English and Hindi -भगवान विष्णु मनु और शतरूपा को वरदान देते हैं कि वे त्रेता युग में उनके पुत्र रूप में जन्म लेंगे*

To read in English, scroll down below the Hindi version

सृष्टि के आरंभ में ब्रह्मा जी ने सर्वप्रथम स्वयंभू मनु और शतरूपा की रचना की। कालांतर में इस सौभाग्यशाली दम्पति ने सृष्टि का विस्तार किया। उनकी धर्मपरायणता, शील और पवित्र आचरण का वर्णन आज भी वेदों में मिलता है।

हम सभी मनुष्य उनकी संतान हैं। उनके ज्येष्ठ पुत्र का नाम उत्तानपाद था जिनके घर परम भक्त ध्रुव का जन्म हुआ। मनु के दूसरे पुत्र का नाम प्रियव्रत और उनकी पुत्री का नाम देवहूति था जिनका विवाह कर्दम ऋषि से हुआ था। भगवान ने स्वयं कपिल के रूप में उनके घर अवतार लिया और अपनी माता देवहूति को सांख्य दर्शन का उपदेश दिया।

 महान राजा मनु ने सात द्वीपों वाली इस पृथ्वी पर दीर्घकाल तक शासन किया। उनके राज्य में प्रजा अत्यंत सुखी थी। सभी लोग सदाचारी और सदाचारी थे। अपनी प्रजा पर शासन करने के पश्चात्, जीवन की चतुर्थ अवस्था में, उन्होंने राज्य अपने ज्येष्ठ पुत्र उत्तानपाद को सौंपकर, एकान्त जीवन व्यतीत करके ईश्वर की आराधना करने हेतु अपनी पत्नी सहित नैमिषारण्य जाने का निश्चय किया।

जब महान राजा मनु नैमिषारण्य पहुँचे, तो वहाँ रहने वाले ऋषियों ने उनका हृदय से स्वागत किया और उन्हें पवित्र तीर्थों में स्नान कराया। तत्पश्चात, पति-पत्नी मनु और शतरूपा ने ईश्वर के दर्शन हेतु वट वृक्ष के नीचे घोर तपस्या की।

उन्होंने छह हजार वर्षों तक केवल जल पीकर कठोर तपस्या की। फिर सात हजार वर्षों तक केवल वायु द्वारा तपस्या की। दस हजार वर्षों तक दोनों ने केवल एक पैर पर खड़े होकर तपस्या की।  उनकी कठोर तपस्या को देखकर ब्रह्मा, विष्णु और महेश ने उन्हें अनेक बार वरदान देने का प्रयास किया, किन्तु महाराज मनु ने उनकी एक न सुनी। कठोर तपस्या के कारण उनके शरीर कंकाल बन गए।

जब भगवान को ज्ञात हुआ कि राजा और रानी मन, कर्म और वाणी से अनन्य भाव से उन्हीं के प्रति समर्पित हैं, तब स्वर्ग से 'वर मांगो' की वाणी हुई। इस वाणी ने मनु और शतरूपा के शरीर में स्फूर्ति भर दी। पलक झपकते ही उनके शरीर पुष्ट और सुदृढ़ हो गए। मनु ने हाथ जोड़कर भगवान को प्रणाम किया और कहा, "हे प्रभु! यदि आप मुझ पर प्रसन्न हैं, तो मैं आपके उस रूप का दर्शन करना चाहता हूँ जिससे तपस्वीगण सहज ही आपकी ओर आकर्षित होते हैं।" ये वचन सुनकर भगवान अपनी आदिशक्ति सीता के साथ मनु और शतरूपा के समक्ष प्रकट हुए।  भगवान ने मनु से कहा, "हे राजन! जो चाहो, बिना किसी संकोच के मांग लो। मैं तुम दोनों पर अत्यंत प्रसन्न हूँ।" मनु ने कहा, "हे प्रभु! यदि आप मुझ पर प्रसन्न हैं, तो मुझे आपके समान ही एक पुत्र चाहिए। हे करुणा के भंडार! कृपा करके मुझे यह वरदान दीजिए।" भगवान ने कहा, "हे राजन! परंतु मैं अपने जैसा पुत्र कहाँ खोजूँ? अब तुम दोनों मेरी आज्ञा मानकर कुछ काल तक इन्द्र के स्वर्ग में निवास करो। त्रेता युग में जब तुम अयोध्या के राजा बनोगे, तब मैं अपने अंशों सहित चार रूपों में प्रकट होऊँगा।" ऐसा कहकर भगवान अंतर्धान हो गए।

*Bhagwan Vishnu gives a boon to Manu and Shatarupa that he will be born as their son in the Treta Yuga*

At the beginning of the creation Brahma ji first of all created _Svayambhü Manu_ and _Satarūpā_ . In due course this fortunate couple extended the creation. The description of their righteousness, modesty and pious conduct is available in the Vedas even today. 

We all human beings are their offspring. The name of their eldest son was _Uttänapäda_ in whose house _Dhruva_ , a devout devotee was born. The name of Manu's other son was Priyavrat and his daughter was _Devahüti_ who was married to the sage _Kardama_ . The Lord incarnated himself as kapila in their house and preached the gospel of sankhya philosophy( the discipline of knowledge) to his mother, Devahuti.

The great King Manu ruled over this earth, consisting of seven islands, for a long time. In his kingdom the public was very happy. All the people were virtuous and they had good conduct. Having ruled over his public, at the fourth stage of life he, having handed over the kingdom to his elder son Uttanapada, decided to go to Naimisaranya with his wife in order to worship God by leading a solitary life.

When the great king, Manu reached Naimişäranya, the sages living there welcomed him with open arms and gave him a bath in the sacred places of pilgrimage. Then Manu and Satarūpā, both husband and wife, performed severe penance under the banyan tree in order to have a vision of God. 

They underwent the austere penance merely by drinking water for six thousand years. Then for seven thousand years they underwent penance only by breathing air. For ten thousand years both of them underwent penance by standing on only one leg. Having seen their austere penance, Brahmä, (the Creator), Visnu (the Preserver) and Mahesa (the Destroyer) tried to grant them boons several times, But the great king. Manu did not give heed to them. Their bodies were reduced to skeletons because of the austere penance.

When the Lord knew that the king and the queen were exclusively devoted to Him with their minds, actions and speech, there was a voice from heaven 'Ask a boon'. This voice invigorated the bodies of Manu and Śatarūpā. In the twinkling of an eye, their bodies became stout and robust, Manu with folded hands bowed to the Lord and said, "O Lord! If You are pleased with me, I want to have a vision of Your Form by which the ascetics are naturally attracted towards You." Having heard these words, the Lord with His Primeval Power Sītā, revealed Himself before Manu and Satarūpā. The Lord said to Manu, "O King! Ask (beg) whatever you want without any hesitation. I am very much pleased with both of you." Manu said, "O Lord! If you are pleased with me, I want a son just like you. O Treasure House of Compassion! Kindly grant me this boon". The Lord said, "O King! But where should I seek a son like Me? Now both of you, by carrying out My order, reside for some time in Indra's paradise. In Treta age when you become the king of Ayodhyä, I'll manifest Myself with My fragments in four forms". Having said so, the Lord disappeared.

The story of Rishi Pippalada ( in Hindi and English)!

हिंदी में पढ़ने के लिए स्क्रॉल डाउन करें। 

 When Maharishi Dadhichi’s funeral pyre was being lit in the cremation ground, his wife couldn’t bear the separation and decided to immolate herself by sitting in meditation near the massive peepal tree for three years, with their three-year-old son kept in a cot placed beneath the tree.

In this way, Maharishi Dadhichi and his wife made the ultimate sacrifice, but the child placed in the peepal tree cot started crying due to hunger and thirst. When no other food was found, the child began eating the fallen fruits and leaves of the peepal tree to survive.

One day, the divine sage Narada passed by the place. Narada saw the child in the peepal tree cot and asked for his introduction.

Narada: “Who are you, child?”

Child: “That’s what I want to know too.”

Narada: “Who is your father?”

Child: “That’s what I want to know too.”

Then Narada focused his attention and realized that the child was none other than the great sage Dadhichi’s son. The gods had turned his father’s bones into a powerful weapon to defeat the demons. Narada revealed that the child’s father, Dadhichi, had attained Moksha (liberation) at the age of 31.

