Today something that entices me today is story of Shishupal. He was born to King Damaghosha and later becomes King of Chedi kingdom. He was born with two additional arms and one additional eye. Mothers along with wet- nurses were sacred of the neonate, that's when there is a divine announcement that he will be a great warrior. Out of curiosity hi smother asks how will he die and the announcement says that he will be killed by the one who is able to shed his additional arms and eye.
Shishupal is Krishna's cousin and when in childhood they meet and Krishna lovingly takes him on his lap, the infant sheds the additional arms and eye. Shishupal mother is distraught and seeks Krishna's blessing that he will forgive his 100 crimes worth killing and only when he exceeds this he will be killed. Much later Shishupal is killed during the Rajsu Yagya at Indraprastha when he continuously insults Krishna and others. Krishna lets free the chakra and cuts his throat.
Later when I started digging in found out that at the beginning of the process of creation, Lord Brahma created the ‘Four Kumaras’ or the ‘Chatursen’. As the Four Kumaras were born from the mind by just a desire (manas) of Brahma they are referred to as his Manasaputras. Their names are : Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana and Sanat Kumara.
When the four Kumaras came into existence, they were all embodiments of pure qualities. They did not have any sign of negative qualities like proud, anger, attachment, lust, material desires (Kaam, Krodh, Lobh, Moh, Ahankaar etc). Now Lord Brahma had created these four Kumaras so that they could help in the process of creation. However, the Kumaras refused his order to procreate and instead devoted themselves to God and celibacy (brahmacharya). They requested their father for the boon of remaining perpetually five years old.
Due to the boon from their father Brahma and the strength of their tapa, the Four Kumaras looked like 5 year old. Jaya and Vijaya, the gate keepers of the Vaikuntha stopped the Kumaras at the gate, thinking them to be children. They told the Kumaras that Shri Vishnu is resting and that they cannot see them now. Sanat Kumars replied Lord love His devotees and are always available to for His devotees. You are no one to stop us from seeing our dear Lord. But Jay Vijay didn't understood their point and kept on arguing for long time. Though Sanat Kumars are very pure and have no trigunas of Maya in them (Sato, Rajo, Tamo) but by the plan of Lord to teach His gate keepers a lesson, He circulated anger in pure hearts of Sanat Kumars. The enraged Kumaras cursed both the Dwara Palas, the gate keepers Jaya and Vijaya, that they would have to give up their divinity and born as mortals on Earth and live there. Later to their respite they said that they will be killed thrice by the reincarnation of Vishnu and will resume their position as gate keepers.
Now these two Jaya and Vijaya were killed thrice as - Hiranyakashipu & Hiranaksh; Ravan and Kumbhkaran and Kansh and Shishupal.
While this story has no direct relevance to Mahabharat itself, its a part of Krishna lela and important fact to know.
Shishupal is Krishna's cousin and when in childhood they meet and Krishna lovingly takes him on his lap, the infant sheds the additional arms and eye. Shishupal mother is distraught and seeks Krishna's blessing that he will forgive his 100 crimes worth killing and only when he exceeds this he will be killed. Much later Shishupal is killed during the Rajsu Yagya at Indraprastha when he continuously insults Krishna and others. Krishna lets free the chakra and cuts his throat.
Later when I started digging in found out that at the beginning of the process of creation, Lord Brahma created the ‘Four Kumaras’ or the ‘Chatursen’. As the Four Kumaras were born from the mind by just a desire (manas) of Brahma they are referred to as his Manasaputras. Their names are : Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana and Sanat Kumara.
When the four Kumaras came into existence, they were all embodiments of pure qualities. They did not have any sign of negative qualities like proud, anger, attachment, lust, material desires (Kaam, Krodh, Lobh, Moh, Ahankaar etc). Now Lord Brahma had created these four Kumaras so that they could help in the process of creation. However, the Kumaras refused his order to procreate and instead devoted themselves to God and celibacy (brahmacharya). They requested their father for the boon of remaining perpetually five years old.
Due to the boon from their father Brahma and the strength of their tapa, the Four Kumaras looked like 5 year old. Jaya and Vijaya, the gate keepers of the Vaikuntha stopped the Kumaras at the gate, thinking them to be children. They told the Kumaras that Shri Vishnu is resting and that they cannot see them now. Sanat Kumars replied Lord love His devotees and are always available to for His devotees. You are no one to stop us from seeing our dear Lord. But Jay Vijay didn't understood their point and kept on arguing for long time. Though Sanat Kumars are very pure and have no trigunas of Maya in them (Sato, Rajo, Tamo) but by the plan of Lord to teach His gate keepers a lesson, He circulated anger in pure hearts of Sanat Kumars. The enraged Kumaras cursed both the Dwara Palas, the gate keepers Jaya and Vijaya, that they would have to give up their divinity and born as mortals on Earth and live there. Later to their respite they said that they will be killed thrice by the reincarnation of Vishnu and will resume their position as gate keepers.
Now these two Jaya and Vijaya were killed thrice as - Hiranyakashipu & Hiranaksh; Ravan and Kumbhkaran and Kansh and Shishupal.
While this story has no direct relevance to Mahabharat itself, its a part of Krishna lela and important fact to know.
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