(In this episode, a little apprehension about Shiva Dhanus has been
discussed. Please read, comment and share. SDN)
About Shiva Dhanus (Bow of Shiva)
According to the Sri Valmeeki Ramayana, the Bow of Shiva that was lying
with King Janaka was secured by Devarata, the originator of Janaka’s dynasty
due to the grace of Lord Rudra he earned. In Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya by
Sri Madhwacharya it is stated that King Janaka did penance to propitiate Lord
Rudra and Lord Rudra gifted the special bow as a token of appreciation of the
penance. This dichotomy or ambiguity can be cleared through the same principle
as was employed while discussing about the handing over of Brahmastra and other
great Astras by Vishwamitra. Some texts mention that the Astras were submitted
to Sri Rama by sage Vishwamitra before the destruction of Tataka and some other
texts state that the arrows were presented after the death of Tataka. The
explanation was that the Ramayana that has come down to the present generation
might be belonging to the prevailing Brahma Kalpa and the version mentioned in
this Ramayana is different from the other version as it might belong to
Ramayana or Ramavatar of earlier Brahma Kalpa. Similarly, the matter of who
obtained the Bow of Shiva varies from Ramayana of one Kalpa to another. This is
perhaps the reason for which Sri Raghavendra Rayaru has not clarified this
paradox in clear terms. As it might have happened in all Kalpas, Sri Rayaru has
just mentioned “ShivaDhanuhu BanktwA”, meaning “breaking the bow of Shiva”.
Commentators have mentioned “Rudram prati tapaha krutwA JanakEna neetam”
to mean that by doing penance in the name of Lord Rudra, king Janaka brought the
Bow of Shiva. This statement does not make it clear that Janaka secured the bow
from Shiva and brought it. The question of who obtained the Bow from Lord Shiva
directly remains unanswered. It is also stated that King Janaka did penance to
bring the Bow of Shiva in front of Sri Rama. Therefore, the variance attributed
to difference in Kalpa about who obtained the Bow first does not bear any
significance nor signifies any change in the fact that Sri Rama broke the
arrow. The subject of Janaka doing penance can be explained in any manner as
the final outcome or the goal he had in his mind is beyond suspicion.
Even in Sangraha Ramayana, it is mentioned “Varam DhanUratnamalABhi
ShamBhOho prasAditA nastapasA chirENa”, where “Nastapasa” is a conjunction
comprising “Naha” and TapasA” which means the Bow was secured through “our”
penance. In this context, King Janaka does not use “ME tapasA”, which would
have meant “I did the penance”. By using “naha tapasA”, King Janaka has said “our
penance”, which includes Devarata and himself, if not his other predecessors.
The Swayamvar of Seetha was known to all deities and demons alike. Many
of them had come to Mithila to kidnap or rape her and had returned without achieving
what they wanted. Gods and goddesses were aware that Seetha Devi was Sri
Lakshmi, the consort of Sri Narayana. Therefore, they had come to Mithila to
attend the Swayamvara as spectators. The thought to participate in the event as
‘suits’ had never crossed their minds as they knew that she is the Mother of
the entire universe and universal order. In fact, the deities did not enter
Mithila. They waited outside the city till Sri Rama broke the Bow and then
entered the city to witness the splendid spectacle of the Wedding of Sri Rama
and Seetha, who were Sri Narayana and Sri Lakshmi.
Separation of Sri Lakshmi from Sri Narayana is unimaginable and the
gods and demi gods were well aware of this fact. Sri Rama pretended to be in
Ayodhya and Seetha in Mithila. Spiritually awakened persons pretended, as
desired and directed by Lord Vishnu, as though the two were living separately
in different places. After the Bow was broken by Sri Rama, they saw Sri Rama
and Seetha Devi together to make the demons and foolish people believe that the
duo was meeting each other for the first time.
King Janaka was quite aware of all the facts. Even if he was unaware of
this situation, great saints like Shatananda would have known it.
No comments:
Post a Comment