Ashtavakra

1SAGE ASHTAVAKRA

In the Mahabharata epic the story of sage Ashtavakra is told by sage Lomasa to the Pandavas while the Pandavas were in exile.

1.1 Parents of sage Ashtavakra

Uddalaka was a renowned sage and scholar well versed in the Vedas and the Vedanta. He had several disciples. One among them was Kahoda. What Kahoda lacked in knowledge, he made up with his devotion and virtuous life. Impressed by these qualities Uddalaka married his daughter Sujata to kahoda

Sujata in due course got pregnant and wanted her child to surpass all the sages of his time. So, she began to sit in the classes taught by Uddalaka and Kahoda, listening to their chanting with the unborn baby.

It was one day, in a class taught by Kahoda, the unborn baby spoke up from inside the womb, and “This is not the way to chant the verse, father." Kahoda felt insulted in front of the class and cursed, "You will be born deformed."

Sujata did not take the instance too seriously and was ambitious. She wanted more money to raise her child the best. So she asked her husband to go to king Janaka of Mithila (Sita’s foster father) who was then preparing for a Yajna hoping that the ceremony will bring money to the family.

1.2 Sage Kahoda get defeated by Bandhi

When Kahoda approached King Janaka, the king received him respectfully but said with regret "Kahoda, I am unable to perform the Yajna which I decided to perform several years back. Sage, Bandhi arrived from nowhere and asked me to start the Yajna only after he is defeated in an academic discussion with the sages participating in the Yajna.
His condition further includes that the sages who come forth for the debate, if defeated, will be drowned. So far he has killed many learned sages. Now it is up to you to take the challenge."

Kahoda agreed to debate with Bandhi. He was defeated and drowned in the nearby river.

1.3 Birth of Ashtavakra and education

The widowed Sujata heard the news and repented her actions. A few months later she gave birth to a boy who was deformed at eight joints and so named Ashtavakra.

He got his education from his grandfather Uddalaka. Ashtavakra was extremely intelligent and his grandfather loved him dearly and was very proud of him. When Ashtavakra was only twelve, he finished all that he needed to know from his grandfather. He also heard the fate of his father and the Yajna of king Janaka, which still remained unfinished as no one could defeat Bandhi.

1.4 Sage Ashtavakra calls on Janaka

At the tender age of 12 he had mastered the Vedas and Vedanta.

Accompanied by his uncle Swetaketu, he set forth for Mithila where a debate on the scriptures among the learned was to take place. He would be pitted against Bandhi. This the moment he was waiting for all his life - an opportunity to avenge the insult and defeat his father Kahoda has suffered.

On their way to Mithila they met Mithila’s king and his entourage. Ashtavakra was asked to give way to the King. However, he replied, " Does not your ruler know that the blind, the deformed, the fair sex, Brahmins and people bearing load have to be given the right to passage first".

The king was surprised to hear such wisdom from the mouth of some one so young. He let Ashtravakra go first.

At Mithila the gatekeeper would not let Ashtravakra enter the competition hall. The boy seemed too young to him. Ashtavakra got irritated. He said " I may seem young to you but I have mastered the Vedas. Age or appearance can not bar me from taking part in the competition". The gatekeeper did not believe him and asked him to go away.

Ashtravakra said, " old age is not an indicator of a man's bounty of knowledge or maturity. Go and inform the king that I wish to challenge Bandhi, the court's scholar to a round of debates on Shastras."
Just then the king appeared and saw and recognized Ashtavakra. He cautioned him saying, " Do you know Bandhi has defeated all the scholars who have challenged him. The defeated have drowned themselves in the sea in accordance with the rules of the debate. Don’t risk your life."
1.5 Sage Ashtavakra defeats Bandhi
Ashtavakra replied " O king! Your scholar has been basking in past glory. He is not as learned as you assumed him to be. Let me compete with him and avenge my father's insult."
The king was astounded by such determination. He was compelled to consent to this competition. Then started arguments, counter arguments on various debatable topics from the scriptures between Bandhi and Ashtavakra. This boy of only twelve years of age proved to be far superior to Bandhi. The shamed Bandhi had to accede defeat and in accordance to the rule drowned himself in the sea. Then the spirit of Kahoda was free and gained peace in heaven.
1.6 Ashtavakra Geetha
The Ashtavakra Geetha, or the Ashtavakra Samhita as it is sometimes called, is a very ancient Sanskrit text.

