STRANGE STORY OF SAGE VISWAMITRA

STRANGE STORY OF SAGE VISWAMITRA

Gadhi was a descendant of the great clan of Pururava. Kausika, his son was also a great king who ruled the country righteously.How Kausika transformed himself into sage Viswamitra and later into “ Brahmarshi” is very strange and interesting! On one occasion Kausika went into the forest with his followers. He happened to see the ashram of Sage Vasishta situated in the beautiful Sylvan surroundings! Sage Vasishta gave the king a warm welcome and enquired .  about the well-being of the people. The King also enquired about the safety of the sage and others in the forest.The sage prevailed upon the king to partake of the feast that he wanted to serve him and his followers. Though unwilling at first, the king consented to stay on and enjoy the hospitality of the sage. But a great surprise awaited him! Sage Vasishta called the holy cow, Surabhi, which he owned and ordered it to provide a grand feast to the king and his followers. Sabali (another name of Surabhi) obeying the command of the sage, immediately brought forth a grand feast full of delicacies! The king was amazed at this incredible sight!

King Kaushika grew jealous. He felt that Surabhi can serve a better purpose for him and the kingdom if he owned it. He requested the sage to gift it to him. In return he would offer whatever  the sage wanted. He offered a thousand elephants and various other gifts to the sage but the sage refused. He said that Surabhi was his life and breath! Furious at the refusal, the king ordered his people to seize the holy cow and bring it to his kingdom! While being dragged , Surabhi put on a pale face and wondered why the sage was silent and nonchalant. It wanted the sage’s permission to resist and fight the king’s followers! The sage saying yes, Surabhi readied itself for a fight! Immediately it shook itself and shuffled violently when hundreds of soldiers emerged out of it! They defeated the king’s men. When the king’s sons came forward to fight, the sage destroyed them with a ‘hunkara’! Humbled and humiliated, king Kausika returned home dejected and crestfallen!

Being a Kshatriya he could not digest the utter defeat in the hands of the sage, a brahmin! Crowning his only son and leaving the kingdom in his charge, King Kausika set out to the Himalayan forests for penance. He performed severe penance propitiating Lord Siva and to avenge his defeat at the hands of sage Vasishta! After a long tapas, the Lord presented himself before Kausika! He granted innumerable astras that Kausika wanted! Delighted and reinforced with the Godgiven weapons, Kausika went straight to Vasishta 's ashram and rained a battery of arrows and astras on it! Sage Vasishta was needlessly disturbed at the commotion created by Kausika’s sudden attack.To save the ashram and the inmates he placed his ‘yoga danda’ in front. All astras sent by Kausika were swallowed up by the the ‘yoga danda’! Even the terrible ‘Brahmastra’ could not enter the ashram!! Disappointed and feeling that his penance was not enough to defeat Sage Vasishta, Kausika went southward to do penance once again! He wanted to become a “Brahmarshi” like the sage Vasishta!

At every stage ego and revenge ruled the mind of Kausika! He tried to send the renowned King Trisanku to heaven with his mortal body! When the Devas disallowed it and pushed him down, he challenged the Devas and created a new heaven, stars and even a new Indra also! He made them allow Trisanku to remain in the new Swarga between earth and heaven! He lost his spiritual power because of these events! His concentration in penance was extraordinary and  scared by his tapas, once Indra sent a heavenly damsel, Menaka, to spoil his penance. Kausika fell a victim to the wiles of Menaka and thus Sakuntala was born. Kausika deserted her and went away into the forest for penance once again! He thought that physical strength or that of astras was of no use before spiritual strength of penance. He wanted to be like sage Vasishta in his spiritual strength!

Persevering and with indefatigable zeal, Kausika went to the forest to perform tapas once again. It is believed that he continued for a thousand years. Creator Brahma , pleased by his penance appeared before him and granted him the position of “Brahmarshi.” But Kausika was not satisfied. He wanted that Sage Vasishta should call him a “Brahmarshi.” Accordingly sage Vasishta arrived and called him a “Brahmarshi.”  Thus King Kausika became the sage Viswamitra! It was the great sage Viswamitra who has given us the greatest and the most powerful GAYATRI mantra for which the world is indebted!

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