Shrimad Ramayana- Balakanda- 9 (Post 15)

Namaste!

Recap from last week: Sage Vishwamithra explains the birth of Lord Shanmukha and death of demon Taarakaasura in lord's hands.

As Vishwamithra and his disciples continue their journey towards Mithila, they travel on the holy river Ganga. Prince Rama- an ever curious one to know all possible good asked his teacher to kindly tell him about this river and its birth.

Vishwamithra starts narrating the story of birth of River Ganga. He narrates it to Rama in such a way that it takes a firm stand in his mind that whatever may happen, a king has to fulfill his word- no matter how difficult the task may be. This is what gave strength to Rama later in his life when he had to make some tough choices in his life.

"O prince Rama! Listen as I tell you the descent of River Goddess Ganga to this mere Earth. Once upon a time there was one king in your family named 'Sagara'. He was the mightiest king of Ayodhya but also very generous. He had two wives. His first wife was the daughter of the king of Vidarbha and her name was 'Keshini'. She also was a follower of Dharma, generous and truthful all her life. His second wife was the daughter of Arishtanemi prajapathi and her name was 'Sumathi'. She was the most beautiful lady that ever lived then. They had no sons or daughters. To have sons he and his wives went to Bhrigu prasravana parvatha on Himalayas to do his penance and please Maharshi Bhrigu. Pleased by their devotion Rishi Bhrigu appeared and asked for his wish. King Sagara asked him to bless him with progeny. So Bhrigu maharshi blessed him such that one wife would have 60,000 sons and the other wife would have one son. So upon the wives' request Maharshi blessed the Keshini with one son and Sumathi with 60,000 sons who would be highly energetic but does things without a reason.

The son of Keshini was named 'Asamanjasa' and Sumathi had 60,000 babies born like eggs so her maids seperated them one by one and preserved these eggs in ghee coated pots until they were fully developed. (This was probably the first test tube baby procedure done in the whole world!!). This Asamanjasa had one peculiar habit- he used to drown other friends' of his in Sarayu and killed them. Being a king's son he would escape doing all these. He was later married and had a son "Anshumantha" but could not stop his killings. But Sagara being a follower of Dharma he threw his son Asamanjasa out from his kingdom."

Listening this Rama was being taught by Vishwamithra that to follow Dharma his elders did not care even for their own blood. Hearing all this Rama was making up his mind to be strong to face any situation in future. This had made him live without Seetha when he had to, live in a forest for 14 long years just for a promise he made to his step mother which he could avoid and do what he wanted. But no, Dharma is what he always wanted. That is what he is learning from this story.

"So Sagara threw his son Asamanjasa out of the kingdom but kept his grandson Anshumantha with him because the grandson knew that what his grandfather did was Dharma. Later one fine day, King Sagara decided to perform an Ashwamedha yaaga- willing peace and prosperity for his kingdom. As part of this yaaga, a horse would be allowed to roam free and any person wishing to stop it would indirectly call for a battle with the king. So in this sequence when the horse was left free, it suddenly disappeared after a few days. King Sagara asked his other 60,000 sons to go and find it at any cost. Being impulsive, they set out for the search of the horse and when they got to know that the horse is in paathaala(under the earth), they started digging the earth till they found the Diggajaas (the 4 elephants standing as pillars to support the Earth. Finally, the found the horse standing in front of sage Kapila maharshi who is an incarnation of Vishnu and was in deep meditation at that moment unknown of the horse and chaos. Thinking maharshi to be the thief who stole the horse, they started beating him. Being disturbed in that deep state of meditation, he opened his eyes with anger thus burning all the 60,000 princes into ashes. He then went back to meditation.

Upon seeing no return of any of his sons, king Sagara sent his grandson Anshumantha in search of his sons and the horse. Anshumantha though finally found his uncles and the horse- could not help his uncles in anyway. Later after many years he died trying. Then from the same family came a great king named Bhagiratha. When he got to know the plight of his grandfathers, he decided to give them a right funeral and wipe of their sins so that they would be eligible to go to heaven. He started tapasya (meditation) towards lord Brahma and continued it for many decades until when finally Lord Brahma appeared in front of him. Bhagiratha prayed to Lord Brahma and asked him to allow the sacred heavenly river Ganga to flow down to the Earth and then to paathaala where his grandfathers' ashes were lying so that they would get rid of their sins and go back to heaven. Brahma pleased by his devotion and dedication, told him that he had no problem asking Ganga to flow down but no one would be able to bear her fierceness and sheer force and the Earth along with paathala would be submerged in her. Listening to this, a disappointed Bhagiratha asked Lord Brahma to suggest an idea to get Ganga down in a controlled fashion. A pleased Brahma then told him that there is only one person who could control her might and that is none other than Lord Shiva himself. Saying so, Brahma left. Bhagiratha with his strong desire to get Ganga flow down on the ashes started praying and meditating for Lord Shiva standing and balancing all his weight just only on his big toe. It took many decades before Shiva appeared in front of him and asked him for his wish. Bhagiratha prayed to him and asked him to control the force of Ganga when she would start flowing down from the heaven and thus prevent drowning of Bhoomi and paathaala. Pleased with Bhagiratha, Lord Shiva agreed to his wish"

To be continued in the next blog article..! Stay tuned!

Precap next week: The dedication and devotion of king Bhagiratha towards his family- The beauty and force of Ganga free flowing down from heaven to Earth- The calm, contained but mighty Shiva controlling her- The Ganga Avatharanam- How the sacred river descended to Earth to wash our sins.

For all you folks out there, here is the pictorial representation!

Sai Ram

Vipanchi Krishna.

Shrimad Ramayana- Balakanda- 8 (Post 14)

Namaste!

Recap from last week: Vishwamitra, Rama and Lakshmana continue their journey towards kingdom of Mithila.

Parvathi Kalyanam - Shanmukha Jananam:

On their way, Sage Vishwamitra explains his disciples- the Shanmuka uthpaththi- Birth of the six faced lord Shanmuka. He says, "O mighty warrior prince of Ayodhya- Rama, listen as I tell you the story of the birth of Lord Shanmukha. Once upon a time, Manmadha- the God of love was proud of himself that he could make anyone fall in love with his pushpa-baana, the floral arrows. Manmadha being proud of himself shot an arrow of love at Shiva who was in deep meditation at that time. Upon being disturbed, Lord Shiva- the Peaceful one turned into Lord Rudra- the destroyer! He at once opened his Third eye and cast a glance at Manmadha thus reducing him to ashes. He then calmed down and went back to his meditation. Goddess Rathi, wife of Manmadha was crying profusely at the loss of her husband and begged Parvathi to help her. In the meanwhile, Parvathi took hold of the floral arrows and sugarcane bow of Manmadha and made Lord Shiva fall in love with her. That form of Parvathi is what today we pray as Kanchi Kamakshi Devi. Thus Shiva and Parvathi married each other.  They became the parents of this world. To Shiva, she is Shiva Kaama Sundari- the eternal beauty; but for us she is Jagath Janani- the Mother. So seeing Rathi crying for Manmadha, out of motherly love towards Rathi Devi, she gave Manmadha an invisible body and gave him his life back thus making them happy. She gave Manmadha the permission to shoot arrows at normal people being invisible thus help create progeny.