Child: “What was the cause of my father’s untimely death?”

Narada: “Your father was under the influence of Saturn (Shani) during that time.”

Child: “What was the reason for the misfortune that befell me?”

Narada: “It was due to the influence of Saturn (Shani).”

After telling him this, Narada, impressed by the child’s resilience, named him Pippalada and initiated him. After Narada left, Pippalada followed his instructions and performed intense penance to please Lord Brahma. When Lord Brahma asked Pippalada to ask for a boon, Pippalada requested the power to burn anything with just his gaze.

Upon receiving the boon from Lord Brahma, Pippalada first invoked Saturn (Shani) and started burning him with his gaze. Saturn began to burn, causing chaos in the universe. All the gods failed to protect Saturn, even Surya (the Sun) was helpless as he saw his own son burning. Surya appealed to Lord Brahma to save Saturn, and finally, Lord Brahma arrived before Pippalada and asked him to release Saturn.

However, Pippalada was not ready to let go of Saturn easily. Lord Brahma offered him the choice of asking for two boons in return. Pippalada happily asked for the following:

In the horoscope of any child born until the age of five, Saturn will not occupy any position. This way, no other child will become an orphan like me.

I, the orphan, have found refuge under the peepal tree. Hence, anyone who worships the peepal tree before sunrise will not be affected by the influence of Saturn.

Lord Brahma granted these boons and Pippalada freed the burning Saturn by touching his feet with his Brahmadanda. Saturn’s feet were injured, and he lost his ability to walk as swiftly as before. Since then, Saturn has been known as “Shanaihchara” or “the one who walks slowly,” and due to burning in the fire, his body turned dark and became deformed.

Thus, the black form of Saturn and the worship of the peepal tree became a religious practice. Moving forward, Pippalada composed the Prashna Upanishad, which remains a vast repository of knowledge to this day…”

Lessons Learned from the Pippalada Story:

The Power of Sacrifice: The story highlights the immense power of sacrifice and selflessness. Maharishi Dadhichi and his wife made the ultimate sacrifice for a higher cause, setting an example of unwavering devotion and dedication.

Overcoming Challenges: Pippalada, as an orphaned child, faced numerous challenges but demonstrated resilience and adaptability. His ability to survive and thrive in difficult circumstances teaches us the importance of perseverance and finding strength within ourselves.

Divine Blessings: Pippalada’s story shows that divine blessings can come to those who remain steadfast in their pursuit of righteousness and truth. His devotion and penance earned him the favor of Lord Brahma, leading to remarkable boons.

Understanding Planetary Influences: The story also highlights the significance of understanding planetary influences in our lives. Pippalada’s encounter with Saturn sheds light on the impact of celestial bodies and the need to navigate their effects wisely.

Importance of Compassion: Pippalada’s compassion for others is evident in his requests for boons. He sought to protect other children from the plight of being orphaned and extended his grace to those who worshipped the peepal tree. This teaches us the importance of empathy and compassion towards others.

Faith and Devotion: Pippalada’s unwavering faith and devotion towards Lord Brahma and the peepal tree demonstrate the power of faith in overcoming obstacles and achieving one’s goals.

Value of Wisdom and Knowledge: Pippalada’s later contribution of the Prashna Upanishad highlights the importance of wisdom and knowledge. His deep understanding and spiritual insights continue to inspire seekers of truth and serve as a rich source of philosophical teachings.

Overall, the story of Pippalada imparts valuable lessons about sacrifice, resilience, compassion, faith, and the pursuit of knowledge, guiding us towards a deeper understanding of life’s challenges and the potential for spiritual growth.

जब श्मशान में महर्षि दधीचि की चिता जलाई जा रही थी, तो उनकी पत्नी यह वियोग सहन नहीं कर सकीं और उन्होंने विशाल पीपल वृक्ष के पास तीन वर्ष तक ध्यान में बैठकर आत्मदाह करने का निश्चय किया। उनके तीन वर्षीय पुत्र को वृक्ष के नीचे एक चारपाई पर लिटा दिया गया।

इस प्रकार महर्षि दधीचि और उनकी पत्नी ने अपना सर्वोच्च बलिदान दिया, लेकिन पीपल वृक्ष की चारपाई पर रखा बालक भूख-प्यास से रोने लगा। जब कोई और भोजन नहीं मिला, तो बालक ने जीवित रहने के लिए पीपल वृक्ष के गिरे हुए फल और पत्ते खाने शुरू कर दिए।

एक दिन, ऋषि नारद उस स्थान से गुज़रे। नारद ने पीपल वृक्ष की चारपाई पर लेटे बालक को देखा और उसका परिचय पूछा।

नारद: “तुम कौन हो, बालक?”

बालक: “यही तो मैं भी जानना चाहता हूँ।”

नारद: “तुम्हारे पिता कौन हैं?”

बालक: “यही तो मैं भी जानना चाहता हूँ।”

 तब नारद ने अपना ध्यान केंद्रित किया और पाया कि वह बालक कोई और नहीं, बल्कि महान ऋषि दधीचि का पुत्र था। देवताओं ने उसके पिता की अस्थियों को राक्षसों पर विजय पाने के लिए एक शक्तिशाली अस्त्र में बदल दिया था। नारद ने बताया कि बालक के पिता दधीचि ने 31 वर्ष की आयु में मोक्ष प्राप्त कर लिया था।

बालक: "मेरे पिता की अकाल मृत्यु का कारण क्या था?"

नारद: "उस समय आपके पिता शनि के प्रभाव में थे।"

बालक: "मेरे साथ जो दुर्भाग्य आया, उसका कारण क्या था?"

नारद: "यह शनि के प्रभाव के कारण था।"

यह बताने के बाद, बालक की दृढ़ता से प्रभावित होकर नारद ने उसका नाम पिप्पलाद रखा और उसे दीक्षा दी। नारद के जाने के बाद, पिप्पलाद ने उनकी आज्ञा का पालन किया और भगवान ब्रह्मा को प्रसन्न करने के लिए घोर तपस्या की। जब भगवान ब्रह्मा ने पिप्पलाद से वरदान माँगने को कहा, तो पिप्पलाद ने अपनी दृष्टि मात्र से किसी भी वस्तु को भस्म करने की शक्ति माँगी।

 ब्रह्मा जी से वरदान प्राप्त करने के बाद, पिप्पलाद ने सबसे पहले शनिदेव का आह्वान किया और उन्हें अपनी दृष्टि से जलाना शुरू कर दिया। शनिदेव जलने लगे और ब्रह्मांड में हाहाकार मच गया। सभी देवता शनिदेव की रक्षा करने में असफल रहे, यहाँ तक कि सूर्यदेव भी अपने पुत्र को जलता देखकर असहाय हो गए। सूर्यदेव ने शनिदेव को बचाने के लिए ब्रह्मा जी से प्रार्थना की और अंततः ब्रह्मा जी पिप्पलाद के समक्ष पहुँचे और उनसे शनिदेव को मुक्त करने का अनुरोध किया।

परन्तु पिप्पलाद शनिदेव को आसानी से छोड़ने को तैयार नहीं थे। ब्रह्मा जी ने उन्हें बदले में दो वरदान माँगने का विकल्प दिया। पिप्पलाद ने प्रसन्नतापूर्वक निम्नलिखित वरदान माँगे:

पाँच वर्ष की आयु तक जन्म लेने वाले किसी भी बालक की कुंडली में शनिदेव कोई स्थान नहीं रखेंगे। इस प्रकार, कोई भी बालक मेरी तरह अनाथ नहीं होगा।

मैं अनाथ हूँ और मुझे पीपल के वृक्ष के नीचे शरण मिली है। अतः जो कोई सूर्योदय से पूर्व पीपल के वृक्ष की पूजा करेगा, उस पर शनिदेव का प्रभाव नहीं पड़ेगा।

ब्रह्मा जी ने ये वरदान दिए और पिप्पलाद ने अपने ब्रह्मदंड से उनके चरण स्पर्श करके जलते हुए शनिदेव को मुक्त कर दिया। शनि के पैर घायल हो गए और वे पहले जैसी तेज़ी से चलने में असमर्थ हो गए। तभी से शनि को "शनैश्चरा" या "धीरे चलने वाला" कहा जाने लगा और अग्नि में जलने के कारण उनका शरीर काला पड़ गया और विकृत हो गया।

इस प्रकार शनि का काला रूप और पीपल की पूजा एक धार्मिक प्रथा बन गई। आगे चलकर पिप्पलाद ने प्रश्नोपनिषद की रचना की, जो आज भी ज्ञान का एक विशाल भंडार है..."

