Rishi Padhanjali

Ohm Sivaya Namaha!!! Ohm Sri Sairam!!!

Sri Adhiseshan, the holy seat and Bed of Sriman Narayana once desired to see the
Divine Dance of God Siva. To fulfill his desire he born as child to Athiri Mharishi. when he born the lower part of his body was like that of a snake and because he was son of Athiri Maharishi, he was called Athireya. He was also called as Padhanjali. He reached Chidambaram where Sri Siva perform his pleasant holy Dance, and did penance to have a dharshan of Sri. Nataraja’s Holy Dance. After years of vigorous and sincere penance, Lord Nataraja appeared before him and allowed him to see his Holy Dance, and ordered him to write Yogasutra and Athreya Samhida known as Ayurveda to keep up better health for human beings. During the days of Padhanjali there was confusion about using the language with correct and proper words. Sri Nataraja also ordered Rishi Padhanjali to develop Vyakarana Bhashyam and teach everyone who wants to learn the same.

As news spread that Rishi Padhanjali had written Vyakarna Mahabashyam many disciples came and met Rishi Padhanjali with an intension to learn the Mahabashyam. When counted he found one thousand disciples have come to learn the Bhashyam from him. Pathanjali thought for a moment as to how to teach all the thousand students as it would take so many days to do so and decided to take the form of Adhisesha who has thousand heads and teach all the students simultaneously with his thousand tongues. But except Sriman Narayana no one else can see him direct at his face because his eyes are so powerful, would give out light of a crore Suns. His mouths would spit venomous fire which will burn anybody standing in front of him. .To avoid that he (Kodi Surya prakasam) decided to hang a screen between himself and his disciples and warned the students that they should not try to see him while teaching the Mahabashyam and if they try to do so they would meet their fate and become ash instantly. He also warned that in between the teaching anybody leaving the class without his knowledge and permission would become a Brahmarakshas. Our legend says a Brahma rakshas is cursed Brahmin brahmachari(bachelor) who would eat only well studierd brhmin brahmachari.

But no one can expect all are same. One fellow left the room without the knowledge and permission of the Guru to answer nature’s call. And one curious and foolish disciple, wanted to see how the Rishi teaching, stealthily lifted the screen and saw the Maharishi, and the next moment all the students present in the class were burnt and became heaps of ashes as already warned by Pathanjali, except the one who left without the permission of Rishi Padhanjali. The only escaped disciple was coming back after answering nature’s call thinking nothing wrong in the class room. On seeing him Pathanjali who, was very sad at the loss and sudden death of nine hundred and ninety nine disciples in a single stroke felt little happy also, because he could teach at least this single student. He taught this student the Vyakarna Bashyam. But because of his earlier waning this student, Gouda Padhar, after learning became a Brahma Rakshas and flew away. This Brahma rakshas was hanging on a banyan tree and waiting for a studied Brahmin Pandit with an intension to select a qualified bachelor Brahmin to teach him the Vyakarna Bhashyam as ordered by his Guru Padhanjali. Whenever a well studied Brahmin Bachelor passed that way the Brahma Rakshas (Gouda Padhar) would ask a question. If that brhmin gives a wrong answer, the brahma rakshas will swallow him alive. Days were passing but no one
could answer him correctly. Guru Padhanjali understood what was going on through his yoga sadhana: wanted to help his disciple, now brahma rakshas because unless until he complete the job of spreading the Vyakarna Bhashyam in this world he would not be relieved from his curse and get back his original human form.

The Curse of Indhra, king of Devalogam

Ohm Namasivaya!!! Ohm Sri Sairam!!!

Once Indra, the king of Devas and Indrani, his wife were enjoying some dance and music in his palace in the presence of Devas and other dignitaries. At that moment Devas’ Guru Sri Pragaspathi came to that Saba. Though Indra saw him coming to his place he did not bother to welcome him and pay his respects due to him. The Kula Guru felt insulted and left the place. When Indra came to know about this, he understood he made a mistake and wanted to pacify and bring back his Guru.

