A Study of the Bhagavata Purana or Esoteric Hinduism Part 42

Maru Vatsa-Vriddha Sutapas Prasusruta Prativyoma Amitrajit Sandhi Bhanu Bridharaj Amarshana Divaka Barhi Mahasvat Sahadeva Kritanjaya Visvabahu Brihadasva Rananjaya Prasenajit Bhanumat Sanjaya Takshaka Pratikasva Sakya Brihadbala, killed Supratika Suddhoda at the battle of Kurukshetra by Marudeva Langala Abhimanyu Sunakshatra Prasenajit (Time of Pariks.h.i.+t) Pushkara Kshudraka Brihat-rana Antariksha Sumitra Vatsa-vriddha Sutapas

Sumitra shall be the last of the Ikshvaku dynasty in this Kali Yuga.

Nimi was the second son of Ikshvaku. He asked Vasistha to officiate at his Yajna. But the Ris.h.i.+ had been pre-engaged with Indra. So he asked the king to wait till he came back. Considering the uncertainty, Nimi did not wait for his family Purohita. But engaged another priest.

Vasistha on returning became offended and cursed Nimi with the loss of his body. Nimi gave the same curse to Vasistha. So both gave up their bodies. Vasistha was reborn shortly after as the son of Mitravaruna by Urvasi. The Ris.h.i.+s picked up the body of Nimi and placed it with the scented things of Yajna. On the completion of the Yajna, the Ris.h.i.+s prayed to the Devas for the vivification of the body. But Nimi said from within the scented things that he did not want to be enc.u.mbered with the body any more. The Devas said: "Then remain in the eyes of all beings as winking." So Nimi remains in the twinkling of eyes.

The Ris.h.i.+s churned the body of Nimi and a son was born. He was called Janaka. As he was born, when his father was bodiless (_videha_) he was also called _Vaideha_. The churning also gave him the name of Mithila (Manth = to churn). He built the town Milhila. (Mithila is the modern Tirhut).

NIMI Marti Janaka Pratipa Udavasu Kritaratha Nandivardhana Devamirha Suketu Visruta Devarata Mahadhriti Brihadratha Kritirata Mahavirya Maharoman (large-haired) Sudhriti Svarnaroman (gold-haired) Dhrishtaketu Hrasvaroman (short-haired) Haryasva Sira-Dhvaja Maru

While ploughing the ground for sacrifice, Sira-Dhvaja got Sita at the end of the plough. Therefore Sira (plough) being his Dhvaja (flag, proclaimer of fame), he was called Sira Dhvaja.

(This Sira-Dhvaja is the renowned Janaka of Ramayana.):

Sira-Dhvaja Kusa-Dhvaja Dharma-Dhvaja --+-+---------------+--- Krita-Dhvaja Mita-Dhvaja Kesi-Dhvaja Khandikya

Kesi Dhvaja was versed in atma-vidya, Khandikya was versed in Vedic Karma, Kesi Dhvaja overpowered Khandikya and he fled away.

Kesi-Dhvaja Upa-guru Bhanumat Upa-gupta (incarnation of Agni) Sata-dyumna Vasvananta Suchi Yuyudha Sanadvaja Subhashana Urja-ketu Sruta Purujit Jaya Arishta nemi Vijaya Srutayu Rita Suparsva Sunaka Chitraratha Vitahavya Kshemadhi Dhriti Samaratha Bahulasva Satyaratha Kriti Upa-guru

These kings of Mithila were well versed in atma-vidya.

THE LUNAR DYNASTY.

