In the last story we could realize that even smallest of our thoughtful acts will make a difference. But let us not stop ourselves by doing small worthy acts, when we could do the most mighty and demanding tasks.
Have you heard the term "Bhagiratha Prayathana"? (Bhagiratha's endeavours). Listen to his story which brought this term into existence.
Bhagiratha was a valiant King of Ayodhya and son of King Dhilipa. When his ancestor Sagara performed an yagna, he came to know that the ashes of his sixty thousand sons were lying on Patala Loka (nether world) and only by washing them with Holy Ganga water will they reach heaven.
Sagara and other kings in his lineage could not bring Ganga river with their tapas. Later during Bhagiratha's reign, he made a resolution that he would bring the souls of his ancestors rest in peace, by washing their ashes with Ganga water.
In order to bring Holy Ganga river to earth, he handed over his kingdom to his ministers and went to the Himalayas to do Tapas (penance). He carried out a strict Tapas towards Lord Brahma. He carried his Tapas for many years amidst hot summer with his bare legs bearing the heat and standing over freezing lake during cold winter. Years passed on and it was more than 1000 years he continued his severe Tapas. During his initial days, he used to take food once in a day, which slowly reduced to once in a week, once in a month and finally he made his living by drawing energy from air.
One day, Lord Brahma was pleased with his Tapas, gave him darshan and asked his wish. Bhagiratha bowed before him and requested him to grant a boon so that Holy Ganga river would come to earth and he could wash his ancestors ashes with Ganga water. Lord Brahma was happy hearing to it and granted him the boon and told that the earth would not bear the force of Ganga river's descent. So asked him to do Tapas towards Lord Siva, for he could help in bringing Ganga river to earth.
Continue Tapas again towards Siva?? This would definitely deter normal people but not Bhagiratha. He continued the Tapas towards Lord Siva with the same zeal for the resolution he had taken. Few years of his austere Tapas made Lord Siva to appear before him and he consented to his wish of bearing the force of Ganga river's descent in his head. Thus by Lord Brahma's boon, Ganga river flowed over Lord Siva's head.
The Ganga being proud of her strength, had in her mind, that Lord Siva might not be able to bear her water force. Lord Siva sensed her thought and taught her a lesson by holding her onto his head inside his Jada mudi (matted hair). The Ganga river could not come out of Lord Siva's matted hair and Ganga river felt guilty of her arrogance. However, seeing this Bhagiratha got worried and pleaded Siva to bestow on him by His grace. Lord Siva then let Ganga flow to earth in seven separate streams. Three of which flowed west and three east, and the last one followed Bhagiratha.
As the Holy Ganga followed Bhagiratha, they travelled near Jahnu maharishi's ashram (hermit). Ganga as she flowed became mischievous and destroyed Jahnu maharishi's yagna peedam (sacrificial stand). Jahnu maharishi got angry because of her mischievous act and drank her completely in a gulp. Yet again, Bhagiratha was struck in making his resolution happening. But Bhagiratha was not a normal person to be grief-stricken with these situations. He pleaded Jahnu maharishi and requested to grace him to fulfill his resolution. So Jahnu maharishi released Ganga through his ears (and so Ganga river is also known as Jaahnavi - daughter of Jahnu maharishi as he released her like a child from a mother's womb).
Bhagiratha atlast washed away his ancestor's ashes with Holy Ganga water and made their souls rest in peace in heaven. As Bhagiratha with his Tapas brought Holy Ganga to earth, River Ganga is also known as "Bhagirathi".
This story of Bhagiratha shows the perseverance one has to be equipped with, when making a resolution come true. Besides perseverance, Bhagiratha did not get deter when he faced hindrances at many situations.
Thus came the term "Bhagiratha Prayatana" emphasizing that our efforts towards a difficult goal should be big and to be done with never-give up attitude.
Source: This story was told by Viswamitra to the kids Rama and Lakshmana, when he took them to the forest to protect his Yagna, in Ramayana. (www.ramayanam.in)
We are to be blessed to take a bath in the Holy Ganga river, but for now, let us drench ourselves in listening to this Ganga Arti.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy00PwV_qWU
Have you heard the term "Bhagiratha Prayathana"? (Bhagiratha's endeavours). Listen to his story which brought this term into existence.
Bhagiratha was a valiant King of Ayodhya and son of King Dhilipa. When his ancestor Sagara performed an yagna, he came to know that the ashes of his sixty thousand sons were lying on Patala Loka (nether world) and only by washing them with Holy Ganga water will they reach heaven.
Sagara and other kings in his lineage could not bring Ganga river with their tapas. Later during Bhagiratha's reign, he made a resolution that he would bring the souls of his ancestors rest in peace, by washing their ashes with Ganga water.
In order to bring Holy Ganga river to earth, he handed over his kingdom to his ministers and went to the Himalayas to do Tapas (penance). He carried out a strict Tapas towards Lord Brahma. He carried his Tapas for many years amidst hot summer with his bare legs bearing the heat and standing over freezing lake during cold winter. Years passed on and it was more than 1000 years he continued his severe Tapas. During his initial days, he used to take food once in a day, which slowly reduced to once in a week, once in a month and finally he made his living by drawing energy from air.
One day, Lord Brahma was pleased with his Tapas, gave him darshan and asked his wish. Bhagiratha bowed before him and requested him to grant a boon so that Holy Ganga river would come to earth and he could wash his ancestors ashes with Ganga water. Lord Brahma was happy hearing to it and granted him the boon and told that the earth would not bear the force of Ganga river's descent. So asked him to do Tapas towards Lord Siva, for he could help in bringing Ganga river to earth.
Continue Tapas again towards Siva?? This would definitely deter normal people but not Bhagiratha. He continued the Tapas towards Lord Siva with the same zeal for the resolution he had taken. Few years of his austere Tapas made Lord Siva to appear before him and he consented to his wish of bearing the force of Ganga river's descent in his head. Thus by Lord Brahma's boon, Ganga river flowed over Lord Siva's head.
The Ganga being proud of her strength, had in her mind, that Lord Siva might not be able to bear her water force. Lord Siva sensed her thought and taught her a lesson by holding her onto his head inside his Jada mudi (matted hair). The Ganga river could not come out of Lord Siva's matted hair and Ganga river felt guilty of her arrogance. However, seeing this Bhagiratha got worried and pleaded Siva to bestow on him by His grace. Lord Siva then let Ganga flow to earth in seven separate streams. Three of which flowed west and three east, and the last one followed Bhagiratha.
As the Holy Ganga followed Bhagiratha, they travelled near Jahnu maharishi's ashram (hermit). Ganga as she flowed became mischievous and destroyed Jahnu maharishi's yagna peedam (sacrificial stand). Jahnu maharishi got angry because of her mischievous act and drank her completely in a gulp. Yet again, Bhagiratha was struck in making his resolution happening. But Bhagiratha was not a normal person to be grief-stricken with these situations. He pleaded Jahnu maharishi and requested to grace him to fulfill his resolution. So Jahnu maharishi released Ganga through his ears (and so Ganga river is also known as Jaahnavi - daughter of Jahnu maharishi as he released her like a child from a mother's womb).
Bhagiratha atlast washed away his ancestor's ashes with Holy Ganga water and made their souls rest in peace in heaven. As Bhagiratha with his Tapas brought Holy Ganga to earth, River Ganga is also known as "Bhagirathi".
This story of Bhagiratha shows the perseverance one has to be equipped with, when making a resolution come true. Besides perseverance, Bhagiratha did not get deter when he faced hindrances at many situations.
Thus came the term "Bhagiratha Prayatana" emphasizing that our efforts towards a difficult goal should be big and to be done with never-give up attitude.
Source: This story was told by Viswamitra to the kids Rama and Lakshmana, when he took them to the forest to protect his Yagna, in Ramayana. (www.ramayanam.in)
We are to be blessed to take a bath in the Holy Ganga river, but for now, let us drench ourselves in listening to this Ganga Arti.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy00PwV_qWU
This Bhagiratha story was really an inspiring one... Strengthens my mind to never QUIT...
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