VISHWAMITRA CREATES A HEAVEN FOR TRISHANKU

VISHWAMITRA CREATES A SWARGA FOR TRISHANKU

(This is the latter part of Chapter 60 in Balakanda of Sri Valmeeki Ramayana where the deities deny physical entry to Trishanku into the heaven and Vishwamitra saves him from falling back to earth. A separate heaven is created to Trishanku between the earth and the heavens. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

                  

                   Raghava, how can I describe the astonishing incident that happened then? As soon as Vishwamitra said ‘Rajan! sashareerO divam vraja’, and transferred the fruits of his penance, Chandala-looking Trishanku climbed into the heaven in front of the eyes of all the Munis due to the power of the penance of Vishwamitra.

Observing the entry of Trishanku to the world of deities, king of deities Indra, along with all the gods and goddesses, said:

                   ‘Trishanku, return to the place from where you have come. You stupid, how can you get a place in the heavens after getting cursed by your Guru? You do not have any place here. Fall back on earth with your head down and the feet up.”

                   As soon as Mahendra said these words, Trishanku started yelling “Trahi…Trahi” or “save me…save me” and was falling at a great speed towards the earth with head down and the feet up. Hearing the desperate howling of Trishanku, who was falling towards the earth, Vishwamitra became very angry at Indra for pushing down Trishanku. He shouted at Trishanku “Tishtha…Tishtha” or “stop…stop”. Due to the power of the penance of Vishwamitra, Trishanku halted midway in the sky and did fall back to Earth. Later, most radiant and furious Vishwamitra stood amidst the Rishis like a neo-Brahma and created the south-faced new Saptarshis (Great Bear or Ursa Major) and another cluster of twenty-seven Stars around the Saptarshis. Similar to the North Star that stays in the North he consecrated Trishanku in the South and made him stay there eternally. Further, he created Saptarshis and the Stars around Trishanku. With a mind that had been infected by rage, penance-hardened Vishwamitra said “I will create an alternative Indra or else let there no Indra at all in the world” and began creating all the deities in their established order of status and position. Rishis, Sura, Asura, Kinnara, Yaksha, Siddha and Charana were totally puzzled and bewildered at the strange process of creation that Vishwamitra had launched. All of them came close to Vishwamitra, consoled him with kind and pleasant words:

“Oh penance-rich great sage, this king has become a Chandala due to the curse of his Guru. Therefore, he is not eligible to enter heavens alive.”

Haring the words of deities, Vishwamitra told the Rishis, Maharshi and deities:

                   “Oh deities and great sages, wish you good luck. As he had submitted himself to me seeking shelter, I have taken an oath that I will send him to the heavens, alive. This promise should not become a lie. As promised by me, he should get into the heavens. Therefore, let the heaven where he is now staying be accepted by all of you as heaven. Let all the comforts of heaven be made available to him in the same place. This would also ensure that my promise is kept up. Let the Saptarshis and stars created by me remain in their present position. Till as long as these worlds created by Brahma exist, the heaven created by me shall be adorned with Trishanku, Saptarshis clusters and lines of stars remain in the same position you are empowered to make whatever I have demanded happen.”

                  “Vishwamitra, wish you good luck. Your creation will remain as they are now. These clusters of Stars will remain outside the orbit of other stars called Vaishwanara Patha². Glowing like burning fire at the centre of these Stars, Trishanku, who will be equal to other deities in all respects, will be eternally stationed here with his head turned downwards. The Stars created by you will follow the movement of Trishanku, who will have all comforts he would have got by entering the real heavens alive. Thereby, he will have the satisfaction of having realised his cherished desire. This will also affirm that you are a Satyavrat³.”

With all the deities and Rishies requesting him to calm down, Vishwamitra said “Badham” (it is alright) and conceded their advice. Later, Vishwamitra sought the permission of the deities and performed the Avabhruta (finale) rituals of the sacrifice he had begun. After the completion of sacrifice, deities and penance-rich Rishis sought the permission and returned to their respective places.