36. Bhagavatha - Chp 8 - (3&4) Gajendra Moksha (2)

36.  Srimad Bhagavatha - Chp 8 - (3 &4) Gajendra Moksha (2)     

A thousand years passed, Gajendra, the elephant leader, caught by the alligator, struggled to free itself. Gajendra recollected his spiritual progress acquired in the previous birth as King Indradyumna. 

King Indradyumna of the Pandya dynasty was well versed in scriptures. He ruled the kingdom for a long time and later relinquished it to his sons. Once, Sage Agastya visited him to facilitate his spiritual enhancement. However, Indradyumna failed to recognise it and all the more ignored him. Sage Agastya cursed him to become an elephant.

The prayers offered by Indradyumna in Gajendra's body are as follows:

Since I cannot speak, I offer mental salutations to you, represented by the syllable ‘OM’. 

The entire creation that we see is created by You. You existed before the creation and will exist after it ceases (Chaitanya Swaroopa).

This creation is various forms of You. Yet, You are unattached to it. Your actions are hard to understand for ordinary mortals.

This world will last for a few more period and our time is very much less. Everything and everyone will perish, and what remains is mere darkness. You live alone away from darkness.

Even great Sages are unable to fully know about You. How will I, an elephant, be able to understand You? 

Though You see us, we are unable to recognise You. 

We do not know when You were born, Your characteristics or actions.

You take innumerable forms and have unlimited strength.

 We can attain You with our minds. However, the mind should not be involved in any action, be it mental or physical.

You are the source of everything and act as a shade. You are like a fire hidden in the wood.

I surrender to You, the Nithya Mukta. I do not know anything about devotion and its form. A single minded devotee enjoys the bliss and asks for no boons. I am not mature enough to attain that stage.

I do not seek freedom from this alligator. I have given up the desire to live. What will I achieve in this elephant life?

I seek freedom from ignorance and pray to know the ultimate truth of the unborn Supreme Spirit.

Hearing the heartfelt prayers of Gajendra, Lord Srihari instantly left Vaikunta on Garuda. Other Gods too accompanied Him. Seeing Srihari from a distance, Gajendra takes a lotus from the pond and offers it to Him. 

Seeing Gajendra afflicted with pain, Srihari gets down from Garuda swiftly and, out of compassion, pulls Gajendra from the pond. Srihari kills the alligator using His discus and releases Gajendra.   

 

This alligator was in its previous birth a gandharva by name, ‘Huhu’. The gandharva, along with many others, were sporting in a lake. Just then, Sage Devala entered the lake for a bath. The haughty gandharva pulled Sage’s leg under the water. The sage cursed him that he would be thrown into the womb of an alligator. This curse was released by Srihari.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

35. Bhagavatha - Chp 8 - (2) Gajendra Moksha (1)

 35. Srimad Bhagavatha - Chp 8 - (2) Gajendra Moksha (1)  

Trikuta mountain (extinct) was high and wide to the extent of eight thousand miles, was rich in minerals and was surrounded by an ocean of milk. It had three peaks of silver, steel and gold and had a wealth of precious stones and minerals.

Siddhas, Charanas, Gandharvas, Vidyadharas, Kinnaras, Nagas and Apsaras frequently visited this picturesque mountain.

There was a garden belonging to Lord Varuna, and it was a sporting ground of celestial women. 

Once, Gajendra, the leader of elephants, was roaming around with several female elephants. While moving around with pride, it broke thorny trees and bamboo canes. The disturbance caused by the elephant and its herd cautioned lions, tigers, rhinoceros and serpents. However, smaller animals like wolves, bison, and monkeys moved freely. 

All along, these elephants were emitting temporal fluids fed by black bees. 

The cool breeze from the lake, which was full of lotuses, carried pollen to a far distance. Scenting the breeze, these elephants, which were thirsty, moved fast towards the lake.

Bathing in water, they relieved the fatigue and quenched their thirst. Elephants, for some time, indulged in water sports with their companions. The proud elephant did not foresee any threat.   

Destiny has a different play. A powerful alligator caught hold of the foot of the leader (male) elephant. The elephant fought with the predator with all its might. The female elephants were perplexed while others tried to give a helping hand to rescue their leader.  

A thousand years rolled by, and both Gajendra and the alligator fought with each other. However, Gajendra began losing strength and vitality, and the danger to life became more of a reality. At last, the fear of Death dawned on Gajendra to seek the Almighty’s asylum.

Source: Bhagavata Mahapurana 

30. Bhagavatha - Chp 6 - (18) Birth of Maruts (2)

30.  Srimad Bhagavatha - Chp 6 - (18) Birth of Maruts (2)  

How did Indra deceive his aunt Diti? What happened to the fetus inside Diti's womb?

Diti accepted to undertake the vow and conceived the seed of Kashyapa. On knowing the vow undertaken by her aunt Diti, Indra hatched a plan to get rid of the embryo growing in her womb.

Indra devotedly served his aunt by fetching her wood, flowers, fruits, material for sacrificial fire, water, etc. He was waiting for an opportunity on Diti's slip from the vow. One day, she fell asleep at dusk without rinsing her mouth. 

Taking this opportunity, Indra, using his yogic power, entered her womb and sliced the embryo into seven pieces. When they cried, he pacified them by saying, “Don't cry.” He went ahead and sliced each one of them into seven further pieces.

Surprisingly, together, these 49 pieces of embryo addressed Indra and said “Brother, why do you wish to kill us?”. They all submitted to him with joined palms “We are your half-brothers”. Indra said “ Do not be afraid, you are all my brothers”. 

Indra was surprised that these embryos weren't killed even by his powerful Vajrayudha. Diti had, in fact, worshipped Srihari with utter devotion for nearly a year. Lord Srihari is protecting them just like how he protected Parikshit in Uttara’s womb.

 

On waking up, Diti was free from remorse and saw babies brilliant as fire, not one but many, along with Indra. Highly gratified, she asked Indra how come these many babies are born to me. I had sought boon to beget only a single son. She asked Indra to tell the truth and not utter a lie.

Indra said “ Having come to know your vow, I came in pretext to serve you but was waiting for slippage in your vow. When it happened, I entered your womb using my yogic power and cut the embryo into seven pieces. The embryo pieces cried, and to get rid of them, I again cut each of them into seven pieces, yet they did not die.

I realized Lord Srihari is protecting them. It's the reward for your devotion towards Srihari. Thank God these babies are alive. Please forgive me for my wickedness”.

Diti was pleased with Indra’s sincerity and permitted Indra to take along with him 49 Wind-gods (collectively called Maruts) as his assistants.Together with Indra these Maruts are called fifty gods. 

The stigma of demonhood attaching them because they were born to Diti was wiped out.

Source: Bhagavata Mahapurana 

 “ Ma rodaya” means “ Don't cry.” Hence, they are called Maruts. Diti's sons are called daitas.

29. Bhagavatha - Chp 6 - (18) Birth of Maruts (1)

29. Srimad Bhagavatha - Chp 6 - (18) Birth of Maruts (1) 

What was Diti's remorse? How did Sage Kashyapa respond to her wish?

Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha, sons of Diti and Sage Kashyapa, were neutralized by Srihari. 

Hiranyaksha, the younger son of Diti, took away the Vedas from Brahma and hid them in the ocean. Srihari, taking the form of Varaha (Boar/male pig), brought back the Vedas by killing Hiranyaksha, as Vedas are the basis of creation. Later, Srihari killed Hiranyakashipu, taking the form of Narasimha.

Diti had a perception that Srihari was unfair to her sons and was always helpful to Indra, her sister's (Adithi) son. This remorse developed into bitterness and enmity on Indra. She hatched a plan to get rid of him. Keeping this plan in mind, she pleased her husband, Sage Kashyapa, by serving him with humility and self-control.

Sage Kashyapa offered to grant her wish. Diti said “I have lost my sons. I seek an immortal son capable of slaying Indra, who was the cause of the death of my sons through Srihari.

Hearing her desire, the sage became sad and said to himself, “A very great sin has overtaken me today. I was infatuated by that clever lady. Who can understand their mind”?

Kasyapa said, “A son will be born to you who will slay Indra if only you observe the Pumsavana vow for a year but will prove to be a friend of God if it is not properly observed. Diti agreed and enquired about the vow in detail.

Sage Kashyapa gives details of the rigorous Pumsavana vow to Diti. A woman observing this vow 

Must not injure or curse anyone nor lie

Must not lose temper nor talk with wicked people 

Must not wear unwashed clothes 

Must not eat leftovers of others or food offered to Mahakali

Must not retire with feet unwashed or with wet feet

Must not go out without rinsing the mouth after eating. 

Must worship before breakfast the cow, the brahmanas, Goddess Lakshmi, and Maha Vishnu.

Kasyapa said “If you observe this vow for a year without violating it, a son will be born to you who will be able to kill Indra”.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

52. Bhagavatha - Chp 9 - (15) Story of Sage Rcika, Parasurama and Sage Jamadagni

52. Srimad Bhagavata - Chp 9 - (15) Story of Sage Rcika, and Birth of Jamadagni and Parasurama 

Who is Sage Rcika, and how did he fulfill the unusual demand of the king? How were Jamadagni and Parasurama born?

Once Sage Rcika, a scion of Sage Bhrgu, said to the King Gadhi of Pururava lineage, “ I desire to marry your daughter Satyavati”.

Considering him an unworthy match, the king made an unusual demand to the Sage, “Let 1000 white horses with one black ear be given as the price of the girl. 

The Sage, having understood the intention of the King, sought the presence of Lord Varuna and got the horses delivered to the king. Having met the demand, King Gadhi had to give away his daughter in marriage to Sage Rcika.

Sage Rcika performed a sacrifice to fulfill the wishes of his wife and his mother-in-law, each of them desired to have a son. 

The Sage prepared an offering called Caru and uttered mantras differently to their requirements (a brahmana progeny for his wife and a kshatriya progeny for his mother-in-law). Caru is an oblation of rice, barley, and pulses boiled with milk and butter.

Meanwhile, King Gadi's wife thought his son-in-law, Sage Rcika, might have prepared a more effective ‘Caru’ for his wife, Satyavati. She requested Satyavati to give her share of ‘Caru’ in exchange. 

The Sage, having understood this act, politely told his wife “ You have made a grave mistake. Your son will be a cruel chastiser while your brother will be foremost among the brahmanas.  

Satyavati requested her husband to modify it, but the Sage said he cannot do so but can further it into the next generation. Accordingly, Jamadagni was born to Satyavati, and Viswamitra was born to King Gadi's wife.

Jamadagni married Renuka and had many children. The youngest among them was Parasurama, a manifestation of Lord Narayana. 

Lord Parasurama went around the earth 21 times and destroyed sinful kshatriya kings. Foremost among them was Karthaveerarjuna of the Haihaya race. 

Source,: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

4. Bhagavatha - Chp 4 - (10) Story of Dhruva (3)

4. Srimad Bhagavatha - Chp 4 - (10) Story of Dhruva (3)

Why did Dhruva wage a war with Yakshas? What is Narayana Astra and on whose intervention it was stopped? What was the boon Dhruva sought from Kubera? How did Dhruva end his life?

After getting Srihari's blessings, Dhruva never sought revenge on those who insulted him. After his father's demise, he took over the kingdom. He gave due respect to his stepmother and took care of his stepbrother Uttama.

Uttama was fond of reckless hunting. Once, while hunting, he was killed by Yakhas (semi-gods). The news of the demise of Uttama reached Dhruva.

To take revenge on the Yakshas, Dhruva decided to wage war against them and wipe out the Yaksha race itself. Both sides fought ferociously. Dhruva decided to use ‘Narayana Astra' (a powerful weapon that would result in catastrophe).

Swayambhu Manu, Dhruva's grandfather, intervened and stopped Dhruva from using Narayana Astra. He said Yakshas did not kill his Uttama but the ‘Time’ factor that took away his life. None can escape this 'Time' component, while Yakshas was just a medium in the process. 

Manu also warned Dhruva that Kubera, the king of Yaksha, is a friend of Lord Shiva. Conquering Kubera is next to impossible. He asked Dhruva to seek an apology from Kubera. 

Dhruva respectfully accepted his grandfather's advice and thought for a while on how to approach Kubera. To his surprise, Kubera appeared before him as he knew Dhruva's achievements and had held him in high regard.  

When Kubera asked Dhruva for a boon, he sought to be blessed with constant devotion towards Srihari with the help of which one can cross the ocean of worldly existence. 

Dhruva returned to his kingdom (Barishmathi). He performed several sacrifices. After ruling the kingdom for 36000 years (lifespan of a God), he handed over the kingdom to his son, Utkala, and left for penance at Visala, Badarikashrama.

On undertaking severe penance, he attained a samadhi state. When death arrived, Sunanda and Nanda, the two attendants of Lord Vishnu, took him to Vishnuloka in the aerial car. Suniti, Dhruva's mother, was also taken in another aerial car.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana

3. Bhagavatha - Chp 4- (9) Story of Dhruva (2)

3. Srimad Bhagavatha - Chp 4 - (9) Story of Dhruva (2)

How severe was Dhruva’s Penance? Did he succeed to have darshan of Srihari? What was his remorse?

As advised by Sage Narada, Dhruva reached Madhuvana to do penance. Holding the beautiful form of Srihari in his mind he began the penance. 

To sustain his body he ate kapitha ( Wood apple) and Jujube fruit at the end of every 3rd day for first month; blades of grass and leaves every 6th day during the 2nd month; water alone on the 9th day during the 3rd month; inhaling air during the 4th month and remained motionless during 5th month.

All three worlds began to shake. Earth pressed by his one foot leaned to one side. Dhruva has identified himself with Srihari and hence there was a sudden stoppage of breath in Gods.

Gods couldn't bear the heat of Dhruva's penance. They sought Srihari's help, and ultimately, Srihari gave darshan to Dhruva.

Dhruva was dumbstruck on seeing the Lord because the image he meditated upon was similar to the one standing. 

He confessed to Srihari that he didn't have sufficient knowledge to describe His supremacy. Srihari understood the situation and touched his cheek with his Conch. Conch is a representation of the Vedas. Dhruva praised the Lord in length. He didn't seek any offer. 

Srihari blessed Dhruva that he would be welcomed by his father and stepmother, and would rule the kingdom for 36000 years and finally attain a position in the universe that none could achieve. The position is known as Dhruva Nakshatra or the Pole Star. During the deluge, he would reach Srihari, the final destination.

Dhruva returned to his place with the remorse that he had failed to seek from Srihari the ultimate knowledge (Self-Realization).

Dhruva’s Previous Life

Dhruva, in his previous birth, was a great sage. During the final days, the sage sees a young prince and desires to be like him. This desire led him to take a rebirth.

With achievements in past life, it was not difficult for Dhruva to attain perfection in a few months. Sage Narada knew Dhruva's deeds of previous birth and hence facilitated the process.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana