|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 113 –The legend of Manu/King Sharyadhi

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, I shall narrate the story of Prishadhashva who was born in the clan of Manu/Ikshvaku went to learn under the guidance of Sage Vashishta.  In the hermitage of Sage, he was assigned with the duty of safeguarding the Yagna arena and taking care of the cows. One night, a lion entered in the cowshed, it created huge chaos in the shed, cows and calves produced loud shriek, were started to flee in different directions in the darkness,  Prishadhashva ran towards the cowshed after listening to the hue and cry.   In the darkness he could not make out what’s happening, he took the sword and chopped the head of an animal thinking it is a lion and returned to hermitage.  The next morning, he went inside the cowshed and shocked at the sight, he saw a headless body of the cow of the highest breed in the pool of blood.  He could find the ear of the lion as well.  He was deeply hurt by his action in the darkness, he cried out loudly in utter guilt.  Even though Sage Vashishta understood the entire situation, he could not control his anger; he cursed Prishadhashva to become a Shudra.  Prishadhashva left the hermitage of Sage Vashishta, spend his remaining life in solitude contemplating upon Lord Vasudeva resides as a soul in living beings, a compassionate Lord to the distressed people.  He cut off himself from the worldly matters and lived in utmost serenity.  He considered all those happened in his life as the grace of the supreme Lord.  In this way, Prishadhashva elevated his soul from his own mistake as well as from the curse of his preceptor.”

Shuka Bhramam continues “ Oh! Rajan, listen to the legend of King Sharyadhi who was highly intellectual, has profound knowledge of Veda, he taught the priests who have performed the grand fire sacrifice of Maharishi Angirass on the second day.   He had a daughter named Sukanya, who is virtuous, intelligent and beautiful as well, she was well talented in archery used to accompany her father in hunting expedition.  Once Sukanya and King Sharyadhi went to woods, while the King was searching for his prey, Sukanya went with the females'  companions accompanied from the palace.  While roaming in the woods, Sukanya could witness a big anthill and two blazing eyes inside the mound were spreading extreme radiance.  Sukanya was curious took a sharp dried wood piece and punctured the blazing eyes, eventually, it started bleeding.  Soon, the King’s men and the attendants assembled could not take breathe, their stomach crammed with air and they could experience severe uneasiness.  King Sharyadhi could sense the situation, that something went wrong, and enquired his attendants “Oh! Attendants, an illustrious sage who is immersed in penance is in trouble, find out who hurt him.”   Sukanya replied “ Oh! Father, I saw an anthill with two blazing like eyes, I have pierced it open, found it is bleeding.”  Soon King Sharyadhi rushed to the anthill, removed the mud and safely took out Maharishi Chyavana from the anthill. King Sharyadhi fell at his feet and begged for forgiveness.  He offered beautiful daughter Sukanya to Maharishi Chyavana, to take care of him in the woods and assist him in performing daily rites and penances.  Sukanya relentlessly served her husband Maharishi Chyavana and pleased him.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 112 –The legend of Manu/Ila

The life events can be taken personally as well as fact, if it is taken personally it would hurt and it stirs up various emotions like fear, guilt, ego, pride, jealousy, etc… eventually it can put the individual in extreme distress.   If it was taken as a fact, the intensity of grief or sorrow would be less.  Therefore the broader perception would lessen the emotional burden; many of the life-threatening events become uncomplicated.  The happiness and sorrows are inevitable if it was taken as the grace of the Supreme Lord, who is all-pervading, and then there will be no emotional break-down or wreck.  An elevated soul remains unhurt in any adverse situation in life.  The narrow-mindedness is fickle and rickety in nature; it gets disturbed easily, causes agitation even in case of trivial incidents.  The Intellectuals/ broad minded people are firm with a balanced mind; they face the challenges in life with extreme courage, they are thoroughly aware of the fact that the body has to undergo a constant transformation, the supreme soul remains changeless.

