Sri Rama hearing the story of sage Vishwamitra in Mithila

Mithila: Sri Rama hearing the story of sage Vishwamitra:

(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 51 to 65)

• Meditation: I meditate on Sri Rama hearing the story of sage Vishwamitra at Mithila from sage Shatananda (the son of Devi Ahalya).

• Lineage of Vishwamitra: There was a king named Kusha who was the son of Prajapati. The son of Kusha was Kushanabha who was a great follower of righteousness (Sudharmika). The son of Kushanabha was the renowned Gadhi. The son of Gadhi was the great sage Vishwamitra of fiery energy (Mahateja). This Vishwamitra of great energy (Mahateja) ruled the earth for many thousand of years as a king.

• Encounter of Vishwamitra and sage Vasishtha (Vishwamitra leaving kingdom): Once king Vishwamitra came to the hermitage of sage Vasishtha and tried to take the divine cow Kamadhenu by force. With the permission of sage Vasishtha, Kamadhenu created armies of fighters who completely destroyed the army of king Vishwamitra. Seeing his army and sons destroyed, king Vishwamitra became listless like a serpent whose fangs have been removed or a bird whose wings have been cut. Then king Vishwamitra gave his kingdom to one of his sons and went to the forest for Tapas.

• Vishwamitra performing penance in Himalayas and getting boon from Lord Shiva: Vishwamitra went to the Himalayas frequented by the Kinnaras and the Uragas, and started performing Tapas to please Lord Shiva. After a long time, Lord Shiva whose emblem is the bull appeared before Vishwamitra and told him to ask for a boon. Vishwamitra asked for the knowledge of Dhanurveda along with all its branches and all the weapons that existed with the Devas. Lord Shiva bestowed that boon and disappeared.

• Vishwamitra destroying hermitage of sage Vasishtha (leaving for penance after getting defeated): Then Vishwamitra went to the hermitage of sage Vasishtha and with his divine weapons started destroying the hermitage. Sage Vasishtha confronted Vishwamitra with his Danda and humbled him. Vishwamitra said: "Fie on the power of Kshatriya, the power of Brahmateja is mightier than that. With only one Brahma Danda, all my weapons are diffused". With this realisation, Vishwamitra left for Tapas to attain the brahma-hood of sages.

• Vishwamitra attaing the loka of Rajarshis after penance: Then Vishwamitra with anguish in his heart due to the remembrance of his defeat by sage Vasishtha, went in the southern direction with his queen and performed a great Tapas for thousand years living only on fruits and tubers. He gave birth to sons names Havispanda, Madhusyanda, Dridhanetra and Maharatha. After thousand years of Tapas, Lord Brahma appeared before Vishwamitra and told him that he has won the loka of the Rajarshis by his Tapas. Vishwamitra thought that with all his Tapas he has attained only the lokas of Rajarshis. This is not the fruition of his Tapas.

• Vishwamitra meeting king Trishanku during penance: So he again started performing a great Tapas. During this time there was an encounter with king Trishanku. Vishwamitra tried to send Trishanku (who became a Chandala due to curse) to heaven bodily but the gods opposed. Vishwamitra created another Loka for Trishanku who remained in the upside-down posture.

• Vishwamitra saving Shunashepa during penance: Due to the hindrance in his Tapas caused by king Trishanku, the great Vishwamitra went to the western direction where there are lakes, and started performing Tapas living on fruits and tubers only. During this time there was an encounter with king Ambarisha whose yagna horse Indra had stolen and the only substitute was a human sacrifice. King Ambarisha met sage Richika and got his son Shunashepa for sacrifice. Vishwamitra saved Shunashepa.

• Vishwamitra becoming Rishi; encounter with Menaka: Vishwamitra performed Tapas on the lakeside for another thousand years. Lord Brahma appeared to him and said that on account of his auspicious deeds he has become a Rishi. Vishwamitra again started a great Tapas. During this time there was an encounter with Menaka.

• Vishwamitra becoming Maharshi: After this, Vishwamitra with a firm resolve performed a great Tapas for thousand years on the bank of river Kaushiki in the Himalayas. Lord Brahma appeared before sage Vishwamitra and called him as Maharshi. However, Vishwamitra said that since he was only called as Maharshi and not Brahmarshi, his senses still remain unconquered. Lord Brahma said that his senses still remain unconquered. So let him strive for that.

• Vishwamitra performing further penance; encounter with Rambha: Then Vishwamitra performed Tapas for another thousand years with upraised arms and subsisting on air alone. Indra sent Rambha who was cursed by Vishwamitra.

• Vishwamitra becoming Brahmarshi Then Vishwamitra left the Himalayas went to the eastern direction and performed severe Tapas. Remaining silent for thousand years he performed his unparalleled vow which was extremely difficult. The mahamuni became like wood. He was shaken by many barriers but still anger did not enter his heart. After the completion of the Tapas when he was about to take his meal, Indra came in the guise of a brahmana and to test him and asked for the food. Vishwamitra without anger gave away the food to the brahmana. Vishwamitra continued his Tapas for another thousand years without breathing. Thereafter due to controlled breath, fumes started to emit from his head. The three worlds became agitated by that heat. The devas and other celestial beings went to pitamaha Brahma requesting him to stop the Tapas of Vishwamitra by giving him boon. Pitamaha Brahma appeared before Vishwamitra with the devas and bestowed Brahmanhood on him along with long life and marud ganas. Vishwamitra said: If I have indeed attained Brahmanhood and long life, let the Omkara, Vasatkara and Vedas give boon (of knowledge) to me, and let Vasishtha, the best one in the knowledge in Vedas, also acknowledge my Brahmanhood. Then invoked by the devas, Vasishtha appeared and making friendship with Vishwamitra said: "You are a Brahmarshi".

Janakpur Janki Temple, Dhanusha district, Nepal

Janakpur Janki Temple, Dhanusha district, Nepal

- Sri Rama hearing the story of sage Vishwamitra (Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 51 to 65)
- Story of sage Vishwamitra (in details) (Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 51 to 65)
- Mithila (Dhanusha district, Nepal) (Darbhanga district, Bihar) (Madhubani district, Bihar) (Buxar district, Bihar)

Bharatavarsha - The Land of Gods and Sages:

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5. Saints - Ramakrishna - Vivekananda - Ramana

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