Courtesy: Sri.VVR
PS: ** REF: **(Devi Puraanam..By VedaVyaasa Skandha
XII Adhyaaya IX)
"Kaale tapa: kaale jyeshtam kaale Brahma
samaahitam
kaalo ha sarvasya eeswaaro ya: pitaasiit prajaapathe:."
--Atharva Veda XIX, 53, 8.
(In Time
is energy, in Time the highest good. In Time is the Holy Utterance. Time is the
Lord of all that is, the Father, he, of the Creator.)
PART-I
Gautama, Brahmins, Kali Yuga, and
Gayatri Mahima!
Namassadassae,
"O vile Brahmins! When you all got together
mischievously only to cause distress to me, then let you be averse to meditate
upon and do japam of the Devi Gayatri, the Mother of the Vedas. For your (this)
despicable act, never will you all be eager to perform any Vedic sacrificial
acts or any action concerning thereof. There is no doubt about that. You will
be always averse to the mantras or the Tantras of Siva (Sive sivasya mantre
cha sivasaastre tathaiva cha). You will be always averse to Moola Prakriti
Sri Devi. (Moolaprakrutyaa: Sridevyaa: tatdhyaane tat kathaasu cha)"
"You will be wholly indifferent to practise
the right ways of living as prescribed in the Vedas and Smritis,(Srautasmaartha
sdaachaare jnaanamaarge) to preserve your conduct good and to observe the
path of knowledge to Advaita Jnaanam (Advaithajnaana nishtaayaam), to
practise restraint of senses and continence, to the daily practices of Sandhya
Vandanam,(nityakarmaadi anushtaane) to performing the Agnihotra
ceremonies (Agnihotraadi saadhane), to the study of the Vedas according
to one's own Shaakhaa. You will sell your father, mother, brothers, sisters,
sons and daughters and even your wives too!" (Pitru maatru suta
bhraatru kanyaa vikrayina :)
"You will sell the Vedas, (Vedavikrayina :) Tirthas and your Dharma. You will not feel ashamed in any way to sell all
these. You will certainly have faith in Kaapaalika (Kaapaalikamataasaktaa)
and Bauddha - opinions, Paancharaatras and Kaama Saastras (Kaamasaastre).
O vile Braahmanas! You will not hesitate to go to your mother, daughters or
sisters (Maatrukanyaagaamina: bhaginii gaaminaha) and you will always be
licentious with others' wives and spend your time in that. (Parastree
lampataa :) This is not to you only but to the women and men, all that will
come in your families. Let the Gaayatrii Devi be always indignant with you and
let you all go in the end to the Andha Koopa hells, etc". (**verses 55 to
75)
Rings a bell somewhere? Well.......
Thus cursed Rishi Gautama...who had become angry
like 'Rudra at the time of dissolution' (paramam kopam pralaye
Rudrakopavat..sasaapa Rushiin sarvaan kopasa rakta lochana: **verse 55);
his eyes were reddened and he cursed the Brahmins,.....In fact the next **25
verses each ending with Adhamaa: Braahmanaa: are nothing short of heavy doses of curses hurled at the Brahmins (refer above
for the gist) ...all for their undoing on the otherwise gentle Gautama Rishi!
But then thereby hangs a tale!.....What's that?
Soon the Navaraatri festival would be on. Many of
you may be dusting off the books on Devi and preparing to read them.....be it
Devi Mahaatmyam or Devi Bhaagavatam (Also called Devi Puraanam?). I myself did
that and my eyes fell on those last few pages of **(Devi Puraanam..By
VedaVyaasa, Skandha XII Adhyaaya IX)........amazingly enough....I thought I was
staring at the answers and very reasons why the 'Brahmins are at the
Crossroads" today and why "they are like that only!" and how
Devi Gayatri's blessings need to be sought to redeem ourselves!........sort of
a light at the end of the tunnel.
I propose to post in parts (because it is a bit
longish) the entire episode...seems more like a story but with quite a bit of
substance..to help each to derive his own meanings....and perhaps ponder. In
any case they are from Devi Bhaagavatam….and so perhaps does carry its own
inner message for the observant. Those learned many, I seek their indulgence.
Here goes:
Vyaasa said: -- O King Janamejaya! Once upon a
time, on account of an evil turn of Fate (Karma) of the human beings (Praaninaam
Karma vasa: na vavarsha sathakratu :)Verse 1, Indra did not pour out rains
on this earth for over fifteen years. Owing to want of rain, the horrible
famine appeared; and almost all the beings lost their lives. There were
countless number of dead persons in every house. (Gruhe gruhe savaanaam tu
sankhyaa kartum na sakyate) Verse 2. Out of hunger the people began to eat
horses; some ate bears and pigs (Aswaan
varaahaan va Bhakshayanthi), Verse 3, some others the dead bodies
while few others carried on any how their lives.
PART-II
Gautama, Brahmins, Kali Yuga, and
Gayatri Mahima!
O King! The Braahmanas then united and after due
discussion, came to the conclusion that they would go to the hermit Gautama who
would be able to remove their distress. So all of them wanted to go quickly to
the hermitage of the Muni Gautama (sarvam militvaa gamtavyam Gautamasya
aasrame) they began to say: -- "We hear that there is no famine in the
hermitage of Gautama. People are running there from different quarters." Thus
coming to a conclusion, the Braahmanas went to Gautama's Aashramam with their
cows, servants and relations.
The Rishi Gautama bowed down to them(drushtvaa
samaajam vipraanaam prananama sa Gautama :) and gave them a cordial welcome
and offered them appropriate aasanaas, etc. When all took their seats and
things became calm and quiet, Gautama enquired about their welfare and the
cause of their arrival. (chakaara kusalaprasnam tatascha aagamakaaranam).
They described everything about the dire famine and their own sad states and
expressed their deep regret. Seeing them very much distressed, Gautama Muni
gave them his word not to have any fear.
Vyaasa said: -- O King Janamejaya! Thus consoling
the Braahmanas, the Rishi Gautama began to worship the Gaayatrii Devi with rapt
devotional trance (Gayatriim praarthayaamaas Bhaktisannatamkara) Devi!
(Hleemkaararupinii....Praatharbaalaam raktavarnaam, maddhyaanhe yuvatiim
paraam, saayaanhe krishnavarnaam taam vrudhaam, nityam namaamyaham)(Does it
ring a bell about trikaala vandanam we do?) Obeisance to Thee! Now show favour
on us (Kshamasva Parameswari) at this severe famine time when all the
beings are well nigh on the way to destruction." Thus praised and worshipped,
the Universal-Mother appeared (Jaganmaataa pratyaksham darsanam dadau)
and gave to the Rishi one vessel (cup) full to the brim (poorna paatram
dadau) by which every one can be fed and nourished. The Mother told the
Muni: -- "This full vessel, given by me to you will yield whatever you wish."
Thus saying, the Devi Gaayatrii Higher than the Highest, vanished.
Then, according to the wish of the Muni, came out
from that cup, mountains of cooked rice, various curries and sweetmeats, lots
of grass and fodder, silken clothings , various ornaments and various articles
and vessels for sacrificial purposes. In fact whatever the Muni Gautama wished,
that came out of the brimful cup, given by the Devii Gaayatrii. Then the Muni
Gautama called the other Munis that came there and gave them wealth, grains,
clothing, ornament, and the sacrificial ladles and spoons and cows and
buffaloes for the sacrificial purposes.
The Devas, on the other hand, became very much
satisfied by the various Yajnaas and extolled the Muni's greatness. So much so,
that the famous Indra, the Lord of the Devas, came in the midst of the assembly
and extolled his greatness, thus: -- "This Gautama has fulfilled all our wishes
and has verily become a Kalpa Vriksha (celestial tree yielding all desires). (Aho
ayam na: kila kalpapaadapo manorathaan poorayathi pratishtitha :) O King
Janamejaya! Thus the Muni Gautama fed and nourished for twelve years (ithvam
dwaadasa varshani puposha munipungavaan) all the Munis and Brahmanas, like
his sons and that place came to be recognised as the chief centre (the Head
Quarters) (Gaayatryaa: paramam sthaanam chakaara) of the Gaayatrii Devi.
Then once upon a time, Narada of best conduct came
there playing on his great lute and singing in tune the highest glories of
Gaayatrii and took his seat in the assembly of the Munis. (Tatra ekadaa
samaayato Narado munisattama :)
PART-III
Gautama, Brahmins, Kali Yuga, and
Gayatri Mahima!
Seeing the tranquil hearted Naarada coming there,
Gautama and the other Munis received him with due respect and worshipped him
with 'Paadyam and Arghyam'. In the course of their conversation, Narada began
to describe the glories of Gautama muni and said: -- "O Best of Munis! I have
heard from the very mouth of Indra, in the assembly of the Devas, your glories;
as to your supporting and feeding the pure-hearted Munis and I have come only
to be in the midst of you all and witness these good deeds (Tvaam drashtum
aagatha:). Devarshi Naarada entered into the temple of the Devii Gaayatrii (gaayatri
sadanam yayau) and with eyes gladdened by love, saw the Devii there (dadarsa
Jagadambaam taam) and offered due hymns in praise of Her and then ascended
to the Heavens.
Here, on the other hand, the Braahmanas that were
fed by Gautama became jealous (asooyayaa khedam aagata :) at so much
honour showered on Gautama. So much so that they tried their best so that no
further honour be paid to him. They further settled among themselves not to
stay any longer in his Aashrama, and move out when the next good harvest season
comes.
O King! Some days passed when good rains fell and
there was an abundance of crops everywhere and the famine ended. Hearing this,
all the Braahmins united, alas! O King! to curse the noble Gautama. Oh! Their
fathers and mothers are blessed in whom do not arise such feelings of jealousy!
(Dhanyo teshaam cha pitarau yaya: utpatti: iidrusii) All these are the
wonderful plays of the powerful Kaala purush; it cannot be expressed by any
person. (Kaalasya mahimaa..vaktum kena hi sakyathe)!!!!
O King! These Braahmins created, out of Maayaa, an
aged cow, who was to die and pushed her in the sacrificial hall of the Muni
Gautama at the time of the Homa ceremony. (Gau: nirmitaa maayayaikaa
mumooshu: Jarathi). Seeing that cow entering into the enclosure where the
Homa was being performed, Gautama cried out "Hoom Hoom" when the cow fell then
and there and died. (Hoom hoom sabdai: vaaritaa saa praanaam tathyaajya
tatkshane).And the other Braahmanas instantly cried out "Look! Look! The
wicked Gautama has killed the cow."
Seeing this inconceivable event, Gautama was
greatly nonplussed and, completing his Homa ceremony, entered into Samaadhi and
began to meditate and thus discover about the cause of it. Then, coming to know
that this has been concocted out of the Maayaa perpetrated by the Braahmins, (krutam
sarvam etad dwijai: iti) he became angry like Rudra at the time of
dissolution; his eyes were reddened and he cursed the Brahmins, thus:--
"Oh vile Brâhmins!... (.verse 55 to 75)....as
in part 1 of the story. Which I had given….
Vyaasa said: -- O Janamejaya! Thus taking the water
symbolising the true rules and laws of creation, and cursing the Braahmanas,
the Muni Gautama sprinkled water there and went hastily to see the Gaayatrii
Devii (Vaakdandam iidrusam krutvaa api upasprusyaa jalam tata:) and, on
arriving at the temple there bowed down to Her. The Devii, too, became
surprised to hear of the brahmins' actions. O King! Even to day Her Lotus Face
looks similarly astonished! (adyapi tasya
vadanam vismayayuktam cha drusyate........next time
you go to Gayatri temple you may watch out for this on the countenance of Devi).
Then the Gaayatrii Devi told Gautama with
amazement: -- "O Gautama! The venom of the snake does not become less if you
feed the serpents with milk; (Bhujangaayaarpitam dugdham vishaayaiiva
upajaayate) so never mind all these things; the Karmas take their peculiar
turns; it is hard to say when and what things would happen. Now be peaceful. (Saanthim
kuru mahaabhaaga) Do not be sorry." Hearing these words of the Devii,
Gautama bowed down to Her and went thence to his own Aashrama.
