Post by Amritha Varshini on Aug 21, 2013 19:33:10 GMT 5.5
Artilce by Sri P.R. Kannan (prkannanvashi@yahoo.com)
Ganapathi the astrologer
Now it was Ganapathi’s turn to leave for Kashi at Siva’s behest. He assumed the form of an old brahmana astrologer and moved about in the city of Kashi. It did not take time for Ganapathi to earn the love and respect of people. He then started making people experience terrible dreams during sleep at night. He would then meet them in the morning and describe their dreams in detail and explain the portents of evil developments that would befall the city. He used to say: “You saw Surya at night in the dream; two rainbows simultaneously; two Ketu grahas fighting with each other; the flag falling down; the city immersed in tidal waves of Milky ocean; a woman unclothed with hair dishevelled; the kalasa on the temple vimana falling down; the city surrounded by hordes of weeping animals; fleets of eagles and hawks circling on top” etc. Ganapathi also discussed with some people the astrological positions of planets etc.; all these foretold the evil times ahead. Through such means he created panic among people, some of whom left the city.
Ganapathi in the meantime managed to gain entry into the inner apartments of the king’s palace and strike friendship with the queen and her companions. He used to address them and say; “It is only 5 to 7 days since this woman came here, but the king has very graciously agreed to give her two villages; the pearl necklace worn by this woman was removed by the king from his own person and given by him; you gave birth to 93 children, one of them went out on horseback and died; this pregnant woman will give birth to a beautiful female child” etc. All the women liked him very much. The queen Lilavati thought very high of his scholarship in Vedas, sastras and astrology; his handsome form and the qualities of his head and heart won over everybody. One day the queen had occasion to broach the subject of this old brahmana with the king. She then sent for him. The king and the brahmana had a long discussion. After the brahmana left, the king expressed to the queen his extreme happiness with the brahmana’s ability to tell exactly all about the past and the present. The next morning an inquisitive king called the brahmana and asked him about the future. The brahmana praised him to the skies for his prowess, rectitude, fame and adherence to dharma. When the king informed the brahmana of his recent mental state of dispassion and disinterestedness and enquired about the reason therefor, the brahmana said firmly: “On the eighteenth day from today, a brahmana will come from the northerly direction and give you advice. You must act on his advice without question. That will be good for you.”
Vishnu the Advisor
With Ganapathi also failing to return in time, Siva asked Vishnu to go to Kashi and find out why none of the previous emissaries came back to Mandara and report to him. What was in Kashi that attracted all of them so much that they could not get back to Mandara? Vishnu said: “O Siva, even those deeds, which are impossible to accomplish with the help of one’s intellect, strength and efforts, are properly completed with quick and best results, if carried out with complete meditation on you.” Vishnu reached Kashi, mounted on Garuda. Skanda recounts in this context many tirthas and deities associated with Vishnu’s stay at Kashi during that time. Some of them are:
Padodakatirtham, where Vishnu washed his hands and feet and then bathed; Adikesava murthy in a place called Svetadveepa; Ksheerabdhitirtham; Sankhatirtham; Chakratirtham; Padmatirtham; Mahalakshmitirtham where Mahalakshmi bathed and her deity on its banks; Tarkshyatirtham; Naradatirtham where Vishnu taught Brahmavidya to Narada; Prahladatirtham; Ambarishatirtham; Adityakesava; Dattatreyeswaratirtham; Bhargavatirtham; Vamanatirtham; Naranarayanatirtham; Yagnavarahatirtham; Vidaranarasimhatirtham; Gopigovindatirtham; Lakshminrisimhatirtham; Seshatirtham; Sankhamadhavatirtham; Hayagrivatirtham.
In all these tirthas there are deities of Vishnu with corresponding history. (Skanda narrates the story of the famous Bindumadhava murthy in a separate chapter later).
Vishnu assumed with his partial powers the form of Buddha, with the name of Punyakirthi; Lakshmi a Boudha sadhvi carrying a book, with the name of Vignanakoumudi; and Garuda as a worthy disciple carrying a book, with the name of Vinayakirthi. All the three looked resplendent, extremely bewitching and scholarly and commanded the respect of not only the humans; but even animals and birds stood enraptured. Punyakirthi instructed Vinayakirthi and other city folk on the basic principles of Buddhism. He taught: “Bodily pleasure must be seriously sought after. There is no life, no Swarga, no Naraka, after the death of body. This is true of everybody from Brahma to a worm. Death is the greatest fear for everyone. We should be of service to humanity. We should have compassion towards all beings. Ahimsa is the best dharma, as the sastras say. It is not correct to kill animals in the name of yagnas. One should earn as much money as possible and enjoy life here. “ Vignanakoumudi for her part taught on similar lines to women. She questioned the organisation of four varnas on scientific basis and made fun of it. She even quoted from Puranas and ridiculed. For instance Marichi and Daksha were both sons of Brahma. Then how could Marichi’s son Kasyapa marry the daughters of Daksha? Vignanakoumudi also wrought some miracles. This way this triad group spread among the general public apathy and even hostility towards established cannons of dharma. In the meantime King Divodasa’s disinterest in the affairs of the state and mundane living increasedfurther.
On the eighteenth day from the day Ganapathi had met the king, Vishnu entered the king’s palace in the garb of a brahmana. The king was struck with his splendour resembling that of Agni. He received the brahmana with honour and said: “I am tired of presiding over the affairs of state. I have lived a very successful life as king and protected my citizens like my own children. I possess power greater than even Devas. But hostility with Devatas is not good, judging from stories of the past. (Here Divodasa quotes many instances including Tripuras, Bana, Bali et al). I do not know what I should do and where I should go for Moksha.” Vishnu responded: “There has not been nor will there be a king as great and virtuous as you. Only one serious fault of yours has come to my notice. That is keeping Lord Visveswara away from Kashi. There is one way of getting over this grave sin. By establishing a Siva Linga, sins as many as the hair on one’s body get completely destroyed. Hence I want you to set up a Linga here. Further you are indeed extremely blessed. At seven days from today, a divine vimana will come here and take you to Kailasa with the same body.” After saying this, Vishnu left. Divodasa established with devotion a Siva Linga, later called Divodaseswara Linga, built an opulous temple around the Linga and also handed the kingdom to his son Samaranjaya. On the expected day, a divine vimana came down; Rudraganas decorated the king like Siva - serpents around neck and hands; third eye in forehead; cover of elephant skin; matted hair; crescent moon; vibhuti all over body etc. and took him to Kailasa.