*SKANDHA IX. CHAP. 14.*

Soma (the Moon) was born out of the eyes of Atri. He carried off Tara, the wife of Brihaspati (Jupiter). Brihaspati asked for his wife several times, but Soma would not give her up. Sukra (Venus) was not on good terms with Brihaspati. So he took the side of Soma, with his disciples, the Asuras. Siva with his Bhutas took the side of Brihaspati. Indra with the Devas also sided with their preceptor. The two parties engaged in fight. After some days of fight, Angiras informed Brahma about every thing that transpired. Brahma reproached Soma. So he returned Tara to Brihaspati. Brihaspati found that Tara had conceived. "Immediately throw out the seed of another man in my field," cried he. Tara feeling bashful brought forth at the time a l.u.s.trous son, Both Brihaspati and Soma desired to have the son, each saying "It is mine not yours." When they quarrelled with each other, the Devas and Ris.h.i.+s asked Tara who was the father of the child. The child reproved his mother for the delay in answering. Brahma took Tara aside and learned from her that Soma was the father of the son, Soma then took the child. Brahma seeing the deep wisdom of the child named him Budha (Mercury).

Budha had by Ila one son Pururavas. Narada related his beauty and his virtues to the Devas in Svarga. Urvasi heard all that and took a fancy for the king. By the curse of Mitra Varuna, she had then a human form.

Both the king and the Apsaras became attached to each other and they lived as husband and wife. But Urvasi laid down two conditions of her company with the king - (1) that the king was to preserve two rams, which the Apsaras had brought with her and (2) that the king was never to expose himself before her except in privacy. Indra sent the Gandharvas in search of Urvasi. They found her out and took away her two rams. She had a maternal affection for these animals and she cried out in despair. The king hurriedly took his arms and ran after the Gandharvas. They left the rams and fled away. The king brought them back. But in the hurry, he had forgot to cover himself and Urvasi left him. The king became disconsolate, and roamed about in search of her.

After some days he found her on the banks of the Sarasvati with her 5 companions. He entreated her to come back. She promised to give her company to the king one night every year and informed him of her delicate state of health.

Urvasi came after a year, with one son. She advised the king to entreat the Gandharvas for her hands. The king did so and the Gandharvas became pleased with him. They gave him one Agnisthali (pot of fire). The king took the Agnisthali to be Urvasi and roamed with it in the forest. (The Gandharvas gave him the fire for the performance of sacrifice necessary for the attainment of Urvasi). The king found out his mistake at last.

He then placed the fire in the forest, went home and meditated every night on Urvasi. On the approach of Treta, he was inspired with the three Vedas (Karma-Kanda). He then went to the place of fire and found there one Asvatha tree (the sacred fig) grown from inside a Sami tree (Sami is the name of a tree said to contain fire). He decided that the fire must be within the Asvatha tree. He took two pieces of wood (technically called Arani) from that tree and produced fire by their friction. He deemed one piece to be Urvasi and another piece to be himself and the s.p.a.ce between the two pieces to be his son. By friction, the fire called Jatavedas came out. (_Vedas_ is wealth, enjoyments in general. _Jata_ is grown. Jata-vedas is that fire from which enjoyments proceed that which gratifies all sense-desires. It is the chief fire of the Karma-kanda of the Vedas). By the invocation of the three vedas, that fire became three fold. (ahavaniya, Garhapatya, and Daks.h.i.+na are the three fires perpetually kept in the household. _ahavaniya_ is the eastern fire which represents the relations of the house holder with the Devas. _Garhapatya_ is the sacred fire which the householder receives from his father and transmits to his descendants and from which fires for sacrificial purposes are lighted. It represents household and family duties. _Dakhina_ is the southern fire. It represents all cla.s.ses of duty to the Pitris). The king imagined this threefold fire to be his son (The son by his offerings sends his father's soul to Svarga. The sacrificial fire also sends the performer to Svarga). With that fire, he performed Yajna desiring to reach the Loka (plane) of Urvasi. Prior to this in Satya Yuga, Pranava was the only Veda, Narayana was the only Deva, there was only one fire and only one caste. The three Vedas came only from Pururavas, at the beginning of Treta Yuga. The king attained Gandharva Loka by means of the fire. (In Satya Yuga, Satva generally prevailed in men. Therefore they were all fixed in meditation. But in Treta Yuga, Rajas prevailed and by the division of the Vedas, Karma Marga made its appearance. _Sridhara_.)

