Hari OM All,
This week we started our class with prayers. We then reviewed the HW on Temples of India. Sanmayi did a great presentation on the SiddhiVinayak Temple, Mumbai. In the next class we will review the HW from other students also.
This was followed by a continuation of Mahabharata:
In Hastinapura, Duryodhana kept hearing of all the tales of the Pandavās and their heroic acts. He wished to see them embarrassed, and hatched a plan to visit a Goshala for the annual census near Kāmyaka. While nearing Kāmyaka, Duryodhana wished to relax by the lake with Rādheya and Dusshāsana, but it was occupied by a Gandharva who refused to leave. Angered by this, Duryodhana started attacking the Gandharva who managed to capture Duryodhana with the help of the Gandharva King Chitrasena. An attendant quickly went to Kāmyaka and sought Yudhisthira's help. Despite the enmity, Yudhisthira helped free Duryodhana. This compassion on Yudhisthira's part made Duryodhana feel pitiful and depressed. He did some tapas and then Karna to cheer his friend and give more confidence decided to go for digvijaya campaign with a huge army to win all of India. Karna wanted to do something which four Pandavas did together by himself. He started by subjugating King Drupada and then all the kingdoms.
- To commemorate Karna digvijaya, Duryodhana decided to perform the Rājasuya yagna but was told it cannot be performed as King Dhritarāshtra his elder is still alive so he performs Vaishnava yagna comparable in merit . When Duryodhana sent his invitation to the Pandavās, they politely refused stating that they weren't allowed to re-enter Hastinapura before the exiled period was done.
- As they neared the end of the 12th year, the Pandavās, one day, set off hunting, leaving Draupadi behind. Jayadratha was out in the forest when he saw Draupadi and fell in love. Despite her pleas, he tried kidnapping her. Yudhisthira, sensing danger, returned with his brothers. Upon seeing their wife in danger, they rushed to rescue her and humiliated Jayadratha by disfiguring him. In humiliation Jayadratha does tapasya to please Lord Shiva and gets a boon to defeat Pandava brothers other than Arjun for a day.
- Once, as they lost track of their surroundings while chasing deer, they fell exhausted, thirsty and tired. Yudhisthira sent Nakula to find water. He went in search and discovered a lake, and immediately jumped to take a drink of water. A loud voice asked him not to drink the water as it was poisonous. Nakula did not pay heed, drank the water and died on the spot. Yudhisthira then sent Sahadeva, who also met the same fate. Arjuna and Bheema also did not listen to the voice and died. Finally Yudhisthira came to the spot, and was shocked to see his brothers, lifeless. Just then a Yaksha emerged from the lake and told Yudhisthira that he had warned the brothers but they did not listen. Yudhisthira asked how he could help bring them back and the Yaksha said he would test Yudhisthira with some questions. If satisfied he would bring one of them back. Yudhisthira answered all the questions, and asked for Nakula to be revived. The Yaksha was surprised and asked why he didn't ask for Bheema or Arjuna who would be more valuable. Yudhisthira replied that while Kunti' s one son is alive, one son of Mādri should also survive. Pleased with his answer, the Yaksha revealed himself to be Lord Yama and also revived all the brothers. With this we completed the Mahābhārata story till Vana Parvā. We will proceed to Virāta Parvā.
- Having completed their twelve years of vanavās, the Pāndavas were ready to start their 13th year of exile - Ajnātavāsa. This was the year meant for their identities to remain hidden, and their location undisclosed to the Kauravas or their allies.
- Within the Virāta Parvā, we started with the Pāndava Praveśa Parvā, which explains how the Pāndavas undertook the task of not just selecting an appropriate location for their 13th year, but also appropriate disguises to suit the temperament of each.
- Yudhisthira, known for his valor and equanimity, chose to be a companion for the King of Matsya, Virāta. Having extensive knowledge in the Spiritual texts and different philosophies, along with the newly acquired knowledge (from Sage Brihadaswa) on Aksha Hridaya (art of playing dice), Yudhisthira was most qualified to be a mentor of sorts to King Virāta. He gave himself the name Kanka. Bheema, given his love for food and his extraordinary strength, chose to be the chief cook in the palace kitchens while also training young wrestlers in the palace gymnasium. His assumed name was Vallabha. Arjuna's choice was already determined, thanks to the curse given by Urvaśi while he resided in Indraloka. Assuming the name Brihannalla, Arjuna was in disguise as a eunuch, trained by a Gandharva, proving his proficiency in the art of music and dance. He agreed to teach the arts to Princess Uttara. Nakula and Sahadeva, assuming the names Damagranthi and Tantripāla, took up work in the palace as chief of the stables and chief cowherder respectively.
- Draupadi, as Sairendri, chose to be a hairdresser and companion to Queen Sudeshna, with the promise that she will not ever leave the inner apartments of the Queen's palace. The Queen was afraid that Draupadi's blinding beauty might distract her husband, but Draupadi's promise kept her assured.
- Before their newly assumed lives began, the Pāndavas kept all their weapons on a branch of a mighty Shami tree outside the city limits, and requested the help of the Gods to keep them safe in their year of Ajnātavās.
- With their disguises in place and a low key profile maintained, the Pandavas and their wife led quiet yet interesting lives. They got comfortable with their new responsibilities, showing great loyalty towards King Virāta. A few months in, a wrestler from a foreign land visited the Matsya kingdom, boasting to be the strongest and challenging the citizens of Matsya to a duel. While the King pondered and worried, Kanka (Yudhisthira) reminded him of the strong wrestler who was also the chief cook in his palace. Vallabha (Bheema) was happy to be of service, crushing his opponent very quickly. This victory gave him an even better standing in the eyes of the King.
- On the other side of the palace, Sairendhri(Draupadi) was spotted in the garden by the Queen's brother and commander of the Virāta army, Keechaka. Completely smitten, Keechaka refused to listen to the pleas of the Queen or Draupadi's warning that her Gandharva husbands would bring him terrible harm. The Queen tried to convince her brother to leave Sairendhri alone but Keechaka kept at it and the queen finally agreed, Sairendhri ended up going to the King's court for help. While pleading her case and asking for justice, she realized that even Kanka, who was present, did nothing to alleviate her pain. That night she went to Vallabha, telling him to mete out the appropriate punishment to Keechaka. Luring Keechaka to the dance hall, Sairendhri hid while she watched Vallabha take Keechaka by surprise, and kill him in one fell swoop. While Vallabha returned to his apartments, Sairendhri called the guards and showed them the dead commander. Angry at her, Keechaka's brothers demand that Sairendhri should also be consumed in Keechaka's funeral pyre. With great skill and prowess, Vallabha managed to scare the brothers and retrieve the Sairendhri, without revealing his identity.
We then joined the presentation of the Monthly program by the 7th Grade. We concluded the class with the Pledge.
Pranaams!
Krishna and Sachin