Vedavyasa

Sage Vedavyasa, great grandson of Sage Vashista, was also known as Dwaipayana and Badarayana. He classified the Vedas into 4 , wrote the Brahma Sutra, and divided the Puranas into 18 Mahapuranas. He initiated four of his disciples –Paila, Vaishampayana, Jaimini and Sumanthu – into the Vedas and invested with them the responsibility of continuing the tradition. Sage Vedavyasa had the power of seeing into the past and the future. Thus he convinced Drupada that the Pandavas were semi-divine and gave him a boon through which he was able to see the real form of the five brothers. Convinced, Drupada agreed to give his daughter in marriage to the five men. It was Vedavyasa who gave a sound warning to Dhritarashtra about the evil mind of his son, Duryodhana. He foresaw and warned Dharmaraya about several calamities that were to occur in the future. He appeared at an opportune time to arm Dharmaraya with a special mantra called Prathismruthi in order to face the Kauravas. He brought back to life, out of the Ganga, all those who had died in the Mahabharatha war. Sage Vedavyasa wrote the Mahabharatha, one of the greatest epics, with the help of Lord Ganesha as his scribe. He composed a sea of literature to spread dharma but he always hungered for more. Thus came Srimad Bhagwatha, whose theme is devotion to God. Vedavyasa remains the best among sages even today as we see his name being invoked while offering tharpana. The great sage was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and we have references to this in our Puranas as well.

ವೇದವ್ಯಾಸ

ವೇದವ್ಯಾಸರ ಹೆಸರನ್ನು ಕೇಳದವರು ವಿರಳ. ಮಹಾಭಾರತದ ರಚನಕಾರರು ವ್ಯಾಸರು. ಒಂದೇ ಆಗಿದ್ದ ವೇದವನ್ನು ನಾಲ್ಕಾಗಿ ವಿಭಾಗಿಸಿ ವೇದವ್ಯಾಸರೆಂಬ ಹೆಸರನ್ನು ಪಡೆದವರು. ಪರಾಶರರ ಪುತ್ರರು. ಮಹಾಭಾರತದ ಚರಿತ್ರೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಇವರದ್ದು ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಪಾತ್ರ. ಅನೇಕ ಕ್ಲಿಷ್ಟ ಸಮಯಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಇವರು ಆಗಮಿಸಿ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಯನ್ನು ಬಗೆಹರಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಇವರು ಮಹಾವಿಷ್ಣುವಿನ ಅವತಾರವೇ ಆಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಎಂದು ಪುರಾಣಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಳಿದೆ.

NARADA

Narada, Lord Brahma’s son, was asked to leave Satyaloka, be born twice as a human being in order to understand the trials and tribulations of earthly life. So first, he was born as a gandharva when he invented the Veena. Second, he was born as a son of a housemaid who worked in a brahmin’s house. Thus his mind was filled thoughts of God and service to Him. God appeared before him saying that he had fulfilled his purpose. Soon after, there was the great deluge and everything was destroyed. When Brahma thought of creating the world all over again, Narada was born along with four Sanaka brothers and the Prajapathis. It is as a result of his brother’s curse that he roams about the world, playing on his Veena, singing the praise of the Lord. Narada blessed Dhruva when the latter resolved to go to Madhuvana and perform penance. He beseeched Devendra to release Kayadhu( Hiranyakashipu’s wife) when she was being dragged so that the child in her womb could be killed. Later, in the pious environs that Narada created for her, she gave birth to Prahlada. Upon the advice of Narada, Ratnakara who was the head of a band of robbers ,went into a state of Samadhi chanting Lord Rama’s name. Sage Narada was instrumental in getting the Bhagvatha composed; he himself was a Parama Bhagvatha. He enlightened the people of the world about the greatness of God, the need to love Him and be grateful to Him. Our Puranas proclaim that he was a child of the Goddess of Devotion. It’s believed that he still roams all over the world, unseen by the mortal eye, carrying out the Lord’s biddings. Narada Bhaktisutra has become a beacon to spread bhaktirasa among those who want to reach the Creator.

