JATAYU AND LORD RAMA

            JATAYU   AND   LORD  RAMA

Jatayu's Spirit of Service and Sacrifice

Sri Rama requests Sage Agastya to indicate a place in the forest to make a residence during the days of exile. Sage Agastya informs Sri Rama to proceed to Panchavati where Sita will be delighted by its surroundings.

Thus with the blessings of Sage Agastya, Sri Rama, Sita, Lakshmana offered their namaskarams at the feet of the sage and proceeded to their prospective hermitage at Panchavati.

On his way to Panchavati Sri Rama, comes in contact with Jatayu, the mighty eagle.

When Sri Rama questions about its identity, Jatayu narrates the creation of animal species along with humans, and informs Sri Rama that he is a friend of King Dasharatha and would like to help Sri Rama in exile.

Vinata gave birth to two sons namely Garuda and Aruna.

Garuda is the eagle-vehicle of Lord Vishnu, while Aruna, also called Anuuru, for he is a thigh-less being, is the charioteer of Sun's seven-horse chariot.

The seven horses of Sun's chariot are the seven colours (VIBGYOR) as in a rainbow.

Aruna and Garuda are of avian origination and attributed to be the speediest propellers, and Jatayu and Sampati belong to that lineage.

On hearing from Jatayu the great lineage to which he belongs, and his readiness to serve as a guard for Sita in his absence in the wild forest, Sri Rama feels delighted and embraces him.

He bows down before Jatayu, who perhaps reminds him of his Parental Affection, which he is now missing during the exile.

The righteous sermons of Jatayu

 The occasion for the proper utilization of Jatayu's services did arise when Mother Sita was being carried away by Ravana.

In a helpless state, Mother Sita appeals to all the animate and inanimate objects around her to convey the news of her abduction to Sri Rama when he returns.

Jatayu who is slumbering away, rushes to the spot on hearing the voice of Sita and then he saw Ravana and Sita.

Jatayu with a very sharp beak and appearing like a mountain peak, then uttered these words of expediency still perching on a tree:

"Oh, brother, now it is inapt of you to undertake a deplorable deed. I am one of those who abide by perpetual probity and avowed to truthfulness.

Oh, Ten-headed-demon Ravana, I am the mightiest king of eagles known by the name Jatayu.

Rama, the son of Dasharatha, is the master of all the world, one similar to Mahendra and Varuna, the Rain-god, and the one who is connected with the well-being of all the world. Whom you desire to abduct now, that best lady is Sita by her name, and this glorious one is the legitimate wife of that preserver of all the worlds, namely Rama. How a king adhering to probity can lay his hands on the wives of others? If it is a king's wife, oh, great-mighty Ravana, she is to be safeguarded particularly.

Reverse your filthy course, from laying your hands on other's wives. A sagacious person does not undertake that deed by which others deplore him. As with the protection of one's own wife from somebody's laying hands on her, other person's wife is also to be protected in that way."

The combat of Jatayu and Ravana

Thus Jatayu confronts Ravana on hearing the wailing of Sita.

He boldly forestalls Ravana and his air-chariot in the sky itself, and as an elderly being he reviles Ravana from the viewpoint of righteousness befitting to kings, but of no avail.

His dilemma is that he cannot take flight to Sri Rama's place, nor he can forestall Ravana until Sri Rama comes. Yet, he persists to affront Ravana.

In combating with Ravana, Jatayu shatters Ravana's bows, arrows, and chariot and kills the mules of the chariot and plucks off the head of the charioteer with his beak.

Further Jatayu attacks the body of Ravana, injuring it severely.

Enraged at the bird-hits Ravana severs that eagle's wings, feet, and sides.

Then seeing that fallen eagle Sita weeps over, as if Jatayu is her own relative.

Jatayu tried his best to save Mother Sita from the disaster but fails to save her.

But with his strong will-power, JATAYU holds his breath till Sri Rama comes to the spot and enquires about Sita.

Thus proving the appropriateness of his name JATAYU - Strong Ayu (Breath)

Sri Rama thus saw Jatayu the best of birds wounded, drenched with blood fallen on the ground.

On seeing Jatayu, Sri Rama said to Lakshmana:

"Surely Vaidehi is eaten here in this place by him no doubt.

It is evident that this rakshasa in guise of a vulture staying in the forest has eaten away Sita and is happily relaxing in the forest.

With terrific darts of mine which are burning at their tips and can go straight, I will kill him."

Sri Rama saying that, took his bow and fixing the razor sharped arrow to it went taking a step towards the vulture.

The vulture too spitting foamy blood, spoke these words to the son of Dasaratha pathetically:

"Long lived Rama! That queen whom you are searching for, is as though one would search a herbal medicine in the forest. She is my life, both have been taken away by Ravana.

O Rama and Lakshmana, the lady seperated from you is seen by me as she was being taken away by the powerful Ravana. I went to protect Sita at that time while battling with him his chariot was destroyed here and I fell down on the ground. Rama this is his broken bow so also his quiver and this war-chariot has been broken by me. He is the charioteer of Ravana slain by my wings in the battle. When I got exhausted by the war, he cut off my wings and taken away Sita the princess and flew into the sky.

I am already slain by rakshasa earlier, you do not have to kill me again "

Jatayu consoles Sri Rama

On hearing Jatayu, Sri Rama's face was filled with tears and he became pathetic with sorrow doubled, after knowing about Sita who was so dear to him.

Sri Rama immediately dropped the bow on the ground and embraced the king of birds Jatayu.

Sri Rama seeing Jatayu breathing the last moments of his life, cries like a child. He feels miserable recollecting the past events.

Sri Rama feels helpless that he is not able to save the heroic bird.(3.67.24) ।।

The kingdom is lost; I have to stay in the forest. Sita is lost. This Jatayu is killed. This kind of misfortune will burn even fire.

Speaking in that way many times, showing fatherly affection Sri Rama caressed Jatayu along with Lakshmana.

Sri Rama hugged the king of birds, lying aside with broken wings, drenched in blood.

He then asked "where is Mythili who is dear to me as my own life"? Having said so he fell down.

O Jatayu! May you be well. If you still have energy please speak about Sita and tell me how you have been struck down. Why did Ravana abduct Sita? What harm have I done to him to take away my beloved Sita ? O best of birds! How was that Sita's Moon like face at the time of abduction? What did she say at that time?

O dear father! How powerful was that rakshasa? How was he to look at? What work does he do? Where does he dwell? I am asking you.You may please tell me.

There after Jatayu in a desolate state looked up at Rama who was crying inconsolably and said these words in feeble voice:

That lord of rakshasas, Ravana producing violent gust of wind and clouds abundantly by his magic ascended to the sky taking away Sita.

O dear! While I was exhausted, that rakshasa, cutting away my wings took away Sita in southward direction. Raghava my breathing is obstructed. My vision is fading. I see golden usira roots grown on the tree tops like root hairs.

Jatayu consoles Sri Rama thus:

 The time at which Ravana has taken away Sita is the time known as 'Vinda', which brings back the lost property to its rightful owner in the end.

Astronomically by the very effect of that time her husband will regain his lost wealth, O Kakuthsa he (Ravana ) did not know it.

Ravana, the king of rakshasas will perish soon by by carrying away your beloved Janaki, just like fish carrying a fish-hook (which causes its own destruction).

You need not worry about Janaka's daughter. You will soon enjoy the company of beloved Vaidehi, after killing that rakshasa.

 As he was conversing with Rama with alert mind even while dying (not deluded), blood mixed with flesh started flowing from Jatayu's body.

Saying that Ravana was Vysravasa's lawful son and Kubera's brother, Jatayu gave up his dear life which is not easily attainable.

Sri Rama's tributes to Jatayu

Lakshmana see this Jatayu, he has been my benefactor.

This King among birds, has sacrificed his life in my cause.

 Indeed, noble and heroic souls, followers of true Dharma who deserve all respect and devotion are to be found every where and in every form of creation. ( 3.68.24) ।।

O Lakshmana! Many heroes, protectors, righteous people and good people are found all over among animals and birds also 3.68.25

।।

O scorcher of enemies, Lakshmana! The grief experienced by me due to Jatayu's death for my sake is more intense than Sita's abduction.( 3.68.26)

।।

Just as the famous and illustrious king Dasaratha is worthy of reverence and honours so also this lord of birds is to me.

Sri Rama performs the funeral rites for Jatayu with great respect and reverence.

 Sri Rama without the least hesitation, commands Jatayu's soul to go to Heaven as a fitting reward for his services.

 Sri Rama prays for Jatayu's soul to attain the absolute bliss to which great souls are entitled. ( 3.68.29/30)

।

।।

"O mighty royal bird, with my grace you may attain that state attained by those who perform yagnas, those who kindle and maintain sacrificial fires, those who do not return back from the battle and to that state attained by people who offer land as charity. Purified by my offering fire you may depart to the best of worlds."

Jatayu's Good Fortune

 Jatayu had the good fortune to address Sri Rama as if He were His own child. Jatayu was the one who gave the Lord information about Sita's abduction.

Until then the Lord was in the dark about what happened to Mother Sita, and all His thoughts about what might have happened to Her were only surmises.

None of the surmises were comforting ones, for He was not sure whether She were alive or not, and if She were, where She was, and where He should start looking for Her.

Sri Rama got first clue about Mother Sita's fate only when Jatayu told Him that Ravana had taken Sita away.

A person's biggest wealth are his children, and a man would like to have beside him his children at the time of death.

Dasaratha had four sons, none of whom was beside him when he breathed his last.

But Jatayu had the great good fortune of not only having Rama by his side, as he lay dying, but he also had the fortune to have his last rites performed by the Lord, a blessing Dasaratha did not have.

The Lord cried over Jatayu, and by performing his last rites, became like a son to him.

What Sri Rama could not do for his father, he has done for the sacred soul Jatayu.

In the whole of the Ramayana, there are only two characters who sacrificed their lives for the sake of Lord Rama and Mother Sita. One was King Dasaratha and the other is Jatayu.

The sacrifice of Jatayu is even more touching than the sad demise of Dasaratha.

 Jatayu gave up his life for Mother Sita, while Dasaratha died of Sri Rama's separation.

Rare among devotees

Such a one as Jatayu is rare even among devotees , for he was prepared to give up even his life for the Lord.

Lord Krishna has commented in the Bhagavad Gita on the rarity of those who think of Him as their all.

Jatayu clearly belonged to this rare category .

source : http://www.kasarabada.org/ramayanam%2016.html

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BHABISHYA PURANA : THE HISTORY OF THE BIBLE

Bhavishya Purana: The History of the Bible

The Bhavishya Purana is an ancient text authored by Sri Vyasa Muni, the compiler of the Vedas. It is listed among the eighteen major Puranas. Bhavishya means "future" and Purana means "history", so the text's name would translate literally as "The History of the Future". Though the text was written many thousands of years before the recorded events took place, by the power of his mystic vision, Sri Vyasa was able to accurately predict the happenings of the modern times.

Modern scholars reject the contents of Bhavishya Purana mostly on the grounds that its information is too accurate. But we should ask ourselves: If there was an empowered saint, who knew past, present and future, and if he chose to write a book named "the History of the Future", shouldn't it contain accurate information about the modern times, as the title suggests? We cannot disqualify it simply because it speaks accurately of the British controlling India, Hittler fighting the world, and Max Mueller misrepresenting the Vedic teachings. "Veda" means knowledge, and the Vedic texts contain knowledge of everything - past, present and future.

Biblical and Modern History of Kali Yuga from Bhavishya Purana

[From the Pratisarga Parva, Chapters Four to Seven.]

Suta Goswami said: Once upon a time in Hastinapura, Pradyota the son of Kshemaka was leading an assembly and meanwhile the great sage Narada arrived there. King Pradyota happily honored him. Having him seated on the seat the sage told king Pradyota, "Your father was killed by the mlecchas, therefore he attained Yamaloka or the hellish planet. If you perform a ‘mleccha-yajna’, then by the effect of this sacrifice your father will attain the heavenly planets."

Hearing this king Pradyota immediately called the best of the learned brahmanas and started ‘mleccha-yajna’ in Kuruksetra. They built a yajna-kunda which was 16 yojanas in square (128 miles). They meditated on the demigods and offered oblations of mlecchas. There are haras, hunas, barvaras, gurundas, sakas, khasas, yavanas, pallavas, romajas and those who are situated in different dvipas and in kamaru, china and the middle of the ocean; all of them were called with the mantra and burnt to ashes. Then he (the king) gave dakshina (donation) to the brahmanas and performed abhiseka. As a result his father Kshemaka went to the heavenly planets. After that he became famous everywhere as a mleccha-hanta or destroyer of mlecchas. He ruled the earth for ten thousand years and went to heaven. He had a son named Vedavan who ruled for two thousand years.

At that time the Kali purusha prayed to Lord Narayana along with his wife. After sometime the Lord apperared to him and said, "This age will be a good time for you. I will fulfil your desire having various kinds of forms. There is a couple named Adama and his wife Havyavati. They are born from Vishnu-kardama and will increase the generations of mlecchas. Saying this, the Lord disappeared. Having great joy the Kali purusha went to Nilacha

Vyasa said: "Now you hear the future story narrated by Suta Goswami. This is the full story of of kali-yuga, hearing this you will become satisfied."

In the eastern side of Pradan city where there is a a big God-given forest, which is 16 square yojanas in size. The man named Adama was staying there under a Papa-Vriksha or a sinful tree and was eager to see his wife Havyavati. The Kali purusha quickly came there assuming the form of a serpent. He cheated them and they disobeyed Lord Vishnu. The husband ate the forbidden fruit of the sinful tree. They lived by eating air with the leaves called udumbara. After they had sons and all of them became mlecchas. Adama's duration of life was nine-hundred and thirty years. He offered oblations with fruits and went to heaven with his wife. His son was named Sveta-nama, and he lived nine-hundred and twelve years. Sveta-nama's son was Anuta, who rulled one-hundred years less than his father. His son Kinasa rulled as much as his grandfather. His son Malahalla ruled eight-hundred ninety five years. His son Virada rulled 160 years. His son Hamuka was devoted to Lord Vishnu, and offering oblations of fruits he achieved salvation. He ruled 365 years and went to heaven with the same body being engaged in mleccha-dharma.

having good behavior, wisdom, qualities like a brahmana and worship of God, these things are called mleccha-dharma. The great souls have declared that the dharma of the mleccha is devotion to God, worship of fire, nonviolence, austerity and control of the senses. The son of Hamuka was Matocchila. He ruled for 970 years. His son Lomaka ruled 777 years and went to heaven. His son Nyuha (Noah) ruled for 500 years. He had three sons named Sima, Sama and Bhava. Nyuha was a devotee of Lord Vishnu.

Once the Lord appeared in his dream and said: “My dear Nyuha, please listen, there will be devastation on the seventh day. Therefore, you have to be very quick that you make a big boat and ride in it. O chief of the devotees, you will be celebrated as a great king”.

Then he made a strong boat which was 300 feet long, 50 feet wide and 30 feet high. It was beautiful and all the living entities could take shelter in it. He then himself rode in it, engaged in meditating on Lord Vishnu.

Lord Indra called the devastating cloud named Sambartaka and poured heavy rain continuously for 40 days. The whole earth, Bharat-varsa, had merged in the water and four oceans came up together. Only Visala or Badarikasrama was not submerged. There were 80,000 great transcendentalists in Visala who joined with king Nyuha and his family. All of them were saved and everything else was destroyed.

At that time all the sages praised the eternal energy of Lord Vishnu. Being pleased by the prayers of the sages, the Vishnu-maya reduced the waters of devastation. After one year gradually the earth become visible. Under the hill there is a place named Sisina and the king was situated in that place with his other people. When the water completely dried up, king Nyuha came back to his place.

Suta Goswami continued: The mleccha, king Nyuha became attached to Lord Vishnu and as a result Lord Vishnu increased his generation. Then he created a language fit for the mlecchas, unfavorable to the Vedas. He named it as brahmi-bhasha, or brahmi language, full of bad words, for increasing the degradation of Kali-yuga. The Lord who is Himself the master of intelligence gave this language to Nyuha. Nyuha named his tree sons opposite. They were known as Sima, Hama, Yakuta and also Yakuta, Sapta putra, Jumara and Majuya. The name of their countries were known as Madi, Yunana, Stuvaloma, Tasa and Tirasa.

Hama who was the second son of his father, had four sons know as Kusa, Misra, Kuja and Kanaam. Kusa had six sons - Havila, Sarva, Toragama, Savatika, NimaruhaI and Mahavala. Their sons were known as Kamala, Sinara and Uraka. And their countries names are Akvada, Bavuna and Rasana.

After telling this story Suta Goswami influenced by Yoga-nidra entered mystic slumber. He woke up after two thousand years and thereupon he said: “Now I’m going to say about the generation of Sima. Because he was the first son of his father he became the king. This mleccha king ruled over the country for 500 years. His son Arkansoda ruled for 434 years. His son Sihla ruled for 460 years. His son Iratasya ruled the same length as his father. His son Phataja ruled for 240 years. His son Rau ruled for 237 years. His son Juja ruled the same length as his father. His son Nahura ruled for 160 years, and he destroyed his many inimical kings. His son Tahara ruled the same length as his father. He had three sons: Avirama, Nahura and Harana. Thus I have explained the generation of mlecchas with the indication of their names only. The mleccha language is considered the lowest language because it bears the curse of goddess Sarasvati. Thus I have summarily narrated the rise of the mlecchas in Kali-yuga.

