THE EPIC THROUGH MY EYES

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RURU

I hope you all remember that in the previous blog ---Puloma- the beautiful—I told about how the Bharagavas came into being.This is a continuation of the episode. Chavana, Bhrigu’s son married Sukanya. Pramati was born to them. He in turn fathered Ruru and the boy grew up to be a famous hermit. Rishi Sthulakesa was a contemporary sage who not only possessed great ascetic powers but also was well known for his humanitarian approach to life. Now, there was another king- the king of the Gandharvas- Viswavasu,who had an affair with Maneka, the ravishing Apsara of those times. In due time Maneka gave birth to a beautiful girl child and abandoned her near the hermitage of Rishi Sthulakesa. The rishi took pity upon the hapless being,brought her home and reared her with great love and care. The girl was named Pramadvara. She grew up to be an exceedingly beautiful and virtuous woman. A chance encounter at the hermitage of Sthulakesa brought Ruru and Pramadvara together. Ruru was just bo

AGNI

Agni groaned in misery. He said,’’I was asked and I abided by the truth. I never wanted to besmirch your wife's reputation. I never solicited on my own to venture into unpleasant territory. I can also curse you Bhrigu,but you are a Brahmin. And you know very well that I hold Brahmanas in high esteem. I am ubiquitous. I exist there where the holy rites are performed. The sacrifices that are made on my fire appease the Devas and Pitris.They have an equal right to the sacrifices made for me. I am their mouth,how can I defile my mouth with dirt and filth?’’ Agni reflected for a while and withdrew from all places. Things were not the same in his absence. The world ran amok without him.He was absent from the daily yajnas of the Brahmins,from all the holy and sacred places. The rishis became worried at the turn of events.They accompanied the Devas as the group approached Brahma looking for a solution to their problem.They said,’’ Dear Father, our world has come to

PULOMA--THE BEAUTIFUL

A QUICK RECAP---Sauti,the son of Lomaharsana was narrating stories from the Mahabharata in the august company of the learned sages of those times. After finishing with the story of Utanka,he again asked Maharshi Saunaka and the others,’’What now sir?What do you wish to hear now?’’To this the Maharsi replied,’’Recount the history of the clan of Bhrigu, and we will attentively listen to you.’’ {Here I would like to add that the race of Bhrigu, or the descendants of Maharshi Bhrigu are the modern Bhargava Brahmins who reside mostly in North India} Thus Sauti began his story. When Brahma was conducting a yajna for Varuna, Bhrigu emerged from the sacred fire. He was thought to be one of the manasputras of Brahma. In due time the son of Brahma grew up and was married to Puloma renowned for her extraordinary beauty. Bhrigu loved his wife dearly. Puloma was also madly in love with her husband. One morning, when Puloma was heavy with child, Bhrigu went out to a nearby river to

UTANKA AND THE TAKSHAKA-2

Utanka decided to avenge the vile act of the Takshaka. He reached Hastinapur and met King Janmejaya .The king had just returned victorious from Takshasila . Celebration was in the air. Utanka seized the opportunity. He said,’’You are the mightiest of all the monarchs that have ever lived. How come you are spending your time in mere merry and mirth when such a grave issue is looming large on your head?’’. He acknowledged,’’Yes, I was carried away,please tell me revered Brahmana, what is the call of the day?’’Utanka replied,’’ Go and avenge the death of your benevolent father, King Parikshita who was bitten without any reason by the vile serpent –Takshaka. The wicked fellow also drove away the physician,Kasyapa,who was coming to help your father.’’ Utanka went on,’’Conduct the snake –sacrifice yajna and let the wretch burn in blazing fire. Your father’s death would be avenged this way and I would be pleased too as the Takshaka had given be enough trouble.’’ The king was overcome wit

UTANKA AND THE TAKSHAKA--1

As he was walking back, Utanka came across a nude beggar.The beggar too walked along,but to his utter dismay Utanka found that the beggar vanished suddenly from his view.He reappeared after a moment. Utanka spotted a lake by the side of the road, and decided to have a bath. He kept those pair of ear-rings on the ground and went for the water.The beggar appeared suddenly and ran away with the pair .Utanka chased him and overpowered the thief soon. The beggar soon metamorphosed into Takshaka or the serpent and entered into a large hole that appeared out of the blue in the earth. He proceeded to his own abode, the region of the serpents. Utanka tried to dig in the hole to get hold of the serpent. But he was unable to make much progress. Indra took pity on him and sent Vajra-thunderbolt to his assistance. Thunderbolt struck and the hole was enlarged.Utanka entered through the hole and reached the land of the serpents or the Nagaloka underneath the surface of the earth. Oh! What a

UTANKA

Veda returned to his own abode and ashrama.He also had three disciples.He had seen hard days as a disciple,so he chose to be a lenient taskmaster .One morning as he was about to depart from his home on some business,he called upon Utanka,one of his disciples,to take charge of his household.He said,’’whatever needs to be done in this house in my absence, you should do it without neglect.’’Then he embarked on his journey. Utanka religiously followed his master’s orders. One day the females of the guru’s hermitage gathered around him and said,’’Our mistress is in her most fertile period of the month.The preceptor is absent,now you stand in his place to do whatever is needed.’’Utanka answered,’’I can’t act so thoughtlessly at the mere provocation of some women. My preceptor hasn’t taught me to be immoral.’’ Veda returned from his journey after some time.He was extremely pleased when he came to know that Utanka had passed the test of morality .He called Utanka and said,’’What fav