Jai Sriman Narayana !!
The great epic Mahabharath was composed by Maharishi Veda
Vyasa/Krishna Dwaipayana, son of Sage Parasara and Sathyavati, a woman from
fishermen clan. Mahabharath describes
the legend of Bharatha Dynasty. It
was written in 18 Parva such as Adhi Parva, Sabha Parva, Vana Parva, Virada
Parva, Udhyoga Parva, Bhishma Parva, Drona Parva, Karna Parva, Shalya Parva,
Soupthika Parva, Stri Parva, Shanthi Parva, Anushasana Parva, Ashwamedha Parva,
Ashramavasika Parva, Musala Parva, Mahaprasthanika Parva and Swargarohana Parva
and each Parva has divided into many Upaparva and has chapters in detail. Adhi Parva depicts the life of King
Dushyantha and his wife Shakunthala and their son Sarvadhamanan, who was
famously known as Bharatha, a righteous ruler of Bharatha Empior.
Lord Brahma created deities, Sages and Prajapathis. It was the beginning of the growth of human
race from the sixty daughters of Daksha Prajapathi. Pururavass,
Yayathi, Puru, Dushyantha, Bharatha, Shanthanu were born in the family
of Dithi, one of the daughters of Daksha Prajapathi.
Vanaprasthashram of Pandu !!
Rishi Vaishampayana
narrates the pathetic state of King Panu inflicted with the curse of Sage
Kindhma. King Pandu returned to the
palace and sorrowfully explained the tragic incidents happened in the woodlands. Pandu gravely described the happenings in the
forest to Kunthi & Madhri and the enlightened members of the assembly of
Kingdom of Hasthinapur, he felt ashamed of his dishonorable act and cried his
heart out upon the ill fate of Hasthinapur without a successor to rule. He mournfully thought of his father
Vichithraveerya who was born to the righteous King Shanthanu, but King
Vichithraveerya utterly failed to keep up the ethics of an ideal King, he was obsessed
with the physical relationship, he was not an ideal husband for Ambika and
Ambalika and remained unsuccessful in providing a progeny, a legal heir to the
throne of Hasthinapur. King Pandu
lamented over his callousness, though he was born to the blameless Sage Maharishi
Veda Vyasa/Krishna Dwaipayana and Ambalika.
King Pandu was extremely disappointed on his appalling fate, decided to
seek the path of salvation, he was well aware of the fact that the worldly
desires and offspring’s are the major hindrances for penance, accept Sanyasa. He firmly trusted on his will power and
decided to undergo severe austerities and remain ascetic in all his life. King Pandu decided to leave his dearest
wives, relatives and the people of Kingdom of Hasthinapur forever and move to woodland
to lead a life of an ascetic. King Pandu
promised to reject all kinds’ emotions like affection and hatred, live a life
of austere without paying attention to basic requirements, live under the shade
of tree or in any deserted homes. He was
determined to lead a plain life, with no desires, no interest to add fame,
wanted to lead a contended and happy life, kind to all animals and never hurt
anyone and treat every creatures in the world as his offspring. He decided to leave comforts of the palace
and ego, approach people and beg for food; whatever food collected would be
utilized as the meal of the day, if there was none available, he prepared to
remain without it. He decided to consider
enemies and friends with no difference, never think of evil to anyone, will not
be sacred of death, will wash of the sins committed and be righteous, perform
duties and responsibilities without its fruitful outcome, live a life of wind
free from attachments, will not be anxious about the respect or disrespect.
Rishi Vaishampayana
continued, King Pandu was unhappy to see Kunthi & Madhri in a state of desolation,
he shed tears with them. Shortly the
news of acceptance of Vanaprasthashrama of King Pandu was informed to Ambalika
mother of Pandu, Vidur, friend and dearest elder brother Drutharashtra, highly
revered Sathyavati and Bhishma Pithamaha, Kripacharya Acharya of Kurus ,
Brahmin intellectuals & Vedic Scholars and the peoples of Hasthinapur. Kunthi
and Madhri approached Pandu and revealed their promise to follow him as his chaste
wives, assisting him in living a life of an ascetic, took a vow to control
their emotions and desires, leaving the comforts and luxuries of palace,
undergo severe austerities with their husband to obtain the devoutness. They sorrowfully stated that if Pandu was not
willing to take them to woodland, they will sacrifice their life right
away. Pandu narrated to his dearest
wives about his responsibilities
involved in the living life of an ascetic; he will
be living in the dense forests, undergo
severe penance and perform fire sacrifices to please the deities, wearing the attire made of leaves, consuming
fruits and vegetables to wave off hunger and the food consumed will be minimal
to stay alive and habituated with the extreme heat and cold conditions, ignore the
thirst and hunger, live in solitude and absorb in meditation, he will satisfy Pitrus and deities by
performing daily rituals and live in extreme isolation. Further, Pandu took a vow to accept all the duties and
responsibilities involved in Vanaprasthashrama.
As an initiation of
Vanaprathashrama, King Pandu removed his glorious crown, precious jewels,
earrings and magnificent royal attires and offered them to Brahmins. Kunthi and Madhri dutifully followed their
husband. Pandu advised the servants to
inform everyone about his Vanaprasthashrama with his wives and their decision
to discard all the glories, comforts, and fame.
The people of Hasthinapur were distraught at the decision of their
beloved King Pandu.
Drutharashtra cried his heart out
for his beloved brother after listening to the dismal fate of Pandu. He too decided to discard the comforts of
royal life and practiced austerities for quite some time. In the meantime,
Pandu and his wives proceeded through the woodlands
of Pramankodi, Narakashadham and Chitraradham, Chathurshrungi and
Kalakoodam. Pandu underwent severe austerities,
performed Yagnas and Yagas and he was always surrounded by Sages and holy men
throughout his journey.
No comments:
Post a Comment