Post by jksivan on Sept 20, 2013 19:54:12 GMT 5.5
Dear Children
78. ‘’NAR BALI (HUMAN LIFE SACRIFICE)’’
I am going to introduce to you a great name in Mahabharath war. Known as Aravaan, he was a son of the great warrior Arjun, and one of his wives, Ulupi. the queen of the snake world. Aravan has other names in different parts of the world, as Iravan, Iravath, Iravanth etc., All these names represent Aravaan and narrate his life story, with a difference from what we know here in our country, only. Change is inevitable with time passing, and culture and tradition undergoing frequent face lifts.
Kshathriyas, the warrior clan, always offered sacrifice to appease the goddess of victory, named Bhadra Kali, Jay Dhurga, Bhavani, and such other names, their deities, and the ''Nar Bali '' (human life sacrifice) was the highest of the offerings. They earmarked whom to be sacrified with the consent of the person concerned or as selected by the chief, leader or head of their respective groups or clans. They strongly believed by offering such a human sacrifice victory will be certain for them in the battle they engaged themselves.
Pandavas consulted among themselves who was the best warrior (Kshathriya) to be sacrificed for the win in the war. Krishna offered to sacrifice himself or he preferred Aravan in lieu. Krishnan liked Aravan and found him fit. Aravan offered himself voluntarily saying ‘’ Krishna, you are the one who should be there for guiding Pandavas till the end and we cannot afford to sacrifice you. So I am ready to happily offer my life, if it could help the Pandavas to secure victory in the war.’’
Aravan’s sacrifice of his life is the first sign of victory for Pandavas. He was admired by every one. He is still worshipped as a demi god in many places in this country and overseas. The people who worship him now are known as ‘’Aravaanis’’ (transgender people, known as Thirunangai in tamil) There is a big and popular temple for Aravan known as Koothandavar temple in south India.
When Aravan volunteered his life, Krishna ran to him and embraced him. His selfless character earned him an immortal name and fame for him.
Krishna said just before his sacrifice, ‘’Aravan from this day you will be worshipped as a god. I want to grant you 3 wishes. Please ask me what are your last 3 wishes ‘’
‘’Prabhu, my first wish is that I should die as a brave warrior without fear of death’’
‘’Granted, what is your next wish?’’
‘’Krishna, I dont wish to die a bachelor, and want to get married, as my mother wished my marriage and I don’t want to disappoint her’’
‘’ Aravan, you will get married before you die’’
‘’Krishna, my third and last wish is, I should atleast see with my eyes, the great Mahabharath war waged by Pandavas because I could not participate in the war as a soldier and warrior. I dreamed and longed to play my role for Pandavas’ success but I am offering my life now for their win and dying before the war commenced, and so at least let me see if I could not participate in the war, till the end.’’
‘’Aravan, you will see the war till its end’’ assured Krishna.
Aravan’s three wishes were fulfilled accordingly. He died a brave warrior sacrificing his life as an offering to the goddess of victory, Jay Dhurga. Before his death, he was just married. And after his death, his head was placed in a tall huge tree from where he could see the entire battle ground from the top and its proceedings from beginning to end for the complete 18 days the war lasted.
( My ‘’wish’’ Krishna, is to write a story on Aravan separately !!) .
In the Koothandavar temple in South india, Aravan is worshipped -- his head is the idol -- by devotees and Aravanis, who worship him mainly, perform a ritual of marrying Aravan on a particular day (Full moon day in the tamil month of Chithra – say between April and May every year) and the very next day they sadly mourn his death, by destroying their bangles, thilaks on forehead, and wedding attire and other signs of a married woman etc., considered them widowed with the death of their husband. Their sincerety and faith is making us respect them for their belief and devotion, tradition and custom . As I told you Aravan has earned the sympathy of many thousands of people, even away from our country and still there are devotees for him in overseas countries who perform rituals and ceremonies connected with him, of course with different names, rituals and customary practices etc., which I am not covering in this short story.
78. ‘’NAR BALI (HUMAN LIFE SACRIFICE)’’
I am going to introduce to you a great name in Mahabharath war. Known as Aravaan, he was a son of the great warrior Arjun, and one of his wives, Ulupi. the queen of the snake world. Aravan has other names in different parts of the world, as Iravan, Iravath, Iravanth etc., All these names represent Aravaan and narrate his life story, with a difference from what we know here in our country, only. Change is inevitable with time passing, and culture and tradition undergoing frequent face lifts.
Kshathriyas, the warrior clan, always offered sacrifice to appease the goddess of victory, named Bhadra Kali, Jay Dhurga, Bhavani, and such other names, their deities, and the ''Nar Bali '' (human life sacrifice) was the highest of the offerings. They earmarked whom to be sacrified with the consent of the person concerned or as selected by the chief, leader or head of their respective groups or clans. They strongly believed by offering such a human sacrifice victory will be certain for them in the battle they engaged themselves.
Pandavas consulted among themselves who was the best warrior (Kshathriya) to be sacrificed for the win in the war. Krishna offered to sacrifice himself or he preferred Aravan in lieu. Krishnan liked Aravan and found him fit. Aravan offered himself voluntarily saying ‘’ Krishna, you are the one who should be there for guiding Pandavas till the end and we cannot afford to sacrifice you. So I am ready to happily offer my life, if it could help the Pandavas to secure victory in the war.’’
Aravan’s sacrifice of his life is the first sign of victory for Pandavas. He was admired by every one. He is still worshipped as a demi god in many places in this country and overseas. The people who worship him now are known as ‘’Aravaanis’’ (transgender people, known as Thirunangai in tamil) There is a big and popular temple for Aravan known as Koothandavar temple in south India.
When Aravan volunteered his life, Krishna ran to him and embraced him. His selfless character earned him an immortal name and fame for him.
Krishna said just before his sacrifice, ‘’Aravan from this day you will be worshipped as a god. I want to grant you 3 wishes. Please ask me what are your last 3 wishes ‘’
‘’Prabhu, my first wish is that I should die as a brave warrior without fear of death’’
‘’Granted, what is your next wish?’’
‘’Krishna, I dont wish to die a bachelor, and want to get married, as my mother wished my marriage and I don’t want to disappoint her’’
‘’ Aravan, you will get married before you die’’
‘’Krishna, my third and last wish is, I should atleast see with my eyes, the great Mahabharath war waged by Pandavas because I could not participate in the war as a soldier and warrior. I dreamed and longed to play my role for Pandavas’ success but I am offering my life now for their win and dying before the war commenced, and so at least let me see if I could not participate in the war, till the end.’’
‘’Aravan, you will see the war till its end’’ assured Krishna.
Aravan’s three wishes were fulfilled accordingly. He died a brave warrior sacrificing his life as an offering to the goddess of victory, Jay Dhurga. Before his death, he was just married. And after his death, his head was placed in a tall huge tree from where he could see the entire battle ground from the top and its proceedings from beginning to end for the complete 18 days the war lasted.
( My ‘’wish’’ Krishna, is to write a story on Aravan separately !!) .
In the Koothandavar temple in South india, Aravan is worshipped -- his head is the idol -- by devotees and Aravanis, who worship him mainly, perform a ritual of marrying Aravan on a particular day (Full moon day in the tamil month of Chithra – say between April and May every year) and the very next day they sadly mourn his death, by destroying their bangles, thilaks on forehead, and wedding attire and other signs of a married woman etc., considered them widowed with the death of their husband. Their sincerety and faith is making us respect them for their belief and devotion, tradition and custom . As I told you Aravan has earned the sympathy of many thousands of people, even away from our country and still there are devotees for him in overseas countries who perform rituals and ceremonies connected with him, of course with different names, rituals and customary practices etc., which I am not covering in this short story.