SACRIFICE - The Story of Dadhichi

SACRIFICE --THE STORY OF DADHICHI

“ Nakarmana naprajaya na dhanena thayge naikena amrutatwa manasuhu” - Neither through deeds or progeny or money can one become immortal. It is only through sacrifice that one  can attain ‘amrutatwa ‘or immortality.This is nowhere established than in the story of the renowned sage DADHICHI who sacrificed his life for the sake of the general good of the Devas. As per legend, Indra in his pomp and pleasure disrespected his mentor Brihaspati and the sage vanished with displeasure! When Indra realized his mistake and went to apologize, the sage could not be seen. In his absence the demons invaded Swarga and defeated all the Devas. On approach, Creator Brahma advised Indra to take the help of Viswarupa, son of Thwashta. He gave Indra ‘Narayana Kavacha’ by repeating which Indra vanquished the demons and regained his lost kingdom. Partial to the demons,Viswarupa gave the sacred offerings to asuras during the yagna. Noticing the fraud,Indra cut off Viswarupa’s three heads and was afflicted with the sin of 'brahmahatya!’

To avenge the death of his son Viswarupa, Thwashta performed a homa to invoke a form that would kill Indra! Soon a terrible and fierce form, dense like the dark clouds, emerged from the homa! It's hair and eyes were of the color of copper. They generated intense heat like that of the rays of the noontide sun! It had the trisula or the trident in its hand! Looking at this terrible form all ran in fear of their lives! This demon was Vrutrasura who defeated the Devas once again and drove Indra away from Swarga! Dejected and humiliated by the successive defeats, Indra and the Devas approached Lord Vishnu for succor. The protector of all Gods,Vishnu directed them to the great sage Dadhichi whose bones alone could save them and kill the fearful demon Vrutrasura. Accordingly the Devas approached the sage DADHICHI and requested him to  sacrifice his life and offer his bones to be made into a weapon that could kill the demon.

Dadhichi had three boons from Lord Siva. He could be never humiliated and his bones would beA as hard as the diamond.The relationship between Indra and the sage was not good but he heard the request of the Devas and decided to give up his life for the sake of the well-being of Indra and the Devas! He wanted them to wait for a while so that he could bathe in the waters of the holy rivers and return. In order not to waste time, Indra caused all the rivers to come to the famous place of Naimisaranya! Dadhichi finished his ablutions and went into deep meditation and his spirit left  the body! It is said that the heavenly cow Kamadhenu licked the body to secure the bones of the sage! Thereupon,the bones of the vertebral column of Dadhichi were made into the invincible and very strong ‘Vajrayudha’ that became the main weapon of Indra. It was Viswakarma that hammered all the bones into that wonderful weapon ‘Vajrayudha’!

With the new weapon Vajrayudha and resurgent vigour, Indra and  his forces attacke Vrutrasura and his army of demons! lt was a fierce encounter and the demon's generals Namuchi, Sambara,Puloma and others were killed. Indra and Vrutrasura met face to face and exchanged various weapons in fight! Suddenly Vrutrasura opened his monstrous mouth and swallowed Indra along with his elephant Iravata! But Indra was safe because of the ‘Narayana Kavacha' given by Viswarupa! At this a turning point takes place and Vrutrasura  becomes non attachched and philosophical! He lost all interest in material existence. He desires to get released from Maya or illusion. He calls upon Indra to use his ‘Vajrayudha’ and kill him! Indra smites him with the weapon killing Vrutrasura! A radiant light emanated from his body and merges into the Lord!

The sin of 'brahmahatya’ chases Indra and he tries to save or hide himself! Finally he takes refuge in the lotus stalk in Manasarovar where he will be unaffected as the lake is the abode of Goddess Lakshmi! It is said that Indra  remained there for a thousand years! In his absence   king Nahusha became the Indra and ruled Swarga! The supreme sacrifice of sage Dadhichi thus resulted in the destruction of evil in the form of Vrutrasura and made life easy for all Devas. There cannot be a greater sacrifice than one’s own life for the sake of the good of society!

