Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – Tripura Rahasya Day 4 – January 7, 2022 – Mysore
Compiled by Parimala Eshwarla
Chapter 3
The primordial Lord Dattatreya, who is the cause of all causes, who is the supreme ruler, who is the creator of everything and who exists as all the forms is eternally victorious.
Mahamuni Dattatreya who has incarnated completely with Vishnu’s aspect, who is the best among the Yogis, who loves his devotees as his own children, whose actions and traditions are secretive and who eternally wanders in the world is eternally victorious.
(It is not easy to understand Datta’s ways and traditions. After all He is an Avadhoota).
Parashurama, who is born from the fire called Jamadagni, who is like the great fire to the firewood called Kshatriyas, who destroys the darkness called ignorance from the hearts of the devotees, is eternally prosperous.
In this way, Sumedha prayed to his Gurus. Thereafter, as per Lord Brahma’s instructions, Hāritāyana, who was seated on the banks of the Padmasarovara pond, in 36 days composed the Itihasa Tripura Rahasya which comprises the Mahatmya, Jnana and Charyā khandas, which is filled with infinite devotion and detachment, and which is filled with many astonishing wonderous stories. (Charyā khanda is also known as Kriya khanda).
Those who read Tripura Rahasya are freed from all sins. Those who listen to it are freed from all difficulties. Those who ponder over it are blessed with Self-knowledge. This treatise leads to liberation. Those who worship this treatise with devotion obtain unflinching devotion to Mother Tripura.
Even mere sight of this treatise or the mere remembrance of the name Tripura Rahasya showers auspiciousness. When written nicely and distributed to others, it blesses the person with knowledge. It fulfils the desires of those who worship it.
There is nothing that cannot be obtained in places where Śritripura devi’s stories and glories are extolled, sung or heard. All desires stand fulfilled with Tripura Rahasya. As this is overflowing with devotion, knowledge and detachment, Narada and other supreme Yogis listen to it. Like the wish-fulfilling Chintamani gem, this treatise fulfils the desires of all the devotees’-
As Sumedha was writing this, the celestial Maharishi Narada arrived there melodiously playing his veena. Noticing his arrival, Sumedha instantly stood up and with a delightful smile welcomed him reverentially, seated him appropriately, and worshipped him with the proper offering of water and other worshipful materials.
Thereafter he joined his palms and said, “O Devarishi! With your blessings, I have understood everything just as the transcendental eye (jnana netra) is opened by the application of the special kajal. As instructed by Lord Brahma, I have completely composed the Tripura Rahasya. Now please instruct me how I should serve you. Consider me as your disciple.
Now all the Shastras, meters (chandas), all the worlds, directions, times, those with senses and those without senses are illumining like the glittering gem in my palm.
O Mahatma! Narada! I bow to you. With your blessings I have obtained not only the knowledge of the worldly objects but also of the subject matter of the sacred treatises”- saying this, Sumedha fell at Narada’s feet and prostrated.
Narada lifted him up and lovingly embraced him. Seating him in the appropriate seat, he said,
“O Hāritāyana! Due to serving Mother’s feet, you have obtained limitless treasure called knowledge. There is none who is at par with you in the world. You are truly fortunate. Hence you could compose the auspicious Tripura Rahasya.
Desirous of hearing Tripura Rahasya and as desired by Lord Brahma I have arrived here. I have faith. Hence please narrate Tripura Rahasya to me in detail”.
(We must observe the humility shown by Narada and the tradition being adhered to by him. Despite being a celestial sage, he is explicitly mentioning that he has faith and is beseeching Sumedha to narrate Tripura Rahasya to him).
(It is your merit from your past birth that has enabled you to listen to Tripura Rahasya from me directly. You have presently fallen in the trap of illusion and hence are not aware of the limitless merit that you all have earned in your past births that has blessed you with this opportunity).
When Narada thus requested, Sumedha could not contain his joy. His eyes turned wide and were brimming with tears of joy. He remembered Tripura devi due to which his body horripilated. His mind was overflowing with happiness.
He joined his palms and in a melodious voice said to Maharishi Narada,
“Namaste Brahma putrāya nāradāya mahātmanē – O Son of Brahma! Salutations to you. It is nothing but your grace that I could compose Tripura Rahasya into a text. You are all-knowing. Yet, like a disciple you seek to hear from me.
This is the natural tendency of all Mahatmas. Despite being perfect in all branches of knowledge, without a trace of jealousy, Mahatmas listen to even the trivial subjects from those who know very little. If so, is there anything surprising in saying that they will listen to the nectareous story of Tripura devi?
Grapes remain the same whether they are stored in a mud pot or a gem-studded pot. Their natural sweetness will not change based on the pot in which they are stored.
O Narada! Placing your order on my head and recollecting the command given by Lord Brahma, in the form of a conversation between us, I shall narrate the Tripura Rahasya that is filled with uniqueness. Listen with total concentration.
There lived a son of Brahma called Bhrigu who was a supreme ascetic and who was renowned among all the Rishis. This Maharishi had a son called Chyavana who was at par with Brahma. Pleased with his goodness, Sukanya’s father gave her in marriage to him. Chyavana conquered Indra and ensured that the Ashwini devatas get a share in the Soma-rasa juice during the Yagnas.
Maharishi Chyavana’s son was Rucīka. Desirous of obtaining a son, King Gādhi offered his daughter in marriage to Rucīka. Rucīka’s wife won her husband’s heart due to the services she offered to him. Pleased with her, he asked her to choose a boon.
She sought a brother who was filled with Kshatriya qualities and a son who would be the best among the Brahmins.
Rucīka prepared two bowls of sweet payasa (sweet pudding) one of which was filled with his heroic strength (kshatriya) and the other which was filled with his Brahminical strength. During the Pumsavana ritual, he made the offerings into the holy fire and then offered one bowl to his wife and another to his mother-in-law.
(Pumsavana is the most important among the 16 samskaras. By performing this ritual, one begets good progeny say the Vedas).
King Gādhi’s wife, due to her crooked thinking, wrongly believed that the pāyasa obtained by her daughter was far more powerful than that given to her. Hence, deceiving her daughter, she ate the pāyasa meant for her daughter.
Realizing that his wife had been cheated, Rucīka said to her, “O auspicious one! That which should not have happened has happened. Your mother has deceived you. She has eaten the pāyasa kept for you. You have consumed the pāyasa that was not meant for you. Now you will give birth to a Kshatriya boy who will be at par with Yama in might. Your brother will be the best among the Brahmins. Now the Lord is the only refuge”- saying this he remained silent.
Hearing this, Gādhi’s daughter was distressed. She bowed to her husband and prayed to him in different ways. She said, “You have conquered desires and anger and are at peace. I am your wife. O best among the Rishis! Please forgive my mistake. Shower your grace upon me. May I not beget the type of son as you have said. Please be merciful”.
Hearing her pleas, Rucīka said, “O auspicious one! Listen to me attentively. It was not an ordinary pāyasa that I had given. It had been sanctified due to chanting of auspicious mantras. Hence it can never give results you seek.
As it is empowered by the mantras, it can never be futile. Yet, hear what I say. Your son will be an embodiment of peace. However, your grandson will be filled with warrior qualities. He will be a partial incarnation of Vishnu. Being supremely valourous he will destroy all the arrogant Kshatriyas. Despite being a Brahmin, he will have the valour of a Kshatriya”.
Hearing these words from her husband’s lips, she was perturbed. At the right time she gave birth to Jamadagni, who was an embodiment of peace. He attained Supreme Knowledge, was filled with all auspicious disciplines and qualities. In course of time, Jamadagni, through wife Renuka, obtained the valourous Parashurama as his son.
Parashurama was like the Sun to the snow called the Kshatriyas. Angered that his father had been killed, he resolved to wipe out all the Kshatriyas and hence performed rigorous austerities to please Lord Shiva.
Pleased with him, Lord Shiva gifted him with a divine axe and a bow. Parashurama vowed to travel around the globe 21 times and to free the earth from all the Kshatriyas.
Parashurama who was furious at the death of his father, like Yama destroyed the entire race of Kshatriyas from the earth. Thereafter he handed over the entire earth that had been won by him to Kashyapa. Thereafter with his radiance, he conquered the earth that lay to the other side of the western ocean. Heeding the prayers of the Rishis, he stopped killing the Kshatriyas.
Parashurama who was inherently prone to intense anger, now began severe penance. In the fire called peace, he offered that anger and undertook severe austerities. (Here the path to conquering anger has been told. Anger should be conquered by peace).
With his penance, Parashurama conquered many meritorious worlds. After the long passage of time, for the destruction of Ravana, the Supreme Lord incarnated as the extremely valourous and truthful Srirama.
In King Janaka’s court, Srirama lifted Shiva’s bow that was kept as a wager, strung it and married Sita. When he bent the mighty bow to string it, making an earth-shattering noise it broke into two.
The astonishing news of the breaking of the bow travelled rapidly all across the world. Parashurama heard the Devatas, Gandharvas, Cāranas extolling Srirama who had broken the bow.
He boiled with anger knowing that the Kshatriya valour that he had subdued was now rising again. He could not withstand Srirama’s fame. Like the water that has boiled and risen upwards due to intense heat, his eyes reddened with anger. It appeared as if he would burn down the worlds with the fire known as the redness of his eyes.
He thought, ‘Aha! These Devatas are extolling the deeds of an ordinary warrior. Let it be. I shall now subdue the pride of that lowly Kshatriya’.
Having concluded thus, he wore the axe on his shoulder. Holding Vishnu’s bow in his left hand, he set out from his ashram. Seeing him who was moving ahead quickly in unabated fury, the celestial sages feared that again he would render the earth bereft of all Kshatriyas.
The earth trembled on seeing Parashurama, who was maddened with anger. The Sun lost its radiance. The space was filled with dust. Just as in the annihilation period, the oceans broke the shores.
Parashurama who had thus set out from his ashram met Raghava Rama who, after his marriage, was returning along with his army.
Seeing Rama, Parashurama roared, “O lowly Kshatriya! Conceited with your valour you had lost your reasoning capacity. Having performed a prohibited deed, you are considering yourself to be mighty and valourous. Do you not know that I, who am death to the entire warrior community, am still living? Without realizing the existence of Parashurama, filled with conceit you have committed a mistake. This axe, which has destroyed all the Kshatriyas, still retains its sharpness.
Hence you will now experience the punishment for your mistake. After a long time today, my axe, will drink the warm blood and break its fast. (Due to not killing any warrior for long, it was fasting. Now by drinking the blood it will break the fast).
Just as a disease should never be neglected, the wicked should never be pardoned. Forgiving the wicked or neglecting them is like feeding milk to a snake.
Fire burns the foot that has stamped it. No calm person will ever withstand the insult to his Guru. More importantly, how can a valourous one like me ever withstand it?
Even when I am alive, my Guru Shiva’s bow has been broken by this impudent Kshatriya boy. Aha! Time has turned topsy turvy. Remaining calm in such a situation is totally inapt. This impudence needs apt punishment”.
Even as Parashurama was roaring angrily, the lotus-eyed son of Dasharatha bowed to his feet and offered reverential worship. With total calmness, Rama cupped his palms and begged forgiveness. Yet, Parashurama did not forgive him.
He instead abused him even more. With this, Raghurama’s eyes reddened with anger. He said, “O Parashurama! As you are a Brahmin, it befits me to be calmly disposed towards you. This is because the weapons of the warriors of the Raghu clan have turned blunt when it comes to Brahmins.
Here is my neck. With your axe sever my head as you please. To us, the Raghus, Brahmins and cows are highly venerable. There is no second thought about this”.
When Rama uttered these words, Parashurama blazed like the sacrificial fire. He was further incensed. Addressing Rama who belonged to the Raghu lineage, he said, “O worst among the Kshatriyas! As you are wicked, you presume me to be an ordinary Brahmin. It appears that you are unaware that I am the personification of death to the Kshatriyas”.
Rama replied, “I am aware that you are Renuka’s son. Do you think that I am like the kings, who despised the Brahmins and who were killed by you? Do you consider me, who am standing before you, to be at par with your mother?
(Here Rama is taunting Parashurama, ‘O Parashurama! With your axe, you had severed your mother’s head. But it is impossible to sever my neck’. Whatever could be the reason for severing her head, Rama taunted Parashurama as ‘one who had killed the mother’. He further taunted that he was aware of Parashurama’s story in totality).
It is wrong for you, a Brahmin, to hold on to the Kshatriya duties. Either discard your Brahmanism or discard your warriorship. Henceforth you will be unable to hold on to both simultaneously”.
These words further infuriated Parashurama. “O Rama! Fie on you”- saying this, he quickly placed his Vaishnava bow in Rama’s hands and then in fury said,
“What is the use of uttering nonsensical words? It was your good luck that you could break Shiva’s bow. Now try to string this Vishnu’s bow that I have given you and then stand boldly before me. Then, in the duel with me, I shall reduce your pride to dust”.
Rama who heard this quickly and effortlessly strung the Vaishnava bow. Taking a sharp arrow from his quiver, he positioned it on the bow, pulled the string up to his ear and thus demonstrated his valour.
Angrily looking at Parashurama, he said, “O Bhargava Rama! Think properly and tell me on whom I should release this arrow. As you are a Brahmin, I will not release this arrow on you. Further, you are my Guru Vishwamitra’s relative. Hence to me, you are at par with a Guru.
Quickly show me the target on which I can release this arrow. My arrow is infallible and will undoubtedly hit the target. Do as I say and return alive”.
Seeing Rama’s extraordinary valour, Parashurama thought, ‘He is not an ordinary mortal. He is the indestructible Supreme Lord’. He then prostrated to Rama and said,
“Jānāmi tvām Parātmānam puruṣam prakṛtēḥ param │
Jagad rakshā vidhānārtham jātō naṭana rōpamaḥ ‖
O Srirama! I have understood that You are the Supreme Lord. You are the Purusha that is beyond the Prakriti. For the protection of the world, like an actor you have donned a human body. All this is your drama.
Just as an actor dons costumes you have taken on a human body. With extensive penance, I have acquired many meritorious worlds. I offer all those worlds to your arrow and will remain alive”.
Srirama said, “so be it” and released his sharp arrow. He then said to Parashurama, “O Bhargava Rama! Salutations to you. Please forgive the words uttered by me in anger. At all times, to me Brahmins are worshipful”.
When Rama thus spoke, Parashurama felt ashamed. (He was ashamed that even after relentless penance he had not conquered anger). He circumambulated Srirama and returned on the path in which he had arrived.
Srimātre namah