The work was appreciated, and quoted by Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, his disciple Swami Vivekananda, as well as by Ramana Maharshi, Dr S Radhakrishnan always referred to it with great respect. Apart from that the work speaks for itself. It presents the traditional teachings of Advaita Vedanta with a clarity and power very rarely matched.
(I had an occasion to listen to the Ashtravakra geetha in the Theosophical society in Trivandrum near Over bride junction with R.S. Iyer in 1996. Of course on those days I was not matured like today to have a patient listening)
1.7 Ashtavakra Geetha extracts

King Janaka on the defeat of Bandhi surrendered to the Sage as his disciple and requested that the knowledge of the Self be bestowed upon him.

It is a series of answers for the questions of Rajarishi Janaka. A few extracts from the English translation by John Richards is given below: -

My son, you may recite or listen to countless scriptures, but you will not be established within until you can forget everything. 16.1

You may, as a learned man, indulge in wealth, activity, and meditation, but your mind will still long for that which is the cessation of desire, and beyond all goals. 16.2
If even Shiva, Vishnu, or the lotus-born Brahma were your instructor, until you have forgotten everything you cannot be established within. 16.11
The man is rare who is not attached to the things he has enjoyed, and does not hanker after the things he has not enjoyed. 17.4
Those who desire pleasure and those who desire liberation are both found in samsara, but the great-souled man who desires neither pleasure nor liberation is rare indeed. 17.5
There is no distinction between pleasure and pain, man and woman, success and failure for the wise man that looks on everything as equal. 17.15(My note- Like sage Suga)
The stupid man does not attain cessation whether he acts or abandons action, while the wise man finds peace within simply by knowing the truth. 18.34

1.8 Sage Ashtavakra expeditions

Section 13:19 of Mahabharata describe sage Ashtavakra's expedition to Kailasa: -

The illustrious Ashtavakra set out on his journey. He proceeded towards the north and at last reached the Himavat mountains peopled by Siddhas and Charanas Arrived at the Himavat mountains, that foremost of Brahamanas then came upon the sacred river Vahuda whose waters produce great merit.

He rested for some more time by the side of that lake in the course of the Vahuda whose shores he had reached. Refreshed and then proceeded towards Kailasa. He saw also the Mandakini and the Nalini of the high-souled Kubera, the Lord of Treasures. Beholding the Rishi arrived there, all the Rakshasas having Manibhadra for their head, came out in a body for welcoming and honoring the illustrious traveler. On bathing his bends were disappeared and he became perfect. (This story of Ashtavakra was told by Srikrishna to Rugmini too-I read some where from the internet)

1.9 Sage Ashtavakra ask king Chitrabhanu the reason for observing Sivarathri fast

In the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata, Bhishma, whilst resting on the bed of arrows and discoursing on Dharma, refers to the observance of Maha Shivratri by King Chitrabhanu.

The story goes as follows. Once upon a time King Chitrabhanu of the Ikshvaku dynasty, who ruled over the whole of Jambudvipa, was observing a fast with his wife, it being the day of Mahashivratri. The sage Ashtavakra came on a visit to the court of the king.

The sage Ashtavakra asked, "O king! Why are you observing a fast today?" King Chitrabhanu explained the reason to the sage. He had the gift of remembering the incidents of his previous birth.

"In my past birth I was a hunter in Varanasi. My name was Suswara. One day I was roaming the forests in search of animals. I was overtaken by the darkness of night. Unable to return home, I climbed a tree for shelter. It happened to be a vilwa tree. I had shot a deer that day but I had no time to take it home. I bundled it up and tied it to a branch on the tree. As I was tormented by hunger and thirst, I kept awake throughout the night. I shed profuse tears when I thought of my poor wife and children who were starving and awaiting my return. To pass away the time that night I engaged myself in plucking the vilwa leaves and dropping them down onto the ground.
"The day dawned. I returned home and sold the deer. I bought some food for myself and for my family. I was about to break my fast when a stranger came to me, begging for food. I served him first and then took my food. "

At the time of death, I saw two messengers of Lord Shiva. They were sent down to conduct my soul to the abode of Lord Shiva. I learnt then for the first time of the great merit I had earned by the unconscious worship of Lord Shiva during the night of Shivratri.

They told me that there was a Lingam at the bottom of the tree. The leaves I dropped fell on the Lingam. My tears, which I had shed out of pure sorrow for my family, fell onto the Lingam and washed it. And I had fasted all day and all night. Thus I did unconsciously worship the Lord. "I lived in the abode of the Lord and enjoyed divine bliss for long ages. I am now reborn as Chitrabhanu." (Some member has raised a query to me on the importance of Sivarathri a fortnight back)

SUMMARY

Story of sage Ashtavakra comes in Mahabharata. Ashta vakra Geetha was his teachings to Rajarshi king Janaka

 

knr
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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