GOOD VERSUS EVIL

 GOOD VERSUS  EVIL

From time immemorial the universe is afflicted with the conflict between good and evil. Evil tries to win over Good but eventually it loses!Even during the Krutha Yuga gods were tormented with demons! Vishnu had to take different avatars to retrieve the Vedas and even mother Earth from the clutches of Hiranyaksha who rolled it like a mat and escaped! His brother  Hiranyakasipu was no less evil and challenged the Lord who killed him emerging as Narasimha. Vamana sent emperor Bali to the nether world. In Treta Yuga Sri Rama killed the ten headed Ravana and Kumbhakarna and established Dharma. DwaparaYuga brought out innumerable demoniac kings like Kamsa, Sisupala, Dantavaktra, Jarasandha and above all the fiendish Kauravas who had to be exterminated to revive the sinking path of Dharma! Thus once again Lord Vishnu came down as Krishna to punish the evil and save the good! “ Parithranaya sadhunam vinasayacha dushkrutham dharma samsthapanarthaya sambhavamiyuge yuge!”

According to legend, Naraka was the son of Bhudevi and ruled over the kingdom of Pragjyotisha. With long life and power as a boon he conquered all kingdoms and invaded the heaven! Stealing the earrings of Aditi and kidnapping sixteen thousand women, he terrorized Indra and other Gods! The Lord promised to deal with Naraka in his avatar as Krishna during Dwapara Yuga. Later Aditi, mother of Devas approached Satyabhama, spouse of Krishna and requested her to save them. Satyabhama grew angry and with the help of Krishna waged a war against Naraka! Krishna killed the eleven divisions of Naraka's army with ‘agneyastra’. Mura, the general was killed. Naraka sent ‘brahmastra’ which was neutralized by the same astra. Naraka’s ‘Nagastra and Vaishnavastra’’ were neutralized by Krishna’s ‘ Garudastra and Vaishnavastra''.    respectively!  Finally Naraka attacked Krishna with the trident when krisna beheaded him with his Sudarsana Chakra! In his last moments Naraka requested a boon that his death anniversary should be celebrated by all on earth with colorful lights! That day is being celebrated as “Naraka Chaturdasi”  and Dipavali all over India  and other parts of the world where Indians are settled!

Mere lighting of lamps shall not dispel the gloom and darkness that has enveloped the world today! Evil and adharma is rampant everywhere. It is Kaliyuga now where Dharma stands on one leg. People have strayed from righteousness beyond the point of return! We have God men everywhere and people are confused regarding their bonafides! Society has lost its moorings and morality and ethics are totally lost! We have no demons of the previous Yuga's but modern men and women are the embodiments of demoniac qualities! It was the saint Ramalinga Swamy who said that wild animals are moving in society in the garb of people. Gross materialism has permeated into the fabric of society. Cruelty, violence, fraud, hypocrisy, greed, bigotry, lust and rape have entrenched themselves very strongly. Are not these the demoniac traits that we have to discord?

It is now during the Festival of Lights that we have to resolve to turn over a new leaf! The illumination of lights should brighten not only the outward world but illuminate the inner self and fill it up with lofty thoughts and righteousness. This Dipavali should not end with mere explosion of crackers but that of our ignorance! Our love and compassion should go out for the needy and downtrodden who have no money for crackers and no proper food for the day! We should also make them happy and assure them of our helping hand! Good has to overcome evil at any cost and it will surely happen as in the previous Yugas. Opportunities  are  many and we have to catch them by the forelock! Let this Dipavali cleanse us of all evil  and achieve the good that is direly needed!

SRI ANANDA PANCHAMUKHA VINAYAKA PANCHARATNAM

Sri Ananda Panchamukha Ganapathi Pancharatnam

This is a composition by KrishnamurthyYayavaram on Sri Panchamukha Ganapathi describing

the glorious attributes of the Lord with Five faces!  The stotra is in Sanskrit and can be easily read since it is transliterated into English for those who do not know Sanskrit.The Stotra is set to chandas and can be read for parayana daily.The meaning is given below each sloka for the benefit of the readers.