Sanskrt is the language by which the whole Bharata-Varsa is being praised and glorified. The same language, after going to another country became the mleccha language and mlecchas took advantage of it.

After hearing all this, the sages situated in Badarikashrama, worshipped Lord Nara-Narayana and meditated upon them for 200 years. When they woke up from their meditation, they inquired from their teacher Suta Goswami:

“O disciple of Sri Vyasa, you are so fortunate and greatly intelligent, may you live long. Now please tell us who is the king at the present time?"

Suta Goswami said: “At the present time, the Kali-yuga has already passed its 3000 years. Now the king Sankha is ruling the earth and in the mleccha countries the king named Sakapat is ruling. Please hear about how they came up."

When the Kali-yuga passed 2000 years, the dynasty of mlecchas increased. They created many paths to grow and gradually the whole earth become full of mlecchas. The spiritual master and teacher of the mlecchas was named Musa. He was residing on the bank of the river Sarasvati, and he spread his doctrince throughout the whole world. As soon as Kali-yuga started, the devotion to the Lord and the language of the Vedas were destroyed. There are four kinds of mleccha languages: Vraja-bhasa, Maharastri, Yavani and Garundika. In this way there are four million kinds of other languages.

For example: paniyam (water) is called pani, bubhuksa-hunger is called bhukh. Paniyam-drinking is called papadi and bhojanam-eating si called kakkanam. Isti is called suddharava, istini is called masapavani, ahuti is called aju and dadati is called dadhati. The word pitri is called paitara and bhrata is bather and also pati. This is the yavani lanugage in which the asva is called aspa, Janu is jainu and sapta-sindhu is called sapta-hindu.

Now you hear about Gurundika language. Ravi-vara (the first day of the week) is called sunday, phalguna and chaitra months are called pharvari (February). Sasti is called sixty, these kinds of examples are there.

Crime is becoming prominent in the holy place of Sapta-puri. Gradually the people of Aryavata are becoming theives, hunters, bhillas and fools. The followers of mleccha-dharma in foreign countries are intelligent and having good qualities, whereas the people of Aryavarta are bereft of good qualities. Thus the ruling of mlecchas is also in Bharata (India) and its islands. Knowing all this, O great and intelligent sage, you should just perform the devotional service to Lord Hari.

The great sage Saunaka inquired: “Please tell us, what was the reason that the mlecchas did not arrive in Brahmavarta.

Suta Goswami said: That was by the influence of goddess Sarasvati that they could not enter that place. By the order of the demigods, when the Kali-yuga pursued his 1,000 years, a brahmana named Kasyapa come down to earth from the heavenly planets with his wife Aryavatil. They had ten spotless sons who are known by the names: Upadhayaya, Diksita, Pathaka, Sukla, Misra, Agnihotri, Dvi-vedi, Tri-vedi, Catur-vedi and Pandey. Among them was the learned one full of knowledge. He went to Kashmir and worshipped goddess Sarasvati with red flowers, red akshata (rice), incense, lamps, naivedya (food offerings) and puspanjali (flower offerings). To please her he praised her with some prayers, asking her for better knowledge of Sankrt to put mlecchas into illusion. Being pleased by his prayers she remainded situated in his mind and blessed him with knowledge. Then the sage went to the country known as Misra and put all the mlecchas into illusion by the greace of goddess Sarasvati.

Then he made 10,000 people as dvijas or twice born brahmanas; he made 2,000 people into vaishyas; and the rest of them as shudras. He came back with them and staying in Arya-desha (India) he engaged in the activites of the sages. They were known as Aryans and by the grace of goddess Sarasvati their generation gradually increased upto 4 million, both the men and women with their sons and grandsons. Their king, Kasyapa muni, ruled the earth for 120 years.

There were 8,000 sudras in the county known as Rajputra (Rajput) and their king was Arya-prithu. His son was Magadha. The sage made him a king and left.

Saunaka inquired: "O disciple of Vyasa, O Lomaharsana, please tell us who were the kings to rule the earth in Kali-yuga, after Magadha?"

Suta Goswami said: When king Magadha, the son of Kasyapa was ruling the earth, he remembered his father's administration and he separated the Arya-desha (India) into many states. The state which is on the eastern side of Pancala is known as Magadha, the state of Kalinga is on the east-south side, the state of Avanta is in the south, Amarta-desha is to the south-west, Sindhu-desha is on the western side, Kaikaya is to the north-west, Madra-desha is in the north, and Koninda-desha is to the north-east. These states are named according to his sons' names. After performing a sacrifice he gave the states to his sons. Lord Balabhadra became pleased with his sacrifice, and Sisunaga appeared from the sacrifice as his son. He ruled for 100 years and his son Kakavarma ruled for 90 years. His son Kshemadharma ruled for 80 years and his son ruled for 70 years. His son Vedamisra ruled for 60 years. His son Ajata-nipu ruled for 50 years. His son Darbhaka ruled for 40 years, his son Udayasva ruled for 30 years, his son Nanda-Vardhana ruled for 20 years, his son Nanda-suta, who was born from the womb of a sudri or a low class lady, also ruled for 20 years. His son Pranancala ruled for 10 years. His son Parananda also ruled 10 years. His son Samananda ruled for 20 years. His son Priyananta ruled for 20 years, his son Devananda also ruled for 20 years. his son Yajna-bhanga ruled for 10 years. His son Mauryananda ruled for 10 years. And his son Mahananda fuled for 10 years.

At this time Lord Hari was remembered by Kali. At that time the great and famous Gautama, the son of Kasyapa introduced the Buddhist religion, and attained Lord Hari in Pattana.

Gautama ruled over 10 years. From him Shakya muni was born, who ruled 20 years. His son Shuddhodana ruled 30 years. His son Shakyasimha became the king on Satadri after 2000 years and he ruled for 60 years, by which time all the people were Buddhists. This was the first position of Kali-yuga and the Vedic religion was destroyed.

If Lord Vishnu becomes a king then all the people would follow Him. The activities of the world are carried out by the prowess of Lord Vishnu. He is the master of maya or the illusory energy and whoever takes shelter of that Lord Hari, though he may be a sinful and abominable person, will become liberated.

Buddha-simha was born from Shakyasimha and he ruled for only 30 years. Buddha-simha’s son was Chandra-gupta, who married with a daughter of Suluva, the Yavana king of Pausasa. Thus he mixed the Buddhists and yavanas. He ruled for 60 years. From him Vindusara was born and ruled for the same number of years as his father. His son was Ashoka. At this time the best of the brahmanas, Kanyakubja, performed sacrifice on the top of a mountain named Arbuda. By the influence of Vedic mantras, four Kshatriyas appeared form the yajna. Among these four Pramara was samavedi, Chapahani was yajurvedi, Shukla was trivedi and Pariharaka was the Atharvavedi. They were accustomed to ride on elephants. They kept Ashoka under their control and annihilated all the Buddhists. It is said there were 4 million Buddhists and all of them were killed by uncommon weapons. After that Pramara became king in Avanta and he constructed a large city called Ambavati for his happiness. It was as big as 4 yojanas or about 32 miles.

Then Suta Goswami said: "My dear brahmanas I’m being influenced by yoga-nidra, therefore, please go to your respective ashramas and meditate on Lord Vishnu."

After the completion of 2,000 years, Suta Goswami said: When the kali-yuga had passed his 3,710 years, at that time the king was Pramara who rulled 6 years, from him Mahamada was born. He ruled 3 years and his son Devapi did the same. His son Devaduta also did the same. From him Gandharva-sena was born, who went to the forest after ruling for over 50 years and having given his kingdom to his son Shankha. Shankha ruled for over 30 years. Lord Indra sent a heavenly girl to Gandharva-sena named Viramati. A jewel like son was born form her womb. At the time of his birth, there were flowers raining from the sky, many auspicious instruments were played and the wind was blowing pleasingly. The name of the baby was Siva-drishti, who later left for the jungle with his disciples. After 20 years he became perfect in Karma-yoga. When kali-yuga copmleted 3,000 years, the terrible symptoms of kali had appeared. That baby took birth in the secret place of Kailasa, by the benediction of Lord Shiva, to destroy the shakas and to increase the Arya-dharma or the Vedic reigion. His father Gandharva-sena named his son as Vikramaditya and become happy. This child was very intelligent and very pleasing to his parents. When he was 5 years old, he left for the forest to perform austerities and he continued it upto 12 years. After 12 years he went to the holy city named Ambavati with all the opulence and accepted the transcendental throne sent by Lord Shiva. For his security goddess Parvati created a Vetala (a king of ghosts) and sent it to king Vikramaditya’s palace. Once the powerful king went to the temple of Lord Shiva named as Mahakaleshvara, who is the chief of the devas, and who has a bow named Pinaka. There he worshipped Lord Shiva. In that place he built a religious council hall with the pillars made of various metals and decorated with many kinds of jewels and covered with so many plants and creepers and flowers. In that hall he kept a celestial throne. He invited the foremost brahmanas who are well-versed in Vedic knowledge, worshipped them with proper hospitality and heard many religious histories from them. After that one demigod named Vitala come there having a form of a brahmana. Glorifying and blessing the king, he sat down on the seat and said: O master of this earthly planet, king Vikramaditya, if you are very eager to hear them I will describe the stories and histories to you.

