Drona’s test to the Pandavas

Drona’s test to the Pandavas

Sunday (Mar—13—2011)

The Pandava’s and Kouravas were growing up together in Hasthinapura. King Bheeshma was searching for a highly capable teacher to them but was not getting one. One day the boys were playing ball in the ground near the forest. Unfortunately their ball fell in to the well. They were not able to play. At that time a sage came there. He asked them, “You look like princes. Why are you not playing? “They told him, “Sir, Our ball fell in to a deep well and we do not know how to recover it. “ That man laughed and told, “I will help you.” He then took his bow and arrows. He shot one arrow on the ball. He shot another on that arrow. Another arrow on the second arrow and so on. Then using the arrows as handle he took out the ball. That day the children reported this to their grand father Bheeshma. Bheeshma immediately decided that the sage was the great teacher Drona. He approached Drona and requested him to teach the Pandavas and Kouravas the art of war. Though he was teaching them very well, all people could see that Arjuna was really becoming an expert. There was a general complaint that Sage Drona was partial to Pandavas. One day Sage Drona called all the family members of Pandavas and Kauravas. He told them, “Today I am going to test all these boys. Please watch what I do.” He then gave one big room each to Pandavas and Kauravas. He also gave them 1000 rupees. He told them, “Please fill up the room, that I gave you fully using this money.” Kauravas went on purchasing hay, sand, old articles etc and filled up their room. However Pandavas went to the shop and purchased lamps, oil and wick. They placed the lamps in different places and lit them. The family members could easily see that Pandavas were clever and have filled their room with light.

Then Drona tied a doll of a bird on the top of a tree. He asked each of the Kouravas to shoot the bird in the neck with an arrow. When they were trying to shoot, he would stop them and ask, “What do you see?” all of them replied things like the tree, branches and the bird. When it was the turn of Arjuna he replied, “I see only the neck of the bird and nothing else.” Then Drona explained “This is the reason why Arjuna excels. “ Full concentration is needed to master any skill. ---------------. Compiler : Prof. Komaragiri Venkata Ramana Rao. Ph.D., (Retired Professor; Andhra University College of Engineering); Astrologer-Scienitst. Durham. NC; U.S.A.: (Tatayya = Grand-father). My e-mail address : pandit@jyothishi.com---------- I dedicate all these stories in this blog to Sri Parama Paalakas (Supreme Rulers of this entire Universe): Bhagavan Sri Siddhi Vinayaka, Sri Lakshmi Narayana and Sri Gouri Sankara and Sri Saraswathi and Bhagavan Sri Venkateswara.

Dasaratha and the blind parents

Dasaratha and the blind parents

Saturday (Mar-12-2011)

There was a young king called Dasaratha. He was capable of fighting ten enemies at the same time. He also knew how to send an arrow to the source of the sound. One day, he went for hunting in the forest. Though he spent lot of time chasing several animals, he could not kill any of them.

At this time one sage boy called Shwetha Kethu, came to the forest carrying his very old father and mother .They were both blind. They wanted some water to drink. So he placed them on a foot of a tree and walked to the nearest river. He was taking water from the river in a pot.

Dasaratha heard the sound of his taking water from a distance. He thought that it was the sound of an elephant drinking water. So he took his bow and arrow and shot an arrow. This arrow hit Swethakethu on his chest. He shouted in pain. Dasaratha ran there and found that Shwetha Kethu was dying. Shwetha Kethu pardoned Dasaratha’s mistake and requested him o take water to his old parents. Dasaratha agreed and took water to them. They took the water thinking it is Shwethakethu but once Dasaratha told them the truth, they became very angry and cursed Dasaratha, “In future you will also part with your son and die pining and weeping for him .” This is why Dasaratha had to send his sons Rama to the forest even though he did not like it.” Soon Dasaratha died pining and weeping for Rama. Harm done to noble and gentle people, knowingly or unknowingly causes disaster to the doer . ------------- Compiler : Prof. Komaragiri Venkata Ramana Rao. Ph.D., (Retired Professor; Andhra University College of Engineering); Astrologer-Scienitst. Durham. NC; U.S.A.: (Tatayya = Grand-father). My e-mail address : pandit@jyothishi.com---------- I dedicate all these stories in this blog to Sri Parama Paalakas (Supreme Rulers of this entire Universe): Bhagavan Sri Siddhi Vinayaka, Sri Lakshmi Narayana and Sri Gouri Sankara and Sri Saraswathi and Bhagavan Sri Venkateswara.