ನಾರದ

ನಾರದರು ಬ್ರಹ್ಮನ ಮಾನಸಪುತ್ರರು. ಸತ್ಯಲೋಕವನ್ನು ತ್ಯಜಿಸಿ ಅವರು ಭೂಲೋಕದ ಜನರ ಕಷ್ಟಸುಖಗಳನ್ನು ಅರಿಯುವ ಸಲುವಾಗಿ ಭೂಲೋಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಎರಡು ಬಾರಿ ಜನಿಸಿದರು. ಅವರು ತಮ್ಮ ವೀಣೆಯನ್ನು ನುಡಿಸುತ್ತಾ ಭಗವನ್ನಾಮಸಂಕೀರ್ತನೆ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾ ಮೂರು ಲೋಕಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸದಾ ಸಂಚರಿಸುತ್ತಿರುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಈ ರೀತಿ ಸಂಚರಿಸಲು ಅವರಿಗೆ ಅವರ ಸಹೋದರನಿಂದ ಒದಗಿದ ಶಾಪವೇ ಕಾರಣ. ಮುಂದೆ ನಾರದರು ಧ್ರುವನಿಗೆ ದ್ವಾದಶಾಕ್ಷರೀ ಮಂತ್ರೋಪದೇಶ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಗರ್ಭವತಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದ ಕಯಾದುವನ್ನು ರಕ್ಷಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ನಾರದ ಭಕ್ತಿಸೂತ್ರವೆಂಬುದು ಜಗತ್ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧವಾಗಿದೆ.

VISHWAMITHRA

Vishwamithra was a brahmarishi who showed to the world that a man of resolution can attain the impossible with perseverance. His life story is one of a great friend of the world, one whose devotion to duty was of the highest order. Born as Viswaratha, he went on to become a brave emperor. His greed for owning Shabale, the holy cow in sage Vashista’s ashram, forced him into a mighty duel with the sage. Losing all his weapons, he swore to do severe tapas, become a Brahmarishi and attain the power to destroy Vashista. Vishwamithra took the challenge of sending Trishanku to heaven in his mortal body, something that Vashista and his sons had turned down. In fact, when Trishanku was hurtling down to earth after being denied entry into heaven, Vishwamithra stopped him in mid air and created an alternative heaven there itself for him. He was prepared to go to any length to attain the status of a Brahmarishi. The Aswini Devas advised him to overcome desire and anger in order to be successful. Sage Vishwamithra saved the life of Shunashefa when he was going to be sacrificed to Lord Varuna in place of Rohitha, Harishchandra’s son. As a result, Varuna invited him to swarga where he took Vashista’s challenge to prove that even Harishchandra could not be truthful all the time. While he lost to Harishchandra( but was happy nevertheless),his loss of face to Vashista perturbed him a lot and his desire to become a Brahmarishi became stronger. The string of defeats –at the hands of Vashista, Menaka, as well as in sending Trishanku to heaven or in desiring to own Shabale –only made him more resolute to bring his senses and mind under control. Devendra appeared before him and declared him to be a Maharshi. In order to become a Brahmarishi, he asked the sage to accept agnividya, which he did readily. Vishwamithra took over Vashista’s sorrow and saved him, one who had been his sworn enemy. He considered Vashista to be his guru. With the help of more concentration, more severe penance, he was able to control his breath. Evil thoughts left him and he attained Samadhi. Brahmadeva finally declared him a Brahmarishi. From then on, he became a model to the world. After a string of good deeds, he left for the Himalayas and sat in meditation at the end of which he attained the exalted position of being one of the Saptharishis. Vashista was very happy that God had revealed the Vedas and the Gayathri hymn to Viswamithra. In turn , Vishwamithra has become the guiding light to all righteous people by blessing them with the all powerful Gayathri manthra.

ವಿಶ್ವಾಮಿತ್ರ

ದೃಢವಾದ ಮನೋಬಲದಿಂದ ಅಸಾಧ್ಯವಾದುದನ್ನು ಸಾಧಿಸಬಹುದೆನ್ನುವುದಕ್ಕೆ ಉದಾಹರಣೆ ವಿಶ್ವಾಮಿತ್ರರು. ವಸಿಷ್ಠರ ಹೋಮಧೇನುವನ್ನು ವಶಪಡಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಿಸಿ ಪರಾಭವಗೊಂಡು ಘೋರ ತಪಸ್ಸನ್ನಾಚರಿಸಿ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮರ್ಷಿಗಳಾದರು. ಅನಂತರ ವಸಿಷ್ಠರಿಂದಲೇ ಮಹರ್ಷಿಗಳೆಂದು ಪ್ರಶಂಶಿಸಲ್ಪಟ್ಟ ವಿಶ್ವಾಮಿತ್ರರು ತ್ರಿಶಂಕುವನ್ನು ಸಶರೀರನಾಗಿ ಸ್ವರ್ಗಕ್ಕೆ ಕಳುಹಿಸಲು ಸಿದ್ಧರಾಗುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಸ್ವರ್ಗದಿಂದ ಕೆಳಗೆ ನೂಕಲ್ಪಟ್ಟ ತ್ರಿಶಂಕುಗಾಗಿ ತಮ್ಮ ತಪೋಬಲದಿಂದ ನೂತನ ಸ್ವರ್ಗವನ್ನೇ ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಲು ಸಿದ್ಧರಾಗುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಗಾಯತ್ರಿಮಂತ್ರದ ಪ್ರವರ್ತಕರಾದ ವಿಶ್ವಾಮಿತ್ರರ ಕಥೆಯನ್ನು ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಓದಲೇಬೇಕು.

DURVASA

Durvasa was actually Lord Sankara who was born as the third son to sage Atri and his wife Anasuya. He was known to grant boons and heap curses. When Rama was in conversation with Kalapurusha and had asked Lakshmana not to allow anyone in, Durvasa forced himself inside threatening to curse that Ayodhya and the entire clan would perish. Upon Bhagawan Rudra’s intervention, Durvasa agreed to be a ritwik at the yaga of emperor Swethaki. Princess Pritha( Kunti) served the sage with such great devotion and patience that he blessed her with a manthra.When she chanted the manthra with a particular God in mind, the God would grant her desire to her. Durvasa was held in high esteem by the devas and was an invitee at Lord Brahma’s court. Sage Mudgala was a precious gem who was put to a rigorous test by the sage so that his good qualities came out shining. Duryodhana got an opportunity to serve the sage , which he did excellently. He then sent him to the Pandavas hoping to put them in trouble. But, Lord Krishna came to the Pandavas’ rescue. Durvasa brought out the utter devotion of Ambareesha towards Lord Vishnu only after putting him through a very difficult test. Even Devendra was not spared from his anger. In fact, he lost all his wealth as a result of the sage’s curse. He had to pray hard to Goddess Lakshmi who restored to him all that he had lost. Sri Krishna had great respect for Durvasa. The Yamuna river made way for the Gopikas to cross so that they could have the sage’s darshan and an opportunity to serve him. As they had carried a lot of sweets and other food for Durvasa,the sage who lived on the juice of the ‘durve’ asked them to put only a little of whatever food they had brought to offer him.But, they were stunned to see that their vessels had become empty! Once, when Durvasa did tapas in Kashi, the Gods were not pleased and hence did not appear before him. He got so angry that the fire of his anger reached the sky forcing all the Gods to come down in huge numbers. Finally, it was Lord Sankara who convinced the sage not to curse the holy place (Kashi) as many people found their salvation there. Durvasa dealt with people rather harshly. Ironically, however, it was through his curses that people’s virtues came to the fore. So, directly or indirectly, he was responsible for unearthing many a great personality and presenting them to the world.

ದುರ್ವಾಸ

ಅತ್ರಿ-ಅನಸೂಯಾ ದೇವಿಯರಿಗೆ ಶಿವನ ವರದಿಂದ ಜನಿಸಿದವರು ದುರ್ವಾಸರು. ಮುಂಗೋಪಿ ಎಂದು ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧರು. ಕುಂತಿಯ ಶುಶ್ರೂಷೆಯಿಂದ ತೃಪ್ತರಾಗಿ ವರಗಳನ್ನು ಅನುಗ್ರಹಿಸಿದವರು. ದುರ್ಯೋಧನನಿಂದ ಪ್ರೇರಿತರಾಗಿ ವನವಾಸದಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಪಾಂಡವರ ಆಶ್ರಮಕ್ಕೆ ಹತ್ತುಸಾವಿರ ಶಿಷ್ಯರೊಡನೆ ದ್ರೌಪದಿಯ ಭೋಜನಾನಂತರ ಹೋಗುತ್ತಾರೆ. ದ್ರೌಪದಿಯ ಭೋಜನವಾದ ನಂತರ ಸೂರ್ಯದೇವನು ಅನುಗ್ರಹಿಸಿದ ಅಕ್ಷಯ ಪಾತ್ರೆಯು ಆ ದಿನ ಏನನ್ನೂ ಕೊಡುತ್ತಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಆದರೆ ದ್ರೌಪದಿಯು ಕೃಷ್ಣನನ್ನು ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥಿಸಲು ಅವನು ಪಾಂಡವರನ್ನು ದುರ್ವಾಸರ ಕ್ರೋಧಾಗ್ನಿಯಿಂದ ರಕ್ಷಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಒಮ್ಮೆ ದುರ್ವಾಸರು ಕಾಶೀ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರವನ್ನೇ ಶಪಿಸಲು ಉದ್ಯುಕ್ತರಾಗುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಆದರೆ ಭಗವಾನ್ ಶಂಕರನಿಂದ ಸಮಾಧಾನಗೊಳಿಸಲ್ಪಡುವ ಪ್ರಸಂಗವನ್ನು ಈ ಪುಸ್ತಕವನ್ನು ಓದುವುದರಿಂದಲೇ ಅರಿಯಬಹುದಾಗಿದೆ.