[The true history of the origin of the three Vedas is thus given in veiled words. They originated in the strong desire of men in Treta Yuga for the possession of heavenly things. This gives us about two millions of years at the present day. The origin of the Vedas must not be confounded however with their existence in the present form. For that we must refer to the sacrifice of Haris Chandra, the adoption of Sunah sepha by Visvamitra and the division amongst the Madhu Chandas brothers.]

Pururavas _m_. Urvasi --+-----------+-----------+----------+---------+----------+-- ayus Srutayus Satyayus Raya Vijaya Jaya Vasumat Srutanjaya Eka Bhima Amita Kanchana Hotraka

Hotraka Jahnu (He swallowed up the Ganga in her downward course and let her out though his thighs).

Puru Balaka Ajaka Kusa --+-----------+---+----+-----------+-- Kusambu Tanaya Vasu Kusanabha Gadhi Satyavati

Ris.h.i.+ Richika asked for the hand of Satyavati. Gadhi did not consider him to be a fit husband for his daughter. He therefore wanted to put him off and said: - "Give a dower of one thousand horses, with the l.u.s.tre of moon all over their body and with one of their ears dark-coloured (Syama). For we are sons of Kusika."

The Ris.h.i.+ went to Varuna and got the horses. He gave them to the king and married Satyavati.

Satyavati and her mother both asked Richika to prepare _Charu_ for the birth of a son to each. (_Charu_ is an oblation of rice, barley, and pulse, boiled together. It is offered to Devas and Pitris). Richika prepared two charus and consecrated one with Brahmana Mantra and the other with Kshatriya Mantra. The Ris.h.i.+ then went to bathe himself. In the meantime, the mother thought, the daughter's Charu must be superior to hers. So she procured that from her daughter and the daughter partook of her mother's Charu. When the Ris.h.i.+ returned and learned what had taken place, he said to his wife: - "What an improper thing you have done by this exchange of Charus! You shall have a fierce and terrible son, while your brother shall be the greatest in divine wisdom."

Satyavati prayed to her husband, saying "Let it not be so." The Ris.h.i.+ then said, "Then your grandson shall be all that."

Jamadagni was born of Satyavati. She became the river Kausiki.

Jamadagni married Renuka the daughter of Renu.

Jamadagni had several sons, Vasumat and others. The youngest was Rama (Parsurama). He is said to be an Incarnation of Vishnu. He destroyed the Haihaya Kshatriyas. He cleared the earth of Kshatriyas twenty one times.

Kartaviryarjuna was the chief of the Haihaya clan. He got yogic powers from Datta-Atreya and also one thousand heads. He was very powerful. He was hospitably received one day by Jamadagni, with the objects yielded by his Kama-Dhenu (a cow that yields all objects of desire). The king longed to have the cow and forcibly carried her away. Parasurama killed the king in battle and carried back the cow. The sons of the king out of revenge killed Ris.h.i.+ Jamadagni while Parasurama and his brothers were out. Incensed by this conduct of the Haihayas, Parasurama killed all the Kshatriyas on account of their iniquities.

Jamadagni on his death became the Seventh Ris.h.i.+ in the constellation of the Seven Ris.h.i.+s.

Parasurama will become one of the Seven Ris.h.i.+s in the next Manvantara.

He bides his time, with axe in hand, on the Mahendra mountain.

Gadhi had his son Visvamitra. Though a Kshatriya, he became a Brahmana by his Tapas. He had one hundred sons. The mid son was Madhuchhandas.

But they were all called Madhuchhandas. Visvamitra adopted as his son Sunahsepha, son of Ajigarta of the clan of Bhrigu after he had been offered up to the Devas and the Ris.h.i.+ asked his sons to accept him as their eldest brother. Sunahsepha had been purchased as the victim of Haris Chandra's sacrifice. He prayed to the Devas and to Praj.a.pati and got liberation. In the clan of Gadhi, he was known as Devarata. In the clan of Bhrigu, he was called Sunahsepha. The elder sons of Visvamitra did not accept him. So the Ris.h.i.+ cursed them to become Mlechhas.

Madhuchhandas with the youngest 50 did as asked by the Ris.h.i.+.

The other sons of Visvamitra were Ashtaka, Harita, Jaya, Kratumat and others.

GaDHI --+---------------------+------------+-- Satyavati Visvamitra m. Richika --+------------+---+-----------+--- Jamadagni (adopted) Devarata 100 sons Ashtakja Parasurama including & others Madhuchhandas

THE LUNAR DYNASTY (Continued).

*SKANDHA IX. CHAP. 17.*

ayus was the eldest son of Pururavas. His line is now given.

Pururavas ayus --+-------------+----------+---+------+--------+-- Nahusha Kshatra-Vriddha Raji Rabha Anena Suhotra 500 Sons Rabhas Suddha Gambhira Suchi --+---------+-----+----+-- Akriya Chitraka Kasya Kusa Gritsamada Brahmavit Santarajas Kasi Prati Sunaka Rashtra Sanjaya Sounaka Dirghatamas Jaya Dhanvantari Harnabala (promulgator of ayur Veda Sahadeva and a sub Incarnation Hina of Vishnu.) Jaya Sena Ketumat Saukriti Bhimaratha Jaya.

Divodasa Dyumat (also called Pratardana Satrujit and Ritadhvaja) Dharmaketu -+-+--------------------+-- Alarka others (reigned for 66000 years) Santati Sunitha Niketana Dharmaketu Satyaketu Dhrishtaketu Suk.u.mara Vitihotra Bharga Bhargabhumi

Raji defeated the Asuras and made over Svarga to Indra. Indra placed Raji in charge of Svarga. Raji died and his sons did not return the kingdom of Svarga to Indra. Brihaspati made invocation against them and they were all easily killed.

SKANDHA IX. CHAPS. 18-19.

Pururavas ayus --+--------------+----------+---+--------+---------+-- Nahusha Kshatra-vridha Raji Rabha Anena --+--------------+--------------+--------+---------+-------+-- Yati Yayati Saryati ayati Viyati Kriti

Sarmistha was the daughter of the Danava king Vrishaparvan. Devayani was the daughter of Sukra, the preceptor of the Danavas. They quarrelled whilst playing with each other and Sarmistha threw Devayani into a well.

King Yayati happened to pa.s.s by the way and he rescued her. She became attached to the king and married him. Sukra became displeased with the Danavas for the ill treatment of his daughter by Sarmistha. And to please the preceptor and his daughter, Vrishaparvan had to make over his daughter and her companions to Devayani as her constant attendants. So they accompanied Devayani to the place of Yayati. Sukra warned Yayati however not to have any intercourse with Sarmistha. But the king did not heed the warning. He had two sons Yadu and Turvasu by Devayani and three sons, Druhya, Anu and Puru by Sarmistha. Devayani complained to Sukra and by the curse of the Ris.h.i.+ the king was attacked with the infirmities of old age. The Ris.h.i.+ was subsequently pleased to say that the king might exchange his infirmities with another. Yayati called his sons one by one and they all declined to comply with his request except the youngest son Puru. So he exchanged his infirmities with Puru and lived as a young man. At last he found that no amount of gratification of the senses produced satiety and being disgusted with the pleasures of life, made over to Puru his youth and took upon himself his own infirmities.

He made over the south east to Druhya, the east to Yadu, the west to Turvasu and the north to Anu. He then made Puru his successor and went into the forest.

SKANDHA IX. CHAP. 20.