Whom does Sri Kanakadasaru refer to as “Sittu DAsa” in his popular composition?
This is the third adjective used in his composition “Putta dAsanu nAnalla” that Sri Kanakadasaru has used. “Sittu” means anger. Three Rishis appear to be short-tempered as explained in epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. They are Durvasa Muni, Bhrugu Maharishi and Vishwamitra.
Sage DURVASA
Durvasa was the son of Anasuya and Atri Maharishi. Durvasa is
believed to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva. The name “Durvasa” comprises of two
root words namely “Dur” and “Vasa” where, Dur means unpleasant and Vasa refers
to clothes or dress. In another sense, it means a person very difficult to live
with.
Durvasa had a greenish-red complexion, long beard and a tall
physique. He paid little attention to his dress. He was carrying a stick of
Bilwa Tree in his hand. About ten thousand disciples used to accompany him, as
described in Mahabharata. He lived on Durva, a herb or a type of grass blade.
Because of his indomitable rage and distemper, people and even deities were
afraid of speaking to him. He was known to curse anybody for very simple
reasons. It must however be perceived that the curses slapped or pronounced by
great sages and Rishis on various occasions have some hidden motto and are
meant to protect the culture, customs and traditions.
Durvasa curses Indra!
This incident is narrated in Sri Vishnu Purana. Once, Durvasa
presents a divine garland of fresh and fragrant flowers to Indra. Immediately
after accepting the garland, Indra discarded it by putting it on his Divine
Elephant Airavata, which destroyed it instantly. Enraged by his naughty act of
Indra, Durvasa cursed Indra and all the deities to be deprived of their
strength, luck and prosperity. As a result of this curse, a desire to achieve
eternity, glory and supreme power developed in the minds of Indra and other deities.
The outcome of this desire was that the Suras or the deities thought of
churning the Ocean with mount Meru. Durvasa thus corrected Indra and through
him, Durvasa has given a lesson to the humanity. Durvasa initiated the Samudra
Manthan or the Great Churning of the ocean from which emerged Dhanvantri,
Goddess Lakshmi, Kamadhenu and so many divine things, apart from The Amrit,
Elixir, the Divine Nectar of Eternity.
Durvasa Curses Shakuntala
Shakuntala was the daughter of Vishwamitra and Menaka, the
Apsara, who had descended only to breach the penance of Vishwamitra.
Immediately after the birth of Shakuntala, Menaka deserted the child and
Vishwamitra and it was left to Kanva Maharishi to bring up Shakuntala. As a
daughter of an Apsara, Shankuntala grew up as one of the most charming and
beautiful woman. Once, Kanva Maharishi was away from the hermitage and
Shakuntala was roaming about in the garden around the hermitage, along with her
fellow ladies. King Dushyanta had come to the forest for hunting, which was one
of the most adventurous practices among the then kings. Dushyanta happened to
visit the hermitage of Kanva as he was thirsty and wanted to have some water to
quench his thirst. At that time, he saw Shakuntala and immediately got
impressed by her charm. This is the subject matter of Kalidasa’s play in
Sanskrit titled “Abhijnana Shakuntala”. Dushyanta married Shakuntala in the
Gandharva tradition by exchanging garlands. However, Dushyanta preferred not to
take Shakuntala to his palace without meeting Sage Kanva, who was not there in
the Ashram at that moment. Dushyanta gave his royal ring to Shakuntala as a
mark of their marriage and a token of his meeting with her in the forest.
Shakuntala promised to go to the palace after the arrival of Kanva. Dushyanta
returned to his palace. Shakuntala was waiting for the arrival of Kanva and was
eager to go to Dushyanta. As the days passed by, her agony, anxiety and
excitement increased. She was in deep thought. She was worried that Sage Kanva
might not approve her marriage or Dushyanta may fail to recognise her. At a
time when she was asleep and engrossed in deep thoughts, Sage Durvasa happened
to visit the hermitage of Kanva. Because Shakuntala was in a fit of love,
nostalgia and other thoughts, she was unable to welcome Durvasa. The sage, who
was unaware of the mental state of Shakuntala, thought that Shakuntala insulted
him and immediately, in a fit of rage, cursed Shakuntala as: “Let the man in
whose thoughts you are now immersed forget you and your marriage with him and
desert you.” Shakuntala woke up and apologised. Durvasa was pacified and he
said that Dushyanta would remember Shakuntala after seeing the Royal Ring he
had given to Shakuntala. It so happened that Shakuntala was crossing a river to
go to Dushyanta’s palace and accidentally, the ring given by Dushyanta, which
she was wearing, fell into the water. As a result, Dushyanta failed to
recognise her. Later, a fisherman found the ring in a fish and presented it to
Dushyanta, which enabled the King to remember his Gandharva Wedding with
Shakuntala and they reunite.
Durvasa curses Goddess Ganga
and others
Ganga was living the Heavens. When she was a little girl,
Durvasa had gone to the Heavens. When he was having a bath in the river there
in heavens, a heavy breeze occurred and blew away the clothes Durvasa was
wearing. Seeing this, the little girl Ganga mocked at the sage. Enraged by her
act, Durvasa cursed her to take the form of a river and flow on earth, where
people would take a dip in the river.
In the same manner, Sage Durvasa curses Lord Krishna and
Rukmini, Shukracharya, Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswati, Sun his own wife
Kandali or Kadali, Bhanumati and King Ambarisha.
Durvasa is also known for giving boons. One prominent incident
to remember is the boon he bestowed upon Kunti by giving her six chants of six
deities namely Sun, Yamadharma, Vayu, Indra and Ashwini Devtas. This is the
origin of Mahabharata, the birth of Karna, and then the Pancha Pandavas.
Sri Kanakadasara has therefore said that he is not “Sittu Dasa”
like Durvasa.
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