King Kulasekhara
Once upon a time there was a king in Orissa named Kulasekhara. He was a
very powerful king. He was very strict in his administration. His countenance
was effulgent like the sun, and his heart was as deep as the ocean. He was very
charitable, like a wish-fulfilling tree, and in learning he was compared to
Brihaspati. He was as tolerant as Mother Earth, as beautiful as Kamadeva, the
God of love, and was very pure in his mood and behaviour. His wealth was like
that of Kuvera, and he took care of the citizens of his kingdom as if they were
his own children. He was very much surrendered to the devas and brahmanas. He
was full of devotion and sincerely served the lotus feet of his spiritual
master. King Kulasekhara always served the devotees, and was constantly engaged
in hearing Harikatha. One day King Kulasekhara was sitting on his throne, surrounded
by his ministers and soldiers. Many sadhus and sannyasis gathered around the
King, who was listening to them, speak Hari-katha. He was absorbed in the
ecstasy of hearing. At this time, the King's guru arrived. Immediately King
Kulasekhara left his throne to receive his guru. He offered him prostrated
obeisances, washed his lotus feet, and arranged a nice asana to seat . Then by
the order of the guru, the King also sat and continued hearing Hari-katha.
It so happened that a fly came and sat on the Kings forehead. The King
was feeling very uncomfortable, and touched his forehead to chase away the fly.
Immediately the fly flew away. When King Kulasekhara chased away the fly, his
hand touched his forehead, and some of the dust that was on his forehead from
paying obeisances to his guru fell to the ground when the King brushed it. When
his guru saw this, he lowered his head so the King couldn't see his face. The
King was very observant and noticed the reaction of his guru. He asked his guru
what was the cause of his apparent sadness.
The guru replied, "When one offers prostrated obeisances to his
guru, he is immediately freed from the reaction of his sinful activities for as
many past lives as there are dust particles on his forehead from paying his
obeisances. Now you have removed those dust particles from your head. Can you
imagine how much sin you have acquired by doing so? By touching your hand to
your head, the dust particles fell back to the ground. That is why I feel sorry
for you, because you have deprived yourself of being free from your sins of
that many lives."
Hearing this statement from his guru, King Kulasekhara started to
tremble, and no words came from his mouth. His eyes filled with tears and he
became stunned. When he came back to his normal senses, he found that his guru
had left the palace. The King asked the assembled learned persons, "Now I
have committed a great offense at the lotus feet of my guru. Please check the scriptures
and let me know how I can be free from this offense. Otherwise I will die. I
have no desire for this kingly position." Hearing this, all the pandits
present started to search the scriptures to find the remedy. They found that
the scriptures recommend very hard and difficult atonement for this kind of
offense. It was so severe an atonement that the brahmanas did not dare tell the
King. The King asked them, "Why are you not telling me what atonement I
will have to do? However difficult it may be, I must do it to make myself free
from sin. I promise to undertake this atonement, keeping the sun god as my
witness. Please tell me." The sages and brahmanas explained that if one
offers prostrated obeisances to his guru and sits down in front of him, he
becomes free from the reaction of as many lives as there are dust particles
smeared on his body during the time he offers obeisances. But if one foolishly
removes those dust particles out of pride, then he loses all sukriti, pious
credits. To be free from this kind of guru droha, he must perform the following
atonement: he must make a copper plate twelve feet long, three feet wide, and
six inches thick. He should place that copper plate on top of four pillars, and
put burning charcoal under the copper plate until it becomes as hot as fire.
Then he should offer his prostrated obeisances one hundred and eight times on
that copper plate. Only then will he be free from this offense to his guru.
This is verdict of the scriptures. When the King heard this, his face became jubilant
like the full moon, and his hair stood on end. Being very happy, he said,
"Now I will be free from my offenses to my guru."
The King immediately called for the coppersmith. By his order one copper
plate was made according to the proper scriptural standards. The plate was then
placed on top of four pillars, and hot burning charcoal was kept under the
plate. It started to become so hot that no one could even stay near it. The
King went to take bath in holy water. He applied tilak to his body, and placed
a tulasi mala around his neck. He dressed himself in simple white cloth, then
took a few grains of Nirmalya (Jagannath's dry rice prasad), and returned to
where the copper plate was being heated. Thousands of people had come to
witness this event. Many ministers, soldiers, the King's relatives, many
sannyasis and sadus—all were present there. Drums and trumpets played, creating
a tumultuous sound, and it appeared that the whole earth was shaking.
Everyone was concerned that the King would get too close to the heated
copper plate, and would leave his body. They begged him not to approach the
copper plate. They said to him, "If you leave your body, who will take
care of us? Please do not do this. If you die we will be deprived of our
master." The King replied, "Who is the real master? Lord Jagannath is
master of everyone. Please do not be concerned about my death. One who has
taken birth will die one day. I do not fear death. I do not want to be punished
by Yamaraj for being offensive to my guru. Whether I die or survive by doing
this does not matter to me. Lord Chakradhar knows everything. He will do
whatever is good for me. But I must do my duty. Please, all of you kindly chant
the holy name of Hari. That will help me."
