Bhatruhari'- King, poet and yogi - why The king became an ASCETIC! ..

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Nair-ji!

 

Here is the full story of why King Bhatruhari turned into a

renunciate Sanyasi!

 

 

BHARATHARI:THE KING OF THE ASCETICS

The sacred name of Yogiraj Bharatrihari shows the quality of

asceticism.He was an embodiment of sacrifice, asceticism and penance.

>From the time immemorial he has been praised by the numerous sages

and ascetics of India in different languages for his discipline and

purity. Bharatrihari's father was Gandharva Sen. He ruled over Ujjain

during the first century of the Vikrama-samvat. He had two wives.

Bharatrihari was born from the first wife and the second wife gave

birth to Vikramaditya, the famous king in whose name, the Hindu

calendar "VikramSamvat" has been named.

 

After the death of Gandharva Sen, Bharatrihari being the eldest,

became the king. Later on he nominated his younger step brother

Vikramaditya as the king of Ujjain and he became involved in sensual

pleasures neglecting his duties as a king.

 

He was a great poet, able administrator and a scholar of Sanskrit

language and had many creations on the topics of variety of subjects

like poetry, literature and statesmanship to his credit.

 

During his time, India used to be constantly tormented by foreign

invaders. Buddhism had started to dominate on the ' Sanatan Dharma'.

 

When Vikramaditya saw Bharatrihari lacking interest in the matters of

the state and running after the sensual pleasures, he tried to make

him understand about his mistakes, Bharatrihari became furious and

ordered him to leave the territory of Ujjain.

 

But the destiny had something else in store for him, his attachment

with the sensual pleasures did not last long.

 

One day he came to know about his queen whom he loved,was in love

with the stable keeper. After knowing this, he became disillusioned

and abandoned his palace and worldly things. He realised that this

world was full of fears- there is the fear of diseases in sensual

pleasures, there is also the fear of making a bad name in the family,

there is also the fear of state in possession of wealth, there is a

fear of debate in the knowledge of the scriptures, there is a fear of

qualities in evil people because it is misused and there is a fear of

death in the body.

 

He realized that only asceticism was without any fear. His romantic

life was transformed into ascetic life and he began to chant the holy

name of Lord Shiva constantly. He became free from lust and desires.

He realized the supreme soul.He experienced the 'Brahma Tatva'. He

followed the truth established in the Vedas. He cursed himself for

wasting so much precious time of his life.

 

After attaining self-knowledge, Bharatrihari disassociated himself

from all the joys and sorrows of life and attained Shiva Tatva.

 

Works of Bharatrihari- The text 'Bharatrihari' is his famous work

among all his creations. This text consists of three Shatakas

(centuries). They are 1) Neeti Shataka 2) Sringar Shataka and 3)

Vairagya Shataka.

 

1) NEETI SHATAKA: - In this section, there are many discourses on

practical aspects of life. The reader of these poems gets so

influenced by its pertinent contents, that he instantly starts

following it.

 

2) SRINGAR SHATAKA: - In this section, he has expressed his feelings

of his youth time. He has also described in detail about the

boundless sensualism, different postures of the sexual act,love plays

of the youth and the behaviour of women.

 

3) VAIRAGYA SHATAKA: - This is his best creation. He has described in

detail about the unstable nature of the pleasures and the sorrows of

man's life. He said that satisfaction is the greatest wealth and

asceticism is the means to attain it.

 

Besides this text, he has also written 'Vakyapadiya' which is

subdivided into three sections. In this text he has described about

the philosophical theories of Grammar and verses.

 

Bharatrihari was also the proponent of the science of the words

(SHABDA VIDYA). Word is the embodiment of Brahma (God). Its

realization gives salvation. Bharatrihari was an ascetic who had

mastered the art of SHABDA BRAHMA. His "Vairagya Darshan" is synonym

to realization of God. He attained salvation while performing Yoga.

 

http://www.urday.com/baharatri.htm - 19k - Cached

 

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Kalidasa became a great poet after his arrogant wife insulted him for

being so 'dumb' and 'idiotic' ... Devi herself blessed him with

eloquence once he sought HER lotus feet! Shyamala dandkam - the

result- a beautiful compostion!

 

Valmiki was a robber named Ratnakara. His wife always tormented him

when he did not bring enough 'loot' from his highway robberies . One

day, he asked his wife and children whether they would partake of

his 'sinful' karma from highway robberies and when they said'no' , he

realized that he should turn to a life of 'sattwic' path and left his

wife and children to their fate.

 

now, we have the King Bhatruhari who became disillusioned after

learning his queen cheated on him ! He renounced everything and

became a Seeker of Truth!!!

 

no wonder!!!

 

our Shankara bhagvadapada sings in his famous baja govindam stotra

 

kaate kaantaa kaste putraH

saMsaaro.ayamatiiva vichitraH .

kasya tvaM kaH kuta aayaataH

tattvaM chintaya tadiha bhraataH (verse 8)

 

 

 

Who is your wife ? Who is your son ? Strange is this samsara. Of whom

are you ? From where have you come ? Brother, ponder over these

truths here.

 

 

love and regards