Agasthya and Vathapi

Agasthya and Vathapi

Sunday (Mar—6—2011) Story--42

There was a great Sage called Agasthya. He was very dwarf and stout. At that time there lived two asura brothers called Vathapi and Ilwala. Vathapi could take any form and Ilwala knew the trick of raising the dead. These two asuras used to invite guests. Vathapi would take the form of a goat .Ilwala would kill the goat and cook it and offer it to the guest. Then Ilwala would call, “Vathapi, come back”. Vathapi then would tear the abdomen of the guest who has eaten him and come out. This way Vathapi and Ilwala killed and ate lot of good people. One day they invited Agasthya. As usual Vathapi turned in to a goat and Ilwala cooked him. Agasthya ate the cooked Vathapi. At this time Ilwala called, “Vathapi, come out.” Realizing the trick, Agasthya patted his belly and told, “Vathapi, get digested.” As soon as this words were uttered, Vathapi got digested. Ilwala ran for his life. Moral : However intelligent and strong, the crooked villans always perish. ------------- Compiler : Prof. Komaragiri Venkata Ramana Rao. Ph.D., (Retired Professor; Andhra University College of Engineering); Astrologer-Scienitst. Durham. NC; U.S.A.: (Tatayya = Grand-father). My e-mail address : pandit@jyothishi.com---------- I dedicate all these stories in this blog to Sri Parama Paalakas (Supreme Rulers of this entire Universe): Bhagavan Sri Siddhi Vinayaka, Sri Lakshmi Narayana and Sri Gouri Sankara and Sri Saraswathi and Bhagavan Sri Venkateswara

Nala Damayanthi

Nala Damayanthi

Saturday (Mar—5—2011) Story--41

There was a very pretty princess called Damayanthi. All the princes and even Gods wanted to marry here. Her friend showed her a picture of king Nala. She liked him. Her father arranged for her swayamvara. In swayamvara all the eligible princes are invited and the bride was asked to choose whom she likes. She was not sure whether Nala would attend her swayamvara. So she asked a divine swan to go and tell him that she wanted to marry him. The swan flew to Nala’s place and told him about the swayamvara of Damayanthi. Meanwhile four gods also wanted to marry Damayanthi. They all assumed a similar form as Nala. But when Damayanthi saw that their eyes were not batting, she understood that they were Gods. She chose Nala and married him.

Though Nala was a very good king, he liked gambling. Unfortunately he was not an expert and most of the time lost whatever he waged for. On one occasion he lost his kingdom. He was forced to go out of his kingdom along with Damayanthi. He found that for his sake Damayanthi was suffering. So when Damayanthi was sleeping, he ran away. On the way he fell in a forest fire and was turned black. Meanwhile Damayanthi reached her father’s place. Nala traveling a lot reached the kingdom of Rithuparna. Nala was an expert in driving chariots. So he became the chariot driver to king Rithuparna.

Damayanthi’s father was searching for Nala everywhere. One of his messengers who came to Rithuparna’s kingdom could recognize Nala. He went and told Damayanthi’s father about it. Damayanthi’s father then sent word to only Rithuparna, that there is going to be a second Swayamvara on the next day. Though Rithuparna wanted to attend it, the time was not sufficient to reach Damayanthi’s place. But Nala promised him that he would be able to help him. Nala then drove Rithuparna to Damayanthi’s place. Damayanthi and her father recognized Nala. They promised help to Nala. Rithuparna who was an expert in gambling agreed to teach Gambling to Nala. Nala taught him the science of driving chariots. With the new knowledge, Nala went to his kingdom, gambled and got back his kingdom. Damayanthi and Nala lived happily ever after . Morals :- (1) Gambling ruins a person and robs all his possessions and causes miserty; abstain from it. (2) Knowledge (Vidya) and skill help us in times of need. Nala was an expert chariot-driver; this vidyas helped him when he stayed with King Ruthuparna and also to re-gain his wife Damayanthi. ------------------- Compiler : Prof. Komaragiri Venkata Ramana Rao. Ph.D., (Retired Professor; Andhra University College of Engineering); Astrologer-Scienitst. Durham. NC; U.S.A.: (Tatayya = Grand-father). My e-mail address : pandit@jyothishi.com---------- I dedicate all these stories in this blog to Sri Parama Paalakas (Supreme Rulers of this entire Universe): Bhagavan Sri Siddhi Vinayaka, Sri Lakshmi Narayana and Sri Gouri Sankara and Sri Saraswathi and Bhagavan Sri Venkateswara

Story of Valmiki

Benefits of Japa : Story of Valmiki

Feb--26--2011. (Sunday)

Maharishi Valmiki was born as Ratnakara to sage Prachetasa. At a very young age, Ratnakara went into the forest and got lost. A hunter, who was passing by, saw Ratnakara and took him under his own care. Under the love and care of his foster parents, Ratnakara forgot his original parents. Under his father's guidance, Ratnakara turned out to be an excellent hunter. As he approached marriageable age, Ratnakara was married to a beautiful girl from hunter's family.
Turning into a Robber
As his family grew larger, Ratnakara found it next to impossible to feed them. As a result, he took to robbery and began looting people passing from one village to another.
Meeting with Narada and Transformation
One day, the great sage Narada, while passing through the jungle, was attacked by Ratnakara. As Narada played his Veena and sang praises of the Bhagavan Narayana, he saw a transformation coming over Ratnakara. Then, he asked Ratnakara whether the family, for whom he was robbing others, will partake in his sins also. Ratnakara went to ask the same question to his family and on being refused by all his family members, he went back to sage Narada, frustrated. Narada taught him the sacred name of 'Rama' and asked him to sit in meditation, chanting the name of Rama, till the time Narada came back.
Ratnakara followed the instructions and kept sitting in a meditative posture for years, during which his body got completely covered by an anthill. At last, Bhagavan Sri Narayana appeared and blessed Ratnakara; Narada also came to see him and removed all the anthills from his body. Then, he told Ratnakara that his tapasya (meditation) paid off and the God was pleased with him. Ratnakara was bestowed with all the divine knowledge and wisdom and also the honor of a Brahmarshi; he wa given a new name of Valmiki, since he was reborn from the Valmika (the ant-hill). Sage Valmiki founded his ashram at the banks of holy River Ganga.
Receiving Lord Rama
One day, Valmiki had the fortuity of receiving Lord Sri Rama, His wife Sita and brother Lakshman at his ashram. On Valmiki's suggestion, Lord Rama built his hut on Chitrakuta hill, near his ashram.
Writing Ramayana
Narada visited Maharishi Valmiki in his ashram once; then, he narrated the story of Lord Rama. Thereafter Valmiki received a vision from Bhagavan Brahma in which the Lord instructed him to write epic Ramayana in slokas, which the sage readily followed. ---------------- ------------(concluded) -------------- I dedicate all these articles in this blog to Sri Parama Paalakas (Supreme Rulers of this entire Universe): Bhagavan Sri Siddhi Vinayaka, Sri Lakshmi Narayana and Sri Gouri Sankara and Sri Saraswathi and Bhagavan Sri Venkateswara ! --------------- You can get my full particulars from my web-site : www.jyothishi.com. You can get my astrological services by contacting me by e-mail: pandit@jyothishi.com and know my fee particulars. I have 48 years of experience / practice as an active astrologer. ==============

King Ambarisha and Sage Durvasa

King Ambarisha and Sage Durvasa

Feb—26—2011 Saturday Ambareesha was a noble king of Ayodhya; he was a great devotee of Bhagavan Sri Maha Vishnu. Once he asked his family priest Maharshi Vasishta what he should do to serve Bhagavan Vishnu. Vasishta said that he should perform Dwadashi Vrata. Dwadasi is the twelth day of the moon next to Ekadasi the eleventh day of moon. This vratha is an extension of Ekadasi Vrata when the devotee breaks his fast by drinking holy water used in pooja / abhishekam (Paaranam) on Dwadasi day soon after vratha (worship); latest before 12 hrs, noon.

One day the great sage Durvasava came to meet the king. It was a Dwadasi day. Durvasav went to river to take a holy bath after which both would take Paaranam(breaking the fast with water). But Durvasav did not return from bath. After waiting for a long time till 2 hrs afternoon, as per the advise of the priest, Ambarisha drank Paranam. Soon Durvsava came along and found that the King had taken Paaranam. Durvasa was proud and had ego; he felt this was a great insult to him, the holy Sage. The king tried his best to explain his behaviour. He tried to pacify the sage politely. But the Sage's anger increased and he created a terrible demoness called Kritya with his divine powers and sent her at the king to cut off his head. Immediately Sudarsana, the divine toothed-disc-weapon of Bhagavan Sri Maha Vishnu rushed in between and cut off the head of Kritya and started chasing Durvasava.

Sage Durvasava was terrified and ran to Brahma's abode to seek protection; but Bhagavan Brahma declined. Chased by Sudarshana chakra, Durvasa ran to Bhagavan Shiva to save him; and he also declined. Again chased by Sudarshana, the sage ran to Bhagavan Sri Maha Vishnu. Bhagavan Sri Vishnu asked him to go back to Ambarisha and beg his pardon. Again chased by Sudarshana, Durvasava ran back to Ambarisha and begged his pardon; noble Ambarisha readily pardoned the sage, upon which Sudarshana retired, ending his agony. Durvasava blessed Ambareesha with boons.

The morals of this story : (1) Anger is the worst enemy of any person and harms him. (2) God (Bhagavan) protects his true devotes always.------------ Compiler : Prof. Komaragiri Venkata Ramana Rao. Ph.D., (Retired Professor; Andhra University College of Engineering); Astrologer-Scienitst. Durham. NC; U.S.A.: (Tatayya = Grand-father). My e-mail address : pandit@jyothishi.com---------- I dedicate all these stories in this blog to Sri Parama Paalakas (Supreme Rulers of this entire Universe): Bhagavan Sri Siddhi Vinayaka, Sri Lakshmi Narayana and Sri Gouri Sankara and Sri Saraswathi and Bhagavan Sri Venkateswara ! ---------------------------

Ravana and his brothers

Ravana and his brothers

Feb--20--2011. Part-38 Sunday

There was a Rakshasi (demon) called Kaikasi. She was the daughter of a great Rakshasa called Malyavan. At that time the devas were all powerful and the Rakshasas lived in hiding. One day Malyavan saw the wealth and strength of Kubera who was the son of a sage called Visravas. Coming back home he advised his daughter Kaikasi to approach Visravas and request him to marry her. Visravas refused but when she went on serving him and requested him, he agreed. Four children were born to them. They were Ravana, Kumbhakarna, Vibheeshana and a daughter called Surpanaka

As per the advice of Malyavan and Kaikasi Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Vibheeshana went to do Tapas (meditation and prayer) to Bhagavan (Lord)) Brahma. After a long time Bhagavan (Lord)) Brahma appeared before them and wanted to know what boon he can give them. Ravana requested that he should not be killed by anybody. Bhagavan (Lord)) Brahma told him that, he could not give him that boon as it went against nature. Then Ravana asked him that he should not be killed by anybody except monkeys and man. Brahma gave him this boon. Kumbhakarna wanted a boon so that no one can defeat him (Nirdevathwam). But the devas made him ask for always sleeping (Nidrevathwam). Vibheeshana asked for Bhakthi to Bhagavan (Lord) Vishnu.--------------

Compiler : Prof. Komaragiri Venkata Ramana Rao. Ph.D., (Retired Professor; Andhra University College of Engineering); Astrologer-Scienitst. Durham. NC; U.S.A.: (Tatayya = Grand-father). My e-mail address : pandit@jyothishi.com---------- I dedicate all these stories in the blog with utmost devotion to Sri Parama Paalakas (Supreme Rulers of this entire Universe): Bhagavan Sri Siddhi Vinayaka, Sri Lakshmi Narayana and Sri Gouri Sankara and Sri Saraswathi and Bhagavan Sri Venkateswara ! Aum tat sath !

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