The Guru noticed that Indra was coming in search of him, used his yoga power and disappeared from him. Indra searched all over for his Guru with no luck. Asuras, the ever enemies of Devas were very happy to note that their Guru left them started troubling the Devas. Devas couldn’t take it anymore and with their king Indra complained about it to Sri Brahma who condemned them that their sufferings were the results of their own sins. As there was no Guru for devas at that moment he advised them to select one Viswaruban, son of Dhwashta as their Guru. Sri Brahma assured devas that though Viswaruban, related to Asuras, he would be good to the Devas. The Indhra and the Devas were very happy to know that they now have a Guru who would guide them in the war against Asuras. Indhra and all the Devas went and surrendered to Guru Viswaruban and requested him humbly to be their Guru. Though Viswaruban was not interested, agreed to be their Guru.

Viswaruban taught Indra Sri Narayana kavasam and advised him to chant the kavasam always because it would give him victory in whatever he does. Also it would save his life from his enemies for ever. Indhra did the same continuously and sincerely and accumulated great strength and power and went on to win the Asuras in the war. Viswaruban performed many Yagna for the benefit of Devas. While doing this he was giving avirpagam secretly to Asuras as well even though they are not eligible, because of his love for them. Indra came to know this and immediately he cut off all three heads of Viswaruban. (As per our purana, Viswaruban had three heads each named different). Because of this Brahmahathi dhosham caught Indra.

The news Viswaruban’s end reached Dwashta, his father which made him very sad and angry. He wanted to take revenge for his son’s murder. He started doing a yagna to kill Indra. From that yagna fire, appeared one terrific asura named as Viruthrasuran., with very big eyes like fire tongs and a big mouth like a cave. His colour was black like cloud. He bowed humbly before Dwashta and asked for an order to execute. Dwashta ordered him to kill Indra and come back. This Viruthrasusran was a devotee of Sriman Narayana in his previous birth. In the meantime Indra distribusted his brahmahathi to the world, water, trees and to ladies and became free of the brahma hahi dhosham. Indra gave some boons to the world, water, trees and ladies for accepting his brahma hathi. Viruthrasuran reached Indra’s world Indra logam and Indra’s palace and started creating havoc there. The very sight of him terrified the Devas and they started runningfor their lives. Indra came with his Vajrayudham and fought a vigorous battle with the sura but could not win him. His Vajrayudham became useless before the asura. He himself had to run for his life. He ran and reached Sri Vaikundam and surrendered to Sriman Naryana and begged him to save him and his world from Viruthrasura. Sriman Narayana advised him to go and meet Dhadhisi maharishi the son of Adharva Maharishi so that he would give his back bones to him in order to make a new Vajrayudham with the help of Viswakarma. Sriman Narayana assured that with the strength of new Vajrayudham and with his support Indra can kill Viruthrasura. Indra did whatever Lord Vishnu advised him.

Now the Devas under Indra again started the war with Viruthrasura with their new Vajrayudham. They felt extra strength because of Sriman Narayana’s assurance. They fought with more vigour and chased all the asuras. Now only the asura was on the war field on the side of asuras. He understood that he can not do any thing before the power of the new Vajrayudham with Indra. He tried in vein to persuade the asuras from running back from the war field. But they did not bother to hear as they were running for heir lives. .Viruthrasura because of his devotion to Lord Vishnu in his previous birth understood that he could not win Indra and would die in the war. In the course of the war Viruthran walked towards Indra like a black mountain moving. Opened his cave like big mouth and swallowed him with his Iravadham and Vajrayudham. But because of Narayanakavasam, Indra did not die. He cut off the stomach of the asura and came out alive with his Iravadham. Indra though victorious in the war could not ascend the throne as king of Indra world because the brahmahathi for killing asura was chasing him. To escape from that he jumped into Manasa sarovar and hide inside he stem of a lotus plant. He stayed their hidden for one thousand years. Because of this the devas could not their share from the yagnas performed in the world became weak. Devas wanted a leader for them at least temporarily. So they made king Nagusha from the world to be their king. Till Indra come back. King Nagusha became Indra because of his sincerily and because he did one hundred Asvamedha yagas. But once becoming Indra he became very proud and started illtreating and insulting other Devas and maharishis. At this moment Maharishis decide to bring back the original indra who was hiding in the stem of Lotus for thousand years without food and sleep. The Maharishis startedto perform a Asvamedha yagam to save Indra from the brahma hathi. Indra came out of the lotus stem and because of the asvamedhayagam the brahma hathi also left him. Indra again ascended the thone and became president for all the three world.

King Sowdhasar - From a King to Rakshasa

Ohm Namasivaya!!! Ohm Sri Sai Ram!!!!

