(Sri Jagannatha Dasa virachita) SRI HARIKATHAMRUTASARA / ಶ್ರಿ ಹರಿಕಥಾಮೃತಸಾರ

(Sri Jagannatha Dasa virachita)

SRI HARIKATHAMRUTASARA / ಶ್ರಿ ಹರಿಕಥಾಮೃತಸಾರ

25. ಇಟ್ಟಿಕಲ್ಲನು ಭಕುತಿಯಿಂದಲಿ

     ಕೊಟ್ಟ ಭಕುತಗೆ ಮೆಚ್ಚಿ ತನ್ನನೆ

     ಕೊಟ್ಟ ಬಡಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣನ ಒಪ್ಪಿಡಿಯವಲಿಗಖಿಳಾರ್ಥ|

     ಕೆಟ್ಟಮಾತುಗಳೆನದೆ ಚೈದ್ಯನ

     ಪೊಟ್ಟೆಯೊಳಗಿಂಬಿಟ್ಟ ಬಾಣದ-

     ಲಿಟ್ಟ ಭೀಷ್ಮನ ಅವಗುಣಗಳೆಣಿಸಿದನೆ ಕರುಣಾಳು|| 12||

ITTikallanu Bhakutiyindali

koTTa Bhakutage mechchi tannane

koTT baDabrAbhmaNana voppiDiyavaligaKhiLArTha|

KeTTamAtugaLenade chaidyana

poTTeyoLagimbiTTa bANada-

liTTa BheeShmana avaguNagaLeNisidane karuNALu||12||

SUMMARY: Kind-hearted Lord Hari gave himself away to the devotee who offered bricks; he gave all comforts of life here and hereafter to a poor Brahmin Kuchela, who just offered a handful of beaten rice; unmindful of the abuses hurled at him by Shishupala, Lord Hari gave shelter to that person in his belly and improved his life. Did that kind-hearted Lord count on despicable attitude of Bheeshma, who shot arrows at the Lord?

The devotee who gave bricks was Pundareeka. Pundareeka thought that services he rendered to his parents were equal to worshipping the Lord. When the Lord appeared in front of him, Pundareeka asked the Lord to wait till he could complete the services to his parents and offered only a brick to the Lord to sit. The Lord treated that brick as a throne and stood on it as Panduranga.

Kuchela or Sudhama was a poor Brahmin. Prompted by his wife, Sudhama met Lord Krishna. As he had nothing worthy to offer to his friend Krishna, Sudhama had brought a handful of beaten rice. After seeing the pomp and glory of Lord Krishna, Sudhama felt it shameful to offer that beaten rice and tried to hide it. Lord Krishna knew that Sudhama had brought beaten rice and forcefully snatched that beaten rice from his friend. In exchange, Lord Krishna provided all comforts of life in this world to Sudhama and salvation too.

In another surprising incident, Shishupala called Lord Krishna as a thief (Chora), characterless (JAra) and so on, in the presence of esteemed and most revered persons, who had assembled for Rajasuya Sacrifice. But, Lord Krishna bestowed the heavens upon him. The word “HoTTeyoLagimbiTTa” means salvation in this context. It may appear that Lord Krishna had given salvation to a demon, who scolded, criticized and embarrassed him. But, the salvation was granted not for Shishupala. It was given for Jaya, one of the doorkeepers of Vaikuntha, who was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. Sri Madhwacharyaru has clarified this point in his Bharata Tatparya Nirnaya.

Bheeshma fired arrows at the Lord on two occasions. The first one was when a battle broke out between Bheeshma and Parashurama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, necessitated by the refusal by Bheeshma to marry Ambe. In the second instance, Bheeshma had been made the Chief Commander of the Kaurava army in the war against Pandavas. Bheeshma fought the battle as Chief Commander for first ten days. Lord Krishna was the charioteer of Arjuna. Bheeshma had fired several arrows at Lord Krishna, the charioteer, as war strategy, to inflict trouble on Arjuna. On both these occasions, Lord Vishnu simply ignored the acts of Bheeshma. When Bheeshma was waiting for Uttarayana Punyakala to breathe his last on the arrow-cot, Lord Krishna was sitting beside Bheeshma and consoling that great devotee. Lord Krishna lent his ears to the Stotra that Bheeshma recited in his praise.

