Srimadh Bagawatham - Ganga Charitram Part 2

Continued From: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2013/11/srimadh-bagawatham-ganga-charitram-part.html

King Baghirathan postponed his coronation ceremony. Left the duties of the kingdom with his ministers and went to do severe penance. He felt that pithru karyam is more important than ruling the kingdom. Pleased with his penance, Lord Brhama appeared and allowed him to get River Ganges to flow down to Bhu Lokam.

Baghirathan approached Goddess Ganga and asked her to come down to earth.

‘I am afraid to come to earth,’ she said. ‘At the higher worlds, people do not sweat and when they take a holy dip they do not pollute me. They are also free from sins. At Earth people will polute me with their bodily fluids plus I would be forced to wash away their sins!’

‘If you are afraid of sinners then don’t come,’ said baghirathan. ‘But know that there are also Bagawathas on Earth. You can find Bagawathas only on Earth and not at Swarka Lokam. By coming in contact with them, you will retain your purity. If you wish to serve Bagawathas then come to earth.’

‘You make a good argument. I will flow down to earth but who will bear my force?’

Baghirathan the prayed to Lord Siva who readily agreed to bear the waters of River Ganges on his head since the holy waters started to flow from Perumal’s nail.

Lord Siva stood below as the water flowed on top of him. To Baghirathan’s ismay, the water stayed within Lord Siva’s locks like dew drops and not a single drop fell on Earth. Per Baghirathan’s request, Lord Siva allowed a single stream to flow out of his locks.

Even the single stream had a great force. The place where she fell on Lord Siva’s head she came to be called as Alakananda. Alakam means locks and as she made lord Siva happy by falling on his locks she is Alakananda. River Ganges flows in four direction known by names of Sîtâ, Alakanandâ, Cakshu and Bhadrâ. As she flowed down from Himalayas, she is also called as Haimavathi.

River Ganges was like a naughty young girl and she rushed in glee after Baghiratha. They soon came near the Ashram of Jhannu Maharishi. The Goddess wanted to see inside the Ashramam and she deviated her course. As she entered the ashram, the Maharishi’s sacred fire was almost put-off. The rishi then swallowed her completely to prevent flooding. Baghirathan went in search of Ganga to the Ashram of Jhannu  Maharishi. He explained his quest to the rishi. Jhannu Maharishi allowed a very small stream to flow out of his ear. As she went into him and was released from his ear, she is considered to be the rishi’s daughter and is called as Jhanavi. 

Now she flowed obediently behind Bhagirathan like his daughter and came to be called as Baghirathi. They soon arrived at Patala Lokam where she is called as Bhogavathi. As she washed away the ashes, all the 60,000 sons of Sagaran obtained good abode.

Continued On:

Srimadh Bagawatham - Ganga Charitram Part 1

Continued From: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2013/11/srimadh-bagawatham-ambarisha-charitram_24.html

Descent of River Ganges:

 

During Trivikrama Avataram, Perumal’s feet which reached Satya Lokam was wworshiped by Lord Brhma. Brhma poured water from his water pot to wash Perumal’s Thiruvadi but the water was enough only to wash a small portion of one single nail. This water due to its contact with Perumal obtained holy characteristics and started to flow as a river. In Satya Lokam the river is called as Vishnu Padi. She then flows down to Dhruva Mandamalam where Dhruvan takes holy dips as the water had emanated from the feet of Lord Sriman Narayana. The river then continues downwards and flows in Swarka Lokam. At heaven called Swarka Lokam she is called as Mandakini. For many years she did not descend further and remained at Swarka Lokam.

In the Ishvaku Dynasty was a king called Sagaran. He was named as Sagaran because his step mother tried to poison him while he was in the womb of his mother. Due to the blessings of Rishi Ruchikar, he was not affected by the poison. Hence he came to be called as Sagaran which meant ‘with poison’.

He had two wives. One of his wives had 60,000 sons while the other wife had only one son called as Asamanjam.

Asamanjan was the crown prince but he tormented young children by pushing them in to River Sarayu. The country people asked the king to choose between them and Asamanjan. Sagara Chakravarthi banished his son Asamanjan.

Asamanjan was very happy to leave the kingdom. To the surprise of everyone, he brought back all those children who had been drowned in the river. Asamanjan did not wish to rule the kingdoma and in order to make his father excuse him from his duties he played as if he was tormenting the children. Asamanjan left to live in the forest where he spent his time in meditation. He left behind one son called as Amsuman who was Sagaran’s favourite.

Once Sagaran decided to do an Ashwamedha Yagam. Devendran wished to prevent the king from completing the yagam. Devendran stole the sacrificial horse and left it near Sage Kapila’s ashram in Patala Lokam. The king sent his 60,000 sons to find the horse. The 60,000 sons located the horse at Patala Lokam but mistook Sage Kapila as the horse thief. They rushed towards the Sage in anger and they were reduced to ashes by their very thoughts. 

King Sagaran then sent his grandson to locate his 60,000 sons. Amsuman found the horse at sage Kapila’s ashramam but unlike his uncles, Amsuman approched the Sage with humility. After paying obeisance, he sought the Sage’s permission to take the horse with him. He also found mountains of ash and bones and realized that his uncles had perished. Garudazhwar was also present there since Sage Kapilar is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Garudazhwar instructed Amsuman to make the River Ganges enter Patala Lokam and the ashes of Amsuman’s ancestors by coming in contact with her, will attain good abode.

After Amsuman went back with the horse he was unable to bring Ganges as he was burdened with the duties of the kingdom. Every king in the Ishvaku lineage faced the same predicament till the time of Baghirathan. 

