M12. Mahabharata - Shantanu Weds Ganga and Birth of Devavrata

 M12. Mahabharata - Shantanu Weds Ganga and Birth of Devavrata 

Why was King Shantanu unhappy with Ganga's acts?

Once King Shantanu went on a hunt and reached the banks of Ganga River. A beautiful lady appeared before him, and the king was naturally attracted to her and made a proposal (afterall It's a play of destiny - desires of previous birth as King Mahabisha).

Ganga never revealed her identity but accepted his proposal. She put forth her condition that she shouldn't be, at any cost, question her actions, lest she would leave him forever. 

When the first child was born, Ganga, as desired by Vasus, took the baby to the river and gave it a water burial. 

Shantanu was astonished but couldn't question her for the fear that she might leave him forever. As destined, he took the pain of losing his child. This process of giving birth to a child and drowning it carried on until the eighth child.

When Ganga was taking the baby to the river side, Shantanu became furious and stopped her, undeterred by the consequences. He questioned her who she was, why she was behaving oddly, and what her motive was.

Ganga calmly revealed her identity and said those babies were Asta Vasus (demigods gods), and their water burials were as per their wish.

She told him that he is fortunate to father them and also the merits he had earned during his previous birth.

She revealed the curse of Sage Vasishta on Ashta Vasus and her request to retain at least one of them for the progeny of King Shantanu. 

Curse of Vasishta on Ashta Vasus 

When Shantanu asked Ganga to detail him on the curse, Ganga said, “ Sage Vasista, born to Varuna (in this kalpa), was involved in tapas near Meru Parvatha He had a divine cow, Nandini, to fulfill the needs of yagnas.  

Once, Ashta Vasus (8 in no.) were going around his ashrama and saw the divine cow. Among them, the youngest Vasu Jouhu's wife desired to know about it. Jouhu said the milk of this cow gives a person strength, longevity, and good health. 

Jouhu's wife had a friend, and she intended to give this cow to her. She pleaded with Jouhu to get it for her friend. 

Since the Sage was not in ashrama, Jouhu captured the cow with the help of other Vasus and took them to their place. Unfortunately, they never had an afterthought of its consequences. 

Sage Vasishta returned back to his ashrama only to know that Nandini cow was missing. He searched for it everywhere and finally, using his yogic power, could trace it.   

The Sage was angry that it had been taken away for personal purposes and not for the welfare of the people.

The Sage cursed the Vasus of Garba Naraka (suffering in a womb) and will be born as humans on earth. When Vasus realized their fault, they sought forgiveness.  

The Sage said the curse cannot be reversed, but your stay on earth can be shortened to a year. The last Vasu Jouhu will live long, remain as a bachelor, and will not have progeny. He will have immense strength and earn a good name for the family.

Ganga said to Shantanu that she would take care of his son and hand over to him after the studies. She left with her son, Devavrata.

Source: Mahabharatha - Adiparva

M11. Mahabharata - Rebirth of Mahabisha as Shantanu

 M11. Mahabharata - Rebirth of Mahabisha as Shantanu

Why did Ganga meet King Pradipa?

King Pradipa, son of Dilipa of the Kuru lineage, had earned great merits. While the King was in tapas, Ganga, to test, quietly went near him and sat on his right lap. The king was astonished but remained calm. 

Unaware who this lady is, the King politely asked her who she was, the purpose of her visit. Ganga introduced herself and made a request to have a relationship with him. She also asserted he would be fit, for her stature, to be her spouse.

The king calmly said he observes Eka Patni Vrat and wishes not to break this rule for life. He suspected her act of sitting on his right lap, which is usually preserved for a son or a daughter or may be for a daughter-in-law (sitting on the left lap is preserved for spouse) 

The King said to Ganga, “Your action and speech do not match and hence can not accept you as my spouse. You can be my future daughter-in-law, though the aged king, till then, was childless.

Ganga was happy and readily accepted his proposal. She said,” Your yet-to-born son is a revered Sage and has earned sufficient merits. He would attain heaven and his progeny would be well-known as warriors and followers of dharma”. Ganga requested secrecy of their meeting and immediately left the place.

Later, King Pradipa had a son, Shantanu, who was soft-spoken, well-behaved, and grew up to become a great warrior. 

