues his narration: “Oh Ramadeva, you assumed the Vamana Avatar and demanded land from Emperor Bali. You lifted your left foot up to measure the land. As the nail of your left toe touched, the Brahmanda cracked and the water which was at the top portion seeped through that crack and washed your feet. That water came to be called as Ganga. Thus, Ganga originated from you during your incarnation as Vamana and later she was born as the daughter of Himavanta. Due to the divine strength of her penance, she was living in the heavens.

Sagara, the king of Ayodhya, had two wives. One was Keshini, who was the daughter of the King of Keshini. The other wife, Sumati, was the daughter of Arishtanemi and sister of Lord Garuda. He served a sage called Aurva atop the hill called Bhruguprasravana for one hundred years with a desire to have a male progeny. Impressed with his service, sage Aurva blessed Keshini with a son, who would be followed by generations, and Sumatidevi with sixty thousand children, who would not have any furtherance of dynasty, in accordance with their respective desires.

Keshinidevi delivered a highly knowledgeable and scholarly son named Asamanja. He pretended like a vandal with an intention of breeding hostility between his parents and other relatives. He used to kill all young children in the town by drowning them in Sarayu River and guffawing in the end as though he had done a grand job. His father tries all means to bring him on the right track. All his efforts proved futile. As soon as he begot another son called Amshuman, Sagara debarred Asamanja. Before leaving the town, Asmanja brought all the children whom he had drowned earlier back to life and sent them to their respective homes. All the people were flabbergasted to see this act of Asamanja and regretted and repented for mistaking him. Meanwhile, Sumatidevi gave birth to very strong sixty thousand children.

King Sagara performed Ashwamedha Yaga. Devendra came there in an abstract form and stole the sacrificial horse. As instructed by King Sagara, his sixty thousand children went in search of the lost horse. They searched for the horse in the entire earth. The horse was not found. On the contrary, oceans erupted from the places where they had dug up. Thus, the seas, which were narrow till then, became very large. That is why the sea is now considered a son of Sagara and the sea is named as Saagara.

Oh Lord Rama! Sons of Sagara reached the nether world, where they saw you sitting in the form of Kapila and pretending to be in deep penance. The sacrificial horse was by your side. Sons of Sagara mistook you to have stolen the horse and rushed towards you to kill you. Then, you opened your eyes and burnt all of them into ashes. There is no wonder that you burnt all those children with your eyes because you can destroy the universe with a mere wish.

As his sixty thousand children did not return for a long time, Sagara sent his other son Amshuman to search for the horse. He also saw the horse by your side as you were sitting in the same posture in the form of Kapila Maharishi. But, he chanted in praise of you. Impressed with his prayers, you asked him to take the horse. You also told him that his uncles had been burnt by you and that they would have salvation once their ashes became wet with Ganga waters. Amshuman brought back the horse and Sagara could complete the Ashwamedha Yaga.             

SRI MADHWAVIJAYA - CHATURTHAHA SARGAHA SHLOKAS 9 TO 11

SRI MADHWAVIJAYA – CHATURTHAHA SARGAHA SHOLKAS 9, 10 AND 11

(In these stanzas, Achyutapreksha receives guidelines from his Guru, who was on the verge of death. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

VineetamAmnAyashirOvishAradam sadaiva tattwam prabuBhutsuramAdarAt|

GururviditvOpagatAm nijAm mrutim kadAchidUchE tamupahwarE giram||9||

SUMMARY: Achyutapreksha, who was very modest, a scholar in Upanishads and always keen on learning the divine principles, was once called in tranquillity by his mentor, who had come to know that his end was imminent.  

The surprising thing that his mentor told Achyutapreksha is given in the next stanza.

Aham swayam Brahma na kinchidasti matparam vijrumBhEta yadA sPhuTam chitihi|

Iteeha mAyAsamayOpapAditam niranvayam suvrata mA sma vishwaseehi||10||

SUMMARY: “Do not ever subscribe the line of argument of Mayavada (mysticism) that ‘I am myself the Parabrahma’ and that ‘there is nothing equal to me when I am fully matured’, my dear, because such statements or beliefs are in total contrast with what is empirically established, because only you can follow the right path.”

What the Guru of Achyutapreksha says is that there is no base or sense to accept ‘Brahma satyam jaganmiThyam’ because no Scripture ever reflects these thoughts.

