In the last post, we had seen the trio reaching Mithila and Satananda, son of Gautama and family priest of King Janaka started to narrate the important events in the life of Sage Viswamitra to Rama. The details about the rivalry of Viswamitra with Vasishta were discussed which prompted the former to realise the importance of Brahmanic power after the defeat in the hands of a simple sage Vasishta.
King Viswamitra after his debacle with Sage Vasishta wanted to be a ‘Brahmarshi’, equal to Vasishta. He went with his queen towards the South, and performed great penance, eating only roots and fruits and controlling his mind. In the meantime, he had got sons named Havishyanda, Madhushyanda, Dhritanetra and Maharatha. After many years of further penance Lord Brahma appeared before him and recognized him as a ‘Raja Rishi’. But Viswamitra could not accept anything less than the status of a ‘Brahma Rishi’. Therefore, he continued the ‘tapas’ indefinitely.That was the time of a famous King, called ‘Tri-sanku’, who called on Viswamitra for help. Who was this King Tri-sanku? And what did he want from Viswamitra? All these are told in long stories in the ‘Ramayana’ and other scriptures.
Viswamitra took pity on him and wanted to help him and conduct a ‘Yaga’ with the help of priests, who dared not to say ‘No’ to him. During the Yaga, the Gods did not come when invoked for receiving the offerings. Viswamitra, with his yogic power, held the ladle of ghee high and looked at Tri-sanku and ordered him to ascend the heaven. It was the greatest wonder of wonders. Tri-sanku slowly ascended the heaven but was pushed down by Indra. While Tri-sanku cried for Viswamitra’s help, as he was falling head-long, Viswamitra roared, “Stop there, Stop there!” Tri-sanku stopped then and there midway with head down. Seated in the midst of Rishis, stupefied by anger that glorious sage Viswamitra, like Brahma evolved another group of seven constellations, (corresponding to the Great Bear) coursing in the southern quarter and further created a new galaxy of lunar mansions. Excited with anger, he set about evolving a hierarchy of gods and was about to create another Indra, when the ‘Devas’ came down and reconciled with him. They conceded Tri-sanku’s Swarga and all that Viswamitra had created. The Gods further said: “O Sage! Let Tri-sanku, happy as a God remain suspended with his head downward, shining brightly in the midst of those stars. These stars will circumambulate Tri-sanku who will be accomplished of purpose and glorious like a denizen of the heavenly regions.” The Gods were thus obliged to yield, and it was agreed that Tri-sanku, an immortal, should hang with his head downwards, and shine among some stars newly called into being by Viswamitra. Even today, we can see the galaxy created by Viswamitra in the sky, Tri-sanku upside down in what is known as “The Southern Cross”.
When Tri-sanku was pushed down from heaven, Viswamitra, outraged that his command was not honored, he asked Trisanku to halt. Standing among the sages resembling another creator Brahma, he created one more constellation of the seven planets in the southern part of the sky. Agitated and scornful he swore that he would also create one more Indra, and in his boundless fury started creating the very gods.
Though the devatas, asuras and sages told Viswamitra that Trisanku cursed by of his guru was not worthy of entering heaven with his body Viswamitra insisted that his promise to Trisanku should be honored. Saying "Forever shall this king of the Ikshavakus remain with his mortal body in heaven, and forever shall remain all that I have created. Let this be his eternal abode and may you all consent to this. 'So be it' said the gods agreeing that the innumerable constellations beyond the path of Vaisvanara would exist forever and Trisanku would live in that heaven shining amidst the stars like another celestial star. The sacrifice ended and the spectators dispersed lauding Viswamitra's powers.
Since Viswamitra lost much of his power earned by his austerities, he decided to move to Pushkara in the west for increasing his ‘tapas’, eating only roots and fruits. At that time, there was a great King of Ayodhya, named Ambarisha. Once while doing a horse-sacrifice, Lord Indra carried away the sacrificial horse. The priests informed him about the evil effects of such an obstruction in the Yaga. To atone for this, they suggested that within a stipulated time, he should offer a human sacrifice. The officiating priest of the horse-sacrifice said: “the sacrificial animal brought here has disappeared through your negligence. Sins accruing from such negligence destroy the king who fails to guard his sacrifice. Hunt out and bring quickly the lost animal or a human beast as a substitute, before the sacrifice actually commences. This is the atonement prescribed by the scriptures for loss of the consecrated animal.”The King searched far and wide to purchase a victim from poor parents by giving wealth in the form of cows and gold. He came across ‘Rishi Richika’ at Bhrigutungam, who agreed to give away his second son, Sunah-Sephas, who also volunteered to be a sacrificial victim. The King gave a hundred thousand cows and purchased the boy.