When Shantanu grew up and attained a marriageable age, King Pradipa said, “ A lady would meet you secretly and propose. You should neither question her whereabouts nor ask her name but accept her as spouse. This is my order”.

Shantanu, who had earned great merits in the past, was able to remember his previous birth as King Mahabisha and the curse of Lord Brahma. Hence, he maintained equanimity. 

King Pradipa, when time arrived, handed over the kingdom to Shantanu and retired to the forest.

Source: Mahabharatha - Adiparvam

King Shantanu, son of King Pradipa, in this birth is Chandravamshi, while during his previous birth as King Mahabisha of Ikswaku lineage was a Suryavamshi.

Ikswaku is the son of Vaivaswata Manu and the grandson of Vivasvan (Sun-god).

Source: Mahabharatha- Adiparva 

M3 - Mahabharata - Vasuki's Concern and Search for Aastika Maharishi

 M3 - Mahabharata - Vasuki's Concern and Search for Aastika Maharishi 

What is Serpent Adishesha’s frustration?

Adishesha was the first born serpent of Kadru. When Kadru made an unrighteous demand upon her progeny, Adishesha got frustrated and went away, severing ties with his mother and siblings. He undertook strenuous tapas. Brahma was pleased by the tapas of Adishesha and asked him to seek a boon. 

Lord Brahma Consoles Adishesha 

Adishesha says, "I am not interested in seeking boon, but I am concerned with the adharmic activity of my mother, Kadru, and infighting among his siblings”. 

Brahma consoles him and says King Janamejaya's Sarpa yaga is destined, and none can stop it. Further, Brahma said Aastika Maharshi would help stop the Sarpa Yaga, and all dharmic serpents would be protected. 

Brahma assigned Adishesha the job of holding the earth stable on his head, a task that none other could do. 

What was Serpent Vasuki’s concern?

Vasuki, the second son of Kadru, was worried about King Janamejaya’s Yaga and was devising ways to protect snakes from extinction. Some snakes suggested killing King Janamejaya, but such a suggestion was not accepted. Thenceforth snakes decided to seek advice from Father Sage Kashyapa.

Who is Serpent Ellapatru, and what is secretive dialogue narrated by the serpent?

Just then, one serpent by name Ellapatru said, “When this curse was pronounced, I was young and sleeping on Mother Kadru's lap. I heard a secretive dialogue between Devatas and Lord Brahma. Devatas asked Brahma how come a mother be so cruel towards her own sons. 

Brahma said, “The curse on serpents would in time prove good as their reproduction rate is very high. Snakes by their very nature are aggressive, and hence, their excessive population is not good for the welfare of humanity. At an appropriate time, Astika Maharishi would help stop the Sarpa Yaga and enable the survival of dharmic snakes.

Brahma said, “Aastika Maharishi would be born as the son of Sage Jagadkaru. Sage Jagadkaru would fulfill his ancestors' wish for progeny. He would marry a girl bearing the same name. Vasuki would give his sister Jagadkaru in marriage to Sage Jagadkaru”.

Vasuki Awaits Sage Jagadkaru's Call For Bride

Vasuki was relieved of his undue worries and thenceforth asked the serpents to ascertain the whereabouts of Sage Jagadkaru. He told the snakes to wait until the Sage sought help to find a bride and keep him informed about developments. 

In the course of time , Sage Jagadkaru loudly called for a bride as a gift, and Vasuki was duly informed. Vasuki approached Sage Jagadkaru and agreed to give his sister in marriage to him.  

Snakes blessed Aastika Maharishi and said, “Those who read, hear, or narrate your story would be protected from fear of snakes.

Source : Mahabharatha - Adi Parva 

M2 - Mahabharata - Sage Jagadkaru's Marriage and Aastika Maharishi Stops Sarpa Yaga

 M2- Mahabharata - Sage Jagadkaru's Marriage and Aastika Maharishi Stops Sarpa Yaga

Who is Sage Jagadkaru?

Sage Jagadkaru is the father of Maharishi Aastikai. On the request of the Maharishi Aastika, King Janamejaya stopped Sarpa Yaga, and thereby, serpent species were protected.

Sage Jagadkaru was a great tapasvi and remained brahmachari. He had no permanent place to live. His tapas were so powerful that he could see pitrudevatas in person. 