In the meanwhile, it had been hundred divine years that Shiva and Parvathi were married but they still did not have kids. One day, curious Devas had a doubt. They thought Shiva and Parvathi are divine but powerful- if they have a son he would be even more mighty and we would not be able to bear his strength so let us ask them not to have their children! Thinking so they made the blunder of requesting Shiva to not have children. Lord Shiva being Bholenath (one who is easy to please) accepted their request but said that, he already made up his mind to having children and so if not with Parvathi who would accept his divine male 'power' (Shiva Veerya) and bear his child. Devas put forward the idea of Bhoomi. Shiva agreed and sent his 'power' to create a son and Bhoomi accepted it. Meanwhile, Parvathi got to know the request of the Devas and Bhoomi accepting the 'power' of Shiva and she became really angry and cursed the Devas, "O foolish Devas! Any woman would not forego the chance of becoming a mother but since you asked for such a boon that I would have to forego being a mother, I curse you that you Devas would not be able to create any progeny with your wives! You would also remain childless!" That is why our Gods are always 33 crores and that is why Lord Brahma during the birth of Rama asked Gods to procreate sons (vaanaras) with other apsaras and kinneras but not their wives. She then turned to Bhoomi and said, "O Bhoomi! since you snatched away my right, every ruler on this earth would be your husband (bhoopathi) and his son who becomes the next king would not be your son but would be your husband again! Thus you would have to face the fate of being a wife to your son!" Hearing this, Bhoomi could no longer bear Shiva's child and out of guilt gave that 'power' to Lord Agni to search for a suitable bearer.

In the meanwhile, a demon named "Taarakaasura" got to know about this whole chaos and started meditating for Lord Brahma.  Lord Brahma appeared and asked him his wish and so the demon asked for a boon that he would die in the hands of only the son born to Shiva and Parvathi. Lord Brahma could not refuse his wish as it was not wrong and thus granted him the boon. That was all he wanted and the next moment he started fighting with Gods and made them suffer. Lord Indra was deeply disturbed by this and requested Lord Brahma to help him. Brahma told him about the request of Gods. Now they cannot go back and ask Parvathi and Shiva to have sons and also cannot live under this demon. So Brahma asked him to find if any woman could bear Shiva's 'power' that is now in Agni's care. They thought a lot about it and finally decided that Parvathi would be angry at any woman who would agree, but would she be angry at her own sister if her sister would agree to this? They found their answer. When Agni requested, Ganga, Mountain king Himavantha's daughter and Parvathi's elder sister though not married yet agreed to bear the 'power' and give birth to Shiva's son. Now this son would be called Shiva- Parvathi's son because Ganga is her own sister and a sister's son is always her son. Everyone is now waiting anxiously if the son would be born. Ganga who flowed as a river and is very cold at all times, burned up as Shiva's power entered her. She could not bear it and left it at the foot of Himavath Parvatha on the grass. Then suddenly a great light rose from the grass- thats when Gold, Silver, Iron and Glass are born. But the Gods were not happy looking at this precious metals because they wanted a child. After a little while they again saw light and heard a small but sharp cry of a baby!! Lord Shanmukha was born! Gods' happiness knew no bounds! They were happy that Tarakaasura's death and a great army leader of Gods is born. Gods asked Krittikas (the Grass on which he was born) to feed the child with milk. Krittikas said they would feed him only if he could drink it with six faces. The baby now had six faces and drank the milk and smiled, thus the name- Shanmuka- the six faced lord. Since the child drank the milk of Krittikas, he is also called Kaarthikeya. Since he was under Agni's care till he was born, he is also called Paavaki. Since he was born on the grass, he is called Sharavana Bhava. Since is born with Brahmagnana, he is called Subrahmanyam. Since he was born out of the mother's womb, he is called Skandha. He instantly became a young adult and became the Devasena Adhipathi- Army chief of Gods, killed Taarakaasura and later married Sri Valli and Devasena- the beautiful daughters of his Uncle Sri Maha Vishnu. He thus is also called Murugan (nephew to Lord Vishnu) and Marumagan (the most handsome because he inherited all of Parvathi's beauty).

Benefit of reading this: Sage Valmiki who never tells about phalashruthi (benefits of reading) tells us that -

• If a Pregnant woman reads/ listens/ writes/ tells this event, she will be blessed with a beautiful son with Lord Shanmukha's blessings and will be saved by him till the end.
• If a diseased person reads this, he shall be blessed with long healthy life by Shanmukha. 
• Any one who will read/listen to this with utmost devotion shall be blessed with wealth and Punya and be sent to Subrahmanya loka after death.

Shanmukha stotra:

shakti hastam virupaaksham, shikhi vaaham shadaananam

Daarunam ripu roghaghnam, bhaavaye kukkuta dhwajam

Skandham shanmukham devam, Shiva tejam dwishadbhujam

Kumaaram Swaminaatham tham Kaarthikeyam namaamyaham.

(" One with power, one with peacock as his vehicle and one who is six faced

one who cures dangerous long lasting diseases, I meditate upon him

O Skandha, O shanmukha, You are the form of Shiva's power with 12 arms

O Kumara, O swaminatha I bow to you my Kaarthikeya")

Precap of Next week: Ganga avatharanam- the descent of heavenly Ganga to Earth. This is also the chapter mentioned by Sage Valmiki with Phalashruthi.

Stotrams for Vara Lakshmi Shukravaaram- Lakshmi kalyanam, Shri Lakshmi stotram and AshtaLakshmi stotram (Post 14)

Lakshmi Kalyanam: (Telugu)

Devendra krutha Shri Lakshmi Stotram: (English)

Namah Kamala vasinyai narayanyai namo namah,

Krishna priyayai sathatham Maha Lakshmyai namo namah.                  

Padma pathre kshnayai cha  padmasyai namo namah,

Padmasanaa yai padminyai , Vaishnavyai namo namah.                            

Sarva sampath swaroopinyai , sarva aradhyai namo namah,

Hari bhakthi pradathrai  cha harsha dathrai namo namah.                     

Krishna vaksha sthithayai  cha Krishneshayai namo namah,

Chandra shobhaa swaroopaayai , rathna padme cha Shobhane.               

Sampath adhishtathru devyai , maha devyai namo namah,

Namo vrudhi swaroopaayai , vrudhi dayyai namo namah.                          

Vaikunthe ya Mahalakshmi  ya Lakshmi Ksheera sagare,

Swarga Lakshmi  Indra gehe Raja Lakshmi nrupalaye.                               

Graha lakshmeescha Gruhinaam gehe cha gruha devathaa,

Surabhi sagare  Jaatha Dakshinaa yagna kamini.                                              

Adhithir deva mathaa , thwam kamalaa kamalalaye,

Swaaha thwam cha havir dhaane , kanyaa dhaane Swadha smrutha.                

Thwam hi Vishnu swaroopa cha, sarvaadharaa Vasundharaa,

Shudha sathwa swaroopa cha, thwam Narayana Parayana.                               

Krodha himsa varjitha cha varadhaa  sharadaa shubhaa,

Paramartha pradhaa thwam cha, hari dhasya pradhaa paraa.                            

yaya vinaa jagath sarvam bhaasmi bhutham asaarakam

jeevan mrutham cha vishwam cha shashvath sarvam yayaa vinaa.

