గురు బ్రహ్మ గురుర్ విష్ణుః గురుర్ దేవో
మహేశ్వరః
గురు స్సాక్షాత్ పరబ్రహ్మ తస్మై శ్రీ గురవే నమః
శుక్లాం బరధరం విష్ణుం శశివర్ణం చతుర్భుజం
ప్రసన్న వదనం ధ్యాయేత్ సర్వ విఘ్నోప శాంతయే
శ్రుతి స్మృతి పురాణానాం ఆలయం కరుణాలయం
నమామి భగవత్ పాదం శంకరం లోక శంకరం
ఓం నమః శివాయ
Once upon a time Kaikasi,
who is a Raaskhasi, sought physical relationship with Visravaso Brahma, who is
the son of Brahma. Visravaso Brahma is a great rishi and gnyaani. Kaikasi
sought this during the sandhya time (evening time around the time of sunset.
Sandhya time is the transition time between night and morning and so occurs
twice in a day). The rishi warned her about the kind of children that would be
born, but she ignored. But she requested for some consolation.
So, the rishi told her that
out of the 4 children one would be a great guy, who would abide by dharma,
whereas the rest of them would have a bad character.
So, kaikasi gave birth to
Dasagreeva (one with 10 necks), Kumbhakarna, Vibheeshana and Soorpanakha. Out
of these Vibheeshana was the Dharmaatma. Needless to say, Dasagreeva and the
Kumbhakarna were the ones who knew completely know about dharma, truth etc, but
never tried to abide by those principles.
All three of them set out
for tapassu. They performed that for centuries together with great dedication
and commitment. Lord Brahma, pleased by their tapassu, asked them to seek boons
individually.
Dasagreeva: “I want
immortality.” When Brahma mentioned that immortality boon cannot be granted to
anyone, then Dasagreeva rephrased his request. “I should not be killed by
Devathas or Gandharvas or Kinneras or Kimpurushas or Naagaas or Wild animals or
wild birds etc. Human beings cannot kill me anyways.” Brahma gave him that
boon.
Vibheeshana: “Kindly ensure
that I always tread on the path of dharma. I should always take sides with
people who abide by dharma. Irrespective of the situation I am in, I should not
abandon dharma.” Brahma said, “Over and above that I will give you
immortality.”
Before Brahma appeared in
front of Kumbha karna, all the devathas ran to him and said, “This guy used to
kill and eat people even before he did this tapassu. Now if he gets additional
boons, there will not be any human beings left on the earth. Please make sure
that you don’t grant him the boons which would make him more powerful.” Brahma
then asked Saraswathi to influence the thoughts of Kumbhakarna.
Kumbhakarna: “Please grant
me a boon where I can sleep for long times and sleep continuously in my life.”
Brahma grants his wish. Kumbhakarna gets into his sleep.
Similarly, Dasagreeva’s son
Megahanaadhudu, who got Indrajit as a title from Brahma after defeating Indra, performed
great yagnas and Lord Brahma appeared before him to grant some boons.
Indrajit: “Grant me
immortality.” Brahma refused that wish and then Indrajit, “I got into this
position of getting a boon from you because of my courage, strength and
greatness as a warrior. So whenever I perform the Nikhumbila Homam and board a
chariot, nobody should be able to defeat me or kill me.” Brahma granted him
that boon.
There are two interesting
observations from the above.
1.
For
the persons who do not abide by dharma, god’s assistance is not complete. Both
Raavana and Indrajit sought immortality and they were denied that. Vibheeshana
did not seek that, but he was granted that. Seek gods assistance abiding by
principles of dharma and you would get more than what you seek.
2.
All
our words, thoughts, actions etc are not completely ruled or governed by god.
God gives human beings freedom to think and act on our own for most of the
time. Interferes occasionally. Brahma did not interfere in the thoughts of
Raavana and others, whereas he made Saraswathi influence the thoughts of
Kumbhakarna. So, attributing all our actions and thoughts as gods influence is
not 100% correct.
సర్వే జనాః సుఖినో భవంతు
PS: There could be typos and other mistakes
in telugu and english, kindly pardon me with big hearts.