King Pareekshith “ Oh! Bhraman, kindly describe the clan of Manu/Ila.”

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, Manu had no offspring, once he approached his preceptor Sage Vashishta seeking advice for a virtuous offspring.   Sage Vashishta advised the couple to follow strict austerities to perform the ‘Puthrakameshti Yaga’.  The Queen visited the hermitage of Sage Vashishta to know more about the objective of the Yaga.  Sage Vashishta informed the Queen about the desire of the King to obtain a boy child; an heir to his throne was refused by the Queen.   She revealed her desire to have a daughter and expressed her desire to offer more contributions to Brahmins who performs the Puthrakameshti Yaga.  Thus the Puthrakameshti Yaga was performed under the guidance of Sage Vashishta, the porridge that appeared from the fire sacrifice was offered to Queen.  In due course of time, the Queen was pregnant with a child and gave birth to a girl child.  The Queen took the child to reveal to the King was extremely disappointed.  King called for Sage Vashishta and questioned ‘Why did it happen? How come my wish for a boy child went wrong?’  Sage Vashishta informed the King about his fellow-priests who were persuaded by the Queen.  Sage Vashishta consoled the King not to be anxious about the turn of events, and the girl child was transformed into a boy with the divine power of Sage Vashishta.  Years passed, the boy has grown to a handsome youth, once Sudhyumna went for hunting expedition with his men.  Suddenly, Sudhimna and his men arrived in a place, instantly they have turned to females attired in attractive garments.  Shortly,   Budha, the son of Soma/Lord Chandra arrived in the wood and saw an attractive woman/Sudhyumna, immediately they have fallen in love with each other and married.  In due course of time, Budha’s wife Ila gave birth to a child.  In the meantime, the King’s men returned to the palace and informed the King about the incidents that took place in the woods, and the marriage of Sudhyumna with the son of Lord Chandra, eventually King Manu called out for Sage Vashishta and briefed the incident to him.  Sage Vashishta with his divine powers understood the wood where Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi spend the days after marriage and performed various passionate sports in this wood, during this period a few saintly people arrived in the wood and saw the mesmerizing beauty of Goddess Parvathi, but they moved out of the woods silently.  Lord Shiva saw Goddess Parvathi in utter shyness, and he cursed the wood, later whoever enters in this wood has become female.  Sage Vashishta contemplated upon Lord Shiva and appealed to him, in order to keep up the promise given to Goddess Parvati and Sage Vashishta’s promise to Manu, it was decided that Sudhyumna should live the life of a female for a month and male for another month.  Thus, the son of Manu spends days of manhood in the administration of the Kingdom, during womanhood he took shelter inside the palace.  Finally, the people of the Kingdom came to know about the curse on the son of Manu, started mocking at him.  Sudhyumna was deeply hurt and returned to the wood, immersed in intense penance.”

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudhevaya||

Chapter – 111 – The legend of Matsya Avathar -3

King Sathyavratha eulogized Lord Hari who has assumed the form of a giant fish “Oh! Bhagavan, Oh! Preceptor, I am drenched in ignorance of worldly existence, I am worn out of happiness and sorrow, I have lived all my life to please my senses, I was seeking happiness in the people and material things, and I have been in search of material welfare and people to make myself happy.  Oh! Bhagavan, Oh! Parmaguro, your nearness could break the worldly bondage that I have fastened myself with others, my body consciousness, and attachment to material possessions, like a blazing fire that removes dirt from the precious yellow metal.  Oh! Bhagavan, the nearness of a preceptor could wash off the impurities like Avidhya/ignorance Kamam/lust and desires Karma/addiction to physical activities, excessive attachment to worldly matter, worldly affairs, and the increased expectations, ego, jealousy, pride, anger, etc.  Oh! Bhagavan, Oh! Paramaguro, I shall take refuge at your lotus feet, like blind seeking help from the intellectual who has eyesight, kindly elevate my soul to the highest state of serenity.  Oh! Bhagavan,   I am fortunate to have your presence, there are people who wandering without any ultimate objective, they copy each other’s way of living blindly, ultimately heave themselves into the darkness of ignorance due to lack of a preceptor, Oh! Lord, kindly bless me with the supreme knowledge that can elevate my soul to the supreme Lord.  Oh! Bhagavan, you are the closest companion of all the living beings, you are beloved deity who resides as a soul in living beings, kindly liberate me from the worldly bondage and elevate my soul.   Oh!  Supreme Lord, kindly removes all my impurities and fills my intellect and mind with brightness, thereby eradicate all the worldly bondage and elevate my soul.”

