Mantralaya-1057
( Bhima's decision not to claim victory in Draupadi's marriage contest, details of Bhishm and Amba - Part 2)
Date Sep 28, 2023
Background
Dear Devotees : Namaskara.
| Sri MannMoolaRamastu Mannmathe Moolamahasamsthhaana Mantralaya Sri Rayaramathe||
|| OM SRI RAGHAVENDRAAYA NAMAHA||
SATYAMEVA JAYATI NA ANRUTA
Why
BheemaSena Devaru did not win the contest of Drupati to marry her and
Amba’s details about Bhishma described in Mantralaya(1057). This is the
continuation of Mantralaya-1056
Meaning
In
the Mantralaya series, episode 1056 revealed that BhimaSena Devaru made
the decision to send Arjuna to participate in Draupadi's marriage
competition. He did so with the intention of ensuring that Arjuna
received the recognition he deserved. We also began exploring the
second reason behind this decision.In this context, we revisited Amba's
journey, marked by feelings of dejection and her deep-seated blame
towards Bhishma for the course her life had taken. Amba's encounter
with Lord Shiva had resulted in a significant boon: she would transform
into a male and ultimately become the cause of Bhishma's demise.
Additionally, Lord Shiva had gifted her an ever-fresh garland, destined
to play a role in Bhishma's fate.Amba's attempts to find a powerful
king willing to wear the garland had all ended in rejection. In her
despair, she left the garland at Drupada's palace and contemplated
ending her own life.
Now, let's delve into what unfolds next.
Some
time later, Ambika gave birth to Dhritrashtra, while Ambalika gave
birth to Pandu. Dhritrashtra's offspring came to be known as the
Kauravas, whereas Pandu's sons were called the Pandavas.
In the meantime, Amba's soul patiently awaits the opportune moment and place for its rebirth.
King
Drupada fervently desired to have a son and sought the blessings of
Lord Shiva through his prayers. Pleased with Drupada's devotion, Lord
Shiva granted his request, foretelling the birth of a female child who
would later become male. In accordance with Lord Shiva's divine
blessing, Amba was born as Drupada's daughter and was named Shikhandini.
Shikhandini
(formerly Amba), burdened by the memories of her previous life, felt a
deep wellspring of pain, anger, and frustration. She couldn't forget
the past and the injustice she believed she had suffered. In a poignant
act of determination, she retrieved the garland she had placed at King
Drupada's palace during her earlier life as Amba.
Every day,
Shikhandini would gaze upon the garland, keeping it close to her, all
the while patiently waiting for the opportune moment to fulfill her
purpose.
King Drupada raised Shikhandini (formerly Amba) as a
male child, performing rituals like ChouLa and Upanayana to transform
her gender identity. As time went by, King Drupada made the decision to
arrange a marriage for his daughter, Shikhandini.
Princess of
the Dashaarna Kingdom, Hiranyaverma, was chosen as Shikhandini's bride.
However, after the marriage, the truth emerged that Shikhandini was not
biologically male. This revelation led the wife of Shikhandini to
approach her father with the startling discovery.
The King of
Dashaarna, Hiranyaverma, is consumed by anger and directs his fury at
King Drupada, berating him for what he perceives as ruining his
daughter's future by marrying her to someone who is not a man.
Shikhandini, caught in the middle of this turmoil, is not only saddened
by her own predicament but also deeply affected by the humiliation her
father, Drupada, has endured.
Overwhelmed by her despair,
Shikhandini decides to seek solace in the solitude of the forest.
There, she crosses paths with a compassionate Gandharva named Tumburu.
Tumburu, sensing her pain, kindly encourages Shikhandini to confide in
him, promising to provide whatever help he can. Shikhandini opens her
heart to the empathetic Gandharva, who, in turn, shares in her pain as
if it were his own.
Tumburu, deeply moved by Shikhandini's
suffering, makes a remarkable and selfless sacrifice. He offers to
exchange his own human body for hers, transforming Shikhandini into
Shikhandi—a male with some female qualities. This extraordinary act of
compassion alters Shikhandi's destiny, bestowing upon them a new
identity and a fresh beginning in life.
Shikhandi, now
possessing a male body while retaining female qualities, returns to his
kingdom and reunites with his father-in-law, King Hiranyaverma of
Dashaarna. The king, upon observing the transformation in his
son-in-law, is overwhelmed with shame for his earlier harshness and
prejudice. Recognizing Shikhandi as a man, Hiranyaverma regrets his
past actions.With this newfound understanding and acceptance, a sense
of reconciliation prevails, and both Hiranyaverma and King Drupada
return to their respective kingdoms, bridging the divide that had once
separated them.
In time, Draupadi miraculously emerges from the
sacred fire, following the birth of Dhristadyumna, whom King Drupada
sought to have as a son destined to vanquish Dronacharya.As destiny
weaves its intricate threads, the grand Swayamvara of Draupadi is
announced, attracting kings and warriors from far and wide.In a
poignant and symbolic gesture, Shikhandi offers Draupadi the very
garland that Lord Shiva had granted in another lifetime when they were
Amba. This garland, imbued with divine significance. Shikhandi asked
Draupadi to place it on the man who would prove victorious and win her
hand in marriage during this Swayamvara. This set the stage for a
pivotal moment
Bhimasena, with his profound wisdom, possessed a
deep understanding of these intricate matters. He was not just a
warrior; he embodied the essence of Bhagavata Dharma, the path of
devotion to the divine.
Bhimasena held a sacred vow in his
heart: he would never harm a devotee of Lord Krishna, who is none other
than Lord Vishnu Himself. Bhishma, renowned for bestowing upon us the
sacred Vishnu SahasraNama, was a devoted follower of Krishna.
Given
Bhimasena's unwavering commitment to this principle, he made a resolute
decision. Bhimasena could not accept the garland from Draupadi, as it
symbolized the past and, in his eyes, going against his sacred vow
meant he would never kill Bhishma. Consequently, he chose not to
participate in the contest, as it was intertwined with this complex web
of devotion and destiny.
There's another crucial aspect to
consider in Bhimasena's decision. He chose to honor Lord Shiva's divine
boon, recognizing its profound significance. It was imperative for
Bhishma to meet his end, as Bhimasena was aware of the intricate
connection between Amba, originally the wife of Vasu Dyaus, who
incarnated as Bhishma (We will cover Bhishma's past life in one of the
upcoming articles). Fulfilling Amba's vow held the promise of reuniting
them, and this divine purpose compelled Bhimasena to respect Lord
Shiva's boon.
Indeed, the underlying reason for Arjuna stringing
the bow ahead of Bhimasena was that Arjuna was destined to be the one
to bring about Bhishma's end, not Bhimasena. This profound aspect of
destiny and duty guided their actions during the contest for Draupadi's
hand in marriage.
Bhimasena Devaru holds a revered place in the
Mahabharata, as Bhimasena is the incarnation of Lord Hanumanth Devaru.
Bhimasena Devaru is also renowned for his unwavering devotion to Sri
Krishna.What's truly astonishing is that the very Bhimasena Devaru
later assumed the role of Sri MadhwaCharyaru. Through his writings, he
meticulously unraveled the complexities of the Mahabharata, providing
clear explanations and insights, making the epic's intricacies more
accessible to all.
The devotion towards Sri Raghavendrateertharu is the
ultimate truth and is the most simple and effective way to reach Sri
Hari - "NAMBI KETTAVARILLAVO EE GURUGALA"! “Those who have
complete faith in this Guru will never be disappointed.”
|| BICHALI JAPADAKATTI SRI APPANACHARYA PRIYA MANTRALAYA
SRI RAGHAVENDRATEERTHA GURUBHYO NAMAHA||