इस कहानी से क्या सीखा जाता है 

त्याग की शक्ति: यह कहानी त्याग और निस्वार्थता की अपार शक्ति को उजागर करती है। महर्षि दधीचि और उनकी पत्नी ने एक महान उद्देश्य के लिए सर्वोच्च बलिदान दिया और अटूट भक्ति और समर्पण का उदाहरण प्रस्तुत किया।

चुनौतियों पर विजय: एक अनाथ बालक के रूप में पिप्पलाद को अनेक चुनौतियों का सामना करना पड़ा, लेकिन उन्होंने दृढ़ता और अनुकूलनशीलता का परिचय दिया। कठिन परिस्थितियों में जीवित रहने और फलने-फूलने की उनकी क्षमता हमें दृढ़ता और अपने भीतर शक्ति खोजने के महत्व की शिक्षा देती है।

दैवीय आशीर्वाद: पिप्पलाद की कहानी दर्शाती है कि जो लोग धर्म और सत्य के मार्ग पर अडिग रहते हैं, उन्हें दैवीय आशीर्वाद प्राप्त हो सकते हैं। उनकी भक्ति और तपस्या ने उन्हें भगवान ब्रह्मा का अनुग्रह दिलाया, जिससे उन्हें उल्लेखनीय वरदान प्राप्त हुए।

ग्रहों के प्रभावों को समझना: यह कहानी हमारे जीवन में ग्रहों के प्रभावों को समझने के महत्व पर भी प्रकाश डालती है। शनि के साथ पिप्पलाद की मुलाकात खगोलीय पिंडों के प्रभाव और उनके प्रभावों को बुद्धिमानी से समझने की आवश्यकता पर प्रकाश डालती है।

करुणा का महत्व: वरदानों के लिए उनके अनुरोधों में दूसरों के प्रति पिप्पलाद की करुणा स्पष्ट दिखाई देती है। उन्होंने अन्य बच्चों को अनाथ होने की विपत्ति से बचाने का प्रयास किया और पीपल के वृक्ष की पूजा करने वालों पर अपनी कृपा बरसाई। इससे हमें दूसरों के प्रति सहानुभूति और करुणा का महत्व पता चलता है।

आस्था और भक्ति: भगवान ब्रह्मा और पीपल के वृक्ष के प्रति पिप्पलाद की अटूट आस्था और भक्ति, बाधाओं पर विजय पाने और अपने लक्ष्यों को प्राप्त करने में विश्वास की शक्ति को प्रदर्शित करती है।

बुद्धि और ज्ञान का महत्व: पिप्पलाद द्वारा बाद में प्रश्न उपनिषद में किया गया योगदान, बुद्धि और ज्ञान के महत्व पर प्रकाश डालता है। उनकी गहन समझ और आध्यात्मिक अंतर्दृष्टि सत्य के साधकों को प्रेरित करती रहती है और दार्शनिक शिक्षाओं के एक समृद्ध स्रोत के रूप में कार्य करती है।

कुल मिलाकर, पिप्पलाद की कहानी त्याग, दृढ़ता, करुणा, आस्था और ज्ञान की खोज के बारे में बहुमूल्य शिक्षाएँ प्रदान करती है, जो हमें जीवन की चुनौतियों और आध्यात्मिक विकास की संभावनाओं की गहरी समझ की ओर ले जाती है।

Here is the Hindi Video

https://youtube.com/shorts/hOI94paqaz8?si=uEtR1X2sSXYJKdBi

॥ જનોઇ બદલવા વિષે॥

– – – જનોઈ બદલવાની સંક્ષિપ્ત વિધિ – – – – –

સ્નાન કરી, ધોતી પહેરી, ખુલ્લા શરીરે પૂર્વ દિશામાં મુખ રહે એમ બેસવું અને

નીચે બતાવ્યા પ્રમાણે જમણા હાથમાં જળ રાખીને સંકલ્પ કરવો

સંકલ્પ : જમણા હાથમાં જળ રાખવું અને નીચેનો સંકલ્પ બોલવો

ૐ વિર્ષ્ણુ ર્વિષ્ણુ ર્વિષ્ણુ … વિક્રમ સંવંત  ૨૦૮૨ શિવ પ્રિય શ્રાવણ માસે શુકલ પક્ષે પૂર્ણિમા તિથૌ શનીવાસરે પ્રાતઃકાલે . . . અમુક ગોત્ર ઉત્પન્નસ્ય (મનમાં પોતાનું ગોત્ર બોલવું) અહમ શ્રોત સ્માર્ત કર્માનુષ્ટાન સિધ્યર્થ નુત્તન યજ્ઞૉપવિત ધારણમ અહમ કરીષ્યે …..

આમ સંકલ્પ કરી જળ નીચે તરભાણામાં મૂકો….

ત્યારબાદ ડાબા હાથમાં જનોઈ રાખી – જમણા હાથના આંગળા વડે એના પર જળ છંટકાવ કરો અને નીચેનો મંત્ર બોલો

ૐ અપવિત્ર પવિત્રો વા સર્વાવસ્થામ ગતોપિ વા ।

યઃ સ્મરેતપુંડરીકાક્ષં સ બાહયાભ્યંતરઃ શુચિ : ॥

ત્યારબાદ એના પર જમણા હાથની હથેળી ઢાંકી – ૧૦ ગાયત્રી મંત્ર બોલો

ત્યારબાદ જમણો હાથ લઈ લ્યો અને ડાબા હાથમાં જે જનોઇ રહેલી છે

એના પર જમણા હાથ વડે થોડા થોડા ચોખા

– – આવહયામી સ્થાપયામી–

એ શબ્દો બોલાય ત્યારે મૂકતાં જાવ અને નીચેના મંત્રો બોલતા જાવ

ૐ પ્રથમ તંતો ઓમકારાય નમઃ ઓમકારમ આવહયામી સ્થાપયામી.

ૐ દ્વિતીય તંતો અગ્નયે નમઃ અગ્નિમ આવહયામી સ્થાપયામી.

ૐ તૃતીય તંતો નાગેભ્યો નમઃ નાગમ આવહયામી સ્થાપયામી.

ૐ ચતુર્થ તંતો સોમાય નમઃ સોમમ આવહયામી સ્થાપયામી.

ૐ પંચમ તંતો પિતૃભ્યો નમઃ પિતૃન આવહયામી સ્થાપયામી.

ૐ ષષ્ઠમ તંતો પ્રજાપતયે નમઃ પ્રજાપતિમ આવહયામી સ્થાપયામી.

ૐ સપ્તમ તંતો અનિલાય નમઃ અનિલમ આવહયામી સ્થાપયામી.

ૐ અષ્ટમ તંતો યમાય નમઃ યમામ આવહયામી સ્થાપયામી.

ૐ નવમ તંતો વિશ્વેભ્યો દેવેભ્યો નમઃ વિશ્વાન દેવાન આવહયામી સ્થાપયામી.

ગાંઠ પર

ગ્રંથિ મધ્યે બ્રહ્મા વિષ્ણુ રૂદ્રેભ્યો નમઃ બ્રહ્મવિષ્ણુરુદ્રાન આવહયામી સ્થાપયામી.

ત્યારબાદ થોડાક ચંદન ચોખા ફૂલ જનોઈ પર પધરાવી નીચેનો મંત્ર બોલો

આવાહિત યજ્ઞૉપવિત દેવતાભ્યો નમઃ ગંધ અક્ષત પુષ્પાણી સમર્પયામિ ….

ત્યારબાદ જનોઈને બે હાથના આંગળમાં ભરાવી હાથ ઊંચા કરી સૂર્યને બતાવો

અને નીચેનો મંત્ર બોલી ગળામાં માલની જેમ જનોઈ પહેરો

અને પછી જમણો હાથ જનોઈમાથી બહાર કાઢી

ડાબા ખભા પર રહે એમ જનોઈ ધારણ કરી નીચેનો મંત્ર બોલવો.

