Wednesday 11 March 2015

Balakandam !! 63. Legend of Sage Vishwamithra’s association with the celestial Apsara Menaka !!

 
 
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Poorna Varsha Sahasre Thu Vratha Snanam Mahamunim |
Abhyagacchan Sura: Sarva Thapa: Phala Chikirshava: ||
Abraveeth Su Mahatheja Brahma Su Ruchiram Vacha: |
Rishi: Thvam Asi  Bhadhram They Sva Arjithai: Karmabhi:  Shubhai: ||
Thava Yevam Ukthva Devesha: Thridhivam Puna: Abhyagath |
Vishwamithro Mahatheja Bhooya: Thepe Mahath Thapa: ||
Thatha:  Kalena  Mahatha Menaka Paramam Apsara: |
Pushkareshu Narashreshta Snathum Upachakrame ||
 
Sage Shathananda continued “ Sage Vishwamithra completed thousand years of severe austerities, and it was the time all the deities assembled to honor the Sage with the fruit of severe asceticism.  Lord Brahma honored Sage Vishwamithra with the title of Rajarishi for his various pious deeds and returned to his abode.  Further, Sage Vishwamithra continued severe austerities for long time; in the meantime the celestial Apsara Menaka arrived on the holy lake to have a dip.  Sage Vishwamithra was mesmerized at matchless beauty of Menaka who was sporting on the holy lake, he was tormented by the cupid arrows of Lord Manmatha the moment his eyes were fell on Apsara, eventually Sage Vishwamithra wholeheartedly invited the celestial Apsara Menaka to reside with him in his hermitage.  Oh! Raghunandana, ultimately Menaka happily resided with Sage Vishwamithra and the couple had lived beautiful ten years in each other’s association, during this period of time Sage Vishwamithra has experienced many impediments to his practice of asceticism.  After the completion of ten years in the association of Menaka, Sage Vishwamithra was realized that it was the unfair act of the deities to create obstacle for his practice of asceticism and the fruit of it, he felt that the ten years has passed like a day and night and due to his sense gratification he has to face obstruction in his practice of asceticism.  Sage Vishwamithra was besieged with utter guilt and shame, Menaka earnestly stood before the Sage with her palms joined.  Sage Vishwamithra pacified Menaka who was already in state of culpability and sent her away; he proceeded to the northern parts of the Himalaya.   Finally, Sage Vishwamithra arrived on the river bank of Kaushiki and underwent severe penance to get relieved from the sin of sense gratification.  In this way, Sage Vishwamithra continued rigorous austerities for thousand years on the northern mountains of Himalaya.  All the deities were in a state of trepidation, approached Lord Brahma and conveyed that Vishwamithra, son of Kushi should be rewarded with the honor of Brahmarishi.  Thus Lord Brahma who was pleased at the austerities of Sage Vishwamithra revealed his superiority among the ascetics.  Sage Vishwamithra reverentially greeted Lord Brahma with the palms joined together and spoke “ Oh! Bhagavan, I will be pleased to hear the honor ‘Brahmarishi’ attained with my pious deeds, I will treat myself as conqueror of senses.”  Lord Brahma replied “ You have already won over your senses, continue your austerities.” and the deities and Lord Brahma left to their abode.   Sage Vishwamithra continued austerities on standing posture, upraising both the arms and consuming on air.  The ascetically wealthiest Sage Vishwamithra stood in the middle of Panchabhoothas in the summer, during the rainy seasons he stood in the midst of waterbed, due to the immense power of his asceticism the deities felt the torturing heat.  Lord Indra and Lord Vayu instructed the celestial Aspasara Rambha which was convenient for the deities and it was utter nuisance for Sage Vishwamithra, son of Sage Kushi.”
 
 
Jai Sriman Narayana !!