Story of Naabhaaga

 Srimad Bhagavatam - Story of Naabhaaga 

Who is Naabhaaga? How could he win over all odds?

Naabhaaga is the youngest son of Nabhaga and the grandson of Vaisvaswatha Manu. Naabhaga was most learned and returned from gurukul after a very long period of time. 

Meanwhile, his three brothers divided their father's property among themselves, leaving nothing to Naabhaaga on the assumption that he would be lifelong celibate.

Naabhaaga returned back home only to realize that nothing was left to him and instead was asked to take care of their father. Nabhaga was disappointed with his son's behavior and consoled Naabhaaga. 

Nabhaga said, “Sage Angirasa and others are conducting Satra Yagna. They aren't sure of Vaisvadeva Sutra to be used on the 6th and 12th day of the yagna. I will teach you the Sutra to guide them. Don't have any fear. They shall accept your service”.

On the completion of the yagna, they would give away leftovers to you and proceed to heaven. Naabhaaga did as instructed by his father and received all the leftover materials.

Lord Rudra objected and said the leftover wealth of every yagna belongs to Him. He told Naabhaaga to consult his father on this issue. 

Naabhaaga diligently went to his father and enquired. Nabhaga confessed that Lord Rudra is entitled to it, and an error has occurred. 

Left with no choice, Naabhaaga sought pardon with Lord Rudra and asked Him to take away the wealth. Lord Rudra was pleased with the truthfulness of Naabhaaga and imparted the seer to Vedic Mantra knowledge (similar to Brahma gnana). Also, Lord Rudra offered leftover material wealth of yagna to Naabhaaga.

Ambarisha, a revered devotee of Srihari, is the son of Naabhaaga. 

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

Story of Chavana Maharishi and Sukanya

 Srimad Bhagavatham - Story of Cyavana  Maharishi and Sukanya 

Who is Sage Cyavana? How could Ashwini kumaras get a share in Soma Juice though objected by Indra?

Sage Cyavana is the son of Sage Bhrgu. He was well versed in scriptures and was highly revered. 

King Saryati, son of Vaivaswatha Manu, was truthful and was authority in ritualistic sacrifices. Sukanya was his only daughter.

Once King Saryati happened to visit the hermitage of Sage Cyavana with his daughter. The King cautioned his subjects to be careful knowing well Sage Cyavana’s short-temperness and his yogic powers.

In the hermitage, Sukanya saw a pair of bright things like fire flies in an ant hill. Impelled by destiny, the girl in her childish innocence pricked the two bright things with a thorn. 

Immediately, a good deal of blood flowed out. That very moment, there was obstruction of stool and urine among the troops that had escorted the king. The King enquired whether any wrongdoing has happened to royal Sage Cyavana.

Sukanya narrated her act to the King. The terrified King gradually propitiated the sage buried underneath an anthill. In order to escape the wrath, he offered his daughter in marriage to the Sage and returned to his capital more cautious than before. Princess Sukanya diligently took care of her husband.

After some days, ashwini kumaras (celestial physicians) came to his hermitage. The Sage requested them to bestow youth on him, and in return, he would make them entitled to Soma Juice though Indra has denied it.

Ashwini Kumaras gladly accepted the proposal and asked Sage Cyavana to enter the pool created by the Siddhas. Astonishingly, three males appeared adorned with wreaths of lotuses and ear rings of gold and finely dressed. 

Sukanya could not recognize her husband and requested ashwini kumaras to help identify her husband. Pleased with her vow of fidelity, the two gods showed her husband and left for heaven in their aerial car.

King Saryati visited Sage Cyavana’s hermitage to seek his help to perform a Yagna. He saw beside her daughter a male glowing like a sun as against the previous form of Sage Cyavana. 

Sukanya bowed at her father's feet, but he was not pleased. He said “ You have betrayed your husband, the Sage adored by the whole world. You have deserted him because he was old and therefore he was not liked by you. It is indeed a strain on your family”.

When the father was about to curse, Sukanya said “He is none other than your son-in-law," and narrated the whole incident. King Saryati was very much pleased with her conduct. 

Sage Cyavana performed the yagna and, through his ascetic power, offered Soma juice to Ashwini Kumaras. Lord Indra objected to it and raised his thunderbolt to kill the Sage. Sage Cyavana paralyzed the arm of Indra. Left with no choice, Indra agreed to offer Soma juice to ashwini kumaras. 

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

Prahlada's Previous Birth

 Srimad Bhagavatam - Story of Prahlad’s Previous Birth   

Prahlad, in his previous birth, was the youngest of four sons of a Yogi. His three elder brothers received sufficient spiritual lessons from his father. However, Prahlad, though well disciplined, somehow couldn't attain the highest level as his brothers.

Once his parents went on a pilgrimage and before leaving his father asked Prahlad to take care of the Amrut kalash (pot with divine drink) kept in one corner of the house. 

Prahlad dutifully took care of the kalash. He never opened it nor allowed anyone to do so.

After some days, his parents returned home fully exhausted. Father asked Prahlad to get him amrut kalash, stating that alone would satisfy his quench. 

Prahlad went to fetch the pot only to see the vessel was empty. He suspected that Lord Indra alone would have taken away the amrut as none dared to approach it.

Immediately through his yogic power, he went to Indraloka and took the amrut kalash. Indra did not object but questioned him. Prahlad accused Indra of snatching away kalash, though Indra denied any wrongdoing.

Prahlad offered amruth to his father. Father, instead of feeling happy, was annoyed and asked how he could get it. Prahlad narrated the whole event and his visit to Indraloka and said he brought amruth and Indra is fully aware of it. 

Father again questioned Prahlad on how he could make false accusations against Indra and said he doesn't deserve any higher learning in this birth. He asked him to repeat ‘Hari’ nama till the end of his life. 

A small mistake of false accusation on Indra led Prahlad to take rebirth. The merits he had gained in previous birth enabled him to get Sage Narada's protection and learnings.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

Prahlada Seeks Boon of Eternal Devotion

  Prahlada Seeks Boon of Eternal Devotion 

After neutralising Hiranyakashipu, Lord Narasimha remained in the fearful form filled with anger. Lord Brahma, Shiva, Indra, and other gods requested Him to get back to his usual form. Mahalakshmi, too, was fearful and did not dare to go near Him. 

Later, Brahma asks Prahlada to offer prayers to Lord Narasimha. Prahlada goes near Lord Narasimha and says, "I am not afraid to see you in this fearful form, but I am afraid of the entanglement of Samsara.” He praised Narasimha in different ways.  

Pleased with Prahlada’s prayers, Lord Narasimha calms down and asks him to seek a boon. 

Prahlada says, “Lord, do not pressurise me to seek boons. I do not want to get attached to any material things. I am scared that I, too, would get enslaved like others. I have enjoyed all these for many births earlier. I seek to get rid of all attachments to birth.   

A Mumukshu (one who seeks Moksha) is afraid of rebirth.   

One who doesn't seek any boon in a pure devotee. One who seeks favour is a trader, and he is trading with God. This type of give-and-take relationship exists between a king and a servant, but not between you and me.   

You also do not seek any favours from me nor from anyone. You satisfy devotees’ desires without expecting anything from them. For that matter, you do not grant Moksha. You give rewards based on one’s karma (good/bad). 

Ignorance vanishes only by gaining self-knowledge. The individual soul/Jiva needs to get rid of ignorance.

Even if you still insist that I should seek a boon from you, Swamy, I wish desires should never ever crop up in me. You alone can give this boon.   

 I seek this boon because:

The mind gives strength to the sense organs, but desires kill the strength of the mind.

Prana gives strength to the mind, but desires kill the strength of prana.

Dharma gives strength to the inner mind. Dharma vanishes if desires are unchecked.

To follow Dharma, we need strength or Dhriti. If desires are left uncontrolled, dhriti loses its strength. To strengthen dhriti, we need self-knowledge.

Falling at His feet, Prahlada humbly requests Narasimha Swamy to treat him as His true devotee.  

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

Demon Hiranyakashipu 's Strategies

 What were Hiranyakashipu's Strategies and Teachings?

Hiranyakashipu is the eldest son of Diti and Sage Kashyapa and the father of Prahlad. 

Hiranyaksha, the twin brother of Hiranyakashipu, was killed by Maha Vishnu at the request of Indra and other Gods. 

Strategies Adopted by Hiranyakashipu 

1. Hiranyakashipu was furious and intended to avenge Mahavishnu. Before he could take revenge on Mahavishnu, he summoned his ministers to stop all religious work undertaken by Sages at every nook and corner of the earth. He knew devatas will lose power if they don't get havis obtained through Yagnas. 

2.  He knew his inability to win Maha Vishnu in the present circumstances and decided to undertake rigorous penance to please Brahma to acquire powers. 

Hiranyakashipu Speaks on Philosophy 

Before leaving for penance, he meets his widow sister-in-law and consoles her. He says every relationship is temporary, be it husband and wife, with friends and relatives. He said relationships last till the obligation ends or with Time.

He also consoles his grieving mother, Diti. He tells her to see her dead son as a soul and not his perishable body. The soul doesn't have death or birth. He said Hiranyaksha died in battle and had reached his supreme abode.

Chitraketu is reborn as Vritrasur

 Srimad Bhagavatam - Birth of Demon Vritrasura

Why did Twasta, the father of Vishwarupa, perform a yagna and was the outcome? Who is Chitraketu?

Vritasur was born as the son of Twasta. Vritasur, in his previous birth as Chitraketu, a gandarva, was cursed by Goddess Parvathi to be born as a demon.

Vritrasura was born as a demon and grew up dangerous day by day. The whole world was shocked by his statute. Indra and other gods approached Mahavishnu for help.

Mahavishnu directed them to Sage Dadichi through him alone Vrithasur can be defeated. Sage Dadichi, through his austerity, had earned a boon that his bones would be as strong as vajra (diamond). 

Upon sacrificing his body, Vajrayuda (a divine weapon ) is made using his ashes. Viswakarma, architect of gods, facilitated in making this weapon to Indra.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

Chitraketu as Vidyadhara is Cursed

 Srimad Bhagavatam - Chitraketu is Cursed

Why did Goddess Parvathi curse Chitraketu, who became a Vidyadhara?

Lord Vishnu blessed Chitraketu to be a Vidyadhara (demi-gods) chief and offered him a Vimana. Chitraketu, using it, went about flying in the air.

Once, while flying near Mount Kailash, he saw Goddess Parvathi sitting on Shiva's lap with Shiva's arm on Goddess Parvathi's shoulder. In that assembly, there were sages, Siddhas (a class of demigods blessed with mystical powers), and Caranas (celestial bards).

Going near them, Chitraketu laughed loudly and said, " Lord Shiva, who is engaged in expounding righteousness to all, yet actually embracing His consort in open assembly.

Lord Shiva, on hearing these remarks, heartily laughed and remained silent. Goddess Parvati spoke angrily, " Is this fellow the (only) lord now ruling over the world and wielding the rod of punishment and being competent?

Brahma, the sons of Brahma (Bhrgu, Narada, Angira, Sanakas), Lord Kapila, and Swayambu Manu were in the assembly. They knew Prakriti and Purusha could not be separated. She felt Chitraketu deserved to be punished and cursed him to be born as a demon.

Chitraketu, in his next birth, was born as Vritasur and was killed by Indra. The fault of humiliating Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi led him to be born as a demon.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana