1. Brahmarakshas and Chandrasarma
It jumped down and asked a very difficult question. But Chandra sharma gave the correct answer.
The Brahmarakshas took human form and told him that he was indeed a very learned Brahmin who did not select proper students and did not teach anyone anything. He did not dissipate nor impart knowledge. So he became a Brahmarakshas due to a curse. He was destined to ask questions and devour people. Now since ChandraSarma gave the correct answer, he was released from the state of Brahmarakshas.
2. Brahma Rakshas teaches Chandrasarma
He said that he would teach all that Chandra Sarma wanted and would also get him married to the king's daughter. But there was one condition. He must sit up day and night and learn everything that the Brahmarakshas taught him. Also he would teach at a very fast pace.
The Brahmarakshas did so and whatever he taught, Chandra Sarma wrote down on Ficus leaves with his blood. That was the only writing material that he could get. After a number of days, the teaching was completed.
3. Chandra Sharma loses precious information leaves
Chandra Sarma collected all the leaves and went to the nearest town. He was overcome with sleeplessness, hunger, thirst, fatigue and fainted in front of a house. Goats came by and started to eat the precious ficus leaf notes of ChandraSarma. That house belonged to the most beautiful and accomplished dancing girl in that town. She took ChandraSarma inside the house and took great care and nursed him day and night. ChandraSarma regained his health.
4. Brahmarakshas makes princess to marry Chandra Sharma
One day, the erstwhile Brahmarakshas appeared to him in his divine form and told him that he had to uphold his promise of getting him married to the king's daughter. He said that he would use his former powers as a Brahmarakshas and possess the daughter of the king. When Chandra sharma comes and tells him to go, he would release his grip on the princess.
The princess of the town was possessed by the Brahmarakshas. Nobody could evict the Brahmarakshas. The king announced that whoever evicts the Brahmarakshas would marry the princess and inherit his kingdom. ChandraSarma went to the palace and commanded the Brahmarakshas and it left with haste. The king gave his daughter in marriage to ChandraSarma.
5. Chandra Sharma marries other three
As was the custom of the day, Chandra Sarma was asked to marry three other damsels who belonged to the other three varnas - Brahmin, Vaisya, and Shudra. The king's daughter was a Kshatriya. One of the four wives was the dancing girl who had given ChandraSarma his life and had saved all his notes.
All the four wives gave birth to children. Then the king gave the kingdom to ChandraSarma and went to the forests for performing tapas.
6. Story of Bhathruhari
Chandra Sarma ruled well as a king. When he neared his end, he called his sons together and told them that since it was dancing girl who had given him his life, the son of the dancing girl should be crowned as the king.
So Barthruhari, the son of the dancing girl became the king. Chandra Sarma died and the son born of the Brahmin wife performed the rituals and then went away for performing tapas.
Barthruhari had a shocking revelation, which made him renounce everything and become a sanyasi.
7. Story of Vikramaditya and Bhatti
So the throne came to Vikrama, the third son who was in fact the son who was born of the princess. Bhatti, the son of the merchant girl became the Prime Minister.
Vikrama felt that the kingdom was too small. He wanted a bigger kingdom with a new capital.
He told Bhatti to search for a proper spot to establish a new capital city. It must have forests, hills, rivers and many temples. So Bhatti left on a journey of exploration.
By and large, he came to a place, which had a temple dedicated to Kali with Her retinue. He went around the temple and prayed Kali. He saw a peculiar inscription in the temple.
It said, 'any man who belonged to any of the four varnas should take a bath in the pond. Then he should climb up the Banyan tree on the bank of the pond. There is a litter hanging in it. This litter is actually made up of seven litters. The man should cut all the litters at one stroke of the sword so that the litter falls into the pond.
Before the litter touches the water, the man should jump toward the tip of a spear that was erected at the centre of the pond. He should jump in such a way so that his top of the head would hit the spear's tip. If he does so, Kali would appear before the man and would give him anything that the man would wish. Further he would rule over all the countries of Bharatham'.
Bhatti decided that Vikrama should attempt and accomplish this feat. Vikrama agreed and they went to the place.
When Vikrama saw the litter, he asked Bhatti how it was possible to cut all the seven litters, which were hanging one within the other individually.. Bhatti described him the method he made up in the mind to twist all of them to one. Vikrama did as was instructed and jumped on to the spear tip.
8. Vikramaditya erects city of Ujjayani
When his head touched the tip of the spear, Kali appeared. She bore the unconscious Vikrama on Her arms and carried him inside the temple.
