Kanva maharishi-part 1

1.SAGE KANVA

1.1.Introduction

Kanva was a renowned rishi. He is the author of several hymns of the Rig Veda.
He was son of Ghora. Ghora was one of the Angirasas. The Kanvas are the
descendants of Kanva. Sage Kanva brought up Sakunthala daughter of sage
Viswamithra and apsaras Menaka. Sankuntala married king Dushyanta. The child
born to them was Bharata from whom our country got the name so. King Bharata was
an ancestor of Kauravas and Pandavas, who fought the war of the Mahabharata.

1.2 Sage Kanva offended by Yadavas

Once, some young Yadavas played a prank with Sage Kanva. One day, these grown up
children went to the bank of river Narmada where sage Kanva was doing
penance. Samba son of Lord Krishna was one among the Yadava children. Samba
disguised himself as a pregnant woman by keeping a pestle under his clothes.
All the children went near Sage Kanva and asked him as to when was the pregnant
woman supposed to deliver a child.

1.3 Sage Kanva curses Yadava clan destruction

Sage Kanva got very much angry at their action. He cursed them that the whole
clan of Yadavas would be liquidated because of that very pestle. All the
children were scarred and told Sri Krishna about the mistake they had made. Sri
Krishna ordered that the iron pestle be crushed to powder and be thrown into a
pond. A fish swallowed a small part of that iron pestle and was subsequently
caught by a fowler, who retrieved that iron-piece from the fish and fixed it on
the top of his arrow.

1.4 Sri Krishna hit by arrow

The curse came in to effect. In course of time all the Yadavas developed enmity
among them and killed each other with those sharp-edged reeds.

Once, Sri Krishna was taking rest under the shade of 'Kalpa' tree. A fowler
mistook his pink foot to be that of a deer and pierced it with his arrow. When
the fowler arrived at the spot he found Sri Krishna in an injured condition. The
fowler regretted his action and begged for Sri Krishna's pardon. Sri Krishna
consoled the fowler by saying that he had committed no crime.

1.5 Srikrisha leaves the mortal body before the arrival of his wives

Meanwhile, Daruk arrived there on his chariot. Sri Krishna instructed Daruk to
call Arjuna as soon as possible. Arjuna arrived at the site within a short time.
Sri
Krishna told Arjuna-’the time for my final departure has arrived. Please
call all my eight queen consorts.'

Arjuna rushed towards Dwarka to summon the queens but Sri Krishna had already
left for his heavenly abode before he could come back with the queens. Arjuna
informed the queens about Sri Krishna's injury. In a short time the news spread
like a wild fire and all the residents of Dwarka rushed towards the
site of incident. After reaching there, the eight queen consorts of Krishna
found that their beloved husband had already departed.

1.6 SreeKrishna’s wives and relatives end their life.

The eight queen consorts of Krishna gave up their lives and united with Sri
Krishna. The great Yadavas like Vasudev, Ugrasena and Akrur followed suit.
Balarama could not bear the sorrow caused by Sri Krishna's separation and he
gave up his life. His wife Revati entered the burning pyre with her husband's
body. Similarly all the rest of Sri Krishna's family members like Rukmi's
daughter, Pradyumna, Usha and Aniruddha left for heavenly abode.

Arjuna performed the last rite of all the dead Yadavas. Eventually, Dwaraka got
submerged into the ocean. Thus, Sri Krishna after having liberated the earth
from all the sinners left his mortal body.

1.7Lord Mahadeva tell the story of Kanva’s curse and the end of Yadavas to
Parvathi

Lord Mahadeva told the above story to Parvathi in Padma Purana. After completing
his story Lord Mahadeva told Parvati that Sri Krishna takes incarnation whenever
there is predominance of sin or sinners. Lord also revealed to her that Sri
Krishna would incarnate as Kalki at the fag end of Kaliyuga.

1.8 Temples connected with stories of sage Kanva

There are four temples connected with stories of sage Kanva

1.8.1 Titwala Mahaganapathi temple in Greater Mumbai.

It is told the Shri Mahaganapati (Titwala) was consecrated by sage Kanva: Devi
Shakuntala & king Dushyant came together and worshipped in the temple

1.8.2 Tiruporur Muruga temple

Tiruporur is a tiny hamlet off Chennai and is situated 16miles from
Chengalpattu. It has an old temple dedicated to Lord Muruga; it is famous and
attracts devotees from all over. There is a story that Lord Vishnu and Lakshmi
were cursed by sage Kanva. Lord Shiva liberated them from the curse at this
place.

1.8.3 Puduvayal Perumal temple

There is a temple for Sri KanakaValli Sametha Vijayaraghava Perumal in Pudhu
Vayal Village near Gummidi pundi. Sage Kanva build an ashram on the Banks of
Aranya River here and worshipped the Narayana in the form of Sri Kamalavalli
Sametha Vijayaraghava Perumal. He did the worship according to Vikanasa Method
(Vikanasa consisted of Hitham (Yagnas), Archana and Dhayana. This Shetram was
also known as Bridavanapuram as a lot of Tulasi plants grew here.

Long ago there was a Gandharva named Sumali. He became a Demon due to curse. In
the demon form he was known as Nivdan. He used to create obstacle in the Yagnas
done by sages and he used to trouble the Sages. This worried sage Kanva and he
did penance and appeased Bramha Deva.
Brahma appeared and told Kanva that Sage Kashyapa who was the disciple of sage
Vaikanasa was in Naimisaranya. Kanva may go to him and take his advice and
please Simon Narayana. According to the prayer done Lord Veeraraghavan did the
samhara of Sumali. Sumali got the Sapa Vimochana and Sage Kanva Got Annugraha of
Lord.

1.8.4 Digambara Ganesa temple Kadav (MP)

In Madhya Pradesh at Kadav there is a Digambar Siddhivinayaka. It is told Sage
Kanva consecrated this idol. Since the idol is without clothes it is call a
Digambara Ganesha.

1.9 Reference in Ramayana to sage Kanva

In the Ayodhya kanda Sarga 116: Sloka 20.Kulapati told Rama that they
are planning to go and settle in sage kanva's hermitage, not
far from there, which is lovely and had many roots and
fruits. (Before Seetha swayamvara)

1.10 Contributions of sage Kanva

The Rig Vedic ‘samhita’ or collection of mantras consists of 1017 or 1028
hymns or Suktas, which have been further divided 10 chapters or Mandala. The
hymns are the work of many authors or seers called ‘rishis’. There are seven
primary seers identified: Atri, Kanwa, Vashistha, Vishwamitra, Jamadagni,
Gautama and Bharadwaja.

There are no less than six complete recessions of Yajur Veda - Madyandina,
Kanva, Taittiriya, Kathaka, Maitrayani and Kapishthala Atharva Veda.

1.11 Kanva lived in the same period of Viswamithra

From sage Viswamitra and Menaka story and the child born was brought up by sage
Kanva we know that they all lived around the same time. There is a Kanva Ashram
on the banks of river Malini, 42 km from Haridwar. Probably it may be his final
settlement. We know him through his Vedic Mantras and through the famous
Dushyantha - Sakunthala â€"Bharata story.

1.12 Dushyanta- Sakuntala story

I very well know a write up on sage Kanva is incomplete with out the story of
Shakuntala. I am giving somewhat not much known information about the story
here. They may be mostly retelling variations also. However they are interesting
to read.

 

knr

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