Once, to quench his thirst, the Sage was in search of a well. In a dry well, he saw pitrudevas hanging upside down from tree roots. He questioned them about their identity. They said they were his ancestors and explained their predicament (owing to the want of progeny they were unable to move to heaven).

Sage Jagadkaru agrees to marry

The Sage understood the plight of pitrudevatas and agreed to marry in order to beget a son. However, he put in some unique conditions for marrying. The sage sought for a bride who possessed good character, a matching name as his, said that he would take up tapas once a son is born, and also demanded that the bride should be given as part of Kanyadhan. Pitrudevatas agreed to his terms and agreed to facilitate the process.

 Sage Jagadkaru Meets Serpent Vasuki 

The Sage Jagadkaru was roaming around a forest and said,” Is there anyone who is willing to give me a bride as kanyadhan?”. 

Shortly, Vasuki, the serpent head, met the Sage and agreed to offer his sister, Jagadkaru, in kanyadhan to him. As all his conditions were met, the Sage agreed to marry Jagadkaru.

A son, Aastika, was born out of wedlock. Aastika was well versed in Vedas and was revered. 

Aastika Maharishi Makes a Request

Aastika Maharishi went to King Janamejaya’s Sarpa Yaga and was welcomed by the King with honours. The King politely asked him the purpose of his visit. 

When Serpent King Takshaka was about to fall into the Homa kund of Sarpa Yaga, Aastika Maharishi stopped him from falling. 

Maharishi said to King Janamejaya, “I request you to stop this Yaga in order to protect the remaining snakes belonging to my mother’s relatives”. The king agreed, and thus, snake species were protected.

Source: Mahabharatha- Adiparva

M1 - Mahabharata - King Janamejaya Begins Sarpa Yaga

 M1 - Mahabharata - King Janamejaya Begins Sarpa Yaga 

Who is King Janamejaya? Why did he conduct Sarpa Yaga?

King Janamejaya is the son of King Parikshit, grandson of Abhimanyu and the great-grandson of Arjuna. King Parikshit was killed by Serpent King Takshaka in order to take revenge on Arjuna*, who was responsible for killing his tribe in Kandava Vana Firing. 

Who is Uttanka, and why did he urge the king to perform the yaga?

King Janamejaya was not keen to avenge Takshaka, but Uttanka, the disciple of Sage Gouthama, instigated the King Janamejaya to punish Takshaka as both were victims. Since Uttanka couldn’t do it alone, he sought the help of the king. 

(Takshaka once tricked Uttanka when he was about to fulfill the wish of his Guru's wife). Uttanka agreed to perform Sarpa Yaga for the King, and in the process, serpents fell one after the other into the Homa kunda. Takshaka sought Indra's help, but Indra couldn't do much. 

Who is Aruna, and why did he curse his mother, Vinata?

Kadru is the mother of 1000 powerful serpents. She had a sister, Vinata, and both were married to Sage Kashyapa. Vinata sought from her husband a boon that she be the mother of two eagles who must be more powerful than Kadru's sons.

Kadru’s 1000 eggs hatched, and serpents were born. Intolerant Vinata broke open one of her eggs, and to her dismay, a half born eagle, Aruna was born. 

Aruna curses his mother for his plight and says she would become a slave on whom she was jealous. He went to suryamandal and served as charioteer to Sun God. 

He also warned Vinata not to break open the second egg as the son born out of it would help her get rid of slavery. Garuda was born after 500 years and helped her get rid of slavery.  

How was Vinata tricked? 

Once Kadru and Vinata went for a walk near the sea shore and saw Ucchishrava, a pure white divine horse. Both appreciated its beauty and colour. Kadru hatched a plan and wilfully declared the horse’s tail is black. 

Vinata disagreed with her sister, and the casual talk between the sisters turned into a contest. 

Kadru Curses Her Sons

Kadru makes a dishonest request to her serpent sons to coil around the divine horse in order to win the contest. The snakes declined their mother's demand and, in turn, were cursed by Kadru - to become sacrificial victims during King Janamejaya’s Sarpa Yaga. 

To escape the consequences of the curse, one lone snake by the name Karkotaka agreed to fulfill her wish. 

The next day, when Kadru and Vinata met at the prescribed time, the horse’s tail appeared black, and Vinata became slave to Kadru. Vinata faced lots of humiliation from her sister.

Source: Mahabharatha- Adiparva

*Arjuna was protected by Srikrishna, and his son Abhimanyu was killed in the battlefield, and hence, Takshaka targeted Parikshit.

90. Bhagavatha- Brahma Speaks of Tattva and Seeks Pardon

 90. Srimad Bhagavata - Brahma Speaks of Tattva and Seeks Pardon

Brahma repeatedly prostrated before the Lord and extolled Him at length. 

He said, “Though I recite Vedas continuously, I am unable to comprehend your form. You can show up in any form and as desired by your devotees. 

Many noble souls strived in the past to reach you using a yogic path. They finally realized that devotion alone would enable them to reach you.  

One who constantly listens to your stories, talks about you, thinks about you, and dedicates all their actions to you will surely reach you. You are nirguna roopa. No gunas (rajas, sattiv, and tamas) can influence you. 

Some prefer your Sagunarupa (that which has a form). You have innumerable forms and hence it is difficult to choose. The best way is to select one form, hold, and surrender unconditionally until they reach you.

Devotion and Spiritual Knowledge (Atma Tattva Gnana)

Devotion brings worldly prosperity and final blessings. Knowledge without devotion will only lead to sorrow or pain. It can be equivalent to large sized paddy without a good rice within.

Ignorance (Brahmaa): Seeing things in a different way. Suppose you see a rope in the dark and assume it as a snake. (i.e., not seeing rope as a rope)

Missing Information: Flashing light on it and studying the features of a rope brings in change in thinking (knowledge). The benefit is safety. The basic assumption is that rope is lifeless and cannot move on its own. Only then can the difference be obtained. Seeing a rope as rope is knowledge.

Brahma speaks about Samsara Brahmaa (illusion)

The misperception that worldly life is real is an illusion caused by ignorance (seeing things in a different way). This ignorance is destroyed by atma tattva gnana (spiritual knowledge). 

Atma Tattva

Atma Tattva should be pure and alone (unmixed). Just like adding one more variable (movements) in the above example will not help make differentiation. We need to take features of the rope alone and nothing else. 

We do not need a lamp or torch to see the sun. Just like the Sun, tattva is to itself. Tattva alone cannot destroy ignorance. The sunlight and drywood have no enmity. Sunlight cannot burn drywood on its own. When a lens (convex) is placed between sun rays and the dry wood, wood catches fire. 

We need tattva gnana (a change in thinking) because it helps get rid of ignorance that worldly life is real.

Having said that, Brahma sought pardon from Srikrishna. He said, “You are Sriman Narayana, who has come in this form for the welfare of humanity. Who else can play this Maya? My Maya is relatively very small or minute as compared to yours. 

Since I have come out of your nabhi (stomach), I am your child. Please forgive this naughty child who misbehaved with you. He prostrated before Srikrishna again and sought permission to leave for his abode. 

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

89. Bhagavatha - Lord Brahma's Trick on Srikrishna Backfires

 89. Bhagavata - Lord Brahma's Trick on Srikrishna Backfires

To test Srikrishna's power, Brahma carried away the cowherds and calves from Vrindavan and put to sleep in his Maya kalpe. 

When Brahma came to Vrindavan almost a year later, he noticed Srikrishna was with his cowherds and calves and was wonderstruck.

Brahma kept on seeing the hidden calves, and cowherds kept safe in his custody and the one appearing before him back to back and was utterly confused.  

The cowherds and calves were looking similar but were not his creation and hence not bound by his Maya. 

SriSukamuni said Brahma’s Maya is like fireflies in daylight or as fog in dark nights. Vishnu Maya is far, far superior. 

Additionally, Srikrishna made each of the custodial cows and cowherds (hidden by Brahma) appear in His form - dark in completion, wearing yellow silk cloth, with four arms, carrying a conch, a discus, a mace and a lotus in their hands, curly hairs clearly visible on the chest (srivatsa), ear rings, a pearl necklace, anklets, bangles, and fresh basil leaves garland that hung from the top of the crown to the legs.

He is seen and all His creations, both animate and inanimate, Maha-tattva, Samskara, Time, 3 gunas, Kama, Karma, etc.

Brahma stood mute like a doll and could not comprehend through reason the peculiarities of the Lord. He stretched his body on the ground and touched His feet, and bathed them with his joyful tears.

 Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana