Tag: Saptha Vidanga Sthala

  • Abhimanyu Would Have Killed Krishna

    Abhimanyu Would Have Killed Krishna

    In my earlier Post on Chakra Vyuha, Formation and Piplu Fort I mentioned that Krishna did not teach Abhimanyu,His Nephew, the art of breaking out of the Chakra/Padma Vyuha, but taught him how to enter it, when Abhimanyu was in his mother Shubadras’ womb.

    And I mentioned that krishna would not left it at that for such a silly reason as having been called by some body while he was teaching his nephew and Krishna had his reason.

    The reason is that has Krishna taught Abhimanyu the art of leaving Chakra Vyuha, he would have survived and a later date would have killed Krishna Himself!

    According to Krishna, Abhimanyu was an incarnation of a very powerful demon named (Kalayvan) who was capable of killing him at a later point. Abhimanyu’s only weakness is his partial knowledge about Chakravyuha. Hence, according to Krishna the Chakravyuha was indeed launched to kill Abhimanyu as this is the only way by which Abhimanyu can attain Moksha. Hence, Krishna never imparts the knowledge of “how to come out of Chakravyuha?” to Abhimanyu inspite of being his guru in Dwaraka. Thus, on the 13th day Lord Krishna does not give any clue to Arjun that the Chakravyuha was launched by Dronacharya inspite of foreseeing it.

    “According to one South Indian tradition, it is a curse from Durvasa that makes Abhimanyu a Rakshasa in his current birth. In a former life he was a gatekeeper at Rama’s palace, and Durvasa cursed him to be born as a Rakshasa in his future life because he refused entry to the sage into Rama’s court. However, the reason for Krishna desiring Abhimanyu’s death was not exactly because he was a Rakshasa, but because Abhimanyu is capable of killing the entire Kaurava clan all alone, and that would make it impossible for the Pandava brothers, who had taken vows of killing the individual Kauravas’ . ( http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/features/09-12/features2590.htm)

    ncarnated as Abhimanyu , he was in his previous birth known as Kalayavan, the King of Magadha, who was an asura or demon and with the help of other Kings such as Jarasandha and Shalva invaded Mathura with an army of thirty million Rakshasa soldiers against Krishna. He was undefeated and unmatched in battle due to the boon given to him by Lord Shiva that no Yadava could kill him in battle, but he was at the same time also merciless and cruel. Coming to know about the protection given by Lord Shiva to Kalayavana, Sri Krishna, somewhat dejected, shifted to Dwarka from Mathura.

    Kalayavan knew that Krishna is the only person who could defeat him in battle and by accepting this challenge he set out to invade Krishna’s kingdom. When the two armies faced each other in battle, Krishna dismounted from his chariot and began to walk away, followed by Kalayavan. After a long time Krishna, followed by Kalayavan entered a dark cave. This cave at the time was inhabited by the Rishi Muchukunda who had been meditating there for generations.

    King Muchukunda, a king of the Solar dynasty and son of Mandhata had on the request of Lord Indra gone to Devaloka [ Heavens] along with his forces and defeated the Asuras (demons). Indra wanted to bless him with an award for the service, which he had rendered. Muchukunda, feeling very tired, wanted to be shown a place, where he could have sound sleep and meditate, because he had not slept for a long time. Indra led him to a cave on earth and told him that anyone who disturbed him in sleep, would be reduced to ashes by his very look.

    http://www.trinetra.org.uk/#/hindu-history-abhimanyu/4539468650)

    Another tale of Abhimanyu’s origin says, Abhimanyu is the reincarnation of Varchas, the son of the Moon god. When the Moon god was asked to let his son incarnate himself on earth by the other devas, he made a pact that his son will only remain on earth for 16 years as he could not bear to be separated from him. Abhimanyu was 16 years old when he died in the war. Hence, on the 13th day Krishna does not intervene while the Chakravyuha was formed by Dronacharya despite knowing that without adequate knowledge, Abhimanyu would get killed in the battle.

    Arjun was never the martial arts instructor for Abhimanyu, rather Krishna was. Now Krishna being the Lord Narayan himself, Arjun must have expected Abhimanyu to be properly trained, and must not have checked about his training at all.

    Furthermore, Lord Krishna knew that Abhimanyu was so powerful a warrior, that he could alone defeat and kill all the Kauravas, which would not let the Pandava vows to be fulfilled of killing the Kauravas on their own, and Krishna did not want Mahabharata’s hero to be anyone else other than Arjun (who was his devotee). Also, Krishna knew that with the knowledge of such treachery from Kauravas to kill his son, Arjun would be furious and would be killing all the Kauravas with less guilt in his conscience..

    Kalayavana.

    “Kalayavana, the King of Magadha and Salva attacked the city of Mathura, but when the city was encircled by their soldiers, the Lord refrained from killing them personally, just to show the power of His own men.

    Purport: After the death of Kamsa, when Mathura was encircled by the soldiers of Kalayavana, Jarasandha and Salva, the Lord seemingly fled from the city, and thus He is known as Ranchor, or one who fled from fighting. Actually, the fact was that the Lord wanted to kill them through the agency of His own men, devotees like Mucukunda and Bhima. Kalayavana and the King of Magadha were killed by Mucukunda and Bhima respectively, who acted as agents of the Lord. By such acts the Lord wanted to exhibit the prowess of His devotees, as if He were personally unable to fight but His devotees could kill them.”

    After the invasion, Krishna departed to build a city of Dwārkā amidst sea, transported all his people and left them there.

    Krishna lured Kalayavan into the cave of the mighty Muchukunda, who upon being disturbed from sleep by his kick, cast a fiery glance and reduced him to ashes.

    This legend appears to indicate an invasion from the Himalayas. According to the Vishnu Purana and Harivamsa, Kalayavan was the son of a Brahmin named Ganga, and a Yavana princess.

    Muchukunda was a Tamil King who established Saptha Vidanga Sthalas for Lord Shiva.

    Please read my post on this.

    Citation.

    http://aroundtheworldin80nights.blogspot.ae/2012/07/chakravyuha-deadliest-of-formations-and.html

    * Various accounts are available for this Legend.Readers may send in their refernces.

    Abhmanyu was taught By Krishna . Source(s):Mahabharata by Kamala Subramaniyam Drona Parva Chapter 7 published by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai

  • Seven Shiva Vishnu Prayed Indra Deceived Saptha Vidanga Temples

    In North India we have the Pancha Kedar, five temples of Shiva in the Garhwal Region.

     

    In the south, there are seven Shiva Temples, which are to be seen in a day.

     

    These are called the Saptha Vidanga Sthala.

    Thyagarja Temple,Thiruvarur.jpg
    Thiruvarur Temple.Saptha Vidanga Sthala

     

    Vidanga means, ‘not chiseled’ Saptha, Seven.

     

    In these seven places one finds the Shiva Linga.

     

    Muchukunda Chakravarthi was a  Tamil king.

    Indra, the King of the Devas sought Muchukunda’s help in defeating the Asuras and was successful in defeating the Asuras.

    Indra was extremely grateful to the king.

    He offered the king a gift of his choice.

    Muchukunda,  asked for the lingam worshipped by Indra.

    Indra did not want to part with his precious lingam, but the king wouldn’t accept anything else.

    Indra decided on a deception, and showed Muchukunda seven lingams and asked him to choose the one he wanted.

    Muchukunda prayed to Shiva to identify the correct lingam.

    Shiva was pleased and helped him identify the original lingam prayed to by Indra.

    Indra was so impressed by this that he gifted all the seven lingams to the king.

    Muchukunda returned to earth with the seven lingams and installed them at various places in his kingdom.

    The original one he kept at the temple at Thiruvarur, and the others at Thirunallar, Vedaranyam, Thiruvaimur, Thrirukkaravasal, Thirukkuvalai and Nagapattinam.

     

    Normally, it is the top portion of the lingam – the ellipse which is believed to be swayambhu. The base – avudayar- is made by hand. In all these seven lingams, the whole lingam – the base as well as the top portion – form a single piece, and are believed to have appeared just the same way, without being made, and hence the name. All the seven lingams are of different sizes, though they are made of the same material – maragatham – or emerald. However, it looks more like Jade than emerald, as it is translucent. The biggest one is at Thirunallar, while the one at Thiruvarur is of medium size. However, it must be mentioned that these two are the only two of the original lingams left. I am not too sure of the originality of the 5 other lingams, because at 2 temples, we were told that the originals had been stolen ages ago, and the lingams presently there had been installed by saints in their place.

    In ll these temples the Navagrahas face the same direction unlike in the other temples where they face different directions.

     

    In some temples all of them are in a Single file, while in some others they are in the usual pattern of 3’s.

     

    These Navagrahas face the Lingam , in the former case.

     

    In these temples Somaskanda is the Utsava Murthy,Shiva and Parvati with Muruga in the centre.

    Main Deity is Thyagaraja.

    Post on Individual Sthala follows.

     

    Please read my post on Somaskanda