Sarveeshaam paraa mathaa, sarva baandhava roopini,

Dhamartha kama mokshaanaam thwaya cha kaarana  roopini.                     

Yadhaa maathaa sthanaam dhaanaam , shishoonaam shaishave sada,

Thadha thwam sarvadhaa mathaa sarveshaam sarva roopathaha.                 

Mathru heena sthanandasthu  sa cha jeevathi daivatha,

Thwaya heeno janaha kopi na  jeevathyeva nischitham.                                  

Suprasanna swaroopa thwam, maam prasannaa bhavaambike,

Vairi grastham cha vishayam- dehimahyam sanaathani.                               

Aham yavath thwaya heenah , bandhu heenascha bhikshukah,

Sarva sampath viheenascha  thava deva hari priye,

Gnanam dehi cha dharmam cha  sarva soubhagya meepsitham,

Prabhavam cha prathapam cha sarvadhikara meva cha .                      

Jayam parakramam yudhe paramaishwarya mevacha,

Ithi ukthwa cha mahendrascha , sarvai sura ganaa saha.                               

Pranamyaasya asru nethro moordhana chaiva punah punah,

Brahma sankarascha iva  , Sesho dharmascha Kesava.                                          

Sarve shathru parihaaram suraarthe  cha punah punah,

Devebhyascha  varam dathwa pushpa malaam manoharam.                        

Keshavaaya dhadhou Lakshmi santhushta sura sammathi,

Yayur deva santhushta  svam svam sthaanam gatha,

Dathwa shuba asheervam thou gathebhya preethi poorvakam,

Idham stothram Maha punyam Trisandhyam  ya pateth nara,

Kubera thulya  sa bhaveth Raja Rajeswaro Mahan,

Pancha laksha japenaiva  sthothra sidhi  Bhaveth runa,

Sidha stothram yathi padeth masa mekanthu santhatham,

Maha sura rajendro Bhavishyathi na samsaya.     

                                           

Devendra krutha Shri Lakshmi Stotram: (Telugu)

నమః  కమల వాసిన్యై నారాయణ్యై  నమోనమః

కృష్ణప్రియాయై సతతం మహాలక్ష్మై నమోనమః

పద్మపత్రేక్షణాయై చ  చ పద్మాస్యాయై నమోనమః

పద్మాసనాయై పద్మిన్యై వైష్ణవ్యై చ నమోనమః

సర్వ సంపత్ స్వరూపిణ్యై  సర్వ ఆరాధ్యై  నమోనమః

హరిభక్తి ప్రదాత్రై చ హర్ష దాత్రై  నమోనమః

కృష్ణ వక్ష స్థితాయై చ  కృష్ణేశాయై నమోనమః

చంద్రశోభా స్వరూపాయై రత్నపద్మే చ శోభనే

సంపత్ అధిష్టాత్రు  దేవ్యై మహాదేవ్యై నమోనమః

నమో వృద్ధి స్వరూపాయై వృద్ధి దాయై నమోనమః

వైకుంఠే యా మహాలక్ష్మీ: యా లక్ష్మీ: క్షీరసాగరే

స్వర్గ లక్ష్మీ ఇంద్ర గృహే  రాజ్యలక్ష్మీ నృపాలయే

గృహలక్ష్మీ శ్చ గృహిణాం గేహే చ గృహదేవతా

సురభి స్సాగరేజాతా దక్షిణా యజ్ఞ కామినీ

అదితిర్ దేవమాతా త్వం  కమలా కమలాలయే

స్వాహాత్వం చ హవిర్ధానే కన్యాదానే స్వధా స్మ్రతా

త్వం హి విష్ణు స్వరూపా చ సర్వధారా వసుంధరా

శుద్ధ సత్త్వ స్వరూపా చ నారాయణా పరాయణా

క్రోధ హింసా వర్జితాచ వరదా శారదా శుభా

పరమార్థ ప్రదా త్వం చ హరిదాస్య ప్రదా పరా

యయా వినా జగత్ సర్వం భాస్మి భూతం అసారకం 

జీవన్ మృతం చ విశ్వం చ శశ్వత్ సర్వం యయా వినా 

సర్వేషాం చ పరామాతా సర్వబంధవ రూపిణీ

ధర్మార్థ కామ మోక్షాణాం త్వం చ కారణ రూపిణీ

యథామాతా స్తనంధానాం శిశూనాం శైశవే సదా

తథా త్వం సర్వదా మాతా సర్వేషాం సర్వ రూపతః

మాతృహీన స్తనాంధస్తు స చ జీవతి దైవతః

త్వయా హీనో జనః కోపి న జీవత్యేవ నిశ్చితమ్

సుప్రసన్న స్వరూపా త్వం మాం ప్రసన్నా భవాంభికే

వైరిగ్రస్తం చ విషయం దేహి మహ్యం సనాతని

అహం యావత్త్వయా హీనః బంధుహీన శ్చ భీక్షుకః

సర్వసంపద్విహీన శ్చ తావ దేవ హరిప్రియే

జ్ఞానం దేహి చ ధర్మం చ సర్వ సౌభాగ్య మీప్సితం

ప్రభావం చ ప్రతాపం చ సర్వాధికార మేవచ

జయం పరాక్రమం యుద్ధే పరమైశ్వర్య మేవ చ

ఇతి ఉక్త్వ చ మహేంద్రశ్చ, సర్వై సురగణా సః

ప్రణమ్యాస్య  అశ్రు నేత్రో  మూర్ధన చైవ పునః పునః 

బ్రహ్మ శంకరాశ్చ ఇవ శేషో ధర్మశ్చ కేశవా

సర్వే శత్రు పరిహారం సురార్థె చ పునః పునః 

దేవేభ్యశ్చ  వరం దత్వా పుష్ప మాలాం మనోహరం 

కేశవాయ దదౌ లక్ష్మి సంతుష్టా సుర సమ్మతి 

యయుర్ దేవా సంతుష్టా స్వం స్వం స్థానం గతా 

దత్వా శుభ ఆశీర్వం తౌ గతేభ్య ప్రీతి పూర్వకం 

ఇదం స్తోత్రం మహా పుణ్యం త్రిసంధ్యం యః పఠేత్ నర 

కుబేర తుల్య స భవేత్ రాజ రాజేశ్వరో మహాన్ 

పంచ లక్ష జపేనైవ స్తోత్ర సిద్ధి భవేత్ ఋణా 

సిద్ధ స్తోత్రం యతి పఠేత్ మాసమేకంతు సంతతం 

మహా సుర రాజేంద్రో భవిష్యతి న సమస్యా 

Ashta Lakshmi- Telugu:

