Popular Upanishads Tales For All

Popular Upanishads Tales For All

By Ahalya Gautam

Published by mdsharma

Smashwords Edition

© mds e-books 2013

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Prologue

Upanishads are called spiritual knowledge as they convey the essence of the Veda teachings. They constitute that eternal beacon which has been illuminating the creation right since its inception by its unreachable, eternal and ever-relevant light. Its light contains that element of immortality which has nurtured and nourished the very root of the Sanatana Dharma. It is a unique gift from India to the world for its eternal welfare. There are believed to be ten Upanishads: Isha, Kena, Katha, Prashna, Mundaka, Mandookya, and Taittareeya. Eitareiya, Chandogya and Brihadaaranyaka.

The Upanishads have their very much etymological significance. Even the word ‘Upanishad’ has a variety of meanings. This word is coned in Sanskrit by joining two words: Upa (meaning close or quite near) + Nishada (meaning listening). It appears originally the Veda knowledge was explained and interpreted by the wise seers and their disciples used to sit near them to listen to their discourses. Subsequently, they must have come to the collected and produced in the tome’s or book’s form. So they got another meaning which means a book. But now their generally accepted wide-ranging meaning–like the Vedas–is knowledge, profound and deep. Since the Upanishads convey the ‘last word’ or the ultimate teachings of the Vedas they are also called the ‘Vedanta’. The quest for truth is the common feature of all the Upanishads which makes their relevance eternal.

The Upanishads also reflect the ideal examples of the Guru-Shishya Parampara wherein knowledge maintains its perennial flow from the mentor to the disciple. Given in the form of question-answer format they reveal the most these mystery of creation in a most natural, logical manner using a variety of similes and metaphors, symbols and allusions to explain the relationship between the soul and the Lord Supreme or Brahman with a telling effect. As a matter of fact in the absence of the Upanishads perhaps we might have not realized the true meaning of the Veda teachings.

This e-book contains the educative, entertaining and enlightening stories which not only guide us on to the righteous path but also quell the unrighteous tendencies inherent in us. It is hoped that these mall tales would make us not only spiritually rich but also morally and worldly a better being. Although most of the stories owe their origin to the Upanishads. Some of them have been culled from other sources as well. The idea is to reveal that element through these small stories which is fundamental to our Indian culture and ethos.

-Author

Table of Contents

1. Curse to Sage Narada

2. Story of Maharshi Chyavan

3. The Divine Godavari

4. Sindhusen The Demon

5. Karusha The Fowler

6. Greatness of Kanva

7. The Divine Gem Syamantaka

8. Scholar Shukadeva

9. Matsya-Gandha

10. Ruru The Half Life

11. Nara-Narayana and Prahlad

12. King Sahastrarjuna

13. Curse to Goddess Lakshmi

14. King Mandhata

15. Miracle of the Super-Power

16. Demon Taraka

17. The Great Sage Yagyavalkya

18. The Origin of Earth

19. Lakshmi Displeased

20. Curse to Vapu Apsara

21. Kaushik and Mridula

22. Demons Madhu-Kaitabha

23. Boon for a Long Age

24. King Naabhaaga

25. King Khanitra

26. Krishna Dweipayana

27. Bheeshma Pitamaha

28. The Trinity in the Form of Women

29. A Camouflaging Move

30. Boon to Shree Krishna

31. Raji The Indra

32. The King Kaartaveerya

33. Incarnation of Goddess Parvati

34. Maya- Darshan to Sage Markandeya

35. Great King Shveta

36. The Son of Vishnu : Ekaveera

37. Demon Kaal-Ketu

38. Narada as a Woman

39. Ravana Held as Captive

40. No Vice Like Avarice

41. The Merit of Penance

42. Glory of Purushottam Teertha

43. Ahalya’s Marriage

44. Curse to Indra

45. Teertha Janasthan’s Glory

46. A Deadly Curse

47. Marriage of Lord Shiva

48. Weight of the Small Finger

49. Death of Yamaraja

50. Shukra Teertha

51. Boon to Kubera

52. The First Offering

53. A Lesson

54. Glory of Rudraksha

55. Goddess Bhramari

56. Surabhi The Cow

57. Yagya, Dakshina and Phala

58. Swaahaa

59. Tulsi and Shankhachooda

60. Incarnation of River Ganga

61. Marriage of Ganga and Vishnu

62. Wrath of Lord Shiva

63. A Man Becomes a Woman

64. A Great Donation

65. The Serpent-Son

66. The Divine Mothers

67. Dhanavantari

68. Govinda Teertha

69. Fight Between a Pigeon and an Owl

70. Vedavati : Three Life

71. Swadha

72. Chaakshashu Manu

1. Curse to Sage Narada

In the beginning there was nothing in the world save Goddess Bhagwati Jagdambika who created Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva for creating the world, sustaining it and then destroying it respectively. Now Brahma’s duty was to create. He produced seven psychic sons: Mareechi, Kratu, Atri, Vashishtha, Pulaha, Angira and Pulastya. Then was produced from Brahma’s anger Rudra, from his right thumb Daksha and from his lap Narada. The other famous four child ‘psychic sons of Brahma were Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanandan and Sanat Kumar.

Brahma told Prajapati Daksha: O Son! I have produced you for the sake of enhancing my creation through copulation between male and female. Now remember Mother Goddess and take up this job earnestly. I want you to give me numerous beings so that the process of creation could sustain itself.

With Brahma’s order Daksha married the daughter of Prajapati Panchajana, named Veerani, and their union produced five thousand very valorous sons. Daksha asked all of them to go and multiply the beings so that the world could be full. With great enthusiasm they set out for the job.

On the way they met Narada who started to laugh knowing about their job. He advised the Daksha sons: Do you know how big this earth is? In order to fill it with the beings you must know as to how long and broad is the region you have to fill up with the beings. Else your entire endeavour could be an exercise in futility.

These Daksha’s sons, called Haryashvas, found this logic convincing. They, instead, set out to measure the earth first. When Daksha learnt about their getting strayed by Narada, be was sad. But determined Daksha produced more sons who were similarly led astray by Narada.

Then Daksha cursed Narada: Since you have created hinders in the process of creation of the world through copulation, I curse you that you shall never be able to stay at any place for long. You shall always be wandering.

Then after Daksha produced sixty daughters who were married to Sage Kashyapa, Dharmaraja, Chandrama (moon), Bhrigu and Arishtanemi. The entire world was filled up with their progeny. This is how the creation through copulation could get sustenance on its own.

But due to Daksha’s curse, Narada became a peripatetic sage and he ever keeps on wandering.

2. Story of Maharshi Chyavan

Maharshi Chyavan was the son of the great sage Bhrigu. His mother’s name was Puloma. He was the brother of the guru of the demons, Shukracharya. Once he went to a dense forest with the intention of worshipping Mother Goddess Bhagwati. That forest had a small pond in its middle part, having blooming lotuses. On its shores there were many huge trees adding to its natural pulchritude. The koel and peacock’s cooing was making the ambience all the more divine. Chyavan selected a clean spot there and started his rigorous penance for propitiating Mother Goddess Jagdamba. He kept his body so motionless that it began to be covered by the layers of the dust. Not only had that vegetation started growing around his body. So much so that termite began to cover it as well. From a distance be never appeared like a sitting man but a small mound of earth.

In the kingdom adjoining that forest the ruler was Sharyati, a very renowned and dominating king. The king had a beautiful daughter named Sukanya, who was very naughty and a self-willed girl.

One day the king with his queens, princess and his entourage came to that forest for the sake of passing time in Nature’s lap. The king had his temporary halt near the pond. Soon his servants made arrangement for the dwelling of the royal family.

With his father’s permission, Sukanya left for wandering in the picturesque forest accompanied by his maids and friends. While roaming about Princess Sukanya happened to reach near sage Chyavan. Since the sage’s body was covered with terminate, Sukanya started playing there . She was amazed to find some light rays emerging out of two apparent holes. Out of curiosity she began to remove the layer of dust from that apparent mound of earth. Although the sage tried to prevent the Princess from doing so, his feeble voice, enervated due to his having no food or drink from many days, failed to reach the ears of that playful girl. So she couldn’t listen to what the sage was saying and casually put the sharp-edged wooden piece inside the two ‘holes’. With the result, she pierced his eyes ignorantly. This untoward incident occurred without Sukanya realising her mistake.

The sage was in severe pain due to the piercing of his eyes. He began to let out a series of painful whimpers. The princess, hearing the hissing sound, grew panicky and quickly fled the place with her maids and friends.

Meanwhile, a brilliant light began to emerge from the whimpering sage’s body which covered the place where the king and his entourage was staying. It caused great pain in all the persons’ stomach who were with the king. Now the king, his queens, princess etc. began to cry with an uncontrollable stomach-ache. The royal party immediately left for the capital to get the proper treatment from the royal physicians. But no matter what medicines were administrated, the patients didn’t get even an iota of relief.

At last, getting some information from the sleuths, the king summoned his ministers and said: I have learnt that in that forest the great sage Chyavan was meditating where we had gone. Lets our visit should have disturbed his penance on account of which his wrath has created this trouble in our bodies. Even though it might have been done unknowingly, its consequences have to be borne by all. So, find out the person who disturbed his penance. Make that person accept his crime. Then we may get pardon from the large hearted sage. Identify the culprit and make him confess before the sage. Only then we can get rid of this stomach-ache.

Seeing all the people so severely troubled, the princes confessed her crime, O Sire! While playing in that forest I saw a peculiar mound of earth with two bright ‘holes’. I had put a piece of thorn into both the holes out of sheer curiosity. Then I heard as if someone cried in pain. Frightened I fled to our camp.

Whereupon King Sharyati went straight to the sage and said to him in an apologetic tone: O compassionate sage! It was my daughter who committed this crime unknowingly. Please forgive that immature girl. After all she didn’t do it deliberately . And the sages are known for their forgiving nature. I promise to provide you all comforts and a huge retinue of the servants to look after your every need. Please forgive Sukanya, my ignorant daughter.

O king, said the sage, ‘ I never lose temper on anybody. Even though your daughter has hurt me severely, I have not cast any curse on her. However, the pain that you all are suffering is the consequence of your daughter’s this crime which you have to suffer collectively. Now, O king, if you want to get rid of this pain, you must give your daughter in marriage to me. This will quell the evil effect of the sin that she committed. Only then you all will be relieved of that pain."

This answer from the sage put the king into a dilemma. ‘How can my so young daughter be given in marriage to such an old and emaciated sage?’ Was the thought assailing him. While he was consulting his ministers about the best course of action, Sukanya, learning about the sage’s offer, came and said to her father: Sire! Don’t worry for me! You should give me to the sage without a second thought. I shall quieten his temper by my superior service and wifely devotion. Let me go to him, father. I am not that enamoured of a luxurious life either.

Although the king tried his best to dissuade her, at last he took her to the sage and Sukanya’s marriage with sage Chyavan was duly solemnised. As the marriage took place that trouble of stomach-ache also vanished as though my magic. Sukanya accepted no silken raiment's and golden ornaments as dowry. She went to the sage clad in a deer-skin like any other ascetic’s wife. She began to devotedly serve his husband. Time passed by and many days elapsed.

One day the divine physicians, Ashwini Kumars, (named Nasatya and Dasra) happened to reach sage Chyavan’s hermitage. Both of them saw Sukanya there. They, out of curiosity, sought and received her introduction. Then they said: O beautiful dame! How come your father agreed to have you married to this old and emaciated Chyavan? A beautiful dame like you may be a rarity even in the divine realms! You should have been clad in silk and gold-and you are wearing the deer-skin! Brahma has really inscribed a cruel destiny for you. A beautiful dame married to an old and blind sage! You are soft-limbed, dame! You don’t deserve this wretched life.

Ashwini Kumar’s this outpouring enraged Sukanya greatly. In an icy tone she replied: O gods! I am a devoted wife by the Sun-god, learned and well versed in all knowledge, you shouldn’t have said what you did. How can the daughter of a high and reputed family could be indifferent to her husband no matter how ugly he be? Your remarks have hurt my heart. Now either both of you should quit from here or I shall incinerate you with the fire of my devotedly wifely devotion.

Sukanya’s this reply pleased the divine physicians. "O Lady! We are delighted to hear what you said. You are truly a devoted wife. Now, we are the physicians of the gods. Should you want we can grant your husband youth and handsomeness to make him appear like Kama Deva. But in that case we shall also be in that form. Your wifely faith will be put