YadEtadAtmaikyamupAstichOditam na mE gurOrapyaparOkShatAm gatam|

PurAtanAnAmapi saumya kutrachit tatO Mukundam Bhaja samvidE mudA||11||

SUMMARY: “Oh Modest! The predicament imposed by the mysticism on worship that there exists an inseparable unity between souls or the Atma with Paramatma, has never been experienced by either my mentor or his ancestors. Therefore, to secure the ultimate knowledge, please serve the Lord with affection and devotion.”

The mentor of Achyutapreksha has clearly instructed his disciple that Mayavada or the Mysticism that rejects any distinction between the divine and the devotee is untenable, illogical and inconsistent with the ultimate truth.  

SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

(In this episode, birth of Kartikeya has been narrated. In the next episode, birth of Ganga will be explained. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

Lord Rudra, who was the supreme commander of the armed forces of the gods and deities till then, went away to Kailasa to do penance. The post of supreme commander of the celestial armed forces fell vacant. The deities appealed to Lord Brahma to immediately appoint a supreme commander of their army. Lord Brahma told the deities that the semen ejected by Lord Rudra and Uma Devi had been submitted to Ganga, who will deliver a baby boy soon. That boy would be the next supreme commander of the celestial armed forces. Goddess Uma Devi, who became angry with Mother Earth, would not get angry with Ganga for conceiving the semen of Lord Rudra, he said. Fire God, Lord Agni, pushed the spirit of the semen of Lord Rudra, which was lying in the shape of a hill, into the Ganga for two reasons. He had been directed to do so by Lord Brahma. Secondly, he was incapable of carrying or keeping the spirit of semen of Lord Rudra as it was so powerful and hot. The spirit of semen of Rudra let out by Agni Deva started spreading into Ganga River. Even Ganga Devi was unable to bear the heat of that spirit and therefore, she sought the permission of Agni Deva and dropped it by the side of Himalaya Mountain. The semen fell out of the hands of Ganga Devi in the form of Gold. While falling on to the ground, it came in contact with the Holy Grass Darbha and got precipitated into six parts. From those six parts was born a six-faced baby boy. Since he baby boy had six faces, it came to be known as Shanmukha, where Shat or Shashti means six and Mukha means faces. He became the supreme commander of the Gods’ Army or the divine army. Since he grew up with the breast-feeding of six deities, who are together called as Krithika Star, he came to be known as Kartikeya.  Since he was born out of the ejection, which is the meaning of Sanskrit word Skhalana, of semen, he is called as Skanda and by virtue of being the son of Agni Deva, he is called as Agneya.   

SRI MADHWAVIJAYA CHATURTHAHA SARGAHA SHLOKAS 7 AND 8

(In these stanzas, the past history of Sri Achyuta Preksha, Guru or master of Vasudeva, has been narrated. Scholars have provided deeper interpretation for these stanzas. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

PuraiSha kruShNAkarasidDhashudDhimadvarAnnaBhuktyA kila pAnDavAlayE|

VishOBhitAtmA maDhukrutpravruttimAmshchachAra kAmshchit parivatsarAn mudA||7||

SUMMARY: Earlier, this Achyutapreksha was a nomadic ballad (travelling continuously, begging only to satiate the hunger and singing instantly self-composed devotional songs, who were called as Dasas and their profession was being called as Madhukara. Purandara Dasa, Kanakadasa and other Dasas are the latest examples, who followed this trait) in his previous birth (during Dwaparayuga); for a few years, he was a recipient of food given by Draupadi; by consuming the purest and greatest food Draupadi was personally preparing, he had purified his mind and heart to the fullest possible extent.

In his book of commentaries, Sri Chalari Achar states: ….PUrva janmani yatirEShahaBhikShAcharaNa niyamavAn san DraupadeedattaBhikShAnnaBhOjanEna nirmaleekrutadEhAntahkaraNaha san katipayavarShEShU mudA PAnDavadEshE sanchAram kurvannaBhUditi BhAvaha|

Meaning: In his previous birth, Achyutapreksha was a saint living on alms given in the form of food and while begging, he was consuming the food that Draupadi was providing him with as charity. Having lived on those beggings given by Draupadi, his body and mind had been totally purified and sanctified. He was living in the country of Pandavas for a few years as a nomad.

There are references in Mahabharata, Bhagavata and Bhagavata Tatparya Nirnaya that Pandavas were donating food to several saints and ascetics.      

Even in the previous stanza, the credentials of Achyutapreksha have been clearly stated. The Chalari Vyakhyan, a book of commentaries, describes Sri Achyutapreksha as follows: “AchyutaprEksha iti DitThAdishabdavat sAnkEtikam nAma tasya na Bhavati| Kintu Achyutasya HarEhe prEkShA jnAnam yasya sa AchyutaprEkSha iti sArThakam nAma tasya yatEriti BhAvaha| AnEna shudDhatwam manOnihrahaha vairAgyam BhagavajnAnam ityEtE sannyAsinO vihitaguNAha asmin AchyutaprEkShE santeeti tasya sannyAsam aDhikArO(a)steeti uktam Bhavati|

He was not Achyutapreksha merely for name’s sake. He had imbibed all the attributes that are essential to be called as Achyutapreksha and that is why he was also being called Achyutaprajna. His name was not just a symbol but it was highly deserving and meaningful. He had secured all the knowledge by truly seeing Sri Hari. He had inculcated rare and valuable attributes such as purity of heart and mind (ShudDhatwam); true control over his mind (manOnigrahaha); occult aversion to worldly pleasures (Vairagya); knowledge of the Lord (BhagavajnAnam) and others that have been prescribed for an ascetic. Therefore, he was the most eligible person to ordain a divine person like Vasudeva, who was an incarnation of Lord Vayu.

The name of Achyutapreksha has been mentioned in Skanda Purana:

SanakAdi mahAyOgisampradAyakarO yatihi|

AchyutaprEkShanAmA(a)sau mAyiBhihi parivEShTitaha||

Achyutapreksha is an ascetic in the lineage of such great saints as Sanaka and others.

ABhUt kushAstrABhyasanam na pAtakam kramAgatAdwipratisAratO yatEhe|

YaThA kushastrADhyasanam muradwiShaha padAmbujE vyADhavarasya garhitam||8||

Later, he had systematically repented for having studied till then the texts of Mysticism (Mayavada), which was not an acceptable or worthy theosophy. Therefore, his reading or practising of unworthy theosophy did not rank as a sin just as a hunter named Jara attract any sin after inadvertently hitting Lord Krishna with an arrow that actually became instrumental for the Lord to conclude his incarnation on Earth since he virtually repented for his mistake.

This stanza signifies that human thoughts are purified by human acts and in turn, they are purified by the food consumed.

The moral of this stanza is that perverted, antagonistic and misleading philosophy should not be studied nor can one abstain from studying them; therefore, what one can do is to study such material but repent for studying them. Reading bad texts paves the way for hell.

The incident related to hunter Jara has been mentioned in Mahabharata, Bhagavata, Harivamsha and Tatparyanirnaya. Sage Bhrugu had committed a serious crime by kicking Lord Vishnu at the navel and as a token of repentence, he was born a hunter named Jara during Dwapara Yuga and ended the tenure of Lord Krishna on Earth. Both Bhrugu and Jara repented for their acts and that is why, their acts were not considered as sins or crimes.  

SRI MADHWAVIJAYA CHATURTHAHA SARGAHA SHLOKAS 4, 5 AND 6

SRI MADHWAVIJAYA – CHATURTHAHA SARGAHA SHOLKAS 4, 5 AND 6

(In these stanzas, the poet tells us how Vasudeva decided to renounce everything and become a saint. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

VichintayannitThamanantachintakaha samastasannyAsanibadDhanishchayaha|

AsAvanujnArThamaThAnamadDharim samastasamvyApinamAtmadAyagam||4||

SUMMARY: Sri Vasudeva, who was incessantly doing meditation on infinite Sri Hari, thought this way and decided to renounce everything; he kept saluting Sri Hari, who is omnipresent and was there in his own self, again and again, seeking his permission to get ordained into sainthood.

NijE janE kim namaseeti pruchChati bruvan swavastupraNatim vyaDhAmiti|

GurOho kilAnvEShaNavAn jagadgurustadA jagAmAKhilalOkashikShaNaha||5||

SUMMARY: When his relatives asked “What are you saluting to?” Vasudeva replied “I am saluting my object (Sri Hari). Although he was Universal Master, he started searching for a suitable Master for himself with an intention to show the right path, the culture, to the people.