Once upon a time, there lived a king called Sowdhasar. Once he went to forest for hunting. There in a scuffle he had to kill a Raksha. The brother of that Raksha was very sad at the death of his brother and decided to take revenge for the murder of his brother. But he understood that he could not win the king in a straight war, but could win him through a conspiracy only.
He disguised as a cook and entered the palace of the king and joined there as a cook for the king. One day Sage Vashishta, the Guru visited the king and told him to arrange for dinner as he was very hungry. The Rakshasa in the disguise of cook made use of the occasion, cooked and brought human flesh as food to the sage and gave the king. The king without knowing these served his Guru with his own hand. But the guru understood that food was made from human flesh got angry at the king for his carelessness and cursed him to become a Raksha immediately. But, only later realized the mistake was not that of the king and reduced the severity of the curse for twelve years. So the king had to be a Rakshasa for twelve years then he would be released from his curse and get his original human form. The king became very sad and wanted to punish his Guru in retaliation of the curse. He took water to curse his guru. But on a second thought decided not to do so. Without knowing what to do with the water taken to curse his guru he simply sprinkled the water on his own legs. His legs became black in color immediately and because of this he was called Kalmasha Padhan.

The king became a Rakshasa immediately because of the curse of his guru and wandering in the forest. While doing so with hungry he saw a sage engaged with his wife to create his next generation. Once becoming a Rakshasa the king lost all his human qualities. In his hunger he decided to kill the sage and eat him. But the Rishi Pathni understood that though he looked like a Rakshasa he was a human originally but was so because of a curse, requested him not to kill her husband. Instead he could kill her and eat her as she could not live without her husband. But the Rakshasa was not in the mood to hear whatever the lady requested, simply killed the hermit and ate away. The rishi’s wife crying of the death of her husband, collected the remaining bones of her husband and created a funeral pyre for him fell in it and killed her self. Before jumping into the fire she cursed the Raksha that he would die whenever he touches a girl to make love, he would die immediately. After completion of twelve years, he was automatically released from his curse and got his human form back, returned to his kingdom. His wife on seeing him because of the long separation from her husband came running and embraced him with great affection and love. She wanted to celebrate the occasion by enjoying sex with him. But when the king told her about his curse in the forest, she left him without troubling him anymore. The king had no sons to continue his heredity. This worried him very much. He shared his worry with his Gurus vahishta. The Guru used his yogic power and made the queen pregnant. But the baby did not come out of the womb after the lapse of ten moths. Instead the baby was in the womb for seven years and born only after treatment for this defect.. The baby was named as Asmaga. This Asmaga had a son called Mulaga. At that time Sri Paraurama was there with intension to remove the kshatria caste (warrior caste)from the world i.e. to kill all the kings. When Sri Parasurama was looking for Mulaga to kill,all the girls surrounded king Mulega and concealed the king Mulaga and saved his life from Sri Parasurama . So Sri Paarasurama could not kill him. Because of this reason he was also called as Narigavasa. In the future he became an efficient ruler. King Narigavasa’s son was Dasaraha (Not Sri Rama’s father) Dasaratha’s son Alapidi, Alapidi’s son Visvasagan and Visvasagan’s son Katvangan. King Katvanga stood on the side of Devas and fought against Asuras won the battle in favour of Devas. Thus in the Krudhayuga, human kings helped the Devas to won the battles against Asuras.

The story of Chandrasharma

Om Namasivaya!!! Om Sri Sairam !!!

It was an early morning. A young Brahmin Brahmachari was returning from the River Narmadha after bath and Surya Namaskar. He was coming by a big Banyan Tree on which the Brahmaraksha, Gouda Padhar, the disciple of Rishi Padhanjali was hanging because of the curse of his Guru and waiting for a brahmachari passing that way for asking a question. The young, charming beautiful brahmachari came under the tree. The Brahmaraksha called him and asked him his regular question expecting an incorrect answer. But, to his utter surprise the Brahmachari answered it right. Now the Brahmaraksha Gouda asked about him. The Brahmachari said his name was Chandragupta Sharma, and was going to meet of Rishi Padhanjali in order to learn the Vyakarna Bhashyam from him. Now the Brahma rakshas said that it was all finished story and narrated the whole thing in short form to that boy. Here it should be noted that the young brahmachari was none but reincarnation of Rishi Padhanjali himself. Though after learning everything from the Guru, the disciple became brahma rakshas, Pahanjali was watching the disciple as what was he doing and what was going on and understood through his yogic power, that his disciple (now Brahmarakshas) could not find a person to teach the Vyakarana Bhashyam, decided to help his disciple, because only after giving his acquired knowledge to an eligible Brahmachari he would be released from his curse and get his human form otherwise he would remain as Brahma rakshas for ever. So Padhanjali decided to shed his body to born again in a Brahmin family to become the disciple of his disciple.