While the King was returning with Sunah-Sephas, they halted at Pushkara for rest. During this time, Sunah-Sephas saw his maternal uncle, Sage Viswamitra doing ‘Tapas’ there. He appealed to him to save him from death, without any problem for the King to fulfill his purpose.
Consoling Sunah-Sephas, Viswamitra spoke to his own sons: “This son of a hermit, who is yet a child, seeks deliverance through me. Do him a good turn, my dear sons, by merely parting with your own life. You take the place of the sacrificial victim on behalf of this boy.” The eldest son of Viswamitra, Madhuchhanda said: “How is it that you want to save another’s son, parting with your own sons?” Annoyed by this intrepid, insubordinate, and indignant reply, the Sage cursed his sons: “Like the sons of Vasishta, you shall be born on earth among Chandalas and Mushtikas, living on the flesh of dogs for full thousand years.” Sage Viswamitra then taught Sunah-Sephas two secret excellent psalms in praise of Lord Indra and Lord Vishnu to be chanted when he would be tied to the sacrificial post. Learning the two psalms as taught by sage Viswamitra, Sunah-sephas prompted King Ambarisha to start quickly for the resumption of the sacrifice, much to the surprise of the King.
When the Yaga resumed, Sunah-Sephas was tied to the sacrificial post with ‘darbha’ grass and decorated with red cloth, garlands etc. He chanted the verses with great devotion and faith. Propitiated through the mystic psalms, and filled with delight, Lord Indra, who was the ‘Adhidevata’ of this yagna was greatly pleased by the ‘mantras’ and appeared and blessed him long life. Indra also blessed King Ambarisha that he would get the benefit of the yaga without killing the human victim of sacrifice. Thus Sunah-Sephas could save his life through the help of Viswamitra, who adopted him as his son, and named him Devaratha.
Sage Viswamitra did penance for a thousand years on the sacred banks of the celebrated lakes, going by the name of ‘Pushkara’. At the end of full one thousand years, the ‘Devas headed by Lord Brahma appeared before him, and addressed Viswamitra the most pleasing words: “May good betide you! You have now become a ‘Rishi’, pure and simple, while you were only a royal sage (‘Rajarshi’) till now, by virtue of the austerities, performed by yourself.” This status of a ‘Rishi’ was higher than that of a ‘Rajarshi’. Not content with this, he performed more ‘tapas’ to attain the status of a ‘Brahma rishi’—one who had conquered all his sense organs.
One day Viswamitra happened to see the celestial nymph, Apsara named Menaka—a woman of extreme beauty. Overcome with passion, he invited her to his hermitage and was greatly enamored of her beauty. “I welcome you, O Celestial Beauty! You may stay in this hermitage of mine. Be gracious to me, infatuated as I am through love,” he said. They spent ten years together and got a child. Ten years were spent happily by Menaka while living in that pleasant hermitage of Viswamitra. So much time having rolled by unperceived, the great Sage Viswamitra felt ashamed as it were and fell a prey to anxiety and grief. Suddenly Viswamitra realized how he was a victim of the conspiracy of the ‘Devas’ to obstruct his austerities. He realized his own weakness and felt guilty and distressed with remorse, and he felt: “This is nothing but an obstacle that has come in my way.” Seeing Menaka standing and trembling with folded palms, he did not curse her, but bade her farewell with his kind words of blessings.
He then set out towards the mountains in the north resolving to subdue his passions and taking the vow of celibacy.In order to control his senses, Viswamitra performed unrelenting austerities for a thousand years on the banks of the river Kausiki.
The ‘Devas’ were ill at ease, because of his growing austerities and, Lord Brahma announced to him that, he had become now a ‘Maharshi’, by virtue of his penance. Viswamitra fell at his feet and with folded palms and said: “If you give me the status of a ‘Brahma Rishi’, then only I consider myself as one who has conquered my mind.” Lord Brahma replied: “You have to go a long way to become a ‘Jitendriya’ (one who has controlled all his sense organs). You have not been able to conquer your senses. Strive further.”
Viswamitra now continued his ‘tapas’, with more severity. With hands uplifted, without any support, without any food save air, he stood in summer with fire all around and with the Sun overhead. In rainy season, he did ‘tapas’ without any cover. In winter he stood in water, day, and night continuously. In this manner, he continued very severe ‘tapas’ for many thousands of years.
While the great Sage was practicing severe penance, deep anguish indeed seized the minds of the Gods as well as of Indra. Indra along with all the Gods called and then addressed the celestial nymph Rambha to break the penance or ‘tapas’ of Viswamitra.
The devatas hoped that Viswamitra would turn away from his penance bewitched by Rambha. But Rambha trembled at the very thought. Aware of Viswamitra's flaming temper she had no intention whatsoever of provoking the wrath of that Sage who was so deeply involved in penance. But Indra allaying her fears said that, come spring and with the trees in bloom, he would transform himself into a cuckoo to enchant and captivate Viswamithra while Kandarpa the god of love would help to make their efforts easy. Yielding to Indra's persuasion, Rambha reached Viswamitra who was listening to the cooing of a nightingale. Opening his eyes he beheld the nymph Rambha, in all her glory singing ever so softly. Her stunning beauty brought Viswamitra to the very brink of disaster, when with a start he recognized it to be the work of Indra. And in his fury he cursed the hapless, Rambha. "I condemn you and your evil attempts to instigate and entice me while I am trying to curb my anger and my passion. May you turn into a rock and remain so for ten thousand years until Vasishta a Brahmin of tremendous ascetic power liberates you!"
The minute the curse was pronounced Rambha turned into rock, Indra and Kandarpa fled in panic and Viswamitra was flooded with remorse, for having lost control over his temper. Tormented, at having labored in vain to subjugate his senses, witnessing the merit of all his limitless austerities disappear in a single moment, Viswamitra swore to resume his penance for another thousand years. "Starving my body and suspending my very breath, I shall not relent until I am declared a Brahmarshi. May my body sustain the power of my penance and not waste away".
Viswamitra left the northern quarter of the Himalayas and continued his austerities at the eastern quarter of the mountains. Vowed to silence, immersed in unprecedented practices he disregarded all hindrances. Emaciated and rendered thin as a reed by the intensity of his penance with great forbearance, the sage finally gained total mastery over his senses. One day, when he who had observed his vow of a thousand years so rigidly was about to partake of some cooked rice, Indra in the guise of a Brahmin came asking for food. Viswamitra silently, offered him all that there was without uttering a word and continued with the next phase of his penance, by suspending his breath for another thousand years until smoke started emanating from his head. So fierce was it that all the worlds felt as if they were on fire. The celestials with their fellow beings, the yakshas, gandharvas and the others bewildered by the might of the ascetic. Feeling faint in the heat of Viswamitra's effulgence they rushed to Brahma in anguish and pleaded. "Though disturbed by us many a time, no power, or ploy has succeeded in distracting this most noble sage. His austerities are growing, and he is sinless. If his desire is not granted, the three worlds will soon be consigned to ruin, for he will destroy them in his fury. There is turmoil in every direction, everything has lost its glow. The worlds look faint, the seas are tumultuous, the winds are tempestuous, the mountains shiver and the earth shudders. Even the sun pales before the dazzling brilliance of the venerable ascetic. Like the fire at the time of dissolution Viswamitra will consume the world. Grant him his wish, even if it be to rule the kingdom of the gods". The devatas and Brahma then went to Viswamitra to tell him that he had attained the status of Brahmarshi through his unsurpassed penance.
The illustrious Kausika accepting the honor said, "Since longevity and brahmin-hood have been conferred upon me, may I become the storehouse of the syllables, 'Om' and ‘Vashatkara' May the Vedas abide in me. Also, may the son of Brahma, Vasishta acknowledge me as Brahmarshi. Propitiated by the gods and the devatas, Vasishta gracefully and affectionately agreed,"Verily are you a Brahmarshi and you shall achieve ascetic perfection". Viswamitra, his long-cherished desire having come true, paid homage to Vasishta with joy. Thereafter the Brahmarshi wandered the entire world as an incarnation of austerities and an ultimate resort of power.
Janaka having heard this narration from Satananda bowed down in reverence to Kausika and said, " I am fortunate that you and Rama grace my yagna, by whose presence I am blessed and sanctified. Your austerities are renowned and all those assembled here are aware of them". Janaka and his preceptors circumambulated Viswamitra and returned to the palace while Viswamitra, Rama and Lakshmana retired to their abode.
This concludes chapters 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64 and 65 where we learnt about the important life events of Brahmarshi Viswamitra, to recall his greatness and the severe penance he observed to achieve his goal. We learnt about Tri-sanku and the heaven created by Viswamitra, story of Sunah-Sephas and how he was rescued, his severe penance and celestials Menaka and Rumba trying to break it, and finally becoming a Brahmarshi, who is an ultimate source of power and austerity. He is more than qualified to guide Rama in his adolescence and we had seen all that in the past few posts. We shall now progress to the huge bow of Shiva, Rama impeccable powers and subsequent marriage saga in kingdom of Janaka.
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