Thus ends the seventh chapter of the Pratisarga Parva of the Bhavishya Purana.

source : http://www.indiadivine.org/content.php/475-Bhavishya-Purana-The-History-of-the-Bible

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ORIGIN OF SRI PURI JAGANNATH

          ORIGIN OF SRI PURI JAGANNATH

Lord Balabhadra, Mother Subhadra and Lord Jagannath

King Indradyumna was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu and was very eager to meet Him face to face. At one time, by the Lord's arrangement, a devotee of the Lord arrived in the court of King Indradyumna, and in the course of discussion he began to talk about an incarnation of Lord Vishnu named Nila-Madhava. After hearing these topics, King Indradyumna became very inspired and sent different brahmanas in different directions to search for and inquire about Lord Nila-Madhava. All of them, however, were unsuccessful and returned to the capital city of the King, except for one priest of the name Vidyapati. After wandering in many places, Vidyapati finally came to a district where the population was of a non-Aryan type called Sabara. There he took shelter in the house of a local of the name Vishvavasu.

When he arrived, the master of the house was not here, but his young daughter Lalita, was there alone. In a short time the master of the house returned and instructed his daughter to render all services needed for hospitality to the brahmana guest. For some time Vidyapati stayed there, and later, by the special request of the Sabara he married the Sabara's young daughter. 

Nila-Madhava Secret Revealed

While Vidyapati lived in the house of the Sabara, he noticed some peculiarity in his host's behavior. Every night the Sabara would go out, and on the next day at about noon he would return to the house scented with various fragrances such as camphor musk and sandalwood. Vidyapati inquired from his wife about the reason for this, and she informed that her father would go out to a secret place to worship Sri Nilamadhava. After that day, Vidyapati's joy knew no bounds. Actually Lalita had been ordered by her father not to tell anyone about Nila-Madhava, but she overstepped that order by telling her husband.

Vidyapati became eager to see Sri Nila-Madhava, and finally one day, by the repeated request of his daughter, the sabara Vishvasu bound the eyes of vidyapati and took him to see Sri Nila-Madhava. As they were leaving. Vidyapati's cloth, and so while passing along the path he threw them down to mark the way. 

When they reached Sri Nila Madhava the Sabara removed the blindfold, and Vidyapati, seeing the unprecedented beauty of the Deity of Sri Nila Madhava, began to dance in ecstasy and offer prayers. 

Here it is clearly seen that Sri Nila Madhava was a Deity incarnation of the Supreme Lord. Deity incarnation are called arcavigraha. The Lord appears in Deity forms to benefit His devotees, especially to those who are less advanced devotees, He appears as the Deity to accept worship. Krishna says in Bhagavad-gita (9.34):

man-mana bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yaji mam namaskuru
mam evaishyasi yuktvaivam
atmanam mat-parayanah 

Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer Me your obeisances. Therefore he appears as the Deity to accept the worship and obeisances of His devotees. He puts Himself in the hands of His devotees to receive their service and help them develop love for Him. This is an aspect of Krishna's great mercy and His desire to free all the conditioned souls from bondage in this material world. Thus Vidyapati personally witnessed the mercy of Sri Nila-madhava.

Crows get Liberated

After Vidyapati finished his prayers, the Sabara kept him near the Deity and went out to collect roots and forest flowers for worship. While the Sabara was out Vidyapati witnessed an astounding thing. A sleeping crow fell off a branch of a tree into a nearby lake and drowned. It immediatedly took a four-armed Vaikuntha (spiritual) from and started back to the spiritual sky. Seeing this, the brahmana climbed up the tree and was about to jump into the lake, following the liberated crow. 

As he was about to jump, however, a voice in the sky said, "O brahamana, since you have been able to see Sri Nila-Madhava, you should before all else inform King Indradyumna". Thus the brahmana climbed down from the tree and waited. 

Dissapearance of Nilamadhava

The Sabara soon returned carrying forest flowers and roots started his daily workship of Lord Nila-Madhava. As he was engaged in the service of the Lord, the Lord spoke to him saying, "I have for so many days accepted the simple forest flowers and roots offered to Me by you.Now I desire the royal service offered to Me by My devotee King Indradyumna.

When the Sabara heard this, he thought, " I Shall be cheated from the services of Sri Nila-Madhava". Therefore he bound his son-in-law Vidyapati and kept him in his house. After a time, however, at the repeated request of his daughter, he freed the brahmana and allowed hi to go. The brahmana then immediately went to King Indradyumna and informed him of the discovery.

The King, in great ecstasy, went forth with many people to bring back Sri Nila-Madhava. From the mustard seeds thrown along the path by Vidyapati, small plants had grown. So by following these plants the King was able to trace the path to Sri Nila-Madhava. When they reached the spot, however, they did not find Him.

Nilamadhava shows mercy to Indradyumna

Not being able to see the beautiful from of the Lord, King Indradyumna besieged the village of the Sabaras and arrested the Sabara named Vishvavasu. Suddenly, however a voice in the sky said to the King, "Release this Sabara ! On top of Nila Hill you should construct a temple. There as Daru-brahman, or the Absolute Truth manifest in a wooden form, you will see Me. You will not see Me as Nila-Madhava". 

A Temple for Nilamadhava

To build the temple, King Indradyumna made arrangements to bring stone from a place called Baulamala by building a road from there to the Nila-Kandhara Hill. The holy abode of SriKshetra, or Puri, is in the shape of a conch, and in the naval of that conch the king established a town of the name Rama-Krishnapura and constructed the temple. The temple extended 60 cubit beneath the earth and rose 120 cubits above the surface.

At the top of the temple the king built a Kalasha, or round pinnacle and on top of that a chakra, or disc. He also had the temple decorated with golden ornamentations. Then King Indradyumna, desiring for Lord Brahma to consecrate the temple, travelled to Brahmaloka and spent long time there waiting for him. During that time, the temple, which is very near the sea became covered with sand from the shore.

When King Indradyumna was away, first Suradeva and then Galamadhava took over as the kings of that area. It was Galamadhava who raised the temple from within the sands, where it had been buried for a long time. Shortly after the temple was uncovered however, King Indradyumna returned from Lord Brahma's abode. Indradyumna claimed that he had constructed the temple, but Galamadhava put forward the claim that he was its constructor. In a banyan tree near the temple, however, lived a bhusandi crow who had been living through many ages, constantly singing the name of Lord Rama. From his abode on the branches of that banyan tree, the crow had seen the whole construction of the temple. Therefore he made it know than actually King Indradyumna had constructed the temple and that in his absence it had been covered by sand. He further said that King Galamadhava had concealed the truth, Lord Brahma then ordered him to reside outside the grounds of the temple, on the western side of the lake called Indradyumna sarovara.

Lord Jagannatha Manifests His Eternal Form

Indradyumna then prayed to Lord Brahma to consecrate the temple, and the surrounding area, known as Sri Kshetra which gives the highest type of liberation. But Lord Brahma said, " This Sri Kshetra is manifested by the Supreme Lord's own internal potency, and the Supereme Lord manifests Himself. Therefore it is not within my power to install the Lord there.

Lord Jagannatha and his abode are eternally situated in his material world by His own mercy. Therefore I shall simply place a flag on top of the temple and give this blessing that "any one who from a distance sees this flag and bows down, offering his prostrated obeisances, shall easily become liberated". 

After some time King Indradyumna became discouraged at so much delay in seeing Sri Nila-Madhava. Deciding that his life was useless, he lay down on a bed of kusa grass, being determined to give up his life by fasting. At that time Lord Jagannatha spoke to him in his dream as follows: "My dear King, don't be anxious. I shall come floating in the sea in My wooden form as Daru-brahman at the place called Dhinkimuha." With a company of soldiers, the King then went to that place and saw on the shore a huge piece of wood marked with conch, disc, club and lotus. Although he engaged many man and elephants to move that Darubrahman, or woody- Brahman they could not even budge it.

But that night in a dream Lord Jagannatha again spoke to the king, saying, "Bring My previous servant Vishvavasu, who used to serve Me as Nila-Madhava, and place a golden chariot in front of Daru-brahman ! ". The King began to work according to the instruction of that dream. He brought the Saraba Visvavasu and put him on one side of Daru-bhraman, and on the other side he put the brahmana Vidyapati.