All the four instances are separate, different and disturbing. However, Lord Vishnu treated each instance on its merit, which demonstrates the kindness of Lord Vishnu towards his devotees.

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SRI VADIRAJA VIRACHITA “TEERTHA PRABANDHA” – STEP 21 ಶ್ರೀ ವಾದಿರಾಜ ವಿರಚಿತ “ತೀರ್ಥ ಪ್ರಬಂಧ”.

SRI VADIRAJA VIRACHITA “TEERTHA PRABANDHA” – STEP 21
ಶ್ರೀ ವಾದಿರಾಜ ವಿರಚಿತ “ತೀರ್ಥ ಪ್ರಬಂಧ”.
Payaswinee River/ಪಯಸ್ವಿನೀ ನದಿ
ಪಯಸ್ವಿನಿ ಜಗತ್ಸ್ವಾಮೀ ತ್ವಯಿ ಸನ್ನಿಹಿತೋ ಧ್ರುವಮ್|
ನ ಚೇತ್ ತತ್ಪ್ರೇಯಸೀತೀರೇ ಕಥಂ ತೇ(s)ವತರಿಷ್ಯತಿ||45||
Payaswini jagatswAmee twayi sannihitO Dhruvam|
Na chEt tatprEyaseeteerE kaTham tE(s)vatariShyati||45||
SUMMARY: Oh Payaswini River, the Lord has certainly manifested in you because how could his consort Goddess Lakshmi have appeared on your banks?
It is stated in Puranas that Goddess Lakshmi took the form of Durga and manifested on the banks of Payaswini River to eradicate the evil forces and safeguard the virtuous.
Sri Narayana Panditacharyaru in his “Madhwavijaya”, Chapter 5 Shloka 35 states that Sri Madhwacharyaru also visited this holy temple of Durga on the banks of Payaswini.

Salutations to Durga Devi on Payaswini banks (ಶ್ರೀ ದುರ್ಗಾ ಸ್ಮೃತಿ)
ಸ್ವಹೇಲಯಾ ಪಾತಿತಪಾರ್ಥಿವವ್ರಜಾಂ ಧೀಶುದ್ಧಿದಾಂ ಕೇರಳಭೂಷಣಾಯಿತಾಂ|
ಪಯಸ್ವಿನೀಂ ಪ್ರೇಕ್ಷ್ಯ ಪಥಿ ದ್ವಿಜಾರ್ಚಿತಾಮ್ ಸ ಭಾವಿನೀಮಸ್ಮರದ ತ್ರ ಚಂಡಿಕಾಂ||35||
SwahElayA pAtitapArThivaprajAm DheeshudDhidAm
kEraLaBhUShaNAyitAm|
Payaswineem prEkShya paThi dwijArchitAm sa BhAvineemasmaradatra chanDikAm||35||
SUMMARY: Sri Madhwacharyaru saw Payaswini River; after seeing that river, he recalled that very soon the incarnation of Sri Durga Devi will be happening on the shores of Payaswini River that was like an identification mark or headdress of Kerala, had felled several trees of varied species on its way through spate and was being worshipped by Brahmins.
After seeing Payaswini River, Sri Madhwacharyaru remembered that the incarnation of Durga Devi was soon to happen to destroy demons.  Scriptures mention that whenever we visit a pilgrimage centre, we should remember the Utsavs that happen there in future. 
This stanza indicates that Payaswini is on Karnataka-Kerala borders. 
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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)

  After killing Kurangasura and relieving Jayanta from the curse, Srirama could stay in Chitrakoota for a very short period. Some circumstances forced Srirama to leave Chitrakoota and search for some new place to live. A few days after the destruction of Kurangasura, the Rishis living in Chitrakoota suddenly started an exodus. Srirama was startled by this development. He contacted an elderly sage, who was also preparing to migrate, and enquired with him the reason for all the sages deserting Chitrakoota. The elderly Muni said that a demon named Khara was living in Dandakaranya. Earlier, he used to kill the Rishis every now and then. However, his atrocities and torture had increased after the arrival of Srirama in Chitrakoota. Therefore, all Rishis were fleeing. Srirama smiled within and pretended as though he became worried about the new development. Besides, when Bharata and others had come to Chitrakoota, a large number of horses, elephants and other animals had also come. They had urinated and defecated around the Ashram and a very large area around the Ashram. As a result, the place had lost its sanity and sanctity. Srirama thought it was time for him to move on. He started another journey in search of shelter, along with Seetha Devi and Lakshmana. There was one more reason for Srirama to move out of Chitrakoota. He was apprehensive that since Bharata and a majority of the cirtizens of Ayodhya had identified Chitrakoota, there was every chance of someone trying to come there frequently. Srirama would also remember the places where Bharata, Shatrughna, Kausalya, Sumitra, Kaikeyi and others were sitting, sleeping, speaking and consuming food during their stay there. Srirama did not want that memory to keep haunting him every now and then.

  Srirama meets Atri Rishi

  Lord Sri Hari was born as the son of Lord Brahma and was named Sage Kapila. Anasuya Devi was the elder sister of Kapila Maharishi. Anasuya Devi was married to Sage Atri, who did a very strict penance. Lord Hari, who was impressed by the penance of Atri, appeared in front of him and blessed him with a son named Soma, who would have a part of the attributes of Lord Brahma. Lord Sri Hari is in Lord Rudra and is known as Rudra. From a portion of the powers of this Rudra was stated to be born as Durvasa. Lord Sri Hari also promised Atri Rishi to become his son as Lord Dattatreya. Thus, Sage Atri had been blessed with three sons, including Dattatreya. Sage Atri continued to worship Lord Hari with purest devotion and conviction.

  Srirama came to the hermitage of Sage Atri, who offered the Lord worship and prayers. Sage Atri told Srirama “Oh Lord Rama, there was no rain for ten thousand years and even Ganga had dried up. There was no food production at all on earth, when my consort Anasuya did penance in your name and brought rains on earth. Ganga too was flooded with water and the food production became normal.” Anasuya saluted Srirama and Seetha Devi. Pleased with her devotion, Seetha Devi blessed Anasuya Devi by narrating the story of her Swayamvara and the marriage. Honoured and worshipped profusely by Atri and Anasuya Devi, Lord Srirama, Seetha Devi and Lakshmana spent a night in their Ashram.

  Earlier, when Bharata had met Srirama, several Rishis had come and met Srirama in tranquillity. They had appealed to Srirama to visit Dandakaranya for keeping Ravana and other demons at bay. Therefore, Srirama first honoured Atri Rishi by visiting his Ashram and then proceeded to Dandakaranya. What Srirama also did on his way into Dandakaranya was to meet all the sages and ascetics, who had been doing penance for centuries, and bless them. One such Muni was Sage Sharabhanga, who had spent several years in penance. As he had become aged, his body was depleted. He was not able to have routine bath, perform Sandhyavandana or worship Lord Hari. He had therefore decided to sacrifice his body either by drowning in Ganga or by entering sacrificial fire. Meanwhile, Lord Devendra came to his Ashram and expressed his willingness to carry the noble sage to Brahma Loka and other sacred, celestial worlds. Sage Sharabhanga had come to know that Srirama had already entered Dandakaranya. Therefore, he told Devendra that he would prostrate before Srirama and at his behest, he would enter the fire to accompany Devendra to Brahma Loka and other transcendental worlds. Devendra agreed. Srirama arrived at the Ashram of Sharabhanga. The sage offered flowers, fruits and other items, saluted the Lord, told him about the visit of Devendra and sought the permission of Srirama for sacrificing his corporal body. Srirama conceded. The sage set the holy fire, offered worship to Srirama once again, worshipped Fire God and entered the flames.

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SRI MADHWAVIJAYA – SHASHTHAHA SARGAHA – SHOLKAS 32 TO 34

SRI MADHWAVIJAYA – SHASHTHAHA SARGAHA – SHOLKAS 32 TO 34

Production of Gitabhashya/ಗೀತಾಭಾಷ್ಯ ರಚನೆ

ಅವ್ಯಯಂ ಸತತಮಪ್ಯುಪಭುಕ್ತ್ಯಾ ವಿತ್ತಮಗ್ರ್ಯಮಿವ ದೂರಯಿಯಾಸುಃ|

ಜ್ಯಾಯಸೇ ಸಗುರವೇ ಹರಿಗೀತಾಭಾಷ್ಯಮೇಷ ವಿರಚಯ್ಯ ತದಾ(s)ದಾತ್||32||

Avyayam satatamapyupaBhuktyA vittamagryamiva dUrayiyAsuhu|

JyAyasE saguravE HarigeetABhAShyamESha virachayya tadA(s)dAt||32||

SUMMARY: A person setting off on a long journey normally gives away some great wealth to his relatives that may not get exhausted even after being used incessantly. Similarly, Sri Madhwacharyaru, who decided to go to the Ashram at Badari, penned a Bhashya (analysis) for Sri Bhagavadgita and presented it to the great Yati and his Guru, Sri AchyutaprEkShAchAryaru.

