RamarpaNam-103

File 103

Dated: August 22nd, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram.

Vishvamitra’s compassion to the Boy, saves him.

Hanumaan Safe guarded Rama from Raakshasa by defeating them all. We find Him in all Rama temples either along with Him or in a separate Sannidhi to symbolize the same. We too have a purpose visiting Him for health, wealth or knowledge.  

Hanumaan is devoid of lust or anger. That which was easily achieved by Him was the impediment for Vishvamitra in His penance to attain Brahmin-hood. The lesson we learn from His story is that lust and anger unless muted nothing high could be achieved in life.

The best way to achieve that is to faithfully chant the Rama Nama that which is equivalent to the Sanjeevini herb held by Hanumaan in His hands.

Next in the story of Shunashepa, Vishvamitra after burdening his sons by curse, spoke to Shunashepa thus:

pavitra paashair baddho rakta maalya anulepanaH |
vaiSNavam yuupam aasaadya vaagbhiH agnim udaahara

Vishvamitra taught two Vedic hymns to the boy, as invocations to rain God Indra and Upendra, one of the incarnations of VishNu as Vamana, with instructions to continue chanting heart to heart, when the ritual was conducted.

Then Vishvamitra put forth a condition that whoever was concerned with the welfare of Shunashepa will only have the right to sacrifice him in the Yajna. His father having bartered him had lost the right. His mother having disowned him for the sake of her youngest son also lost the right. The King who bought him with least concern for the safety of the boy by default again lost the right to give him in sacrifice.

Then Vishvamitra argued that since He took steps to safe guard the boy, He only has the right to leave him for sacrifice and that He would never do so.

In the meantime

tataH priitaH sahasra akSo rahasya stuti toSitaH |
diirgham aayuH tadaa praadaat shunaHshepaaya

The thousand eyed Lord Indra, pleased very much of the boy’s prayers, granted the boon of long life to him as well as helped King Ambareesha complete his Yajna by granting the sacrificial horse needed for the purpose.

This goes to prove that the Gods are bound by the Mantra chanted in their name, especially when it is done with requisite shradha, bhakti, and aachara anushtaanam. ‘’Mantram ethnena gopayeth’’ is the secret behind its validity.