A peep into "Puttadasanu Nanalla" of Sri Kanakadasaru

A peep into "Puttadasanu Nanalla" of Sri Kanakadasaru 

Sri Marichi Maharishi said: “The elevation you are aspiring to attain is possible only by propitiating Lord Govinda. You should only impress upon Lord Achyuta, the undecaying Lord of this Universe.” 

Sri Atri Maharishi told: “One can secure the imperishable and eternal dignity by pleasing Lord Janardhana.” 

 Sri Angiras Mahamuni averred: “Lord Achyuta is the Almighty who possesses and can part with it, the immutable and infinite state of supreme glory. 

Sri Pulastya Maharishi stated: “Lord Hari is the Supreme Brahma and he alone can bestow upon anyone he gets pleased with such things or objects of eternal value that none else in this universe can dare to imagine.” 

Sri Kratu Muni replied: “Lord Janardhana is the soul of all sacrifices; He is the supreme Spirit and what he can bless you with cannot be matched with anything that anyone else may be pleased to deliver to you.” 

Sri Pulaha Muni said: “Lord Indra secured his royal status of being the King of Heavens only by the grace of Lord Janardhana as Indra worshipped the Lord without any bias or suspicion but with untainted devotion. Lord Vishnu, therefore, is the ultimate Lord of this Universe and the recipient of all the benefits of sacrifices. Worship Lord Narayana and secure whatever you may desire or whatever he blesses you with.” 

Sri Vasishtha asserted: “Worship Lord Vishnu as he alone can elevate you to that status which cannot be matched by anything else in this universe.” 

Dhruva was convinced about the God to be propitiated but he wanted to know from the Rishis how to propitiate the Supreme Lord. He pleaded again: “Please bless me Oh Rishis the type of Prayer I need to offer to propitiate the Lord. Please instruct me how to pray and propitiate the Lord.” 

The Rishis replied: “We will let you know how several devotees have offered prayers to the Lord and earned his distinct and everlasting grace. At first, your mind should ‘forsake all external impressions’. You must fix the mind strictly on the Lord and          

recite the hymn we are going to repeat in your ears, inaudibly, time and again, non-stop. The hymn is very simple and it should fill your mind, the body and then nothing else in the universe should be remembered by you. “Om NamO BhagavatE VAsudevAya” is the hymn you should be continuously repeating in your mind.” 

            Dhruva began his penance on the banks of the sacred Yamuna River in a garden called Madhuvana. Madhuvana got its name after a demon called Madhu, who lived there and was torturing the people. Shatrughna, the younger brother of Lord Rama, killed Lavana, the son of Asura Madhura and established a city in that place called Mathura. Dhruva was completely dedicated and committed. His concentration was such that Lord Hari occupied his heart. Being present in the mind of Dhruva, the earth, the supporter of elemental life, could not sustain the weight of the ascetic, who was doing the penance by standing on his left foot. Because of the weight of his body due to the presence of Lord Hari in his heart, one hemisphere bent beneath him. When the boy switched on to stand on the right leg, the hemisphere under his right leg was bent and sank. When Dhruva touched Mother Earth with his toes, there was tremor, a powerful quail that shook all the mountains on the earth and the rivers and oceans could not whether the force or power of that tremor. Left with no option, the gods and goddesses went to Yamadharma and sought his help in overcoming the unknown threat. Yamadharma consulted Indra and they both thought of somehow disturb the penance of Dhruva. Meanwhile, divine beings called Kushmandas, led by their king, also tried distracting Dhruva from his penance. The duo took the form of Suniti, the mother of Dhruva, standing in front of Dhruva and told him amidst continuous sobs: 

"myy dear son, stop this frightening penance and save the earth from utter chaos. I underwent and forbore inexplicable pains for your sake. Considering the fact that I tolerated all the pains for the sake of your life, you should not desert me. If you do so, I will fall a prey into the hands of our perpetrators. Desist from penance as it is not meant to be practised at your age of just five years. You must spend your boyhood in games. Your primary duty is to show your love to me. You should protect me. If you do not retract from this penance, I will have no other option except ending my life in front of you,” she told Dhruva. (to be continued...)