Normally gods bestow boons to others. It is very unlikely that somebody else bestows boon on them. Who can be more powerful than them to be able to bestow boons on them? It is not like that Brahmaa, Vishnu and Shiv always grant boons. Sometimes they also get boons from others. Today we will talk about the boons granted to Vishnu, and let us see who are such who could grant boons to Him --
Boon Granted by Madhu and Kaitabh
Madhu and Kaitabh were two great Asur who were born from Vishnu's earwax. In the beginning there was only water and on that water there was Vishnu lying on His Shesh Shayyaa. Then appeared Brahmaa Jee from His navel After a while Brahmaa Jee started his creation. Earwax started flowing from Vishnu's ears and two great Asur were born from it - Madhu and Kaitabh. Since Brahmaa Jee were creating the world at that time so they were born from Rajo Gun and Tamo Gun.
They did Tapasyaa for 1,000s of years and got the boon of Ichchhaa Mrityu from Devee - when they want they will die at that time only. With this boon they started troubling the universe. Once they saw Brahmaa Jee, they asked him who was he and from where he had come? They came to know that he was born from Vishnu, so they came to Vishnu and started fighting with Him. The Asur were very powerful. the fight continued for 5,000 years. Vishnu knew that He was weaker, and the Asur also knew that they were more powerful than Vishnu, so they said to Vishnu proudly - "Surrender to us that you are our servant." Vishnu said - "We have been fighting for 5,000 years, but I am only a single and you are two. You have already taken rest in between, now let me take some rest, then I will fight. " So they left Vishnu alone for rest.
Vishnu remembered the boon granted by Devee to them. It was because of that boon that they were not feeling tiredness, so He decided to seek help from Devee too. Devee said - "Go and fight with them, and I will delude them with my sight." So Vishnu went to fight with them. Devee deluded them with her sight. At the same time Vishnu said to them - "I admire you, you are very brave, ask for a boon." They were very proud of their might, so they said - "We are not beggars, instead you ask us for any boon you wish for. We can give you whatever you want." Vishnu wanted the same, so He said - "If you are pleased with me then grant me this boon that you should be killed by me now." They said - "We are cheated." Since at that time the whole Prithvi was covered with water, they said - "Then kill us where there is no water on Prithvi."
Immediately Vishnu expanded His thighs, showed them the vast Prithvi on the waters. He asked them to keep their heads on His thighs. They also expanded their bodies to 10,000 Yojan. Vishnu also expanded His thighs twice the size of their bodies. Seeing this they kept their heads on His thighs. Vishnu immediately cut their necks with His Chakra. That is how those Asur granted the boon to Vishnu to kill themselves.
Boon Granted by Gajmukhaasur
Gajmukhaasur was a very powerful Daitya. Once he did a severe Tap for Shiv Jee and asked for a boon that he should live in his belly. As Shiv had granted this boon to him, he had to comply with tthe boon. he started living in his belly. Now some time passed and Paarvatee Jee did not see Shiv Jee so she went to Vishnu and asked His help. Vishnu took Shiv's Nandee Bull, assumed the form of a flute player and started playing flute. Nandee started dancing on His tune. Now they started going around playing flute and dancing.
Once they came to Gajmukhaasur's residence, many of the servants of Gajmukhaasur started coming there to see the show. Some admired the show to Gajmukhaasur also, so he also came out to see it. Vishnu understood that this Gajmukhaasur is the one who has hidden Shiv. So they played the flute and danced very well. Gajmukhaasur got very pleased hearing the flute and seeing the dance of a bull. He asked Vishnu to ask for a boon from him. Vishnu asked him - "Are you serious? You will grant me the boon?" The Asur said - "Yes, I will grant you the boon, ask me anything, I will give it to you." Vishnu said - "Then you release Shiv. You have hidden him, I want him back." The Asur now had to give Shiv back. As Shiv came bursting out of his belly, the Asur died in this process.
These are the only two boons Vishnu got from Asur.
Sushma Gupta
www.sushmajee.com
Showing posts with label Boons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Boons. Show all posts
Monday, May 20, 2013
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Gaandhaaree a Powerful Woman
Gaandhaaree was a very powerful woman among all the women of Mahaabhaarat. She was the wife of Dhritraashtra and mother of Duryodhan, Dushaasan etc 100 sons. Bheeshm specifically selected her as the wife of Dhritraashtra. As soon as she heard that her husband Dhritraashtra was blind, she tied a cloth strip on her eyaes for her whole life saying - "Whichever world my husband cannot see, I have no right to see that world."
In fact she was the only powerful woman whom we see as a boon giver and a curse giver, even to Bhagavaan, in the whole epic. There are very few people who can curse Bhagavaan and one of them was Gaandhaaree. (see Curses to Vishnu) She had a great will power too. It was only her will power that she stayed blind by tying a cloth strip on her eyes. No other such example like this is available in our scriptures. Who has good eyes and if she lives like a blind for her whole life just for this reason that her husband cannot see, is an outstanding example of being Pativrataa. Here I would like to cite three examples of her boons and curses.
Boon to Duryodhan
Although her whole life passed in making Kaurav and Paandav even, but when she had lost her 99 sons, and according to Bheem's vow, Bheem kiiled them all, she had no doubt that he would kill Duryodhan also by breaking his thigh according to his vow. She loved Duryodhan very much, and otherwise also wanted to save him. So she calls him and asks him to come to her naked after taking bath in Gangaa River. Duryodhan goes to take bath in Gangaa River and comes back.
While he was coming back, he meets Krishn and Krishn asks him that where was he going to at such odd time? Duryodhan says - "My mother has asked me to come to her naked after taking bath in Gangaa River. So I am going after taking bath in Gangaa River."
Krishn asks - Naked? Why?"
"I don't know. That is what she has said."
"Will you go naked in front of her?"
"Yes, That is what she has said."
"But you are adult, how can you go to her naked?"
"But she said that "I am your mother, what kind of shyness from mother?"
"But now you are adult. It is not proper to go naked to her. At least tie some cloth around your loins, after all she is woman." and Krishn goes away after advising him thus.
Duryodhan understands the logic and when he goes to his mother, he ties a cloth around his loin and when Gaandhaaree asks him - "Have you taken bath in Gangaa River?"
"Yes, Maa."
"Are you standing naked in front of me?"
"Yes Maa."
She says - "Now I will remove this cloth strip from eyes and I will see you for the first time." And she removes the cloth strip from her eyes. A light comes out of her eyes and falls on Duryodhan's body. In a few moments his whole body becomes of iron. When the effect of her eyesight is over and she sees him normally, she finds that he had covered his loin part with a cloth. She breaks into tears and says - "You did not listen to me. Now nobody can save you from Bheem. I have earned this power after doing Tap for so many years. This could make your whole body of iron, and Bheem could not have broken your thigh and kill you. Since you have covered your thighs, now your thighs have remained weak and I am sure that Bheem will kill you by breaking your thigh." the same thing happened. When Bheem and Duyodhan were fighting, Bheem was not able to hurt Duryodhan's body. Later he had to break his thigh
Curse to Krishn
When the whole war was over, Krishn came to her to take leave. Gaandhaaree was very sad. She said to Him - "O Krishn, You could have stopped this war if you wanted, but you did not want it to be stopped. If you had stopped it, my 100 sons would have been alive and I would not be weeping for my children. Since you did this deliberately, I curse you that your own Kul (whole clan) should also die in the same way fighting with each other." Krishn smiled and accepted her curse and went away. Same thing happened as Gaandhaaree cursed Him. His whole clan got killed by fighting among themselves.
Curse to Yudhishthir
The third incident is not of curse by speech as such, but her sight, even from behind the cloth strip was enough to do it. It happened when the war was over, and Paandav met her in the battlefield. Although Gaandhaaree was very composed at the time of meeting them, but still she was very angry from inside. Although her eyes were still covered with cloth, but when Yudhishthir came to see her, she.looked at the nails of his feet and Mahaabhaarat says that because of her anger, his nails became blue.
Thus we find these three incidents of her boons and curses, including Bhagavaan.
Sushma Gupta
www.sushmajee.com
In fact she was the only powerful woman whom we see as a boon giver and a curse giver, even to Bhagavaan, in the whole epic. There are very few people who can curse Bhagavaan and one of them was Gaandhaaree. (see Curses to Vishnu) She had a great will power too. It was only her will power that she stayed blind by tying a cloth strip on her eyes. No other such example like this is available in our scriptures. Who has good eyes and if she lives like a blind for her whole life just for this reason that her husband cannot see, is an outstanding example of being Pativrataa. Here I would like to cite three examples of her boons and curses.
Boon to Duryodhan
Although her whole life passed in making Kaurav and Paandav even, but when she had lost her 99 sons, and according to Bheem's vow, Bheem kiiled them all, she had no doubt that he would kill Duryodhan also by breaking his thigh according to his vow. She loved Duryodhan very much, and otherwise also wanted to save him. So she calls him and asks him to come to her naked after taking bath in Gangaa River. Duryodhan goes to take bath in Gangaa River and comes back.
While he was coming back, he meets Krishn and Krishn asks him that where was he going to at such odd time? Duryodhan says - "My mother has asked me to come to her naked after taking bath in Gangaa River. So I am going after taking bath in Gangaa River."
Krishn asks - Naked? Why?"
"I don't know. That is what she has said."
"Will you go naked in front of her?"
"Yes, That is what she has said."
"But you are adult, how can you go to her naked?"
"But she said that "I am your mother, what kind of shyness from mother?"
"But now you are adult. It is not proper to go naked to her. At least tie some cloth around your loins, after all she is woman." and Krishn goes away after advising him thus.
Duryodhan understands the logic and when he goes to his mother, he ties a cloth around his loin and when Gaandhaaree asks him - "Have you taken bath in Gangaa River?"
"Yes, Maa."
"Are you standing naked in front of me?"
"Yes Maa."
She says - "Now I will remove this cloth strip from eyes and I will see you for the first time." And she removes the cloth strip from her eyes. A light comes out of her eyes and falls on Duryodhan's body. In a few moments his whole body becomes of iron. When the effect of her eyesight is over and she sees him normally, she finds that he had covered his loin part with a cloth. She breaks into tears and says - "You did not listen to me. Now nobody can save you from Bheem. I have earned this power after doing Tap for so many years. This could make your whole body of iron, and Bheem could not have broken your thigh and kill you. Since you have covered your thighs, now your thighs have remained weak and I am sure that Bheem will kill you by breaking your thigh." the same thing happened. When Bheem and Duyodhan were fighting, Bheem was not able to hurt Duryodhan's body. Later he had to break his thigh
Curse to Krishn
When the whole war was over, Krishn came to her to take leave. Gaandhaaree was very sad. She said to Him - "O Krishn, You could have stopped this war if you wanted, but you did not want it to be stopped. If you had stopped it, my 100 sons would have been alive and I would not be weeping for my children. Since you did this deliberately, I curse you that your own Kul (whole clan) should also die in the same way fighting with each other." Krishn smiled and accepted her curse and went away. Same thing happened as Gaandhaaree cursed Him. His whole clan got killed by fighting among themselves.
Curse to Yudhishthir
The third incident is not of curse by speech as such, but her sight, even from behind the cloth strip was enough to do it. It happened when the war was over, and Paandav met her in the battlefield. Although Gaandhaaree was very composed at the time of meeting them, but still she was very angry from inside. Although her eyes were still covered with cloth, but when Yudhishthir came to see her, she.looked at the nails of his feet and Mahaabhaarat says that because of her anger, his nails became blue.
Thus we find these three incidents of her boons and curses, including Bhagavaan.
Sushma Gupta
www.sushmajee.com
Friday, October 26, 2012
Raavan's Boons
Dashaharaa came and went. On that day Raam killed Raavan - the 10-headed Raavan. At innumerable places this event was dramatized. But why was he born on Earth and why only Vishnu had to incarnate to kill him? Anyway, It is an interesting story --
Who Was Raavan?
This story comes in Tulasee's Raam Charit Maanas while describing the reasons of Raam Avataar. Once Sanakaadi Muni, they are four, came to see Vishnu wandering around. They met His two gatekeepers, Jaya and Vijaya, at the gate of Vishnu's palace. As they were entering the palace, both the gatekeepers did not allow them to enter the palace. Sanakaadi Muni got very angry at this, they shouted at them - "You don't know who we are. You are not worthy to live in Vaikunth. You don't know how to behave. We curse you to be born as Asur on Prithvi"
Vishnu was taking rest. He heard some noise at the door, so He himself came out running and found Sanakaadi Muni at the door shouting at His gatekeepers. He asked them what happened and the Muni told Him the whole story. Vishnu immediately asked their forgiveness and requested them to soften their curse. Sanakaadi Muni went away saying - "You know better, only you decide what to do with them."
Vishnu asked them as how would they like to pass their curse period - they could be born either 7 times on the Earth as His Bhakt, or 3 lives as His most dreadful enemy. Jaya and Vijaya replied - "Bhagavan, We cannot live without you for a long time that is why we accept 3 lives as your greatest enemy. But we desire that when we are born as Asur, we should not forget out Gyaan (knowledge) and we should be killed by you only in all our 3 lives." Vishnu said - "So be it." And thus both were born on Prithvi 3 times - (1) Hiranyaaksh and Hiranyakashyap (killed by Varaah and Narasinh Avataar respectively); (2) Raavan and Kumbhkarn (killed by Raam Avataar); and (3) Shishupaal and Vakradant (killed by Krishn Avataar).
Raavan and Kumbhkarn
This was the second life of Jaya and Vijaya. They were born to Maharshi Vishravaa, the son of Maharshi Pulastya Jee, and an Asur woman Kaikasee. They had a real brother Vibheeshan who was very religious and an half-brother Kuber also. Raavan was born with 10 heads that is why Vishravaa named him Dashgreev - who has 10 necks. To get the powers all the three did a severe penance.
First Boon to Raavan - Three Boons in One
Raavan did his Tap for 10,000 years. At the end of every 1,000 year he used to offer his one head in Agni. At the end of 10,000 years when he was about to offer his 10th head, the last one, Brahmaa Jee appeared before him and asked him to ask for any boon. Raavan asked him immortality, but Brahmaa Jee said - "This boon is not possible, ask for any other boon." Raavan said - "Then give me this boon that I could not be killed by Garud, Daanav, Devtaa, Daitya, Gandharv, Yaksh." Brahmaa Jee said - "Be it so. And I give another boon of my own that whatever heads you have offered us in Agni, they will all be like before as they were. And you will be able to take any form you would like."
[Here it is notable that Raavan did not include human beings and monkeys in this list.]
Second Boon to Raavan - Raavan Name, Longer Age and a Sword
The first boon made Raavan very courageous, fearless and proud. He started roaming around, fighting and winning all kinds of species as now he had no fear of any one of them. Once he was coming from his victory tour that his Pushpak Vimaan stopped on the way. Raavan was thinking that why his Vimaan stopped that Shiv's Nandee told him that Shiv himself plays here on this mountain, so all others are prohibited here. Raavan said - "I will dig out this mountain as it has stopped my way. As he started digging the mountain, it shook violently. Shiv and Paarvatee were sporting there. They got afraid but when Shiv Jee understood what was happening, he pressed the Parvat with is his left big toe and it got stabilized.
At this time Raavan's hands were pressed and he could not pull out his hands from under the mountain. For long time he kept crying. On his Minister's advice he prayed Shiv. Shiv got pleased after 1,000 years. He said - "Since you have cried for so long, you will be called Raavan. You can go anywhere without any problem." Besides, Raavan said to Shiv - "If you are pleased with me then give me this Var that Devtaa, Gandharv, Daanav, Raakshas, Guhyak cannot kill me - I have got this boon from Brahmaa too. Give me longer life than Brahmaa gave it to me." So at the prayer of Raavan, Mahaadev increased his age and gave him a sword name Chandrahaas.
So Raavan had these boons because of which he became so powerful, but he had lot many curses also on his head. In next blog we will talk about his curses which were because of these boons.
Sushma Gupta
www.sushmajee.com
Who Was Raavan?
This story comes in Tulasee's Raam Charit Maanas while describing the reasons of Raam Avataar. Once Sanakaadi Muni, they are four, came to see Vishnu wandering around. They met His two gatekeepers, Jaya and Vijaya, at the gate of Vishnu's palace. As they were entering the palace, both the gatekeepers did not allow them to enter the palace. Sanakaadi Muni got very angry at this, they shouted at them - "You don't know who we are. You are not worthy to live in Vaikunth. You don't know how to behave. We curse you to be born as Asur on Prithvi"
Vishnu was taking rest. He heard some noise at the door, so He himself came out running and found Sanakaadi Muni at the door shouting at His gatekeepers. He asked them what happened and the Muni told Him the whole story. Vishnu immediately asked their forgiveness and requested them to soften their curse. Sanakaadi Muni went away saying - "You know better, only you decide what to do with them."
Vishnu asked them as how would they like to pass their curse period - they could be born either 7 times on the Earth as His Bhakt, or 3 lives as His most dreadful enemy. Jaya and Vijaya replied - "Bhagavan, We cannot live without you for a long time that is why we accept 3 lives as your greatest enemy. But we desire that when we are born as Asur, we should not forget out Gyaan (knowledge) and we should be killed by you only in all our 3 lives." Vishnu said - "So be it." And thus both were born on Prithvi 3 times - (1) Hiranyaaksh and Hiranyakashyap (killed by Varaah and Narasinh Avataar respectively); (2) Raavan and Kumbhkarn (killed by Raam Avataar); and (3) Shishupaal and Vakradant (killed by Krishn Avataar).
Raavan and Kumbhkarn
This was the second life of Jaya and Vijaya. They were born to Maharshi Vishravaa, the son of Maharshi Pulastya Jee, and an Asur woman Kaikasee. They had a real brother Vibheeshan who was very religious and an half-brother Kuber also. Raavan was born with 10 heads that is why Vishravaa named him Dashgreev - who has 10 necks. To get the powers all the three did a severe penance.
First Boon to Raavan - Three Boons in One
Raavan did his Tap for 10,000 years. At the end of every 1,000 year he used to offer his one head in Agni. At the end of 10,000 years when he was about to offer his 10th head, the last one, Brahmaa Jee appeared before him and asked him to ask for any boon. Raavan asked him immortality, but Brahmaa Jee said - "This boon is not possible, ask for any other boon." Raavan said - "Then give me this boon that I could not be killed by Garud, Daanav, Devtaa, Daitya, Gandharv, Yaksh." Brahmaa Jee said - "Be it so. And I give another boon of my own that whatever heads you have offered us in Agni, they will all be like before as they were. And you will be able to take any form you would like."
[Here it is notable that Raavan did not include human beings and monkeys in this list.]
Second Boon to Raavan - Raavan Name, Longer Age and a Sword
The first boon made Raavan very courageous, fearless and proud. He started roaming around, fighting and winning all kinds of species as now he had no fear of any one of them. Once he was coming from his victory tour that his Pushpak Vimaan stopped on the way. Raavan was thinking that why his Vimaan stopped that Shiv's Nandee told him that Shiv himself plays here on this mountain, so all others are prohibited here. Raavan said - "I will dig out this mountain as it has stopped my way. As he started digging the mountain, it shook violently. Shiv and Paarvatee were sporting there. They got afraid but when Shiv Jee understood what was happening, he pressed the Parvat with is his left big toe and it got stabilized.
At this time Raavan's hands were pressed and he could not pull out his hands from under the mountain. For long time he kept crying. On his Minister's advice he prayed Shiv. Shiv got pleased after 1,000 years. He said - "Since you have cried for so long, you will be called Raavan. You can go anywhere without any problem." Besides, Raavan said to Shiv - "If you are pleased with me then give me this Var that Devtaa, Gandharv, Daanav, Raakshas, Guhyak cannot kill me - I have got this boon from Brahmaa too. Give me longer life than Brahmaa gave it to me." So at the prayer of Raavan, Mahaadev increased his age and gave him a sword name Chandrahaas.
So Raavan had these boons because of which he became so powerful, but he had lot many curses also on his head. In next blog we will talk about his curses which were because of these boons.
Sushma Gupta
www.sushmajee.com
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