INTRODUCTION:
From the readings and sapthahams and Navahams I attended in Mumbai, I could gather some knowledge which I would like to share with my readers who have always evinced and expressed great interest and inquisitiveness to acquire the knowledge potential. I too strongly believe that the knowledge we gather from books and discourses and even discussions with knowledgeable souls should be shared with others from time to time. Otherwise, it remains futile like the wealth with a miser which is of no use. I am sure these stories and articles which contain good morals will be more helpful particularly, to the younger generation to instil in them a passion for learning our cultural heritage!
Here in these series of articles and stories, I wish to start with some striking stories which I recollect from Bhagavathametc and I wish to begin with: CHITHRAKETHU CHARITHAM
CHITHRAKETU AND HIS WISDOM ON ATMA
CHITHRAKETHU is a very important character in this episode which reveals certain realities transcendental to the basic concepts about JEEVATHMA! Many times, what we assume may be far from reality, like an aeroplane which looks like a tiny spot while flying aloft, but looks so gigantic while at rest in the aerodrome. Now, let us peep in to his story and see what happened to Chithrakethu whose experience unfolds into a great awakening to him and all.
Chitrakethu, the son of king drupada, a Panchala king was a very popular and accepted king of his empire. He had thousand wives who were all married one by one as none could give one heir to him. So, he sought the blessings of ANGIRAS RISHI, who first admonished him that he didn’t have the fortune for a son due to certain adverse effects in his planetary position and hence better to avoid. But he somehow prevailed upon him and according to his advice, did some PUTHRA LABHA YAGA and got some porridge-Payasam-which he, according to the Rishi’s advice gave the first wife. Before long, after consuming the Payasam, she conceived and gave birth to a cute cherubic prince and he became so hilarious that he celebrated it so pompously. He loved the son like the pupil of the ye and paid constant attention at all times, particularly because the child was born after waiting for a long time and that too with the generous blessings of his Kulaguru ANGIRAS RISHI. His happiness had no bounds!
But happiness is, sometimes, short lived and what misfortune is going to befall is beyond human comprehension. The other wives of Chithrakethu became so jealous of the first wife and the child that one day they very cunningly conspired and stealthily poisoned the child to death. This incident was like a bolt from the blue which put Chithrakethu to unbearable misery. Chithrakethu and his wife sobbed with uncontrollable agony.
At that time, Angiras Rishi came there with NARADA RISHI. He told Chithraketu he had foreseen that the child wouldn’t live long and that’s why he had advised against going for a child to avoid irreparable loss and undue unhappiness all through the rest of his life. Nevertheless, he couldn’t console the couple who continued to wail at the sight of the lifeless body of the child. Then they gave them the gist of many philosophical advices, still they sobbed in melancholy.
At that point of time, Angiras Rishi went close to the dead body of the child and when he called him by his name, the boy opened his eyes and then Angiras Rishi asked him” Lad! Where did you go, discarding this body? From where did you come now? Don’t you see your parents are in great agony. Get up and console them”!
The boy then asked the Rishi from his bed,” whose son am i? Which parents are you referring to console? Every birth there are parents and as such I had innumerable births and several parents.
So, I don’t know, whose son I am! As the wheel of time moves forward, itoo follow the birth and rebirth cycle”
The body then went back to the lifeless state his eyes remained closed and absolute silence prevailed.
At this stage, wise sense dawned to his mind and he realized the implications of the boy’s revelation of certain fundamental and mystical facts about life, death and rebirth over various generations. He made arrangements for the obsequies, according to customary and ritualistic practices.
It is stated that Angiras Rishi advised him UPASANA MANTHRAM which elevated him to the status of a JNANI -a man of omniscience or prescience or wisdom instantly and acquired the name VIDYASAGAR thereafter!
He completely wiped away all his agonies and sorrows from his mind and the sense of having lost his sole child in a very philosophical way.
Thereafter he observed austere penance and attained wisdom within seven days and continued to chant the hymns of MAHA VISHNU and toured all over the world with a galaxy of learned women and spent the days and nights very hilariously.
One day while travelling by air over MOUNT KAILASA, together with the learned women, he happened to see Lord Shiva sitting with His consort Parvathy in his lap and fondling Her in front of the Rishis who had assembled there. He showed this peculiar sight to the women and commented adversely against Lord Shiva which Parvathy heard by chance and couldn’t tolerate. She instantly cursed him that he would be reborn as an ASURA which Chithrakethu took without grumbling.
As a result of the curse, Chithrakethu was reborn as VRUTHRASURA who emerged from the YAGA FIRE and though he was killed by DEVENDRA with a VAJRAYUDHA he could attain moksha by merging with His lotus feet as Chithrakethu was a perfect devotee and had attained complete accomplishment of life through his devotion and dedication to MAHA VISHNU!
Devendra earned the blame of Brahmahathya and had to do expiation to redeem himself from the sin committed! Vruthrasura, as a Vishnu devotee, could attain salvation!
Moral: There is no death for ATMA that comes and goes through generations. It takes several births without any attachment to the body. It comes assuming the body of any being and leaves without any formal information to the bearer. Then we say the person or creature is dead. ATMA has no name and whatever name we give is to the body. It takes the form of male or female and doesn’t keep track with any previous birth, father or mother. It comes as father or mother or son or daughter for any over the generations. Vedas say that ATMA is of the size of a hair split hundred times and again split hundred times. So minute or minuscule in size!
It’s for this reason that the ATMA of the boy when summoned by ANGIRAS RISHI, asked which father he was referring to as the ATMA had taken several births over generations and it doesn’t keep any track with the father or mother as it comes and goes playing different roles! This revelation and realisation opened his eyes and gave him great awakening or wisdom!Knowledge about the ATMA is called ATMA JNANA.
Nothing is eternal in this world and everything is ephemeral or transitory and life is short and certainly uncertain and ambiguous! So let us live a worthy life!
