SRI RAGHAVENDRA SWAMY’S SRI RAMACHARITRYA MANJARI (ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಘವೆಂದ್ರ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ವಿರಚಿತ “ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಮಚಾರಿತ್ರ್ಯ ಮಂಜರಿ)

SRI RAGHAVENDRA SWAMY’S SRI RAMACHARITRYA MANJARI

(ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಘವೆಂದ್ರ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ವಿರಚಿತ “ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಮಚಾರಿತ್ರ್ಯ ಮಂಜರಿ)

  About Kurangasura and Jayanta

  This is an explanation of “KAkanEtram vyasya”, which means Srirama killed Kurangasura, who was taking shelter in the eyes of crows. Srirama also saved Jayanta, son of Indra, who was born as a crow. It is said that crows live for thousands of years. By the time a crow dies, innumerable crows would be born in its place. As a result, the species of crow will not extinguish till the end of the present Kalpa. Eye is the most important organ of crows since the power in its eyes never diminishes. Their eyes do not get destroyed. If, for any reason, one eye or both eyes of one of the crows is/are lost, other crows will continue to have both the eyes intact, powerful and bright, as ever. Therefore, no such occasion may ever arise on earth when crows happen to lose their eyes or eyesight.

  Kurangasura studied this phenomenon related to crows and decided to remain eternal or that he should never die. To get this desire fulfilled, he decided to impress upon Lord Rudra through penance.  He made up his mind to seek with Lord Rudra a boon under which he would not die even if a single crow exists with both eyes and that he should die only after all the crows lose their eyesight. Yet, he became suspicious that what might happen if all the crows die at once. In such an event, a situation may arise that the earth might be without crows and his death would occur. He thought of asking Rudra that he should die only if a single crow happens to be born without both eyes in any of the future generations of crows. Accordingly, he impressed Lord Rudra with penance and the kind-hearted Lord Rudra granted the boon sought by Kurangasura. Lord Rudra said: “Dear devotee, you may assume different forms and stay in both the eyes of crows, which do not fade or get destroyed due to age or disease. You should also protect those eyes from not getting destroyed or disabled due to some weapon. If you do so, there may not be an occasion when crows exist without eyes and you will remain unharmed.”

  Crows learnt about this boon and they became very happy since their eyes would become more powerful than even due to the presence of Kurangasura. They happily accommodated Kurangasura in their eyes. Kurangasura started living in the eyes of crows in different forms and began torturing the virtuous.

  At this juncture, Jayanta had to take a curse of taking birth on earth. When this happened, he was under the influence of a dreadful Asura. Because of the influence of that demon, Jayanta thought that he should live on earth for as long as possible. He decided to be born as a crow, which feed on rice offered in sacrifices and rice balls offered in death ceremonies. They never struggle for food. This, he thought, would ensure a very long life for him on earth. Now, Jayanta was born as a crow and Kurangasura lived in his eyes. As a result, the crows became very powerful. They were flying everywhere on earth and tormenting ordinary people, saints, sages and ascetics. Jayanta came to be known as “DharAntarachara”.

  Dharantarachara or Jayanta had to wait till Srirama arrived at Chitrakoota to get relieved from the curse. Srirama waited in Chitrakoota for Jayanta to come and play some mischief so that he could not only relieve Jayanta, who was originally a great devotee, from the curse, but also relieve the universe from the torture of Kurangasura. Therefore, while firing the arrow at the crow that played mischief with his wife Seetha Devi, Srirama thought of halving the power of the eyes of crows. So far, crows could see in all directions as both eyes had equal power. As a result of the arrow shot by Srirama, the crows could see only one side. If they turn left, the right eye would be blind and if they turn right, the left eye would be blank. Not a single crow on earth could ever have both eyes intact. This gratis was shown by Srirama towards crows because they had only accommodated the Asura and they were not directly responsible for all the crimes committed by Kurangasura. Jayanta too was under the influence of the curse and a demon. Kurangasura had evil motive. Jayanta only wanted to live longer on earth, which was excusable. Srirama empowered his arrow to nullify the power of one of the eyes of crows for all times to come so that Kurangasura would have no chance to reappear on earth. This divine power was given to a grass that he plucked from the ground. Jayanta, in the form of a crow, ran through all Lokas to save his life. It was not to be. The TruNAstra shot by Srirama took different forms to destroy the various forms that Kurangasura had taken to stay in different eyes of crows across the globe. Thus ended the life of Kurangasura and the world heaved a sigh of relief. Jayanta surrendered to Rama, took his blessings and returned to Indra Loka.

  A few more points related to this Shloka will be discussed in the coming episodes before exploring the Fifth Stanza of Sri Ramacharitryamanjari of Sri Raghavendra Gurugalu. Please read, comment and share. SDN