Sriramayana on telebridge# 31

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Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha

Balakanda Sarga 36

Hearing the story narrated by Vishvamitra, Rama asked, "Oh tapodhana! Ganga's

story is very great and virtuous. I request you to tell us in detail how Ganga

came to flow in the path of heaven and earth after leaving her father's abode.

What is the reason for her to flow in three paths" Then the great sage

Vishvamitra started narrating the story in details to all the Rishis and

Rama-Lakshmana.

 

"The blue-throated Rudra married Uma and they were in conjugal bliss for many

divine years. Devathas who were worried about the welfare of the worlds

approached Rudra and said to him, 'Oh Paramasiva, nothing in the world can

embrace your power. If you have progeny the worlds cannot continue. Please you

and devi Uma should do Tapas for the welfare of the worlds. Please retain your

power within yourself and don't unite with Parvati.' Siva agreed to the request

of Devathas, but since they were together for a long time, Siva's retas (seed)

was about to come out and He said to the Devathas, 'The retas is about to be

free and if Parvati can't receive it, who else in the world is powerful enough

to receive it?' Devathas said that the earth will embrace it. Paramasiva

released it on to the earth and the intensity of it had spread all over the

earth. It invaded the forests and the mountains and earth was getting ready to

explode. Devathas prayed to the fire god (agni) to seize it. The air god (vayu)

helped the fire god to hold the seed. Agni sustained it within him and it took

the form of a white mountain inside him. After some time, a bush of reeds

shining likes sun and fire emerged there. The seed united with the reed bush and

a very powerful child was born. The radiant boy was called 'Saravana bhava' as

he was born in the reed bush. (The details of this baby's birth will be

discussed in more detail in the following chapters).

 

Devathas along with the Rishis continue to worship Paramasiva and Parvati after

Siva released His seed. Parvati was displeased with the Devathas for their

inference which resulted in her not having a child. So she cursed Devathas

saying, 'Oh Devathas, since you were the reason for me not having a child, may

all your wives be barren too'. She was also angry with the earth and she went

ahead and cursed the earth saying,' I curse you to be infertile in different

forms like desert, salty land, and barren land. May you be ruled by many thus

becoming a wife to many? May you never get any happiness from your children?'

All Devathas were very sad and humiliated by Parvati's curse and went away along

with Indra to the west. Rudra decided to continue his Tapas on the northern

summit of the Himalaya mountains along with Parvati. This is the detailed story

of Parvati (also known as Uma). Now, let me tell you how Ganga came to this

world", Vishvamitra continued the narration.

 

 

-To be continued-

Jai Srimannarayana

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