Now the Brahma rakshas decided to start his teachings to the boy with some conditions; that the boy should also sit on a branch of the banyan tree and should never come down till the teaching was complete. And that Brahmarakshas would go on dictating the explanation and the boy should take down it without delay as there was no time for the Brahmaraksha to explain and clarify the doubts of his disciple. Though it might take many days and night to get the study completed there would be no food sleep or rest to both of them. Without wasting a single second he started dictating the explanation. Chandra Sharma was stunned for a moment because he did not bring any material to write down whatever Brahmaraksha is dictating. Without knowing what to do he scratched his thigh with his nail. Blood was coming from the scratch. He plucked the leaves from the tree and started writing with his blood oozing from his thigh. The speed of dictation of the Brahmarakshas was very fast because the faster he finish up his work sooner will he get himself free from the curse of his Guru, and get his original human form. Chandra Sharma wrote faster than the Brahma rakshas because he was none but Adhisheshan’s re-incarnation. The process was going for days. Chandra Sharma plucked and used all leaves from the tree and by that time the dictation was also finished. As soon as the work was completed, the form of Brahma rakshas flew away screaming from Gouda Padhar and he got back his human form. Thus Gouda Padhar released from his curse took leave of Chandra Sharma and left for Himachal region to do penance.

Chandra Sharma who was writing and writing for days together without food, rest or sleep felt very tired. He collected all the leaves in which he wrote the explanation for Bhashyam bundled them in a cloth and kept aside and started sleeping under the same tree besides the bundle. Now the fate started its play in its own way. While he was sleeping a goat came there in search of food. As he could find no grass around, looked up the tree but could not find a single leaf there as all the leaves were used by Chandra Sharma to write the explanation for Vyakarna Bashyam. The goat scratched the cloth bundle with leave beside Chandra Sharma, opened it and started eating the leaves. Even the smell of the blood could not drive him away. The Brahmachari was so tired that he was sleeping like a dead. On satisfaction of his appetite the goat started making noise happily. Chandrasarma woke up at the noise made by the goat and saw his bundle opened, part of the explanation eaten away by the goat. The Brahmachari was very sad, collected the balance explanation on leaves in the same cloth and bundled again and started walking with it looking for a nearest village. After walking for some distance he entered into a village. The first house he could see was that of a merchant. The big sit out on out side of the house welcomed him. Without a second thought the hungry and tiresome Chandrasarma straight away went and laid there throwing beside his Bashyasm explanation bundle and fell into deep a sleep and swooned. After some time the door of the house opened and the daughter of the merchant came out and saw the young handsome charming Brahmachari and understood that the boy was unconscious due to fasting (without food).She immediately went into the house and mixed rice with curd, made into a paste and applied the same all over the body of the Brahmachari. The juice of the curd and rice slowly penetrated through the hair holes in the body and straight away mixed into the blood, gave some strength. The Brahmachari woke up and started walking with his bundle. But the girl held him back and told him not to go. By the time the girl’s father came on the scene and requested the Brahmachari not to leave until he marries his daughter. So far his daughter refused to marry, now agreed to marry on seeing this Brahmachari. But Chandra Sharma was not interested in marriage. Now the father told him that it was his daughter who saved him from death and as a show of his thanks he should marry her. He did not leave the matter with that and took the matter to the king for justice. Due to compulsion the young Brahmachari married the merchant’s daughter and got a child. Then he left his wife and child under the care of the merchant and proceeded towards Himachal region for doing penance. So it should be noted that Vyakarna Bashyam now available is only part of the original explained and taught by Rishi Padhanjali because a portion of he same was eaten by that hungry goat.

Mahabali Chakrabarthi and the festival of ONAM

Ohm Namasivaya !!! Ohm Sri Sairam

Having been defeated and sworn in by the king of Devas, Lord Indra, Bali Chakravarthy was taken to his kingdom by his soldiers, saved with the help of Sanjevini manthra by his Guru Sukracharia. Bali Chakravarthy got new strength and kept his Guru with him for ever.