MARKANDEYA

In ancient Bharatha, 64 arts were taught in the gurukulas, history being one of them. In these pages of history, we come across the enthralling account of the lives of great Maharshis, Sage Markandeya being one of them. He also figures among the Puranapurushas. He was born in the Bhrigu clan and was also called Bhargava, Bhrigunandana, and so on. He was an intellectual giant from birth and mastered the Vedas and Shastras. He also developed all the great qualities expected of a good human being and turned out to be a paragon of virtues. Unfotunately, he was destined by Lord Brahma to live a short but meaningful life. However, the saptharishis blessed him with a long life which was not in accordance with the creator’s blessings. So when the day of his doom actually arrived, Markandeya chanted the Mrithyunjaya Manthra, prayed hard to Lord Sankara and chanted ‘Aum’ with a pure heart. Lord Yama himself came to take him when Lord Sankara came out of the Sivalinga which young Markandeya held in an embrace. Yama had to beat a hasty retreat after being told by Sankara that the young boy had conquered death by severe tapas. Needless to say that the young boy’s worried parents were supremely happy at the turn of events. Markandeya was such a great tapasvi that Indra felt threatened. So, when he sent Kamadeva, Vasantha and a few apsaras to distract him, they failed. At the end of his tapas, Lord Nara-Narayana himself appeared before him and blessed him to experience the Vaishnavi maya. Markandeya was ensnared by the tentacles of Lord Mahavishnu’s maya and he spent thousands of years struggling in the sea of deluge. This is when he had a strange experience, that of the Lord’s Vaishnavi Maya – he was sucked into a child’s body where he saw the entire creation of the Lord and then was thrown out by the force of the child’s breathing. Lord Siva felt that people like the sage had the capacity to make others pure by their very darshan. After this , Markandeya wrote a famous epic which came to be known as Markandeya Purana. He got initiated to Shiva Sahasranama and composed Skandanama Sankeerthana and Sri Krishnamahima. Sage Markandeya remained by the side of the Pandavas whenever they were in trouble and infused confidence into them. He was present when Bhisma cast away his mortal body. He believed that only one force was true and real on earth and that was Sri Krishna. He believed that clean words, clean work and clean water ( source of life) can raise man from being mundane to divinity. In short, sage Markandeya was a beacon for all ages, a true friend, and a model personality.

ಮಾರ್ಕಂಡೇಯ

ಮಾರ್ಕಂಡೇಯರು ಮೃಕಂಡು ಮಹರ್ಷಿಯ ಪುತ್ರರು. ಅಲ್ಪಾಯುವಾಗಿ ಜನಿಸಿದ್ದ ಅವರು ಪರಮೇಶ್ವರನ ಅನುಗ್ರಹದಿಂದ ಮೃತ್ಯುಂಜಯ ಮಹಾಮಂತ್ರದ ಜಪದಿಂದ ಪ್ರಾಣಗಳನ್ನು ಸೆಳೆದೊಯ್ಯಲು ಬಂದಿದ್ದ ಯಮನ ಪಾಶಗಳಿಂದ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆ ಹೊಂದಿ ಚಿರಂಜೀವಿಗಳಾದರು. ಮಹಾಪ್ರಳಯಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಬಾಲಮುಕುಂದನ ಉದರದಲ್ಲಿ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಾಂಡವನ್ನೇ ನೋಡಿದ ಅವರು ಅಚ್ಚರಿಯಿಂದ ಬೆಕ್ಕಸಬೆರಗಾಗುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಅವರು ಯೋಗವಿದ್ಯೆಯಿಂದ ಪ್ರಾಣವಾಯುವನ್ನು ವಶಪಡಿಸಿಕೊಂಡವರು. ಪಾಂಡವರು ವನವಾಸದಲ್ಲಿದ್ದಾಗ ಮಾರ್ಕಂಡೇಯರು ಆಗಮಿಸಿ ಧರ್ಮರಾಯನ ಅನೇಕ ಜಟಿಲ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಸಮಾಧಾನವನ್ನು ಹೇಳುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಮಹಾಭಾರತದಲ್ಲಿ ಇದು ಮಾರ್ಕಂಡೇಯ ಸಮಾಸ್ಯಾಪರ್ವವೆಂದೇ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧವಾಗಿದೆ. ಇಂತಹ ಮಹನೀಯರ ಚರಿತ್ರೆಯು ಈ ಪುಟ್ಟ ಪುಸ್ತಕದಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಶದವಾಗಿ ವರ್ಣಿತವಾಗಿದೆ.