Placing a golden chariot before the Daru-brahmana, he then stared kirtan chanting of the holy names of the Supreme Lord. Then the King caught hold of Daru-brahman and prayed for the Lord to mount the chariot. Daru-brahman was then easily placed on the chariot and taken to an appointed place on the raised platform of the sacrifice. It is said that the place where the present temple stands is the place where the sacrifice was performed and that the Narasimha Deity now standing at the western side of the Mukti-mandapa in the temple compound is that original Narasimha Deity.

To carve the Deity of Lord Jagannatha from the Daru-brahman, King Indradyumna called many sculptors. None of them, however, was able to touch Daru-brahman for as soon as they started, their chisels broke and fell to pieces. Finally the Supreme Lord Himself came in the disguise of an old artist who introduced himself a Ananta Maharana. He promised that if he were allowed to work behind closed doors for twenty-one days, the Deity would be carved. Immediately preparations were made.

According to the old sculptor's directions, all the other artists were engaged in making three chariots. The old sculptor then took Daru-brahman into the temple and closed the doors, After making the king promise that the sculptor would reside alone and the king would not open the doors of the temple even slightly before the twenty-one days were up. After fourteen days had passed, however, the king was unable to hear the sounds of the artistic tools, and so he became full of anxiety.

Although his minister again and again forbade him, the King, on the advice of his queen, by force opened the door of the temple with his own hands. Inside, the king did not find the old sculptor, but instead he saw that Daru-brahman was manifested in three forms as Lord Jagannatha, Subhadra and Balarama. Going forward in front of these three Deities, he saw that their fingers and toes were unfinished. The King's wise minister then informed him that the architect was none other than Lord Jagannatha Himself and that because the King had broken his promise by opening the doors seven days too soon, Lord Jagannatha had manifested Himself in that way.

Then the King, thinking himself a great offender, decided to end his life, Thus again he lay down on a bed of kusha and began fasting. When half the night had passed, Lord Jagannatha appeared to the king in his dreams. The Lord said, " I am eternally situated here in Nilacala in the form of Lord Jagannatha as Daru-brahman. In this material world, I descend in twenty four Deity incarnations with My abode. I have no material hands and feet, but with my transcendental senses I accept all the items offered in service by My devotees, and for the benefit of the world I move from one place to another. You have broken your promise, but that is just part of the sweetness of My pastime to manifest this Jagannatha form, which protects the eternal words of Vedas. 

Anyway, those devotees whose eyes are smeared with the salve of love will always see Me as Syamasundara, holding a flute. If your desire is to serve Me in opulence, then from time to time I may be decorated with hands and feet made of gold and silver. You should certainly know, however, that My limbs are the ornaments of all ornaments". 

The Vedas state: 
apani-pado javano grahita pasyaty
acakshuh sa smoty akamahsa vetti
bedyam na ca tyasyati vetta tam
ahur agryam purusham mahatam
- Shvetashvatara Upanishad 3.19 

"Without legs and hands, He moves and accepts. Without eyes He sees, and without ears He hears. He knows all that is knowable, but no one know Him. They call Him the original Supreme Person".

To protect this assertion of the Vedas, Lord Jagannatha takes His form without hands and legs. Still, Lord Jagannatha is able to accept fifty-six different types of food, offered eight times daily, and He tours the world in His splendid carts. 

Lord Jagannatha Fulfills the King's Desire

Hearing the worlds of Lord Jagannatha in his dream, the King became satisfied and prayed to him as follows: "My Lord, grant that those who appear in the family of the sculptor who manifested Your form may age after age assist in constructing the three carts".

Lord Jagannath, slightly smiling replied, "That shall be". Then Lord Jagannatha said to the King. " The descendants of Vishvavasu who used to serve Me as Nila-Madhava, should generation after generation serve Me. They may be called My dayitas. The descendents of Vidyapati born from from his brahmana wife should perform the Deity workship for Me. And his descendants born from his Sabari wife Lalita, should cook My food. They shall be known as suydras. The King Indradyumna said to Lord Jagannath, "My Lord, kindly grant one favour to me. Let the doors to Your temple be closed for only three hours a day. The rest of the time, let the doors be open so that all residents of the Universe may have access to see you. Further, let it be that all day long your eating may go on and that Your lotus fingers may thus never become dry".

Lord Jagannatha replied, "Tathastu, so be it. And for yourself, what benediction do you ask?"

The King replied, "So that no one in the future will be able to claim Your temple as his own property, I desire to be without descendants. Kindly just grant me this one benediction". Lord Jagannatha replied, "Tathastu, so be it". 

Thus the merciful Lord Jagannath, Balarama and Subhadra appeared in this material world to benefit all living beings. What is the benefit They bestow? That is stated in the Narada Purana:

pratiman tatra tam drishtva svayam devena nirmitam
anayasena vai yanti bhavanam me tato narah
- U.Kh.52.12

The Supreme Lord Narayana tells Lakshmi devi. " In that great abode known as Purushottama-kshetra, which is rarely achieved among all the three worlds, the Kesava Deity, who was fashioned by the Supreme Lord Himself, is situated. If men simply see that Deity, they are easily able to come to My abode". In this way Lord Jagannatha is delivering the whole universe especially as He rides on is cart before the eyes of all.

Source : http://www.indiadivine.org/content.php/733-Origin-of-Sri-Puri-Jagannatha?


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LORD CHAITANYA AND GURU NANAK IN JAGANNATH PURI

Lord Chaitanya and Guru Nanak in Jagannatha Puri

BY: SUN STAF

Lord Chaitanya And Guru Nanak

In a paper entitled Guru Nanak in Oriya Sources, author Raghubir Singh Tak describes an Oriyan palm leaf manuscript preserved in the Jagannath Temple Museum, which documents the point in history when Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Guru Nanak were visiting the holy dhama at Puri Jagannath at the same time, along with other associates. Raghubir Singh Tak, formerly a Professor in the Department of Guru Nanak Studies, GNDU, describes the manuscript:

"There is an entrenched tradition in Sikh religion that Guru Nanak during his sojourns visited Jagan Nath Puri and recited Arti- ‘Gagan main thai ravi chand deepak bane..: enshrined in Sri Guru Granth Sahib (pp. 13, 363) . In this paper, I shall try to present some rare and valuable Oriya Source material hitherto not very much known but significant for Guru Nanak’s visit to Jagan Nath Puri in particular and Orissa in general.

Bhakta Panchak (Five Saints):

It is the title of a Palmleaf Oriya manuscript (No. 143), preserved in the Jagannath Temple Museum, Jagannath Puri. According to Sri Sada Shiv Rath Sharma, the Curator of the Museum, the author of the manuscript was Jasobant Das of Sisu Math, Puri. He is said to have been a contemporary of Raja Pratap Rudra Deo, who reigned over Orissa from 1504 to 1534 A.D.

The manuscript. written (engraved) in Oriya script, contains description of the five saints: Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Jagan Nath Das, Achuta Nand Das, Nanak Acharya and Sisuant Das. The size of the palmleaf is just that of a foot rule. Each page of the palmleaf manuscript contains five verse lines. The manuscript was copied by Sri Madhu Sudan Das in 1807 A.D. from an old manuscript. The opening lines of manuscript on page 14, dealing with Guru Nanak, are as under:

"I shall tell the life account of bhakta. In the north, there was a Guru named Nanak, whose miraculous life account I will propound that will fascinate the heart of bhaktas. The theme of the portion dealing with Guru Nanak’s visit read out by Sri Sada Shiv Rath Sharma is as under:

During the 13th year of the reign of Raja Pratap Rudra Deo of Puri, on Bhadon Shukla Ekadashi sal 924 (Oriya year), Guru Nanak along with Mardana and fourteen other sanyasis arrived in the morning at Puri to visit Jagan Nath temple. From Guru Nanak’s dress (detailed in the manuscript) he was mistook for a khaleefa (Caliph) and was not permitted to enter the premises of the temple. One of the sanyasis explained that Guru Nanak was the same person who had shown/kautak (miracles) at Kaliaboda (Cuttack). Guru Nanak, along with the sanyasis, went near the seashore and started reciting bhajans (devotional songs), as per his wont.

The king of Puri in his dream saw Lord Jagan Nath telling him not to perform any rituals and ceremonies in the temple (of Lord Jagan Nath) when He (Lord Jagan Nath) goes (in the morning and evening) to hear /katha, bhajan (devotional service) of a saint (Guru Nanak) on Swarga Dwar near Pitri Stambh. On enquiry, it was found that there had been some disruptions in the daily performance of rituals in the temple. The king went to pay homage to Guru Nanak and saw, to his great surprise, that Lord Jagan Nath, Balram and Subhadra were standing there, while bhajans were being recited. The king tendered his apology to Guru Nanak, presented him clothes and ornaments and took him to the temple of Lord Jagan Nath in a royal procession along with a band.