The intrinsic message that Vasudeva intended to give to the world was that for anyone in search of the ultimate truth or the path of realisation, it is essential to first have guidance from a real Guru. He did not want to leave a wronge precedent or give wrong signals to society.

The word “Swavastu” in this context is a symbolic expression meaning Sri Hari. This has been substantiated in Bhava Prakashika: “Swavastu swaswAminam nityApratihaam Brahma|

Even though Sri Hari is a common object of all, he is specially so for Rujus, the celestial beings.

YatiryatAtmA Bhuvi kashchanABhavadviBhUShaNO BhUriviraktiBhUShaNaha|

Na nAmamAtrAchChuchimarThatO(a)pi yam janO(a)chyutaprEkShamudAharatsPhuTam||6||

SUMMARY: During that special period, a saint, who had shed all decoration but was adorned with a special dress called renunciation and had secured total control over mind, was present on earth; embodiment of purity not merely by his name but also by his characters was he being called by people “Achyutapreksha”.  

The hidden message of this stanza is that only those endowed with divine devotion and knowledge can ordain another person into sainthood.

Achyuta means that which does not deteriorate or decay or get destroyed. This quality is only attributable to Lord Vishnu. Preksha may mean one who has seen or Prajna, which means one who has complete and comprehensive knowledge. Therefore, Achytaprekasha, which means a person whose thoughts, mind and heart are always immersed in devotion to Sri Hari, was true to every syllable of his own name.

Vasudeva, who was destined to get noticed as Jagadguru, belongs to the dynasty of Paramatma called “Hamsa”.

SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

(In this episode, sage Vishwamitra continues to narrate his own story to Sri Rama. Further, Vishwamitra explains about the origin of Ganga. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

“Oh Ramadeva, I am the son of Gadhi. My elder sister Satyavati had married Brahmarishi Rucheeka. She was living with her husband in Himalaya Mountain. When her husband, who doing penance there, demised, she sacrificed her life too in his pyre and went to Satya Loka, along with her husband. Having born in the dynasty of Kusha, her body was transformed into a river called Kaushiki, which originated from Himalaya Mountains. Till then I was living here and because of my reverence for my elder sister, I shifted to Himalayas and started residing on the banks of Kaushiki. Now, with a view to attain the Siddhi through penance, I returned from there and arrived at this Siddhashram. I have attained the Siddhi because of your services.”

Next day, Vishwamitra, along with Rama, Lakshmana and other disciples, started off from Siddhashram and by afternoon arrived at the banks of Ganga, where sage Vishwamitra narrated the origin of Sri Ganga. “Oh Ramadeva, Himavanta had a wife called Menadevi, who was the daughter of Sumeru. From Menadevi, Himavanta had two daughters named Ganga and Uma. Of them, Lord Rudra married Umadevi and spent 3,60,000 years with her, roaming about and romancing with is wife in Kailas Mountain. Yet, his semen did not eject. The deities became worried and scared about the prospects of anyone taking birth from that semen of Rudra. All the deities came to Rudra and said: “Please stop this romance as we will not be able to bear the spirit of a son who might be born out of your semen. Please do penance with Umadevi.” Impressed with the appeal of deities, Rudra and Umadevi blessed them and assured them that they would not eject their semen. The semen that had moved from its original place till then was spilled out into the ground, as per the request of deities. High flames which started emanating from that semen began engulfing the forests and hills all over the earth. Prompted by the deities then, Fire God crashed into that semen, along with Lord Vayu. Due to the association with Fire God, that semen transformed into a white hill called Sharavana and it was sparkling like Sun and Fire.     

Umadevi was enraged since the deities had disturbed her romance with Lord Rudra. She was also angry with Mother Earth for conceiving the semen, which was actually her (Umadevi) right. Umadevi cursed the deities: “Since you have deprived me of the opportunity of becoming a mother, none of you will ever beget a progeny.” Umadevi went on to curse the Earth: “Since you have acted like a concubine by conceiving the semen I had to conceive, you will be owned by several men. As you have snatched my happiness of being a mother, you will never have the joy of having children.” Having watched all these scenes, Lord Rudra retired to Kailas Parvat, along with Umadevi, and did a fierce penance.          

