Guardians of Fire (Part II)

 

Guardians of Fire (Part II)

This is an excerpt from my book “Four Eras of The Battling Gods.” Sanskrit text has been removed as it is not readable on this page. The book can be obtained from Amazon. The is also available at Kitab Ghar, Gaiety, Shimla. The Amazon link is given below:

https://www.amazon.in/dp/9390758173?ref=myi_title_dp

 

Kings and Rishis who Lived through most of the Four Eras

 

All Puranas narrate the story of all the Four Eras in one breath, without ever drawing any decisive dividing line between them. Most of the gods, rishis, munis, kings and sages all lived throughout Four Eras, till the end of Kali Yug, after Mahaprayan of Shri Krishan, and even till Kalki avtar has taken place, and next Krit Yug is established.

When Vishwamitra agreed to perform Yagya for Trishanku, which would lead the king to heaven with body, many eminent rishis were present in different capacity.  Vishwamitra himself recited Yajur Ved and acted as Adhvaryu, while Shandilya acted as Hota for the recitation of Rig Ved, Gautam was Brahma, Yagyavalkay was Udgata and read Sam Ved. Others present were Jaimini, Shankukarn, Galav, Pulastay, Garg, Chayvan and the great Bhrigu and acted as Agnidhra.[1]

Many of the eminent rishis attended the crowning ceremony of Shri Ram after his return from exile. Amongst them were present Kaushik, Yavkrit, Gargya, Galav, Kanav, Atri, Namuchi, Pramuchi, Agastya, Sumukh, Vimukh, Dhamya, Kaushay, Kashyap,  Gautam, Jamdagni, Bhardwaj, Vasisth and Vishwamitra, with their numerous disciples.[2]

Following rishis were assembled at Daksh Yagya: Agastay, Kashyap, Vamdev, Bhrigu, Dadhichi, Vyas, Bhardwaj, Gautam, Indra, Indrani, Kuber, Kanav, Ashwani Kumar, Narad, Vasisth and Brihaspati.[3]

In Shiv Puran there is a list of rishis and munis who were present at the occasion of the marriage of Shiv and Parvati. It includes Kashyap, Atri, Vasisth, Gautam, Bhaguri, Guru, Kanav, Brihaspati, Shakti, Jamdagni, Prashar, Markandey, Shilapak, Arunpal, Akritshrm, Agastay, Chayvan, Garg, Shilad, Dadhichi, Upmanyu, Bhardwaj, Akritvrn, Piplad, Kushik, Kautas and Vyas with his disciples.[4]

In Brahmvaivart Puran Radha mentioned about many royalties, rishi and muni who were present at the time of Upnayan Sanskar of Shri Krishan and Balram performed by Garg. This tenth Sanskar is also known as Ygyopveet Sanskar that is normaly held at the age of eleven years in case of Kshatriya.  Royalties present were Bhishm, Dronacharya, Karn, Ashwatthama, Kripacharya, Kunti, and Dhritrashtra with his wives and sons. Among rishi and muni were Atri, Vasisth, Chayvan, Bhardwaj, Yagyavalkay, Bhim, Gargay, Vats, Dharm, Jaigishavy, Prashar, Pulah, Pulastay, Agastay, Saubhari, Sanak, Sanandan, Sanatan, Sanat, Vodhu, Panchshikh, Durvasa, Angira, Vyas, Shukdev, Kushik, Kaushik, Parshuram, Rishyashring, Vibhandak, Shringi, Vamdev, Gautam, Kratu, Yati, Aruni, Shukracharya, Brihaspati, Asthavakra, Vaaman, Paaribhadra, Valmiki, Pail, Vaishampayan, Pracheta, Purujit, Bhrigu, Marichi, Kashyap with Aditi and Diti, Sumantu, Katyayan, Markandey, Lomash, Kapil, Prashar, Panini, Samvart, Uthay, Vishwamitra, Shatanand, Jabali, Sandipani, Upmanyu and Maitray and many more.[5] They also came to see grandeur of newly built Dwarka.[6]

Sighting that a terrible war is imminent with drastic consequences, many eminent rishis of the time did their best to stop the war in the interest of welfare of this world. They gathered and tried to persuade Dronacharya to drop the weapons and do something to avert the war. They were Vishwamitra, Jamdagni, Bhardwaj, Gautam, Vasisth, Kashyap, Atri, Garg, Bhrigu, Angira and many more.[7]

List of those rishis, munis and others who visited Bhishm while he was lying on his deathbed of arrows included Vyas, Narad, Devsthan, Vatsya, Ashmak, Sumantu, Jamini, Pail, Shandilya, Deval, Maitray, Asit, Vasisth, Kaushik Vishwamitra, Harit, Lomash, Dattatrey, Brihaspati, Shukra, Chayvan, Sanatkumars, Kapil, Valmiki, Tumburu, Kuru, Maudgalya, Parshuram, Trinbindu, Piplad, Vayu, Samvart, Pulah, Kach, Kashyap, Pulastay, Kratu, Daksh, Prashar, Marichi, Angira, Kashay, Gautam, Galav, Dhaumya, Vibhand, Mandavay, Dhrom, Krishnanubhuti, Ulook, Markandey, Bhaskari, Puran, Krishan and Soot.[8] Brihaspati breathed his last during his spiritual discourse to Yudhishthir while Bhishm was on his deathbed of arrows.

Following eminent rishis and kings were present in the assembly of Yudhishthir, which was constructed by Maiy, the architect of Asuras: Asit, Deval, Maitrey, Bali, Vedvyas, Shukdev, Sumantu, Jaimini, Paile, Yagyavalkaya, Lomharshan, Dhaumaya, Kaushik, Markandey, Galav, Bhrigu, Gautaum, Shandilya and scores of others.[9]

Once while Markandey Muni was contemplating by the side of Narmada River answering the enquiry put by Yudhishthir about the benefits that one may receive by visiting Narmada tirth, many eminent rishis were also present. The assemblage included Pulastay, Vasisth, Pulah, Kratu, Bhrigu, Atri, Marichi, Bhardwaj, Kashyap, Vaivasvat Manu, Yam, Angira, Shatatap, Prashar, Apstamb, Shukracharya, Katyayan, Gautam, Shankh, Likhit, Daksh, Jamdagni, Yagyavalkay, Rishyashring, Vibhandak, Garg, Shaunak, Dalabhya, Vyas, Uddalak, Shuk, Narad, Durvasa, Galav, Jabali, Mudgil, Vishwamitra, Shatanand, Dharm, Vaishampayan and Balkhilyadi and others.[10] 

Vishwamitra, Asit, Kanav, Narad, Kashyap, Durvasa, Bhrigu, Angira, Vaamdev, Atri, Vasisth and other sages were instrumental in bringing about the destruction of Yaduvansh. Some Yadav boys, with Saamb as their head, playfully ridiculed and made fun of these rishis while they were staying at Pindarak tirth near Dwarka. They cursed the Yadavas, in consequence of which Saamb gave birth to an iron pestle, which caused the extermination of the Yadavas.[11]

After Mahaprayan of Shri Krishan following rishis went to Prahlad and his father Bali for consultations on the adverse impact of Kali and its solution: Garg, Chayvan, Galav, Asit, Deval, Dhaumya and Uddalak.[12] All of these were present in Krit Yug also.

In addition to Kautas the other prominent Ritvijs who were present at the Sarpa-satra (sacrificial fire to kill serpents) of Janamejay were Jaimini, Sarangarav, Pingal, Vyas, Uddalak, Pramatak, Shwetketu, Asit, Deval, Narad, Parvat, Atrey, Kund, Jathar, Kaalghat, Vatsay, Jap, Shrutshrava, Kohal, Devsharma, Mudgalya and Samsaurabh.[13]

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[1] Skand Puran, Gita Press, Gorakhpur, Nagar Khand (Purvardh), Adhyay 357.

[2] Valmiki Ramayan, Uttar Kand, Sarg 1, Shlok 1-7.

[3] Skand Puran, Gita Press, Gorakhpur, Maheshwar Khand: Kedar Khand, Adhyay 1-2.

[4] Shiv Puran, Rudra Sanhita, Parvati Khand, Adhyay 39, Shlok 52-54.

[5] Brahmvaivart Puran, Shri Krishan Janam Khand, Adhyay 99.

[6] Brahmvaivart Puran, Shri Krishan Janam Khand, Adhyay 104.

[7] Mahabharat, Dron Parv, Adhyay 190, Shlok 33-36.

[8] Mahabharat, Shanti Parv, Adhyay 47, Shlok 4-13.

[9] Mahabharat, Sabha Parv, Adhyay 4, Shlok 10-18.

[10] Skand Puran, Gita Press, Gorakhpur, Avantay Khand: Rewa Khand, Adhyay 307.

[11] Vishnu Puran, Ansh 5, Adhyay 37, Shlok 6-10.

Bhagvat Puran, Skandh 11, Adhyay 1, Shlok 11-12.

[12] Skand Puran, Gita Press, Gorakhpur, Prabhas Khand: Dwarka Mahatamya, Adhyay 496.

[13] Mahabharat, Adi Parv, Adhyay 53, Shlok 6-10.