The Epics of India - Mahabharata

....contd....


So, when the young princes came of age, Vidur was given prime- ministership when Dhritarashtra became King.  He was just, pious and righteous personified.

He loved Pandavas like his own kids and wanted them to be prosperous and happy as they were virtuous.  Pandavas also sought his opinion on important matters as they knew he wished them good and was impartial while taking any decision apart from being wise.

'Vidura Neeti' is a compilation of Vidura's Neeti which is the ultimate book on polity and Chanakya's arthashashtra is considered to be inspited by Vidura Neeti.  Even King Dhritarashtra trusted his knowledge and opinion in the matters of state and totally dependent on him to run the affairs of the state ( i.e., before Duryodhana came to control the affairs of running the state through his father started).

He was one of the few in the Rajya Sabha who was against Pandavas being waged in the gamble and also gave due counsel to King Dhritarashtra against Draupadi being brought to the court after being lost in the game of gamble by Yudhishtra to Duryodhana.  He always stood for Dharma and without fear openly and in clear words spoke about the wrongs done by others - without any partiality.

Vidura was a great bhaktha of Lord Krishna and Lord Krishna also reciprocated his love with due respect for Vidura.

As per some scriptures, Vidur is considered to be Lord Yama - Lord of Dharma, virtue and death reborn as Vidur because of a curse given to him by a Sage called Mandukya.


...contd...

The Epics of India - Mahabharata

...contd...

Vidurani

Vidurani is referred as wife of Vidura in Mahabharata.  Just before the start of Mahabharata war, Krishna comes to talk peace with King Dhritarashtra, but the talks fail - thanks to Duryodhan and his uncle Shakuni.

Duryodhan makes elaborate preparations in the palace for Krishna to stay.  But, Krishan refuses to stay there.  The reasons he gives for his refusal are 1. I take food served with love only and the food served by you - Duryodhana is not served with love and 2. I eat food anywhere when I am desperate for food and am on the verge of dying and now I am neither desperate or dying for want of food.  Having given these reasons, he goes to Vidura's house which was a only small house.  He was not at home as he was not expecting Krishna.  His wife Vidurani was at home and she was overwhelmed to see Krishna.  She warmly welcomed him inside the house, gave him seat to sit and went in to get something to eat.  She found only bananas at home. She brought them to Krishna and peeled them and in the excitement threw away the bananas and gave him peels.  Krishna accepted the peel and was eating them when Vidur entered the house and seeing what was happening he shouted at Vidurani for being so careless as to serve banana peel to the Lord.  Krishna stopped him and said that those were the most delicious peels he ever had!

But, when you read especially our epics, don't read them as stories of some characters and don't try to know some story or anecdote about the various characters.  Learn to see the 'Universal Law' working.  Learn it as you can easily understand through some characters and their life situations. 

For eg: With regards to Vidura's birth, it's very clear that though all three - Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidur had greatest Sage Veda Vyasa as their father - their personalities and physical well-being depended totally on the thought on their respective mothers at the time of conception and the feeling they had for the Sage.

...contd....

For Related Topics also read posts dated:

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Me, My Guru - On essence - Bhagavatam!

...contd....

These were scores of others – Shakuni, Duryodhan, Dushshashan and all others who shut off their eyes unable to bear the brilliance of that Divine form. This shows that not everyone is ‘eligible’ to receive the ‘good’ or ‘Divine’.

“You don’t get what you desire, but what you deserve”.

Because of all impurities like anger, envy, lust, hatred and such qualities filled in their hearts, these people were automatically ‘not worthy of receiving’ Divine Grace. Even if given they can’t receive it. Their body is the cup that can’t take the filling of ‘good’ or ‘Divine’.

So, to receive His Grace or even to get ‘your desires fulfilled’ you should be worthy of it. And that’s where emptying of self of all impurities like anger, lust, envy etc come into picture. So do hands-on regularly” she replied with a smile.

“Then what about Dhritarashtra?” you said once that he was an epitome of ‘moham’ attachment. Then how can he receive the divine grace?”

She seemed ever ready with answers. Was she prepared or what, I had wondered many times!

I heard many answers to the questions posed to them. They gave any answer that came to them. But people like her were actually very few in numbers. To answer a question is not that important as to give appropriate one. People were bowled over with ‘any answer received’. But I over the years have learnt to understand and appreciate ‘Right answer’ to ‘any answer’. Yes, this a commoner would never know. But thanks to my healing sessions and ‘good company’ that I kept I received this understanding and what a priceless treasure was this treasure. I’ve found ‘so-called Gurus’ fooling around with words in the name of answer and I pity people and their students who looked up to them for their answers.

“Lord, doesn’t keep accounts of only bad deeds but also of good deeds – even the ones performed unknowingly or by chance. Dhritarashtra was jealous of his brother Pandu and his sons. He felt Pandu usurped his rights to the throne. He wanted to fulfil his desire of being ‘a king’ through his son knowing full well that Yudhishtra was more eligible and the right candidate for the throne of Kuru dynasty. Moreover, he was son of deceased king of that kingdom i.e., Pandu. Dhritarashtra on the other-hand was only a king on deputation. And that’s why too; his son was not eligible to be a king.

Yet,he, because of being blinded by his ‘lust’ for throne and power was an accomplice in all the plots against Pandavas by his son Duryodhan.

 

(Vidur and Dhritarashtra)

But inspite of having so many negative qualities had one weakness which was a ‘great quality’ in the eyes of Lord i.e., ‘Satsangh’ meaning ‘good company’. Vidura being an avatar of Lord Yama who was the custodian of ‘Dharma’ or righteousness, was a great devotee of Lord Krishna and was also an exponent of ‘Dharma’ – but obviously. He was fearless in speaking about ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ – not based on his likes and dislikes as many of us do, but based on ‘Dharma’ or ‘Law’. Dhritarashtra could never stay without him. Especially at nights, he would seek Vidura’s company and listen to his talk on Dharma, virtues, scriptures and about the qualities and glory of God.

...contd....

The Epics of India - Mahabharata

...contd....

It also goes to prove that the character of the child depends upon the feelings - like feeling of anger and helplessness in Ambika was the cause of Dhritarashtra's characater and a feeling of weakness in Ambalika and hence the weak constitution of Pandu and a feeling of gratitude and elation in maid and hence Vidura was so humble, contended and balanced.

Theory of genetics proved so beautifully and completely with all combinations.

Again in the case of Krishna rejecting Duryodhana's invitation - it clearly explains us that the Lord wouldn't be pleased with the cost of offerings.  For him, it's only love that matters and love can be experienced, given, served only and only when the intent is pure.  He knew Duryodhan's intent.  Duryodhana wanted to flatter him with his hospitality and gifts and Lord could see through that.  Lord is no fool.  He can't be fooled by our pretences.  So, with our pooja, japam, meditation.  We can fool the world to believe that we are good, pious, religious, caring and spiritual - but Lord - no way.  He sees through us and we receive fruits of our Karma based on our intent and not on our actions.

This truth has to be seen in these cases and then applied in our day-to-day life situations.  That means, instead of 'trying for good name' we should work on our intent and make and keep it pure in all our dealings - not only with Lord, but also in our worldy affairs - i.e., in our every realtionship.  If this message is not understood, applied and turned into our way of life - then mundane reading or memorising the scriptures is of no use.  Their actual purpose is lost and all the effort put in reading them becomes waste of time and energy!

(This is answer to the query as to who Vidur and Vidurani was?)

On wishes unfulfilled - Me, My guru

Contd....

Read link to know the birth of Dhritarashtra http://kantipadam.blogspot.in/search?q=birth+of+Dhritarashtra. 

The entire human race owes to this sage for compartmentalising Vedas and writing great ‘sutras’ like Brahmasutra etc. He is the writer who is quoted by any teacher, any yogi and any ascended master in the spiritual field (in Indian Sub-continent). Now this learned sanyasi was very ‘frightful’ to look. It could not be the physical looks we are talking about here. All this knowledge demands ‘tapas’ – austere penance and that in turn gives a person his ‘aura’ called ‘tejas’ which was so powerful and bright that it would blind and frighten a normal human being. Now an Indian woman would never accept to have a relationship, even if it is to beget a son. She prefers to only be in physical relationship with her husband. Now this was the high value system held by Indian women and that was the tradition for many centuries to come till of course foreign invasion by Europeans who infiltered their education and western modern values into the country. 

Read related post/link to understand the same: http://kantipadam.blogspot.in/search?q=Lord+Macaulay%27s+address+to+the+British+Parliament India and the entire world need to go back to the roots of this value-system if order is to be brought back in world order and if human race is to survive its annihilation by its own stupidity and falling morals and ethics. The western world is slowly opening to see the chaos, pathos and problems faced because of lack of morals and free sex concept. They are looking to old Indian concept of one-woman-one man basis of relationship.

The birth of Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura clearly shows that the mental make-up makes so much of difference in child’s healthy, abilities and in turn its fate.

The next case that we take is of a ‘divine couple’ Mrikandu rishi and his wife Marudmat who lead a very pure and austere life. When they decide to extend their family, they turn to their favourite God – Lord Shiva. They just don’t do some random pooja and ‘ask him’.  They both do austere penance to please Lord Shiva. When He is pleased, with their penance He asks them to seek a boon. They wish that they are blessed by a son. Lord Shiva blesses them and asks “Do you want to have many sons leading useless life style or one child who is brilliant, responsible, highly learned, a

great devotee but who would live for only 16 years. They chose ‘short-lived but staunch devotee’ as a son. That son was none other than the Great Sage ‘Sage Markandeya’ who with his devotion became immortal winning over Lord of death – Yama. (I am telling this story in detail presuming the readers know this story already! If someone wants to know it, please let me know).

When a child is born out of blessing, he can go on to become a great hero or even immortal. So many and it seems every animal begets children. But what’s the use of having 100 kauravas or a son as great as Ravana. It is better to wait for one single child who could be ‘Parvathi’ or ‘Dattatreya Swami’. Don’t just desire for an offspring. We don’t belong to some sub-species to beget random off-springs. As human beings, you should desire to give birth to one C.V.Raman, A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Einstein, Arya bhatta, Sir Bose (Scientist), Bhagat Singh, Vivekananda, Tagore, Sarojini Naidu, Madame Curie, M.S.Subbalakshmi, Jhansi Lakshmi Bai, Chand Bibi, Raziya Sultana and like people. Why think of giving birth to one in the pod types? Wait, do penance, do more reiki and more waiting time means more reiki going to bring that should into this world and that means someone useful and worth the name. 

contd...........

Mahabharata - An Epic

......contd......

When they successfully completed the term, they returned to Hastinapur and asked for their kingdom to be returned to them.  When they were denied, they requested Duryodhan to give them atleast five villages.  Duryodhan didnot agree for that too!

Not only that, every wise man like Sage Veda Vyasa, Bhishma, Vidura, Krishna and many like them wanted just and noble king to rule over Bharata Desha (India as was called then..) and Yudhishtra was epitome of justise - whereas Duryodhan was anarchy personified.  The 'right' when it doesn't stand up against the wrong, it is also 'adharma' nay it is greater 'adharma' - injustice than a wrong being done!  In a kingdom where even the empress was not safe from molestation, do you think it would be right for Pandavas to sit back and let things be....Could they let Duryodhan rule?  Do you think ordinary men and women would be safe in such a land?  If one wants people to be safe, women protected and Dharma to reign, then the 'Right' should wage war against the 'Wrong' and 'Evil' if need be!

Hence, war was fought.  Not for themselves but not to let anarchy rule the kingdom.  But even the war fought for Dharma has the same results of children becoming orphans and women being widowed.  This is called as collateral damage caused when any step is taken for the greater good.  Everyone has to pay the price of safety and security.  Did not thousands die and suffer for the freedom of India from British rule?  Can you say that it was unnecessary? 

But the people who suffered did vent out their anger on Pandavas and abused them, taunted them saying that they were selfish.  But, the actuality is everyone should pay a price for safety, freedom and to live with pride.

Even Pandavas lost all their children, kith and kin - yet atleast they could see their grandson growing up - King Parikshit - son of Abhimanyu - whereas Kauravas clan was totally destroyed.  They could rule for many more years and bring about prosperity and establish Dharma.  Their desire and dream was to establish Dharma and they could fulfill that.  That way they fulfilled their Swadharma and life's mission.  Their life was one of fulfillment unlike Kauravas and their friends which was lived for selfish reason and out of envy.  They never were peaceful and died walking on the path of Adharma.

.......contd.......

Bhaktha and his bhakti – Guru Shishya – My Guru and Me

Contd.....

Bhaktha and his bhakti – Guru Shishya – My Guru and Me      

Aditi approached her husband for impregnation during the boons hours of the day and hence children came out to be “light being” or more famously called “devas”, full of sattva guna, whereas Diti’s desire to mate at untimely hours (sandhya kale – a time when Shiva’s ganas return to Kailash). Knowing the consequence of such act at that hour Kashyapa Muni tried to reason with his wife but desire clouded her understanding capacity and she had her desire fulfilled. The resultant children born to her though powerful as of the great Saptarishi Kashyapa Muni were tamasic or demonic in nature and came to be called as “Daityas”, later identified as “Asuras”. The meaning associated with the word being “demonic in nature”. Daityas means “born of Diti” and Adityas means “born of Aditi”. That’s how names were given in those days and in Sanskrit.”

We all were surprised well most of us. Yes, we knew bits and pieces of this story but how the name came about and how in spite of being step or half-brothers, they became mortal enemies – forever to come – ONLY because of their “attitude” disposition was so strong - that was news to us.

“Devas because of their ‘sattva gunas’ – attitudes like self-restraint, being benevolent, protecting the weak and right, purity and so on and so forth were given ‘Swargaloka’(heaven). They were also given powers and positions of being guardians of the world. 



But ‘asuras’ or Daityas did not receive any powerful position to rule any aspect of the Universe – though they were given ‘patala loka’ (their domain and region) to prosper. Envy, greed and power hungry ‘asuras’ hence kept waging wars with devas at regular period to gain supremacy and sovereignty over the worlds” she paused a bit longer than usual before continuing “and hence enmity and gap between them widened over generations". 

Contd.....

# asuras and devas, character and destiny, heaven, hell, different worlds, enemies , mahabharata, indian mythology


suggested reads to understand how character of a child is decided and what are the circumstances that decide it : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=vidura 

questions answered :

• Why not everyone who desires gets what he desires?
• We get what we deserve and not what we desire! Why?

Me, My Guru – On learning!

Me, My Guru – On learning!

“Why is it that an anecdote narrated by you is taken differently by different students?” asked Rahul.

“Once a drug addict was asked “Why did you become a drug addict?” and he replied “Because of my father. He was an alcoholic and a drug-addict and I became one. Later a business man was asked “Who is inspiration for you success?” and he replied “My father. He was an alcoholic and a drug addict and I learnt how any weakness could bring down a person and decided not to become like him. Both had same father and both became what they were because of their father – but one used his example for his downfall and the other to uplift himself.

What ‘an example’ is, is of no importance. What you’ve decided to use it for makes it a good or a bad one.

Duryodhana knew what dharma and adharma was (roughly translated right and wrong). He knew his intentions wouldn’t fall in the category of dharma and hence Bhishma, Vidura and others (Characters from Epic Mahabharata) wouldn’t validate his actions and it was no good to go to them for advice. So, he choose Dushshasana and Shakuni for he knew their principles and how they would support his desires. But Arjuna wanted to walk the path of Dharma and he knew he would falter often and he needed a Guide who would see that he chooses Dharma always. So he chose Krishna over his army. You choose your master/mentor/Guru/guide depending upon your desire, intentions and character. (Even when you change your master/guide/mentor the same rule applies irrespective of what reasons you give). You read words the way you want to interpret them. Whom you choose what you understand reflects who you are” replied his Guru.

“And our every such choice makes or mars our Destiny” sighed Rahul heavily!

Our Destiny is the sum total of all the choices!

related posts : https://kantipadam.blogspot.in/search?q=choices+we+make

https://kantipadam.blogspot.in/search?q=situations+don%27t+make+or+break+you

Epics of India - Mahabharata

Vidura - Mahabharata

King Shantanu of Kuru Dynasty married a fisher-woman Satyavati who gave birth to two sons - Chitrangadha and Vichitravirya.  Chitrangandha died unmarried and issueless.  Vichitravirya was married to Princess Ambika and Amalika.  But, he two died and Satyavathi not wanting the Kuru Clan to end, requested her son Sage Krishna Dwaipayana to bestow motherhood upon the two widowed queens.  Unable to brush aside his mother's request, he agreed to.

Though he was a great sage of high learning, his looks were frightful.  And so Ambika closed her eyes when she went to him and so she gave birth to a blind child -Dhritarashtra.  Ambalika was so weak with fright when she approached him that she gave birth to a son of weak constitution -Pandu.  Satyavati wanted a healthy child - to be fit enough to be a king and hence requested Ambika to approach Sage Vyasa once again.

Out of fear for him, she sent her maid who consented happily as she felt it a great honour and a great priviledge to bear the child of such a great sage as Sage Vyasa.  So, her son Vidur was born - both healthy and highly learned.  But, as he was born of a maid, he was not given the kingship.  Bheeshma, the grand old man of Kuru Clan brought all three of them under his care and Vidur mastered 'Dharma' very well under him.


....contd....

Related posts :

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Wednesday, November 13, 2013