Guest guest Posted April 26, 2005 Report Share Posted April 26, 2005 Sriramayana#24 Om Asmath Gurubhyo Namaha Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha In this 29th sarga, Rama asks the details about the forest. Sage Visvamithra starts to narrate about that forest. "Oh! Rama!, Lord Vishnu resided here for practicing yoga and Thapas for thousands of years. This is called the hermitage of Vaamana. It is also renowned as Hermitage of Accomplishment (siddha:srama), because, the sage Kasyapa became an accomplished Thapasvi by doing Thapas here. This was first the hermitage of Lord Vishnu before his Vaamana incarnation. Later, during His Vaamana incarnation He again practiced Thapas here. Thus, this hermitage belongs to both Lord Vishnu and Vaamana. When Vishnu was doing Thapas in this hermitage, Bali, the son of king Virochana had completely conquered Indra and all the devathas, and was ruling the swargaloka. Bali became renowned in all the three worlds for his magnanimity. He then performed a very grand Vedic ritual. When Bali was performing the ritual, all the devathas approached Lord Vishnu here in this hermitage with Fire-god leading them and they said to him ? 'Oh! all-pervading Lord Vishnu! Bali the son of Virochana is conducting an unsurpassed Vedic ritual. Before the completion of that yajnam, our own mission must be achieved. The supplicants might be anyone and from anywhere, if they just approach him he is donating anything the supplicant is asking for. Oh Lord Vishnu! You may effectuate the most suitable merited deed for the welfare of devathas by resorting to your illusory power Vishnu Maya and assume the form of a dwarf (Vaamana) to deal with emperor Bali.' Thus gods appealed to Lord Vishnu. In the meantime, sage Kasyapa completed his thapas and along with his wife Adithi started to praise Lord Vishnu." - said Visvamithra to Rama. The ascetic practices conducted by a man together with wife are said to yield best results in the case of a desired object of that couple's interest. Therefore Dasaratha conducted the ritual along with his wives to get children. Here sage Kasyapa conducted his austerities along with his wife Adithi. Lord Vishnu was pleased with their devotion, and told Kasyapa to seek a boon. Then sage Kasyapa said. "Oh Lord! It will be apt of you to bestow the boon that Adithi and the devathas want. I too wish the same. Please make us pure by being our son. By becoming the younger brother of Indra, kindly help the devathas who are suffering owing to Emperor Bali's domination. Oh! Lord of devathas! as my austerity has born fruit here by your grace this hermitage will be renowned by the name Siddha Asramam - Hermitage of Accomplishment. Hence, arise from here to become my son. Then Lord Vishnu adopting a semblance of a dwarf born to Adithi and approached Emperor Bali. He (Vaamana) begged and received a space that can be covered in three steps, but strode all the three worlds in those three steps to save the worlds. Lord Vishnu gave the swargaloka back to Indra, restraining Emperor Bali with his vitality. Thus that great resplendent Lord Vishnu made the three worlds to come under his feet and get the blessings. The story was that Vaamana the dwarfish ascetic boy approached Emperor Bali and begged him for a space enough to place his three small foot-steps. Everybody in that ritual hall of Bali laughed at this boy's request.Baliaccepted his request, later he came to know who this Vamana was,by his guru Sukracharya. Though he knew that He is Lord Vishnu in disguise, without deviating from his pledge of charity, Bali agreed to give that space to the boy. Immediately, Vaamana became Thrivikrama and placed one foot on this globe and the entire globe was covered. Then He asked Bali where to put the second foot. Bali showed heavens, which were conquered by Bali and were under his control at that time. Thrivikrama placed his second foot on the heavenly worlds covering all of them. Then again He asked Bali to show space for the third step. Bali showed his head. Thrivikrama placed his foot on Bali's head and trampled him to *paataala loka* (netherworlds). At the time of donating the land, while Bali was pouring water of oblation into the hands of Vaamana, Sage Sukrachaarya, the demon's guru, entered the nozzle of the water pot so that the donation water may not fall into the hands of the boy, thus failing the donation. Knowing that the sage is in the nozzle of the water-pot, Vaamana pierced the nozzle with a straw of darbha, sacred grass-blade, thus piercing one eye of Sage Sukrachaarya. From then on, this sage had become one-eyed sage, symbolically meaning that his eyes look one side only, i.e., the side of demon's welfare. Vaamana thus banished Emperor Bali to netherworlds, freeing the other worlds from his rule. However, Lord Vishnu blessed Bali to be deathless and to become Indra in the coming manvantharas, eras. From then Lord Vishnu is praised as Trivikrama, meaning one who surpassed all the three worlds in three strides. "This hermitage which is purified by Vishnu, offers salvation from the stress and strain caused by the evil on earth, and the stress of going through the cycle of birth and death. I am entrusted to look after this hermitage owing to my devotion to Vaamana. Demons causing obstacles will be arriving at this hermitage and they must be eliminated there only. Rama, we now go to the unparalleled hermitage of Accomplishment ? Siddhaasramam. As this hermitage belongs to me, this also belongs to you", said sage Visvamithra and lead Rama and Lakshmana to the hermitage. On seeing the arrival of Visvamithra the resident sages of Siddhaasramam quickly approached him. They did welcome to Visvamithra along with arghya and padya etc. and offered hospitality to both the princes. Rama and Lakshmana briefly took rest and with folded hands and palms together they said to sage Visvamithra. "Oh! Sage! Today itself you may start the ritual formalities like ankukraropanam etc. which are undertaken prior to the main ritual. Be safe and let this Siddhaasramam become once again an accomplished one true to its name by eradicating the demons. Let your words to my father, while bringing me to this place, come true", said Rama to Visvamithra. Then sage Visvamithra undertook the vow of ritual controlling his senses. Both Rama and Lakshmana spent that night vigilantly and got up themselves before the sunrise next day. They finished bathing, Sandhyavandanam, and other daily rituals perfectly. Then they approached Visvamithra and enquired about the demons. What Viswamithra replied?let us know???.. Contd. Jaisrimannarayana! Jet Prajna Teachers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.