|| Om Namo Bhagavathey Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 121- The legend of Surya dynasty -5

The confluence of river Ganga, Yamuna and the underwaters of Saraswathi are known as ‘Prayag’.  The river Ganga represents refined knowledge, river Yamuna represents Bhakti/devotion, and the river Saraswathi represents ‘Vairagya/renunciation/abandonment/dispassion.  Therefore the union of Bhakti/devotion, Gnana/wisdom and Vairagya/abandonment is known as ‘Prayag’/supreme bliss.  The true devotion is the constant contemplation upon the supreme soul who resides as a soul in living beings, and the understanding/wisdom, of the nature of supreme soul who resides as soul all the living beings/’oneness in all’, with the sense of ‘oneness-in-all’ practice humility, kindness, humbleness, etc. and Vairagya/abandonment is the serenity of mind/balanced state of mind to consider happiness and sorrows as the grace of Lord.

King Katvanga who was born in the clan of Bhageeratha was a great ruler.  Once, the deities approached King Katvanga and requested his assistance to battle against the demons.  A vicious battle held between the deities and demons, the deities won over the demons with the skill and assistance of King Katvanga.  The deities were highly pleased with King Katvanga and Lord Indra revealed his willingness to offer an abundance of boons.  King Katvanga said “ Oh! Lord, kindly enlighten me with the duration of my life on the Earth.”  Lord Indra has hesitatingly informed the King that he has two seconds/Muhurtha left for his life on Earth.  King Katvanga was unwavering, returned to his Kingdom, decided to elevate his soul contemplating upon supreme Lord.  He had a constant association with the Sadhus/saintly men from childhood, and he was thoroughly aware of the ultimate objective in life, he felt highly fortunate one to have the life he had with the saintly men.  He assigned the Kingdom to the heir to the throne; all the possessions were equally distributed among sons and for the performance of Dharmic rites, completely withdrawn from the wealth, kingdom, family, children and wives.  Even the deities, who are Vikshiptha Indhriyas/keen on the sensual pleasures, are incapable to realize the nature of the Supreme Lord who resides as a soul.  He immersed in the meditation upon supreme Lord Narayana who resides as supreme soul,   completely freed himself from the worldly matters and bondage, and took complete surrender at the lotus feet on the supreme Lord.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathey Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 120- The legend of Surya dynasty -4

King Sagara who was born in the Surya dynasty had sixty thousand children.  Once, he decided to perform a grand Yaga for the welfare of the Kingdom, a high breed cow was kept to offer for Yaga.  Unfortunately, the cow was got lost; the sixty thousand sons of King Sagara has conducted a thorough search for the cow all over the Earth.  They conducted an excavation in search of the cow were became the oceans.  The sixty thousand sons continued their search; finally, they met Sage Kapila who was in a transcendental state.  The Sage got disturbed by the chaos created by them, opened his eyes in a fury.  Instantly, the sixty thousand sons were burned into ashes.   King Amshuman in this dynasty and his sons have tried all their efforts to liberate the souls of sixty thousand sons of King Sagara were miserably failed.  They decided to bring the sacred river Akasha Ganga on the Earth so that the ancestors could get attain liberation.  King Dilip attempted to bring river Ganda on Earth was failed. 

King Bhageeratha, the son of King Dilip conducted an extreme penance to bring sacred river Ganga on Earth.  Goddess Ganga pleased with the devotion of King Bhageeratha, revealed her willingness to come down to Earth, but the Earth cannot bear the powerful water current, was advised to pray to Lord Mahadeva.  King Bhageeratha conducted penance praying to Lord Rudra, thus Lord was pleased with Bhageeratha and agreed to hold river Ganga on his matted hair locks.  The river Ganga descended to Earth was safely locked in the matted hair locks of Lord Rudra.  Once again, Bhageeratha underwent severe penance praying to Lord Rudra and pleased him.  Thus, Lord Rudra opened a tiny part of tangled hair locks, giving way out for Ganga.  The powerful water currents of Ganga washed away the hermitage of Sage Jahnu, later she was released through his ears at the request of King Bhageeratha, thus the sacred river Ganga got the name ‘Jahnavi’.  Her beautiful watercourse paved way to the hermitage of Saptharishis, finally arrived at the hermitage of Sage Kapila where the heap of ashes of the sons of Sagara was accumulated, thus she liberated the souls of sixty thousand sons of King Sagara. 