Omkara rupa' pranavatmaka varanasyam hunkara maatra vinivarita vighna megham

Hrinkara murthi Bhavatharini mukhya sunum sanchintayami Gananayaka panchavaktram

I contemplate on the embodiment of Omkara, the elephant faced God who dispels the clouds of obstacles by his  very hunkara; He is the  important son of Bhavatharini the form of Hrinkara!

Ananda Dayaka Maheswara bhavya Putram Herambha lamba jataram Guha sodaragram

Arambha karyaVijayaprada mekadantam sanchintayami Gananayaka panchavaktram

I contemplate on the great son of Maheswara, the bestower of bliss; he is Herambha,with a large belly, the elder brother of Lord Subramanya!

Ananda Panchamukha bhushana malya yuktam Ananda Chandra sakalojvala phaladesam

Bhanu prabha jita virajita pada pitam sanchintayami Gananayaka panchavaktram.

I contemplate on Sri Ananda Panchamukha Vinayaka decked with ornaments and garlands and the blissful crescent moon on his forehead; his feet at the pedestal put to shame the brilliant radiance of the Sun!

Panchana nonnata sukhasana maprameyam modasya modaka suhasta prasasta murthim

Vedokta mantra Paripujita punya silam Sanchintayami Gananayaka panchavaktram.

I contemplate on Ananda Panchamukha Vinayaka seated comfortably on the great Lion; he is Aprameya, with a cheerful face and the modaka in his renowned hand; He is of holy character and worshipped by the Vedic mantras!

Buddhi pradam sakala siddhi karaika daivam vriddhi pradam sakala saukhya mananta kirtim

Jnanadhi daivata masesha visesha lilam sanchintayami Gananayaka panchavaktram!

I contemplate on Ananda Panchamukha Vinayaka the bestower of intellect and all the mysterious Siddhis! He grants prosperity and endless fame! He is the presiding deity for Jnana or Knowledge. His Divine sports or Leelas are innumerable!

WORLD AS AN ILLUSION

WORLD AS AN ILLUSION

Jacques the melancholy philosopher tells the Banished Duke, in Shakespeare’s As You Like It that all the world is a stage and all the men and women merely players! They have their exits and entrances and each plays many parts. He describes the seven ages of man starting from his birth and ending with death. Philosophy has different perceptions of the mundane world and it's existence. Vedanta considers the world as illusion! “ Brahma satyam jagan mithya”. Supreme Reality is the truth. The universe or the world is illusion or Maya. The world appears as real because of ‘avidya’ or ignorance. It is like stepping on a rope in darkness and screaming in fear that you have stepped on a snake! Actually there is no snake but the similarity of the rope to snake and the darkness create an illusion to frighten you! When there is illumination or Knowledge the reality is known.

Maya can be described as the play of the Supreme consciousness of the Providence. This results in projecting things and forms temporarily phenomenal and retain the illusion of oneness and permanence! It is similar to a marvellous dream of a person who is awake! Illusion is unreality distinct from the reality represented by God or the Brahman. Ma means source or the cause. Ya means that which proceeds, goes, walks or spreads out.  Ma also represents universal mother. It is the Leela or play of God engendered through his creative and dynamic energy or force or shakti. Maya also refers to Prakriti or Nature which is the manifestation of God. Thus in illusion things appear differently from what they are actually!

Everything in the universe is in constant motion but we think we live in a stable world! The sky has no color but it appears blue because of reflection of light. Day and night and seasons change regularly.There is unperceived change in our body but we are not conscious about it. As Adi Sankara points out in his classic Bhaja Govinda “ Dina yaminyau sayam prataha sisira vasantau punarayataha.” Constant change is the essence of life and world but we are not aware of it.The world is considered as unreal as a dream! As long as you experience it, it appears real. But the moment you open your eyes you realize that it is, after all, a dream but not a reality! When we have terrible nightmares we want them to be unreal; but when we experience good dreams we want them to be real!

In the cinema theater we are under an illusion that what happens on the screen is real! Characters flit across the screen on the stage.The hero is applauded and the villain cursed by the audience.The heroine is loved as she is your favourite! You feel happy over a love sequence and an item number! Under the emotional impact of the story and dialogue you sometimes breakdown in the cinema theater and wipe your eyes with handkerchief! Why is that reaction? Because you think it is real for the time being --for about two to two and half hours! Knowing that to be unreal, you force yourself to think it is real. This is called suspension of disbelief! Under its influence you enjoy the film and come out. Otherwise, if you think that there is no point in seeing imaginary characters on the white screen, you cannot see or enjoy the picture at all!

The difference between enjoyment in the cinema theater and life in the world is that we do not consider the world as unreal though it is so! There is a web of deception woven by the great Spider God to envelop the world in delusion! His creative glory of man and Nature has enthralled humanity and has made it a permanent prisoner!  However much he tries it is impossible for him to release himself from this illusion or Maya! Lord Krishna himself points out  to Arjuna, “mama Maya duraratyaya.” It is really difficult to think that the body is unreal though everyone knows it. To consider this fascinating world as unreal is much more difficult. Detachment from family, wife, children, kith and kin and wealth is practically impossible! The little and brittle pleasures are mistaken for happiness! Thus man is drowned in the shoreless sea of samsara and caught in the cycle of birth and death! It requires proper realization and  tremendous concentration to know that the world is unreal and illusory!

REFLECTIONS ON MY RETIREMENT

REFLECTIONS ON MY RETIREMENT

Is retirement from work a boon or a bane? It is very difficult to answer. Moving from an active and dynamic state to a lethargic and static state is not acceptable to many. In fact, they are like fish out of water. Having been active and going to office regularly for about thirty years or more and stop on a day is unacceptable to many! A few forget they have retired and prepare to attend the office the very next day! Habits die very hard! In other words it is a shock for them to realize that they have retired and can draw monthly salary no more! I have a friend of mine who could not reconcile himself to his retirement, thought of his future,lost hope and lost his mental balance! Retirement ushers in the evening of one’s life. Worries of the delays in getting the retirement benefits, education of children, marriage of daughters that may drain all that money and failing health tell upon the individual and he loses peace of mind!

Management of time during retirement poses problems since it looks like a monster.Time stares at you and you don’t know how to spend it in a purposeful way! There is always a nostalgic feeling for the days of your work and a hopelessness during retirement. My service as a professor at a college was very fruitful and satisfying. Even during my service as a teacher I took to spiritual activity, founded an organization for cultural and religious activities involving many a member of the public.It was a golden period in my life. Before I retired, I celebrated the wedding of my two girls, and derived a mental satisfaction! Life went on smoothly except for a few vicissitudes that come during the cycle of samsara! Moving with friends and colleagues and participating in academic and spiritual programs satisfied my soul! With a spacious house of my own and a beautiful garden and coconut, mango, guava, lime, pomegranate,and jasmine plants in the backyard it was my pride and envy of others!

Respect and love is said to remain so long as you earn money! Once you retire people do not bestow the same care and attention! “ yavad vitto parjana sakthaha tavan nija parivaro raktaha” says Adi Sankara! It was not so in my case. A few years after my retirement my other daughter and son were married. My son set up his plastic unit in Chennai and we reluctantly left our place to settle there. Post retirement I worked for a while in an engineering college and an arts and science college. I kept myself active all the while and visited a few shrines like Udipi, Subramanya, Kollur Mookambika, and Hornadu of Sri Annapurna Devi. We visited  later Delhi, Agra,Mathura, Chandigarh, Simla, Missouri, Hardwar, Rishikesh, Vaishnava Devi  and Jammu and Kashmir! In the South we went on a holy tour of the most famous temples at Thanjavur,  Kumbakonam, Madurai, Rameswaram and all the Navagraha shrines. We visited Kanchipuram  Kamakshi, Varadaraja, Ekamreswara and all other shrines there. It was a great education and religious and spiritual experience!

