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Karttika meditations: Crows in Damodara-lila

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> Krishna felt grateful for the crows, since their ancestor Kakabhusandhi

> had helped Him in his previous incarnation as Lord Ramacandra in his

> battle with Ravana. Thus Krishna wanted to feed the crows as well, and

> naturally the crows flocked into the room, since they also wanted to serve

> the Lord.

>

> Would anyone like to contribute something in regards to Kakabhusandhi from

> the Ramayana?

 

>From Puranic Encyclopedia:

 

BHUSUNDA. A dispassionate and large-hearted crow. The residence of this crow

was a Kalpavrksa standing on a beautiful peak surrounded by luxuriant

vegetation in the north-eastern, corner of Mahameru. There were numerous

bird-nests on the southern branch of that Kalpavrksa. In one of them lived

this centuries-old bird.

 

Once when the sage Vasistha went to Devaloka, he happened to hear about this

crow. He went to see Bhusunda in its nest. The crow recognised Vasistha at

once. They exchanged greetings. The sage opened the conversation as follows:

"Oh, King of birds! When were you born? How did you become a great soul? How

old are you? Have you recollections of the past? Who was the prophet who

suggested this residence for you?"

 

The bird calmly replied as follows: "If you are interested in hearing my

past history I shall tell you. Lord Sankara the Almighty lives in this

world. He has numerous attendant spirits. Besides these spirits who have

hoofs on their head, hands in the hoof, teeth in the hands and stomach in

the face, and who have faces resembling those of monkeys, camels, and

elephants, he has also hordes of Matrs in his retinue. The Matrs, attended

by spirits continue their dance in the presence of the Lord. Mountain peaks,

the sky, the different worlds, deep pits, cremation grounds, etc. are their

haunts. Chief among these Matrs are eight sisters named Jaya, Vijaya,

Jayanti, Aparahita, Siddha, Rakta, Alambusa and Ulpala. They have other

followers also. Alambusa's vehicle is the crow named Canda.

 

All these Matrs assembled together on one occasion to celebrate a festival

in the sky. There was a display of many kinds of entertainments at that

time. Disputations in spiritual matters, music, dancing, drinking and other

forms of hilarious activities were freely indulged in. In another part of

the sky, their vehicles were also enjoying themselves with similar

celebrations of drinking, dancing, and merry-making. The swans who were the

vehicles of Brahmidevi were dancing in one place, intoxicated by drink.

Canda, the crow, who was Alambusa's vehicle, also joined their company.

Completely absorbed in their delirious raptures, the intoxicated swans

indulged so freely in their amorous pleasures with Canda that they became

pregnant. At last when the merry-makings ended and all of them dispersed,

the swans became aware of their plight and informed Brahmi about it. The

gracious goddess (Brahmi) told them that in their present state they were

unable to discharge their duties in drawing her chariot and so they were

allowed to go and enjoy themselves wherever they liked. After this she

entered into a trance. The swans in the fullness of time, gave birth to

twentyone sons. We, the twentyone brothers, are those children. We, and our

mothers went to Brahmidevi and offered woship to her for a long time. As a

result, the Devi woke up from her trance and pleased with us, gave us her

blessing. After that, we went to our father (Canda) and offered our devoted

services to him and prostrated before him and Alambusadevi. They blessed us.

We asked our father to suggest a most suitable place for a secluded life.

This Kalpa Vrksa is the secluded place recommended by him. We paid obeisance

to our father and Alambusadevi and came to settle down here. Many ages have

passed since then. Now your visit and holy presence here, have liberated me

from all worldly bonds and ennobled my life. My twenty brothers lived for

many Kalpas and yugas at the end of which, convinced of the meaninglessness

of worldly life, renounced their bodies and attained Sivaloka.

 

On hearing this, Vasistha asked Bhusunda to tell him more about his past

life. Bhusunda resumed his story: "Long long ago, the whole earth was full

of big rocks, without trees, forests or mountains. After a great flood the

surface of the earth was covered with ashes. In one caturyuga (a period

equal to the length of the four yugas, Krta, Treta, Dvapara and Kali) the

earth was filled with forest trees and in another Caturyuga, mountain ranges

appeared. I have seen an age in which Brahmanas were drunkards, Sudras were

virtuous and women of noble families committed adultery. You have now been

born in the eightieth "Janma" as the son of Brahma. You were born once from

the sky, at another time from water, then from the mountain and again from

fire. I can remember this earth sinking into the ocean five times and Lord

Visnu taking the form of a tortoise, lifting it up, above the water. I have

seen the ocean of milk being churned twelve times. I know that Hiranyaksa

had taken the earth three times to Patala (underworld). The Lord has

incarnated six times as Bhargava Rama. Incarnation of Buddha has taken place

in six Kaliyugas. Tripuradahana (burning of the Tripurasuras) has taken

place thirty times. Daksa yaga was broken up twice. Lord Siva has slain ten

Indras. He fought seven times with Sri Krsna for the sake of Bana. I also

remember another epic entitled "Ramayana", containing one lakh of verses and

dealing with metaphysical problems. I have seen the customs of Krtayuga

being followed in Kaliyuga and the customs of Kaliyuga being followed in

Krtayuga."

 

Having heard the whole story, Vasistha gave his blessing to Bhusunda and

left the place. (Jnana Vasistha, Bhusundopakhyana).

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