Ganga asked “ Oh! Rajan, I have purified the souls all your ancestors on the Earth, and the people who people who took a dip in my waters, and received all their sins, how can I get purified myself?”  King Bhageertha said “ Oh! Devi, all the sins deposited in your water will get purified by the dip of saintly people who elevated their souls with the constant contemplation upon supreme Lord who resides as a soul in living beings.  You will get purified with their constant presence on your riverbank contemplating upon supreme Lord.” Thus the river Ganga has assumed her name ‘Bhageerathi’.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathey Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 119- The legend of Surya dynasty -3

The Saubhari Maharishi and his fifty wives, contemplated upon supreme Lord with the constant remembrance of supreme Lord who is eternal, resides as soul in the living beings.  They thoroughly understood the impermanent nature of material well-being, and the permanent nature of the supreme soul, in this way they got freed from the fear.  Once, there was a huge wood fire occurred, Maharishi Saubhari and his fifty wives sacrificed their lives in the wood fire, eventually attained the abode of Lord.

King Mandhatha had a son named Thrishanku.  He had a desire to go to heaven with the human body; he approached his preceptor Sage Vashishta who refused to yield his desires.  Thrishanku approached the sons of Sage Vashishta, was rejected the plea of the King and cursed him for his ignorance.  Thrishanku did not leave his plan to go to heaven with the mortal body; he met Sage Vishwamithra, who was not in good terms with Sage Vashishta, agreed to fulfill the desire of King Thrishanku.  Thus, Sage Vishwamithra began the fire sacrifice and sends Thrishanku to the heaven, on his way to heaven, Lord Indra found Thrishanku ascending to heaven was given a spank with his Vajrayudha.  Thrishanku descends to Earth, upside down was stopped with the divine powers of Sage Vishwamithra.  Thus, new heaven was created named after ‘Thrishanku’. 

King Thrishanku had a son Harishchandra.  He had no offspring, so he conducted a Yaga praying to Lord Varuna with a promise that the infant born would be offered to Lord Varuna.   Thus a child was born to King Harishchandra,   was approached by Lord Varuna and reminded his promise.   King Harishchandhra had to offer the infant to Lord Varuna was delayed several times; finally, his son got married and had his son.  Later, he came to know about the father’s promise to Lord Varuna, returned to woods and underwent austerities.   He pacified Lord Varuna by offering the son of a Vipra, Sage Vishwamithra intervened and protected the son of Vipra from Lord Varuna.  Thus illustrious rulers of the Surya dynasty were highly intellectuals realized the fact that the material-wellbeing cannot help to elevate their souls had complete control over sense, therefore they underwent austerities and penance, finally attained union with the supreme Bhramam.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathey Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 118- The legend of Surya dynasty -2

Mandhatha ruled the Kingdom of the Ikshvaku dynasty for several years, he had fifty children.  Maharishi Saubhari was born in the clan of King Shashabindhu, whose son was illustrious Emperor Muchukundha.  Maharishi Saubhari underwent extreme penance in the underwaters of river Yamuna, intending to withdraw from all the worldly attractions.  His body started deteriorating, the water animals started to consume the body parts; he was least bothered to notice them.  Once, he witnessed the physical relationship between the male and female fish, it stirred emotions in him, he desired to have the pleasure of physical relationship.  Further, he could not continue austerities after witnessing the pleasure of physical relationships.  He got out of the water and decided to get married to put off the fire in him, thus he arrived in the Kingdom of Mandhatha who had fifty girl children. 

Maharishi Saubhari met King Mandhatha and revealed his desire to marry his daughter.  Mandhatha became anxious to see the physique of the Maharishi whose muscles were already lost in the water and had a murky appearance, he had nothing left in his body other than a few bones.  Mandhatha does not want to put off the spirit of Maharishi, with the hope that none of the girls are going to fall for the Maharishi who is least impressive.   King advised him to conduct a visit to his palace and meet the girls, if any of the girls interested in him, would marry off to him.  Immediately, Maharishi Saubhari assumed a marvelous form that excels the beauty of Lord Kamadheva and entered the palace.  He approached the daughters of King Mandhatha, the moment they witnessed the handsome Maharishi, revealed their willingness to marry him, seeing his exquisite physique and appearance they started to fight each other for winning him as their husband.  Finally, Maharishi Shaubhari enquired the girls who are willing to marry him and proceed with him.  Surprisingly all the daughters were prepared to marry him. Thus, Maharishi Shaubhari married all the daughters of Mandhatha and lived a joyous life. 