After visiting the temple, Guru Nanak sat near a banyan tree just opposite the temple, where now stands Mangu Math. Guru Nanak, while delivering his sermon, raised his palm vertically and the king saw the image of Lord Jagan Nath on the palm (the flags of Mangu Math and Bauli Math still bear the insignia of a white palm on their red flags). Guru Nanak was given a royal send off when after a stay for 24 days, he left Puri along with the sanyasis. The king of Puri and other persons accompanied him (Guru Nanak) to Chandi Nala (a place at a distance of about 23 Miles from Puri) on Jagannath road and bade him an impressive farewell.

Sri Chaitanya Bhagwata

It is an Oriya manuscript written by Sri Ishwar Das. It was donated by Prachi Samiti, Cuttack to Utkal University, Bhubaneshwar. The manuscript was edited by Rai Bahadur Arthabaltaba Mohanty and published by the University in 1953. The author does not provide any date of his work. However, Prabhat Kumar Mukhopadhaya deems it as a work of sixteenth century, whereas Bimanbehari Majumdar is of the opinion that the work is of eighteenth century.

Sri Chaitanya Bhagwata is a detailed biographical account of Sri Chaitanya (1485-1533 A.D.) but no incident of his life is dated; The book contains as many as five references to Guru Nanak on pages 268, 279-80, 382-83, 405-9 and 429."

Guru Nanak's meeting with Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabu

There is an excellent narration of Lord Caitanya's meeting with Guru Nanak at Puri Jagannatha, delivered by H.H. Srila Bhakti Sravan Tirtha Goswami of Gaudiya Matha. He writes:

"A contemporary of Mahaprabhu, Guru Nanak was older to Mahaprabhu by 16 years. He departed five years after the disappearance of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Nanak sought a religious path that avoided the formal structures of both Islam and Hinduism. However, in the Guru Granth Sahib, there are frequent references to Har Krishen, Gobind, Gopal and Ram.

Thus most of the names for God in Gurbani come directly from Vaishnava bhakti school. Clearly, Nanak dev ji believed in a God that was both formless and full of form. Nirgun as well as Sagun. One does not negate the other. Both coexist at the same time, resonating with Sri Chaitanya’s philosophy of ‘Achintya Bhed Abhed’ (inconceivable unity in duality).

In 1506 Nanak visited seven regions across India. He lived for 71 years and within his life time he is believed to have spent 25 years travelling all over the country from Himalaya to Cape Comorin.

He also visited Mecca and Madina, Turkey and China. It has been estimated that he had walked about 50,000 miles on foot with wooden sandals. He also converted Raja Seonath, the king of Ceylon to his own religion. Before proceeding towards Ceylon he visited Orissa.

Legend says that Guru Nanak arrived at Puri with his disciple 'Mardana' a Muslim follower. When Guru Nanak reached Puri beach in the evening near the present Swargadwar, he sat down in meditation.

Mardana was hungry but as he was a Muslim he was not allowed to enter the Jagannath temple for Mahaprasad. So the disciple blamed Nanak for selecting such a place where they had to face starvation.

Suddenly at that time somebody appeared and offered food and drink in golden utensils. In the early hours of morning however there was a commotion in the Jagannath temple because the gold utensils of the Lord were missing.

The news was conveyed to the Maharaja of Puri. Guru Nanak appeared to the Raja in his dream that night. So when the Raja heard about the theft, he smiled and marched towards sea-beach in a procession to welcome the saint.

The Raja found the saint in meditation and the gold utensils were lying close by. Then the king and his party gave a hearty reception to the saint who had come to Puri to pay his homage to Lord Jagannath.

Nanak was invited to visit the temple at the time of Arati in the evening. When the arati started, Guru Nanak stood silent, not participating. Later when asked why, he said, this was not homage enough to the glory and wonder of the Lord of the Universe, to whom Nature paid a far more sublime tribute. In reply, he sang verses which remain immortal for their exquisite mystic poetry:


“In the salver of the sky The Sun and Moon shine like lamps, 
The galaxy of stars are scattered like pearls; 
The chandan-scented winds waft as Thine incense, 
The forests are Thy flowers. 
(Thus) is Thy arati performed, 
O, Thou Destroyer of fear!”

Once when his disciples were thirsty but had no water to drink, he requested them to dig a hole in the sandy surface of sea-beach and to their surprise sweet water came out. A well was constructed around this hole. Near that well a Gurudwara called Bauli Saheb came into existence. This is now called 'Baulimath'. This is a sacred place of pilgrimage for the Sikhs.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Guru Nanak both met at Puri and spent some time there. This incident is recorded in Chaitanya Bhagbat of Iswar Das written in Oriya in 17th Century.

The author, Ishvar Das, was one of Mahaprabhu’s close associates in Puri, and the only biographer to mention the event, perhaps because the meeting was brief and only the eyewitness devotees of Puri knew about it.

Ishvar Das writes: (Ishvar Das’s Chaitanya Bhagavat, Adhyaya 61).


Srinibasaye Viswambhara
Kirtan madyare vihar
Nanak Saranga ye dui
Rupa Sanatana duibhai
Jagai Madhai ekatra
Kirtan Karanti Nritya

“In the congregational singing led by Shri Chaitanya in Nagar Purushottama (Puri dham), Nanak and Saranga (another name for Mardana who played the sarangi), the two bothers Rupa and Sanatana along with Jagai and Madhai also joined in. Gopal Guru, for whom Guru Nanak had deep affection, was there as well, along with Nityananda Prabhu, who was considered an incarnation of Balarama. They all relished the kirtan at Jagannath Puri.”

(Ishvar Das’s Chaitanya Bhagavat Adhyaya 64).

A popular legend is told of how Guru Nanak was entering the temple of Lord Jagannath, he met Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who was coming out. Both offered pranams to each other. Then Nanak turned and started to leave the temple. Mahaprabhu asked him why he was not going inside to have darshan. Guru Nanak replied ‘I have already seen the Lord’.

According to Padmabhushan Dr. Durgadas Basu, a National Research Professor, Guru Nanak was given mantra diksha by non other than Prabhu Nityananda while the latter was traveling through Bangladesh (Bengal). That Sri Nanak was a ‘mantra shishya’ of Nityananda Prabhu has been written down in his autobiography and the last chapter of the Guru Grantha Sahib, while elaborating the greatness and glory of the holy ‘Naam’.

In the Granth Sahib, it is written: 


“Swasi grasi harinam samali
Simar bus vishwambhar ak”

"In order to attain salvation, one must chant the holy name of Ram, Hari or Vishwambhar."

source : http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/features/11-09/features1565.htm


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THE STORY OF RIVER GANGA

Bhagiratha doing penance

Descent of Ganga

Bhagiratha leads Ganga

THE 
STORY
OF
RIVER
GANGA

Devprayag- confluence of Bhagirathi(left)&Alakananda(right)

Descending GANGA

Since long past, India has been known as the ‘Land of Rivers’. The rivers of India hold a special significance in the hearts and minds of its people. Primarily because being an agrarian society at large, rivers are very important in terms of providing water and also for providing rich topsoil in the form of silt. In India this is taken a step further, rivers are not just considered material wealth but they are very much alive, and are goddess themselves. Besides the two rivers which are considered male gods, Brhamaputra (meaning son of Brhama) and Krishna, the remaining are all considered goddess with names like Ganga, Godavari, Narmada, Yamuan, Jhelum, Sutlaj, Sindu, Kaveri, Mahanadi, Tapti, Panchaganga.


As an attestation to this fact, rivers are actually worshipped in India as one would worship any god in temples. A place where the river does not flow its natural course, for example, from east to the west (in the northern hemisphere due to the west to east rotation of the earth on its own axis) is treated as very sacred. One river, the Brahmaputra starts its birthplace near the holy lake of Mansarovar in the Himalayas, flowing East enters India in the far eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh after traveling hundreds of miles across Tibet as the Tsangpo. Here it takes a sharp U turn and flows all the way towards Bengal in the east towards west direction. The area where the Brahmaputra takes a U turn is considered very holy by the Hindus and Tibetan Buddhist alike. However, this place may soon be desecrated by an anticipated huge hydroelectric dam.


There are number of stories woven around each river and are particular to the local region of India. However one story which is very famous, concerning the river Ganga and how she was brought down to earth due to the devotion of Bhagirathi who belonged to the lineage of Ikshwaku (belonging to Solar) dynasty. This story has been depicted in the Ramayan and has recounted below.

Himavan the Emperor of all mountains had two daughters by his wife Mena. They were called Ganga and Uma, and there beauty was a legend. Ganga was the older one. Indra’s devas approached Himavan for her hand, they wanted his daughter for themselves, to make heaven more perfect than it already was. Himavan gave Ganga to the Devas. She flowed in heaven as a river of light and purified anything she touched. She flowed through the galaxies as the Akash Ganga (the Milky way), river of the firmament, with suns in her hair.