ఆదిలక్ష్మి

సుమనస వందిత సుందరి మాధవి, చంద్ర సహొదరి హేమమయే 

మునిగణ వందిత మోక్షప్రదాయని, మంజుల భాషిణి వేదనుతే | 

పంకజవాసిని దేవ సుపూజిత, సద్గుణ వర్షిణి శాంతియుతే 

జయ జయహే మధుసూదన కామిని, ఆదిలక్ష్మి పరిపాలయ మామ్ || 1 ||

ధాన్యలక్ష్మి

అయికలి కల్మష నాశిని కామిని, వైదిక రూపిణి వేదమయే 

క్షీర సముద్భవ మంగళ రూపిణి, మంత్రనివాసిని మంత్రనుతే |

మంగళదాయిని అంబుజవాసిని, దేవగణాశ్రిత పాదయుతే 

జయ జయహే మధుసూదన కామిని, ధాన్యలక్ష్మి పరిపాలయ మామ్ || 2 ||

ధైర్యలక్ష్మి

జయవరవర్షిణి వైష్ణవి భార్గవి, మంత్ర స్వరూపిణి మంత్రమయే 

సురగణ పూజిత శీఘ్ర ఫలప్రద, ఙ్ఞాన వికాసిని శాస్త్రనుతే | 

భవభయహారిణి పాపవిమోచని, సాధు జనాశ్రిత పాదయుతే 

జయ జయహే మధు సూధన కామిని, ధైర్యలక్ష్మీ పరిపాలయ మామ్ || 3 ||

గజలక్ష్మి

జయ జయ దుర్గతి నాశిని కామిని, సర్వఫలప్రద శాస్త్రమయే 

రధగజ తురగపదాతి సమావృత, పరిజన మండిత లోకనుతే | 

హరిహర బ్రహ్మ సుపూజిత సేవిత, తాప నివారిణి పాదయుతే 

జయ జయహే మధుసూదన కామిని, గజలక్ష్మీ రూపేణ పాలయ మామ్ || 4 ||

సంతానలక్ష్మి

అయిఖగ వాహిని మోహిని చక్రిణి, రాగవివర్ధిని ఙ్ఞానమయే 

గుణగణవారధి లోకహితైషిణి, సప్తస్వర భూషిత గాననుతే |

సకల సురాసుర దేవ మునీశ్వర, మానవ వందిత పాదయుతే 

జయ జయహే మధుసూదన కామిని, సంతానలక్ష్మీ పరిపాలయ మామ్ || 5 ||

విజయలక్ష్మి

జయ కమలాసిని సద్గతి దాయిని, ఙ్ఞానవికాసిని గానమయే 

అనుదిన మర్చిత కుంకుమ ధూసర, భూషిత వాసిత వాద్యనుతే | 

కనకధరాస్తుతి వైభవ వందిత, శంకరదేశిక మాన్యపదే 

జయ జయహే మధుసూదన కామిని, విజయలక్ష్మీ పరిపాలయ మామ్ || 6 ||

విద్యాలక్ష్మి

ప్రణత సురేశ్వరి భారతి భార్గవి, శోకవినాశిని రత్నమయే 

మణిమయ భూషిత కర్ణవిభూషణ, శాంతి సమావృత హాస్యముఖే |

నవనిధి దాయిని కలిమలహారిణి, కామిత ఫలప్రద హస్తయుతే 

జయ జయహే మధుసూదన కామిని, విద్యాలక్ష్మీ సదా పాలయ మామ్ || 7 ||

ధనలక్ష్మి

ధిమిధిమి ధింధిమి ధింధిమి-దింధిమి, దుంధుభి నాద సుపూర్ణమయే 

ఘుమఘుమ ఘుంఘుమ ఘుంఘుమ ఘుంఘుమ, శంఖ నినాద సువాద్యనుతే |

వేద పూరాణేతిహాస సుపూజిత, వైదిక మార్గ ప్రదర్శయుతే 

జయ జయహే మధుసూదన కామిని, ధనలక్ష్మి రూపేణా పాలయ మామ్ || 8 ||

ఫలశృతి

శ్లో|| అష్టలక్ష్మీ నమస్తుభ్యం వరదే కామరూపిణి | 

విష్ణువక్షః స్థలా రూఢే భక్త మోక్ష ప్రదాయిని ||

శ్లో|| శంఖ చక్రగదాహస్తే విశ్వరూపిణితే జయః |

జగన్మాత్రే చ మోహిన్యై మంగళం శుభ మంగళమ్ ||

Ashta Lakshmi- Hindi:

आदिलक्ष्मि

सुमनस वन्दित सुन्दरि माधवि, चन्द्र सहोदरि हेममये 

मुनिगण वन्दित मोक्षप्रदायनि, मञ्जुल भाषिणि वेदनुते । 

पङ्कजवासिनि देव सुपूजित, सद्गुण वर्षिणि शान्तियुते 

जय जयहे मधुसूदन कामिनि, आदिलक्ष्मि परिपालय माम् ॥ 1 ॥

धान्यलक्ष्मि

अयिकलि कल्मष नाशिनि कामिनि, वैदिक रूपिणि वेदमये 

क्षीर समुद्भव मङ्गल रूपिणि, मन्त्रनिवासिनि मन्त्रनुते ।

मङ्गलदायिनि अम्बुजवासिनि, देवगणाश्रित पादयुते 

जय जयहे मधुसूदन कामिनि, धान्यलक्ष्मि परिपालय माम् ॥ 2 ॥

धैर्यलक्ष्मि

जयवरवर्षिणि वैष्णवि भार्गवि, मन्त्र स्वरूपिणि मन्त्रमये 

सुरगण पूजित शीघ्र फलप्रद, ज्ञान विकासिनि शास्त्रनुते । 

भवभयहारिणि पापविमोचनि, साधु जनाश्रित पादयुते 

जय जयहे मधु सूधन कामिनि, धैर्यलक्ष्मी परिपालय माम् ॥ 3 ॥

गजलक्ष्मि

जय जय दुर्गति नाशिनि कामिनि, सर्वफलप्रद शास्त्रमये 

रधगज तुरगपदाति समावृत, परिजन मण्डित लोकनुते । 

हरिहर ब्रह्म सुपूजित सेवित, ताप निवारिणि पादयुते 

जय जयहे मधुसूदन कामिनि, गजलक्ष्मी रूपेण पालय माम् ॥ 4 ॥

सन्तानलक्ष्मि

अयिखग वाहिनि मोहिनि चक्रिणि, रागविवर्धिनि ज्ञानमये 

गुणगणवारधि लोकहितैषिणि, सप्तस्वर भूषित गाननुते ।

सकल सुरासुर देव मुनीश्वर, मानव वन्दित पादयुते 

जय जयहे मधुसूदन कामिनि, सन्तानलक्ष्मी परिपालय माम् ॥ 5 ॥

विजयलक्ष्मि

जय कमलासिनि सद्गति दायिनि, ज्ञानविकासिनि गानमये 

अनुदिन मर्चित कुङ्कुम धूसर, भूषित वासित वाद्यनुते । 

कनकधरास्तुति वैभव वन्दित, शङ्करदेशिक मान्यपदे 

जय जयहे मधुसूदन कामिनि, विजयलक्ष्मी परिपालय माम् ॥ 6 ॥

विद्यालक्ष्मि

प्रणत सुरेश्वरि भारति भार्गवि, शोकविनाशिनि रत्नमये 

मणिमय भूषित कर्णविभूषण, शान्ति समावृत हास्यमुखे ।

नवनिधि दायिनि कलिमलहारिणि, कामित फलप्रद हस्तयुते 

जय जयहे मधुसूदन कामिनि, विद्यालक्ष्मी सदा पालय माम् ॥ 7 ॥

धनलक्ष्मि

धिमिधिमि धिन्धिमि धिन्धिमि-दिन्धिमि, दुन्धुभि नाद सुपूर्णमये 

घुमघुम घुङ्घुम घुङ्घुम घुङ्घुम, शङ्ख निनाद सुवाद्यनुते ।

वेद पूराणेतिहास सुपूजित, वैदिक मार्ग प्रदर्शयुते 

जय जयहे मधुसूदन कामिनि, धनलक्ष्मि रूपेणा पालय माम् ॥ 8 ॥

फलशृति

श्लो॥ अष्टलक्ष्मी नमस्तुभ्यं वरदे कामरूपिणि । 

विष्णुवक्षः स्थला रूढे भक्त मोक्ष प्रदायिनि ॥

श्लो॥ शङ्ख चक्रगदाहस्ते विश्वरूपिणिते जयः ।

जगन्मात्रे च मोहिन्यै मङ्गलं शुभ मङ्गलम् ॥

Ashta Lakshmi- Tamil:

ஆதிலக்ஷ்மி

ஸுமனஸ வம்தித ஸும்தரி மாதவி, சம்த்ர ஸஹொதரி ஹேமமயே 

முனிகண வம்தித மோக்ஷப்ரதாயனி, மம்ஜுல பாஷிணி வேதனுதே | 

பம்கஜவாஸினி தேவ ஸுபூஜித, ஸத்குண வர்ஷிணி ஶாம்தியுதே 

ஜய ஜயஹே மதுஸூதன காமினி, ஆதிலக்ஷ்மி பரிபாலய மாம் || 1 ||

தான்யலக்ஷ்மி

அயிகலி கல்மஷ னாஶினி காமினி, வைதிக ரூபிணி வேதமயே 

க்ஷீர ஸமுத்பவ மம்கள ரூபிணி, மம்த்ரனிவாஸினி மம்த்ரனுதே |

மம்களதாயினி அம்புஜவாஸினி, தேவகணாஶ்ரித பாதயுதே 

ஜய ஜயஹே மதுஸூதன காமினி, தான்யலக்ஷ்மி பரிபாலய மாம் || 2 ||

தைர்யலக்ஷ்மி

ஜயவரவர்ஷிணி வைஷ்ணவி பார்கவி, மம்த்ர ஸ்வரூபிணி மம்த்ரமயே 

ஸுரகண பூஜித ஶீக்ர பலப்ரத, ஜ்ஞான விகாஸினி ஶாஸ்த்ரனுதே | 

பவபயஹாரிணி பாபவிமோசனி, ஸாது ஜனாஶ்ரித பாதயுதே 

ஜய ஜயஹே மது ஸூதன காமினி, தைர்யலக்ஷ்மீ பரிபாலய மாம் || 3 ||

கஜலக்ஷ்மி

ஜய ஜய துர்கதி னாஶினி காமினி, ஸர்வபலப்ரத ஶாஸ்த்ரமயே 

ரதகஜ துரகபதாதி ஸமாவ்றுத, பரிஜன மம்டித லோகனுதே | 

ஹரிஹர ப்ரஹ்ம ஸுபூஜித ஸேவித, தாப னிவாரிணி பாதயுதே 

ஜய ஜயஹே மதுஸூதன காமினி, கஜலக்ஷ்மீ ரூபேண பாலய மாம் || 4 ||

ஸம்தானலக்ஷ்மி

அயிகக வாஹினி மோஹினி சக்ரிணி, ராகவிவர்தினி ஜ்ஞானமயே 

குணகணவாரதி லோகஹிதைஷிணி, ஸப்தஸ்வர பூஷித கானனுதே |

ஸகல ஸுராஸுர தேவ முனீஶ்வர, மானவ வம்தித பாதயுதே 

ஜய ஜயஹே மதுஸூதன காமினி, ஸம்தானலக்ஷ்மீ பரிபாலய மாம் || 5 ||

விஜயலக்ஷ்மி

ஜய கமலாஸினி ஸத்கதி தாயினி, ஜ்ஞானவிகாஸினி கானமயே 

அனுதின மர்சித கும்கும தூஸர, பூஷித வாஸித வாத்யனுதே | 

கனகதராஸ்துதி வைபவ வம்தித, ஶம்கரதேஶிக மான்யபதே 

ஜய ஜயஹே மதுஸூதன காமினி, விஜயலக்ஷ்மீ பரிபாலய மாம் || 6 ||

வித்யாலக்ஷ்மி

ப்ரணத ஸுரேஶ்வரி பாரதி பார்கவி, ஶோகவினாஶினி ரத்னமயே 

மணிமய பூஷித கர்ணவிபூஷண, ஶாம்தி ஸமாவ்றுத ஹாஸ்யமுகே |

னவனிதி தாயினி கலிமலஹாரிணி, காமித பலப்ரத ஹஸ்தயுதே 

ஜய ஜயஹே மதுஸூதன காமினி, வித்யாலக்ஷ்மீ ஸதா பாலய மாம் || 7 ||

தனலக்ஷ்மி

திமிதிமி திம்திமி திம்திமி-திம்திமி, தும்துபி னாத ஸுபூர்ணமயே 

குமகும கும்கும கும்கும கும்கும, ஶம்க னினாத ஸுவாத்யனுதே |

வேத பூராணேதிஹாஸ ஸுபூஜித, வைதிக மார்க ப்ரதர்ஶயுதே 

ஜய ஜயஹே மதுஸூதன காமினி, தனலக்ஷ்மி ரூபேணா பாலய மாம் || 8 ||

பலஶ்றுதி

ஶ்லோ|| அஷ்டலக்ஷ்மீ னமஸ்துப்யம் வரதே காமரூபிணி | 

விஷ்ணுவக்ஷஃ ஸ்தலா ரூடே பக்த மோக்ஷ ப்ரதாயினி ||

ஶ்லோ|| ஶம்க சக்ரகதாஹஸ்தே விஶ்வரூபிணிதே ஜயஃ |

ஜகன்மாத்ரே ச மோஹின்யை மம்களம் ஶுப மம்களம் ||

Ashta Lakshmi- Kannada:

ಆದಿಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ

ಸುಮನಸ ವಂದಿತ ಸುಂದರಿ ಮಾಧವಿ, ಚಂದ್ರ ಸಹೊದರಿ ಹೇಮಮಯೇ 

ಮುನಿಗಣ ವಂದಿತ ಮೋಕ್ಷಪ್ರದಾಯನಿ, ಮಂಜುಲ ಭಾಷಿಣಿ ವೇದನುತೇ | 

ಪಂಕಜವಾಸಿನಿ ದೇವ ಸುಪೂಜಿತ, ಸದ್ಗುಣ ವರ್ಷಿಣಿ ಶಾಂತಿಯುತೇ 

ಜಯ ಜಯಹೇ ಮಧುಸೂದನ ಕಾಮಿನಿ, ಆದಿಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ ಪರಿಪಾಲಯ ಮಾಮ್ || 1 ||

ಧಾನ್ಯಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ

ಅಯಿಕಲಿ ಕಲ್ಮಷ ನಾಶಿನಿ ಕಾಮಿನಿ, ವೈದಿಕ ರೂಪಿಣಿ ವೇದಮಯೇ 

ಕ್ಷೀರ ಸಮುದ್ಭವ ಮಂಗಳ ರೂಪಿಣಿ, ಮಂತ್ರನಿವಾಸಿನಿ ಮಂತ್ರನುತೇ |

ಮಂಗಳದಾಯಿನಿ ಅಂಬುಜವಾಸಿನಿ, ದೇವಗಣಾಶ್ರಿತ ಪಾದಯುತೇ 

ಜಯ ಜಯಹೇ ಮಧುಸೂದನ ಕಾಮಿನಿ, ಧಾನ್ಯಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ ಪರಿಪಾಲಯ ಮಾಮ್ || 2 ||

ಧೈರ್ಯಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ

ಜಯವರವರ್ಷಿಣಿ ವೈಷ್ಣವಿ ಭಾರ್ಗವಿ, ಮಂತ್ರ ಸ್ವರೂಪಿಣಿ ಮಂತ್ರಮಯೇ 

ಸುರಗಣ ಪೂಜಿತ ಶೀಘ್ರ ಫಲಪ್ರದ, ಙ್ಞಾನ ವಿಕಾಸಿನಿ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರನುತೇ | 

ಭವಭಯಹಾರಿಣಿ ಪಾಪವಿಮೋಚನಿ, ಸಾಧು ಜನಾಶ್ರಿತ ಪಾದಯುತೇ 

ಜಯ ಜಯಹೇ ಮಧು ಸೂಧನ ಕಾಮಿನಿ, ಧೈರ್ಯಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ ಪರಿಪಾಲಯ ಮಾಮ್ || 3 ||

ಗಜಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ

ಜಯ ಜಯ ದುರ್ಗತಿ ನಾಶಿನಿ ಕಾಮಿನಿ, ಸರ್ವಫಲಪ್ರದ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಮಯೇ 

ರಧಗಜ ತುರಗಪದಾತಿ ಸಮಾವೃತ, ಪರಿಜನ ಮಂಡಿತ ಲೋಕನುತೇ | 

ಹರಿಹರ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮ ಸುಪೂಜಿತ ಸೇವಿತ, ತಾಪ ನಿವಾರಿಣಿ ಪಾದಯುತೇ 

ಜಯ ಜಯಹೇ ಮಧುಸೂದನ ಕಾಮಿನಿ, ಗಜಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ ರೂಪೇಣ ಪಾಲಯ ಮಾಮ್ || 4 ||

ಸಂತಾನಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ

ಅಯಿಖಗ ವಾಹಿನಿ ಮೋಹಿನಿ ಚಕ್ರಿಣಿ, ರಾಗವಿವರ್ಧಿನಿ ಙ್ಞಾನಮಯೇ 

ಗುಣಗಣವಾರಧಿ ಲೋಕಹಿತೈಷಿಣಿ, ಸಪ್ತಸ್ವರ ಭೂಷಿತ ಗಾನನುತೇ |

ಸಕಲ ಸುರಾಸುರ ದೇವ ಮುನೀಶ್ವರ, ಮಾನವ ವಂದಿತ ಪಾದಯುತೇ 

ಜಯ ಜಯಹೇ ಮಧುಸೂದನ ಕಾಮಿನಿ, ಸಂತಾನಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ ಪರಿಪಾಲಯ ಮಾಮ್ || 5 ||

ವಿಜಯಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ

ಜಯ ಕಮಲಾಸಿನಿ ಸದ್ಗತಿ ದಾಯಿನಿ, ಙ್ಞಾನವಿಕಾಸಿನಿ ಗಾನಮಯೇ 

ಅನುದಿನ ಮರ್ಚಿತ ಕುಂಕುಮ ಧೂಸರ, ಭೂಷಿತ ವಾಸಿತ ವಾದ್ಯನುತೇ | 

ಕನಕಧರಾಸ್ತುತಿ ವೈಭವ ವಂದಿತ, ಶಂಕರದೇಶಿಕ ಮಾನ್ಯಪದೇ 

ಜಯ ಜಯಹೇ ಮಧುಸೂದನ ಕಾಮಿನಿ, ವಿಜಯಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ ಪರಿಪಾಲಯ ಮಾಮ್ || 6 ||

ವಿದ್ಯಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ

ಪ್ರಣತ ಸುರೇಶ್ವರಿ ಭಾರತಿ ಭಾರ್ಗವಿ, ಶೋಕವಿನಾಶಿನಿ ರತ್ನಮಯೇ 

ಮಣಿಮಯ ಭೂಷಿತ ಕರ್ಣವಿಭೂಷಣ, ಶಾಂತಿ ಸಮಾವೃತ ಹಾಸ್ಯಮುಖೇ |

ನವನಿಧಿ ದಾಯಿನಿ ಕಲಿಮಲಹಾರಿಣಿ, ಕಾಮಿತ ಫಲಪ್ರದ ಹಸ್ತಯುತೇ 

ಜಯ ಜಯಹೇ ಮಧುಸೂದನ ಕಾಮಿನಿ, ವಿದ್ಯಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ ಸದಾ ಪಾಲಯ ಮಾಮ್ || 7 ||

ಧನಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ

ಧಿಮಿಧಿಮಿ ಧಿಂಧಿಮಿ ಧಿಂಧಿಮಿ-ದಿಂಧಿಮಿ, ದುಂಧುಭಿ ನಾದ ಸುಪೂರ್ಣಮಯೇ 

ಘುಮಘುಮ ಘುಂಘುಮ ಘುಂಘುಮ ಘುಂಘುಮ, ಶಂಖ ನಿನಾದ ಸುವಾದ್ಯನುತೇ |

ವೇದ ಪೂರಾಣೇತಿಹಾಸ ಸುಪೂಜಿತ, ವೈದಿಕ ಮಾರ್ಗ ಪ್ರದರ್ಶಯುತೇ 

ಜಯ ಜಯಹೇ ಮಧುಸೂದನ ಕಾಮಿನಿ, ಧನಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ ರೂಪೇಣಾ ಪಾಲಯ ಮಾಮ್ || 8 ||

ಫಲಶೃತಿ

ಶ್ಲೋ|| ಅಷ್ಟಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ ನಮಸ್ತುಭ್ಯಂ ವರದೇ ಕಾಮರೂಪಿಣಿ | 

ವಿಷ್ಣುವಕ್ಷಃ ಸ್ಥಲಾ ರೂಢೇ ಭಕ್ತ ಮೋಕ್ಷ ಪ್ರದಾಯಿನಿ ||

ಶ್ಲೋ|| ಶಂಖ ಚಕ್ರಗದಾಹಸ್ತೇ ವಿಶ್ವರೂಪಿಣಿತೇ ಜಯಃ |

ಜಗನ್ಮಾತ್ರೇ ಚ ಮೋಹಿನ್ಯೈ ಮಂಗಳಂ ಶುಭ ಮಂಗಳಮ್ ||

Source (AshtaLakshmi in different languages): http://www.vignanam.org/

Sai Ram,

Vipanchi Krishna.

