Saptarishis- The seven stars

                SAPTARISHI’s (the seven sages), have a greater significance in Indian mythology. They have attained long life span due to their yogic powers and with the power of their penance. Though they are listed with different names in various literatures, they are the most powerful sages of Vedic land. They are the mind born sons of Lord Brahma (Creator). Other representations are Lord Vishnu(Preserver) and Lord Shiva( Destroyer). Saptarishi’s live for a period of time known as manvantar (306,720,000 Earth Years) serving as representative of their father Brahma.

At the end of Manvantar, new Saptarishis take the responsibility from the old. SaptaRishis are the highest in rank over Devatas and Other classifications of Rishis who are Rajarishi( Royal Sage, means king who is also a sage), Maharishi(Their third eye is open completely). All the SaptaRishis are Brahmarishis, they have completely understood the meaning of Brahman. Vishwamitra is the only one sage who was ranked as Brahmarishi with his deep penance. All the Brahmarishis are capable of defeating every weapon on earth, can forecast the future, Not influenced by Life and Death.

SAPTA-RISHI’s are:-

As per Shatapatha Brahmana and Brihadaranyaka Upanishad-

Atri, Bharadvaj, Gautama, Jamadagni, Kashyapa, Vashista and Vishwamitra.

As per Krishna Yajurveda-

Angiras, Atri, Bhrigu, Gautama, Kashyapa, Kutsa and Vashista.

As per Brihat Samhita-

Marichi, Vashista, Angiras, Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha and Kratu.

Manvantara:-

Manvantara is the age of Manu, used for time measurement in Hinduism. Manu is created by Brahma to create world and on his death another Manu is created to continue the cycle. 14 manvantara’s create a Kalp( Day+ Night of Brahma) according to time cycles of Hinduism. At the end of each kalp there is a Pralay where the world is destroyed and it lies in a state of rest this period is called the “Night of Brahma”. Only Brahma will sleep and neither Lord Vishnu nor Shiv are having sleep. The cycle of creation starts here again. Life of Brahma started in the Navel of Lord Vishnu and it is for 100 years (day Time). In the day time he creates world and in night he absorbs the life force back to him. Creation and destruction are done forever like this. Creation of Brahma is called Vikalp and total creation is called as Mahakalp.

Yugas:-

Classification of yugas is from Manvantara. Each Manvantara have 71 Chaturyugas (Mean 4 sub-yugas- Satyug, Tretayug, Dwaparyug and Kalyug).

SATYUG is for 4800 years (17,28,000 Human years), TRETAYUG is for 3600 years(12,96,000 Human years) , DWAPARYUG is for 2400 years(8,64,000 human Years) and Finally KALYUG is for 1200 years(4,32,000 Human Years—Currently we are in 5105 year as of 2014). Hence a Chaturyug is of 12,000 Years of Brahma in Total. We can observe a decrease in life span of humans also in this case. It is believed that Justice and truth are decreasing continuously in each stage of four YUGA’s.

In the current Manvantara the SaptaRishi’s are:-

Kashyapa, Atri, Vashista, Vishwamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni and Bharadvaja. All of them appears to us a stars in a format shown below. There is one more star which is slightly visible among them, Arundhati wife of sage Vashista.

Vishwamitra:-

For the story of Vishwamitra, Click here..

Vashista and Arundathi:-

Vashista is the author of Vasisht Samhitha a treatise on electional astrology. He is glorified in Rig veda. He is the rajGuru of Suryam vamshi. Arundathi is the wife of sage Vasishta.

Gautama and Ahalya:-

The Rig and Sama Vedic Mantras are authored by Sage Gautama. He was one of the earliest writers on Law. He also authored Gautama Dharma Sutra. Ahalya is the wife of sage Gautama.

For Story of Gautama and Ahalya, Click here…

Atri and Anasuya:-

Anasuya is the wife of Sage Atri. He made a great penance in Kula Mountains to have Brahma, Vishnu and Shiv as his sons. The whole world is set on fire with his fierce penance, pleased gods of trinity were born as Dattatreya, Chandraartri and Krishnantri.

Anasuya is known for chastity. One day trimuthy decided to test and arrives her home as Brahmins. They asks her to serve food in naked. She agrees and converts them into kids. Surprised with the power of her chastity trinity of gods requests to give their original form and hence she becomes their mother.

Kahsyapa:-

    Kashyapa is the son of Marichi and grandson of Brahma. He was the father of Devas, Asuras, Nagas, garudas, vamana, Agni, Adityas, Daityas, Aryaman, Mitra, Pusan, Varuna and all Humanity. He is the projenitor, prajapati. He was author of Kashyapa Samhitha which is classical reference book in field of Ayurvedic Paediatics, Gynecology, and Obstetrics.

                In the story of King Parikshith killed by Serpant Takshaka, kahsyapa arrives to stop it when Takshaka challenges him by biting a tree and turning it into ashes. Kashyapa restores the tree with his yogic powers and defeats the serpant. However it explains the curse of Brahmin Boy and tells that consequences has to be faced. Sage understanding the future of King leaves the place taking offerings from Takshaka. Soon he realizes that what done is not correct and visits tirupathi for getting the rid of sin.

Jamadagni:-

                  Jamadagni is the father of Parashuram, sixth incarnation of Vishnu. Also the descendant of sage Bhrigu one of the Prajapatis created by Brahma. Renuka was his wife, she used to fetch water from river in an unbaked clay pot with the power of her chastity. One day her heart was filled with desire when a group of Gandharvas are passing in sky. The pot dissolved. She being afraid of her husband doesn’t come home. Jamadagni knowing this from his yogic powers asks parashuram to kill her mother which he did.

For complete story, Click here…

                  Jamadagni is a very angry sage he cursed Sun god on one day when he interrupted the personal time of sage and his wife renuka. He cursed him to get afflicted by Rahu (Surya Grahana has its origin here in this curse). Sun god in turn cursed him for death through a king, which is the story of Kartaviryarjuna.

Bharadvaja:-

                  He is one of the greatest sage in Vedic times and also descendant of sage Angirasa. His father is Devarsi Brihaspati. Sage Bharadvaja is Author of Ayurveda. He is the father of Guru Dronacharya. His ashrama still exists in Allahabad. He was a master of advanced military arts, including the Devastras. His wife is Suseela. He had a daughter named Devavarnini and son Garga.

Dronacharya(Guru of Pandavas and Kauravas) was born as a result of his attraction to Apsara.

According to some of the Puranas, Bharadvaja is found on banks of river Ganga and adopted by king Bharatha.He had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge of vedas and in addition meditated for Indra, Lord Shiva and Parvathi for more Vedic Knowledge

Kutsa Maharshi:- (Krishna yajurveda)

He is the first who stated the allegories of first laws of celestial bodies. He outpoured 65 out of 82 Suktas in Rudram. The Prokshana Mantram,” Om Bhoo, Om Bhuvaha, Om Suvaha” said to keep power on water to purify anything which it touches is from the Mantra Drishtas Atri, Bhrigu and Kutsa Maharshi.

                The Astrology of SAPTARISHIS have a great significance in the Indian science. It’s a very huge concept to discuss, it’s the Vedic science.

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A Journey of Learning - Lord ShriRam

            

              Anything we learn with our hard work can never be forgotten. Hence in olden days kings used to send their sons for training and gaining knowledge near Rishis deep into forests. There they used to serve the Guru and learn their teachings in return. It was believed that it helps the, to be ruler in building a very good attitude. The same way one of our gods, a real human with perfect attitude started his journey of learning from Ayodhya along with his brother Lakshmana and Guru Brahmashri Vishwamitra.

            Lord Shri Raam is the son of King Dasharath, he is fondly loved by his father. He was never away from his father and father was never able to stay away of him. But a sage Vishwamitra who knows the fortune (a fight with the undefeated demon Ravana) of the young princess decide to teach everything he knows. Oneday  Vishwamitra arrives the court of King Dasharath and requests for his help. King Dasharath assures him for anything he needs when he was asked to send out his son Shri Raam as the protector of Yagna to be performed. King Dasharath requests him to take anything but says he cannot send his son. Angry Vishwamitra wishes to leave the kingdom when Dasharath with no choice sends his son Shri Raam and Lakshmana as his protector along with him.

Their journey started across mountains, forests and the young princes who are never away from their fort gets thirsty. Vishwamitra asked the brothers to perform Aachamana (ritualistic sipping of water) with the water of holy river Sarayu and after it Sage initiates them two mantras (sacred verses)- Bala and Atibala ( Mother of all Knowledge) which will keep them fresh and free from fatigue also they will not feel hunger and thirst. Even Rakshas ( demon) cannot approach them though they are asleep. With the Sacred verses the strength of brothers Ram and Lakshman gets doubled. At night they take rest on river bank.

Story of Brahmarshi Vishwamitra

            The story begans when Brahmarshi Vishwamitra starts telling how to destruct ego first after being a king, he tells about himself to Lord Shri ram.

Brahmarshi Vishwamitra was none other than the great king Kaushika (descendant of kusha who is brain child of Lord Brahma).He is the founder of Gayatri Mantra , which is found in the Rig, Yajur and Sama Vedas. One day with his huge army he came across the hermitage of sage Vashista. When the peaceful sage requested him to be his guest. Kaushika thinking that sage cannot feed the entire army rejects his offer. Sage told him not to worry and informed him that he is having the Wish fulfilling cow (Kamadhenu) Sabala with him. He called out the divine cow and it had fed the entire army with a great feast. King thinking that it would be more useful for him than if it is near a sage, asks to give it to him. Sage Vashista smoothly rejects his offer when King gets angry and wishes to take it forcibly. Sabala made her own army to defend against the king kaushika and defeats him. King realizes that the real power is obtained only through penance.

            Defeated King leaves his kingdom in a thought to become more powerful than Vashista commences Penance for 12 years. With his deep Penance he made Indra to think that he will dominate his power. Indra sends Menaka an Apsara to seduce kaushika and disturb the deep meditation. Kaushika loses his concentration and lives with menaka for years. They gave birth to baby girl Shakuntala King after realizing the loss done to him. Menaka leaves her baby and leaves back to heaven. 

           Kaushika requests Sage Kanva to adopt his daughter, when he accepts. He curses Menaka that she will not possess her beauty in next birth. Kaushika continues his meditation again when an attempt to seduce him one more time is done again through Rambha. Kaushika curses her to become a stone for thousand years.

            King Kaushika continues his penance in severe at Himalayas for thousand years. He ceases to eat completely and his yogic powers becomes peak. Indra to test him again takes the form of a poor Brahmin and begs food near kaushik when he is about to eat after years of Tapasya. King Kaushik gives away his food and resumes his tapasya.Thus finally he masters his passions.

            One day Trishanku a friend of Kaushika came to him. He is the Contemporary king of him. Trishanku wanted to go heaven with his body but not with soul. So he goes to sage Vashista who is his guru and requests him to send him with body. Sage Vashista rejects him and hence he reaches Kaushika. Kaushika who is waiting for a chance to prove him more worthy than Vashista immediately sends him to heaven with all his yogic powers. Lord Indra king of heaven throws him down with all the force he have, replying that none one can enter the heaven with his own body. Kaushika holds him in midair and warns Indra for his doing. Indra replies he cannot make an exception to Trishanku. When the angry Kaushika creates another heaven for Trishanku and makes him king for it. His more powers make Indra so miserable and think a lot of him.

            Kaushika turned his name to Vishwamitra and started his penance again for attaining the status of Brahmarshi, to equal Vashista. When he came to know that he can attain it through Vashista and Brahma. He continues his penance and finally both Vashista and Lord Brahma appears before him and gives him the name Brahmarshi Vishwamitra. They reminds him that his fight is to fulfill the greed of having a cow. Vishwamitra thinks what he has done and finally gets into the control of nature. He understands what his ego has done and apologizes to Vashista. Sage Vashista accepts him as his best pal thereafter.. J

There were many stories with Lord Shriraam and Lakshman was explained with morals from Vishwamitra.

Another such story is of Ahalya where he learns how a women has to be respected, while crossing the hermitage of Sage Gautam.

                        Click here for Story of Ahalya a Livingstone…..

Vishwamitra reaches the confluence of Sarayu with Ganges. He says them the story of Ganga descending to earth through their ancestor Bhageeratha.

                        Click here for Story of Ganges ….

For anything on earth woman is the origin and for her Love man or god will do anything. Vishwamitra tells Lord shriram and Lakshmana about the marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvathi. Though shiva is god the obstacles faced by him and how they lived happily forever.

  Click here for Story of Lord Shiva and Parvathi Marriage ….

Vishwamitra teaches lord shriram and lakshman the usage of most powerful weapons such as Brahmastra too in their journey of learning. The young prince becomes more powerful with his new learnings. Vishwamitra tells them that the power can be used only against injustice. He says that any weapon which fights for justice through a truthful person is more powerful than even Brahmastra and hence the arrow of Raam have that power.

Lord Shriram learns what is justice in case of women and When to Kill a Women with the story of Tataki.Tataki is a women demon who is very powerful. She is the mother of Maricha and Subahu- who play a key role in separating Shri ram and Sita devi.

Click here for Story of Killing Tataki and getting rid of her sons….

Knowing the death of Tataki her sons act upon rage. They reach the Yagna place of Vishwamitra and tries to disturb it. When the young prince and his brother Lakshman builds a Chakra with arrows above the place which will not allow anything to come beyond from sky. The Yagna went undisturbed with the guarding of  prince Rama and Lakshmana and the proudful guru continues with them for the Sita Swayamwara of King Janaka. King Ravana listens to the name of Lord Shriram for the first time through demon Maricha.

 Click Here for complete story of sita,Videhi and Ravan seetaswayamwar…

On a day sita was playing with her friends with a ball and it went under a huge table which is carrying the mighty bow of lord Shiva. This Bow is presented to Janaka through sage vashista which is used during a war between lord Shiva and lord Vishnu. It was very heavy to carry for even 50 best warriors of the country. Devi Sita moves it along with the table using single hand. Looking at the scene king Janaka surprises and decides to give her hand to a person who can really lift the bow and string it.

           

Ravana doesn’t get the invite but still he listening to the beauty of sita wish to visit the swayamwar. He tries to lift the mighty bow of lord shiva and fails. Looking at the failure of demon king everyone withdrew themselves from the competition. Lord Shri Ram takes the bless of his guru Vishwamitra and walks ahead to lift the bow. Before he try to lift it, he prays lord Maha shiv and easily succeeds. While trying to string the bow it cracks and thus he wins on the swayamwar announced. Demon King Ravan for the second time notices the strength of Lord Shri Ram.

            In a Superb manner their marriage is conducted and even today it is believed as the best marriage in India. Along with Lord Shri Ram his three brothers also got married to the sisters of Sita.

Thus Lakshmana is married to Urmila, Bharatha is married to Maandavi and Shatrughna to Shrutakeerthi.

                      *** JAI SHRI RAM***

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Lord Shri Ram and Sita Marriage

                For everyone marriage is a dream where we need to share our entire life with an unknown. In India, it is more traditional and during every marriage the first thing remembered is the marriage of Lord Shri Ram and Sita. Marriage was celebrated for days in those days.

                Sage Vishwamitra receives the Invitation of King Janaka for blessing his daughter at the Swayamwar of Seeta devi. Sage who is aware of Shri Maha Lakshmi the consort of Lord Vishnu is in the form of Seeta devi walks along with lord Shri Ram to the venue.

Story of Goddess Sita :-

                To know about the story of Devi Sita the consort of Lord Shri Ram. There should be an Introduction of her birth first. Once there lived a son of Brihaspathi, his name is Brahmarshi Kusadhvaja. He is the guru of Devas and have spent his life reading the Vedas. He has a daughter who is very bright and charming, she followed her father in reading these vedas and hence named as Vedavathi. Her father wishes to give her hand to Lord Vishnu. A daitya king sambhu murders her parents for rejecting his marriage proposal. Yet Vedavathi continues her great penance for Lord Vishnu.

                Ravana the Asura King found Vedavathi meditating and gets attracted to her incredible beauty. He proposes her for marrying and she rejects it. Ravana who hates lord Vishnu spoils her penance by touching her hair. Vedavathi sacrifices her by jumping into fire. She rejects to curse him as her penance will go waste. But, tells him that she will take re-birth as his death. Ravana doesn’t want to leave her ashes even. Hence he by collecting the ashes in a box brings to Lanka. The ashes in box started show up in different forms to everyone of them. So, Mandodari wife of Ravana decides to throw that box in deep seas and orders her soliders. The box thus thrown travels in seas and thrown to land in a place Mithila.

                One day Janka the king of Videha was ploughing a field to prepare it for conducting Yagna. Suddenly the plough got stuck and king found a golden box on digging, he found a beautiful little girl in the box. He named the baby girl as Sita and she is also known as Janaki (Daughter of Janaka). She is considered as the daughter of Bhoodevi as found in earth. Days passed and SIta have 1 more sister Urmila and 2 cousin sisters from Janaka brother. Janaka was very happy with his family. Sita grew up as the most charming and beautiful women. On a day she was playing with her friends with a ball and it went under a huge table which is carrying the mighty bow of lord Shiva. This Bow is presented to Janaka through sage vashista which is used during a war between lord Shiva and lord Vishnu. It was very heavy to carry for even 50 best warriors of the country. Devi Sita moves it along with the table using single hand. Looking at the scene king Janaka surprises and decides to give her hand to a person who can really lift the bow and string it.

                Ravana doesn’t get the invite but still he listening to the beauty of sita wish to visit the swayamwar. He tries to lift the mighty bow of lord shiva and fails. Looking at the failure of demon king everyone withdrew themselves from the competition. Lord Shri Ram takes the bless of his guru Vishwamitra and walks ahead to lift the bow. Before he try to lift it, he prays lord Maha shiv and easily succeeds. While trying to string the bow it cracks and thus he wins on the swayamwar announced. Demon King Ravan for the second time notices the strength of Lord Shri Ram.

                In a Superb manner their marriage is conducted and even today it is believed as the best marriage in India. Along with Lord Shri Ram his three brothers also got married to the sisters of Sita.

Thus Lakshmana is married to Urmila, Bharatha is married to Maandavi and Shatrughna to Shrutakeerthi.

 During marriage sage Parashuram arrives.

Story of Sage Bhargava Ram or Parashu-Ram:

Sage Bhargava is the sixth Incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He is the son of Renuka and Saptarishi Jamadagni. One among the seven immortals of Hinduism. The story of him can be said so simple and straight. He is a warrior but sage. He commenced deep penance to lord shiva and was given with indestructible axe (Parashu) as weapon. He is a very angry sage. It is believed that he wounded Lord shiv with his axe on an fierce fight when he was being tested by lord. Lord shiva preserved this wound as an ornament and is hence also known as Khanda-Parashu.

His Mother Renuka is known for her devotion towards her husband. With her faith, she was able to fetch water in a pot built with unbaked clay. One day her thoughts get filled with desire for a moment when a group of Gandharvas are passed in sky through chariot and at that time the clay pot gets dissolved in water. Jamadagni knowing this with his yogic powers orders his sons to kill renuka. All of them refuses and angry father turns them to stone. But, Bhargava beheaded his mother and makes his father happy. He gets two boons for fulfilling his wish. The boy uses them for bringing his mother back to life and turning his brothers normal.

A king named Kartavirya visits the hermitage of Jamadagni once and gets feasted well. He comes to know that it happened with the help of Kamadhenu he having. He requests for it and the king steals it from him. Jamadagni orders his son to visit piligrim places for purifying the stains of blood. Sons of kartavirya discovering that their father is killed by Parashuram. They decapitated his body and took head with them. In rage parashuram killed all the Kshatriyas(kings) for over 21 times and conducts the cremation of his father.

Story at Shri Ram’s Marriage continues…

He arrived at the marriage ceremony and gets angry for breaking the bow of Lord Shiva. He asks Lord Shri Ram to handle the mightiest Bow of Bhargava and prove himself. Lord Shri Ram rejects him saying that as he is wearing the ring of marriage and as a reason he should not handle anything related to war. Sage considers him as coward and challenges him many times though Kings Dasharath and Janaka plead him. As no choice is left Lord Shri Ram decides to fulfill his wish. He handles the bow of Bhargava Ram very easily and then only the sage realizes that his Incarnation is now completed. 

Lord Shri Ram is recognized with his true form of Shri Maha Vishnu by Bhargava Ram and he leaves to Mount Mahendra.

                             **** JAI SHRI RAAM****

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When to Kill a Women-Story of Tataki

                      

           Lord Shri Raam is the son of King Dasharath, he is fondly loved by his father. He was never away from his father and father was never able to stay away of him. But a sage Vishwamitra who knows the fortune ( a fight with the undefeated demon Ravana) of the young princess decide to teach everything he knows. One day  Vishwamitra arrives the Sabha of King Dasharath and requests for his help. King Dasharath assures him for anything he needs when he was asked to send out his son Shri Raam as the protector of Yagna to be performed. King Dasharath requests him to take anything but says he cannot send his son. Angry Vishwamitra wishes to leave the kingdom when Dasharath with no choice sends his son Shri Raam  and  Lakshmana as his protector along with him.

Vishwamitra teaches lord shriram and lakshman the usage of most powerful weapons such as Brahmastra too in their journey of learning. The young prince becomes more powerful with his new learnings. Vishwamitra tells them that the power can be used only against injustice. He says that any weapon which fights for justice through a truthful person is more powerful than even Brahmastra and hence the arrow of Raam have that power. Without wasting a moment of time brothers earned the knowledge from their master Vishwamitra.

Lord Shriram learns what is justice in case of women and When to Kill a Women with the story of Tataki.Tataki is a women demon who is very powerful. She is the mother of Maricha and Subahu- who play a key role in separating Shri ram and Sita devi.

        A yaksha king sukethu perfomed tapasya in the desire of having a son. Lord Brahma blessed him with a strong and beautiful daughter instead. He marries her to an Asura king named Sumali. They have 2 sons and 1 daughter(Kalikesi). Tadaka and Sumali wishes to marry their daughter to sage Vishrava as their kids will get the power to rule the entire 3 worlds. Vishrava although married fels in love with Kalikesi and fathers the most powerful demons on earth— Ravana, Vibhishana, Kumbakarna and Soorpanaka.

       Knowing this Rishi Agastya curses Sumali and kalikesi to death. Tadaka with her sons try to take vengeance on sage. Agastya was a very powerful sage with his yogic powers. No one can touch him with an intention to harm. He is also very angry sage. He cursed Tadaka with the loss of beauty and transformed them into demons. They moved to a forest on the banks of Ganges and Sarayu and continued to live there. Tataki did not allow anyone to dare in stepping into forest.

Maricha and Subahu started harassing all rishis by destroying their penance, yagnas with rains of blood and flesh. Vishwamitra who knows all this brings in the young princes into the forest. He tells the story of Tadaka and asks him to kill her.

Lord Shri Ram says, “A woman cannot be killed by a warrior. She is in this form due to a curse and not by in nature. Whatever she might be I cannot kill a woman.”

Vishwamitra says, “ A Woman can be killed when she is demonic and is spoiling others life. Evil has no gender, caste or creed. As a prince of the nation your responsibility is to look after the good of your people." Kill her she is a demon.

        Lord agreeing for his teacher Vishwamitra swiftly pierced her heart with arrows and was blessed by all the sages. Knowing this her sons act upon rage. They reach the Yagna place of Vishwamitra and tries to disturb it. When the young prince and his brother Lakshman builds a Chakra with arrows above the place which will not allow anything to come beyond from sky. 

       They hit Maricha and Subahu hard with their arrows.Subahu gets killed with the shot of arrow. Maricha fells in sea and swims to Lanka for escape. The Yagna went undisturbed and the proudful guru continues with them for the Sita Swayamwara of King Janaka. King Ravana listens to the name of Lord Shriram for the first time through demon Maricha.

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