Great Indian Women -2

Great Indian Women

Dharmabalam

Ugraayudha, the Raaja of Ajaamiidha vamsham, was very famous. He was a balavanta. He even got the Chakraayudham from Shri Hari. However he then got Ahankaaram. With Bala-garvam, he used to unnecessarily do Yuddhams with other Kings. He stopped thinking about Dharmam-adharmam, Nyaayam-anyaayam, Saadhyam-asaadhyam. None used to stand before him in Yuddham. Many became his saamanta-raajas, others lost their lives in the Yuddham. This increased his Ahankaaram.
Once he heard that Devavrata (Bheeshmaachaarya) was a Veeraadhiveera. He heard that in the Bhuu-mandalam, no one can defeat him. Ugraayudha then decided to do Yuddham against Gaangeya, so took a huge Sainyam and reached Hastinaapuram.
Just at that time the Pita of Bheeshmaachaarya, Shantana mahaaraja became a Svargastha. Bheeshmaachaarya had great duhkham. The Shraaddha-karma was not yet over by that time. Only few days were over. Ugraayudha thought it was the right chance and sent a duuta to Devavrata:
“Bheeshma! There is no one who can defeat me. You also know this. You also know the power of the Chakraayudham. I dont want your Aishvaryam, Raajyam. I want Matsyagandhi, Bhuvanaika-sundari, Satyavatii Devi. I will give you one day time”. Bheeshmaachaarya became very angry listening to the Dur-bhaasha of the Dushta. He couldnt bear that someone spoke like this about his Maata, Pativrata, Satyavatii Devi. Immediately he ordered Yuddham against the Dushta, Ahankaari Ugraayudha.
However, the Panditas, Purohitas, Nitya-hita-kaamas said “O Dharmaatma! Bheeshma! Ugraayudha is like a Pipiilakam (ant) before you. There is no need for you to go for Yuddham. Also your Pita’s Shraaddha-karma is not yet over. Shraddha is the most important thing in Pitru-kaaryas. You must not take Aayudhas, Divya-vastras now. Also one must always try to avoid Yuddham, because of its evil effects on the samaajam. Hence you send a Duuta, use Saama-daana-Bheda Upaayas and try. Then you can try Danda-upaayam. By that time the Pitru-kaaryam will also be over”.
The Dharmagnya, Bheeshma, listened to the advise of the Panditas and sent a Duuta to Ugraayudha. However all the efforts of the Duutas went waste. The Durahankaari never listened to them. Infact he immediately used his Chakraayudham on Gaangeya. However even the Chakraayudham became nistejam because of the Paativratyam of Satyavatii Devi and Dharmabalam of Bheeshmaachaarya!
The Chakram kept on spinning but didnt move an inch!! Ugraayudha used all his aatma-shakti, but the Chakraayudham never moved. Ugraayudha thought “Chakraayudham is more powerful than Brahmaastram. What is stopping it? May be because Bheeshma now has Aashouchakam, the Chakram is not approaching him. I will wait till the Aashouchakam is over”. However, even after the Pitrukarma was over, the Chakraayudham didnt move, it stayed in the same place in the air, spinning. Ugraayudha was amazed.
In no time Bheeshma reached the place, along with his Anuja Vichitraveerya. In the hands of the Veera, Bheeshma, Ugraayudha lost his life. Seeing the Bala-paraakramam of Bheeshma, even the Devatas were surprised. All the people who were supressed in the Paalanam of Ugraayudha, then did Stuti of Bheeshmaachaarya.
Morals in the Story:

1. Ahankaaram destroys the person having it. One must always remember that there is always someone who is greater than us. Even though Ugraayudha got Shri Hari’s Chakram, just because of Ahankaaram, he was destroyed.
2. A real Veera never shows off his Balam (see this too). Ugraayudha, with Bala-garvam, always did Yuddhams. Whereas Bheeshma, even though he had the Shakti to kill Ugraayudha, tried to send Shaanti-sandesham to Ugraayudha.
3. One who wishes a Para-strii, that too a Pativrata, will be destroyed. Before the Paativratyam of Satyavatii Devi, and Dharmabalam of Bheeshma, even the Vishnu-chakram became equivalent to a grass-shoot!
4. The amruta-vaakyas of the Panditas must always be remembered. Bheeshma followed the Dharmabodha of his Purohitas and was able to complete the Pitru-kaaryam and also teach Ugraayudha a lesson.

The story of Ghuśma

There used to be a sampanna-graamam near Devagiri in Southern Bhaarata-desham. A Braahmana by name Sudharma used to live there. His patni’s name was Sudeha. Sudeha was sad because they didnt have any santaanam. She then arranged Kalyaanam of her sister, Ghushma and Sudharma, hoping to get santaanam. Ghushma was a great Shiva-bhakta. She used to do archana of 101 Paarthiva-lingams (Shiva-Lingam made of sand) everyday.
On a sumuhuurtam, Ghushma gave birth to a boy. Everyone was happy. But the happiness didnt last for long. Many used to give more respect to Ghushma than Sudeha and used to say Sudeha was a Vandhya (woman with no children). Slowly Iirsha and Asuuya started in Sudeha on Ghushma.
Meanwhile the kid grew up and Sudharma did his Kalyaanam. The putra (son) and snusha (daughter-in-law) always used to respect Sudeha and look after her with prema. Similarly Sudeha and Ghushma also loved her. However because of Iirsha and asuuya, Sudeha’s heart was burning.
Finally Iirsha turned into Matsaram and one night she went near the newly married couple and killed the putra when they were sleeping. She then cut him into pieces and put the body into a kuupam where Ghushma used to put Nirmaalyam and used Paarthiva-Lingams! She came back and slept peacefully as if nothing happened.
Next day morning Sudharma and Ghushma were inolved in their Dina-charya and Sudeha was in kitchen acting as if nothing happened. But the snusha, to her terror, found that her husband was missing and she saw blood and flesh pieces. She tried to tell Sudharma and Ghushma, but they didnt respond as their were completely immersed in Daiva-dhyaanam.
When Ghushma was returning after putting that day’s Paarthiva-Lingams in the kuupam, she saw her putra walk towards her! At the same time Parama Shiva gave His divya-darshanam to Ghushma and told her to ask for a Varam. Ghushma said “please appear here as a Jyotirlingam and bless all of us”. Immediately Parama Shiva took the form as “Ghushmeshvara Jyotirlingam” (one of the 12 Jyotirlingams). The Kuupam became a Pushkarini by name “Shivaalayam”.
Morals in the story:

1. Iirsha, asuuya and Matsaram are very terrible. They change even a woman, with Komala Hrudayam into a Kathinaatma. Sudeha, who herself did Kalyaanam of Ghushma and Sudharma, developed Iirsha and finally did Mahaa-paapa kaaryams.
2. Bhakti of Ghushma and Sudharma are well shown in the story. Nothing disturbed them, they had 100% belief in God. God always protects such Bhaktas.

Goḍagūchi

Shivadeva and his Bhaarya were great Bhaktas of Parameshvara. Everyday they used to do Shiva-abhishekam, give Ksheera-naivedyam and do Stotram of Shiva, in their village’s Shivaalayam. Shivadeva never used to leave the village and go, because he was worried “if we are not there, who will do Ksheera-naivedyam?”. His Bhaarya also used to follow him and not leave the village.
Once due to an un-avoidable reason, they had to go out of the village for few days. Not knowing what to do they told their priya-putrika to do Ksheera-naivedyam without fail till they come back. They told her many many times not to forget and continue this Vratam.
After the Maata-pita left, Shivadeva’s putrika did snaanam, boiled Go-ksheeram, put it in a vessel, covered with a small silk cloth and took it to Shivaalayam. She kept the Ksheeram before Parama Shiva and said “Please take this Ksheeram Svaami!”. She saw that Pinaaka-paani did not drink the Ksheeram. She wondered why? She said “Svaami! Didnt the Ksheeram boil well? It is shuddha Go-ksheeram only Svaami please have it. Did you get angry that I dont know puuja-vidhi and mantras? If you dont like Ksheeram, shall I get some bhakshyas, along with which You can drink Ksheeram? We have Go-ghrutam and Navaneetam too in our house. Shall I run and get them? Shiva! will You eat paayasam instead? Everyday You accept when my Maata-pita do Naivedyam to You. Now why are You not accepting?”. Whatever she did, however she pleaded, Umaa-pati didnt drink the Ksheeram. Finally the putrika thought what is the use of a putra’s life when he cant follow Pitru-aagnya? and started to bang her head against the Shiva-lingam and do Praana-tyaagam.
Before that, Parameshvara stopped her and drank the Ksheeram! Everyday the baalika used to bring Ksheeram and Gangaadhara used to drink the Ksheeram. One day, when she was returning from the Devaalyam, she ran into her Maata-pita, who just then returned from the yaatra. They asked her why the vessel was empty. The Baalika replied that Shiva drank the Ksheram. She replied the same on being repeatedly asked to tell the truth. Not believing in her words, they took her to the Shivaalayam, along with a vessel containing Ksheeram and asked her to do Naivedyam. But this time Parama Shiva didnt drink. Thinking that his putrika lied, he tried to beat her. The baalika then did aalinganam of the Shiva-lingam. Before everybody she became aikyam with the lingam. Shivadeva tried to pull her with her hair and some hair was left coming out of the Lingam. Even now, the puujaaris of the Shivalingam do Kesha-samskaaram every 6 months of this adbhuta-lingam. From then onwards the baalika was called Godaguuchi and became famous in the list of great Shiva-bhaktas.

Morals in the story:

1. The Nishkalmasha-bhakti of Godaguuchi was great. With her ananya-bhakti, she achieved Shiva-aikyam in the end.
2. The importance of Niyamam, vratam is well shown in the story. Shivadeva everyday without fail used to do Ksheera-naivedyam. Discipline is a very important thing that we need to inculcate.

Kaikasī’s Śiva Bhakti

Rāvaṇa’s śakti increased day by day and we all know what ghora pāpa kāryas he did once he got Ahaṅkār seeing his own śakti. Devendra, hence, wanted to reduce the śakti of Rāvaṇa (Devatas, the Aditi putras, do not have kāma-krodhādi Ariṣhaḍvargas). He learnt that his śakti was mainly due to his Mātṛ-bhakti and her (Kaikasī’s) śakti was due to her niścala Śiva bhakti. Hence Devendra, once attempted to stop the Śiva pūja of Kaikasī: Kaikasī used to do Śiva pūja everyday on the banks of the ocean and on one day the ocean with its high tide came and washed away the Śiva saikata (made of sand) Liṅgam; stopping her Śiva pūja.
On seeing the great duhkham of her mother, Kaikasī, Rāvaṇa immediately gets angry on Mahāviṣhṇu and blames him to have stopped her mother’s Śiva pūja! Kaikasī then does hita-bodha saying that “if really my Śiva bhakti had no doṣhas then nobody could have stopped it. This happened means there is some mistake committed by us only and it is more important to please Paramaśiva and correct our mistakes than blaming others. Also none can stand against the great Viṣhṇu and even though we are Śaivas must never do Viṣhṇu droham (see this too)”. Realizing his mistake Rāvaṇa immediately sets out to do a tapas for Parameśvara for Śiva Ātma-Liṅgam (to replace his mother’s Saikata Liṅgam)!!
Morals in the story:

1. Before blaming others for the mistakes they committed it is very important to correct ourselves. Anyway no one will be spared by the God for the mistakes they have done (if they escape King’s punishement on the earth).
2. The importance of Mātṛ-bhakti is well shown by Rāvaṇa.
3. The story also shows how a mother, not encouraging the durguṇas of her child, can instead inspire him to do wonders. The parents must always try they level best to teach their children what is good and bad, rather than leaving them on their own.

Story of Heeraakaanii

We heard many many stories about greatness of Chatrapati Shivaji. Shivaji always followed the path of Dharmam. He never enjoyed the bhogas of a King. He had no vyaamoham on stri and never went even near by any suraapaanam (drinking alcohol). He gave daanam of his Raajyam to a Sanyaasi and ruled the Raajyam as his pratinidhi (this is the recommended way of ruling a kingdom according to our Shaastras). He never used to put unnecessary taxes on people  . Even his own Pattaabhishekam he did with his own money.
Shivaji maharaja had para-mata-sahanam, even though in his Raajyam the others were in minority. He did this even though he knew that in the neighbouring kingdoms the Moghul emporers suppressed, killed the Hindus and destroyed many many Devaalayas. Daya and Karuna were his svaabhaavika-lakshanas. This small story happened when he had his Durgam (fort) at Raayagadh.
Shivaji’s Durgam at Raayagadh was impenetrable. It protected him and his kingdom from many enemy kings. Security of the Durgam was of ultimate importance for the Raajyam. The Simhadvaaram of the Durgam used to be heavily guarded and it was strictly opened during 6am to 9pm only. Raaja-aagnya was that no one must be allowed in or out from the Dvaaram except in these times.
Heerakaanii was a ordinary women. She used to supply Goksheeram to the Raaja-aasthaanam. Everyday she used to come and go, for this purpose, into the Raayagadh Durgam.
One day, wife of one of the Sainikas was having Prasava-vedana. Heeraakaanii helped her and in that she became late. By the time the work was over, it was past 9pm and the Simhadvaaram was closed. Heeraakaanii told the Dvaara-paalaka to let her out. She said if she doesnt go back to her house, her baby will not get her milk. The Dvaara-paalakas took pity on her but they did not go against Raaja-aagnya and followed Seva-dharmam. They adviced her to take rest in the Sainika’s house and since Heeraakaanii’s husband is there in the house, he will manage feeding the baby.
The next day morning as soon as it passed 6am, the Dvaara-paalaka searched everywhere for Heeraakaanii, to send her out of the Durgam. He didnt find her. They searched everywhere and found signs that Heeraakaanii crossed the Durgam!! The Sainikas were ashtonished because even great great mahaaveeras can never cross the Durgam; how come Heeraakaanii crossed it? Fearing insecurity, they immediately reported the news to Chatrapati Shivaji.
Shivaji immediately came to the Dvaaram and checked what happened. While everyone was wondering how this happened, Heeraakaanii came before Shivaji and told Shivaji that she didnt follow Raaja-aagnya because she had to feed her baby. She said she was very sorry and was ready to take the punishment for her mistake. She said she herself didnt know how she managed to cross the Durgam and went out.
Shivaji fell at Heeraakaanii’s feet, did Saashtaanga pranaamam to her and ask her to pardon his mistake! He said “Amma! Your Maatruhrudayam I can understand. Please excuse me for not being able to send you out. No rule is greater before a Maatruhrudaya-karuna. This watch tower will be named on your name in order to respect your Maatruhrudayam”. From that time onwards the tower became famous as Heeraakaanii Buruzu and people never forgot the greatness of Shivaji and Heeraakaanii.

Morals in the Story:

1. The story clearly showcases the importance our people gave to a mother and a women. Shivaji though being a Chatrapati maharaja did Saashtaanga-pranaamam seeing the Maatruhrudayam of Heeraakaanii.
2. The paropakaara buddhi of Heeraakaanii was well shown in the story. She immediately helped the Sainika’s wife, whenshe was in need.
3. The Maatru-prema of Heeraakaanii was so high that even the impenetrable Durgam was easy for her to pass through
4. The qualities of a good ruler are shown well by Shivaji. He gave daanam of his Raajyam to a Sanyaasi and ruled the Raajyam as his pratinidhi. The Sanyaasi never wanted the bhogas of a King and asked Shivaji to rule the Raajyam without going against Dharmam.
5. Para-mata-sahanam (does not even remotely mean we follow other people’s religion) was always recommended by our Shaastras. Shivaji was a firm follower of it.
6. Seva-dharmam is one of the most difficult Dharmas to follow. The Sainikas of Shivaji firmly followed it.