================================================================================
XII Adhyaaya IX)
"Kaale tapa: kaale jyeshtam kaale Brahma
samaahitam
kaalo ha sarvasya eeswaaro ya: pitaasiit prajaapathe:."
--Atharva Veda XIX, 53, 8.
(In Time
is energy, in Time the highest good. In Time is the Holy Utterance. Time is the
Lord of all that is, the Father, he, of the Creator.)
PART-I
Gautama, Brahmins, Kali Yuga, and
Gayatri Mahima!
Namassadassae,
"O vile Brahmins! When you all got together
mischievously only to cause distress to me, then let you be averse to meditate
upon and do japam of the Devi Gayatri, the Mother of the Vedas. For your (this)
despicable act, never will you all be eager to perform any Vedic sacrificial
acts or any action concerning thereof. There is no doubt about that. You will
be always averse to the mantras or the Tantras of Siva (Sive sivasya mantre
cha sivasaastre tathaiva cha). You will be always averse to Moola Prakriti
Sri Devi. (Moolaprakrutyaa: Sridevyaa: tatdhyaane tat kathaasu cha)"
"You will be wholly indifferent to practise
the right ways of living as prescribed in the Vedas and Smritis,(Srautasmaartha
sdaachaare jnaanamaarge) to preserve your conduct good and to observe the
path of knowledge to Advaita Jnaanam (Advaithajnaana nishtaayaam), to
practise restraint of senses and continence, to the daily practices of Sandhya
Vandanam,(nityakarmaadi anushtaane) to performing the Agnihotra
ceremonies (Agnihotraadi saadhane), to the study of the Vedas according
to one's own Shaakhaa. You will sell your father, mother, brothers, sisters,
sons and daughters and even your wives too!" (Pitru maatru suta
bhraatru kanyaa vikrayina :)
"You will sell the Vedas, (Vedavikrayina :) Tirthas and your Dharma. You will not feel ashamed in any way to sell all
these. You will certainly have faith in Kaapaalika (Kaapaalikamataasaktaa)
and Bauddha - opinions, Paancharaatras and Kaama Saastras (Kaamasaastre).
O vile Braahmanas! You will not hesitate to go to your mother, daughters or
sisters (Maatrukanyaagaamina: bhaginii gaaminaha) and you will always be
licentious with others' wives and spend your time in that. (Parastree
lampataa :) This is not to you only but to the women and men, all that will
come in your families. Let the Gaayatrii Devi be always indignant with you and
let you all go in the end to the Andha Koopa hells, etc". (**verses 55 to
75)
Rings a bell somewhere? Well.......
Thus cursed Rishi Gautama...who had become angry
like 'Rudra at the time of dissolution' (paramam kopam pralaye
Rudrakopavat..sasaapa Rushiin sarvaan kopasa rakta lochana: **verse 55);
his eyes were reddened and he cursed the Brahmins,.....In fact the next **25
verses each ending with Adhamaa: Braahmanaa: are nothing short of heavy doses of curses hurled at the Brahmins (refer above
for the gist) ...all for their undoing on the otherwise gentle Gautama Rishi!
But then thereby hangs a tale!.....What's that?
Soon the Navaraatri festival would be on. Many of
you may be dusting off the books on Devi and preparing to read them.....be it
Devi Mahaatmyam or Devi Bhaagavatam (Also called Devi Puraanam?). I myself did
that and my eyes fell on those last few pages of **(Devi Puraanam..By
VedaVyaasa, Skandha XII Adhyaaya IX)........amazingly enough....I thought I was
staring at the answers and very reasons why the 'Brahmins are at the
Crossroads" today and why "they are like that only!" and how
Devi Gayatri's blessings need to be sought to redeem ourselves!........sort of
a light at the end of the tunnel.
I propose to post in parts (because it is a bit
longish) the entire episode...seems more like a story but with quite a bit of
substance..to help each to derive his own meanings....and perhaps ponder. In
any case they are from Devi Bhaagavatam….and so perhaps does carry its own
inner message for the observant. Those learned many, I seek their indulgence.