Guru Sukracharya, to please Maha Bali Chakravarthy and divert him of his worries of defeat performed a yagna with the help of Brahmins from the family of Brugu Rishi. He also ordered the Brahmins to perform a yagna called Viswajith. As ordered by his Guru Bali chakravarathy arranged the performance of the Yagna in a very big way. While the yagna was being performed from the homagunda there appeared a golden Chariot with white horses with weapons like bow and arrow. Prahlahmaharishi, the grand father of Bali Chakravarthy gifted him a garland which will never dry. Sukracharia gave him a rare quality of Chunk. The Brahmins from the Brugu rishi family gave him new strength through their yagna. After completion of the yagna Bali Chakravarthy got into golden chariot with white horses that came from the homagunda, took all weapons got from the yagna and started towards Devaloga to fight the Devas and lord Indra. The best chieftains and soldiers in his army followed him.

The Bali Chakravarthy and his army were enjoying the spectacular sceneries on the way to the Amaravathy city, the holy abode of Indra and Devas. He surrounded the city with his army, took out his chunk and blew it. Devas were terrified by the strange sound of the chunk, ran to Sri Brahma Deva, begged him to protect from Bali. Indra told Sri Brahma that the defeated Bali had come again with new army and strength and requested him to advice as to what to do for saving the Devas. Sri Brahma told him that the Bali Chakravarhy was treated and saved by his Guru Sukracharya which gave him new strength and courageous army. Suckracharya’s full support made him a new man (asura) with more strength and ability. He advised Indra and the Devas that it was not the proper time to oppose Bali at that moment because his time was very good then. After a while his strength and ability will go down, at that time the almighty Sriman Narayana alone could tackle the asura well. No one else could do anything against the Asura. Till then the Devas should stay disguise runaway and hide themselves from Bali. Indrahi Devas stunned at this and thought for a while as what to do. At last decided to take the advice of Sri Brahma Deva, and ran away under disguise and conceal themselves from the sight of Bali Chakravarthy. When Emperor Bali entered Amaravathy city there was no one to oppose him. So Bali Chakravarthy occupied the Deva loga, ascended the throne, took charge of the entire three worlds and started ruling the worlds from the Devaloga. Under his rule every body excluding Devas were very happy and prosperous. Though he was an asura he treated the Brahmins, pundits and other people with respect. But he insulted he Devas and they were very unhappy felt unsafe under his rule.

Adhidhi, wife of Rishi Kasyap, and mother of Indra was very sad to know what had happened to her son. She complained to her husband Kasyap and requested him to give a solution for the problem. As advised by her husband she performed puja to Sriman Narayana. The Paramathma pleased with her puja, appeared before her and said that he would born to her as her son and get back whatever lost by her son Indra and other Devas. As promised to her, Sriman Narayana was born to Kasyap Adhidhi Couple as a lovely son (Vamana Avatar). When he grew as a young boy Bali Chakravarthy came back to the world to perform a Yagna in very big way. The young boy Vamana wanted to attend the Yagna. With his parent’s permission he started towards the place where Bali was performing the Yagna. It was a custom in those days that the king who perform the Yagna would give anything requested by an Adhidhi (visitor). Emperor Bali saw the young and charming Vamana Brahmachari who was coming to attend the Yagna, welcomed him, offered him a good seat to sit, did Adhidhi puja and asked him what he wanted. Even before the Brahmachari asked him for a boon the Emperor Bali promised him to give whatever he wanted. But the asura Guru Sukracharia who was by the side of his disciple Bali tried to persuade him from giving any assurance to the Vamana because he understood that the Brahmachari was none but Sriman Narayana himself, had come to help the Devas. But Bali, could not understand the fact, said that as it was a custom to offer anything wanted by an Adhidhi, he would not get back from his promise. The Vamana Brahmachari told the king that he needed only some land which he would measure three foot length with his own foot. On hearing this Sukracharia again objected his disciple’s decision to give the land to the Brahmachari. But Bali said that he would readily give him the land, and also told the Brahmachari that the small piece of land was a very small request as he was ready to offer him unlimited measures of gold and other wealth to run his whole life and his heirs.

Immediately the Vamana Brahmachari grew in size and became Thirivikama. Every one present at the Yagna venue could have the rarest chance to have dharshan of his full form. (Vishvarupa dharshan) Emperor Bali could see the whole universe inside the Vishvarupa form. Bali Chakravarthy could even see himself and his subjects, sun, moon, and other Devas and all kind of creatures in all the three worlds. In his Vishvarupa form his foot was rested in the world, His head was above Deva loga, Sathya loga and other worlds in the universe. Now The Thirivikama measured the whole world with his one foot. HE lifted his second foot for measurement, which reached the Brahma loga where Sri Brahma Deva could have the dharshan of His Holy Foot and performed puja for the same. So with his second foot he measured Deva loga and had no place to measure third foot. Now reduced his form and became Vamana again and asked Emperor Bali as to where to measure the third foot. Still the Emperor Bali did not go back from his promise and told Sri Vamana that he could rest his foot on his head. Sri Vamana rested his foot on his head and pressed him to go to the bottom world (Pathala loga) and told him to stay there until further orders from him. He also promised him that at proper time he would be released from that world and made owner of Indra loga i.e. he would me made Indra his stay in the Pathala loga for some time.

So as per legend Bali Chakravarthy, Who is also known as Mahabali is still waiting in athe bottom world and is said to visit the world on Thiruvonam Star day every year to find the betterment and good status of his subjects even now. That day is being celebrated as ONAM FESTIVAL now days.

King Chitrakedhu turns Viruthrasuran

Om Namasivaya!!! Om Sri Sairam!!!

King Chitrakedhu was ruling his country, Surasenam. He had a queen named Krudhadhiudhi. Apart from his queen he had so many wives. Though he had so many wives he did not have a child. This made him very sad. That reflected in his face. One day Rishi Angiras visited his palace. The king welcomed the hermit paid him due respects. The hermit was very happy with his hospitality and at the same time he noted the sadness on the face of the King. Rishi Angiras asked about his sadness.

The King replied, although he had everything, he does not have an heir for his kingdome and family. The Rishi wanted to give the King a boon. So he performed one yagna with Dwashta as chief god for the Yagna. The Rishi handed over the holy rice used for the yagna as Prasad to the king. In turn it was given to Krudhadhiudhi. The Rishi assured the king that he would have a child very soon who would bring him both pleasure and worry to the king and left the palace. In due course, Krudhadhiudhi gave birth to a beautiful son. The king and the whole kingdom celebrated the birth of the prince. The king was very happy. The king was very affectionate to his queen and the baby. The other wives of the king grew jealous. They all joined together and conspired to poison and kill the baby and so they did one day. The queen unaware of the baby having being killed thought that the baby was sleeping quietly. Worried that the baby is unusually sleeping long, she ordered a servant maid to bring the child from the cradle. When the maid picked up the child she came to know that the child was dead. She screamed and ran to inform the queen. On knowing the child was dead the queen, king and others in the palace also started crying. The other jealous wives also pretended crying just to show that they were very sad at the death of the child. The king fell down on the ground and was crying.

At that time Narada maharishi and Angirasa maharishi came there to console the king and the queen. But the king was so worried that he could not recognize them. He thought some people have come to console him. Then he asked them “Who they were?” Then they introduced themselves to him and told him that they had come to give him The Gnana. Still he could not come out of his worry. So they explained him the relation between Athma and living beings in this world. They started speaking to the Athma of his son and asked it to re enter the body. But that Athma said that he had taken so many births. In Each birth he had a father and a mother. So he did not know who are his original parents and was it possible for those sages to show his original parents. More over he was not interested to re-enter the body again. The relationship between living beings will prevail only as long as the Athma is together with the body. Once they are separated there would be no feeling of relationship. So the Athma said that he had no connection with Chitrakedhu and his wife and left the place. Now the king and the queen understood the nature and value of relationship in this world, and nothing in this world is a permanent one; felt consoled.