Annapuurna

Dokkaa Seetamma was born in 1841 in Mandapeta ( near Rajahmundry, East Godavari Dist, Andhra Pradesh ) . She was known by many as “Annapuurnamma”. This was because of her sadgunams like Atithi-seva and Anna-daanam. To whoever was hungry, she used to cook food and serve them. In no time her fame went to all directions.
In 1902, December, she was called to Delhi for receiving an award for her daana-gunam. With great Vinayam, thinking that Atithi-seva, Anna-daanam are the minimum things that Bhaarateeya Samskruti imposed in order to show one’s Krutagnyata to his fellow humans, she didnt attend the function to receive the award. She was a true Bhaarateeya who was humble, never thought about name and fame. The collector, knowing this, made a painting of her, put it in the award cermony and respected her.
Once on a heavy rainy day a Vruddha sharana-arthi was shouting like this from the other side of the Godaavari river “I am very hungry. Please give me food. O Seetamma!”. Listening to the aarta-naadam, Seetamma felt pain. She immediately cooked food and herself carried it across the river in the heavy rain and served the hungry old man.
In a village by name Munganda, there was a Bhraatru-hantaka (he killed his own brother for property). Due to this dushkarma, he became a pishaachi. He experienced ghora-narakam with that form. Once he came into a small girl and said “one night Seetamma did great Annadaanam to a Vruddha. Please ask her to give me this one Anna-daana phalam. With this I will get Vimukti”. The family ran to Seetamma and told this. Immediately Seetamma did Phalatyaagam of her Anna-daanam with the help of her Purohita. Before everybody, the pishaachi got Vimukti. Seeing this everybody came to know the greatness of Anna-daanam. Bhaarata-desham will never forget Dokkaa Seetamma. Annadaata Sukhiibhava!
Morals in the story:

1. The Atithi-seva tattvam, Anna-daana gunam of a Bhaarata-naari is well shown in this story through Dokkaa Seetamma.
2. The greatness of Anna-daanam is well shown in the story. The punya-phalam of one Anna-daanam was enough to give Vimukti to even a pishaachi.

 

Om Tat Sat

                                                        

(Continued...) 

 

<sub>(My humble greatfulness to Moral Stories dot com,  Hindu dot com and Devotees   for the   collection)

( A tribute to the great Bharatiya Samskruti)</sub>

Great Indian Women -1

Great Indian Women

Importance of keeping one’s word

We all know that the pandavas left their kingdom for 13 long years for keeping up their word! Well, for Arjuna going away from the bhogas of a king, for the sake of truth, was not new. He did it once well before the aranyavaas. The story goes like this:
The kalyaanam of pandavas with Draupadi was an unusual one. However, it was perfectly according to dharma shastras. Infact Draupadi is one of the greatest pativratas and praised even by Lord Krishna for her Dharma vartana. A few reasons to justify the kalyaanam:

1. Kunti Devi, the mother of pandavas, who never knew what a lie was, gave her will.
2. Vyaasa Maharshi, one of the avataar of Lord Vishnu, ordered the kalyaanam to be done.
3. Lord Shiva, pleased with her tapas, gave a boon to Draupadi to marry the pandavas.
4. Pandavas, though were five physically, were all amshas of Indra, the King of the Gods. Hence, pandavas were actually one.

Naarada, again an avataar of Lord Vishnu, suggested some rules to be followed by pandavas and Draupadi for living together. This is because, though they were amshas of Gods and Godesses, since they had a human form some addition rules according to dharma shastras needed to be followed. One of the rules was that: Draupadi should spend one year with each of the pandavas and while she was with one of them, no other pandavas should visit the palace where they might be. In case of any breach of their rule, one-year pilgrimage was prescribed by way of penance leaving the kingdom.The pandavas and Draupadi were living happily until one day: a brahmana came running to Arjuna saying that the thieves had stolen his cows. Arjuna wanted to rush with him to catch the thieves but he realised that his bow and arrows were kept in Yudhisthira's palace and he was there in the company of Draupadi. He hesitated for a while, then seeing brahmana's plight he rushed in to Yudhisthira 's palace took his bow and arrows and ran to catch the thieves. After he caught the thieves and punished them, after restoring the cows of the brahmana, Arjuna came back to Yudhisthira and told him about his transgression of the rule.
Yudhisthira, knowing the reason of the breach of their rule, said their is no need for Arjuna to take the pilgrimage. Since it is a mistake committed towards him, and that too for a good reason, he will pardon arjuna . However, Arjuna would never break his word. He immediately set out for a one-year pilgrimage. May be this is why Arjuna is such a favourite sakha of Lord Krishna.
Morals in the Story:

1. The story shows how important it is to keep up ones word, whether it is of any consequence or not, how much ever difficult it is.
2. Arjuna, knowing that he will be punished for breaching the rule, did not stop doing his duty as a king to protect his people and punish the theif. Thus, one must always perform his duty without any laziness or any kind of fear.
3. Rewards for such people do show up as immediate difficulties, but in the end – it is truth is what always wins (Satyameva jayate). Arjuna's win was in the way of gaining eternal friendship with the Lord.

Message:

1. Imagine if everyone keeps his word and always speaks truth — will we have corruption? will we have poverty? Though its a very difficult to inculcate, unless we are truthful there will be no development.
2. Like Arjuna if everyone does they duty — will there be such slow development for such a large community of intelligent people?
3. Temporal gains got by saying lies never will be permanent. They will not only bring us down on a long run in life, leave aside winning the heart of the God.

Draupadi, an ikon of a true Indian woman

Draupadi, the daughter of King Drupada, appears from the yagnyaagni as a full grown, in the bloom of her youth. One can observe that it is always Paramaatma who takes birth and avataaras (“Paritraanaaya sadhunam …”). However, always Yoga-Maaya (or Shakti) never takes birth, she just appears. It is the same case with Sita devi, Rukmini devi, Draupadi, Maatulungi etc. The following piece of story of draupadi shows the boundaries of following Dharma. May be none can be better!
Ashwatthaama, the chiranjeevi, does a daaruna krutyam after the Mahaabhaaratam. Unusual to his nature, He, without even little daya, beheads the sleeping babies of draupadi — the upa-paandavas. Draupadi realizes what happened. All her 10 sons, who were little baalakas, who were sleeping, who never did any kind of harm to Ashwatthaama and who cannot even react to the harm committed to them were lying in a pool of blood. Draupadi breaks down to tears and weeps in great sorrow. Arjuna very sad himself, consoles Her and says it does not look nice for a Veera maata to cry like this. He says that He will immediately avenge the act and kill Ashwatthaama. On killing him, she can take bath standing on his head. Immediately Lord Krishna and Arjuna set out on their Hanumadhdhvaja ratham to catch the fleeing Ashwatthaama.
Seeing that Arjuna is closing by his ratham and that his horses are a little exhausted, Aswaththaama sees Brahmaastra as the only way to save himself. Though not knowing the way of retrieving the astra, he immediately uses Brahmaastra on Arjuna, after stopping the ratham, doing aachamanam and purifying himself. Lord Krishna orders Arjuna to use Brahmaastra to counter Ashwatthaama’s. Arjuna also purifies himself, does achamanam, does a pradakshina to the Almighty and uses Brahmaastra. The two astras, one like Agni and the other like sun, fight each other and in no time the worlds start to burn under the influence of the astras. Krishna, the protector of the worlds, immediately orders Arjuna to take back both Astras, as only a Brahmachaari can take back a Brahmaastra!
Arjuna takes back both the Brahmaastras, showing clearly what a perfect Brahmachaari he was. Arjuna, who was the friend of the Askalita Brahmachaari Lord Krishna, obviously knows the shastras and the ways to maintain his Brahmacharyam, though married. Arjuna ties Ahswaththaama and takes him to Draupadi, like a Yagnya pashu is taken to the Yagnya shaala. The acts of Draupadi in this following episode make even Krishna praise Krishnaa (Draupadi) for her Dharma.
On seeing the killer of all her sons being brought by Arjuna, Draupadi, of the beauty of her nature out of compassion, does a namaskar to him and says as per the Vedas in the absence of the Guru, Guru-putra takes his place, so she is doing a namaskaar to Drona! It was unbearable for her having him brought being bound and she said: “Release him, for he is a brahmana, our Aacharya. Do not make his mother, Drona’s wife, cry the way I do in my chastity shedding tears constantly in distress over a lost child”. Yudhishtira, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahadeva, Saatyaki, Krishna and other queens supported the statements of Paanchaali as they were in accord with the principles of Sanaatana Dharma, of justice, merciful, without duplicity and glorious in equity. Krishna, amazed by the Dharmya vartana of Draupadi, praises her very much. However, Bhima also raised a valid point that a person who by nature has daya is a brahmana, is Ashwatthaama, who mercilessly killed the baalakas, worth being called one? Saying “surely death is the only punishment for such a person”, Bhima proceeds to kill Ashwatthaama, but the Lord, with His chaturbhuja’s stops Bhima and says the following with a smile:

“The Guru-putra, a braahmana must not be killed – this both is by Me, certainly prescribed to be carried out abiding by the rules.” However, Arjuna has to keep to the truth as promised while pacifying his wife, and also act to the satisfaction of Bhima and Himself (by punishing the bad). So they remove the divya mani on the head of Ashwatthaama and remove his hair, as, for a veera, tonsuring is equivalent to killing him.
Morals in the story:

1. The Dhramya vartana of Draupadi is well portrayed in the story. This shows us that, even at the time of great stress, sorrow, difficulty, one never must deviate from the path of truth, Dharma.
2. Even though Ashwatthaama was great, in his momentary anger he committed an unpardonable crime. One must be very careful and need to think what is right and what is wrong before acting. This is what the pandavas do in the later part of the story, with the help of Krishna. They, though Kshattriyas, were not overwhelmed by revenge. They acted according to the words of Krishna, who is Dharma in human form.
3. The importance given to keeping up one’s word is protrayed well. Arjuna promises Draupadi to kill Ashwatthaama, but according to Dharma is must not be killed. So they do an equivalent act of killing.
4. The importance of cleanliness is also displayed. Both Ashwatthaama and Arjuna purify themselves, do aachamanam before chanting the mantras for Brahmaastra. They do this even when they were in such a great press for time.
5. The power of Brahmacharyam is well shown through this story. Arjuna, who knew the Shatras, was a brahmachaari and hence could not only take back his, but Ashwatthaama’s astra too.
6. The heart of a mother is well exposed when Draupadi comments “Do not make his mother, Drona’s wife, cry the way I do in my chastity shedding tears constantly in distress over a lost child“. She knows the pain of loosing children, so did not want another mother to experience it!

Message to present society:
Being Kshatriyas, people with lot of Shauryam, Paandavas thought so much (analyzing what is Dharmam, what is adharmam) before avenging their son’s death. Now-a-days even films show people mercilessly killing each other in the name of revenge.

Ghosha Yaatra 

One who tries to spoil others will himself get spoilt. This was very true in case of Duryodhana. Right from childhood Duryodhana, Dusshaasana, Karna and Shakuni (Dushtachatushtayam) tried to harm the Paandavas in many many ways. This episode happened during the Vanavaasam of the Paandavas.
Once Duryodhana, who didnt want to let Paandavas live peacefully even in their vanavaasam, asked his guudhachaari to inform himself about the whereabouts, dina-charya etc. of the Paandavas. The guudhachaaris performed their duty and reported like this:
“Arya! According to your aagnya we searched all forests. We enquired all the things you asked for. Dharmaraaja is doing many Yaagas, Vratas. Currently he is doing a Divya Yaagam by name ‘Sadyaskadam’, with the help of Munis”. Listening to this news Duryodhana got Mati-bhramanam. He thought if we let these Paandavas continue to do such Yaagas, Vratas and get many siddhis then it will be still more difficult to kill them. He wanted to destroy the Yaagam somehow. Since it was already late, all of them started to the forests immediately. Duryodhana told the Kuru-kula-vruddhas like Bheeshmaacharya, Dronaachaarya that they were going for Ghosha-Yaatra (and told nothing about disturbing the Paandavas). In Ghosha-Yaatra, the King goes to see the Yoga-kshemam of the Gomaatas in his Raajyam. They telling that it is Ghosha-Yaatra, instead of going to Go-shaalas, reached the forests and tried to camp near the place where Paandavas were doing the Yaagam.
Duryodhana ordered to put tents around the Sarovaram (that was near by). Immediately Gandharva-veeras appeared and said like this “O muurkha-maanavas! This area in currently under the control of the Gandharva-Raaja Chitrasena (Chitrasena was the Gandharva who taught Arjuna Naatyam, when he went to Indra-lokam). No one must(can) enter this. Please go away. Else we will kill you”. The ahankaari, Duryodhana, didnt like these words. He ordered his sainyam to occupy by force. Immediately many many Gandharva-veeras came there and a big Yuddham started between Gandharvas and Duryodhana, Dushshaasana, Karna aadi Kaurava-veeras. In no time Chitrasena defeated the Kaurava sena. Kaurava Naayakas like Duryodhana, Dushshaasana and Karna were lying unconscious. Kaurava Raanis, with Bhayam, ordered the sainikas to go and request Paandavas, the Dharma-vartis, for help. Listening to the aartanaadam of the Kaurava-sainikas, one of the first to respond was Draupadi.
Draupadi said “I think helping our bandhu-janam in their kashta-kaalam is good”. Yudhishthira, the Dharma-nandana, immediately asked his brothers to go and help the Kauravas. Yudhishthira-anujas replied “Priya Bhraata! we will immediately go and save Kauravas from Gandharvas and come back”. They did Namaskaaram to Yudhishthira and went to Chitrasena.
In no time Bhiima-arjuna defeated the Gandharvas, Chitrasena and released the Kauravas. Seeing the super-human Bala-paraakramas of Arjuna, Chitrasena praised Arjuna and requested them to grant him the Darshanam of Yudhishthira, the Dharma-muurti. With aanandam, Bhiima-arjuna took Chitrasena along with Kauravas to Dharmaraaja. Seeing Yudhishthira, Chitrasena did pranaamam and said
“O Dharmanandana! Knowing that Duryodhana aadi Kauravas planned to do apakaaram to you, Devendra sent me here to stop them. However, with a Vishaala-hrudayam, you sent your brothers to save these paapaatmas”.
Even after knowing the kutila-buddhi of Duryodhana, Dharmaraaja didnt show any disrespect to him. He freed him from the bandhas, did hita-bodha and sent them away. Taking along with him Karna, Dushshaasana and other Kauravas, who bent their heads down with shy, Duryodhana left for Hastinaapuram.
Morals in the story:

1. People who try to do bad to others will face difficulties themselves. Duryodhana, who was burning with Asuuya, Iirsha tried to harm the Paandavas; instead he got ghora-apamaanam.
2. The Kshama gunam of Dharmaraaja is well shown in the story. Uttama purushas do Upakaaram even to an Apakaari.
3. The Dharmya-vartanam of Draupadi and Paandavas is once again shown in this story. They immediately helped the Kauravas, who were in trouble, though always Kauravas tried to destroy them. Draupadi devi deserves a very special mention because, she helped the Kauravas even though they did the great insult of her in the way of her Vastraapakarshana.
4. Knowing that elders like Bhishma, Drona will say “no” if they know the truth that Kauravas are going to disturb the Paandavas, the Kauravas told that they were going for Ghosha-Yaatra. Telling lies is a very bad thing.

Satyameva Jayate

No collection of moral stories will be complete without the mention of Satya Harishcandra. His story is well known and praised by everyone. Truth is the most fundamental moral to be learnt by everyone and it is alone enough to reach God. The following is a small incident showing the satya vaak paripaalanam of Harishchandra:
When travelling in the forest, with his family and Nakshatraka to the great kaashi kshetram, Harishchandra sees un-controllable Daavaagni (forest fire) sorrounding them. They donot understand the reason for it and Nakshatraka worries a lot, not knowing any way of getting out of the fire. Harishchandra worries for a different reason. He was not worried for loosing his life, but if he dies in the agni, then he will not be able to return the debt to Vishwaamitra maharshi and thus will not be able to keep up his word.
Seeing this, Agnideva (sent by Vishwaamitra) tells them a way to cross the fire safely. He says anyone who says that his name is not his own name, can safely walk through him. Immediately Nakshatraka, to attract them to say a lie, says I name is not Nakshatraka and walks into the fires. Nothing happens to him and he walks back suggesting Harishchandra and his family to try out the same. Obviously Harishchandra will not say a lie, but gets worried since he will be not be able to repay Vishwaamitra maharshi. Seeing the worry of her husband, Chandramati devi does a stotram to agni saying that if she were a pativrata, then the agni must stop. Immediately the huge daavaagni vanishes and they cross the forest safely.
The whole episode of Vishwaamitra maharshi testing Harishchandra starts with a conversion at Indra Sabha: A discussion will be raised to zero-in on a vratam which anyone whether rich or poor, whether king or servant, kid or elder, male or female can follow, exists or not. Vasishta maharshi suggests that satya vratam (speaking truth always) is there and tells that Harishchandra is a firm follower of it. Vasishta and Vishwaamitra both challenge each other, Vasishta saying "In the impossible event of Harishchandra uttering a lie I will leave sandhyaavandanaadi aahnikas, japa, tapas, remove yagnyopavita, become Bhrasta, have wine and behave in a way co-rishis will hate me, throw me out of there community and eventually goto naraka!". Vishwaanitra says "If Harishchandra stands my tests I will give half of my till now earned entire tapashshakti, make him rule the earth for many years and for 14 manvantaras will make him occupy the ardha-simhaasanam of Indra". Harishchandra in the end qualifies the tests of Vishwaamitra, enjoys all these bhogas and in the end with Lord Shiva's anugraham gets Moksham.
Morals in the Story:

1. Let even death may came, one must never leave the path of truth.
2. Though a person has to face temporary difficulties for following the path of truth, in the end always truth only wins.
3. The power of pativrata is enormous. It seems the power of Agni or howmuch ever tapashshakti cannot equal that of a pativrata. This is evident by the power of Chandramati devi.

4.    निन्दन्तु नीतिनिपुणाः यदि वा स्तुवन्तु
लक्ष्मीः समाविशतु गच्छतु वा यथेष्टम्।
अद्यैव वा मरणमस्तु युगान्तरे वा
न्याय्यात्पथः प्रविचलन्ति पदं न धीराः॥
— भर्तृहरेः नीतिशतकम्
nindantu nītinipuṇāḥ yadi vā stuvantu
lakṣmīḥ āgacchatu gacchatu vā yatheṣṭam|
adyaiva maraṇamastu yugāantare vā
nyāyyātpathaḥ pravicalanti padaṁ na dhīrāḥ||
— bhartṛhareḥ nītiśatakam

“May those proficient in law praise or decry;
May the Goddess of Wealth come or go as she pleases;
Let Death come today or at the end of the yuga;
The resolute will not deviate from the path of righteousness!”

Ekachakrapura Baka Vadha

Yudhishthira said to Kuntidevi “Maata! why are you doing such a Saahasam? Why are you doing Putra-tyaagam? Believing in whose Baahu-balam we are living happily, believing in whose balam we are hoping that we will get our Raajyam back, fearing whose Veeryam Duryodhana aadi Kauravas dont get sleep, depending on whose Veeratvam we all saved our lives in the laakshaa-gruham (wax-house), whose greatness put an end to Purochana — why are you doing Tyaagam of such a Bhiimasena?”
Kuntidevi replied “we are now living under the aashrayam of this Viprotaama. It is our minimum duty to show Krutagnyata and do Pratyupakaaram to him. Even otherwise, since we are Kshatriyas (one who saves from Kshatam or difficulties), we must protect the people who need help. Hence we must protect this Braahmana. We need not worry about Bhiimasena; he will surely come back safely — we saw his ananta-balam when he killed Hidimbaasura. He carried all of us in Vaaranaavatam and saved us from the fire. He even has the strength of doing Yuddham with Devendra! On the very day he was born, when I dropped him by mistake, he was unaffected whereas the stone on which he fell broke into pieces! Thinking of all these things I have sent Bhiimasena to kill Bakaasura and save the villagers. Vyaasa Bhagavaan told us to what uttama-lokas a person whose does Paropakaaram will reach”.
Yudhidhthira was happy listening to these amruta-vaakyas of Kuntidevi and with full-heart did aashiirvachanam to Bhiimasena. As planned, Bhiimasena reached the nivaasam of the raakshsa, along with the cart full of aahaaram. He shouted for the raakshasa and he himself started eating the food in the cart. Seeing that the food which was brought for him, was being eaten away by Bhiimasena, the raakshasa started stamping his foot onto the ground with great strength. Bhiimasena didnt respond. Seeing this, the raakshasa gave a mushti-ghaatam (strong punch) on Bhiima’s back. Bhiimasena didnt feel anything and continued to eat. With anger, the raakshasa tried to uproot a mahaa-vruksham and throw it on Bhiimasena. Meanwhile, Bhiimasena completed his Bhojanam, did aachamanam, shuddhi of his hands and legs (see this too) and got ready for the Yuddham.
Bhiimasena threw back the Vruksham. For sometime they did Yuddham with Vrukshams. Then raakshasa caught Bhiimasena binding him, Bhiimasena also did the same. Both were squeezing each other. Finally the raakshasa became tired. Then, supporting with legs, Bhiimasena gave a strong mushti-ghaaatam on Bakasura’s back.

Crying for help, bleeding, the raakshasa died. Hearing this aarta-naadam, the relatives of the raakshasa came out. Bhiimasena said “if you all do pratignya and leave Maanava-aahaaram, I will spare you; else you will get the same fate as Bakaasura”. Immediately everyone did Pratignya. The villagers happy to see the end of the Bakaasura.
Morals in the story:

1. The Dharma-bodha of Kuntidevi shows us the importance of Krutagnyata and parokaaram.
2. How a sajjana uses his Balam, Dhairyam and helps the society is well shown in the story. On the other hand, Kauravas spent all their strength in destroying Paandavas, due to their Iirsha, Asuuya and Maatsaryam.

Om Tat Sat

                                                        

(Continued...)  

 
<sub>(My humble greatfulness to Moral Stories dot com,  Hindu dot com and Devotees   for the   collection)

( A tribute to the great Bharatiya Samskruti)</sub>

Stories of Mahapurasha - Sri Bhagavata Avataras -8

Stories of Mahapurasha - Sri Bhagavata Avataras 

Following Dharma always

Doing right always is a very difficult task. Many a times we do not know what is dharma, what is not. Even though we know, unless it is a very usual habit of following it, at times of great stress it is impossible to follow the path of Dharma. The following story is a small example illustrating Shri DharmaRaaja’s character, who never deviated from the path of dharma.
One day, near the end of 12 strenuous years of vanavaasam of pandavas, a deer rubbing its head against the samidhas of a brahmana, by mistake carries it away and runs into the deep jungle. The brahmana, knowing that the samidhas were carried away by deer, cried for help. Without them he cannot perform yagnyas. On listening to the cries, immediately pandavas set out for them. They all run deep into the jungle but loose track of the maaya deer.
After a very long chase, with great thirst, they sit under a banyan tree with despair and wonder the reason for not being able to render even a trifling service to the brahmana. Yidhishtara to divert their thinking, asks Nakula to bring him some water. Nakula, who was suffering with very strong thirst, hurriedly wanted to drink water from the pond. An Yaksha’s voice from the pond said “Do not be rash. This pool belongs to me. O son of madri, answer my questions and then drink the water”. In his extreme thirst Nakula continues to drink water and falls dead. Rest of the pandavas follow nakula and fall dead, except Dharmaraaja.
Dharmaraaja instead starts answering the questions of the Yaksha. He, with great ease, answers all the questions of the yaksha. Pleased with dharmaraaja, the Yaksha grants him a boon. Dharmaraaja did not ask the lives of any of his brothers, instead he asked the yaksha to return the samidhas of the brahmana! Impressed by the character of dharmaraaja, the yaksha grants him another boon: “One of your dead brothers can now be revived. Whom do you want to revive?”. Yidhishtira asks for the life of Nakula, after thinking for a while. The yaksha asks him: “Bhima has the strength of 16000 elephants and is the most dearest to you. Arjuna, whose prowess in arms is your protection, is the greatest warrior. Why do you choose Nakula instead?” . Dharmaraaja replied: “O Yaksha, dharma is the only shield of man and not Bhima or Arjuna. If dharma is set at naught, man will be ruined. Kunti and Madri were the two wives of my father. I am surviving, a son of Kunti, and so, she is not completely bereaved. In order that the scales of justice may be even, I ask that Madri’s son Nakula may revive.” The Yaksha was pleased with Yudhishthira’s impartiality and granted that all his brothers would come back to life. The yaksha was none other than Lord Yama. He also blesses him saying that the agnyaatavaasam will go on fine.
 )
Morals in the Story:

1. Importance of sticking to the path of dharma, even in times of difficulty. Samavartitvam (impartiality) is well shown by Dharmaraaja. Even though his own brothers were lying dead before him, he asked for the Samidhas of the Braahmana instead of asking for his brother’s lives!
2. Gaining the knowledge of dharma, without which dharmaraaja could not have answered the questions of the Yaksha.
3. Self control and never loosing hope even at times of difficulty. This was very well displayed by dharmaraaja

Think twice before you act

Long ago, there used to live a very great King by the name Nruga, the son of Ikshvaaku. He gave as many goodaanams as there are grains of sand on the earth, stars in the heavens, or drops in a rain shower. He gave the best quality kapila varna cows, decorated with pure golden hooves and horns, along with their calves. He gave them to the most learned braahmanas, whose families were in need, were young and possessed of excellent character and qualities, who were dedicated to truth, famous for their austerity, vastly learned in the Vedic scriptures and saintly in their behaviour. He performed many other such great daanams for the needy. In addition, he performed many yagnyas and executed various pious welfare activities.
Once, a cow owned by a learned braahmana wandered away and entered the herd being given as daanam by Nruga. Unaware that he was giving a cow that did not belong to him, he gave it to one other needy braahmana. When the owner of the cow saw his cow being taken away, he said "The cow belongs to me!" and the other said "No! It was given to me by Nruga." Nruga comes to know about this and offers each one of them a thousand cows of highest quality and asked them to save him from this difficult situation. However, both the braahmanas go away leaving the cow.
Yamadharmaraaja, after King Nruga leaves his physical body and comes to Yamaloka, asks Nruga "do you wish to experience the results of your paapam first, or those of your punya? Indeed, I see no end to the greatest daanams you have performed, or to your consequent enjoyment in the urdhva lokas. However, you made the sin of stealing a cow from a braahmana". Nruga chooses to face the consequences of his paapam first and immediately falls as a huge chameleon in a well. Since he always had bhakti towards the Lord and performed uncountable number of great daanams, he always remembered who he was, and what mistake he committed. He used to repent for his mistake and spent a very long time alone in the well, always doing Bhagavat-dhyaanam.
After a very long time, once when Shri Krishna, Saamba, Pradyumna, Chaaru, Bhaanu, Gada and other boys were playing, out of thrist they goto the well where Nruga was living. Out of pity, Shri Krishna takes him out of the well. The touch of the Lord of the universe made Nruga get a divya tejaswi form, with radiating kiritam and ornaments and tejas of Sun. On being asked by Shri Krishna, the Sarvagnya, the reason for the chameleon form, Nruga tells him his unfortunate story. He does a stotram to Lord krishna, does a pradakshinam, takes leave from the Lord and before the eyes of everyone flies to urdhva lokas in a divya vimaanam.

Morals in the Story:
1. Even for a great person like Nruga, one mistake, which he did unknowingly, made him experience the result of his paapam. Thus one should be very careful not to commit any kind of sin even unknowingly and lead a very ideal life.
2. Some or the other time, one must experience the results of his paapa or punya. However, if one surrenders himself to the God, He will lift you from the samsaaram and in the end give you kaivalyam, as Krishna did to Nruga.
3. Since Nruga never forgot remembering the Lord and the Lord was impressed by his great acts, Krishna granted him urdhva lokas in the end. So the end result for a good person will always be good.

Nachiketa’s Pitruvaakya paripaalana

Once upon a time there lived a braahmana named Vajashrava (Uddaalaka), who wished to accumulate punyam by performing a great yagnyam. The yagnyam was duly performed, but when the time for the daanams came, Vajashrava kept all the healthy cows for himself and gave away only those that were old and infirm. His son, Nachiketa, who was observing this, became very sad. He wanted his father to get the full phalitham for the yagnyam. He knew from shaastras that one must always give away things that are good, which will help others and the ones most liked by the donor. He went to his father and with great humility said thus: “O Father! Why are you donating only old cows that cannot give milk and cannot help the daana-grahitas? As you know, such an act is a great paapam. Your intent was to accumulate punyam. These gifts will have the opposite effect. Please donate your best of the cows”.
Vajashrava became angry. He said, “Son, You are not yet of an age when you can understand the ways of the world. If I donate all our good cattle, how will we live?” Nachiketa was silent for a while, for he had been brought up to give respect to his parents and elders. At last he said to his father, “O Father! The shaastras say that one’s child is the greatest wealth for him, hence give away me to somebody in order to fulfill the daanams in the yagnyam”. Vajashrava, who was busy with the yagnyam did not pay any attention to his son and on being repeatedly questioned by Nachiketa, out of sheer exasperation, Vajashrava shouted: “I hereby gift you to Yama”.
Nachiketa immediately started for Yamaloka, in order to make his father’s words true. He crossed the Vaitarani nadi, which even great aatmas who did a lot of punya also, find it difficult to cross! He reaches the dwaaras of Yamaloka and on knowing that Yamadharmaraaja was not in Yamaloka then, waited patiently for his arrival. The small boy waited near the dwaaram for three days without any food and water. Yamadharmaraaja returned on the fourth day and saw little Nachiketa at his doorstep. He felt pained for keeping an Atithi, that too a braahmana and that too a baalaka waiting without welcoming him, without food and water. Obviously Yamadharmaraaja knew that it was a great paapam not to welcome an atithi at the doorstep. Along with His wife, Yami, He rushed to serve Nachiketa. One went to fetch water and the other brought an aasanam for him. Yamadharmaraaja still did not feel completely satisfied in serving him. So he told Nachiketa, “Dear child, I have offended you by keeping you waiting for three days. To wash my paapam I request you to ask for three varaas”.
Nachiketa was very happy to recieve varaas from non other than the Yamadharmaraaja. Nachiketa said “My first wish is, when I return home may my father’s anger go away, may he conquer anger and always have prashaantata”. Yamadharmaraaja was very happy with nachiketa for his self-less wish. Nachiketa said “my second wish is to grant me the vignyaanam and my third and last wish is to grant me Aatmagnyaanam”. Yama granted the first two boons immediately and tried to convince Nachiketa to give up his third wish. Only a deserved person must be taught Aatmagnyaanam and hence Yamadharmaraaja tested Nachiketa by offering him gold, pearls, coins, horses elephants and even the happiness of Swarga instead. “No, I do not wish for anything else,” replied Nachiketa firmly. Finally, Yama granted him the third boon too, and Nachiketa was enlightened with the Aatmagnyaanam”.
Morals in the Story:

1. Pitruvaakya paalanam is the foremost duty of every child. This is well displayed by Nachiketa. Even though he had to face difficulties because of it, in the end he learnt the Aatmagnyaanam, which is difficult for even great sages to obtain.
2. The shaastra gnyaanam of Nachiketa helped him talk wisely both with his father and Yamadharmaraaja.
3. Dhiraas never give up (see Bhagiratha’s story), they never move away from the goal. This quality is displayed by Nachiketa both while travelling to Yamaloka and being firm during Yamadharmaraaja’s test before giving Aatmagnyaanam.
4. The importance of Atithi seva is well illustrated by Yamadharmaraaja.
5. Always we must give away things we like, which are good and not the ones we hate and are useless (see Rantideva’s story too).