SRI MADHWAVIJAYA - CHATURTHAHA SARGA SHLOKAS 1 TO 3

SRI MADHWAVIJAYA – CHATURTHAHA SARGAHA SHOLKAS 1, 2 AND 3

(In these stanzas, Vasudeva gets ready to enter sainthood. Please read, comment and share. SDN) 

AThaiSha sallOkadayAsuDhArdrayA sadAgamastEna nirAsakAmayA|

RamAvarAbAsaBhuvA vishAradO vishAla(a)chintayadAtmanODhiyA||1||

SUMMARY: After completing the term of his stay at the Gurukul, Vasudeva, who was soaked in empathy towards the virtuous, who wanted to destruct the thugs of sacred Scriptures, thought in this manner in his broad mind where Lord Sri Hari always resided.

The thugs in this context means those who had been misinterpreting the Scriptures and diverting the minds of good people from the real truth that Sri Hari alone is the supreme God. It is also indicated in this stanza that there was no room for confusion in the Scriptures. The confusion was created by exploiting the innocence and ignorance of masses. Vasudeva thought of lighting the light of true knowledge and re-establish the glories of Lord Vishnu.  

AnanyasangAdguNasangitA harErjanasya mAnam tu vishiShTachEtiShTitam|

AsangamasmAt prakaTeekarOmyaham nijam Bhajan pAramahamsyamAshramam||2||

SUMMARY: “It’s only when one departs from the association of bad people that a passion and compassion towards the infinite attributes of Lord Vishnu. For the present generation, the life style of ancestors is the lone model and proof. Therefore, by embracing the sainthood, I will exhibit my natural, instinctive and inherent quality of being an ascetic.”

‘Association with bad people’ in this context refers to the passion for worldly pleasures. General people lend their ears only to such a person who enters sainthood by sacrificing the family life and only then people will recognise the value of devotion to Lord Vishnu and the futility of worldly life. This is what Vasudeva was aware of and put the right step forward, say the scholars.

During his previous incarnation as Bheema, a Kshatriya, Vasudeva, who is another incarnation of Lord Vayu, had established the power and spirit of Kshatriyas by killing Duryodhana and other Daityas. It was Dwaparayuga. In Kaliyuga, the scenario was different. As many persons, who had no real control over their senses, had devalued and derailed the status, sanctity and spirit of sainthood. Vasudeva took it upon himself the task of reviving those lost grounds of sainthood by embracing that state himself.  

Mama praBhOrnAparaThA hi shOBhatE dwiShatu ViShNum yadadanDaDhAraNam|

HariswasA nanvachirAdasadBhidE BhavEdatO nAsmi cha danDaDhArakaha||3||

SUMMARY: “Having born as a capable person, it is improper to leave the antegonists of Lord Vishnu unpunished. Yet, until Goddess Durga, a sister of Lord Krishna, who is about to descend as an incarnation to punish the illicit, descends on earth, I will not behold the sacred club.”

What is implicit in this stanza is that saints are not ‘authorised’ by Scripture to physically punish the sinners. Moreover, it had already been decided that Goddess Durga would take birth on earth only to physically assault and assassinate the Asuras. Vasudeva decides to set right the psyche of pretentious saints by logically disproving their reasoning and by gaining the confidence of ordinary people, he wanted to breathe a fresh lease of life.

SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

(In this episode, Vishwamitra starts narrating details of his own birth. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

Sage Vishwamitra, who began his journey from Siddashram, reached the banks of Shonabhadra River by the evening. He decided to stay there overnight and started narrating the past history of that country: “Oh Lord Sri Rama, Kusha, a son of Lord Brahma, married Vaidarbhi and begot four children named as Kushamba, Kushanabha, Amoortaraja and Vasu. Judging those children as pious and righteous, he directed them to look after the subjects. Accordingly, they created four separate cities and were looking after citizens well. Of them, Vasu established two cities called Girivraja and Vasumati on the banks of this Shonabhadra River. The Vasumatipur is magnificently placed in the middle of five mountains and is adorned with a river called Magadhi. For Kushanabha, one hundred most charming baby girls were born from an Apsara called Ghrutachi. Lord Vayu saw those girls, who were highly virtuous. He made up his mind to make them very popular. Pretending to be a romantic person, he sought their love and they replied that without their father’s consent, they would not do any such thing. Lord Vayu again pretended as though he was angry and slowly entered through their bodies. He made them hunch backed and awkwardly shaped. On hearing what transpired between his daughters and Lord Vayu, he became proud as he conceived that his daughters had great reverence for him. He discussed the matter with his ministers.

