Story #43: Ashwathama's desire

  Dhrona imparted the knowledge of Brahmastra to his best disciple, Arjuna. Ashwathama, the son of Drona was however not able to endure that fact that his father chose to teach this knowledge to someone else other than his own son.

   Ashwathama urged Drona to reveal the knowledge of the weapon. Drona obliged unwillingly and imparted the knowledge to him, but warned that the weapon should not be used even in times of great danger, especially against human beings.

     Knowing the restlessness of his son, Drona felt that Ashwathama would not tread the path of dharma and told it to him directly. Hearing this, Ashwathama was overcome by despair and he wandered the earth in grief.

   While Pandavas were in exile, Ashwathama visited Dwaraka and stayed there for a while. One day, he visited Krishna when the latter was alone by the seashore. He urged Krishna to offer His Discus in exchange for the Brahmastra weapon.

.   Krishna replied that all Worlds put together wouldn't be equal to a thousandth of his energy.  So,  he wouldn't need anything for exchange of anything else.  He offered to give his bow,  discus, mace or konch, whichever Ashwathama wanted to possess.

    Ashwathama said that he preferred to have the discus.  Even before Krishna could give,  Ashwathama seized the discus with his left hand.  He was unable to move the weapon even an inch.  He tried again with his right hand and failed again miserably.  Dejected and tired, Ashwathama resigned.

   Krishna told Aswattama that not even Arjuna, Pradhyumna, Garage or Samba spoke the words that Ashwathama uttered. Krishna asked Ashwathama as whom he intended to battle against using the discus.

Ashwathama replied that he was Infact thinking of using it against Krishna himself.  He further said that he now realized the real power of the weapon and that he doesn't have the capacity to hold it.  Saying this Ashwathama departed.

    This incident was narrated by Krishna to Yudhistra at the end of the war.  Krishna described Aswattama as wrathful, wicked-souled, restless and cruel.

   We must learn from this that we mustn't have any wicked thought while praying to the god. This will only end up in our own misery.

Om namo Vasudevaya !!

Story #42: Story of Upamanyu

   Dhaumya maharishi,  who was purohit of Pandavas, once gave his disciple Upamanyu the responsibility of herding cows. From then Upamanyu would herd the cows during the day and return in the evening to pay his respects.

   One day, Dhaumya asked him as how he was so healthy and plump even after undertaking day long outdoor activity.  For this Upamanyu replied that he consumed food obtained by taking alms.  Guru replied that he can't take any food without offering to guru first.  Upamanyu said sorry for his deed and said that he would follow it going forward. 

    After few days Dhaumya again Alex the same question as the student was still healthy and plump as before.  The sishya said that he went for second round of alms after offering the first round of Alma to his guru.  The guru said that it would become a burden for the house holders if he asked for alms two times everyday.  The student apologized and swore that he wouldn't do it again.  

   After few weeks,  the guru asked the same question as the student didn't reduce even a bit. The student replied that he consumed the milk of the cows that he herd to nourish himself.  Dhaumya replied that it was injustice to the calves to drink the milk that belonged to them.  Upamanyu promised that he wouldn't do that in future. 

    The student remained still healthy which made the guru ask the question again.  Now Upamanyu replied that he took the froth thrown out by the calves from their mouths when they drink their mothers’ milk.

The preceptor replied that he supposed the calves threw out large quantities of froth out of compassion. He ordered the student to allow the calves to have their full share of food.  Upamanyu agreed to this also and went.  

    Upamanyu, thus deprived of food by the above means, had to endure bouts of hunger. One day, driven by extreme hunger, he consumed Arka leaves in the forest. As a result, he lost his eyesight, and, as he wandered around helplessly, fell into a pit.

   Dhaumya, observing that his disciple did not return, went in search of Upamanyu in the forest. The teacher located Upamanyu and learnt from him all that had transpired. Dhaumya asked him to pray to Ashwinikumaras as they will be able to rectify his vision.  

   Upamanyu,  like always ever so truthful and sincere did as his guru said.  The Ashwins, pleased by Upamanyu’s prayer, appreared before him and offered him a prasada that, when consumed, would regain his vision. Upamanyu agreed to consume the prasada after offering it to his Guru.

The Ashwinikumaras said that Dhaumya didn't give the medicine to his guru and hence it isn't necessary for him to give to Dhaumya before eating. Upamanyu thanked them but declined their advice.

    Pleased by his resolve, the Ashwins repaired his sight. They also offered  him a golden tooth, and many other powers. The Ashwins then blessed Upamanyu with good fortune and left. 

   The boy returned to his guru and narrated all that had happened. Dhaumya was thrilled, and he blessed Upamanyu with prosperity and mastery of the Vedas. 

    True and sincere belief and obedience in one's guru will bring in immense benefits. 

Shri Gurave namah!!! 

Story #41: The beginning of Kaliyuga

    Dwapara Yuga was about to be finished and Kali yuga was about to begin. The kalipurusha was able to conquer every place in the world except the kingdom ruled by king Parikshit.

   When Parikshit came to know that kalipurusha was waiting at the boundary of his kingdom,  he really went there and battled against kalipurusha.  Sure enough the King won the battle and was ready to slain the kalipurusha.

    At this time kalipurusha explained the King that the onset of Kali yuga was as per the rules laid out by Lord Brahma. He forget gave the details as how many year reach yuga was supposed to be and also the nature of each yuga. He said the weapons that kalipurusha was bestowed upon were poison, lust, evil, treachery, greed.

   At the end,  the King allowed kalipurusha to reside in five places, and use his five weapons. He gave permission that people who willingly came to these places could become the victims of the demon Kali Yuga.

    The five places where those were there was
   1.  Alcohol drinking - weapon of poison
   2.  Prostitution - weapon of lust
   3.  Animal slaughter - weapon of evil
   4.  Gambling - weapon of treachery
   5.  Gold - weapon of greed.

    Kali smartly entered into Parikshit's golden crown and spoiled his thoughts.

    Parikshit entered the hut of a sage named Shamika as he was thirsty. He found the sage in deep meditation. He bowed to him several times but as there was no response. In anger, he took a dead snake and threw it around the sage's neck. Later when the sage's son, Shringin, heard of this incident he cursed the king to die of snake bite on the seventh day.

    On hearing this, the king forswore the throne for his son Janamejaya and spent his last seven days, in an socially created island,  which was void of snakes.  All seven days he was listening to the Bhagavatham from sage Shukabrahma.

   On the seventh day, the King took a lemon that was floating in the sea and cut it open. Inside the lemon was the snake king Takshaka, who bit him. Parikshita left his mortal remains behind and attained Moksha.

   We learn from this though we encounter the hardest time, mere listening to the stories of God would lead us to the ultimate goal.

Jai Sri Krishna!! 

Story #40: The tale of Tulasi

   There once was an Asura named Jalandhara. Jalandhara was born out of the anger that Lord Shiva felt towards Lord Indra. He was married to the beautiful Vrinda.

   Vrinda was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu and she had received yogic powers due to her bhakti. Jalandhara, who was already powerful, became invincible due to the powers of Vrinda.

   Every time Jalandhara went to battle, she would begin her prayers to Lord Vishnu.
This would ensure the victory of the Asura.

   Once, Jalandhara went against battling with the Devas, with Lord Shiva as the leader. The Gods knew that it was impossible to defeat Jalandhara, as the prayers of Vrinda were in progress. So, Lord Vishnu took the form of Jalandhara and went to Vrinda. He informed that he has defeated lord Shiva, and asked her to stop her prayers. Hearing these words, she stopped the prayers and got up from her seat.

   As soon as she did so, she realized that there was something wrong. At that very moment, Lord Shiva had killed Jalandhara.

    Vrinda realized this and also came to know that it was none other than her Lord Vishnu who had cheated her.

   She cursed lord Vishnu to become a stone for such cheating and not protecting her husband at the time of need. With this, she breathed her last.

    According to the curse, Lord Vishnu was trapped in the Saalagramam and Vrinda was reborn as a tulsi plant. The leaves of tulsi is Lord Vishnu's favourite and no pooja or offering for him is complete without the leaves of tulsi.

    We learn from this incident in Tulsi Mahathmiyam that even the God have to bear the consequences, if he does an evil deed.

Tulsi maharaani kids jai !!

Story #39: Son of Hanuman

   This is again a lesser known story,  which appears in Gujarati and few other versions of Ramayana.

   After setting Lanka on fire, Hanuman flew off from the blazing city, his tail still in fire.  As he was feeling too hot, he decided to take a dip in the sea water. Here a drop of his perspiration fell in the mouth of a mighty Makara.

    This Makara or fish was caught by the fishermen in the kingdom of Ahiravana, the king of Patal. When the Makar was cut open, a monkey face baby with a fish’s body was found. Ahirvana saw his strength and named him Makardhwaj, the guardian of Patal.

   Later when Ram was fighting the war against Ravan, Ahiravana cast a spell on Ram and Lakshman and took them to Patal. Hanuman followed them. However, at the gates of Patal he was challenge by Makardhwaj who introduced himself as the son of Hanuman.

    Hanuman was most amused to hear this.  On his behest, the guard narrated the story of his birth and asked blessings from his father. However, Hanuman still had to fight a duel and defeat him to get into Patal to get Ram and Lakshman. On his return and upon Ram’s Advice, Hanuman appointed Makardhwaj as the new king of Patal.

   Temples dedicated to Makardhwaj can be found in Gujarat and Rajastan. 

   We must learn from this,  we must be courageous enough took stand against even our kith and kin when it comes to establishing righteousness.

Jai Bajrangbali!! 

Story #38: Ashoka Sundari - Daughter of Shiva

   Acccording to Padma purana, Ashoka Sundari, was born to Shiva and Parvathi before birth of Ganesha. Parvathi felt lonely many times, as Shiva would leave her alone many times to visit his devotees. Once when both of them were under karpagavriksham, the wish-fulfilling tree, Parvathi tells Shiva her problem and asks for a girl child who could be with her to wardoff her loneliness.This wish was instantly granted. She was named Ashoka as she got rid of Parvati’s shokam or sorrow and Sundari because she was very beautiful.

   Ashoka Sundari was to be married to Nahusha, grandson of Yayati of the lunar dynasty. There was a demon who tries to abduct her. However she escaped fromm him and curses him that her husband would become the reason for his death. Later, Ashoka Sundari and Nahusha got married in the ashram of Sage Vashishta. After this Nahusa kills the demon and saves the life of many sages.

   In many vrat-katha of Gujaratis we come to know that, Ashoka Sundari was present at the time Ganesha was beheaded by lord Shiva. She gets too afraid that she hides herself behind a sack of salt. When Parvathi comes to know of this, she gets really frustrated and letdown. She curses her own daughter, that her fame would go down and she will not be known to all and she will be one with salt always.

   Since this is said to have happened in Chaitra month, Gujaratis still refrain from getting salt during the month. They believe that it would bring in the wrath of Parvathi if they get salt that month.

   We learn from this mythological incident that whoever we may be we must be brave and courageous and stand for the right when there is a need. Being a witness of an evil deed is as good as doing the deed itself.


Jai Uma Maheshwara !!!

Story #37: Seetha's previous life

   Once there lived a son of Brihaspathi, Brahmarshi Kusadhvaja. He was the guru of Devas and had spent his life reading the Vedas. He had a daughter named Veddavathi,  who was very bright and charming.  Her father wished to give her in marriage to Lord Vishnu. A daitya king sambhu killed her parents for rejecting his marriage proposal. Yet Vedavathi continued her great penance towards Lord Vishnu.

   Ravana, the Asura King, found Vedavathi meditating and got attracted to her and asked her to marry him.  However she rejected the proposal. Ravana got irritated and spoiled her penance by touching her hair. Vedavathi jumped into for SMH sacrificed her life.  She was careful not to curse Ravana as it will cause her penance to go wasted.  Still before jumping into fire, she told that it would be because of her rebirth that Ravana would die.

   Ravana who got a little scared,  didn't even want to leave the ashes behind.  He took it along with him to Lanka. The asked in the box showed up as different forms to everyone. So, Mandodari, wife of Ravana, threw the box in deep seas. The box thus thrown travels in seas and landed in a place Mithila.

    Long time later,  even Janaka, the king of Videha, ploughed the land to prepare for Yagna, he got the box,  which had a beautiful child in it.  The child was named Seetha. As we all know,  she grew up and became the reason for the fall of Ravana.

   We learn from this,  unspoken words have much more power than the words that are spoken.
             
    Jai Sitaram!!