Rebirths-5

In Madhura Krishna and Balaramudu after leaving from the house of Sudhama went into the street. There they met one lady who is looking  very ugly. She was taking perfumes to king Kamsudu. Krishna and Balaramudu stop her and ask to give that perfumes to them. She gives those perfumes to them with much happy and says that they are worth taking of these perfumes. They ask what is her name she tells that her name is Kubja(Trivakra) and she is servant of King Kamsudu. Pleased with her  good heart Lord Krishna decides to give her new appearance and he catches her chin and lengthens her, then she becomes a very beautiful lady. She was Soorpanakha, sister of Ravana in Threthayugam after lakshmanudu cut her nose and ears for trying to hurt Devi Seeta. She went to forest and meditates for Lord Shiva and on his appearance she asked the boon that Lord Srirama should like her. Lord Shiva told that her desire will be fulfilled in next birth. Because this she was borned as Kubja.
 

After this Krishna and Balaramudu met one big elephant with name Kuvalayapeedanam, which was very furious and hurting everybody coming on the way. On seeing the two brothers it comes to kill them. Krishna fights with it and kills it. It was  son of Bali in former birth with name Mandhagathi. Once he went to Sreerangam, on the way he used to  hit whoever coming and make them to fall. Among them there was one saint with name Thrithudu. He became angry with the act of Mandhagathi and cursed him that as you behaved as elephant you will take birth as elephant. Then Madagathi became tearful and begged the saint to forgive him. Then the saint told that he will be freed from the curse after dying in the hands of Krishna.

 Krishna and Balaramudu went to the assembly of Kamsa after killing the elephant. There was many fighters in the assembly. In them two fighters with Chanurudu and Mustikudu  were leaders to the remaining members. They ask Krishna and Balaramudu to fight with their assistants. But Krishna and Balaramudu say that they will fight with them only. Then Krishna fight with Chanurudu  and Balaramudu with Mustikudu.  In the fight the two fighters died. These two sons of saint Udhyathudu in the former birth. They were very beautiful but neglected studies. Their father tried so much to make they good but they did not listened. Got fatigued with the acts of the sons the saint cursed them to born as demons. Because this they took the births of Chanurudu and Mustikudu

Rebirths-4

Once a demon, Vrushabhasurudu as a big bull enters  the herd of cattle of Lord Krishna and his friends and starts hurting cows. With the shouts of his friends Krishna comes and kills that bull. After death a Brahman comes out  from the dead body of the bull and says that he was Varasathvudu named Brahman in former birth. He was student of saint Bruhaspathi at that time, once he had neglected his master words and because that his master cursed him to born as a bull. And now in the hands of Krishna he got relieved from his curse.
 
Lord Krishna and his friends once went to one mountain to feed their cattle  there one demon with name Vyomudu, son of Mayasurudu comes there as a boy and starts playing with them. While playing he takes all the children into one den(guha) there and closes the door with a rock. Then by hearing the shouts of his friends Krishna comes and kills that demon. That Vyomudu was king Bheemarathudu in former birth. He was devotee of Lord Srihari. At his old age he became  saint and went to mountain Malaya to meditate. There he neglects saint Pulasthyudu and get curse to born as demon. Now he relived of that curse.

With the invitation of Kamsudu Krishna and Balaramudu comes to Madhura with Akrurudu. There in the street they see the washer man of Kamsudu and ask him to give some  clothes of Kamsudu to him.

 But refuses and laughs at them. In anger Krishna kills him. In former birth he was that washer man who accused that Lord Srirama living with Devi Seeta who was in Lanka for one year. Because  this Srirama send Seetha to forest. Because of that  perpetrate he born as washer man to Kamsa and dies in the hands of Lord Krishna.
 
In Madhura Krishna and Balaramudu goes to the house of Sudhama as guests. He  is  great devotee of Lord Vishnu. He serves them with great care and faith. He was gardener of Kuberudu in former birth with name Hemamali. He was devotee of Lord Srihari at that also. He worshipped Lord Shiva in that birth with five thousand flowers, because this Lord Shiva given him a boon that Lord Vishnu will come to his home as guest. And that desire fulfilled in Dwaparayugam by Srikrishna.

Rebirths-3

Once  Lord Krishna and his friends went to one park called “Tallavanam” there one demon called Dhenukasurudu comes as donkey to kill them. Balaramudu fights with him and kills him. That Denukasurudu was son of Bali with name Sahasikudu in former birth Once when he was playing with his queens that disturb saint Durvasa and he curses Sahasikudu to born as donkey. Because this was living in Tallavanam in the form of donkey and dies in the fight.

We know well about Kaleeyamardanam”, that Kaleeyudu was a saint in former birth with the name Vedasirudu. He went to the place of mountain Vindhya in search of convenient place to meditate for God and started living there. There he mets one more saint called Aswasirudu who also came to meditate. But Vedasirudu tells to Aswasirudu that he cannot meditate there and that place belongs to him only. But Aswasirudu doesn’t agree and curses him to born as snake. After hearing it Vedasirudu gets anger and he also curses him to born as bird. In the next birth Vedasirudu becomes Kaleeyudu and Aswasirudu becomes Garududu.

One more demon with the order of Kamsudu comes to kill Krishna as small boy with name Pralambudu. While playing he tries to takeaway Balaramudu with him. But Balaramudu fights with him and kills him.  This Pralambudu was son of Huhu named gandharva  in former birth. He was devotee of Lord Vishnu.Once he went to the park of Kuberudu and took some flowers there to worship Lord Vishnu. But Kuberudu was devotee of Lord Shiva and was using that flowers to worship him. Because of the act of Pralambudu he becomes angry and curses him to born as demon. Then on his prayer to forgive him, he tells that he will be freed from the curse after dying in the hands of Balarama in Dwaparayugam.

Once one big snake comes to Ambikavanam and there it tries to bite Nandhudu with his cry Krishna comes and kills that snake. It was Sudharsanudu named Vidhyadharudu in former birth. He was very proud of his beauty and wealth at that time. Once he makes fun of saints Angeerasulu mentioning their figures. By  this the saints curse him to take birth as snake. Because  this Sudarsanudu takes birth as snake and finally dies in the quarrel with Krishna.

Rebirths-2

Once Devi Yashoda, Lord Krishna’s mother got fatigued  with his noise ties him to one stone mortar of pounding grain(rolu). At that time he goes in between two trees and struck and splits them. These two trees are sons of Kuberudu in former births with names Nalakubara and Manigreeva. Once when saint Narada went to their place being drunken they ignore him. Because  this Saint Narada curses them to born as trees. When they pray him to give the solution then he tells them that in the next birth because of Lord Krishna they will get their own forms.

One more demon with the order of Kamsudu comes to kill Krishna as calf with name Vathparchurudu. But Krishna fights with him and kills him. He was son of Mura with name Prameeludu in former birth. Once he went to the hermitage of saint Vashistudu. There he sees one cow with name Nandini which is having the power of giving anything wanted. Vathparchurudu wants that cow and goes to Vashistudu as Bramhan and asks to give that cow to him. Saint Vashistudu recognizes him and keeps quite but Nandini gets anger and curses him to born in the form of cow. Then on his prayer to forgive him, she tells that he will be freed from calf form after dying in the hands of Krishna.

Bakasurudu is one more demon sent by Kamsudu to kill Krishnudu. He comes as crane. He was son of Hayagreevudu in the former birth with name Utkaludu. He used to torture the people in heaven. Once he went to hermitage of saint Jajaludu and catches the fish in the pond. Seeing this the saint curses him to take birth as crane. Because of this Utkaludu takes birth as Bakasurudu and finally dies in the quarrel with Krishna.

 Aghudu, the younger brother of Putana and Bakasurudu comes as large python to kill Krishna. He was son of demon Sankudu in former birth.He was very handsome and proud about it. Once he went to mountain malayadri and there he watches Astavakra who was praying God there. He laughs at Astavakra mentioning his figure. Then Astavakra curses him to take the form of python. But when he begs him to forgive Astavakra says that when Krishna enters into his stomach he will be relived from curse.When he swallows Krishna he comes out by tearing his stomach and relieves him from curse.

Rebirths -1

Do you know that many people believe in rebirths and say that the soul will take so many births in the process of reaching God. In Bhagavathgeetha also there is mention about rebirths. Here I am giving some characters in Bhagavathgeetha and their previous births which are quite interesting.

Devaki & Vasudevudu: we all know that Devaki and Vasudevudu are the parents of Lord Krishna. In former birth they were saint couple with names Sutapudu and Prusni. They pray Lord Vishnu and when he appears before them they ask him to born as their son. Then Lord Vishnu agrees their wish and gives boon that in  three births he will be their son. And in that birth he was called prusnigarbhudu. Then in the second birth the couple was Kasyapudu and Aditi and their son was Vamanudu. In the third birth the couple born as Vasudevudu and Devaki and their son is Lord Krishna.

Kamsudu as we know the uncle of Lord Krishna, also having former birth. He was Kalanemi named demon in former birth with hundred heads and hundred pairs of hands. He fights with Lord Vishnu at the time of “palasagaramadhanam” and dies. But the priest of demons makes him to alive. The Kalanemi prays for Lord Brhamha and asks him to bless him not to have the death from gods. Then Lord Brhama says that his desire will fulfill in next birth. And in the next birth he borns as Kamsudu and dies in the hands of Lord Krishna we had taken the birth of human being.

And the demons sent by Kamsudu are also having former births. Poothana as we know who came to kill Lord Krishna was Ratnamala in her former birth. She was daughter of Bali and at the time of vamanavatharam by seeing Bali she feels as breast feeding him and because of that desire in the next birth she borns as Poothana and remaining story we know.

Sakatasurudu who comes as cart also having former birth. He was son of Hiranyakshudu in former birth with name Uthkachudu. Once he enters  the ashram of saint Lomasudu and destroys his garden at that time the saint says in anger as he destroyed the plants his body will also be destroyed. Then  Uthkachudu prays the saint then the saint says that in the next birth he will born as Sakatasurudu and gets “mukti” by dyeing in the hands of Lord Krishna.

Thrunavarthudu who comes as whirlwind to kill Lord Krishna was king of Pandudesam in previous birth. In that birth once he was playing with his queens and neglects saint Dhurvasudu. Because  this the saint curses him to born as demon. Then he tooks the birth as Thrunavarthudu and dies in the hands of Lord Krishna.

Mahashivarathri: importance and way of celebration

Do you know the importance of Shivarathri and why we are celebrating it? There are many stories regarding this festival.

One story is that once there was fight between Lord Vishnu and Lord Bramha on the issue that who is great in both of  them? When they are quarrelling a big Lingam appears in between and tells them that any one of them who will find the either end of the lingam will be considered as great. Lord Bramha goes to upside on his swan and Lord Vishnu goes to down by digging in varaharupam. Both of them fail to find the ends. Lord Vishnu Agrees that he failed in finding the end but Lord Bramha lies that he found the upper end and he takes the support os screw pine and cow. Lord Shiva comes from the Lingam and tells that Lord Vishnu is honest and great in both and punishes Lord Bramha by removing one of his head, tells to screw pine that it will not be useful for worshiping god and to the cow he tells that the face of it is not worshiped from now onwards . That appearance of lingam was called “Lingodbhavam”  and it was occurred in the midnight (if the night is devided into four parts after end of the second part is the time for lingodbhavam) from that time it was considered as Shivarathri.

Another story is that Mahashivarathri is celebrated in the occasion of marriage of Lord Shiva And Goddess Parvathi.Goddess Parvathi (who was Sathidevi in previous birth) daughter of Himavanthudu Worships Lord Shiva. And he becomes happy for her determination and love towards him and marries her and that day is being celebrated as Mahashivarathri.

  And it was also told that once Goddess Parvathi worshiped Lord Shiva and on behalf of mankind she asked for the “mukthimargam”. Then Lord Shiva tells her that if people go on fasting (upavasa) and remain awake in the night( jagarana) on Mahashivarathri they will be freed from the bondage and cycles of birth and death and will reach the God(mukthi).  

One more and most famous story is that mahashivarathri is celebrated because, once there was quarrel between gods and demons for the authority on heaven. Then in the quarrel many of them dies on both sides and finally they decide to search for “amrutham” after drinking which the person will not die. And they start  'palasagara madhanam'  for the “amrutham” and during that time the poison(halahalam)  arises and nobody can save the world from it, at that time Lord Shiva takes that poison and keeps it in his throat because  this he is called “Garalakantudu”. And because of the effect of that poison he becomes unconscious throughout the night. Goddess Parvathi and other people were awake through out the night and served him. On remembrance  of this people also maintain upavasa and jagarana and celebrate Shivarathri.

It is also told that to destroy the universe Lord Shiva performed Tandava and that day is being celebrated as Shivarathri.

Normally all festivals will be celebrated on daytime but Mahashivarathri is celebrated on nighttime because according to Bhagavad-Gita the day for the normal people is night to “jnani’(who knows everything) and night for the people is day to him.

Sister of Lord SriRama

Do you know  that  Lord SriRama had  one sister. Many of us know only about SriRama and his brothers. But he also had one sister  by name Shanta.
The father of SriRama,  King Dasaratha who was ruling Ayodya marries  Kausalya, princess of Kosala.  She  gives birth to a female child. But she was with handicap in her leg. The girl was named as Shanta. King Dasaratha felt very bad about the condition of her child and requests his doctors to cure her. But the doctors of entire Kingdom fail to remove the handicap of that girl.
Then by watching the worry of the king,  Saint Vasistha who is the rajaguru of Dasaratha  adviced King Dasaratha that there is one solution to cure the girl. If the king gives his daughter for  adoption to any divine couple the child will be cured.
After discussing with the queen the king decides to give his daughter for adoption.  King Dasaratha gives the child to Romapada, who is the king of Angadesa. After that Shanta has cured from the disability due to the treatment and care.
Then she grows up and comes to the marital age. And once in Anga rajya there was   severe draught occurs. The saints in the kingdom  advises king Romapada to bring saint Rishyashrunga, who was  known for bringing rain to any land where he stepped.

Saint Rishyasringa got the name because he was  born with the horn of a deer. His father was the rishi Vibhandaka, and his mother was a celestial paramour Urvasi. By the order of Indra, Urvasi  seduced  rishi Vibhandaka . Because, Indra   feared that by  the yogic powers  the rishi may prove fatal to the very existence of heaven. Because of this  Rishyasringa was born to rishi Vibhandaka and Urvasi . After  the child was born Urvasi, goes back to heaven leaving the boy to Vibhandaka. By this Vibhandaka  develops extreme hatred towards women folk, and he raised his son in a forest, isolated from society. So, Rishyasringa never saw any girls or women, and was not told of their existence, but he had  magical and miraculous powers.

 King Romapada wanted to save his kingdom by inviting Rishyashringa to his kingdom.He sends some beautiful women but as they do not succeed, then  Shanta takes  the responsibility of   bringing him to their kingdom and she succeeds in that, thus brings rain and also marries him.

After  giving Shanta for adoption Dashratha have not got any children. Later he gets married to two more women named Sumitra and Kaikeyi. But all three queens have not got any children.  Then with the advice of maharshi Vashista, Dasaratha performs Aswamedhayaga followed by Puthrakameshti Yaga. Both were supervised by Rishyasringa.  Because of the yagas all the three queens become pregnant and give birth to four children. Sri Rama to Kousalya, Laxman and Shatragnu to Sumitra, Bharat to Kaikeyi. And they rest of the story we know well. So Shanta is treated as the elder sister of Lord SriRama.
Shanta and Rishyashrunga had one son by name Yadarshi.  He was devotee of Lord Lakshmi Narasimha swami and on his name there is famous pilgrim in Andrapradesh Yadagirigutta.