Mantralaya-1059
(Bhishma’s life details as described in Mahabharata Tatapariya Nirnaya)
Date Oct 10, 2023
Background
Dear Devotees : Namaskara.
| Sri MannMoolaRamastu Mannmathe Moolamahasamsthhaana Mantralaya Sri Rayaramathe||
|| OM SRI RAGHAVENDRAAYA NAMAHA||
SATYAMEVA JAYATI NA ANRUTA
Bhishma’s life details as described in Mahabharata Tatapariya Nirnaya by Acharya Madwaru in Mantralaya (1059)
Meaning
In
the previous articles, Mantralaya 1056 and 1057, we explored the
intriguing reasons behind Bhima's choice not to garland Draupadi during
the marriage contest. To recap, Amba received a divine boon from Lord
Shiva, granting her a special garland that would mark the person
responsible for Bhishma's demise. Amba's journey led her to be reborn
as Shikhandini, and subsequently, she became Shikhandi, passing on the
same enigmatic garland to Draupadi.
Bhima, with his profound
understanding of this enigma, abstained from wearing the garland. He
was a dedicated devotee of Lord Krishna and harbored no intent to be
the instrument of Bhishma's end. Nonetheless, Bhishma's demise was an
essential part of the cosmic design, serving to reunite Amba with her
former husband, Vasu, now embodied as Bhishma.
In response to
numerous reader inquiries, I will be presenting an article that delves
into Bhishma's past life, exploring the intricate dynamics of his
relationship with Amba and the complex emotions that fueled her
passionate resolve to become the catalyst for Bhishma's ultimate
destiny.
Acharya Madhwaru, through his extensive and profound
work in the "Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya," delved deep into the
intricate relationship between Amba and Bhishma, dispelling the doubts
and uncertainties surrounding their connection. This voluminous
masterpiece of Madhwaru's provides a comprehensive understanding of the
Mahabharata, shedding light on the complex dynamics between various
characters, including Amba and Bhishma.
Lord Brahma was
engrossed in deep meditation near the sea. During this contemplative
state, Varuna, accompanied by his wife Ganga in her watery form, was
carried by the rising tide and inadvertently splashed water onto Lord
Brahma, who was in a profound state of meditation. This unexpected
disruption roused Lord Brahma from his meditation.In response, Lord
Brahma resolved to impart a valuable lesson to Varuna. For divine
beings, the concept of "hell" as humans understand it does not apply.
Their equivalent experience of hardship is taking birth on Earth.
Therefore, Lord Brahma imposed a powerful curse upon Varuna, decreeing
that he would be born on Earth twice to comprehend the consequences of
disturbing a meditation intended for a noble purpose.Brahma's curse
ordained that Varuna would experience two births on Earth. In his first
earthly incarnation, he would be reborn as King MahaAbhisheka as Varun
did abhisheka in the form of sprinkling the water through tides. In his
second birth, Varuna would be born as King Shantanu as Varuna's
subsequent calmness, refraining from causing sea tides.Throughout these
lifetimes, Ganga would revert to her original form and become Varuna's
wife. Together, they would assume significant roles in the unfolding of
the epic Mahabharata, thus fulfilling the prophecy embedded in Brahma's
curse.
According to Brahma's curse, Varuna first took birth as
King MahaAbhisheka. Subsequently, he was reborn as King Shantanu, who
was the son of King Prateepa Raja.
Let’s now understand
Bhishma’s previous life, there were eight divine brothers known as the
Ashvins Vasus. The eldest among them was named Dhuv, and he was married
to a woman named Varangi. However, an unusual situation arose as
Varangi, Dhuv's wife, had a close friend with the same name, Varangi.
Tragically,
this dear friend Varangi began to corrupt the heart and mind of Dhuv's
wife, Varangi. She manipulated Varangi, convincing her to participate
in a sinister act – the theft or kidnapping of a sacred cow. This
divine bovine, known as Kamadhenu, possessed the extraordinary power to
grant one's wishes simply through its presence.Fueled by the misguided
influence of her friend Varangi, Dhuv's wife Varangi persuaded her
husband Dhuv to take part in the unlawful endeavor of stealing the
revered Kamadhenu. Despite his role as the elder brother among the
Vasus, Dhuv fell prey to this treacherous scheme, eventually
influencing his seven younger brothers to join him in this unjust act.
Together, they embarked on the journey to seize the sacred Kamadhenu
from the holy ashram of Sage Vashista.
Dhuv, overwhelmed by his
love for his wife Varangi, succumbing to her manipulation. His
affection for her led him down the path of transgression, as he decided
to participate in the unlawful act of stealing the sacred Kamadhenu cow
named Nandini from Sage Vashista's ashram.As the elder brother among
the divine Vasus, Dhuv wielded considerable influence over his seven
younger siblings, and he managed to convince all of them to support him
in this unjust mission. The group of eight brothers, driven by Dhuv's
misguided leadership, approached the Kamadhenu with the intent to take
her away.
However, their wicked deed did not go unnoticed. Sage
Vashista, within whom Lord Brahma resided, became exceedingly angry at
the audacity of the Vasus. Their act of attempting to harm and steal
the sacred cow was deemed an egregious crime. In his fury, Lord Brahma
cursed the Vasus as follows:
Dhuv, the eldest brother, would be
born on Earth and lead a long life as punishment for his prominent role
in the transgression.The seven brothers who had supported Dhuv would
also take birth on Earth, but their lives would be short-lived. They
would experience the difficulties of spending nine months inside a
mother's womb, only to perish shortly after birth. Subsequently, they
would return to their original divine positions.Dhuv, however, would be
compelled to live the lives of all seven of his deceased brothers,
resulting in an extended stay on Earth.Since Dhuv's crime was committed
under the influence of his wife Varangi, she, too, would be reborn on
Earth as a woman filled with hatred for Dhuv. In this life, she would
become the cause of his eventual demise.During his final moments on
Earth, Dhuv would endure immense suffering, similar to the pain
experienced by Nandini, the sacred cow he had tried to steal. His death
would entail lying on sharp arrows, enduring excruciating agony with
every passing second.
This curse served as both retribution for
their wrongdoing and a lesson in the grave consequences of their
actions. It was a poignant reminder of the significance of
righteousness and the necessity of respecting the sanctity of life,
particularly that of a sacred cow like Nandini.
In response to
the pleas and sincere remorse of the eight Vasus, Lord Brahma, residing
within Sage Vashista, showed his compassion and bestowed his blessings
upon Dhuv. He foretold that Dhuv, now known as Bhishma, would attain
great fame. Bhishma would emerge as a devoted worshiper of Lord Krishna
and Brahma, with the blessing of Brahma's presence within him. The era
of Kali Yuga would forever remember the name and deeds of Bhishma.
According
to Lord Brahma's curse and subsequent benevolence, Dhuv was reborn as
Bhishma, a figure renowned for his extraordinary longevity, and Varangi
was reborn as Amba. Bhishma, also known as Pita Maha, became an iconic
figure in the Mahabharata epic and left an indelible mark on the annals
of history. His unwavering commitment to righteousness and his devotion
to Lord Krishna exemplified the qualities that Lord Brahma had
foreseen, ensuring that Bhishma's name would resonate through the ages.
The
role of Ganga in this story is pivotal. After the Vasus were cursed by
Lord Brahma , Vasus sought refuge within Ganga, they approached Goddess
Ganga, requesting that she become their mother. Their wish was to be
reborn from Goddess womb rather than any human mother to fulfill Lord
Brahma's curse. Ganga was initially perplexed about how to execute this
plan of ending the life of seven Vasus, as she needed to ensure the
safety of seven of the Vasus and make sure they did not suffer for
their past actions.
Ganga devised a clever plan. She took on a
divine form of immense beauty that no one could resist and approached
King Prateepa, the father of Shantanu, who was known for upholding
Dharma and following the scriptures. Ganga sat on King Prateepa's right
lap, as per tradition, which is reserved for daughters and
daughters-in-law. This symbolic gesture signified that she would become
his daughter-in-law and could choose any of his sons as her husband.
Ganga selected Shantanu, who was, in fact, the reincarnation of Varuna.
However, she imposed a condition upon their union: Shantanu should
never question her actions or reasons for her deeds, and if he did, she
would leave him and return to her divine abode.
This union
allowed Ganga to ensure that the seven Vasus could take birth from her
womb and not endure prolonged suffering on Earth. During the birth of
their eighth son, Shantanu broke his promise by questioning Ganga about
her actions. In response to this breach of trust, Ganga departed to her
divine realm, taking her son Bhishma with her. Ganga provided Bhishma
with the highest quality education through Lord Parashurama and other
God/Goddesses and once Bhishma became a highly knowledgeable and
skilled individual, Ganga returned him to Shantanu.
Fast
forwarding to the contest for Draupadi's marriage, Bhimasena Daru was
aware of the intricate connections. He knew that Shikandi was none
other than Shikhandini, who was, in her previous birth, Amba and the
wife of Bhishma, who is the 8th Vasu. This knowledge shaped his
decision. Bhimasena was a devoted follower of Lord Krishna and
Bhagavata Dharma, and he had deep respect for Bhishma, who was also a
great devotee of Lord Krishna, as evidenced by his gift of the Vishnu
Sahasranama.Bhimasena's devotion and knowledge led him to a crucial
realization: he could not be the one to kill Bhishma, as he would never
harm a devotee of Lord Krishna. Therefore, when it came to the contest
for Draupadi's marriage and the garlanding of the victor, Bhimasena
decided in his heart that it was preferable for Bhishma to meet his
end. However, he wouldn't be the instrument of Bhishma's death.With
this conviction in mind, Bhimasena chose not to accept Draupadi's
garland, leaving the opportunity open for Arjuna to take up the
challenge. Arjuna would eventually become the one fated to end
Bhishma's life. This decision was a result of Bhimasena's unwavering
adherence to his principles, devotion to Lord Krishna, and
understanding of the complexities surrounding Bhishma's life, Amba's
quest for justice, Shiva’s boon and reunion of Vasu and Varangi
Sri
RaghavendraTeertharu, in his works, emphasized the immense value of Sri
Madhwacharyaru's extensive writings. Rayaru recognized that Sri
Madhwacharyaru had undertaken the monumental task of preserving and
disseminating knowledge, ensuring that it endures through the ages,
particularly in the era of Kali Yuga. Sri Madhwacharyaru's numerous
books serve as essential repositories of wisdom.To make this profound
knowledge more accessible and comprehensible to a wider audience, Sri
RaghavendraTeertharu devoted himself to simplifying and elaborating on
the writings of Sri Madhwacharyaru. Through his vast commentaries and
teachings, Sri Rayaru bridged the gap between the intricate texts of
Sri Madhwacharyaru and the understanding of the common people. This
noble endeavor has played a crucial role in safeguarding and
transmitting the profound insights and teachings of Sri Madhwacharyaru
to future generations, ensuring that this timeless wisdom continues to
inspire and guide seekers of truth.
If you have the
opportunity, I encourage you to read "MahaBharata Tatapariya Nirnaya"
to grasp the idea that every action in the Mahabharata leads to
corresponding reactions. Within this epic, there are no mere
coincidences; rather, it is our lack of understanding that often
obscures the underlying reasons. Exploring "MahaBharata Tatapariya"
will offer you a wealth of details and insights into this intricate
narrative.
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||