At that point of time, a Brahmarishi called Chooli was doing penance. A girl named Somada, who was the daughter of a female Gandharva called Urmila, was serving that save with compassion, dedication and reverence. She thought that Brahmarishi Chooli was highly impressed by her services and asked him to bestow a vibrant and radiant son. She confessed that she was unmarried. Chooli obliged her and wished that she got a good son. With his wish alone, Somada gave birth to a very bright son called Brahmadatta, who was ruling over the country called Kampilya.

Prompted by his ministers, Kushanabha got all his one hundred daughters married to Brahmadatta. Lord Vayu appreciated the reverence those girls displayed towards their father, the devotion Chooli had towards Lord Sri Hari, the power of penance that Brahmadatta had inculcated and also the good qualities of Kushanabha. He withdrew his power from the bodies of one hundred girls, who had then married Brahmadatta. Instantaneously, all the girls got back their original shape, brightness and qualities.

After marrying off his daughters, Kushanabha performed Putrakameshti Yaga with the intention of begetting a son and promptly got a son, who was named Gadhi.                        

SRI MADHWAVIJAYA - TRUTEEYAHA SARGAHA - SHLOKAS 54, 54 AND 56

SRI MADHWAVIJAYA – TRUTEEYAHA SARGAHA SHOLKAS 54, 55 AND 56

(In these concluding stanzas of the third Sarga of this great work “Sri Madhwavijaya, the manner in which Vasudeva paid his Gurudakshina has been touchingly explained. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

ADhigatOpaniShachcha sakruchChutA prakaTaBhagavateeti na vismayaha|

ADhigatA nanu jAtwapi na shrutAha pratiBhayA shrutayaha shatashO(a)munA||54||

SUMMARY: It isn’t surprising that Vasudeva learnt the entire Sreemannarayanopanishat after hearing it only once because is it not more surprising that he could learn thousands of Shrutis without hearing any of them even once.  

PrakaTaBhAgavatee means SreemannArAyaNOpaniShat as mentioned in Bhava Prakashika:

“PrakaTaBhAgavatee - SreemannArAyaNOpaniShat|

SAkShAdaThOpaniShadO viBhuraitarEyyAha

pAThachChalEna vijanE(a)rTha rasAn bruvANha|  

ADhyApakaya vitatAra vimOkShabeejam

GOvindaBhaktimuchitAm gurudakShiNAm saha||55||

SUMMARY: Once in tranquillity, by explicitely explaining the special, rare and hidden meaning of AitarEyOpaniShat, which is embryonic of the path of devotion to Lord Hari which drove him towards salvation or Moksha, Vasudeva paid the Gurudakshana (tution fee) to his Master in a very distinct manner.  

The commentary Sri Madhwacharya has provided to Aitareyopanishat is even today considered a rare treasurehouse of excellent interpretation. In this sense, this can be considered as the first work authored by Sri Madhwacharya.

The place where Vasudeva spent his days in the hermttage of his Master Totantillaya is now popular as Danditeertha, which is about eight miles away from Udupi on the highway to Mangalore. A large building there has been identified as a Mutt. A pond called Dandateertha is there. This pond had been created by Vasudeva for feeding water to the nearby paddy fields. A heap of stone blocks, which Vasudeva is said to have been using in weight lifting exercises, also exists in this place. Those ascending the Paryaya Peetha first take a dip in this Dandateertha before reaching Sri Krishna Mutt, even today.

Sri Vishwapati Tirtha, in his critique on Sri Vayu Stuti, has cited a statement from a Purana that states that Vasudeva, immediately on attaining the age of seven years, had gone Badari, met Sri Vedavyasa there and learnt all the Shastras from him.

The stanza is as follows:

SaptasamvatsarAdUrDhwam gatvA BadarikAshramam|

PrapEdE sarvashAstrANi vEdAmshchaivAvyayAnapi||

ItTham hi sarvavidyAshcha VyAsadEvAnmahAtmanaha|

AvAptasarvashAstrO(a)sau vaTustadidamabraveet||

This information confirms that Sri Madhwacharya visited Badari thrice.       

