Story of Vyasa-Part 5

2.3 Sukha had no difference between men and women

While Vyasa was following his son, he reached a scheduled place amidst the
forests, where some women were taking their bath in a lake. Seeing Vyasa coming
that way, they hurriedly came out of the water and began to don their clothes.
Amazed by their behaviour, Vyasa asked those women: " Ladies, my son is young.
He has just passed by the lake, but you continued your plays ignoring him. No
shyness arose seeing him. Why then are you feeling shy to see an old man like
me?"

The women replied politely: " Forgive us O sage. You know the difference between
a man and a woman. But your son is free of this ability to differentiate between
a man and a woman. He looks at all things alike. Hence it is same to be dressed
or undressed in front of him."

Hearing these words of the woman, Sage Vyasa returned. He understood well that
it was meaningless to have a relation of a father and son with such an equal
sighted person like Shukhdev.

2.4 Sage Vyasa get back his son Sukhdev

Vyasa was still desirous to keep Shukhdev as his disciple so that he could teach
him the scriptures. Now he knew that only the divine and auspicious appearance
of the God himself could attract such a detached and passionless person. Hence,
teaching his disciples a couplet that contained extremely enchanting
descriptions of Lord Krishna, he sent them to the forests. Every time the
disciples roamed the forests for fruits and flowers, they used to recite that
couplet in an extremely sweet voice. When Shukhdev heard that couplet, he went
to the disciples and insisted then to teach him that couplet. The disciples then
brought him to Vyasa's hermitage where Shukhdev began to study Srimad Bhagwat.
Thus, only the knowledge given by the teacher is superior.

After finishing his education and with his father's permission, Shukhdev spent
some time in the court of Mithila king Janaka. The king received preaching about
spirituality from him. He roamed from place to place.

2.5 Sage Sukhdev preaches Sremad Bhagavatham

When Takshaka, the Naga had bitten the king Parikshit, he decided to crown his
only son Janamijaya and did a fast called Nirjula Vrata in the banks of river
Ganges. Nirjula Vrata is a fast in which even water is forbidden.

Many sages arrived there. Sage Shukhdev too arrived there. All of them
worshipped sage Sukhdev. At the behest of the king, Shukhdev preached Shrimad
Bhagwat to him for 7 days continuously. Sage Ugrava present there repeated it to
sage Suta.

Srimad Bhagavata possesses a glory of its own and constitutes the very essence
of the Vedas. It is a unique light illuminating the Spiritual Realities for
those worldly men who seek to go beyond the darkness of ignorance. It was out of
compassion for such men, that teacher of sages, Sukhadeva, uttered this Purana.

2.6 Sage Sukhdev become one among Saptharshi

In the next Manavtara, Shukhdev occupied a position among the Saptarishis- the 7
great sages.

2.7 About Sreemad Bhagavatham

Sage Vedavyasa did not feel contended even after writing the Mahabharata. He
felt that there is something, which he did not deliver to his devotees.

Sage Narada arrived at the ashram of Sri Vedavyasa and requested him to write a
text in which the greatness of Vishnu is elaborated.

Then Sage Vedavyasa composed the Bhagavatam, which is full of the pastimes of
the supreme God. He instructed the text to his son Sri Suka, who was an
incarnation of Lord Shiva.

Sri Suka, in turn discoursed this text to King Parikshit for 7 days. Several
rishis and sages arrived from all parts of the country to listen to the
discourse by Sage Suka. Today, we hear about the Bhagavatam due to the
conversation between Shaunaka and Suta. Suta retold the Bhagavatam to Shaunaka
and other sages. The tradition continued and we have the Bhagavatam in the
present form.

2.8 Madhvacharya and Srimad Bhagavatham

Madhvacharya the establisher of the Brahma Madhva Vaisnava Sampradaya received
instructions and knowledge of Srimad Bhagavad-Gita directly from Vedavyasa

2.9 Sugavaneswarar Temple at Salem

The deity in the temple is Sugavaneswarar (Shiva). This temple houses the image
of Shiva, which is said to have been worshipped by the mythological sage Suga
Muni - the king of parrots.

 

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