Continued On:

Srimadh Bagawatham - Ambarisha Charitram Part 2

Continued From: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2013/11/srimadh-bagawatham-ambarisha-charitram.html

( As King Ambarishan was a devotee of Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam, it was the famous Srirangam Chakrathazhwar who chased sage Durvasar)

Sudarsana Azhwar couldn’t bear to see the Sage treat Ambarishan this way. He immediately flew towards the demon and destroyed it. After destroying the demon, Sudarsanaazhwar started to chase Sage Durvasar. Unable to bear the heat emitted by the chakram the Sage ran trying to evade the chakram. Chakrathazhwar maintaind a certain distance from the sage enough to terrorize him and yet didn’t try to attack him. The Sage ran to Brahma’s Satya Lokam.

‘Please help me!’ yelled the Sage as he fell at Brhma’s feet.

‘What is the matter? Is a demon trying to harm you?’

‘The Lord’s Sudarasana Chakram is after me. Please save me from it!’

‘I work under the Lord. He has assigned me a life span of 100 years so that I might help create. I do not have the capacity to stand against the Lord or His chakram. I am sorry but you have to leave my abode before the Lord’s chakram burns my abode.’

Turned away by Brhma, Sage Durvasar ran to Kailasam followed by the chakram. He fell at the feet of Lord Siva.

‘Please save me from the Lord’s Chakram,’ he cried.

‘No one has the capacity to save you from the Lord’s chakram. You must surrender to the Lord for help.’

Sage Durvasar ran to Sri Vaikuntham with the chakram following him closely.

‘Bakthavathsala, Krishna, Mukuntha, Narayana,’ cried the save as he approached the Lord and fell at his feet.

‘Welcome to my abode,’ said the Lord. ‘Where are you coming from?’ asked the Lord innocently even though He was aware about Sage Durvasar’s transgression against Ambarisha.

‘I am coming from King Ambarisha’s place.’

‘No wonder you are doing my Nama sankeerthanam! Did he teach you the proper way to sing my names beautifully?’

‘No, I didn’t visit him to learn namasankeerthanam.’

‘Why did you visit him?’

‘He invited me to his place for Dwadashi Paranai.’

‘How wonderful! You have been blessed to break your fast in the company of my beloved devotee!’

‘I didn’t break my fast yet..’

‘Why? What happened?’

‘I wanted to test Ambarishan. I took a very long bath and by the time I went to his abode Dwadashi was almost over.’

‘Had he eaten without you?’

‘No he was waiting for me. He was about to break the fast by taking a sip of holy water.’

‘You must have blessed him because he passed your test!’

‘That’s where I made a mistake,’ said the Sage. ‘I created a demon and sent it after him but the demon was destroyed by your chakram which is now after me. Govinda, please call your chakram back!’

‘Even though I am not happy with you I wish I could help you. I am baktha paradeenaha. I am bound by the love of my devotees. I have no control over my chakram since Sudarasana Azhwar on his own has decided to protect my devotee. The only person who can now save you is Ambarishan!’

The Sage ran all the way back to earth. One whole year had passed and yet Ambarishan had not eaten anything. He was waiting anxiously for the Sage to return safely.

‘Please forgive my mistake,’ cried the Sage as he fell at Ambarishan’s feet.

‘What big words you use in the company of a lowly person like myself!’ said the king.

As the sage raised the King prostrated at his feet. Sudarsana azhwar vanished from view.

‘Please forgive my error and bless me by breaking the Ekadashi fast with me,’ requested the king.

Even though Sudarsana Azhwar had come to protect the king, Ambarishan did not feel proud.

Continued On: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2013/11/srimadh-bagawatham-ganga-charitram-part.html

Srimadh Bagawatham - Ambarisha Charitram Part 1

Continued From: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2013/11/srimadh-bagawatham-matsyavataram.html?view=flipcard

Ambarisha Charitram:

http://ddyatra.blogspot.ca/2012/10/srirangam-origin-and-history.html

 

Ambarishan was a king belonging to the Ishvaku dynasty. He was a devotee of Lord Ranganatha. He followed the Ekadashi fast along with Dwadashi Paranai without fail. The Lord was very pleased with the king. The Lord presented His Sudarasana Chakram to Ambarishan. The king had the Sudarsana Chakram installed in his pooja and worshiped Sudarsana Azhwar regularly.

Once, the king was getting ready to break his Ekadashi fast by eating during Dwadashi. As he was making preparation to follow the prescribed procedures for eating food on Dwadashi, sage Durvasar visited the king.

The king welcomed the Sage with reverence.

‘Please bless me by consuming the Dwadashi feast with me and my family,’

‘I accept your invitation. I have to take a bath before eating. I will be back shortly. Please wait for me,’ so saying the sage went to take a dip in the river.

The Sge decided to test the king.  He therefore took a very long time for his bath. In the meantime Ambarishan was afraid that the Dwadashi was passing away. Only half a muhurtham was left by which the king had to break his fast. On the other hand, the king did not want to eat without the sage. Thus the king was in a dilemma whether he should wait for the sage or eat. The king’s Acharyan adviced him to dring water offered to Perumal in worship. By consuming the holy water the king could break his fast yet be able to wait for the Sage.

As the king was about to sip the water, sage Durvasar appeared.

‘How dare you humiliate me!’ yelled the Sage. The Sage pulled a lock of hair from his head and turned it in to a demon. ‘Go attack the king!’ promted the sage.

Ambarishan stood still as the demon approached him. The king thought, ‘If I had really committed a sin then I deserve to be attacked by the demon.’

Continued On: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2013/11/srimadh-bagawatham-ambarisha-charitram_24.html