Bhatti followed her and fell at her feet and asked her to bless his king with every boon and help him in establishing a magnificent city in that place. Kali blessed him and soon after that Vikrama erected the magnificent city of Ujjayani there with the help of Kali. Vikrama became the king of Ujjayani. Then he went on a tour of conquest and captured all the countries of Bharatham. Thus he became the Emperor of Bharatham.
I recollect the Malayalam film song "Ujjayaniyilae Nayika, Urvashi Ennoru Nayika…."
9. Vikramaditya proceeds to Devaloka
In Deva Lokam, the world of the Celestial Beings, there was a furore over who was the best dancer among the Apsaras Celestial dancers. The competition was between Urvasi and Rambha. The Devas could not decide who the best was. Naradha told them that Vikrama; the king of Ujjayini was the only one who had the ability to judge the dancers.
The King of the Devas sent his celestial chariot to fetch Vikrama. But Mathali, the charioteer of the gods, did not wish to take Vikrama to his world. So, before Vikrama could step into the chariot, Mathali took off at super speed. But Vikrama put his big toe firmly onto the chariot's edge and clung on.
Mathali realised that it was only through sheer superhuman strength and ability that Vikrama could cling onto a divine chariot tearing off atsuch fantastic speed. So he slowed down and allowed Vikrama to get inside and apologised to him.
10 Vikramaditya select best between Urvashi and Rambha
In Deva Loka, Vikrama judged the dancers well. He hid scorpions inside bouquets and gave them to the dancers. Rambha winced while she was dancing, while Urvasi danced on gracefully.
Rambha had held the bouquet hard. That had disturbed the scorpion, which stung Rambha. Hence Rambha winced. But Urvasi held the bouquet ever so lightly and gracefully and she won the contest.
11. Devendra bless Vikramaditya to rule 1000 years
Devendra was so elated that he gave a special throne with thirty-two mystical steps. Each step had one puppet called padhumai. He told Vikrama, that he would rule for one thousand years from this divine throne. Mathali took him back to Ujjayini.
12. Bhatti mediate on Kaali
Vikrama asked Bhatti to set up the throne in the throne room. Then he told Bhatti about all that happened. Bhatti was taken aback and said, "O King! You have the good fortune to rule from this throne for one thousand years. I have only a human lifespan. You could have asked a boon so that I could be your Prime Minister for the same one thousand years..
Vikrama shamefacedly admitted his mistake. Bhatti told him not to worry about it anymore.
Bhatti then went straight to the Kaali temple in the middle of the night. He meditated upon her. When Kaali saw this she asked him the purpose. Bhatti told Her that since his brother, the Emperor could rule for one thousand years, Kaali should make him be the minister for the same period.
13. Kaali's condition
Kaali told him that She would give Bhatti two thousand years. But it would be possible only if the head of a SarvaBauman was brought; in that case it was the head of Vikrama. A Sarva Bauman was an all-conquering emperor - He who conquers 'sarva bumi' - all the earth. Vikrama was the all-conquering hero.
Bhatti went back to Vikrama and told him the story. Vikrama willingly offered his head which Bhatti cut off and took to the Kaali temple anddemanded the two thousand years of life. Kaali granted him the two thousand years.
14. Bhatti Question Kali's blessing
Bhatti then laughed derisively. Kaali asked him the reason why he laughed. Bhatti asked Kaali whether the boon of two thousand years that She had granted was real and true. Was there a guarantee?
Kaali said it was sure and certain and asked why he had that silly doubt. Bhatti told Her that only a few weeks ago, Devendra and the other devas had given Vikrama the power to rule for one thousand years. But Vikrama was lying dead at that precise moment.
If the boon given by Devas was proven to be false, Bhatti had every right to know the veracity and validity of the boon given by Kaali. Kaali smiled at the audacity and commended the shrewdness of Bhatti. She gave Vikrama his life back.
When Vikrama became alive, he learned about what happened and then pointed out the disparity between the length of the tenure of Vikrama and Bhatti. That Bhatti would be minister for two thousand years while Vikrama would rule for only one thousand years.
15. Kaadaru masam, nadaru masam[ 6 months in forest 6 months at home]
Bhatti told him this: "According to the Devas, you are supposed to rule from that divine throne for one thousand years. I am going to be the minister for two thousand years. Let us adjust the system.
In each year, you will rule from your throne for six months only. Then we will go to the forest and be there for another six months. Then we will come back to the capital and you can rule for another six months.This way, we can extend your tenure of kingship for a total of two thousand years. You rule in instalments".
That is how King Vikramaditya came to rule six months from his divine throne and become a wanderer for another six months, alternatively.
Thus the 'naadaaRu maasam, kaadaaRu maasam' system of Vikramaditya came into being and became famous. Vikramaditya ruled for two thousand with the help of Patti.
This posting has inputs from a posting of Dr. S Jayabharathi
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