Valmiki Ramayana reading may clear many doubts on Hindu Dharma and its systems. Many talks in media and private reveals that Hindu followers are not sure about most of our Dharma and its concepts. To avoid confusion, I am putting one scene from Valmiki Ramayana, English translation by Bharadwaja Sharma.
Maharshi Viswamitras life and his lust on Menaka and Ramba, his angry acts towards them is a well known story. The content of this story is He was not a Brahmin and his desire to be a Brahmin. His opponent (He considered like that) was Vasishta.
Viswamitra spend about twenty thousands of years in tough Austerity, Tapasya. But Brahma did not Grant him the the title of "Brahmasri". Indra sent Menaka, the most beautiful women and celestial courtesan to stop Viswamitra from his austerity. Viswamitra fall in love with Menaka and lived with her about ten years. Thinking of his own fall he sighed again and again. That day he spoke softly to Menaka and politely asked her to go away. This was at Pushkar.
Then left Pushkar and went to northern mountain and started sever form of Tapasya at the bank of river Kausiki. The Gods themself were frightened and they went to see Brahman and they said to him, "Lord, Viswamitra wants to become a Brahmarshi, a seer having full understanding of the Supream reality. Do please fulfil his ambition. He deserves it." Brahma then appeared before Viswamitra in person and told him, "Pleased I have been with you for your severe austerities you have been practicing. I recognise your greatness and give you the rank of Mukhyarisi, the chief of seers".
Bowing down before him, Viswamitra Said, "Lord, you did not consider me as Maharsi, the foremost of seers. I fear you do not yet think of me as one who has dull command over his senses." And Brahma said,"No, So long as you do not really became one having complete control over your senses, I cannot confer on you that title. But you, foremost of all sages, you can go on trying." And so saying he disappeared along with the Gods who accompanied him.
Once again Viswamitra started a fierce form of austerities inflicting on himself all kinds of dreadful mortifications. Another thousand years passed by and Viswamitra continued to keep himself immersed in his Tapasya. Indra, and other gods too, felt threatened. They summoned the celestial courtesan Rambha and asked her to go to Viswamitra and seduce him, shaking his resolve and hampering his austerities.
"In the interests of gods you will have to do it, Rammba," Indra said. Rambha was afraid of Viswamitra and she said nervously, "Lord, I do not dare rouse the anger of that fierce ascetic." Indra in reply said, "Do not be afraid, Rambha. Carry out my command. I shall stand by you as the charmer bird cuckoo in the lovely season of spring, together with Kandarpa, the God of love. Appear in your most radiant form and use your charm to distract his attention from his austerities ".
Yielding to Indra's request, Rambha dressed herself up and she came to look her very best. She appeared before Viswamitra when he was engaged in deep meditation. Radiating seductive allure and charm by subtle erotic guesters and movements, she started singing sweetly in front of the ascetic. Viswamitra opened his eyes and delighted to see her but he suspected that it could all be a conspiracy on the part of Indra and angrily he pronounced a curse on Rambha. " I am here trying my best to rise above desire and anger, and you, Rambha, are trying to tempt me? How dare you? You have to spend, you unfortunate creature, ten thousand years as a stone. You will be rescued by a very powerful ascetic Brahmin at the end of that period," he said.
The fate that befell Rambha struck terror in the hearts of both Kandarpa, the God of love, and Indra, the Lord of the Gods, and they fled from the place as quickly as possible. Viswamitra on his part repented that he has deviated from the ideal code of conduct for ascetics by falling pray to anger- anger that mars the fruit of asceticism. He decided that he would not any more be angry or curse anybody in anger. He vowed,"I shall hold my breath and go without food raising above desire, anger and all other evil propensities of body and mind until I realise the exalted status of a true Brahmin." He then left the Himalayan austerities.
Viswamitras vow of austerities ended unimpeded after one thousand years and he was going to have a meal of rice, Indra, in the guise of a Brahmin, came to him and asked for the rice he was going to eat. Viswamitra gave away all the rice and began once again another thousand year session of austerities maintaing complete silence and going without any food whatsoever. His austerities generated so much heat that smoke began to rise out of his head and the three world's became heated too. This time the Gods, the seers and the gandharvas felt really disturbed. And they came to Brahma and said, " In spite of various means we adopted to make Him angry, or taint his mind with desire or anger he has remained steadfast in his resolve, calm and placid, free completely from
Together with the celestials, the devas and the maruts, Brahma then came to see Viswamitra. Addressing him as Brahmarsi, Brahma, the creator of all beings, said, "Brahmarsi Viswamitra, we have all been greatly impressed with your performance. You have earned the status of Brahmin, a true one who has got perfect understanding of the Brahman, the Supream being. May you live long."
His wish to be a Brahmin having fulfilled, Viswamitra was immensely happy and he said,"Lord, give me then the Vedas and all Mantras- the verses that a Brahmin has to chant when offering oblations to fire. Let me have full understanding of the Vedas, and above all, ordain it so that the great omniscient seer Vasishta recognise me as a Brahmin."
Then at the request of gods, Vasishta was reconciled with Viswamitra. You are a Brahmin, there us no doubt about it," Vasishta said, and Viswamitra paid him homages. The two Brahmins became friends.
This story was told to Rama by Satananda, Janakas priest, He sais,"This did Viswamitra, the foremost of sages finally attain the status of a Brahmin."
No comments:
Post a Comment