Here goes:
Vyaasa said: -- O King Janamejaya! Once upon a
time, on account of an evil turn of Fate (Karma) of the human beings (Praaninaam
Karma vasa: na vavarsha sathakratu :)Verse 1, Indra did not pour out rains
on this earth for over fifteen years. Owing to want of rain, the horrible
famine appeared; and almost all the beings lost their lives. There were
countless number of dead persons in every house. (Gruhe gruhe savaanaam tu
sankhyaa kartum na sakyate) Verse 2. Out of hunger the people began to eat
horses; some ate bears and pigs (Aswaan
varaahaan va Bhakshayanthi), Verse 3, some others the dead bodies
while few others carried on any how their lives.
PART-II
Gautama, Brahmins, Kali Yuga, and
Gayatri Mahima!
O King! The Braahmanas then united and after due
discussion, came to the conclusion that they would go to the hermit Gautama who
would be able to remove their distress. So all of them wanted to go quickly to
the hermitage of the Muni Gautama (sarvam militvaa gamtavyam Gautamasya
aasrame) they began to say: -- "We hear that there is no famine in the
hermitage of Gautama. People are running there from different quarters." Thus
coming to a conclusion, the Braahmanas went to Gautama's Aashramam with their
cows, servants and relations.
The Rishi Gautama bowed down to them(drushtvaa
samaajam vipraanaam prananama sa Gautama :) and gave them a cordial welcome
and offered them appropriate aasanaas, etc. When all took their seats and
things became calm and quiet, Gautama enquired about their welfare and the
cause of their arrival. (chakaara kusalaprasnam tatascha aagamakaaranam).
They described everything about the dire famine and their own sad states and
expressed their deep regret. Seeing them very much distressed, Gautama Muni
gave them his word not to have any fear.
Vyaasa said: -- O King Janamejaya! Thus consoling
the Braahmanas, the Rishi Gautama began to worship the Gaayatrii Devi with rapt
devotional trance (Gayatriim praarthayaamaas Bhaktisannatamkara) Devi!
(Hleemkaararupinii....Praatharbaalaam raktavarnaam, maddhyaanhe yuvatiim
paraam, saayaanhe krishnavarnaam taam vrudhaam, nityam namaamyaham)(Does it
ring a bell about trikaala vandanam we do?) Obeisance to Thee! Now show favour
on us (Kshamasva Parameswari) at this severe famine time when all the
beings are well nigh on the way to destruction." Thus praised and worshipped,
the Universal-Mother appeared (Jaganmaataa pratyaksham darsanam dadau)
and gave to the Rishi one vessel (cup) full to the brim (poorna paatram
dadau) by which every one can be fed and nourished. The Mother told the
Muni: -- "This full vessel, given by me to you will yield whatever you wish."
Thus saying, the Devi Gaayatrii Higher than the Highest, vanished.
Then, according to the wish of the Muni, came out
from that cup, mountains of cooked rice, various curries and sweetmeats, lots
of grass and fodder, silken clothings , various ornaments and various articles
and vessels for sacrificial purposes. In fact whatever the Muni Gautama wished,
that came out of the brimful cup, given by the Devii Gaayatrii. Then the Muni
Gautama called the other Munis that came there and gave them wealth, grains,
clothing, ornament, and the sacrificial ladles and spoons and cows and
buffaloes for the sacrificial purposes.
The Devas, on the other hand, became very much
satisfied by the various Yajnaas and extolled the Muni's greatness. So much so,
that the famous Indra, the Lord of the Devas, came in the midst of the assembly
and extolled his greatness, thus: -- "This Gautama has fulfilled all our wishes
and has verily become a Kalpa Vriksha (celestial tree yielding all desires). (Aho
ayam na: kila kalpapaadapo manorathaan poorayathi pratishtitha :) O King
Janamejaya! Thus the Muni Gautama fed and nourished for twelve years (ithvam
dwaadasa varshani puposha munipungavaan) all the Munis and Brahmanas, like
his sons and that place came to be recognised as the chief centre (the Head
Quarters) (Gaayatryaa: paramam sthaanam chakaara) of the Gaayatrii Devi.
Then once upon a time, Narada of best conduct came
there playing on his great lute and singing in tune the highest glories of
Gaayatrii and took his seat in the assembly of the Munis. (Tatra ekadaa
samaayato Narado munisattama :)
PART-III
Gautama, Brahmins, Kali Yuga, and
Gayatri Mahima!
Seeing the tranquil hearted Naarada coming there,
Gautama and the other Munis received him with due respect and worshipped him
with 'Paadyam and Arghyam'. In the course of their conversation, Narada began
to describe the glories of Gautama muni and said: -- "O Best of Munis! I have
heard from the very mouth of Indra, in the assembly of the Devas, your glories;
as to your supporting and feeding the pure-hearted Munis and I have come only
to be in the midst of you all and witness these good deeds (Tvaam drashtum
aagatha:). Devarshi Naarada entered into the temple of the Devii Gaayatrii (gaayatri
sadanam yayau) and with eyes gladdened by love, saw the Devii there (dadarsa
Jagadambaam taam) and offered due hymns in praise of Her and then ascended
to the Heavens.
Here, on the other hand, the Braahmanas that were
fed by Gautama became jealous (asooyayaa khedam aagata :) at so much
honour showered on Gautama. So much so that they tried their best so that no
further honour be paid to him. They further settled among themselves not to
stay any longer in his Aashrama, and move out when the next good harvest season
comes.
O King! Some days passed when good rains fell and
there was an abundance of crops everywhere and the famine ended. Hearing this,
all the Braahmins united, alas! O King! to curse the noble Gautama. Oh! Their
fathers and mothers are blessed in whom do not arise such feelings of jealousy!
(Dhanyo teshaam cha pitarau yaya: utpatti: iidrusii) All these are the
wonderful plays of the powerful Kaala purush; it cannot be expressed by any
person. (Kaalasya mahimaa..vaktum kena hi sakyathe)!!!!
O King! These Braahmins created, out of Maayaa, an
aged cow, who was to die and pushed her in the sacrificial hall of the Muni
Gautama at the time of the Homa ceremony. (Gau: nirmitaa maayayaikaa
mumooshu: Jarathi). Seeing that cow entering into the enclosure where the
Homa was being performed, Gautama cried out "Hoom Hoom" when the cow fell then
and there and died. (Hoom hoom sabdai: vaaritaa saa praanaam tathyaajya
tatkshane).And the other Braahmanas instantly cried out "Look! Look! The
wicked Gautama has killed the cow."
Seeing this inconceivable event, Gautama was
greatly nonplussed and, completing his Homa ceremony, entered into Samaadhi and
began to meditate and thus discover about the cause of it. Then, coming to know
that this has been concocted out of the Maayaa perpetrated by the Braahmins, (krutam
sarvam etad dwijai: iti) he became angry like Rudra at the time of
dissolution; his eyes were reddened and he cursed the Brahmins, thus:--
"Oh vile Brâhmins!... (.verse 55 to 75)....as
in part 1 of the story. Which I had given….
Vyaasa said: -- O Janamejaya! Thus taking the water
symbolising the true rules and laws of creation, and cursing the Braahmanas,
the Muni Gautama sprinkled water there and went hastily to see the Gaayatrii
Devii (Vaakdandam iidrusam krutvaa api upasprusyaa jalam tata:) and, on
arriving at the temple there bowed down to Her. The Devii, too, became
surprised to hear of the brahmins' actions. O King! Even to day Her Lotus Face
looks similarly astonished! (adyapi tasya
vadanam vismayayuktam cha drusyate........next time
you go to Gayatri temple you may watch out for this on the countenance of Devi).
Then the Gaayatrii Devi told Gautama with
amazement: -- "O Gautama! The venom of the snake does not become less if you
feed the serpents with milk; (Bhujangaayaarpitam dugdham vishaayaiiva
upajaayate) so never mind all these things; the Karmas take their peculiar
turns; it is hard to say when and what things would happen. Now be peaceful. (Saanthim
kuru mahaabhaaga) Do not be sorry." Hearing these words of the Devii,
Gautama bowed down to Her and went thence to his own Aashrama.
================================================================================
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