Himavan’s second child was called Parvati, mountain daughter. She sat in tapasya and won Lord Siva(The destructive aspect of the trinity) for her husband.


Later, there was an Ancestor of Rama, in the line of Ikshvaku, named Sagara. He had two wives Kesini and Sumati. But he did not have children from them. Sagara, therefore went to the Himalaya with his queens and sat in penance for a hundred years. Maharishi Bhrigu was impressed with their penances and granted Kesini with One son Asamanja who would become his heir. Sumati bore sixty thousand sons. Asamanja turned out to be an evil prince. Sagara hoped that Asamanja would improve as he grew, however, that did not happen, therefore he banished Asamanja from his Kingdom. Sumati’s boys were handsome and brave, virile and arrogant.


Fortunately for Sagara, Asamanja had a son Anshuaman who was a noble, gentle child and devoted to his grandfather. When Anshuman was a young man, Sagara undertook an aswamedha yagna. He chose the plains between the Himalayas and Vindhya mountains for this act. He sent his grandson Anshuman riding it, daring any king to arrest its careen flow. Indra (King of Devas) Dev played the spoilsport by stealing the horse and hiding it away. The brahmans who had charge of the yagna said to Sagara, ‘If the horse is not found and the yagna not completed, calamity will visit the House of Iksvaku.’


Sagara called his sixty thousand sons and addressed them to find the horse wherever it may be. They excavated the earth, razed whole forests, to find where the animal was hidden. They could not find the horse by land or sea. They burrowed in the neither world and went deeper down the spiraling paths of the twilight realms. They came to a dark cavern and heard the whinny of horse in tether. They went in to see Maharishi Kapila Vasudeva, his eyes shut, absorbed in the Brahman. Thief they roared and rushed at Kapila with their weapons raised. The muni’s eyes flew open to see who dared disturb his samadhi and instantly those sixty thousand sons of Sagara were made ashes. Then Kapila went back into meditation.


Sagara waited for long for his host of sons to return to him with the horse. But with no sign or word he sent Anhsuman after them to the neither world. Anshuman followed the trail his uncles had left. Here, he saw the form of the rishi’s body and went in quietly. Later when Kapila opened his eyes and looked gently at the prince. Anshuman prostrated himself at the rishi’s feet. Kapila smiled at the noble youth. Your horse is with me child. Indra left it here. He pointed at the ashes strewn across the caves floor. ‘Your uncles came here in violence’ he said, ‘and I was forced to burn them.’


Anshuman grieved for his uncles. He wanted to offer condolence for them, so their souls could rise into heaven. But he could find no water in neither world. Suddenly he heard a sound of vast wings. Garuda (greatest of Eagles), Sumati’s brother, flew down to him.


Garuda said to the distraught Anshuman, “No common water will wash the sins of your uncles. They violated mother earth and outraged the spirits who are her guardians. Only the waters of Himalaya’s daughter who flows through the stars can purify their souls. You must bring the Ganga down to wash their ashes; only then will they find deliverance.” Anshuman stood in awe of Garuda and terrified by the task he had inherited. The eagle-winged one said to him, “But it is not yet time for the sacred river to flow on earth. Take your horse home to your grandfather. He waits for you and the ashwamedha must be completed.”


Anshuman went back home, Sagara was able to complete the yagna. But the king was a broken man after he learned of his sons’ death. He left his kingdom in Anshuman’s hands, as soon as the prince was old enough. Anshuman was a just king, but ruling his kingdom absorbed him entirely. He found no time to undertake a penance that would bring the Ganga down to earth.


Anshuma’s son Dilipa was a great king as well. But not even he could bring the Ganga down to redeem his ancestors. The destiny of the Ikshavaku line was impeded by the unresolved sins of the sons of Sumati. Dilipa had a son called Bhagiratha. Dilipa ruled his kingdom for long and then handed it over to his son Bhagiratha. Bhagirata soon realised the urgency to atone for his ancestors sins, so he left his kingdom in the hands of some trusted ministers. He left for the mountains to sit in deep meditation. At last one day, at the end of thousand years Brahma (creative aspect of the trinity) appeared before him granting him a boon.


Bhagiratha’s eyes swam with tears finally he said, ‘Father of the worlds, grant that I may perform the niravapanjali for my ancestors with the waters of Ganga; and that they attain Swarga. Unable to refuse this king of tapasya anything, Brahma said,’ You will have a nobel son, to be king after you. But just think, if the Ganga comes down into the world, who will break her fall? The very earth will be shattered. If you want her to flow here, you must petition Siva to bear her fall.


Bhagiratha turned in bhakti to Lord Siva, who is easily moved. When he fasted in Siva’s name, living on just air for a year, the God of Gods appeared before the Ikshvaku King. Siva said, “You should not have to sit in tapasya for a cause as just as yours. I am pleased with your devotion to your ancestors. I will break Ganga’s fall, and her pride as well.”


After ages of flattery, verging on worship, by the Devas of the sky who adored her, Ganga had grown vain. When Brahma told her to flow down in the world, she scoffed at him. The earth will perish from this madness. For there is no one who can bear my descent!’ But she could not refuse to do as Brahma had asked. On the appointed night, the Devas gathered in the sky, while in the plateau of the Himalaya in the icebound north, Bhagiratha stood with his gaze trained on the heavens. There was no sign of Siva.


Suddenly a deafening roar shook the firmament. High above him, beyond the chariot of the Devas, Bhagiratha saw her coming: she was a sheet of silver, filling the night sky. He shut his eyes in prayer. He was sure this was the end of the world; for who indeed could support the fall of that ocean? Like a cosmic flood she came, hurtling down the milkyway, and laughing as she did, she was amused that Brahma had not cared to heed her warning.


But then, another figure loomed beside Bhagiratha. He appeared out of the very air. He was the Lord of the night, Sarvaripati Siva. The Devas began to sing his praises when they saw him like that. But Ganga swept on, and only Siva knew what was in her arrogant heart. Exhilarated by her plunge down the constellation, she thought to herself, ‘I will show Siva who I am. I will thrust him down to the neither world’.


Siva stood smiling, his head exposed to her mad descent. With a crash like thunder in the Galaxy, Ganga fell straight down upon Siva’s hallowed head. Bhagiratha shut his eyes, certain this was the end. Even the Devas above fell silent; they, too, did not believe anyone could survive that crystal cataract.


A hush fell on the earth and the sky. But not a drop of water, let alone a deluge, fell on the terrified Bhagiratha. Siva was not crushed under Ganga’s tidal fall. He stood smiling, lustrous in the moonlight. But she, endless river had vanished; she was lost in Siva’s jata (hair). And struggle as she would, she could find no way out from where she was absorbed like a water drop. One drop in the ocean that he was.


At his inexorable will she was a lake at the root of one strand of his hair. She trembled when he laughed. His time for prayer not yet over, Bhagiratha lay on his face before the Lord. For fear that Siva might never set Ganga free he worshiped Mahadeva, for the sake of his ancestors.


At last Siva released Ganga along the hair of his head at the root of which he held her. Drop by drop, he wrung her down onto the earth. High on the Himalayan tableland a pool formed, gleaming in the rising sun. Ganga humbled was called Alaknanda.


As Bhagiratha and the Devas watched, entranced, the pool grew into a lake, and the lake flowed into seven streams. Three of these flowed west and three east, down the Himalaya. The seventh stream followed Bhagiratha’s chariot south, onto the plains of the sacred continent. She followed him playfully and in wonder at being in this new world, which was once, in dim memory, her home.


Her foam was white as milk as she flowed after the Ikshvaku king’s chariot, which he rode like the free wind in his fervor to fulfill his task of such long standing. Ganga followed that chariot, At times she would flow straight and quick as a arrow, keeping easy pace with the horses; but at others, she meandered, coy and difficult, or undulated sinuous as a serpent. She who had washed the starry feet of Mahavishnu and had plunged through the zone of the moon, she who was purified for the third time when she fell on Siva’s head, had come down the mandals to liberate some ashes that lay on the subterranean cave floor.


Bhagiratha and the shinning river finally arrived at the place where Bhagiratha’s ancestors had entered the neither world. The earth yawned open. Ganga swirled into the neither world and fell in cascade into the cave where Kapila once sat. Bhagiratha saw the baptismal waters flow into the cave mouth. Then he saw his ancestors rise form the ashes in sudden spirit fire, their astral bodies purified, their long ordeal ended. Blessing him in sixty thousand ringing voices, they rose in heaven. The curse on the Ikshvaku line had ended.