Years have passed, Maharishi Shaubhari started feeling guilty of his act “ I am hopeless, I have changed my mind by witnessing the physical relationship between the fishes, I have fooled myself thinking that the physical relationship is inevitable in human life, I have completely drenched in worldly matters and bondage, even though I had the capabilities to elevate my soul to supreme Lord, I have heaved myself into worldly matters.” Maharishi Saubhari decided to leave the worldly matters and bondage, and remain in the association of saintly people.  He narrated about the impermanent nature of worldly matters and bondage to his wives.  The soul has to leave the body one day; therefore the excessive attachment to the body would cause a painful death.  The soul has to separate itself from the body deliberately, which results in repeated births as well. The renounced souls will not give importance to the perishable body; instead, they constantly contemplate upon the imperishable supreme soul and leave the body effortlessly as attire.  Thus, Maharishi Shaubhari and his fifty wives went to woods and underwent extreme penance, eventually attained the abode of Lord.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathey Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 117- The legend of Surya dynasty -1

The human mind and intellect have the capabilities to adapt to spiritual life/Bhagavath Dharma as well as material life/Vyavahara Dharma in a well-balanced manner.  The material well-being is wellness in day to day life, everything related to the material world that has impermanent nature.  The spiritual life/Bhagavath Dharma provides the ability to react spontaneously in any adverse situation, respond to the situation in an appropriate manner, ultimately supreme bliss.  It can be achieved only with constant meditation and contemplation upon the supreme Lord.  The elevation of the soul is possible only through individual effort, following strict disciplines, meditation, the practice of Pranayama, recitation of scriptures and complete surrender to supreme Lord.  The Kali era has the advantage of nearness to supreme Lord with the mere recitation of sacred chants and contemplation upon his lotus feet, unlike the other Yugas, such as Krita Yuga/ worship of Lord with extreme penance, Thretha Yuga/ worship of Lord with fire sacrifices, and Dwapara Yuga/worship of idols.  In Kali era the human intellect has become weak, there is no perfection of Karma or the purity of ingredients used for the rituals, therefore Maharishi Vedavyasa instructed to recite the glories of supreme Lord with devotion and faith.

King Ikshvaku had a son Vikukshu.  Once, he was assigned to bring meat to perform the rite for ancestors.  Thus Vikukshu went to woods in search of prey, he conducted a rigorous search and found a rabbit, he was all tired of hunger, so he consumed a little bit of the meat of the rabbit and the remaining was delivered for the purpose of the ancestral rite.  The ceremonial priest discarded the meat as it has lost its purity; it was the remaining of his meal, not eligible for the offering to ancestors.  King Ikshvaku was in a rage, ordered his son to get out of his Kingdom. King Ikshvaku was deeply distressed at the turn of events, soon regained his composure and elevated his soul contemplating upon supreme Lord; ultimately attain the abode of Lord.  Vikukshi returned to Kingdom, after the death of King Ikshvaku. 

King Yuvanashva from the clan of Iskshvaku, had no offspring, even though he had several wives.  He was unhappily returned to woods with his wives, led a strict life.  The Rishis felt sympathy on King Yuvanashva, advised to perform ‘Puthakameshti Yaga’ to obtain offspring.  The Yaga proceedings began, and that night the King felt extremely thirsty, all the priests were in a sound sleep, so he consumed water from the vessel kept safely in the Yagna arena.  The next morning, there was a huge confusion among the priests about the missing water vessel that was kept for the Yaga proceedings was already all set with Vedic chants for obtaining children.  The next morning King Yuvanshva woke up with uneasiness after consuming the water from the Yagashala, the royal physicians declared King Yuvanashva is pregnant with a child.  They were extremely worried about the health of the King and the infant.  The royal priests and physicians decided to take out the child with the help of the knife, thus one of the issues got resolved, and the next concern was the source of milk for the infant.  The infant was brought out with the knife, started crying for milk ‘Man Dhatha’, Lord Indra kept his pointing finger in its mouth, eventually, the child was named Mandhatha.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 116 –The legend of Manu/Emperor Ambareesha -2