Shrimad Ramayana- Balakanda- 7 (Post 13)

Namaste!

Recap from last week: Rama and Lakshmana help Sage Vishwamithra finish the yagna without issues and start their travel to Mithilapuri.

On their way to Mithila, in the evening, they rested at a place with a river named "shona". Rama requested his teacher to explain the birth and importance of this river. Sage Vishwamithra said, "O prince Rama! There was once a great king called Kusha and his wife was Vaidarbhi. Kusha is my great grandfather. They had fours sons- Kushambu, Kushanabhu, Adhurtharajasu and Vasuvu. He asked his sons to create four cities and rule them. Following their father's orders each one created a city. The place we are resting now is called the "Girivraja pura" built by the fourth son Vasu. Now, the second son Kushanabhu was a rajarshi and with his wife "Ghruthachi", he had a hundred beautiful daughters. Once Vayu deva asked all the girls to marry him. They immediately rejected him saying that it is their father's duty to find a suitable man for their marriages and they cannot and will never decide themselves about their marriages without their father's permission! This made Vayu angry and he cursed them to be paralytic (removing vayu(air) from a body leads to paralysis). The girls' father after knowing this gave all the daughters to a great Brahmarshi called "Brahmadatha" in marriage. As a marriage ritual when Brahmadatha touched each girl's hand (pani grahanam) she became normal again."

Why did Vishwamithra tell Rama this story when he asked about the birth of a mere river? He was preparing Rama- preparing him to understand a girl, importance of marriage, importance of being devoted to the relationship. Today, every man and woman getting ready to be married should learn these. They should refer Ramayana. Fight or divorce is not what we were taught. Understanding each other, commitment to a relationship is what we should learn. It does not mean that you cannot speak your opinion but understand the opposite person and value his/her feelings before speaking something that could devastate two lives. One has no right to play with the feelings of their partner! A girl is as delicate as a flower. Her parents might have brought her up with utmost love and care. A boy has no right to play with her heart or life. Acid attacks, suicides, forcing her for his wish are not the best things a boy could do. It could end up hurting her, her parents, his parents and ultimately leave him suffering. Understand her, respect her, ask her hand with the permission of her parents and treat her with dignity and she will be his forever. The same is with a girl. Threatening him, hurting his feelings is not what a man could appreciate in his partner. Being loyal, dignified and being a daddy's girl is what a man would appreciate in a girl- after all, that's what he would expect his daughter to be some day!

Vishwamithra again said, "Rama, Kushanabha then had a son Gadhi and I am the son of Gadhi. Since I was born in the clan(vamsha) of Kusha, I am also called "Kaushika". I have a sister "Kaushiki" who was married to sage "Ruchika". When Ruchika started his journey to Heavens to meet the Gods, my sister prayed and then became the river "Kaushiki" flowing in the Himalayas. I have built my ashrama at the banks of Kaushiki and live there. Also with your help I could come to Sidha Ashrama here and finish my yagna without any issues." Saying this sage asked both brothers to rest for the night. 

Rama could not sleep soon due to the thoughts crossing his mind. He was constantly thinking about those hundred girls, their devotion to their father, their determination, the Kaushiki river, the greatness of his teacher's clan and slept sometime late in the night.

Precap next week: The sarga (chapter) which we discuss next week is considered to be the most important of all the sargas of Ramayana. Sage Valmiki who never talks about phalashruthi (benefits of listening/ reading), said that any pregnant women who would read this sarga will have beautiful kids and a less complication-less pregnancy.

Stay tuned next week for Ganga-avatharanam (birth of river Ganga), Parvathi Kalyanam (Marriage of Shiva- Parvathi) and Shanmuka- uthpathi (birth of Shanmukha/ Kumara swami)

Sai Ram,

Vipanchi Krishna.

Shrimad Ramayana- Balakanda- 6 (Post 12)

Namaste!

Recap from last week: Thataka was killed by Rama and Lakshmana upon their teacher's orders.

When Rama killed Thataka, all the Devaas were happy and proud that they found someone who is righteous and would ultimately stop Ravana from his wrongdoings. Sage Vishwamithra was happy with his students and then taught them the mantras of various Astras (weapons). 

Astras need not be physical like the other swords and spears; one knowing the mantras can take a straw of grass and recite the mantra and turn it into a weapon. So Sage gave his students various astra mantras for 

Danda chakram (a circular weapon), Dharma chakram, Kaala chakram, Vishnu chakram, Indra astram, Vajra astram, Maha shoolam, Brahma shiro namaka astram, Aisheeka astram, Brahma astram, Modhaki gadha (Gadha- a club), Shikhari gadha, Dharma paasham (Rope astra), Kaala paasham, Varuna paasham, Varuna astram, Shushka pidugu (power of lightning), Aardhra pidugu, Painaka astram, Narayana astram, Shikhara astram, Agneya astram, Vayuvya astram,

Haya Shirass astram, Krouncha astram, Vishnu Shakti, Shiva Shakti, Kankaala astram, Musala astram, Kaapala astram, Kankanam, Nandana Khadgam (Sword), Mohana astram, Ainaa astram, Soura astram, Varshanam, Shoshanam (power of making everyone unconscious), Santhapam (kind of tear gas), Vilapam, Madanam, Thaamasam, Soumanam, Samvartham, Mousalam, Maayadharam, Tejah prabha (sharp light), Shishiram, Daaruna astram and Sudaaruna astram and so on.....!

When the Powers of these astras took human form and stood before Rama to ask him what he would want them to do, Rama with utmost respect requested them to stay in his mind and help him when ever he would need them to. The powers obeyed and disappeared.

Then Sage Vishwamitra took them to the yaaga shaala (place where the yaaga was to be performed) and told them that he would be in mounavrata (vow of not speaking to anyone) till the yaaga finishes and both Rama and Lakshmana should be alert as the demons could come at any time to disrupt the yaaga.

It is said that, not just during a yaaga but even in the daily puja one should take a vow of mounavrata until the puja finishes and should not talk to anyone unless it is their Guru. If we speak during the puja/ prayers, our punya (blessings) will be given to the one we spoke to and we would be left with no blessings.

Rama and Lakshmana took the blessings of their teacher and started guarding the yaaga shaala by walking and watching from one end to the other. With the power of Bala and Athibala vidyas they were never tired or hungry. They were supposed to guard the yaaga for 7 days and nights. There was no sign of demons till the sixth day. The demons were waiting for these kids to get tired and finally seeing no chance, demons Maareecha and Subahu (sons of Thaataka) tried to pour blood into the yagna from the sky to disrupt it.

Like said by an anonymous writer, "when you do good, even the nature supports you", even the Agnihotra (sacred fire) in the homakunda (place where sacred sandal wood sticks are placed and ignite fire by pouring ghee onto them with sacred chants) suddenly rose high up indicating Rama and Lakshmana that something is about to happen. Rama and Lakshmana were even more alert now, sensing the danger. Rama then looking at the demons told Lakshmana, "O Lakshmana, look at Maareecha and Subaahu and the other demons! I am going to kill Subaahu with Agneya astra and hit Maareecha with Maanava astra which will make him fall unconscious and throw him all the way upto hundred yojanas from here! I will kill all the others with my Vaayuvya astra!" Saying so, Rama used the above said astras on the demons. All the sages were happy that Rama destroyed the demons and saved the yagna and were praising the kids. Sage Vishwamitra was waiting to see if the kids would develop false pride for what they did.

Rama and Lakshmana with folded hands came to their Guru, bowed down and said; "O Guruvarya! Please know that we are your kinkaraas (servants) and order us if there is anything else we can do! Please do not think twice before asking us to do something, what ever it is just order us to do so and we will never question your word!". Vishwamithra was immensely happy hearing this. He blessed the kids and told them that he was here for the yagna which has now finished and he would return back to his aashrama in Himalayas, but before that he would be visiting the kingdom of Mithila under the rule of great king Janaka.

There is a small catch in the story here. Vishwamithra came into King Dasharatha's palace when the king was talking to his Guru Vashishta and his ministers about the marriage of Rama and other sons. Vishwamithra knew that Vashishta had the chance of naming the kids, Vishwamithra wanted the punya of helping Rama (by giving him the astras) in his ultimate motive of defeating Ravana and to grab the opportunity of performing the marriage of the incarnation of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu.

But as an obedient son, would Rama decide or let someone else other than his father decide about his marriage? If Vishwamithra would say he wanted Rama and Lakshmana to accompany him to Mithila so that he would perform Rama's marriage; Rama would ask him to consult his father and not him about his marriage, so the sage twisted the fact a little bit (did not lie) and said, "O prince Rama!  I would be going to Mithila now, the kingdom of King Janaka. He has a huge bow called 'Shiva Dhanus' which no one till today could stand it up and tie the string to the bow. Everyone including devas, gandharvas, kinneras and kimpurushas tried but failed. Ofcourse if all these people failed, I would not expect mere humans to tie its thread, they are not that capable." Rama being a kshatriya (warrior) prince could not take the insulting of humans and he became curious to see that bow and if possible take his Guru's permission and win over it. So Rama requested the sage to take them along with him to see it.

Agreeing happily Sage took both his disciples and started the journey towards the kingdom of Mithila.

Precap next week: What happened during their journey to Mithila? What and who did Rama and Lakshmana see in the course of their journey. 

Stay tuned!

Sai Ram

Vipanchi Krishna.

Shrimad Ramayana- Balakanda- 5 (Post 11)

Namaste!

Recap from last week: Rama and Lakshmana leave with Sage Vishwamithra to save his Yagna.

Rama and Lakshmana with their bows and arrows walked behind their Guru, Sage Vishwamithra. When they followed their Guru neither of them asked any questions as how far is the place or what is the means of transport or when they would return and not even how dangerous were the demons. Such was their surrender to their Guru. They knew he would take them, they knew he would protect them. All they cared was to follow him and his orders because their Father asked them to do so. That is the devotion or trust that every child should learn about. 

Looking at their devotion and respect, the sage was pleased and asked Rama and Lakshmana to do their achamana and come so that he can teach two greatest vidyas called BALA and ATHIBALA. He said, "Rama, these Bala and Athibala vidyas that I teach you now will save you from being tired, being sleepy, being sick, being thirsty and hungry and will make you powerful and intelligent at all times you need". Saying so he taught them the two mantras.

After that, they had their dinner and put down a bed made from dried grass and sage asked them to sleep. Would they? Children of an emperor who are used to sleep in Hamsa- thulika- talpas (plush comfortable beds these days may be) could they sleep on that mere grass bed? Yes they did, again because of their trust in their Guru and because their father asked them to obey their Guru. 

In the morning Sage Vishwamithra woke up at 3 am, the Brahmi muhurtham as usual and did his daily rituals and he noticed that both the kids were still sleeping. He was amazed by the beauty of the kids sleeping there. He felt like a grandfather looking at his grandkids, with uncontrollable love towards the kids, he uttered a poem asking them to wake up. This poem is familiar to us and we have grown up listening to this. It is the crown of Suprabhatam.

He sang, 

"Kousalya supraja Rama Purva sandhya pravarthathe | 

Uthishta nara shardhula kartavyam daivamahnikam || "

(O beautiful son of Rama, wake up, the sun is up in the sky

wake up o greatest of human beings it is your duty to do sandhya vandanam)

He sang, O beautiful son of Kousalya, Rama wake up. Why couldn't he sing "Dasharatha Supraja Rama"?. It is because of the thoughts that were going through his mind when he saw Rama. Kousalya never felt that she only should have kids but she felt the King should be a father and have a son. That is why she never said a word when he married Sumitra or Kaikeyi or the other 360 wives. She never objected him, She did a lot of vratas and pujas so that her husband would be blessed with a son. She never felt bad when he never came to her palace and stayed only at Kaikeyi's. She was such a noble lady. When Vishwamithra asked Dasharatha to send his sons, King was hesitant but Kousalya never said a word, she had utmost faith in the sage. With all those thoughts in mind, he sang- Kousalya supraja Rama...

Both kids woke up and finished their rituals and followed their Guru to travel further. At one time during their travel, they saw a big forest that was dark and had no human dwelling. After observing the surroundings Rama asked a question. "Bhagavan, why are there crickets (insects) here? Why are there so many Bhasa birds? why are there only wild animals around? why are there no humans here? Why is it like this? please explain."

Vishwamithra pleased by his disciple's interest and respect answered " O Rama, listen as I tell the story of this place. Once upon a time, Lord Indra killed a demon named Vruthrasura but this demon was a brahmin and so Indra has acquired the sin "Brahma hathya pathaka"and thus he inherited severe hunger and diseases. So he went to sages to get rid of these diseases and hunger. So sages washed him from his sins with sacred water and where these waters have flown on Earth, Indra blessed those lands with humans and happiness and named the places "Malada" and "Karusha". Soon Malada and Karusha were full with people and happiness but a female demon named "Thaataka" occupied these regions. She had the power of thousand elephants and her husband was "Sundha" and son "Maareecha". These three killed and scared people from this place."

Rama then asked, "Bhagavan, who is this Thaataka and why does she have so much power, what have the humans done for her to scare away everyone from this place. Please tell me."

Vishwamithra said, "She is the daughter of a yaksha named "Sukethu" and with a boon from Brahma she had so much power. Once Sage Agasthya killed her husband- Sundha and hence to take revenge, she and her son killed everyone they found so people ran away from here. O Rama, do not think twice that she is a lady, she is demon, she will come here now, go ahead and kill her!"

Saying so he was waiting for Rama's reply, he was waiting if Rama would say no or get scared and run away. Surprising and pleasing him Rama said, "O sir, I obey my father's words, all he said was to obey every order of yours so I will kill her. You are my Guru and you are everything to me, that is why I will kill her. I am a prince and saving people and cattle is my duty, that is why I will kill her."

Then came Thaataka, she put up a great fight with Rama and Lakshmana. Considering her to be a woman, he first considered cutting her hands and legs, still she did not stop and so Lakshmana cut off her nose and ears, still she did not stop and so with a thundering arrow, Rama killed her. Gods came down to bless them, a flower shower happened.

Precap next week: Rama and Lakshmana protect the yaaga and acquire astras.

Sai Ram

Vipanchi Krishna.