Archive for the ‘Story time’ Category
Syamanthakhopaakhyanam
Posted on: September 13, 2010
The story of the Syamanthaka Jewel / സ്യമന്തകമണി
There was a king Satrajit. He was a great devotee of Sun-God. Pleased with his prayers Sun God presented to him a divine jewel called Syamanthaka. The Syamanthaka jewel was so powerful that it was daily producing a large quantity of gold. Besides that, it is mentioned in Vedic literature that in whatever part of the world this jewel is worshiped there is no possibility of famine or of anything inauspicious.
When this jewel was worn by Satrajit in a locket around his neck, he appeared like Sun-God. Putting on this jewel, he would enter the city of Dwaraka, and people would think that the Sun-God had come into the city to see Krishna. Krishna knew that Satrajit had come to Dwaraka to show his opulence in the form of the valuable jewel obtained from the Sun-God.
Krishna asked Satrajit to present the Syamanthaka jewel to King Ugrasena (Grandfather of Krishna), who was the ruling chief. But Satrajit, had become too materialistic and, instead of accepting the request of Krishna, thought it wiser to worship the jewel in order to get the 170 pounds of gold every day.
One day, Satrajit’s younger brother Prasena, took the jewel, put it on his neck and rode on horseback into the forest. In the forest, a big lion attacked him, killing both him and the horse on which he was riding, and took away the jewel to his cave. The news was received by the gorilla king, Jambavan, who then killed that lion in the cave and took away the jewel. Jambavan gave it to his young son to play with as a toy.
In the city, when Prasena did not return from the forest with the jewel, Satrajit became very upset. He did not know that his brother had been killed by a lion and that the lion had been killed by Jambavan. He thought instead that because Krishna wanted that jewel and it had not been delivered to Him, Krishna might have therefore taken the jewel away from Prasena by force and killed him. This grew into a rumor which was being spread by Satrajit in every part of Dwaraka.
The false rumor that Krishna had killed Prasena and had taken away the jewel was spread everywhere like wildfire. Krishna did not like to be defamed in that way, and therefore He decided that He would go to the forest and find the Syamanthaka jewel. Along with important men of Dwaraka, Krishna went to search out Prasena and He found him dead, killed by the lion. At the same time, Krishna also found the lion which had been killed by Jambavan. He then found in the forest a great tunnel, said to be the path to Jamabavan’s house. Krishna knew that the inhabitants of Dwaraka would be afraid to enter the tunnel; therefore He asked them to remain outside, and He Himself entered the dark tunnel alone to find Jambavan. After entering the tunnel, Krishna saw that the very valuable jewel known as Syamanthaka had been given to the son of Jambavan as a toy, and in order to take the jewel from the child, He went there and stood before him. When the nurse who was taking care of Jambavan’s child saw Krishna standing before her, she was afraid, thinking the valuable Syamanthaka jewel might be taken away by Him. She began to cry loudly out of fear.
Hearing the nurse crying, Jambavan appeared on the scene in a very angry mood. Jambavan was actually a great devotee of Lord Krishna, but because he was in an angry mood he could not recognize Krishna; he thought Him to be an ordinary man. Krisnha engaged Jambavan in a duel.
After some time Jambavan learnt that he was fighting with Lord Krishna for whom he had great respect, and reverence. He at once apologised for his unseemly behaviour. Krishna informed Jambavan that He had come to him to ask for the Syamanthaka jewel because since the Syamanthaka jewel had been stolen His name had been defamed. Jambavan understood the whole situation, and to satisfy the Lord he not only immediately delivered the Syamanthaka jewel, but he also brought his daughter Jambavati, and sought Krishna’s consent for marrying his daughter. Krishna happily accepted teh jewel and Jambavathi as his wife.
Although the fighting between Krishna and Jambavan went on for twenty-eight days, the inhabitants of Dwaraka waited outside the tunnel only for twelve days, and after that they decided that something undesirable must have happened and they had returned home.
All the members of the family, friends, relatives and residents of the palace, became very sorry when the citizens returned home without Krishna. Because of their natural affection for Krishna, they began to call Satrajit ill names, for he was the cause of Krishna’s disappearance.
But when they saw that Krishna had actually returned, not alone but with a new wife, Jambavati, they immediately performed another celebration ceremony.
King Ugrasena then called for a meeting of all important kings and chiefs. He also invited Satrajit, and Krishna explained before the whole assembly the incident of the recovery of the jewel from Jambavan. Satrajit was aware that he had offended Krishna and he sincerely wanted to rectify it.
Satrajit decided to hand over to Krishna both the jewel and his beautiful daughter, Satyabhama.
Lord Krishna, being pleased upon Satrajit, informed him that He did not have any need of the Syamanthaka jewel. Because of the jewel’s presence in the city of Dvaraka, there will be no more famine or disturbances created by pestilence or excessive heat and cold.
References:
Read in English : Cantos 10- chapter 56 of Srimad Bhagavatham
Read in malayalam (pdf) : “സ്യമന്തകമണി “
Stories around Ravana
Posted on: September 8, 2010
Location: Religion/ Story time / Stories around Ravana
I had planned to post this soemtime around karkadaka masam, but then was really busy.
Many of us know the main story of Ramayana revolving around Lord Rama, Sita and Ravana. Lord Rama being banished from his kingdom. His wife Sita, and brother Lakshman, accompanying him. The Devil Ravana abducts Sita. Lord Rama, Laksman and Hanuman defeat Ravana and wins back Sita.
Well I would like to share some interesting stories revolving around Ravana that not all of us know. a few stories were shared by my friends and some I have read.
Stories of Ravana
Introduction
In a previous birth Ravana and his brother Kumbhkarna were Lord Vishnu‘s doorkeepers, Jay and Vijay. They had to come to Earth because of a curse.