Once Emperor Ambareesha went to Madhuvanam near the river banks of Kalindhi, to perform austerities of Dwadashi, and the austerities continued for a year.  The moment has arrived to complete the year-long austerities.   Sage Durvassa arrived to meet the Emperor on a Dhwadhashi day.   Emperor Ambareesha received the Sage with great reverence and invited to accept the meal so that the Emperor could finish the process ‘Parana’ to complete the year-long vow of Ekadashi.  Sage Durvassa agreed, took a leave to take a dip in the river Kalindi, and immersed in meditation.  Emperor Ambareesha waited for the Sage to return so that he can fruitfully complete the austerities, but there was no sign of Durvas’s return, the time for the completion of austerities were approaching, Ambareesha discussed the matter with the royal priests, they advised the Emperor to consume a drop of water with the sacred Tulsi, that would help him to successfully complete the Ekadashi Vratha.  Emperor Ambareesha found it is ideal to complete the process of ‘Parana’ so that he can serve his guest Sage Durvass with due respect and protect himself from the sin of consuming meal without serving the guest. Ambareesha prepared to consume the Tulsi water to complete the ‘Parana’, all of a sudden there appeared Sage Durvass and found the Emperor consuming ‘Tulsi’ water. He could not control his anger, he felt humiliated, shrieked in anger and thrashed his matted hair locks on the floor.  A dreadful female named ‘Krithya’ holding a fierce sword appeared from the matted hair locks; she rushed to kill Emperor Ambareesha who was unwavering, did not move an inch from the place.  Suddenly the powerful disc of Lord Vishnu comes into sight from nowhere and sieved off the head of Krithya. Then, it moved towards Sage Durvassa, he was alarmed and he began speeding to Lord Bhrama.  In this way, the disc of Lord Vishnu chased Sage Durvassa, he rushed to Sathyaloka was received with great honor.  Sage Durvass appealed to Lord Bhrama to protect him from the fiery disc.  Lord Bhrama advised Sage Durvassa to appeal to Lord Shiva.  Sage Durvassa ran towards Mount Kailash and requested to Lord Shiva, but he revealed his inability to freeze the fiery disc and advised to appeal to Lord Vishnu.  Sage Durvassa rushed to the supreme abode of Lord Vishnu was received with great reverence. Sage Durvassa requested Lord Vishnu to protect him from the fiery disc.

Lord Vishnu speaks “Oh! Mahamune, I am under the custodian of my ardent devotees/ Bhakthaparadheena, I am not independent or free from them, I have fastened myself in the hearts of saintly people, I am beloved of my passionate devotees/Bhakthajanapriya, whoever free from the attachments of material possessions, family, wealth, children, and relatives, etc. and surrendered to me, how can I leave them in distress? They have already surrendered their heart with constant contemplation, like a wife to her wedded husband; hence humiliate my devotees would hurt me as well.  My devotees are entirely dependent on me like a child of a monkey attached to its mother, with the firm faith that its mother would protect him from all the troubles; therefore it wouldn’t leave its hold from its mother.  They cannot perform anything in my absence, so I cannot leave them. Oh! Vipra, listen to me carefully, devotion and knowledge will multiplies with humility if there is no humility they cannot attain my nearness.  Therefore, return to Emperor Ambareesha and request for forgiveness.”

Sage Durvassa rushed to Emperor Ambareesha who was waiting for the Sage to partake meal was surprised to see the fiery disc that was chasing Durvassa.  Emperor Ambareesha eulogized the Sudharshana Chakra of Lord “  Oh! Sudharshana,  Oh! Achyuthapriya, I shall prostrate before supreme Lord who holds the vicious weapon Sudharshana Chakra, kindly provide peace to Sage Durvassa.  If I am a staunch devotee of Lord Vasudeva, If I have surrendered my intellect and mind to supreme Lord who resides as a soul in all living beings, If I am a beloved of supreme Lord Vasudeva, kindly provide peace to Sage Durvassa.”  In this way, Emperor Ambareesha eulogized the fiery disc of Lord Vishnu.  Instantly, the fiery disc disappeared from sight.    