The best part of my retirement was my visit to the United Kingdom and to the United states! we went to Newcastle where my grand daughter had settled! We went to Birmingham and London for sightseeing, enjoyed the safari journey, wondered at the magnificent buildings like the Big   Ben and St Paul's Cathedral, London Tower, Bridge and the Parliament Buildings! It was an amazing spectacle at the Madame Taussad's Gallery and the London Eye! Earlier a memorable and an indescribable holiday to the US followed where my son’s family resided. We spent six months visiting the Niagara Falls, New York City, Washington DC, Colorado and the Rockey Mountains! We visited once again my Son’s family at California and spent another six months holidaying with them! All this after my retirement! I thank Providence for making this possible.

The surprising and the most purposeful part of my retirement consists in my becoming computer savvy! I had not touched the computer earlier! My grandson initiated me into it and soon I took to it like duck to water! I am not only a citizen but a netizen now! Face Book and internet have become my breath and spirit! I have taken to blog writing ever since I was introduced to the computer! I have utilized my time and the computer to do what little service I could to disseminate knowledge on religion, philosophy and spirituality to readers. I am encouraged at the interest shown by them in viewing my blogs on vario.us topics. Thus retirement has helped me in pursuing the path that I liked very much! It really allows the person to act according to his choice and derive pleasure! The retired person should know how to spend his time properly and usefully! Merely sitting before the TV and leading a sedentary life will not be healthy and purposeful! Let us make our retirement as useful and pleasant to ourselves and to others!

APPEARANCES ARE DECEPTIVE

Appearances Are Deceptive

Though we say the face is the index of mind, appearances are deceptive! A rough exterior may conceal the milk of human kindness! A pleasing personality can be as hard as a stone within! One who laughs always can hide in himself the worst of villainy! It is very difficult to judge people by their outward  appearances. The story of Jada Bharata is a classical example of one who was mistaken for a foolish and stupid person good for nothing. Born into the clan of sage Angirasa, to Rishabha, Bharata was highly reserved and detached in everything. He proved to be a problem child and he was taken to be deaf and dumb! But Bharata had the knowledge of his previous existence. He did not bother about the opinion of others. After the death of his disappointed father, he was tortured by his step brothers and treated like a cooley! But he never complained and ate whatever was provided to him by his brothers!

A robber chief, desirous of a son, wanted to sacrifice a person and sent his men to procure a suitable man. They went in his search and found Bharata guarding a field. With matted hair, and body strong and full of dirt, he was considered fit for sacrifice and brought bound hand and feet to the robber chief.The men were surprised at his nonchalance and absence of any objection while being bound! As per the instructions of the chief, Bharata was bathed, given food and prepared for sacrifice.  They beat drums and placed Bharata before Goddess Kali. The Archaka raised his sword to kill Bharata when there arose a terrible radiance from his face that affected the Goddess herself. She grew angry and sent her servants who chased and killed everyone present there! The Goddess blessed Bharata. Meanwhile king Rahugana of Sindhu was traveling on his palanquin and the bearers wanted some assistance. Spotting Bharata, they took him in, to share their burden. Once again, Bharata, without offering any resistance, silently joined them. As he could not keep pace with them the palanquin tilted. The king grew furious and questioned the bearers why that happened when they pointed to Bharata. When this happened for the second time the king threatened to punish him.

At this, Bharata stared at the king and said that the body is impermanent! People identify the body with the soul. The real ‘l’ is different from the body. Humiliation, shame, and punishment are for the body, not for the soul. The Soul has no form or attributes.” ajo nityaha saswaatoyam purano” It is eternal, imperishable,very old, has no beginning or end! Differences are in the bodies, not in soul!! Hence there is no difference between the king and the servant. Bharata said that he has attained self realization! He may appear as foolish and stupid! But he is totally unattached and the king can never punish the Soul which is  Bharata’s self! The King was amazed at the enlightenment of the seemingly ordinary and lethargic Bharata! He fell at his feet, craved pardon and requested Bharata to initiate him to Brahma vidya!