The great sages, Four Kumaras, who were born from Lord Brahma’s mind, wandered the universe in the forms of small children, despite being very senior in age.
One day they went to Vaikunth(abode of Lord Vishnu), to meet Lord Vishnu. They were stopped by Jay and Vijay. Jay and Vijay thought the Kumar brothers to be children and made fun of them.
Kumar brothers got angry and cursed Jay and Vijay, that they two would be born on planet Earth.
Lord Vishnu was in consent to the curse. When Jay and Vijay pleaded that they could not live being separated from their Lord, then Lord Vishnu gave them two choices, that they could be born about 10 times as normal mortal people and followers of Vishnu, or three times as powerful and strong people, but as enemies of Vishnu, and the Lord himself would kill them. They didn’t want to be parted from their Lord for long so they chose the latter one. Also if Lord Vishnu personally kills somebody then that person is considered very fortunate.
The second birth of Jay and Vijay was as Ravana and Kumbhkarna. Lord Vishnu took human incarnation as Ram and killed Ravana and Kumbhkarna.
Birth Of Ravana
The three demon brothers Malyavan, Mali and Sumali made a tapsya to Lord Brahma . They became very powerful and started terrorizing the Gods. With these powers they asked Vishvakarma to make a city for them. Thus they got Lanka were they lived in luxury. But they fled Lanka after losing a war with the Gods. Also Mali was killed by Lord Vishnu.
Sumali was looking for a suitable groom for his daughter Kaikasi. One day he saw Kuber (lord of wealth ) flying in his Pushpak Viman(aircraft). Kuber was sage Vishrava‘s son and was ruling over Lanka now. Sumali realised an offspring of Vishrava would be very powerful so he asked Kaikasi to go to Vishrava and marry him.
Kaikasi went to Vishrava and they got married. In due course of time, Vishrava and Kaikasi gave birth to three sons and one daughter. The sons were Ravana, Kumbhkarna and Vibhishan and the daughter was Surpnakha.
Under Vishrava’s tutelage, Ravana mastered the Vedas, and also the arts and ways of Kshatriyas (warriors).
Ravana’s early days
Ravana along with his brothers performed an intense penance to Lord Brahma, lasting several years. During his penance, Ravana chopped off his head 10 times as a sacrifice to appease Brahma. At last, Brahma pleased with his austerity, appeared and offered him a boon.
Ravana asked for absolute invulnerability and supremacy over gods, heavenly spirits, other rakshas, serpents, and wild beasts. Ravana did not ask for protection from humans. Brahma granted him these boons in addition to his 10 severed heads and great strength by way of knowledge of divine weapons and magic.
Brahma asked Vibhishan to seek a boon. Vibhishan said, “Even in great danger, may I never swerve from the path of righteousness. May I be illumined with the light of divine knowledge.”
Brahma granted Vibhishan this boon and said, “Your mind is never inclined towards doing any bad deeds. Therefore, I grant you immortality.”
Next it was Kumbhkarn’s turn to ask for a boon. Lord Indra knew that he would ask for his throne and sought Goddess Saraswati’s help. So instead of asking for Indraasan (throne of Indra) Kumbhakarn uttered Nindraasan (bed for sleep) as Saraswati tied his tongue firmly. Brahma granted his request. Ravana realized that the boon was a curse in reality and so he asked Brahma to undo his boon. In another version of the story Kumbhakarna did another austerity to ask Brahma to take his boon back and make him alert always. Thus Brahma decided that Kumbhakarna would sleep for six months at a stretch and remain awake for another six consecutive months.
After winning these boons, Ravana sought out his grandfather, Sumali, and assumed leadership over his army. He then set his sights on capturing the island city of Lanka. Vishrava, their father, advised Kubera to give it up to him, as Ravana was now undefeatable.
Following his conquest of Lanka, Ravana encountered Lord Shiva at his abode in Kailash. Ravana realised his mistake and composed and sang songs praising Shiva(Shiva Tandava Stotra), and is said to have done so for years until Shiva released Ravana from his bondage.
Pleased with his devotion, Shiva gave to him the divine sword Chandrahas (“Moon-blade”). Lord Shiva had given his sword Chandrahasa with a condition that if it was used for unjust causes, it would return to the Lord himself and Ravana’s days would be numbered. Ravana uses the sword to kill Jatayu when kidnapping Sita.
Ravana became supreme overlord of all asuras in the three world, he also gained command over the gods, celestials, and the serpent races. Ravana was dominating all human and divine races – so much so that he can command the Sun’s rising and setting.
Ravana was married to Mandodari.
Twist in the story
Ravana and Mandodari’s first born was a girl that was Sita, but due to the astrological prediction that the first born would be the reason for his destruction he abandoned the baby. It was found later by king Janak who brought her up as his daughter.
Ravana had not actually taken the real Sita but Vedavati who looked like Sita.
Story of Vedavati
Vedavati was the daughter of learned and piuos sage Kushadwaja. She was an ardent devotee of LordVishnu, and resolves early in life to wed no one other than Vishnu. After her parents passed away, Vedavati continued to reside at the hermitage of her parents, meditating upon Vishnu. Ravana, the ruler of Lanka, once found Vedavati seated in meditation and was captivated by her beauty. He propositioned her and was rejected. Ravana mocked her austerities and her devotion to Vishnu; he finally molested Vedavati.
She vowed to return in another age and be the cause of Ravana’s destruction. She then immolated herself on a pyre.
She was duly reborn as Sita and became the cause of Ravana’s destruction. In the process, Vedavati also received the boon she so single-mindedly sought Vishnu, in his avatara as Rama, became her husband.
High Spirited Sree's blog 