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Maandhaataa
Namassadassae,
Many of you must be already skimming through 'Devi
Bhaagavatam'....what with Navaratri commencing tomorrow. I intend
sharing an episode that came to my mind thanks to Sree Subramanian
Lakshminarayanan (Siva2Siva) who recently gave us a brilliant piece on
Sivaalayams at MP and Rajasthan.....and hence I humbly dedicate this
post to him.
Here goes:
Some may recollect Sree Adi Sankara's.........
kAverikAnarmadayoH pavitre samAgame sajjanatAraNAya |
sadaiva mAndhAtRipure vasantamoNkAramIshaM shivamekamIDe ||
Meaning:
I pay my obeisance to the One Who is the savior of the good
people and the great One Who always resides at the Holy merging point
of Kaveri and Narmada, i.e., Omkar Shiva.
Pilgrimage to this shrine of Omkar Maandhaata Shiva is
considered very unique. The beauty is that the sthala purANa of
Omkareshvar derives its origin from Devi Bhaagavatam.
In the mythological era, Yauvanaaswa Putra Maandhaataa came into power
here with the blessings of Indra. He served Lord Shiva with great
devotion. Lord was pleased with him. The waters of Narmada emanated
from the Arghya of Jalahari of the Omkar JyotirLinga and flowed
through the mountains, downward and later to flow unseen. Narmada
joins the deep-water spring located near the Linga idol of
Omkareshwar. It flows there eternally. When some bubbles appear at the
bottom of this spring, it is said, that Lord Shiva is pleased.
King Maandhaataa made this holy place his capital. Therefore,
this place is also known as Omkar Maandhaataa. The descendants of
Maandhaataa live here even today. The Vindhya mountain also performed
a severe penance and pleased Omkar-Amareshwar. As a result of which,
the whole place turned beautiful. Many hermits like Agastya have
performed severe penances and japas at Omkar-Amaleshwaram
JyotirLingam. They had built their hermitages...
But then who is this Maandhaataa?? I bet you haven't heard
about him...unless of course you have read Devi Bhaagavatam.
Cut to Devi Puraanam 7th Skandha, Chap IX
"Strange!! What you said was never seen nor heard ever before
since. (na srutam na cha drashtam..verse 42-43) This sort of birth is
highly improbable (asambhaavyam). How was that beautiful son born in
the belly of his father the king? (raajodare yathotpanna: putra:
sarvaan sundara:) " questions Janamejaya in astonishment.
Vyaasa replies :-- O King! The King Yauvanaasva had one hundred
queens; yet he had no issues. The King looked always dejected. Once he
went to the holy retreats of the Rishis...to plead his case.The Rishis
seeing his sorrowful condition took pity on him. They said to him :--
O King! Why are you thus sorrowful and distressed? What is troubling
your heart? Speak forth. (kim te du:kham mahaaraaja bruhi satyam
manogatam). We will surely redress your grievance. (pratikaaram
karishyaama: du:khasya tava sarvataa..verse 49)
Yauvanaasva said :-- "O Munis! there is nothing in the world
that I do not have. I have the kingdom, wealth, horses, one hundred
illustrious chaste wives. I have no enemies in the three worlds; no
one is stronger than me. But O Ascetics! I have no son; this state of
mine is the only cause of my pain and sorrow. Help me! (aputrasya
gatirnaasti naiva cha naiva cha..verse 52)"
Hearing the words of the King Yauvanaasva the Rishis were all
filled with pity; they performed Yagna invoking Indra. For the sake of
the King, that he may get a son born to him, they had a kalasa filled
with water by the Braahmins and purified and charged that jar with the
Vedic Mantrams. The water vessel was left overnight in the
Yagnasaala.But that night Yauvanaasva awoke with a parched throat. He
staggered in the darkness. He saw the water in the sacrificial jar
glimmering under a slender moon that had just risen.The thirsty King
drank that water surcharged with the Mantram...went back to sleep
dreaming brilliant dreams. The Brâhmins had consecrated and kept that
water apart, according to due rules, surcharged with Mantrams, for the
wife of the King; but the King, getting thirsty, himself drank that
water quite unwittingly. Next morning the Brâhmins seeing the jar
empty, were startled; the Brâhmins, when they came to know that the
King himself drank the water, they reconciled saying 'this to be an
act of Daiva (Fate)' (Daivabalam mahat..verse 60) and completing the
sacrifice returned to their abodes. Then the King became pregnant by
the power of the sacrificial Mantrams. After some time, the son became
fully developed.When the time came the king went into labour Then the
King's ministers and the physician incised the right bowel, got the
son out. .By God's grace, the king did not die. When the ministers
were troubled with the thought as to who will suckle the little
prince, Indra spoke out 'the child would drink (Mân-Dhâtâ) my
forefinger' and will grow up by 'My Nourishment' and gave his finger
into the child's mouth. (Tada indra: praadaan Maam Dhaata iti vada
vacha:) Thus was born the prince named Mândhâtâ.
The son of Yauvanas'va was Srîmân Mândhâtâ; he became the
Lord of the Earth and for the satisfaction of the Devî Bhagavatî had
one thousand and eight palaces built in Benares and in the other chief
places of pilgrimages. (Ashtothara sahasram tu Praasaada yena
nirmitaa:) . So you see Maandhaata was not born out of his mother's
womb! (Maatru garbhe na jaata:......utpanno janakodare)
knr
--
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God
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