Bharata was glad that the king had realized his mistake. He accepted him as his disciple and taught him the principles of the Supreme knowledge! “ mana eva manushyanam Karanam bandha mokshayoh”- it is the mind the reason behind attachment and detachment. Man has to win over the ‘ arishadvargas- the six inner enemies and attain Jnana. The Jiva can only be liberated after that! Until that state he has to take rebirth! The dense jungle of Samsara is terribly frightening. This fear can be overcome by total surrender to the lotus feet of the Lord!

The innate three Guna's, Satwa, Rajas,and Thamas induce man to commit good and bad deeds resulting in his punya and Papa (sinful deeds). Man is enveloped in ‘maya’ or illusion. As a result he considers the real as unreal and the unreal as real! He is drawn away from God and spirituality. Bharata suggested to the king to abandon everything and fix his mind on God. He has to maintain pure heart and be kind and compassionate to all beings. This shall go a long way in crossing the shoreless sea of samsara and can even result in birthlessness or  ‘janmarahitya’! The king realized that appearances are deceptive. He wondered how he took the great Bharata as a very ordinary person without realizing  jnana that was embedded in him! We have to be very cautious in judging people by their outward appearances!!!

EFFECT OF GOD'S NAME

EFFECT OF GOD’S NAME

Totally immersed in the shoreless sea of samsara, man has no time to think of God! His attachment  to his wife, children, property and other things leads him astray. But in this Kaliyuga the best way to attain salvation is to repeat the name of God. Unless he cultivates and practices bhakthi from his early life it is impossible for him to utter the name of God! It is all the more difficult to think of God and call out to God in the terminal stage when man is afflicted with disease and loses his consciousness! That is why Kulasekhara Azwar says that he has, in the beginning, offered his heart and soul at the lotus feet of the Lord! The name of God is capable of warding off all sins of man if uttered before one breathes his last! The Bhagavata Purana establishes this fact in the story of a brahmin and how he was emancipated through calling out the name ‘Narayana’, though it happened to be the name of his dear son!

In the land of Kanyakubja lived a brahmin, Ajamila. But he went astray, forgot all the righteous ways in which a brahmin has to conduct himself, and lived with a low caste woman! He indulged in sinful deeds, became a gambler and a thief also! He had ten sons of whom the last was named Narayana. Ajamila was extremely fond of him and never wanted to be separated from him. In fact he doted on him, ate with him and did everything in his company! As days passed he grew old, senile and death scared him! Even then, he did not think of God or feel sorry for the evil life he had spent. All his thoughts were on his last son. In his indescribable attachment to his last son, he called “Narayana, come to me” and breathed his last! Soon the kinkaras of Yama,the God of Death came to take him away to their world for punishment! He had to suffer  in hell for his evil life on earth. But they were shocked to see divine beings who had come to take Ajamila to heaven.

The Yama kinkaras argued that Ajamila did not deserve heaven as he was unrighteous and led a sinful life. He was a slave to his passion and lust and lived with a low caste woman. He had deserted his wife and aged mother to satisfy his lust and indulged in sinful deeds. He was a drunkard, and a thief also! Hence he should be subjected to severe punishment. But those from heaven contradicted their statement. Ajamila was absolved of all his sins as he had called out to  Lord Narayana even as he breathed his last! Though he called out to his dear son, that happened to be the Lord’s name Narayana. That name is capable of annihilating all the sins accumulated during the previous births! Hence the effects of his evil karma have melted away  like the snow that dissolves after sunrise! It is immaterial whether the name is uttered knowingly or unknowingly!  They asked the Yama Kinkaras to seek clarification from their Lord Yama Dharmaraja on this point.

Yama pointed out that namasmarana is otherwise called Bhakthi yoga. There is nothing superior to it on earth. It is the name of Hari alone that brings salvation to man! “ Harair nameiva nameiva nameiva mama jivanam kalau nasthaiva nasthaiva nasthaiva gathi ranyatha.” If by repeating the Lord’s name once can get man salvation, what about those who perform japa always?  Yama said that Lord Narayana is the Supreme Absolute on whose mandate he and all other Gods perform their duties! He admonished his men and directed them not to approach the devotees of Lord Narayana henceforth!