Shuka Bhramam concludes “ Oh! King Pareekshit, the supreme Lord Hari who was surrounded by Rishis and King Sathyavratha, described the ultimate philosophy/Thathva/ultimate truth of Sanathana Bhramam.  Later, Lord Narayana killed the demon Hayagreevah and restored the Veda.  Thus the King Sathyavratha attained the supreme knowledge.  Whoever reads or listen to the legend of King Sathyavratha and the glorious incarnation of supreme Lord Vishnu as giant fish would get liberated from all the apprehensions, eventually attain the highest of the state of spirituality known as supreme bliss.  I shall prostrate before the supreme Lord Hari who has assumed the form of a giant fish to restore the Veda and elevated the soul of King Sathyavratha who was troubled by the deluge.”

The giant fish represents the Beeja/Shukla that is deposited in the womb of a female, it has the resemblance to baby fish, it is deposited with the water, and the growth of the baby fish in the Kamandalu has not stopped, it continued the growth, in this process it has adopted a river, pond, finally it has grown to a giant size was deposited in the ocean as its shelter place.  The human life subject to constant transformation in every second, during this process it gets attached to various material welfare and bondage, it constantly undergoes happiness, grief, fear, anxieties, pain and sorrows, the intellectuals who are thoroughly aware of the impermanent nature of all the living beings, and material things, they are Jijyasu/curious who conducts the search for the ultimate truth, remain in the association of Sadhus/saintly people, and learning scriptures, eventually attain union with the flawless supreme Bramham, with the constant practice of meditation, contemplation, Pranayama etc.  Thus the imperfect soul immerses in the contemplation of flawless Bhrama and remains in the supreme bliss, like the rivers merge with the ocean to attain perfection.   The mind and intellect should merge with its origin, known as supreme soul and the physical body unites with the Prakrithi.    The ignorant end up in extreme distress, guilt, and shame with their constant search for sensual pleasures and prepare them to take re-birth.

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudhevaya||

Chapter – 110 – The legend of  Matsya Avathar -2

Shuka Bhramam speaks " Oh! Pareekshith, listen to me carefully,  King Sathyavratha spoke “ Oh! Bhagavan, Oh! Supreme Lord Hari, Oh! Narayana, Oh! Avyaya who is imperishable, I have understood that you are not an ordinary fish; you have assumed the form of a fish for the welfare of the living beings, therefore, kindly reveal your real form to me. Oh! Purushashreshta, I shall prostrate before you. Oh! Bhagavan, kindly narrate to me why did you assume the form of a fish?”  Lord Hari replied “Oh! Rajan, on the seventh day from today, the three worlds would immerse in the water, at that point of time, I would send a ferry occupied by the Saptharishis, you have to collect the seeds of plant life, and accommodate yourself in the ferry.  This ferry can be tied with the tusk/horn of mine while traveling on the ferry; I would explain the essence of ‘Bhramam’ to you, the all-pervading nature of mine.”  The giant fish disappeared from the sight of King Sathyavratha."