ૐ યજ્ઞૉપવિતમ પરમં પવિત્રમ પ્રજાપતેર્યત્સહજં પુરસ્તાત ।

આયુષ્યમગયમ પ્રતિમુંચ શુભ્રમ યજ્ઞૉપવિતમ બલમસ્તુ તેજ ॥

નવી જનોઈ ધારણ થઈ જાય પછી

સૂર્ય ને ત્રણ અર્ધ્ય આપવા – ૐ સૂર્યાય નમઃ ૐ રવિયે નમઃ ૐ ભાસ્કરાય નમઃ

ત્યારબાદ નીચેનો મંત્ર બોલી જૂની જનોઈ નો ત્યાગ કરવો

એતાવાદીનપર્યંતમ બ્રહ્મત્વંધારીતંમયા ।

જીર્ણત્વાત્વત્પરીત્યાગો ગચ્છ સૂત્ર યથા સુખમ ॥

જૂની જનોઈને નીચે મૂકી એના પર ફૂલ ચોખા મૂકી હાથ જોડી વંદન કરી પછી એ જનોઈ વહેતા જળમાં પધરાવી દેવી.

ત્યારબાદ જળની ચમચી ભરી રાખો

જમણા હાથમાં અને નીચેનો સંકલ્પ કરવો

નુત્તન યજ્ઞૉપવિત ધારણ નિમિતાંગ અહં

અમુકજાપ સંખ્યાનામ(જપ સંખ્યા બોલવી અથવા યથાશક્તિ એમ બોલવું) ગાયત્રી મંત્ર અહમ કરીષ્યે

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

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The Triumph of Sri Venkannayya’s Rama Bhakti A real-life episode from the 19th century narrating the extraordinary devotion that Sri Venkannayya had for Sri Ramachandra

 

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Venkannayya Meditating dharmadispatch

Team Dharma Dispatch

Editor’s Note

THE STORY THAT FOLLOWS is an English adaptation of a real-life incident narrated in T.S. Shama Rao’s remarkable Kannada work titled Mooru Talemaru (Three Generations). 

The incident occurred in the life of his ancestor, Sri Venkannayya hailing from the Taluku town in Chitradurga district. It is set in early 19th century, some years after the Mysore kingdom had passed into British hands. Krishnaraja Wodeyar III was the nominal ruler.

At the time, Sri Venkannayya was working as a Revenue clerk in the Kannukuppe Taluk (now in the jurisdiction of Davanagere District). One ill-fated afternoon, Andrews, the District Magistrate of Chitradurga paid a surprise visit and suspended Venkannayya for no fault of his. 

What happened next is narrated below.

Happy reading!

The  Triumph of Sri Venkannayya’s Rama Bhakti

ALTHOUGH SRI VENKANNAYYA was distraught at this injustice meted out to him, he brought his mind under control. He thought, “I must’ve committed some mistake without my knowledge. That’s why Sri Rama has punished me like this. Still, he is also the creator and destroyer of all fears. It is my duty to submit everything to him.” 

Thinking thus, he left office, reached home, and headed to the bathroom. There, he poured about ten buckets of cold water over his head. Then he went to the Puja room in drenched clothes and took out the silk-encased volume of Srimad Ramayana kept in the Mantapa. He placed it inside a bag made of deerskin. After this, he slid a folded silk dhoti and Uttariya inside the bag. In another bag, he placed a copper pot and tumbler, an uddharaṇe (a small metal spoon used typically during Puja, etc), Vibhuti, Akshata, and Agarbhattis.

Then he called out to his wife and said, “Nobody in this house must search for me until I return. I am not abandoning home. I will return after some days.” 

***

There was a dense jungle about two miles from Kannukuppe; a small Anjaneya temple right in its center. Who knows which devotee built it in which era! There were a few tiny villages in a radius of about three miles of the forest’s periphery. The temple was located in a desolate place. A small stream of clear water flowed next to it. It was perfect for solitude. 

Darkness was setting in when Sri Venkannayya reached the temple. He took a bath in the stream, wore the sanctified garments and finished his Sandhyavandanam. Then he spread a towel on the floor of the temple and lay down on it and slept.

He awoke at the auspicious Brahmi Muhurtam the next morning, finished his ablutions in the same stream, donned the sanctified garments and finished his morning Sandhyavandanam. Then he initiated the Sundara Kanda Saptaha — i.e., reciting the 68 Sargas of the Sundara Kanda of the Srimad Ramayana spread over a week. 

After finishing the Pārāyaṇam (sacred recitation) for the day, he placed the Srimad Ramayana before the Murti of Anjaneya Swami and performed the ṣōḍaśopacāra Puja (Sixteen acts of homage) to both. 

By then, the afternoon sun was blazing. And so, he performed the afternoon Sandhyavandanam. Next, he collected a bunch of grass, pounded it with a stone and extracted a cupful of its juice. This he first offered to Anjaneya Swami as Naivedyam and drank it. 

Then he closed his eyes and chanted the Rama Taraka Mahamantra (Shri Rama Jaya Rama Jaya Jaya Rama) till evening. Now he took a bath in the stream and performed the evening Sandhyavandanam as before. This was followed once again, by the chanting of the Rama Taraka Mantra till midnight. Finally, he spread his Uttariya on the temple floor and slept on it. 

This became his Nitya Karma — daily routine. 

EVENTUALLY, SOME COWHERDS spread the news to the neighbouring villages that someone was performing daily Puja in the Anjaneya Temple. 

Almost immediately, villagers began flocking to the temple. They brought coconuts, plantains, jaggery and milk with them. 

But something else occurred simultaneously. 

Hundreds of monkeys from the forest unfailingly assembled at the temple at the exact moment that Sri Venkannayya began his Pārāyaṇam. They sat there in rapt silence listening to him, indulging in no mischief. On many occasions, they gathered different varieties of fruits and figs and berries and strew them around in the temple’s portico. 

Sri Venkannayya distributed the offerings of the villagers to the monkeys and the offerings of the monkeys to the villagers as Prasadam. He contented himself with only the juice of the grass. 

Six days elapsed in this manner.

*** 

BY THEN, NEWS OF the unjust suspension of Sri Venkannayya had become a hot topic in Chitradurga, the District Headquarters. Words flew thick and fast among the District Magistrate, the Assistant Commissioner and the Amaldar. Everyone vouched for Venkannayya’s spotless conduct and pious character. 

Eventually, Andrews was convinced of the error of his ways and he expressed his profound remorse. To atone, he not only revoked the suspension but promoted Sri Venkannayya to the position of a  Shekhdaar. It was a huge elevation from being a Revenue clerk to becoming the officer incharge of collecting the revenue of an entire Hobli (an administrative unit smaller than a Taluk but larger than a village). 

The Amaldar who took Andrew’s order reached the Anjaneya Temple after two days. It was around three in the afternoon. By then, Sri Venkannayya had finished his Pārāyaṇam and Puja. He was seated before the Murti of Hanuman, his palms firmly joined together, his eyes closed in deep penance, his lips noiselessly chanting the sacred name of Sri Rama.  

Tears of joy flowed from the Amaldar’s eyes the moment he beheld this radiant form of Sri Venkannayya. Then he looked around and spotted a sizeable crowd of villagers and monkeys standing in reverential silence. 

At long last, Venkannayya finished his penance and stood up and saw the Amaldar, who rushed towards him and embraced him warmly and said, “Swami, your Lord Sri Ramachandra has removed your stain. Not only that, he has also bestowed prosperity upon you. Look at this order, you have been promoted as the Shekhdaar of the Parashuramapura Hobli!” 

As Sri Venkannayya read the order, his eyes became moist and his throat was choked. He said, “All this is the infinite grace of Sri Ramachandra. He has washed away the taint that had been attached to my name. This promotion is merely incidental.”

After some time, he escorted the Amaldar to a large boulder and seated him on it. Then he entered the temple and brought some Prasadam and coconut water and offered them to the Amaldar. 

It was twilight. 

Sri Venkannayya stood before the Murti of Hanuman, closed his eyes, chanted some verses and prostrated before him. Then he turned around and looked at the crowd of the monkeys. With tears in his eyes, he folded his hands before them in devotion and bid them goodbye. 

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