Bhakthi or devotion and spirituality cannot come to a person suddenly or by magic! It has to be cultivated assiduously even from childhood. It depends upon the bringing up that the child has. Moving in good company, association with the wise and saintly and the pious will go a long way in developing spirituality and devotion among children! Sathsang is very important for everyone. As Adi Sankara says there is no point in memorising grammatical rules with one foot in the grave! The thought of God does not come to man in his last moments as his attachments are innumerable. He is worried about his wife, children, property and so many things at the moment of his demise! He has not contemplated on God seriously during his lifetime! How can the name of God come to him suddenly in his last moments? We have to think seriously about this so that the Lord’s name is always on our lips!

       

DURGADEVI

DURGA DEVI

Sri Durgadevi is considered as Adi Parasakthi representing primordial Cosmic energy capable of  the three acts of creation, protection and destruction! She also stands for ‘ Maya' or illusion that envelops mankind. She is also called as ‘prakriti’ the consort of 'Purusha’. She is the power that moves the entire universe. While Purusha is static she is dynamic! He is potential energy while she is kinetic energy! She is the goddess of strength and power. She is the fierce form of Devi. According to Siva Purana Lord Siva invoked Durga from hi left half! Then  they created Siva Loka which is said to be Kasi or modern Varanasi. Later it is said that they created Vishnu and Brahma! According to another source Lalitha Maha Tripura Sundari emerged from the yagna conducted by Indra and other gods.

After Manmatha was reduced to ashes by the third eye of Siva, the Devas collected the ashes, shaped it like a man and took it to the Lord for his grace. When Siva looked at it, it came alive but instead of Manmatha a terrible demon Bhandasura was born! He immediately drained all the vitality of the Devas. Under the advice of Sage Narada, Indra performed penance and conducted a yagna when to the delight and surprise of Devas Lalitha Maha Tripura Sundari emerged in all her beauty and glory! She accepted Sri Kameswara as her spouse and was crowned. The Devas built Srinagara or Sripura on Mount Meru for her. They requested her to kill Bhandasura and save them! Later Devi leads her train and fights Bhandasura killing him finally.

Durgadevi is called by different names. She is Mahishasura Mardini, Kali, Renuka, Bhagavati, Bhavani, Ambika, Lalitha, Gowri, Jaya, Rajeswari and many others. Nine forms of Durgadevi (Nava Durgas) are 1 Skandamata 2 Kushmanda 3 Sailaputrl, 4 Kalaratri, 5 Brahmacharini, 6 Mahagowri, 7 Katyayani 8 Chandraghanta and 9 Siddhidatri. Durgadevi is the warrior manifestation of Adi Parasakthi! She is invincible. Lalitha is none other than the manifestation of Adi Parasakthi. According to Devi Mahatmya and Siva Purana Mahishasura, son of Rambha, a demon, tormented and vanquished the Devas. They appealed to Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva and to their astonishment saw immense light emerge from  Vishnu’s mouth! Similar rays joined this and to their amazement the beam of light transformed itself into a woman! She was Adi Parasakthi. The Devas bestowed all their divine weapons to her so that she could kill Mahishasura and restore peace.

Armed with the powerful divine weapons Durgadevi challenges the demons Bhandasura and Mahishasura and their armies. Sri Lalitha Sahasra Nama Stotra describes graphically how Devi fought with Bhandasura aided by Mantrini, Dandini and Varahi her second in command. Asiloma, Durdhura, attack Devi and she slays them all. Mahishasura pounces on  Devi as a buffalo. Devi binds him with ropes. He suddenly changes into a lion when Durgadevi cuts off his head with her sword and pins him down with arrows. The Asura soon transforms himself into an elephant and attacks her mount (vahana). Devi chops off  the trunk of the elephant! Once again the demon turns into a buffalo when Durgadevi flings her trident (trisula) and finally silences him for ever! Thus Durgadevi gets her name Mahishasura Mardini by killing the dreaded demon and establishing peace!

