Long Long Ago

అనగా అనగా..........

Long long ago, there were two friends as well as saints names Bharadwaja Maharishi and Raibhya Maharishi. Both of them used to wake up early in the morning, performing all their duties and keep themselves in Dyanam i.e. chanting God. To lead life, they used to depend on fruits & roots from forest.

After some time they got children. Bharadwaja got a son named Yava Kreethudu. Raibhyaya got two sons named Arya Vasuvu and Paravasuvu. Being busy with his devotionals activities, Bharadwaja neglected his son’s education. But Raibya afforded to make his sons as scholars. In the due course of time, Aryavasuvu and Paravasavu were famous for their knowledge. Their reputation spread all over that surrounding places. By watching all this, Yavakreeth felt jealous about the sons of Raibya. He thought that he might become a scholar instantly.

With this motive he started meditation regarding God “Indra”. God Indra pleased with him so that he tried to convince Yavakreeth and said “Dear Yavakreeth! Education must be learn, through teacher. Without that, you can’t shine with Veda Vedanta knowledge. That’s why stop this meditation and approach appropriate Teacher.”

But Yavakreeth didn’t satisfied. He wanted to become scholar immediately. He continued to meditate God. Indra took another trial to change his mind. This time God Indra came in the form of old Brahmin and stood on the bank of river. When Yavakreeth came to the river ghat for bath, God Indra pretended as pouring handful of sand in the river water continuously.

By watching the continuity, Yavakreeth asked the old Brahmin i.e. God Indra “Dear grandpa! Why are you pouring sand into the river water?”

The old man replied, “I’m trying to contruct a wall against the flow of water.”

With laugh Yavakreeth said “How it is possible to construct a wall against this river flow with handful of sand?”

The old man replied “My dear child, when compare to your trial to get Veda Vedanta Education without Teacher’s guidance & student hood, my trial to construct a wall against this river flow, may not be a foolish thing.”

Immediately Yavakreeth could recognize the God Indra, fallen on his feet and prayed to give him boon of education.

At last, God Indra could convince with his prayer and gave him the boon. God Indra gave a vessel containing sacred water i.e. Kamandalam, which could give him instant education. By using it, Yavakreeth became a scholar. It is just like the certificate of degree, P.G. and other ranks etc. by doing disputes.

After this, Yavakreeth approached Bharadwaja Maharshi, his father and told him everything. Bharadwaja said with his son “My dear son! Achieving education without hard working and student hood of proper time, will lead you to ego. Achieving education with boons will lead you to characterless & ego. Ego will lead you to self destruction. I warn you my child, don’t go to the surroundings of Raibhya’s Ashram. Don’t get rivalry with his sons.”

Yavakreeth paid careless towards his father. He toured surrounding areas exhibited his eticacy. Like this some days over. One day, it was the season of spring. Atmosphere was very pleasant. All the trees were green with fresh leaves. The forest bore with fruits & flowers. The breeze flourished by the sweet smells of flowers.

At that moment Yavakreeth went to the garden of Raibhya’s Ashram. By that time, Raibhya & his sons Aryavasuvu and Paravasuvu were not in the Ashram. The daughter-in-law of Raibhya was there lonely in the Ashram. By watching her beauty, Yavakreeth attempted rape on her and returned home.

When Raibhya came to Ashram, his daughter-in-law explained him about the event with sorrow. Raibhya Maharishi got anger with this; he created a beautiful woman & a giant by performing a Yagnam and ordered them to kill Yavakreeth.

The beautiful woman approached Yavakreeth and tempted him with her beauty and stolen his vessel countaining sacred water i.e. Kamandalam. By the way he lost all his eticacy, memory of mantras and power Yavakreeth was easily killed by the giant, exactly at that door of Bharadwaja’s Ashram.

By watching the death of his son, Bharadwaja Maharishi cried like anything and said “My child. I told you that the achieving education without effort will lead you self destruction. You didn’t pay attention towards it.”

With that great sorrow of son’s death, Bharadwaja cursed Raibhya, fell in fire and died. Because of Bharadwaja curse Raibhya lost life.

Then Aryavasuvu returned Ashram. By knowing all this, he devoted God Surya and got a boon to give life to his father Raibya, Bharadwaja & Yavakreeth. After getting life, Yavakreeth asked God “I also done meditation like this Raibhya & Aryavasuvu. Then how they became great than me.”

God said “Child! They learnt education by spending proper years of time in servicing Guru i.e. teacher and student hood. By the way they could learnt to control their emotions and desires i.e. arishadwargas. They learnt to overcome ego. Without all such effort, you got education. But you couldn’t get strength. Always education must be learn through serving to the teacher and by the student hood.

That’s the entire story.

Note: To read the application of this story to our life, click here: Mother’s Lap