In ancient times there was a sage named Gautama. His wife Ahalya was extremely righteous. They practiced penance for ten thousand years on the Bahmagiri Mountain in the southern quarter. Once it was afflicted in the southern quarter. Once it was afflicted with a dire famine lasting for a hundred years. Not a single fresh leaf was seen on the face of the earth. Then all men, beasts, birds, and even the sages deserted that place. Gautama himself performed an auspicious penance for six months, and propitiated god Varuna who appeared before him and told him to ask for a boon. When Gautama asked him for rain, god Varuna said, “According to your wish, I shall give you a well of inexhaustible water. Dig a ditch here.” Sage Gautama dug a ditch to a hand’s depth which was filled with divine water by Varuna. Then Lord Varun spoke to Gautam, who was an embodiment of altruism, “O great sage, the water in the well is inexhaustible. This is now a pilgrim center. This will become known on the earth by your name. Charitable gifts made here, rites performed here, penance practiced here, divine worship done here and the shrāddha (oblations offered to the manes, everything ) will be unfailing.
After saying this, the Lord vanished and sage Gautama experienced inner happiness and satisfaction by rendering help to others is conducive to greatness. Only great men see and realize the real being of great souls, not the mean.
Man attains fruits in accordance with the nature of the one he serves. Greatness is achieved by serving the great and meanness by serving the mean. It is the nature of best of men that they cannot bear the misery of others.’ Kindness, lack of egotism, altruism, and sense having thus and sense control – these are the four virtuous pillars that support the earth.
Having thus secured the precious water, Gautama duly preformed his Natya and Naimittika Karmas. Thereafter he cultivated many types of cereals and barley for the performance of his obligatory sacrifice. Various trees with flower and fruits were also produced in abundance. As there was an inexhaustible source of water, the drought was not distressing. Sages engaged in auspicious works re-inhabited the place along with their disciples, children and wives. There was great joy and bliss in that forest, thanks to the power of Gautama.
The wives of the Brahmins who lived in Gautama’s ashram, where once displeased with Ahilya regarding drawing water from the well. They provoked their gusbands, who then worshipped Ganesha to harm Gautama. Ganesha, who is subservient to His devotees, appeared before them and told them to ask for a boon.
The sages said, “If the boon is to be given by you, let Gautama be driven out of his hermitage after being rebuked by the sages.”
Ganesa said, “O Brahmins, what you are doing is not proper. If you become angry with him for no crime of his, you are sure to incur loss. Infliction pain upon those who have helped us in the past is not beneficial to us. To torment, oppose or slander one who has done a favour to us will lead us on the path to destruction. If this is done, ruin will surely follow. Formerly when you were distressed due to the famine, the sage Gautama made an arrangement procuring water for you and did good to you. Now you intend to cause him pain. Please all of you think over this. Infatuated by your wives, if you will not follow my advice, your conduct will doubtlessly benefit Gautam. Certainly the sage will make you happy again. Please choose another boon.” But the Brahmins did not accept Ganeshji’s advice. Then the son of Shiva, who is subservient to his devotees, said, “I shall do what is being requested by you all. What is destined to happen will surely happen.” After saying this he vanished.
Then, as a result of the boon granted to the wicked Barhmins, Ganesha assumed the from of a feeble cow and entered Gautams’s field. Staggering and faltering, the cow began to eat the food –grains and barley. In the meantime, Aautama happened to pass by. Compassionate by nature, he warded off the cow with a handful of grass. But as soon as the cow was touched by the grass, it collapsed and died instantly in front of the sage. The sages and their wicked wives who were hiding there, seeing the cow collapse, began to shout, “ O look what Gutama has done!”
The bewildered Gautama called Ahalya and spoke with a dejected, distressed mind, “O devout lady, what has happened? How did it happen? Surely the Supreme Lord is enraged with me now. What should be done? Where shall we go? I have incurred the sin of cow-slaughter.”
The Brahmins reproached Gautama. The wives of the Brahmins tormented Ahalya with abusive words. The evil-minded disciples and sons of the Brahmins reviled Gautama repeating the words, “Fie on you.” The Brahmins said, “ You should not show your face now. If one sees the face of a cow-killer, one should cleanse himself by taking a bath wearing his clothes. As long as you stay in the hermitage, the fire god and manes will not accept any oblation we offer. Hence, O sinner, O slayer of a cow, go somewhere else with your family. Do not delay.” Saying this, they pelted him with stones.
Beaten and reproached by these wicked people, Gautama spoke these words, “O snags, I am leaving. I shall stay somewhere else”. After saying this, Gautama left. At a distance of about two miles, he made his new hermitage with their permission. But even there the Brahmins came and told him, “As long as you are not expiated of the sin of killing a cow, you should not perform any sacrificial rites or rituals. You are not entitled to practice any vedic sacrificed to the gods or manes.”
The eminent sage Gautama did as he was bid by the Brahmins. He spent half a month thus and implored the Brahmins humbly for his expiation. Then the Brahmins said, “ Gautama! Circumambulate the earth three times announcing your sin. When you return, observe the holy Vrata for a month, and then circumambulate this mountain, Brahmagiri, a hundred and one times, and then you wil be expiated. Or you can fetch water from the Ganga and take a bath. Then propitiate Lord Shiva making ten million of these phallic images with clay. Then cirucumambulate this mountain eleven times, and performing the ablution of the earthen phallic image of Shiva with a hundred potfuls of water, the expiatory rite will be completed.” The sage Gautam agreed with them.
After circumambulating the mountain, the eminent sage made earthen phallic images of Shiva and worshipped them. The saintly lady Ahalya accompanied him and did the same, while their disciples rendered service to them.
When all this was performed thus by the sage along with his wife, the highly pleased Shiva accompanied by his Pramatha Ganas appeared before him. Lord Shiva said, “O great sage, I am pleased with your supreme devotion. Ask for the boon you wish.”
Lord Shiva said, “O sage, you are blessed. You are satisfied with accomplishment of your duty. You are already sinless. You have been deceived by these wicked knaves. Indeed, on seeing you, people become sinless. How can you be a sinner? You are always engaged in devotion to me. O sage, indeed, all the wicked people by whom you have been harassed are vicious sinners and murderers. On seeing them, others to will become sinners. They have already become ungrateful. There is no way of atonement for them.” On hearing the words of Shiva. The sage was greatly surprised.
Gautama said, “O Lord Shiva, these Brahmins have greatly obliged me. If they had not done this, how could I have had your darshana? Blessed indeed are those Brahmins who have done this most benedictory action for me. It is their evil action that has paved the way to the accomplishment of my supreme goal. “
On hearing his words, Lord Shiva was greatly pleased. Shiva said, “O Lord, if you are pleased, may river Ganga be given to me for bringing good to the world. Obeisance’s to you.”
Shiva, the lover of his devotees, gave, to Gautama the remaining part of water given by Brahma to him on the occasion of his marriage. Then the water of Ganga manifested herself in the form of the most beautiful lady and stood in front of him. The excellent sage eulogized her and paid his obeisance.
Gautama said, “O Ganga, you are blessed. The whole world has been sanctified by you. Sanctify me too.”
Shiva said, “O goddess, sanctify the sage and stay here till the end of the twenty-eighth Kali Yuga of the Vaivaswat manvantara.
Ganga said, “O Lord Shiva, if my greatness were to surpass that of all other rivers; and if you stay here with your consort and Gangas, only then will I stay on this earth.”
Lord Shiva said, “ganga, I will stay here, as you say.”
Thus on being required by the sage Gautama, both Lord Shiva and Ganga stayed there. There Ganga became known by the name Gutamin (Godavari) and the phallic image of Lord Shiva became known by the name ‘Tryambaka’.
After saying this, the Lord vanished and sage Gautama experienced inner happiness and satisfaction by rendering help to others is conducive to greatness. Only great men see and realize the real being of great souls, not the mean.
Man attains fruits in accordance with the nature of the one he serves. Greatness is achieved by serving the great and meanness by serving the mean. It is the nature of best of men that they cannot bear the misery of others.’ Kindness, lack of egotism, altruism, and sense having thus and sense control – these are the four virtuous pillars that support the earth.
Having thus secured the precious water, Gautama duly preformed his Natya and Naimittika Karmas. Thereafter he cultivated many types of cereals and barley for the performance of his obligatory sacrifice. Various trees with flower and fruits were also produced in abundance. As there was an inexhaustible source of water, the drought was not distressing. Sages engaged in auspicious works re-inhabited the place along with their disciples, children and wives. There was great joy and bliss in that forest, thanks to the power of Gautama.
The wives of the Brahmins who lived in Gautama’s ashram, where once displeased with Ahilya regarding drawing water from the well. They provoked their gusbands, who then worshipped Ganesha to harm Gautama. Ganesha, who is subservient to His devotees, appeared before them and told them to ask for a boon.
The sages said, “If the boon is to be given by you, let Gautama be driven out of his hermitage after being rebuked by the sages.”
Ganesa said, “O Brahmins, what you are doing is not proper. If you become angry with him for no crime of his, you are sure to incur loss. Infliction pain upon those who have helped us in the past is not beneficial to us. To torment, oppose or slander one who has done a favour to us will lead us on the path to destruction. If this is done, ruin will surely follow. Formerly when you were distressed due to the famine, the sage Gautama made an arrangement procuring water for you and did good to you. Now you intend to cause him pain. Please all of you think over this. Infatuated by your wives, if you will not follow my advice, your conduct will doubtlessly benefit Gautam. Certainly the sage will make you happy again. Please choose another boon.” But the Brahmins did not accept Ganeshji’s advice. Then the son of Shiva, who is subservient to his devotees, said, “I shall do what is being requested by you all. What is destined to happen will surely happen.” After saying this he vanished.
Then, as a result of the boon granted to the wicked Barhmins, Ganesha assumed the from of a feeble cow and entered Gautams’s field. Staggering and faltering, the cow began to eat the food –grains and barley. In the meantime, Aautama happened to pass by. Compassionate by nature, he warded off the cow with a handful of grass. But as soon as the cow was touched by the grass, it collapsed and died instantly in front of the sage. The sages and their wicked wives who were hiding there, seeing the cow collapse, began to shout, “ O look what Gutama has done!”
The bewildered Gautama called Ahalya and spoke with a dejected, distressed mind, “O devout lady, what has happened? How did it happen? Surely the Supreme Lord is enraged with me now. What should be done? Where shall we go? I have incurred the sin of cow-slaughter.”
The Brahmins reproached Gautama. The wives of the Brahmins tormented Ahalya with abusive words. The evil-minded disciples and sons of the Brahmins reviled Gautama repeating the words, “Fie on you.” The Brahmins said, “ You should not show your face now. If one sees the face of a cow-killer, one should cleanse himself by taking a bath wearing his clothes. As long as you stay in the hermitage, the fire god and manes will not accept any oblation we offer. Hence, O sinner, O slayer of a cow, go somewhere else with your family. Do not delay.” Saying this, they pelted him with stones.
Beaten and reproached by these wicked people, Gautama spoke these words, “O snags, I am leaving. I shall stay somewhere else”. After saying this, Gautama left. At a distance of about two miles, he made his new hermitage with their permission. But even there the Brahmins came and told him, “As long as you are not expiated of the sin of killing a cow, you should not perform any sacrificial rites or rituals. You are not entitled to practice any vedic sacrificed to the gods or manes.”
The eminent sage Gautama did as he was bid by the Brahmins. He spent half a month thus and implored the Brahmins humbly for his expiation. Then the Brahmins said, “ Gautama! Circumambulate the earth three times announcing your sin. When you return, observe the holy Vrata for a month, and then circumambulate this mountain, Brahmagiri, a hundred and one times, and then you wil be expiated. Or you can fetch water from the Ganga and take a bath. Then propitiate Lord Shiva making ten million of these phallic images with clay. Then cirucumambulate this mountain eleven times, and performing the ablution of the earthen phallic image of Shiva with a hundred potfuls of water, the expiatory rite will be completed.” The sage Gautam agreed with them.
After circumambulating the mountain, the eminent sage made earthen phallic images of Shiva and worshipped them. The saintly lady Ahalya accompanied him and did the same, while their disciples rendered service to them.
When all this was performed thus by the sage along with his wife, the highly pleased Shiva accompanied by his Pramatha Ganas appeared before him. Lord Shiva said, “O great sage, I am pleased with your supreme devotion. Ask for the boon you wish.”
Lord Shiva said, “O sage, you are blessed. You are satisfied with accomplishment of your duty. You are already sinless. You have been deceived by these wicked knaves. Indeed, on seeing you, people become sinless. How can you be a sinner? You are always engaged in devotion to me. O sage, indeed, all the wicked people by whom you have been harassed are vicious sinners and murderers. On seeing them, others to will become sinners. They have already become ungrateful. There is no way of atonement for them.” On hearing the words of Shiva. The sage was greatly surprised.
Gautama said, “O Lord Shiva, these Brahmins have greatly obliged me. If they had not done this, how could I have had your darshana? Blessed indeed are those Brahmins who have done this most benedictory action for me. It is their evil action that has paved the way to the accomplishment of my supreme goal. “
On hearing his words, Lord Shiva was greatly pleased. Shiva said, “O Lord, if you are pleased, may river Ganga be given to me for bringing good to the world. Obeisance’s to you.”
Shiva, the lover of his devotees, gave, to Gautama the remaining part of water given by Brahma to him on the occasion of his marriage. Then the water of Ganga manifested herself in the form of the most beautiful lady and stood in front of him. The excellent sage eulogized her and paid his obeisance.
Gautama said, “O Ganga, you are blessed. The whole world has been sanctified by you. Sanctify me too.”
Shiva said, “O goddess, sanctify the sage and stay here till the end of the twenty-eighth Kali Yuga of the Vaivaswat manvantara.
Ganga said, “O Lord Shiva, if my greatness were to surpass that of all other rivers; and if you stay here with your consort and Gangas, only then will I stay on this earth.”
Lord Shiva said, “ganga, I will stay here, as you say.”
Thus on being required by the sage Gautama, both Lord Shiva and Ganga stayed there. There Ganga became known by the name Gutamin (Godavari) and the phallic image of Lord Shiva became known by the name ‘Tryambaka’.
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2 comments:
Dear Rishi
I saw this news on Hindu.com
Could you please push the details to blogspot or ask your friends/anyone somehow to contact Himani Savarkar - so that we can donate some money for legal aid.
like me there are many to like to donate our army officers!
Please help and ask her to publicly notify the readers through paper regarding the bank and account name
Ramesh
Pro-Hindu organisations have decided to start a Legal Aid Firm to support the right wing forces accused in the Malegaon bomb blasts, a leader of Abhinav Bharat and Hindu Mahasabha said in Pune on Friday.
An account has already been opened with a private bank here to offer monetary help to all those Hindus being wrongly hunted for alleged terrorist acts, Himani Savarkar, told PTI.
Asked about reported confessions made by Lt Col Prasad Purohit regarding hatching the Malegaon blast conspiracy, Savarkar said, the Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) personnel were harassing the accused and extracting statements under duress.
Alleging that she was not allowed to present a copy of 'Bhagwad Gita' to Sadhvi Pragya when she was brought to the Nasik court a few days back, she said, "This is terrorism in police uniform."
Savarkar, who left for New Delhi last night, said Hindu outfits would engage best legal talent to defend the wrongly accused community members in the Malegaon case and they would also consult Supreme Court lawyers for the purpose.
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