The weapons with which she armed herself not only decimate the terrible and cruel demons but signify peace and tranquility for the entire universe! Sudarsana Chakra offered by Vishnu stands for Dharma or righteousness. Conch by Varuna signifies Omkara or the Pranava. Bow and arrow presented by Surya destroys all difficulties and sorrows! The sword represents keen intellect and knowledge. The spear negates and destroys negative and evil thoughts. The club destroys the power of the enemies! Trident ( trisula) offered by Siva annihilates the three gunas,Satwa,Rajas, and Thamas! The thunderbolt presented by Indra stands for firmness of spirit. Lotus signifies awakening of spiritual consciousness! While being a terror to demons and all evil doers, Durgadevi is also the protector of the universe and humanity. The first three days of  Navarathri are dedicated to Durgadevi and the next three are for Lakshmi and the next three for Saraswathi. The eighth day of Navarathri is called Durgashtami, the day on which Mahishasura was killed! As this period falls during ‘ Saradrutu’ it is called ‘Saran Navaratri’. May Durgadevi bless us all!!

THE DANGER OF ATTACHMENT

DANGER OF ATTACHMENT

Attachment to worldly things is dangerous and the main stumbling block for the emancipation of  man! The more we are attached the greater is the fall! But it is very difficult to to be detached. This ‘mamakara’ did not spare even Arjuna when he stood in front of his kith and kin on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Krishna counsels Arjuna about the danger of this attachment and persuades him to fight the Kauravas. The feeling of My and Mine is the root cause of all troubles and difficulties for mankind! Even saints and sages find it difficult to free themselves from this sense of attachment! The story of Bharata is a classical illustration of how attachment  resulted in his rebirth as a deer and subsequent release from that birth!

Bharata was the son of Rishabha and ruled his country righteously. Our country is called  ‘Bharata Varsha’ after him. After a long rule he retired to the ashram of sage Pulaha at Haridwar. Bharata was a great devotee of Lord Narayana and spent his time in meditation on the bank of the holy river Chakra. One day as he sat for meditation, he saw a deer that came to drink water. Suddenly there was a roar of the lion that terrified the deer. In its fright, to escape from the lion, the pregnant deer jumped to cross the river. Unfortunately the child slipped into the river while the mother deer died on the other side of the river. Bharata, who was a witness to this ghastly sight, grew compassionate and took the baby deer to his ashram and began looking after it like his own child. Day by day his attachment increased until he could not live without it! He now spent all his time with it. He was very much afraid of its safety and couldn't do anything until it  returned safe from its wanderings in the ashram.

His attachment was so total and complete that he forgot his daily meditation and even his daily routine. Thoughts of this deer came crowding round him as he sat for meditation! It would gently rub itself against his body and he would offer it some grass. Like a parent enjoying the pranks and play of his child he was delighted at every movement of this deer. He would touch it and spend hours talking to it! In short, he forgot all his devotional fervor and lost himself in the obsession for this tiny deer. He did not think of Lord Narayana whose great devotee he was hither to!

Days and years passed and there was no decrease in his love and affection and obsession for the deer! He grew old and inexorable death neared him. He was much worried about the future of the deer and who would look after the young deer after his demise. Final day of his existence arrived and with thoughts on the deer he shuffled his mortal coil! As a result of his excess  attachment to the deer, Bharata was reborn as a deer! But because of his devotion and compassion, he was blessed with the knowledge of his previous birth! Now Bharata, in the form of the deer, remembered his past and felt sorry for wasting away his precious life in attaching himself to the deer. He didn't wish to waste this birth and kept good company and moved in spiritual ambience. He went to a place called Saligramam where the rishis lived, grazed the grass nearby and drank the pure water of the river. Thus he lived and died and got rid of his animal birth!

We see that attachment is irresistible and we should be very careful  in our life in dealing with it! Excessive attachment to anything, even to our parents, children,  house, property and wealth is detrimental to our spiritual progress. That can lead us astray and ruin us! It is said the person is reborn according to what he thinks at the time of his demise! Bharata always and at the time of his death thought about his deer! Hence he was reborn as a deer! Noble thoughts lead to noble and good birth! But such thoughts do not come suddenly. Man should cultivate good company and develop spirituality even from early childhood. Devotion to God and faith contribute to the  type of life that one gets later!