Brahma appeared and said to Bhagiratha, ‘Nobel child, you have done the impossible! From this day, whenever any man prevails against the most difficult of odds of fate, his efforts will be called a Bhagiratha prayatna. And the Ganga will be your daughter in the eyes of the Gods. I name her Bhagirathi.’

source : http://members.tripod.com/jennifer_polan/submissions/ganga.html

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PITRUBHAKTI

‘Pitru Bhakti’ leads Shiva Sharma’s devoted sons to ‘Vishnu dhaam’

In Bhumi Khanda, the Concept of Pitru Bhakti was defined and described in good detail. On the banks of the Western Ocean of Bharat in Dwaraka, there was a Veda-Shastra Vidwan called Shiva Sharma who had five Sons named Yagna Sharma, Veda Sharma, Dharma Sharma, Vishnu Sharma and Soma Sharma, all with good knowledge of Scriptures and great devotees of their father.

Shiva Sharma decided to examine the ‘Pitru Bhakti’ of their sons and by the play of ‘Maya’ (Illusion) that he created declared that his wife died and asked his eldest son Yagna Sharma to cut the body of his mother into pieces and throw away; the son did exactly as was told by his father. Shiva Sharma asked his second son to convince another (illusory) woman whom he liked as it would be difficult for him to carry on without a wife. Veda Sharma approached the woman but she said that his father was old and diseased and that she would rather like to marry the son instead. Veda Sharma told her that it was unfair for her to talk like that and that he was prepared to do any thing if she married his father. The illusory woman demanded that she should then be able to vision Indra and other Devas. Veda Sharma was able to do so by the power of his Tapasya. The woman appreciated the achievement and sent away the Devas but she then demanded that Veda Sharma should cut off his head with his own hands and gift it to her! The illustrious son did so and the ‘Maya Stree’ showed the slain head to the father and the rest of his sons. Shiva Sharma then handed over the head of Veda Sharma to the third son Dharma Sharma and asked him to revive the life of Veda Sharma. Dharma Sharma invoked Dharma Raja and said that if only he did unswerving service to his Guru and had unparalelled Pitru Bhakti his elder brother’s life be revived. Dharma Raja was immensely pleased and not only agreed to revive the life of Veda Sharma but also agreed to give any other boon to him; Dharma Sharma desired that his Pitru Bhakti be enhanced further, that his Dharma (Virtue) be intensified and that he should attain ‘Moksha’ after his life. Then Shiva Sharma desired to test the fourth son Vishnu Sharma and that indeed was tougher further; he desired that the son should approach Indra Deva and bring ‘Amrit’ for all the family members! As Vishnu Sharma left for Indra Loka, Lord Indra was aware of the intention and commissioned Menaka to attract him; Vishnu Sharma was indeed aware of her intentions and asked her not to waste his time with her traditional tactics as he was not like Sage Vishwamitra to yield to her infatuations. As Menaka failed in her mission, Indra kept on placing obstructions in the way of Vishnu Sharma, the latter was infuriated and declared that he would kick down Indra and if needed, create another Indra! Indra was frightened and tendered apology as also accompanied the son to the father, handed over a pot of Amrit and told Shiva Sharma that there could never be a son like Vishnu Sharma and that there were such an unbelievable example of Pitru Bhakti in the family as one son was overshadowing another in their display of unparalelled devotion to the father! Meanwhile, the mother of the five sons re-appeared and expressed her enormous pleasure to have secured a husband like Shiva Sharma and the sons who proved their worth by their exemplary devotion to their father. The father who felt proud of their sons gave the four of them the boon of achieving ‘Goloka / Vishnu loka dham’ even as Lord Vishnu appeared before them to accompany the four-some; Shiva Sharma told the fifth son Soma Sharma that he and his wife would proceed to visit ‘Tirthas’ while Soma Sharma would have to protect the Amrit pot meanwhile. Soma Sharma guarded the Amrita Kumbha so sincerely that he did not leave it even for a minute and after ten years the parents returned highly diseased, ematiated, skinny with leprosy and fully spotted all over the bodies; the untouchable condition of the parents was also display of ‘Maya’, but the son performed the kind of service with grit and determination that no son could have ever done, as he cleaned the blood and pus from the body-cracks, tidied the ‘Mala-Mutras’ or the body rejects and without sleep or rest, looked after the parents that Devas on heavens were stunned! The parents refused to accept the Amrit, they refused to accept it, as curing of the leprosy was against the principle of natural justice, as they were destined to suffer.But, when the parents could not suffer beyond limits, they relented and finally asked for the Amrita Kumbha but Soma Sharma found to his utter surprise that the Kumbha was empty! Unnerved by this misfortune, Soma Sharma looked to Heavens and challenged fate that if he had truly and most faithfully served his parents with devotion all these years and that he controlled his ‘Indriyas’ of physique and mind with the greatest and unfailing commitment, then the Amrita Kumbha should be full up at once; indeed the Kumbha was full. The parents assured that the ‘Kushthu’disease was fake and the empty Kumbha was an illusion sothat his Pitru Bhakti had to be vindicated. Being extremely happy and contented that the last son Soma Sharma like his earlier brothers too passed the test of Pitru Bhakti, the proud parents blessed him and left for Vishnu Loka.

As Soma Sharma and his wife Sumana could not beget a son, Soma Sharma approached Maharshi Vasishta for guidance. Vasishtha told that Soma Sharma that in his earlier life, the latter was a miser and did not want to spend any amount even on the day of his departed father’s death anniversary. He had amassed considerable wealth but never did he perform any charity or any Punya Karya; he did not even enjoy any happiness excepting the joy of possession. He was suspicious even of his sons and at the time of his death no body knew where the wealth was deposited. But while alive, the Sudra did one single good task in his long life viz. of hosting a Vishnu Bhakta at his home and that day happened to be Ashadha Shukla Dwadashi and that was how he was born as a Brahmana in the current birth. Vasistha further advised that he would secure an excellent son by worshipping Vishnu Deva. As Soma Sharma was performing ‘japa’ (meditation) Saadhvi Sumana too served her husband with devotion. But there were many distractions like the appearances of big black snakes of poison, elephants, tigers, and even piscachas. However, Soma Sharma never got unnerved. One day a lion tried to hurt the Brahmana and then also he held on with the meditation more intensely than ever by chanting ‘Narasimha Stotra’. That was the time when Bhagavan Vishnu granted his vision in his full form with four hands armed with Shankha, Chakra, Gada and Saranga with an extremely charming face with a smile. Soma Sharma was overpowered with ecstacy and eulogised him for long time till his heart’s content. When Bhagavan Vishnu was pleased with Soma Sharma’s ‘Tapasya’, he asked the Brahmana for boons and the Brahmana desired that he should secure a son who should be a distinguished Vishnu Bhakta, a highly erudite and virtuous example of his ‘Vamsa’and a person of universal fame. In course of time, a boy of radiance and intelligence was born named Suvrata. Even from childhood, the boy visioned Bhagavan Narasimha in every part of the Universe, be it the Sky, Earth, Mountains, Forests, Water, Stones, all human beings, animals, birds and so on! As he grew he was completely immersed in ‘Vishnu Dhyana’, singing Vishnu Hymns, publicising the greatness of Vishnu and dedicating each and every action of his to Vishnu.

Pashyatyevam vadantyevam Janannatham Janaardanam,
sa dhyaayatey tameykam hi Vishvanaatham Parameswaram/
Truney Kaashthey cha paashaaney sushkey saandryem hi Keshavam,
Pashyatyevam sa Dharmaatmaa Govindam Kamalekshanam/
Akaashey Bhumimadhye tu Parvateshu Vaneshu cha,
Jaley Sthaley cha Paashaaney Jeeveshucha Mahamatih/
Nrisimham pashyatey Viprah Suvratah Sumanaasutah/

As Sumana, the mother of Suvrata called the son for food, he used to reply: Mother! I am extremely full in my stomach with the Amrit like Vishnu Dhyan; I have come into the fold of Bhagavan, while eating, wearing clothes, sitting, sleeping, and dedicating every act to Janardana Himself! Dhyayanti Devah satatam Muraarim yasyanga madhye Sakalam nivishtam, Yogeshwaram Paapavisaashanamcha bhajey sharanyam Madhusudanaakhyam/ In course of time, Suvrata commenced full-fledged Tapasya and eventually after many years of intense dedication, Lord Vishnu was pleased to give His ‘darshan’ (appearance), when Suvrata was overwhelmed with bliss and praised saying: Samsarasagaramateeva gabheera paaram, Duhkhormibhirvividha mohamayaistarangaih/ Sampurnamasti nijadosha gunaistu praaptam, tasmaat samuddhara Janaardana maam sudeenam/ ( Janardana! This Ocean of Samsara is inexplicably deep and most difficult to swim across; this is full of high tides of sorrow and infatuations. I am intensely helpless and ensnarled with my own limitations of sins and distesses. Could you my Lord! Save me from here!). Suvrata sought the boon of lifting him up along with his parents and wife with their own bodies to Vishnu dhaam!

Source : http://www.kamakoti.org/kamakoti/details/padmapurana16.html

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