Sri Madhwacharyaru first decided to write Bhashya for Brahma Sutra. But he wanted to seek the permission to do so from the originator of those Sutras and therefore, he decided to go to Badari.

Gita Bhashya is an infinite treasure of brilliant interpretation of Gita, which would provide a perfect prelude to study Brahmasutra Bhashya. It is believed that anyone studying Gita Bhashya never experiences poverty. He will never fall short of knowledge and never ever short of financial stability.

This bears testimony to the fact that Gita Bhashya is the maiden work of Sri Madhwacharyaru.

Prepares for maiden pilgrimage to Badari/ಪ್ರಥಮ ಬದರೀ ಯಾತ್ರೆಗೆ ಸಿದ್ಧತೆ

ಹೇತುವಾದಿನಿ ವಿಶಂಕಟಬುದ್ಧೌ ತೀರ್ಥಮರ್ಥಯತಿ ಗಂತುಮನುಜ್ಞಾಮ್|

ತಾಂ ದಿದೇಶ ಪುರುಷೋತ್ತಮತೀರ್ಥಶ್ಚಿಂತಯನ್ ಸ ಪುರುಷೋತ್ತಮರಕ್ಷಾಮ್||33||

HEtuvAdini vishankaTabudDhau teerThamarThayati gantumanujnAm|

TAm didEsha PuruShOttamateerThashchintayan sa PuruShOttamarakShAm||33||

SUMMARY: When broad minded Sri Poornaprajnaru, sought the permission to set out on a pilgrimage for a noble cause, Sri Purushottama Tirtharu (Sri Achyutapreksharu) gave the permission by offering a prayer that “May the grace of Lord Hari be on you forever.”

“Sri KoormamshAsana” in Part VI, No. 25 of Epigraphia Indica clearly mentions “JAtaha SripuruShOttamABhiDhamahAtirThaha sumatyagraNeehi” (ಜಾತಃ ಶ್ರೀಪುರುಷೋತ್ತಮಾಭಿಧಮಹಾತೀರ್ಥಃ ಸುಮತ್ಯಗ್ರಣೀಃ|) Therefore, Sri Purushottama Tirtharu is one of the names of Sri Achyutapreksharu. (Ref. “Sumadhwavijaya” compiled with interpretation by Dr. Sri. Vyasanakere Prabhanjanacharyaru).   

Grandeur of the journey of Sri PoorNaprajna/ಪೂರ್ಣಪ್ರಜ್ಞರ ಪ್ರಯಾಣವೈಭವ

ನೀರಜಾ ಮಲಯಮಂಡಲವೃತ್ತ್ಯಾ ಶ್ಲಾಘಿತೋ ಭುವಿ ಸದಾಲ್ಯನುಯಾತಃ|

ಸಾಧು ಪಾಂಥಪರಿತಾಪಮಪಾಸ್ಯನ್ನುತ್ತರಾಂ ದಿಶಮಯಾನ್ಮರುದಂಶಃ||34||

NeerajA malayamanDalavruttyA shlAGhitO Bhuvi sadAlyanuyAtaha|

SADhu pAnThaparitApamapAsyannuttarAm dishamayAnmarudamshaha||34||

SUMMARY: Travelling in the Malaya region on earth, revered and untainted Sri Madhwacharyaru, incarnation of Lord Vayu, followed by beetle-like pious people, moved towards the North, quenching the thirst of knowledge of co-passengers on the way.

Sri Madhwacharyaru had quenched the thirst of knowledge of scholars in south India. He continued to distribute the proper knowledge among the scholars in north India, enroute Sri Badari.

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(Sri Jagannatha Dasa virachita) SRI HARIKATHAMRUTASARA / ಶ್ರಿ ಹರಿಕಥಾಮೃತಸಾರ

(Sri Jagannatha Dasa virachita)

SRI HARIKATHAMRUTASARA / ಶ್ರಿ ಹರಿಕಥಾಮೃತಸಾರ

Motherly love of Lord Sri Hari – A citation

(ಶ್ರೀ ಹರಿಯ ಮಾತೃವಾತ್ಸಲ್ಯ – ಜನನಿಯ ದೃಷ್ಟಾಂತ)

24. ಜನನಿಯನು ಕಾಣದಿಹ ಬಾಲಕ

       ನೆನೆನೆನೆದು ಹಲಬುತಿರೆ ಕತ್ತಲೆ-

      ಮನೆಯೊಳಗಡಗಿದ್ದವನ ನೋಡುತ ನಗುತ ಹರುಷದಲಿ|

      ತನಯನಂ ಬಿಗಿದಪ್ಪಿ ರಂಬಿಸಿ

      ಕನಲಿಕೆಯ ಕಳೆವಂತೆ ಮಧುಸೂ-

      ದನನು ತನ್ನವರಿದ್ದೆಡೆಗೆ ಬಂದೊದಗಿ ಸಲಹುವನು||11||

Jananiyanu kANadiha bAlaka

Nenenedu halabutire kattale-

maneyoLagaDagiddavana nODuta naguta haruShadali|

tanayanam bigidappi rambisi

kanalikeya kaLevante MaDhusU-

dananu tannavariddeDege bandodagi salahuvanu||11||

SUMMARY: Like a mother hiding in a dark room waits for her child, who starts crying for not finding his/her mother, rushes out, embraces him/her with affection and joy and relieves the child from anxiety, Lord Madhusudana reaches out to his devotees and looks after his devotee with all concern, love and affection.

In this instance, the child has not noticed the mother, who, playfully, has hidden herself in a darkroom to check the child’s courage and patience. But, she will be continuously watching the child. She jumps to pacify the child after seeing the child becoming helpless, anxious and desperate. Similarly, Lord Sri Hari always keeps a close watch on his devotees. He is omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent. He is the sole preserver, protector and monitor. “HarirEva pitrumAtrugatihi”.

The “Darkroom” referred to in this stanza is symbolic of Ajnana or lack of knowledge. Ajnana can be of two types – complete lack of knowledge and inappropriate, improper and unjust misconception. The Lord wantonly remains invisible. When a devotee begins craving and praying with devotion, the Lord invariably helps the person tide over the situation.

“MaDhusUdana” is the name Lord Vishnu got after killing a demon named Madhu. Moreover, the Lord erases and eradicates the “impurity of mind, thought and actions”, which is inherent among human beings like demon Madhu, of

his devotees and carries them on the path of salvation or Moksha.

It may be recalled that once, during the pronouncement of Gita, Arjuna calls Lord Krishna as Madhusudana. In that context, Madhu means honey and “Sudana” means one who provides. Madhu or the honey is the sweet or joy and happiness that the Lord gives to his devotees.

More instances of the Lord gracing his devotees, citing the instances of Pundareeka, Kuchela, Shishupala and Bheeshma, will be hailed by Sri Jagannatha Dasaru in the next few stanzas. Please read, comment and share. SDN       

SRI VADIRAJA VIRACHITA “TEERTHA PRABANDHA” – STEP 22 ಶ್ರೀ ವಾದಿರಾಜ ವಿರಚಿತ “ತೀರ್ಥ ಪ್ರಬಂಧ”

SRI VADIRAJA VIRACHITA “TEERTHA PRABANDHA” – STEP 22

ಶ್ರೀ ವಾದಿರಾಜ ವಿರಚಿತ “ತೀರ್ಥ ಪ್ರಬಂಧ”   

Sri Vedavyasa Samputa at Kukke/ಕುಕ್ಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಶ್ರೀ ವೇದವ್ಯಾಸ ಸಂಪುಟ

ಯತ್ರ ಸಂಪುಟಮಸ್ಫೋಟಂ ಕೃಷ್ಣಸ್ಯ ಸ್ಫೋರಯತ್ಯಹೋ|

ಅಗ್ರಾಹ್ಯತ್ವಮದೃಶ್ಯತ್ವಂ ಕಿಂ ಪುನಸ್ತತ್ರ ಪಂಡಿತಾಃ||43||

Yatra sampuTamasPhOTam KruShNasya sPhOrayatyahO|

AgrAhyatwamadrushyatwam kim punastatra panDitAha||43||

SUMMARY: There is an unbreakable Vedavyasa Saligrama Samputa at Kukke Subrahmanya. (Samputa is a container in which idols and Saligrama are kept for worship). It is not possible for anyone to open that Samputa and take that Saligrama by hand to see. This signifies that none can catch Lord Sri Hari by hand nor see with ordinary eyes. When an inanimate, static object like Saligrama makes it clear for mankind that Lord Hari is beyond comprehension, it may not be difficult for scholars and Pundits to describe the various divine and mystic attributes of Lord Hari.

ಅಭೇದ್ಯಮತಿಯತ್ನೇನಾಪ್ಯಸ್ಖಲತ್ ಕೃಷ್ಣವಿಗ್ರಹಮ್|

ತತ್ಪೂಜಾಭಾಜನಂ ಭಾತಿ ಮಾಧ್ವಂ ಹೃದಿವ ಸಂಪುಟಮ್||44||

ABhEdyamatiyatnEnApyasKhalat KruShNavigraham|

TatpUjABhAjanam BhAti mAdhwam hrudiva sampuTam||44||

SUMMARY: That Samputa, which cannot be broken into pieces with hardest efforts, contains an intact idol of Lord Sri Krishna and is getting worshipped there every day; it shines as though it is the heart of Sri Madhwacharyaru, which is very close and intimate to Lord Krishna.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

When the deities and gods got defeated by demons in the distant past, they tried to worship the Lord in different secret places to get their nullified mystic power enhanced. But, the demons were coming to each and every place and spoiling the worship. Finally, when the deities offered Puja to an idol of Mukhyaprana by imagining the existence of the Lord in that idol, the demons again tried to spoil the Puja but got crushed to a solid rock and were precipitated like mud balls. Therefore, Mukhyaprana, who has no taint of Asuri power, is very solid and cannot be breached by anyone or any force. Similarly, Lord Krishna stays in the heart of Sri Madhwacharyaru, who is an incarnation of Lord Mukhyaprana. The Samputa at Kukke Subrahmanya is like Sri Madhwacharyaru or Lord Mukhyaprana as it cannot be broken by any force. The unbreakable nature of Lord Krishna in such a Samputa needs no more proof.

LEGEND ABOUT VYASASAMPUTA

Sri Vishnu Tirtharu, biological younger brother of Sri Madhwacharyaru, set up Sri Subrahmanya Mutt at Kukke and had installed Sri Vyasa Samputa. But, when he departed to Sahya or Harishchandra mountain to do penance, he took Sri Vyasa Samputa with him. His disciple Sri Aniruddha Tirtharu, who succeeded Sri Vishnu Tirtharu as the seer of Sri Subrahmanya Mutt, requested the latter to return Sri Vyasa Samputa for offering Puja, every day. Sri Vishnu Tirtharu appeared in a dream of Sri Aniruddha Tirtharu and said that the next morning, he could find the Samputa in Kumaradhara River. Accordingly, the next morning, Sri Aniruddha Tirtharu saw the Samputa floating in the river. He gave that Samputa to Sri Subrahmanya Mutt. A small mirror had also been sent by Sri Aniruddha Tirtharu along with the Samputa, which was also handed over to the Mutt, as per the directions given in the dream by Sri Aniruddha Tirtharu. Later, a local leader called Ballalaraya forcibly took the Samputa, leaving the ‘cheap’ mirror for the Mutt. He tried to get the Samputa broken from a pot maker, who hit the Samputa with a chisel. The Samputa did not break, while the pot maker died of burning sensation throughout his body. The local leader got the Samputa trampled by a tusker. The Samputa remained intact and the elephant developed the same burning sensation. It tried to find relief by drowning in the river but found a watery grave. By this time, Ballalaraya experienced burning sensation in his body. He immediately surrendered to the Seer of Sri Subrahmanya Mutt, returned the Samputa. With the burning sensation not receding, he asked the Seer to suggest a solution. The seer said that a statue of the local 
chief be installed on the premises of the Mutt. Cotton, pumpkin and other things offered by devotees were to be offered to the statue every day and that would slowly bring down the burning sensation, the seer said. The mirror, the spot where the Samputa was found floating etc., are still existing at Kukke. A visit to Kukke brings peace and prosperity to the devotees.

Next edition will be on Payaswini River. Please read, comment and share. SDN                    

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