BIRTH OF ARUNDHATHI

BIRTH OF ARUNDHATHI 

Dear friends, 

While I was surfing the net I could get a story about Birth of Arundhathi wife of sage Vasistha. I thought of sharing the same with you.. The matter has been suitably edited in the posting. 

Sincerely ,

Gopala Krishnan (2003 document ) 

Reposted  after editing and updating on 11-12-2020 

1.Birth of Sandhya and Kamadeva 

 Lord Brahma narrated the following tale to sage Narada- 

"A girl by the name of Sandhya manifested from my being. Her heavenly beauty amazed me. She influenced me to such an extent that I forgot that Sadhya was my daughter and got infatuated by her."

"When I became infatuated by the divine beauty of Sandhya, my infatuation resulted into the manifestation of another Manasa-putra. I first named him Kamadeva. His beauty and qualities were incomparable. 

2. Kamadeva salute Brahma

Kamadeva made salutations to me and asked as to what was his name and purpose of being. I gave him again the name 'Pushpavan' and instructed him to help in the process of procreation. I also blessed him that nobody would remain unaffected by his influence including myself and Lord Vishnu." 

After being named by lord Brahma as 'Pushpavan', Kamadeva was also given various names as Manmath, Kama, and Madan etc by sages like Mareechi, etc. They also said to him that he would be married to 'Rati' the daughter of Daksha. 

Update- So moon good, Kasyapa, Lord Sive and Kamadeva are all co brothers. 

3. Kamadeva test Brahma's boon 

Kamadeva himself was infatuated with the beauty of Sandhya. To test the authenticity of Brahma's boon, Kamadeva took out his five arrows and wanted to examine their power. The names of their arrows were Harshan, Rochan, Mohan, Shoshan and Maran. 

These arrows had effect on all the people present there including lord Brahma and Sandhya. Getting affected by those arrows, forty-nine types of thoughts emerged in Brahma's mind. Similarly, flaws were clearly visible in Sandhya's behaviour. 

Kamadeva became convinced of his powers and capabilities. But Dharma - the manasa putra of Brahma was saddened by this event. He prayed to lord Shiva. 

When Lord Shiva saw the condition of Brahma, he became amused and made fun of him and his Manasa-putras. Everybody was ashamed. 

4. Birth of Pitraganas and Rati 

Due to his shame, Brahma got perspired profusely. From his perspiration were created the Pitraganas. 

Similarly from the perspiration of Daksha Prajapati was created the most beautiful woman-Rati. 

5. Brahma curse Kamadeva and modify the curse 

Brahma was very angry with Kamadeva because of whom he was ridiculed by Shiva. He cursed him and said- "You would be charred to death by the arrow of Shiva." 

Kamadeva became very scared and said that he was only testing the authenticity of his boon and he had no other evil intention. He also requested Brahma, not to curse him. 

Feeling Pity on him, Brahma consoled him that, although he would definitely get killed by the arrow of Shiva's sight, yet he would regain his physical body as soon as Shiva get married. 

6. Kama deva marry Rati 

Daksha requested Kamadeva to get married with his daughter Rati. Kamadeva was very pleased at this proposal. Both Kamadeva and Rati got married. 

7.Sandhya does penance 

Sandhya was very ashamed of herself. For the atonement of her sin she decided to do penance. She went to Chandrabhaga Mountain and commenced her tremendous penance. 

8. Vasistha appear as Brahmin before Sandhya 

Lord Brahma then instructed his son Vasistha to go to her in disguise and help in getting her initiated. He went to Chandrabhaga Mountain in the guise of a Brahmin and gave the mantra - OM NAMAH SHANKARAYA OM to her and also told her the methods of doing worship, and then he returned back. 

9. Sandhya receives boon from Shiva 

After sage Vasistha who was disguised as Brahmin went away. Sandhya did penance as per his instructions. After the passing of one Chaturyuga, she had a darshan of lord Shiva. 

Shiva being pleased by her devotion asked her to demand anything. Sandhya said- 

"Nobody should have lust towards the member of his own clan. There should be no virtuous and chaste woman greater then me in this whole world. Anybody other than my husband who looks at me with evil intentions become an impotent man."

 Lord Shiva blessed her by saying- 'EVAMASTU!' 

10 Sandhya go to Yajya of Medathithi 

Lord Shiva then categorised the life span of a man into four parts - Childhood, adolescence, youth and old age. 

He than told her that it was written in her destiny to die by burning. He also advised her to go and surrender her body in the sacrificial fire of the yagya, performed by Medhatithi. "Before jumping into the sacrificial fire, just remember anybody, whom you want as your husband, and your wish would be fulfilled in your next birth, you would take birth as a daughter of Daksha Prajapati. 

Your father-Daksha Prajapati would marry his 27 twenty daughter to Moon, but the moon would have affection only towards Rohini and rest of his wives would be neglected by him. For this reason he would be cursed by Daksha. All the deities would take your refuge." 

After blessing Sandhya in the way lord Shiva went back to Kailash Mountain. 

When lord Shiva went away. Sandhya got up and went to the place where Medhatithi was performing his yagya. 

11. Sandhya resolve to have the Brahmin as husband 

She made a mental resolution to have that Brahmin who came to her be her husband, who in reality was Vasistha and then entered into the sacrificial fire. 

12 Sun God divide Sandhya to three parts

  The fire of the yagya burnt her body and carried it to the solar system, where it was divided by the sun god into three parts and established in his chariot. 

The names of these three parts were Pratah-Sandhya, Madhyanha-Sandhya and Sayam Sandhya. Sandhya Vital force was absorbed by lord Shiva. 

13 Arudhathi emerge from sacrificial fire 

When the yagya ended, the sages were surprised to see the presence of a girl, who was radiating like gold in the sacrificial fire. They took out that girl child from that yagya-kunda. The sages then brought up that girl with love and affection. She was named Arundhati. 

14 Arundhathi get married with Vasistha 

When she attained the age of five, Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara arrived and married her with Vasistha. Arundhathi enjoyed a happy life and became famous for her chastity. (I recollect my narration- Arundhathi was very young comparing to sage Vasistha and I got the reason now)