Story of Nimi

 Srimad Bhagavatham - Story of King Nimi 

 

Who is King Nimi? Why did Sage Vasishta curse the King, and how did he react? Why did the Soul of King Nimi refuse to get back to its body ? Who is Janaka?

Once, King Nimi, son of Ikswaku, commenced a yagna and invited Sage Vasishta to be the chief priest.

Sage Vasistha was already invited by Indra to conduct his yagna. The Sage told the King to wait until he completed the present task and went to heaven. The king remained silent. 

King Nimi thought further delay may not allow him to perform the yagna due to the limited life span of human life. Hence, he began the yagna with the help of other priests.

Sage Vasishta returned back and perceiving the indecorum on the part of his disciple, King Nimi, the Sage cursed “Let the body of Nimi, who regards himself learned, fall”.

King Nimi counter cursed Sage Vasishta “ Let your body too fall for not knowing what is right, on account of greed”.

King Nimi, who was well versed in spiritual pursuit, gave up his life. Sage Vasishta was reborn with the help of Mitra Varuna through Urvasi.

Preserving the body of King Nimi in oil, the foremost of sages conducted the sacrifice on behalf of King Nimi as yagna shouldn't be stalled. 

Gods were very much pleased and assembled at the yagna. The sages said “ O Gods, If you are pleased, let this body of King Nimi come back to life.” They agreed to bring back life to King Nimi.

However, the Soul of Nimi declined to enter the mortal body again. The soul said “ Let me not get imprisoned in the mortal body again as it brings in suffering, grief, and fear. Death threatens the soul everywhere, just like a fish that gets threatened even in water. 

The Gods blessed the Soul of Nimi “May you reside at will in the eyes of pious souls”. In this way, King Nimi took up his abode in all jivas in the form of opening and closing of eyes.  

The Sages, left with no option, decided to churn the body of King Nimi to get a progeny as the country without a king would lead to unrest. 

On churning, a son was born to King Nimi. By virtue of his extraordinary birth, the prince was called Janaka. Born in the lineage of King Nimi (who remained without a body), the prince was named Vaideha (son of Videha / bodyless). Sprung from the process of churning, the prince was also called Mithila, who later on built the great city of Mithila.

Janaka became a generic name of descendants of King Nimi. When Siradhwaja, descendant of Janaka, was ploughing the earth to begin a sacrifice, Goddess Sitadevi made her appearance.   

All the kings of Mithila were proficient in Self- knowledge. They were rid of pairs of opposites (Joy and Sorrow) even in their households.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

Story of Trishanku

Srimad Bhagavatam - Story of Trishanku 

Why did Satyavratha get the title ‘Trishanku’, and what were his wrongdoings? Why was Trishanku Swarga formed?

Satyavratha, son of Tribandhana is a descendent of Mandhata. He was not worthy of his name. He forcefully carried a just married brahmana girl. This act was strongly opposed by his parents.  

Satyavratha neither opposed his father nor apologized. Hence, left with no choice, his father cursed him to become a Chandala. Satyavratha wasn't angry with his father but had a grudge on Sage Vasishta. 

During that period, there was severe drought in the kingdom. Sage Viswamitra and his family were starving without food. Satyavratha, in chandala form, served food to Sage Viswamitra, though not according to the norms. Left with no choice, Sage Viswamitra accepted it. 

Satyavratha desired to end his life, but by the intervention of Vanadevatha (forest deity), he survived and waited to return to his kingdom. When his father passed away, Sage Vasishta called him to take over the kingdom as he was the only progeny.

Satyavratha had a desire to go to heaven in human form, which was instantly declined by Sage Vasishta. Sage Vasishta cursed Satyavratha for these 3 wrongdoings and named him Trishanku. 

Trishanku sought the help of Sage Viswamitra to gain access to heaven in human form.     

The Sage took pity and, using his yogic power, sent him to heaven. The devatas did not accept him as it was against the set rules. He was kicked back upside down. 

Sage Vishwamitra stopped Trishanku from falling back on the earth. He created a new heaven with all amenities exhausting his yogic powers. He expressed his inability to help him further.   

Sage Viswamitra had to restart penance to gain his position. 

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

Story of Shunashepa

 Srimad Bhagavatam - Story of Shunashepa    

Who is Shunashepa, and why did he opt for Sage Vishamitra's lineage? What was the fear of Hiranyakashipu?

Shunashepa was the second son of Sage Ajigartha. King Harishchandra, for a long time, had no issues. He made a unique vow that if he was blessed with a son, he would offer him to Varuna.

Rohita, son of King Harishchandra, learned about Varuna deva’s demand and retired to the forest. Later, he made an arrangement with Sage Ajigartha of Bhargava lineage, who was living in poverty with 3 sons and a wife. To escape from poverty, he agreed to offer one of his sons to the king. 

Sage Ajigartha declined to offer his eldest son and his wife, their youngest son. The middle son, Shunashepa, was left with no option but to volunteer to go with Rohita. He wasn't angry with his parents but was disturbed. 

In the Yagashala, he met maternal uncle Sage Vishwamitra and sought his help. Vishwamitra taught Sunashepa how to please Gods through correct pronunciation of hymns, etc. Sunashepa did accordingly and was highly appreciated. 

Lord Indra gifted him a golden chariot, and Varuna deva freed Surashepa from the obligation.  

When Sage Viswamitra asked Shunashepa to seek a boon, he requested to include him in his gotra (linage). The Sage gladly accepted, and hence, Shunashepa moved out from his father's lineage.

It was a huge loss for Sage Ajigartha as the goodwill earned by Shunashepa was denied to him and his family.  

Sage Viswamitra asked his 100 sons to adopt Shunashepa as his elder brother, but his first 50 sons declined to accept. Sage Viswamitra cursed them to be Mleccha (outsiders to vedic culture). 

Indeed, Hiranyakashipu, who had knowledge of vedas, knew about the greatness of Sunashepa. He was surprised when Prahlada remained calm at every adversary, and all the more, he did not oppose him. He noticed the similarity of Prahlada's behaviour with that of Shunashepa. Hiranyakashipu feared that Prahalda might as well move out of his lineage.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

Harishchandra's Earlier Life

Srimad Bhagavatam - Harishchandra's Earlier Life

Who is Harishchandra and what made him break his promise? What was the curse of Varuna deva, and how could he get rid of it? How did he transform to become Satya Harishchandra?

Harishchandra is the son of Trishanku and descendant of Mandata. King Harishchandra had no progeny and, on the advice of Sage Narada, performed Rajasuya Yaga propriating Varuna deva. 

King Harishchandra requested Varuna deva to bless him with a son and, in return, would offer his son as a gift. This unusual promise was made without consulting anyone.

 

Varuna deva agreed, and after a lapse of the prescribed period, a son was born and was named Rohita. Varuna deva appeared before the king to claim his right. The king was perplexed and had no desire to let go of his only son. Varuna deva was asked to return on the 10th day of the purification ceremony.

As expected, Varuna deva appeared, and the king was ready with an excuse. Varuna deva visited on a number of occasions without fail but was sent back. 

Rohita, by then a teenager, ran away to live independently on knowing that he would be sent out of the kingdom. Varuna deva met the king and cursed him of Jalodhara Vyadi (stomach ailment). 

Rohita, on knowing the curse on his father, desired to return but was stopped by Lord Indra. He was asked to take on a pilgrimage and visit sacred places for a year. 

Rohita did accordingly and was again stopped by Lord Indra to take up pilgrimage. Lord Indra could not stop Rohita at the end of the 5th year.

On the way back, Rohita makes an agreement with Sage Ajigratha of Bhrgu clan to purchase his second son, Surashepa, and offer him to Varuna deva on his behalf. 

King Harishchandra was very happy to see his son back and with the arrangement. He performed the yagna successfully with Sage Vishamitra as Ritvik and Sage Vasista as Brahma. Harishchandra finally got rid of the disease. 

After this incident , King Harishchandra pondered over and made a commitment to keep his promises at all costs.

Sage Viswamitra tested him and was made to suffer immensely but the king withstood all of them and earned the title Satya Harishchandra. 

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

Story of Mandhata

 Srimad Bhagavatham - Story of Mandhata 

King Yuvanaswa was born in Ikswaku lineage. Being issueless, he retired to the forest along with his 100 wives. The sages of that hermitage took pity on him and conducted a sacrifice intended to propitiate Indra. 

The king Yuvanaswa felt thirsty at midnight and entered the sacrificial hut. Not knowing it as divine water consecrated with the mantra, he drank and went back.

The next morning, seeing the sacrificial pitcher empty, the priest enquired and found the king consumed the divine water that had a capacity to produce a male child. 

The priest remained hapless and left it to the play of destiny. The king at last gave birth to a male child splitting open his right pelvis.

When the baby cried out of hunger, the brahmanas were perplexed as to who would give milk to the baby.

Indra put his index finger dripped with nectar into the baby's mouth saying “ suck me (Mam Dhata). Do not cry”. Hence, he was named Mandhata.

King Yuvanaswa survived by the grace of Brahmanas and attained perfection through asceticism.

The powerful Emperor Mandhata ruled the entire globe. The whole extent of land from the point where the sun rises to the point where it sets is called the territory of Mandhata. 

The Emperor had three sons, viz., Purukutsa, Ambarisa and Muchukunda, and 50 daughters. All the fifty daughters choose Sage Saubhari as their husband.  

Ambarisa was adopted by his grandfather, Yuvanaswa, and a son, Yauvanaswa, was born to Ambarisha.  

Purukutsa was married to Narmada and was taken to Rasatala to protect against Gandarvas, who were enemies of Nagas. Satyavrata (famously called Trishanku) is a descendent of Purukutsa.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

Please note Ambarisha, son of Naabhaga and a great devotee of Srihari, is different from Ambarisha, son of Mandata. 

Story of Ikswaku

 Srimad Bhagavatam - Story of Ikswaku and Puranjaya (Kakustha)

       

Who is Ikswaku, and why did he exile his son Vikuksi? Why was Puranjaya named kakutstha?

Ikswaku is the son of Vaivaswata Manu. Ikswaku had 100 sons, and Vikuksi was the eldest. He retained central Aryavatha (land lying between the Vindhya range and the Himalayas) and distributed remaining land among his sons.

Once, Ikswaku asked his son Vikuksi to bring flesh for the ceremony (Shraddha). Vikuksi agreed and went to the forest. Having killed some animals fit for the ceremony, he thoughtlessly roasted and ate some flesh of hare as he was fatigued and hungry.

Bringing back the remaining flesh, he handed over to his father. Sage Vasistha rejected the offering as it had been contaminated by eating beforehand. Ikswaku was very angry with his son's behavior and exiled him from his kingdom.  

The king Ikswaku chose the path of Jnanayoga (with the help of his preceptor Sage Vasishta) and cast off his body.

On the death of King Ikswaku, Vikuksi was called by Sage Vasishta to become the king. However, the people did not accept him for having violated the prescribed norms. He was known as Sasada (devourer of a hare).

Puranjaya is the son of Vikuksi. Puranjaya was requested by the gods to join them in the fight against demons. Protected by celestial bow and armour, Puranjaya was eager to fight. At the instance of Srihari, Indra assumed the firm of a gigantic bull and Puranjaya rode on the hump of the bull.   

Puranjaya fought ferociously and dispatched the demons to Yama's abode. The remaining demons fled to Patala. He earned the title Kakutstha (one who rode on the hump of a bull) and Indravaha.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

Story of Ambharisa

Srimad Bhagavatam - Story of Ambarisha

Who is Ambharisa? Why did Lord Srihari give His discus (Sudarshana Charka) as protection to King Ambharisa. How could Ambharisa earn such powerful protection?

King Ambarisha is the son of Naabhaaga and the grandson of Nabhaga. Naabhaaga was very learned and led a truthful life. Being in that lineage Ambharisa too led a pious life and was greatly devoted to Lord Srihari.

Ambharisa was the Emperor of Seven Dweepas and had enormous wealth. Even with such huge wealth and power, he never got attached to it. 

He always felt that these wealth were illusionary (as seen in the dream state) and would vanish any day or death would snatch away everything from him. He adopted Viragya (non-attached). 

To remain in that state, he controlled his sense organs. He used his speech only to praise Srihari, his hand to serve Him, ear to hear stories of Achutha, leg to visit shrines, mouth to drink Tulsi leaves juice, smell lotus flower fragrance etc. Hence, he was able to control his senses and divert his mind towards Srihari alone. 

The king gradually gave up all attachments with regard to his houses, wife, children, army, treasury, ornaments, etc. 

Pleased with his exclusive devotion, Srihari delivered His own discus ( Sudarshana Chakra) - a powerful weapon to protect Ambharisa. 

During Dwadashi Parana Vrath, Sage Durvasa visited King Ambarisha and accepted his hospitality. Sage Durvasa went to the river to complete his morning ablutions and returned after a considerable time. 

The Dwadashi Parana fasting has to be completed within the prescribed time. The King couldn't wait till the arrival of the Sage. Symbolically, he took a sip of water to break the fast. 

Sage Durvasa grew angry and threatened to kill him. He pulled a few strains of hair and, using his yogic power, created a genie. King Ambharisa was calm, but Sudarshana Chakra destroyed the genie and started chasing the Sage Durvasa for a long period. 

Sage Durvasa couldn't get protection from Lord Brahma or Lord Shiva. Srihari expressed his inability but advised him to seek pardon from his devotee, King Ambarisha.  

Accordingly, the Sage sought pardon from the King and got relief from the burning sensation of Sudarshana Chakra. 

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana