Srimadh Bagawatham - Prahalada Charitram Part 2

Continued From: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2013/07/srimadh-bagawatham-prahalada-charitram.html

Hiranyakashipu’s wife Kayathu was dragged towards Deva Lokam. Along the way Sage Narada intercepted the Devas. ‘Where are you taking the wife of Hiranyakashipu? She might be the wife of your nemesis but as she is his dharmapatni, you have to treat her with respect.’

‘She is with child and as she will soon give birth to another Asura we want to ensure that the entire race of Hiranyakashipu is destroyed!’ answered Devendran.

‘Don’t be in a hurry to destroy the innocent child. This child will turn out to be the greatest Bagawatha and because of him the world will find relief from Hiranyakashipu. Release Kayathu; I will take care of her till Hiranyakashipu returns home.’

Thus Sage Narada saved Kayathu from the Devas and gave her shelter in his ashram. Kayathu requested the boon that her child should not be delivered till her husband returned home from the forest. Thus Prahladan stayed in his mother’s womb for 10,000 years! Every day, Sage Naradar lectured Kayathu about the glories of Perumal accompanied by the music from his veena. The pregnant Kayathu would often fall asleep as she was very tired but Prahladan listened to every single word uttered by the sage from his mother’s womb. Prahladan retained the knowledge he had obtained from the Sage’s lecture. The music from the veena helps the unborn child to listen easily and therefore the Sage used veena to make sure that Prahladan paid attention to his lectures.

As 10,000 years rolled by pleased with the dedication of Hiranyakashipu, Lord Brahma appeared before him.

‘You have proved your devotion to me. I am very pleased by your dedication. What boon do you seek?’

Hiranyakashipu wanted to get immunity from death. He therefore started to list all the ways by which he shouldn’t face death.

‘I should neither die during day time nor at night, neither be killed inside nor outside, neither be killed by a weapon which has life nor by a weapon which is non-living, neither be killed by man , Devas, Asuras, gandharvas, Nagas,’

Lord Brahma held his breath as he listened to Hiranyakashipu’s extraordinary request.

‘yakshas, beasts or for that matter any being/creature created by you,’finished Hiranyakashipu.

Lord Brahma heaved a sign of release for the one who had created Lord Brahma would destroy Hiranyakashipu.

Continued On: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2013/08/800x600-normal-0-false-false-false-en.html

Srimadh Bagawatham - Prahalada Charitram Part 1

Continued From: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2013/07/srimadh-bagawatham-vritrasuran-part-2.html

Prahlada Charitram.

‘Please kindly pardon my interruption but I have a doubt and I seek your guidance to get my doubt clarified. From your narration I gather that Perumal treats everyone equally and does not discriminate; but, history shows us that He always helps Devendran to defeat the Asuras and Rakshashas. How can He be called impartial when He always supports Devendra?’ asked Parikshit.

‘I am very pleased with your question as the answer highlights “Bagawatha Prabhavam” which is more important than “Bagawad Prabhavam”. Your question will serve as the tool by which everyone will benefit even in the future. This question was already asked by your grandfather Yudhishtirar to Sage Narada. I will provide you with the answers provided by Sage Narada,’ said Sukacharyar.

Sukracharyar started to narrate about the Lord’s Narasimha Avataram. It is the best avatharam. The best amongst manthram is the Narasimha Manthram as it contains 32 letters each of which teach one of the 32 Brahma Vidhyas. Similarly the best amongst Tanthrams is Narasimha Tanthrikam. “Namaha” is the heart of Saranagathi manthram. The best person to surrender to is Lord Narasimha. He is also called as Pinaki as He wields the bow called Pinaka. As He displayed anger while incarnating, He is called as Maha Raudri. The Mrthyu Jaya Manthram praises the glories of Lord Narasimha. He has three eyes; the right eye is the Sun, the left the moon and the eye on His forehead is Agni. The protection obtained by chanting the Narasimha Manthram cannot be over ruled by any other Manthram. The manthraraja Pada Sthothram composed by Lord Shiva teaches the importance of Narasimha Manthram.

People who seek Moksham should worship Lord Narasimha. The Ahobilla Mutt was established by Lord Narasimha Himself when He initiated the first pontiff of Ahobila Mutt in to Sanyasa.

Entering the palace, Hiranyakashipu found Subhanumat the wife of his brother Hiranyakshan in tears. The attendants were all quiet. His own wife Kayathu was sitting next to Subhanumat trying to console her.

Hiranyakashipu knew the reason for the sombre mood. His brother Hiranyakshan had been killed by Lord Vishnu in the form of Varaha.

‘Wipe your tears,’ said Hiranyakashipu looking at Subhanumat. ‘I vow to you that I will avenge the death of Hiranyakshan by making Vishnu who killed my brother non-existant!’

‘This is not an easy task! In fact it is an impossible task!’ said Hiranyakashipu’s minister.

‘No task is impossible. I know the source of Vishnu’s powers! Torment all Brahmins who practise the Vedas, not a single verse from the Vedas should be uttered! Make sure no one follows their varnashrama dharma. You have my standing instructions to torment anyone who disobeys my decree. I will do a severe penance to obtain special boons from Lord Brahma which will benefit us.’

Hiranyakashipu soon left to the forest to do severe penance. Hiranyakashipu’s men started to torment people per his decree. The Devas in the meantime invaded the kingdom of Hiranyakashipu. They soon captured everyone and dragged all those people who were the supporters of Hiranyakashipu as prisoners. Along with the priisoners they dragged the wife of Hiranyakashipu as well.

Continued On:http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2013/07/srimadh-bagawatham-prahalada-charitram_31.html

Srimadh Bagawatham - Vritrasuran Part 2

Continued From: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2013/07/srimadh-bagawatham-vritrasuran-part-1.html

In the last post we saw that Vritrasuran used three examples to show the way he was longing to be with the Lord.

 ‘Only you have the capacity to do such supreme acts of devotion,’ said Indran truthfully. ‘I feel ashamed that I prayed for your destruction! You exhibit qualities of a Deva while I the quality of an Asura.’

‘I didn’t say the above in order to receive your appreciation as I am yearning for the Lord’s appreciation. I have been created as your enemy and you have your instructions to kill me therefore let us fight! It is our duty to fight.’ So saying Vritrasuran swallowed Devendran with his vajra weapon. Indran cut open the belly of Vritrasuran from inside and thus killed Vritrasuran.

Astronomic Interpretation Of Legend Of Vritrasura: 

Astronomically, Indra represents the Sun and Vritra the moon. The power of Vritra is the darkness which prevails during winter when the Sun is weak. The Orion’s belt stars are the bones of Rishi Dadichi which are also the vajra weapon. 

Rishi Dadichi is Soma the regent of Orion. At conjunction, the Summer Sun is seen to defeat the wintery darkness with the help of the belt stars.

http://astrobob.areavoices.com/tag/celestial-equator/

 The legend of Vritrasura shows the movement of Sun in the Northern direction climbing over the belt stars during Winter Solstice.

Esoteric Meaning Of Vritrasuran:

Viswaroopan represents the moon i.e. Soma. The killing of Viswaroopan indicates the extraction of soma juice from the soma creeper. Vritarsuran represents a person’s dark passions. Vritrasuran is also the moon. The moon has two aspects; one as the Lord of darkness and the other as the soul of sacrifice. The good aspect of moon is the fact that the moon is the soul of sacrifice. This is shown as the good quality present in Vritrasuran even though he is a demon.

The Rishi Dadichi also represents the moon.  The Orion constellation is the starry aspect of moon and is a symbol of sacrifice. The moon’s self sacrifice is shown by the sacrifice made by the rishi by donating his bones which are actually the knowledge of the Supreme Self to make the Vajra weapon.This also represents the complete surrender of the ego. The rishi donated bones from his spine and spine is often used as a symbol for ego. A person who is a coward is called as spineless and so on. The true knowledge is to accept the fact that we are completely dependent upon the Lord and hence to surrender ourself and our ego unconditionally.Only when armed with this knowledge can a knower win over his/her dark passions. Indra cutting open Vritrasuran’s belly shows that Vritrasuran has been freed from samsaric state. The belly is often used to represent samsara as it is the seat of hunger and thirst.

Continued On:http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2013/07/srimadh-bagawatham-prahalada-charitram.html

Srimadh Bagawatham - Vritrasuran Part 1

Continued From: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2013/07/srimadh-bagawatham-ajamila-charitram_16.html

Vritrasuran:

http://www.maransdog.net/TVG/SMB_PHOTOS/picture_60.php

 

Devendra failed to pay respects to his guru Brihaspathi when the latter entered Devendran’s court during a dance performance given by the apsaras. Brihaspathi decided that it was best to leave a place where one is not respected. Brihaspathi vanished from devendran’s view permanently. As soon as Brihaspathi left, Devendran lost his power as there was no one else who could counsel him like Brihaspathi. The Asuras took advantage of this situation and attacked Devendran. Indran rushed to Brahma for advice.

‘Hire Viswaroopan the son of Twashtar as your guru till Brihaspathi returns,’ adviced Brahma.

Per Lord Brahma’s advice, Indran sought Viswaroopan and requested him to be his guru.

‘I am involved in ascetic practices; if I become your counsellor I may lose my tejas,’ said Viswaroopan.

http://www.maransdog.net/TVG/SMB_PHOTOS/picture_60.php

‘Please kindly help me. Only you can help me,’ pleaded Devendran.

Viswaroopan agreed after analyzing the situation as he came to the conclusion that helping a person was more important than following through with ones ascetic practices.

With the help of Viswaroopan, the Devas won the war against the Asuras.

Viswaroopan started to perform Yagams as the Devas get nourishment only from the offerings offered as oblation in the Yagam. Even though Viswaroopan offered oblation to each Deva, they never received the offerings. Devendran set out to investigate. He found that Viswaroopan’s father Twashtar had married an Asura lady called Rachana. As a result Viswaroopan was half Asura. Viswaroopan had been approached by his Asura uncle for help. Viswaroopan had agreed to help them. Eventhough he chanted manthrams to offer oblation to the Devas aloud, mentally he chanted a second manthram to provide nourishment to the Asuras. Since the manthram chanted silently is more powerful, all the offerings wwere enjoyed by the Asuras. As soon as Devendran discovered this, he killed Viswaroopan by cutting off each of Viswaroopan’s three heads. Viswaroopan had one head to drink soma juice, one to dring sura juice and one to eat food. 

http://www.maransdog.net/TVG/SMB_PHOTOS/picture_60.php

As soon as Viswaroopan died, Twashtar became very angry. He performed a Yagam to obtain a son who could kill Devendran but while chanting the manthram Twashtar mispronounced the manthram which altered the meaning as, ‘I must get a son who would be killed by Devendran!’

From the sacred fire Vritrasuran appeared. Devendran was afraid of Vritrasuran and sought the advice of Perumal. Lord Vishnu informed Devendran to use the bones of Rishi Dadichi to make the Vajra weapon and use this weapon to kill Vritrasuran.

Indran obtained the bones from rishi Dadichi. Rishi Dadhichi sacrificed his bones willingly. With the power of the Vajra weapon, Devendran stood fearlessly before Vritrasuran.

‘Normally a sinner and a killer of a Brahmin willl not be able to stand before me,’ said Vritrasuran. ‘You can stand with confidence before me because you have obtained the Lord’s blessings. Don’t think that I do not have the Lord’s blessings. I too am His devotee but I pray in solitude. I know that my time is up and that I will be killed. I could have asked the Lord to help me kill you and probably He might have agreed to help me but unlike you I don’t believe in seeking the Lord’s blessings in order for someone else to be destroyed! I only pray to always take birth as the Lord’s devotee. I don’t even ask Him to grant me Moksham. I don’t ask for heaven, the beautiful patalam or even the Brahma Lokam from the Lord.  All I want is a life in which I can serve the Lord’s devotees, chant His divine names and work for the Lord. Neither can you, nor the Lord of death and not even your Vajra weapon have the ability to take my life. My life can be taken only if it is the wish of the Lord. I don’t mind death since it is per His wish. I am waiting for the Lord’s company like a young bird which yearns to be with its mother, like a calf longing to go to its mother and like a lady wishing to see her husband who is away on a trip, ’

Vritrasuran used three examples to show the way he was longing to be with the Lord. The three examples also contain significance.

The eaxmple of the chick shows that we are incable of reaching the Lord by our efforts and hence can get His company only if He comes to us. A new born chick canonot fly and waits for its mother to come to it.

The calf has capacity to go after its mother but the cowherds tie it away from its mother thus preventing it from going to its mother. Our relatives are the cowherds and they tie us with bonds of affection which keeps us away from the Lord.

The Lady cannot be controlled by anyone and can go after her husband but she waits patiently because of her faith in him. Sita Piratti waited with faith for Lord Rama to come to her rescue. Like that we must wait for the Lord with complete faith in Him.

Continued On: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2013/07/srimadh-bagawatham-vritrasuran-part-2.html