Jai Sriman Narayana !!
The great epic Mahabharath was composed by
Maharishi Veda Vyasa/Krishna Dwaipayana, son of Sage Parasara and Sathyavati, a
woman from fishermen clan. Mahabharath describes the legend of Bharatha
Dynasty. It was written in 18 Parva such as Adhi Parva,
Sabha Parva, Vana Parva, Virada Parva, Udhyoga Parva, Bhishma Parva, Drona
Parva, Karna Parva, Shalya Parva, Soupthika Parva, Stri Parva, Shanthi Parva,
Anushasana Parva, Ashwamedha Parva, Ashramavasika Parva, Musala Parva,
Mahaprasthanika Parva and Swargarohana Parva and each Parva has divided into
many Upaparva and has chapters in detail. Adhi Parva depicts
the life of King Dushyantha and his wife Shakunthala and their son Sarvadhamanan,
who was famously known as Bharatha, a righteous ruler of Bharatha Empior.
Lord Brahma created deities, Sages and
Prajapathis. It was the beginning of the growth of human race from the
sixty daughters of Daksha Prajapathi. Pururavass, Yayathi,
Puru, Dushyantha, Bharatha, Shanthanu were born in the family of
Dithi, one of the daughters of Daksha Prajapathi.
King Janamejaya, son of King Pareekshit conducted
a grand Yagna to please serpent Gods. There were a huge number of Rishis
& Sages were present in the magnificent Yagna, Maharishi Veda Vyasa along
with his disciple Rishi Vaishampayana and Sage Ugrasrava Sauti was also amongst
them. Rishi Vaishampayana narrated the stories of Kuru Dynasty to
King Janamejaya at the time of Naga Yagna. Later, this anecdote was
described to the Sages and Rishis assembled in Naimisharanya by Sage Sauti, son
of Sage Romaharshana/Lomaharshana, disciple of Maharishi Veda Vyasa.
Pandu praised the knowledge of Kunthi, King
Vyushithasva was equivalent to deities, and he has attained highly commendable
virtues with his righteous deeds when he was alive. Pandu described the
egoless liberated life style of women broadly accepted in olden days; they were
not dependent to their husband or relatives. There were no prescribed
rules for the married women to follow the vows of a married life
and it was not treated as anomalous either and they were lived like
the life of birds and animals, it was not regarded as sinful at all.
There was no hard and fast rules imposed upon women in those days to follow
their husband. Pandu narrated the reason for brining restrictions in the
life of a married woman and who brought them into practices.
Sage Uddhalaka and his chaste wife had a virtuous
son Swethakethu who brought restrictions in the life of married women to
protect them from the peril. Swethakethu witnessed the pathetic state of
his mother, she was seized by an unmarried old Brahmin against her will;
Swethakethu was enraged to see the superciliousness of the Brahmin and
vulnerability of his mother. Sage Uddhalaka saw Swethakethu fuming with
anger, advised him not to get annoyed by the action of the Brahmin, it was
prevalent in those days that the married women were free to have physical
relationship with any men, it was not compulsory to follow their own family or
husband and vice versa men were free to have any woman at their own will,
due to this women and men had to face extreme guilt and turned out to be
sinners. Swethakethu disapproved the existing norms of life and
established a new custom to protect people from defiance. Pandu set
appropriate examples before Kunthi, Madayanthi wife of Saudasa was instructed
to have children from Sage Vashishta, she sincerely followed the words of her
husband and attained child Asmaka from Sage Vashishta, in the same way
Kuru Dynasty obtained children from Maharishi Veda Vyasa. Pandu
explained the freedom as well as responsibilities of a married woman prescribed
in the scriptures, she should be at the service of her husband after the
menstruation period. Pandu sorrowfully stated that as he was incapable to
have progeny, Kunthi should follow his command. Pandu raised both the
hands above his head and prayed to Kunthi to have a child from a Brahmin of
high virtues that would provide liberation to him.
Kunthi narrated an incident happened while she
was in her maiden days in Kunthiboj. She was serving the Sages and holy
men visited the palace. Once, Sage Durvassa visited the palace of
Kunthibhoj was relentlessly served by Kunthi, Sage Durvassa was pleased at the
dedication and devotion of Kunthi and provided her with a boon to invoke any
deities with the sacred hymns, they would be responsible to provide child
to her. Kunthi affirmed that the boon provided by Sage Durvass will never
go astray; it is the accurate time to have the fruit and experience the
bliss. Pandu was in a state ecstasy advised Kunthi to invoke Lord
Dharmarajan, one who protects righteousness in the Universe would provide a
progeny to protect Kuru Dynasty. Kunthi dutifully followed the words of
her husband and circumambulated him and immersed in prayers.
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