Sage Durvassa with folded hands speaks “Oh! Rajan, I have seen the splendor of Lord Vishnu from his greatest devotee, I am fortunate to meet you and understand the greatness of a devotee.  I am highly pleased with your devotion, I have attained the auspiciousness to be in the association of a liberated soul, and it is my great fortune to remain your guest.” Sage Durvassa prepared to prostrate before Emperor Ambareesha was stopped “Oh! Mahatma, you are an ascetic, you should not bow down before a Grihastha.” Ambareesha received the Sage with great admiration and served the meal, later he consumed the leftover meal of the Sage and received blessings from Sage Durvassa.

Emperor Ambareesha ruled the Kingdom for several years later crowned his elder son who is heir to the throne,  Ambareesha proceeded for Vanaprasthashrama and contemplated upon Supreme Lord Vasudeva.

Whoever reads or listens to the legend of Emperor Ambareesh would attain the firm devotion at the lotus feet of supreme Lord Vasudeva.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 115 –The legend of Manu/Emperor Ambareesha -1

In this chapter, Maharishi Vedavyasa describes the Pravriththi as well as Nivriththi Marga of the rulers of the Ikshvaku dynasty.  The Pravriththi Marga is the duties and responsibilities of an individual, based on the Varnna Ashrama Dharma.  The Nivriththi Marga is the duties and responsibilities of an individual to get freed from worldly matters, worldly bondage and ultimately attain liberation from the cycle of birth and death.   The Nivriththi Marga removes the increased dependency on people, possession, fame, and wealth, with the knowledge that it would shovel the individual in extreme fear, anxieties, sorrow, agony, grief, and loneliness; eventually, it would become a burden for others too.  The practice of spirituality teaches withdrawal from worldly matters, bondage, possessions and wealth, eventually attain nearness to the supreme Lord who resides as a soul in living beings.  The human body undergoes a constant transformation; therefore the attachment to the body, material things, and people causes intense grief and hopelessness.  Hence,  Rishis taught us to get hold of the permanent and changeless ‘supreme soul’ through the sacred scriptures.   The rulers of this well-known clan were righteous, and prominent in both Pravriththi Marga and Nivriththimarga of life.  It has become a regular practice in their lives, to rule the Kingdom wisely for several years for the welfare of their subjects, finally assign the Kingdom to the heir of the throne, and move to woods to contemplate upon Supreme Lord Hari.

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, King Nabhaga had a righteous son Ambareesh who was ruling the Sapthadhvipa.  He was the Emperor who had endless fame and splendor, even though he was not proud of his prowess, wealth, or splendor.   He had the supreme knowledge that all these material well-being and bondage is transient in nature, the attachment to it would heave into darkness.   He had a thorough knowledge of addiction to wealth, fame and bondage could lead a miserable life, he wisely ruled the Kingdom without getting attached to it.  He turned all his attention to Lord Vasudeva, who is all-pervading and eternal; he relentlessly served the devotees of Lord.  In this way, he raised his soul from the worldly attachments, thus he could give less importance to his wealth and prowess, and considered them as equal to sand.  He believed the devotion to the supreme as the greatest wealth.  Emperor Ambareesha utilized his senses wisely, he engaged mind and intellect on Lord, by fixing gaze at the feet of Supreme Lord Vasudeva, he employed tongue for singing in praise of the supreme abode of Sri Vaikundham,  he engaged hands in the veneration of supreme Lord and cleaning his shrine without any hesitation, he employed ears listening to the glorious myths of supreme Lord Vasudeva.  He engaged his feet for visiting the shrines of Lord Vasudeva, and he employed head for bowing down before supreme Lord.   His prayers were not for fulfilling wishes or fulfillment of any personal motive or not for the happiness or material welfare.   He spends hours in the association of devotees of Lord, and saintly people, contemplating the endless glories of Lord Vasudeva and, singing and praising his splendor.  He ruled his Kingdom wisely, and the subjects were extremely happy.  Emperor Ambareesha felt the eternal presence of Lord Mukunda in his heart while taking care of his kingly duties.  In this way, he became a favorite of Lord Hari with the constant practice of Bhakti Yoga, and the performance of rites of Swadharma, eventually he could withdraw himself from the worldly matters and bondage.   He has secluded himself from the possession of the Kingdom, precious gems and ornaments, family, wives, children, relatives, etc. which has impermanent nature."