Several years have passed, King Sathyavratha relentlessly thought of the marvelous incarnation of Lord Hari as giant fish.   Suddenly, the heavy downpour began followed by thunderstorms, lightning, eventually, it caused intense deluge, and he remembered the instructions of supreme Lord Hari. King Sathyavratha could witness the ferry occupied by the Saptharishis, as instructed King Sathyavratha took a seat in the ferry with the seeds of plant life.  The Saptharishis advised the King not to get intimidated by the flood and contemplate upon Lord Keshava, who will not leave his devotees in distress.  The ferry was unsteady, moving with the strong currents of the water and wind, caused intense trepidation in Rishis, they have witnessed a giant fish with a long trunk appeared before them.  The Saptharishis and King Sathyavratha reverentially greeted the Lord with folded palms, thus the ferry was safely fastened on the trunk of the giant fish.

The ‘Pralaya’ deluge/flood causes havoc in the life of living beings on the Earth, Pralaya is two kinds, one is Prakrithapralaya which causes the destruction of material things and living beings and the second one is  Bhramapralaya which is the union of the soul with the supreme soul.   The Rishis described the creation of the Universe and living beings out of Thriguna of the human mind and intellect, which functions under the influence of the supreme soul, therefore it should merge with the Supreme Lord.  The mind and intellect which has the constant influence of Sathvik nature merge with Bhramapralaya with the continuous practice of meditation, contemplation, disciplines, and Pranayama, etc.  In this way, the individual attains the serenity of mind, which has the ability to react to any situation with a balanced state of mind, be it happiness or sorrows, disgrace or admiration, honor or humiliation.  The essential five elements such as Earth, Water, Agni, Vayu, and Ether, undergo Prakrithapralaya.

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudhevaya||

Chapter – 109 – The legend of Matsya Avathar -1

The sacred scripture Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran comprises various legends that are strictly related to the life of humans on the Earth.  It is not a plain story; it is the lessons on human life.  The story of Gajendra taught us about the misconception of humans that all those possession, wealth, family, children and relatives, are the only source for happiness in life. The elephant Gajendra took great pleasure in various amusements in the herd of elephants, was once trapped in the clutches of a crocodile and called out for help, none of the family members or his own physical strength could get him out the mouth of the crocodile.  He was miserably failed to protect himself, so he called out supreme Lord Hari.  In this way, most of the realities in life go against expectations.  In the story of ‘ Samudra Manthan’ Sage Durvass offered the highly auspicious garland that was received from the abode of Lord Vishnu to Lord Indra who received it carelessly, later it was thrashed on the floor by Airavatha.  Sage Durvassa expected congenial behavior from Lord Indra was disturbed by his arrogance and cursed the deities to lose their fame and glory.  The legend of Mahabali who is well known for his great sacrifices, as an Emperor he had the self-assurance that he could offer anything to  Vatu Vamana, but the turn of events made Mahabali sacrifice himself to Vatu Vamana.  More often the expectation does not match with the realities of life.   Whatever experienced in life has been taken as the greatest lesson learned, and shut down the doors to learn new things could destroy the growth of an individual.    Therefore an inquisitive mind followed with humility is essential for the growth of spirituality as well as the material living.  The greatest knowledge can be attained only with a sense of humility and curiosity.

Pareekshith spoke “Oh! Bhagavan, I would like to hear the glorious incarnation of Lord Hari as Maya Matsya/giant fish.  Why did the all-pervading Lord who has immense prowess, manifested as giant fish and performed various amusements? Why did he assume lowly creature like a fish?”

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, supreme Lord Hari has taken various incarnations, surprisingly all his incarnations have the nature of ‘wind’ that does not attach to the matter; it has free-flowing nature and will not get polluted with the changes in the atmosphere.  Hence, whatever forms assumed by the supreme Lord will not stain him due to his independent nature like ‘Air’.  I shall narrate the story of Mathsyavathar to you.  Once, the whole universe was immersed/Laya in water due to the influence of ‘Time’, at that moment, Lord Bhrama who had the possession of four Vedas on his face was seized away by a demon named Haygreevah, hence Lord Hari assumed the form of a giant fish and regained the Vedas from the demon and handed to Lord Bhrama. The King Sathyavratha who is an ardent devotee of Lord Hari attained the grace of the Supreme Lord.”

Shuka Bhramam continues “ Oh! Rajan,  King Sathyavratha was taking penance on the river banks of Krithamala, one day he entered to perform ablutions in the river, he took a handful of water and found a baby fish in it while dropping the fish,  it requested the King ‘ Oh! Rajan, Oh! Deenavathsala, I am helpless, you have seen big water creatures in this river, and if you drop me in the water they would swallow me. So kindly protect me.” The King was not aware of the real nature of the fish, he decided to protect it.  He put back the fish in his Kamandalu and took it to his hermitage.   In a short, while the fish began to speak “ Oh! Rajan, I cannot fit my body in this vessel, therefore kindly transfer me from this vessel.” King Sathyavratha was curious, transferred the fish into a big vessel.  In this way, he keeps transferring the fish according to its size of the growth, finally, it has grown up to the size of  a gigantic aquatic animal, and it requested the king to deposit  in the ocean.” 

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudhevaya||

Chapter – 108 – The legend of Vamana -4

Vindhyavali speaks “Oh! Bhagavan, you are the creator of the Universe and its living beings, and you are taking extreme pleasure in various amusements, you are the supreme soul who undertakes the functions of creation, preservation, and destruction as well. Oh! Bhagavan, you are all-pervading, you have already measured the Earth in two strides which includes my husband as well.” Lord Bhrama appeared before Lord Vamana who kept his feet on Mahabali, Lord Bhrama speaks “ Oh! Bhoothabhavana, Oh! Bhoothesha, Oh! Devadeva, Oh! Jaganmaya,  Vairochana has offered all those possession on this Earth to you, therefore kindly do not punish him anymore.” Lord Vishnu smiled and replied “Oh! Lord Bhrama, if I want to shower my grace upon individuals, I will take a test on their devotion, and put a test on all that belongs to them.   If they cry over the lost possession and splendor I will leave my hold on them. Hence, if anyone wants to get my grace, I will definitely test their devotion, keep a hold on their belongings if they do not have faith in me, I will leave my hold too.  Whoever surrendered to me, I will not leave them.  I will not punish Vairochana, who is eminent and greatest devotee in the demons; he would be blessed with my eternal protection.  Oh! Lord Bhrama, I shall describe the reason to you, after seizing all his possession and keeping my feet on his head,  Vairochana was neither disappointed nor intimidated, and he has already won over my unconquerable Maya.  Hence he is deserved to be in a world where there is no miseries, pain, agonies, and sorrows.”

Lord Vamana spoke to Vairochana.  “Oh! Vairochana, I shall shower all the auspiciousness to you, and send to you the Suthalaloka, which is superior to the abode of Lord Indira, the place where the deities yearn to reside.  I will protect you always in the Suthalaloka with my permanent presence.  You will be freed from all the miseries and sorrows.” In this way, Lord Vishnu elevated the soul of Vairochana who has intense devotion and faith upon the supreme Lord.

The meaning of spirituality is the acceptances of all the happenings, whether it is pleasant or unpleasant as the grace of Lord, and makes an effort to elevate the soul from the miseries and sorrows of worldly existence and contemplate upon him. It is the practice of individual effort to elevate the soul to supreme Lord.  Whoever makes an effort to elevate the soul would be protected and relieved from the worldly bondage and miseries of worldly existence with the grace of supreme Lord.    The legend of Mahabali reveals the graciousness of him, even after losing entire wealth to Lord Vishnu.  He did not get attached to his possessions or glories, he generously offered the entire wealth to the Vatu Vamana, he was neither alarmed or wretched after losing the entire wealth, he firmly hold on the faith to supreme Lord,  even refused to pay attention to his preceptor Shukracharya, or his wealth, or his own body, and elevated his soul to supreme Lord.  The legend of Vama teaches the sense of sharing one’s own possessions, glories and wealth for the welfare of others, with the sense of complete surrender to supreme Lord.  The sense of attachment over people and possession would create intense grief and sorrow.  The King Vairochana who was thoroughly aware of the essence of Bhagavatha, and his responsibilities to share his wealth and possession to living beings, he was neither attached to people or possession, and he was completely surrendered to supreme soul.

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudhevaya||

Chapter – 107 – The legend of Vamana -3

Shukha Bhramam speaks “  Oh! Pareekshith, The proceedings of the charity began, Shukracharya rushed to Mahabali and stopped him, he spoke to Mahabali “ Oh! Vairochana, This is not Vatu, he is supreme Lord Mahavishnu who is all-pervading was born to Devi Adhithi and Sage Kashyapa, he has arrived here to fulfill the desires of the deities.  He is Lord Srihari who is going to take away all your fame, fortune, possessions, wealth, and splendor and he will give to Lord Indra.  Oh! Fool, this tiny foot will occupy the entire Universe, and you will remain with nothing, Oh! Ignorant one, how did you live without anything in this world? I could envisage his tiny feet would perform a miracle, he will measure the world with one stride, and he will measure the Dhik/directions in the second stride, where did he keep the foot for the third stride? What would you offer for his third stride?  Let me explain to you, how to perform charity with wealth.  The wealth earned should be distributed equally for five deeds such as  Dharma/righteousness/ building ponds, shrines, wells, shelter homes, etc., Yashas/for the elevation of soul such as conduct pilgrimage and learning scriptures, performance of Yaga, Yagna, etc,  Arththa/investments for the future, Kama/fulfilling desires, and spend for the welfare of your own people, therefore you cannot offer all your wealth to him. Oh! Rajan, listen to me carefully, in some cases, you can withdraw from your promises, in some cases, lies are considered as forgiving, lies to the woman while performing a marriage, lies to accomplish certain tasks, lies to protect from life-threatening incidents, and lies to protect Bhramin and cows.  Therefore, you can make an amendment to your promise to Vatu Vamana.”  Vairochana replied “Oh! Preceptor, if I have agreed to someone to offer or share my wealth, I will not change my promise.  I am not scared of hell, I am not scared of the curse of Vipra, but I will not withdraw from the promises to Vatu Vamana.”  Shukracharya was in a rage, listening to the adamant nature of Mahabali after giving enough lecture about the charity, he cursed Mahabali “ Oh! Vairochana, you have disrespected my words, you will lose all your fame and wealth.”  Vairochana was not alarmed about the curse of his preceptor Shukracharya.  Vairochana called out for Vindhyavali to conduct the charity proceedings, the water was offered in the hands of Vairochana as an initiation of the proceedings.  Soon, the Vatu Vamana assumed a colossal form, gradually he has increased the size even Mahabali could not witness the complete form of supreme Lord, before that he realized that the Vamana measured the entire directions and the Earth in one stride, and in second stride measured the heaven, with the two strides Vamana measured the entire wealth of Mahabali, there was no inch left for the third stride.  Lord Vishnu looked at the face of Mahabali and asked “ Oh! Vairochana, where shall I keep my third stride?” the demons assembled were shrieked out, Vairochana stopped the demons that created chaos and said “Oh! Demons, stop your atrocity, the time is not in favor of us, therefore stop all your cries.  All that I have gained with the grace of the Supreme Lord and he has taken back all that he has given, patiently wait for the favorable time, you need not cry on it.”  Lord Vishnu brought the celestial vehicle Garuda, Vairochana was fastened with Varuna Pasha.  Lord Vishnu asked " Oh! Vairochana where shall I keep my third stride?"  Vairochana with folded palms said “ Oh! Bhagavan, you are the most respected one in the Universe, I shall offer my head to measure with your third stride, Oh! Bhagavan, I am not scared of your punishments, or Varuna Pasha, I am scared of not fulfilling my promises.” Even though Vairochana was fastened with the Varuna Pasha, he was neither disappointed nor grieved over the loss of wealth."