After the king felt consoled and his sadness left him. Sri Narada Maharishi gave him the divine gnana and taught him a mantra and ordered him to chant the same continuous for seven days without break. King Chitrakedhu did as advised by the Rishi without sleep and food, took just water as food and on the eighth day Sriman Narayana appeared before him and appreciated his penance, sincerity and made him the king of the Vidyadara World. Once becoming the king of Vidyadara world, he started to enjoy life like anything, mingling with the ladies of that world and going to places in Vimanas. Once, while going in his Vimana in sky over Sri Kailash, the abode of Sri Shiva he could see Lord Shiva and Logamathaa Parvathi were sitting in front of hermits and Shiva Ganas. Sri Parvathi was sitting on the lap of Shiva and he was embracing her. The proud Chitrakedhu started talking ill of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva did not bother this but the Logamathaa grew angry on hearing what Chitrakedhu uttered, cursed him to become an Asura. Immediately, he lost his position as king of Vidyadara World, became an Asura and came out of the Yagnagundam of Dwashta as Viruthrasura. Though Chitrakedhu was in a very high position his pride and arrogance made him an Asura. But because he was a devotee of Sriman Narayana while he was king Chitrakedhu, he could reach and rest at the holy foot of Sriman Narayana after defeated and killed by the Indra.

Swami Namadev

Om Namasivaya!!! Om Sri Sairam!!!

Swami Namadev was a great Sage of Maharashtra. It was said that Lord Vishnu in the form of Vittala used to come in person to eat food with him daily. So he thought himself as someone great and hence different. One day an assembly of great Saints of Maharashtra took place. Tukharam, Gnaneshwara and many others were there and so was Gora Kumbhar, (the potter saint). When every one was seated, Gnanadeva’s sister Mukthabhai said “Gora, why don’t you use your stick to test all of us to see if we are well done. “She was referring to the stick which a potter uses to determine whether or not all the pots are fully fired. Gora Kumbhar smiled and began to test. He pronounced every one passed except Namadev, about whom he said “This one will have to go back to the oven for some time more”.

Naturally Namdev was angry because he thought of himself as the greatest of God’s Devotee. He went to Vittala and complained. But Vittala said to him” Namadev, Gora was correct and if you don’t believe him. I will test you as well. I will come to you before sunset today, and you must recognize me: otherwise you fail.” Namadev agreed.

In the evening Namdev went out for a walk. On the way Namdev saw a Chandala (Scavenger) and his wife – (who were really Vittala and his wife Rukmini in disguise) cooking their evening meal. Namdev was tired of walking, sat on a rock nearby and rest from where he could see what was going on. The Chandala told his wife “The pot is not full: cut the chickens and put them in the pot“. There were 25 chickens representing twenty five thathuvas, essential principle of universe. Namdev though hearing and looking this could not realize the fact but thought that the Chandala was very violent. But what to do its God’s will.

After some time the Chandala again told his wife “The pot is still not full cut the dogs and put in the pot. There were four dogs – the four Vedas. Namdev still did not realize and was just looking. He thought, “The Chandala and his wife will have to endure the burden of their karmas” All Lord Vishnu was trying to teach Namdev was that after all Thathuvas and Vedas are butchered, cooked only the absolute and undifferentiated reality would remain. He achieved success in worshipping Vittala. But such worship was limited to duality. He should have to go beyond that.

Suddenly the Chandala said to his wife “The pot is still not full. Now let us cut the man sitting there and put in. “Hearing that Namdev forgot everything including God and jumped and started running helter skelter. Vittala wanted to induce him into undifferentiated reality by killing butchering and cooking. Namdev ran as fast as he could and stopped only after reaching a nearby village, saw a Shiva Temple and went in for rest. When he was in he saw an old man with his feet resting on top of the Shiva Linga. Namdev scornfully told the old man “Do you know my good man that you are defiling the sanctity of this temple?” In reply the old man said that as he was very old and weak, he was unable to move his legs and requested Namdev to help him so that he could avoid angering Shiva. But Namdev did not want to dirt his hands by holding the dirty legs of that old man. With much hesitation he picked up the offending foot of the old man and laid them a little distance away. Now the old man called “Nam I still feel something under my foot. Can you please look it. “Here the old man called only Nam and not Namdev because Namdev literally means ‘Name of God’ and he did not reach that stage. Namdev unwillingly lifted the old man’s foot and saw another Shiva Linga there. When he placed down again there sprang another Shiva Linga there and so on. At last the old man asked him to tell him where there was no Shiva so that he can rest his foot there. Namdev realized there was something more to the old man and embraced his feet and took his as his Guru. After learning his last lesson Namdev again went to the assembly of great saints and now Gora Kumbhar tested him with his stick and said “Now this is okay too.”

Thus it is understood that the Guru will never let his disciples loose until and unless the disciple become thorough with what the Guru wanted him to learn.