The story of Gajam – Kachchhapam

“Long long time ago, two brothers, Vibhaasa and Suprateeka used to live. Both of them used to wake before Suuryodayam, do Snaana-sandhyaavandana aadi Kaaryams and then with Niyama-vratam used to do Parabrahma aaraadhana.
However once the younger brother, Suprateeka asked Vibhaasa to give him his share of the father’s property. Then Vibhaasa replied “Priya Sodara! People with Pralobham only divide things. We are brothers. We must not have Pralobham. In addition Dhana-kaaksha leads to duhkhas. Some dushtas may interfere between us and increase the conflict. With that both of us will be destroyed. Hence let us share and live, forget about division. Jyeshtha Bhraata is equivalent to Pita and you are like my putra”.
However Suprateeka didnt accept. He said that property must be divided. Seeing this, Vibhaasa got Krodham and said “you dont have respect to elders. Become a Gajam (Elephant) in a mahaaranyam”. With greater Krodham Suprateeka replied “In a pushkarini in the same Aranyam you will become a Kachchhapam (Tortoise)”. Both of them left pavitra maanava-shariiram and took birth according to their shaapas.
Gajam used to come near pushkarini and do ghiinkaaram; the Kachchhapam used to created huge waves. The battle used to start. Everyday they used to fight each other. Also both of them had bahu-sthuula-kaayam (they were extremely huge). So no other animal was able to peacfully live. No one could use the pushkarini. In that Aranyam all the animals were being disturbed by these huge creature’s fights.” said Kashyapa maharshi to Garuda Bhagavaan, when Garuda Bhagavaan asked His Pita, Kashyapa maharshi, to show him some aahaaram before going to bring Amruta-kalasham from Devendra to save His Maata, Vinata, from Daasyam to Kadruva.
Kashyapa continued “Putra! If you take these two creatures as Your aahaaram, then all the animals in the Aranyam will live happily. The pushkarini will then again become aadhaaram for many creatures”. Garuda Bhagavaan then did Namaskaaram to His Pita and flew to the Aranyam.
Even today if two people always fight each other we say “why are you fighting like Gaja-kachchhapas?”.
Morals in the story:

1. The Pitrubhakti and Vinayam of Garuda deva are well shown in the story. Though He was extra-ordinarily strong, capable, still He asked His Pita to show Himself some aahaaram! The greatest sad-gunam of Sat-purushas is Vinayam.
2. Nyaayam is what is concerned to an individual. Whereas Dharmam concerns a society. Hence in order to protect the creatures in the Aranyam, the two trouble causing animals had to be killed. Hence, the Dharmagnya, Kashyapa maharshi, asked his putra to take the Gaja-kachchhapas as His aahaaram.
3. The amruta vaakyas of Vibhaasa must be remembered. Pralobham and Dhana-kaaksha always lead to difficulties.
4. A family where brothers remain united like Shri Raama and Lakshmana will always prosper; a family where the brothers fight each other like Vibhaasa and Suprateeka will be destroyed with their own Krodham.

Kaala Mahima

Kaala Mahima is great. Kaalam is unavoidable, unbreachable and un-surpassable. Only the paramatma has control of it. Adi Sesha, the bearer of the worlds, is the Kaala swarupam and if you notice Lakshmana and Balarama who are Adi Sesha’s avatars were always with the paramaatma Raama and Krishna respectively. Under the influence of Kaalam, even great mightly warrior like Arjuna was not able to defeat mere thieves. Krishna’s brother Saathyaki and Krutaverma were one of the greatest yaadavas. Yet in the end they had to obey the result of their karma (because of muni shaapam for their arrogance, die in a petty fight amongst each other).
Arjuna arrives after the end of the avatar of Lord Krishna to Dwaaraka. He asks the residents of Dwaaraka to vacate the island as it would sink. He guards queens on their way to indraprastha. There the most distressing thing happens. He fails to ward of some thieves who kidnap and loot the ladies, the mighty Gaandiva fails to fire a single arrow. Later it is explained by bhagavaan Vyaasa about the power of time and its effects on everybody.
Garuda, the vaahana of Lord Vishnu, is one the strongest. A slight fanning of His wings would make the waters of the ocean spill out, showing the ocean’s bed. However, He too had to obey the rules of Kaalam and had to do daasyam for his cousins. The Naagas, the strong children of Kadruva, cousins of Garuda, ultimately had to go into the fires of the Sarpayaagam of Janamejaya, the prathama shrota of MahaaBhaarata. Their strength could not stop them from being burnt.
In order to imagine the enormous extent of Kaalam, consider the following:
Kaliyugam (Venkateshwara, Vikramaaditya) – 4,32,000 years.
Dvaapara (Krishna, Dharmaraaja) – 2*Kaliyugam
Tretaayugam (Raama, Lakshmana) – 3*Kaliyugam
Krutayugam (Narasimha, Harishchandra) – 4*Kaliyugam
Total is called one Mahaayugam – 4.32 million years
One Manu rules a Manvantaram composed of 71 Mahaayugams. (Current manu is Vaivasvata, the son of the Sun, Vivasva)
14 Manvantaraas is one day for Brahma and known as Kalpam. Other 14 will be nights.
For such 100 years, one Brahma is the shruti-karta. Next Brahma is Shri Hanuman and Bali chakravarti will be Indra in Saavarni Manvantaram. And such thousands and thousands of Brahmas have passed, so many that people no more have count of them. Imagine how tiny is the life of a human being in this! Yet a human has ahankaar that surpasses everyone’s.
Morals in the Story:

1. Many great people, however strong they are, could not surpass kaalam. So being a mere human being, one needs to shed all his ahankaar and be very happy with the fortune he has and stop lamenting for the things he does not posses.
2. There are a few instances in the past, where time was controlled by Paramaatma for upholding Dharma or for Bhaktas. So a true devotion in Him only will help us survive the ravages of time….

Story of Shiva and Vishnu

“There are two mahaa-phala daayaka Vrukshas. One by the name Vaasudeva and the other by the name Vaamadeva. They differ only in their sumas (flowers) (‘su’ is replaced by ‘ma’ in their names), but both give the same phalas (fruits, which is moksham)”. It is also often said, “How much one does not see the difference between Shiva and Vishnu, that much his aayu will increase”.
One day, when Lakshmi and Vishnu were together in vihaaram, Lakshmi sees Ucchaishravam, her brother, the horse of Revanta who is the son of Surya. Engrossed in seeing her brother, she does not reply to the repeated calls of Vishnu. Seeing her attraction, Vishnu gives her shaapam to go to Bhulokam in the form of a horse and come back to Vaikuntam only after getting a son equal to Himself! She comes to Bhuloka to experience the shaapam and realizing that none other than her brother, Shiva can help her calm Vishnu, she immediately does a tapas for Him and Shiva appears to save her soodari. Lakshmi says “You and Vishnu are both same, the Paramaatma. Please help me!”. Shiva says “Soodari! How do you know that we both are same? All learned people know that. Who told you?”. Lakshmi says, “Once Mahavishnu Himself told me this. Seeing Him in deep Daiva-dhyaanam, I asked Him “During Samudramanthanam, I thought you were the greatest of all and hence chose you. Devaadideva! Who is better than you that you are in dhyaanam of Him?”. Mahavishnu replied “I am doing Shankara-dhyaanam. He is Eshwara. He is the same as Me. All learned people know that. If someone is my devotee but still hates Shiva, he will fall into naraka”.
Saying this, She asks Shiva to pursuade Vishnu to bless Her with a child. Shiva sends Chitrarupa as a duta to convince Vishnu. Vishnu immediately accepts and comes to Bhuloka and blesses Lakshmi with Ekaveera, who is equal to Vishnu Himself. From Ekaveera came forth the Haihaya dynasty, of which the most noted king is Kartavirya Arjuna (Ekaveera’s grandson).
 Once when Naarada, the avatar of Vishnu, recited prayers glorifying Lord Shiva as the supreme controller of the universe, Lord Shiva, the best of Vaishnavas, at once covered his ears and angrily replied, “I am not the Lord of the universe, nor an object of Krishna’s mercy! I am just a poor aatma always hankering for the favor of the servants of His servants.” (Thus in this small story, Naarada, avataar of Vishnu, glorifies Shiva as the Paramaatma and Shiva glorifies Vishnu as the Paramaatma!)
The story of Hanuman, who is the 11th avataar of Shiva and Raama, the purna avataar of Vishnu also reveals the same. Both of them acheived great tasks:

1. Restricting the great samudram, Raama along with His entire army crossed the satpa-samudras! Hanuman, in one small jump, crossed it!
2. In the greatest, unparalleled ghora-yuddham, which was never seen before or will ever be seen, Raama killed Raavana! Hanuman killed Mairaavana, who was many times stronger than Raavana, with great ease!
3. Krishna lifted Govardhana giri, balanced on his little finger and saved the lives of Gopaalas! Hanuman brought the Sanjeevani Parvatam from Himaalayas to Lanka and saved Lakshmana!
4. Raama melted a stone, with the touch of His lotus feet, for Ahalya! Hanuman melted a stone with His sweet Gandharva gaanam!

Though they did great tasks like this, always Hanuman worshipped Raama, with great Vinayam. And Raama worshipped Shiva with unparalleled devotion. (If one closely observes, for Paramaatma these tasks are not at all difficult/big. For He does everything right from Shrushti to Layam. And He only resides in everyone and gives life. However, since we cannot even imagine His power, we praise Him for these “small” tasks only
Impressed by the great tapas of Viṣhṇu for Paramaśiva, Śiva gave Viṣhṇu the Sudarshana Cakram.
Annamaacharya, the great Vaak-geya-kaaraka of Aandhra Pradesh, in one of his divya sankeertana “Enta maatramuna evvaru talichina ….” says:
How much ever one imagines that much only are You:

• For Vaishnavas You are Vishnu
• For Vedaantas You are Parabrahma
• For Shaivas and other bhaktas You are Shiva
• For Kaapaalikas You are Kaala-Bhairava
• For Shaakteyaas You are Shakti
• For people with alpa-buddhi You appear as alpam
• For people who know Your Garima and have Ghana-buddhi You are a Ghana
• For people who are Sharanaagati You are Venkateshvara

Once Shri Krishna, the avataar of Mahaavishnu, came to Upamanyu maharshi, when he was at Himaalayas. Shri Krishna said “Upamanyu muniindra! You are the greatest in the Shiva Bhaktas. I came here to do Tapas of Paramashiva to get santaanam. Please teach Me Shaiva-vidhi and vidhaanam”.
Upamanyu replied “O Shri Krishna! I know who You are. Shiva puuja is not new to You. Though You know it, to make everybody know, I will tell You …” Saying thus, Upamanyu told Shri Krishna how to do Shiva-aaraadhana.

This happened after the episode of Naarada, coming under Vishnu maaya, gives shaapam to Vishnu: (This is one of the reasons of Shri Raama avatar)
Naarada says “Svaami! Please forgive Me. I, coming under influence of Your maaya, got ahankaar and did Your ninda. Please tell Me what can save Me from this ghora-paapam”. Vishnu says:
“O Priya Naarada! You go and do paaraayana of Shankara Shatanaamams. Then You will get Shaanti. Shiva is whom I respect the most. Even by mistake dont forget this. One who doesnt have Shiva-anugraham cannot be My Bhakta. Believe this … Then My maaya wont affect you.”
Once Vyaasa Bhagavaan came under the influence of Shiva-maaya and started telling in his Pravachanams that Vishnu is greater than Shiva. Once Nandeeshvara also heard Vyaasa Bhagavaan saying this. Vishnu Murty then appeared before Veda Vyaasa and told Him “O Maharshi! Dont you know that I and Shiva are the same? Knowing this why are you telling like this in your pravachanams?” Veda Vyaasa then had great pashchaattaapam and asked Kshama from Nandeeshvara.

The phalam of Vishnu Pooja is Shiva Bhakti — the example is that of Arjuna. Arjuna ofcourse was the greatest Shri Krishna Bhakta. But it was Shiva who gave Arjuna moksham, when Arjuna was born as Bhakta Kannappa, in the great Kaalahastsi Kshetram.
Similarly the phalam of Shiva Pooja is Shri Raama Bhakti — the examples are stories of Kaaka Bhushundi and Valmiki Maharshi. Kaaka Bhushundi was a great Shiva Bhakta and hence Shiva grants him Raama Bhakti Saamraajyam. Valmiki did tapas for Shiva using the Panchaakshari mantram given to him by the great Saptarshis and as a result became the Aadi Kavi and wrote the great Raamaayanam.

Raasaleela. It was the day when the “punya-vruksham” of Gopikas delivered its ripe fruits, called Moksham. It was the day when the Aaraadhana of Gopikas was blessed by Lord Krishna. Gopikas realized Shri Krishna, the Sarvaantaryaami, everywhere. As a result of their Aaraadhana-bhakti they realized the paramaatma’s poorna-svaroopam with each one of them. Who could miss watching the Raasaleela, where the Lord showered His Karuna-jyotsna ? All the Brahma-aadi devatas were present.
Parama Shiva, the greatest bhakta of Shri Krishna, was also present in the form of a Gopika. Shri Krishna, who is always in nirantara-shiva-dhyaanam, searched for Parameshvara. Finally He realized that Shiva is none other than one of the Gopikas having sampoorna aanandam of dancing with Him. Shri Krishna paramaatma then does stuti of Eshvara and asks to bless them by staying there at Vrundaavanam by the name of Gopeeshvara.
Even today we can visit Lord Shiva, in the form of Gopeeshvara, at Vrundaavanam.

THIRUTHANGAL
“Thiruthangal Uuranai”- Thirumangai aazhwar mangalasanam.
Banasuran was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. He once prayed to Shiva to bestow him with thousand arms so that he can play the mrudangam during his rudrathandavam. Shiva too did so. But instead of playing the instrument with his thousand arms he started fighting battles against one and all. Instigated by this malicious act Shiva said “ A person equal to me shall severe your thousand hands.” Usha was the daughter of Banasura. She once saw in a dream that a young prince played with her. She immediately wanted to know who he was. Chitralekha started drawing hundreds of pictures which did not yield the expected result. She then drew the pictures of Yadava rulers like Balarama, Krishna, Pradyumna and Anrudha. As soon as she sketched the picture of Anirudha Usha was only too excited. “It is he, It is he”- she exclaimed. Chitralekha being a yogini atonce brought Anirudha to her chamber even as he was sleeping atop his house. They then played there for a long time. Some spy who oversaw all this complained to Banasura who arrested Anirudha for no fault of his. Lord Krishna fought a tough battle. Banasura sought the refuge of Shiva who faught on his side. Lord Krishna severed all of Banasura’s hands except four. Krishna then told Shiva “ Iam you and you are me. Those who show hatred against me or you though a devotee of either shall attain hell. I as Brahma create, as Rudra destroy and as Vishnu protect. Your devotee is mine and my devotee is yours.I shall not kill Banasura, he being a descendent of Prahlada.” Thus Banasura was consoled and Anirudha was married to Usha. Rudra showed false anger at Banasura and asked him never to join his bhutaganas. A repenting Banasura asked for parihara when he said that a dip in the holy waters of Papavinashini teertha at Thiruthangal will cleanse him of his sin. Banasura did so and rejoined Rudragana. Thus those who visit this kshetra will beget their lost status and also beget a good groom. Victory be to him who visits this kshetra.
Morals in the Story:

1. Shiva and Vishnu are the same.
2. Both Raama and Hanuman did such super-human tasks, but they were never having even a bit of Ahankaar. They always were humble

Om Tat Sat

                                                        

(Continued...)  

 
<sub>(My humble greatfulness to Moral Stories dot com,  Hindu dot com and Devotees   for the   collection) 



( A tribute to the great Bharatiya Samskruti)</sub>