Ayi swAmin duShTAn damaya damaya vryaktamachirAdguNAn

gUDhAn ViShNOho kaThaya swAn pramadayan|

TadA(aa)nandam tanwanniti sumanasAm

sO(a)nusaratAmanujnAmAdatta

triBhuvanagururbrAhmaNagurO||56||

SUMMARY: The deities serving Vasudeva told him: “Oh Swamiji, please punish the guilty, punish the bad pesons; please let us know, let us know the great attributes of Maha Vishnu, which have disappeared from this world. Please make your devotees happy.” With a view to fulfil their desire, Master of three worlds, Vasudeva, secured the permission from that Brahmin Guru to accomplish the task ahead.

There is an indication in this stanza that Lord Vayu took the incarnation of Sri Madhwacharya as per the wishes of deities.

Iti Sreematkavikulatilaka SreemattrivikramapanDitAchArya sutasreemannArAyaNa panDitAcharya virachitE SreematsumadhwavijayE

mahAkAvyE AnandAnkE Triteeyaha Sargaha|

SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

(In this edition, as suggested by Vishwamitra, Rama and Lakshmana begin their journey to Mithila. In the next episode, the story of the birth of Vishwamitra will begin. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

VishwAmitrOkta SeethAswayamvaram shrutwA

After concluding the sacrifice, Vishwamitra told Sri Rama: “Oh Lord Sri Rama, brides in Kshatriya community can self-assess the qualities and status of prospective bridegrooms and choose anyone to be their fiancé. This is called as Swayamvara. King Janaka of the Sun Dynasty has now decided to hold a swayamvara for his daughter Seetha. He has announced his decision in all the ten directions through messengers. Princes and handsome youth from several kingdoms are reaching to Mithila, after getting to know about this swayamvara, to display their bravery and strength there. Rishis and ascetics are also reaching there to witness and enjoy this spectacle. You are young and you have all the qualities and eligibility to woe Seetha. Could you not try to get loved by Seetha? Being Brahmins, can we come there to have good meals?”

Sri Rama conceded with a smile to what Vishwamitra said. All the sages, including Vishwamitra, began their journey to Mithila, along with Rama and Lakshmana.       

SRI MADHWA VIJAYA TRUTEEYAHA SARGAHA SHLOKAS 51 TO 53

(Exceptional skills in comprehension, grasping and reciprocation of Vasudeva have been described in these stanzas. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

GuNanikA charaNAdikagOcharA na mama hruddayitEtyuditE(a)munA|

Vada vishAradavAda yaThEpsitam twamupareetyavadadDharaNeesuraha||51||

SUMMARY: When Vasudeva replied that he disliked the way of teaching from the Charana or the very beginning of every lesson, the Guru yelled at him and asked: “You, who is speaking like a scholar, speak out something about the next lesson, let me hear.”

Charana in this context means commencing every session with the summary of the previous class and explaining every single syllable afresh every time. This method of teaching is very essential to ensure that the students byheart the Vedic Mantras. The Guru was worried that Vasudeva was not good at byhearting anything.

SakalalakShaNashikShaNamUlaBhUhu shrutisamAmananam sKhalanOjJhitam|

Na Khalu kEvalamasya gurOrvyaDhAt sumanasAmapi tatra kutUhalam||52||

SUMMARY: The perfect pronounciation and accent, which was just like the origin of all the features and attributes of pronounciation, uninterrupted and incessant delivery of Vedic Mantras by Vasudeva bewildered not only his Guru Totantillaya but also the deities, who were listening from the sky.

Totantillaya was of the view that Vasudeva was not paying as much attention to the studies as he was expecting or as other students appeared to be paying attention to the studies. Even the pronounciation, delivery and the pauses for punctuations etc., were so perfect that everyone, including the deities were surprised. This has been clearly described in this stanza.   

PriyavayasyashirOguruvEdanAmashamayat sahajAmapi du(hu)ssahAm|

Sa vipinE vijanE muKhavAyunA shravaNagOcharitEna kadAchana||53||

SUMMARY: Once, when Vasudeva was going along with the son of his Guru with same name, Vasudeva, who was very intimate, suddenly developed an inherited, unbearable headache, this Vasudeva completely cured it instantly by blowing air through that boy’s ear.