After saying this, the King started to meditate upon Niladribihari, Lord
Jagannath. He said, "All glories to the Lord, who is holding a conch and
disc in His hand. All glories to the life of Kamala, by whose order all the
great demigods like Brahma and Indra are moving in this universe. The sun,
moon, all the directions, mountains, earth, ocean, are eternal order-carriers
of my Lord. Lord Hari’s lotus feet have been meditated upon by all the demigods
like Lord Mahadev, Indra, Yaksha, Rakshsa, siddhas, yogindras, and munis. I am
an ordinary human being. How can I understand His glories? O Lord! You are the
root, and everything in creation are your branches and leaves. I am taking
shelter of your abhaya charan (fearless lotus feet). You are vanchha-kalpa-taru
(wish fulfilling tree). You are glorious and Your glories are like a great
mountain. There is no one like You in this universe who can finish the
suffering of the living entities. You are like a great fire burning the forest
of material worries. You are like Agastya Muni, who can save one from the ocean
of dangers. Your lotus feet are the gada (medicine) to free everyone from the
influence of the poison of material existence. You are like the moon that
maintains the lotus like devotees. You are like chintamani to those who think about
You constantly. Everything in this brahmanda is done by Your potency only. I
know no one but You who can save me from this danger. O my Lord, please protect
me from this great fire. It is my final decision that I will enter into the
fire, but whether I die or survive is entirely up to You. In any case, I need
to free myself from this offense to my guru." After praying like this,
King Kulasekhara started to chant the holy names of the Lord.
Sri Rama, Sri Krishna, Sri Hari,
Mukunda, Madhava, Murari,
Acyuta, Ananta, Govinda,
Shyamasundar, Sadananda.
Vraja Sundar, Vamsi Pani,
Radha Vallabha prana mani.
Daya-sagar, Dasarathi,
Sridhara, Srikara, Sripati.
Laxminayak, Chakra-pani,
Sita-Ballabha, Raghumani.
O Vanamali, O Kamsari,
Gopi Jivan Diyatari.
Srivasta-lanchana, Kesava,
Dina-bandhava, Vasudeva.
Bhavamochan, Bhagavan,
Jagatjivan, Janardana
While chanting the holy names of Lord Hari, hearing Hari-katha vibrating
in his ears, meditating upon the form of Sri Han, and surrendering his mind
unto the lotus feet of the Lord, King Kulasekhara very happily climbed on top
of the hot copper plate after offering his obeisances to the sun and moon gods.
The plate was so hot even wet wood would burn to ashes. But still without any
fear the King offered his prostrated obeisances on top of the copper plate. The
King's body started to burn. His head, hands and feet burned to ashes. But
still the King was not scared, and remembering Lord Jagannath, he again offered
his prostrated obeisances on top of the burning hot copper plate. Lord
Jagannath, who is the cause of everything, knew about the situation of his
surrendered devotee and became very merciful upon the King. Immediately the
fire became cooling like water by the mercy of the Lord. The King's burning
body was immediately cooled.
Meanwhile, all of the assembled people were crying in great grief. They
were beating their heads with their hands and saying, "Oh King! We are so
unfortunate. Now you are going to leave us. Who will maintain us?" When
everybody was crying like this the King got up from the copper plate. He looked
effulgent, like a second sun. He again offered prostrated obeisances on the
copper plate, cool and unconcerned as a swan playing in the cooling water of a
river. Those surrounding him were surprised to see this. The king offered his
prostrated obeisances on top of the burning hot copper plate thirty-six times.
The earth started to shake, and all of the directions trembled. Understanding
the severity of the situation, Lord Jagannath left Nilagiri. Accepting a very
attractive form that even Lord Brahma cannot create, the Lord appeared near the
copper plate in His Jagamohan form. In His one hand He took King Kulasekhara
and lifted him off the burning copper plate. The Lord said, "Now you will
be glorified all over the universe. Never before and never in the future will
there be one as pious as you. Now you are free from all sins and offenses.
Please accept the highest destination, paramagati" When the King heard
this he fell at the feet of the Lord, who had appeared in the form of a
brahmana. The King asked the Lord, "Who are you? I don't recognize
you." The Lord replied, "Then see My real form." The Lord
manifested His four-armed form holding a conch, disc, club and lotus. The Lord
blessed the King, making him fearless, and then disappeared from the palace. Due
to the illusory energy of the Lord, those present could not see all of this.
They did not see the appearance of the Lord, nor His blessing upon the King.
The King was very fortunate to see the Lord. Everyone glorified him for
his feat and left for their houses. What kind of destination this King will
achieve at the time of death is unknown. The readers can decide for themselves.
In this age of Kali this kind of description will sound very strange and people
will find it difficult to believe. But devotees of Sri Hari will derive great
pleasure from this narration. Ignorant and foolish people will definitely think
this is a false story. But for the devotees this will increase their devotion
to the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord.
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