Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – Tripura Rahasya Day 15 – January 18, 2022 – Mysore
Compiled by Parimala Eshwarla
Chapter 18
The fight between Indra and Sudhrti went on for very long. Indra realized that true to his name, Sudhrti was extremely courageous. Indra showered a rain of arrows on Sudhrti. Sudhrti then used Mahāstra weapons, destroyed Indra’s weapons and appeared like the Sun that had scattered all the clouds. He buried Indra with his arrows and, with three arrows, broke Indra’s bow, quiver and crown.
When his crown fell down, Indra was enraged. He then wore another crown made by Vishwakarma but Sudhrti broke it too. Indra then wore another crown which was also broken by Sudhrti. (Every crown of the Devata has a special name. In the crown, their energy & radiance are stored. Falling of the crown indicates that the energy has been lost. As energy stands depleted in the crown that has fallen down, Indra cannot wear the same crown again. So he takes a new crown).
In this way, Sudhrti broke 100 crowns. Ashamed of himself, Indra lowered his head. Boiling in rage, he released the Indrastra weapon. But using the Vayavya weapon, Sudhrti shred it. Using a very long lance he hit elephant Airavrata on its forehead. The enraged elephant grabbed the lance and trampled it with its feet leaving everyone astonished. Everyone applauded it.
Seeking to grab Sudhrti with its trunk and hurl him down, it rushed towards him. Sudhrti then used the strong iron goad, but the elephant broke it. Indra adjusted his crown and then attacked the Sudhrti’s elephant. However, the elephant chased him holding the musala weapon with its trunk.
Indra hit that elephant with his Vajrayudha weapon. With this attack, it died. Sudhrti mounted a chariot and, with three piercing arrows, hit Indra causing him to swoon for a while. Then Sudhrti used three sharp arrows and hit elephant Airavata. By then Indra regained consciousness and released the Shakti weapon which had 9 beautiful bells and was like the lightning.
Seeing the powerful Shakti weapon approaching him, Sudhrti held the iron mace and quickly jumped up the air. Exactly at that moment, the shakti weapon hit the chariot reducing the horses, charioteer and chariot to dust.
Sudhrti who thus jumped into the air repeatedly hit Airavata with his mace. With this, the Airavata fell down. Indra jumped up and sought to attack Sudhrti with his Vajrayudha but, attacked by Sudhrti’s mace, he swooned. Sudhrti then bound Indra with tight ropes.
As he was trying to take the bound Indra, all the Devatas who were equipped with many weapons, surrounded him. With extreme courage, holding Indra in his left hand and the mace in his right hand, he fought with the Devatas.
Virasena meanwhile spoke to Shatrunjaya and brought him to the place where the Devatas were fighting his uncle Sudhrti. At this juncture, a fierce battle took place between the humans and Devatas.
Differences such as ‘my people’ and ‘other people’ were lost. Based on the sound, the expert warriors were tracing their path and continuing the battle. Shatrunjaya and other princes neared the chief commander Sudhrti who had tightly bound Indra with ropes and applauded him.
Then a war broke out between the Devatas and the princes in which the princes defeated all the Devatas and tightly bound them with ropes. Carrying the bound Devatas they began the journey.
Sri matre namah
Chapter 19
When the princes were taking away the Devatas, Manmatha took up his divine bow and using his arrows bound the princes. Seeing Indra and other Devatas bound in ropes, their wives began to wail.
Meanwhile, humans were covered with Manmatha’s arrows. Sudhrti and other warriors put aside the bound Devatas and fought with Manmatha. The 5-year-old Manmatha fought so fiercely and bravely that everyone was left gaping.
He tore apart the enemy camp. Sudhrti and other warriors fought with all their might and collectively inundated Manmatha with arrows but, even before the arrows reached him, Manmatha broke them all into pieces.
Sudhrti then said, “O Princes! Recollect Vardhana’s words. This boy Manmatha has single-handedly killed crores of kings. Even now he is fighting fiercely. Vardhana had said that this is divine energy. He appears to be right.
Despite being very young, Manmatha is restraining us. Our King Viravrata has not yet arrived. Only he can conquer Manmatha. If he does not obtain Lord Shiva’s blessings and come here for our protection, we are sure to lose to Manmatha”.
Meanwhile, Manmatha intensified his speed and with one arrow hit Sudhrti on his chest causing him to fall to the ground. Manmatha then hit Shatrunjaya, Shatrughna, Bhima, Samara-tāpana with his sharp piercing arrows causing them to swoon.
With this, their sons Viravikrama and others were worried. Ranadhira consoled them saying, “This is the time to show the valour and not to grieve. If we sit grieving, Manmatha is sure to defeat us. As long as we are alive we must fight. Hence recollect your capacities and fight bravely. Virasena will go and report the developments to the king”. With this, Viravikrama and others obtained courage.
Virasena went to report the matter to the king. The sons of Shatrunjaya and other princes got ready to fight.
At this juncture, the Devatas obtained a little courage and they came forward to free Indra and other Devatas who were bound. A terrible, frightening war took place between the humans and the Devatas.
Ranadhira addressed Shatrunjaya’s son and said, “O Prince! Along with your younger brothers you fight the Devata army. Ensure that they do not take away Indra and other Devatas and the forefathers who are in our control. I shall fight with Manmatha”.
Saying this, Ranadhira fought with Manmatha. In that duel, Manmatha’s bow fell down. Everyone including Manmatha appreciated Ranadhira.
Manmatha then broke Ranadhira’s bow and arrows. Ranadhira then took another bow and continued to fight. Manmatha, at one stroke, killed Ranadhira’s horses, charioteer and broke his chariot and quiver.
Ranadhira took up a strong iron mace and was about to attack Manmatha when Manmatha showered arrows upon him. Escaping from those arrows, Ranadhira attacked Manmatha with his mace. Manmatha fell unconscious. Regaining consciousness after a while, he attacked Ranadhira with arrows causing Ranadhira to swoon.
Sri matre namah
Chapter 20
Virasena, who was travelling to see the king, saw him midway itself. He bowed to the king. King Viravrata asked, “My son! Why are you grieving? Is everyone safe?”
Virasena then said, “O King! On the 4th day after you left, Manmatha fought with the humans. Along with Sudhrti and others, we defeated the Devatas and have bound Indra and other Devatas.
But Manmatha has defeated Shatrunjaya and others. Even Sudhrti has fallen. Manmatha has destroyed the army comprising of 50 akshauhinis. Presently only Ranadhira is fighting Manmatha. Perhaps, by now, even he would have fallen. I have now reported everything to you. Now you decide what should be done”.
Viravrata instilled confidence in him and, while twanging his bow, arrived at the battlefield. Manmatha showered many arrows upon the king who was standing before him. Viravrata too showered a rain of arrows upon Manmatha. A fierce battle ensued between the two.
The arrival of the king instilled courage in all the soldiers. Sudhrti and others regained consciousness and joined the king in the war. Shatrunjaya and others bowed to the king.
The king who was fighting said to Sudhrti, “O Sudhrti! You are exhausted after fighting for long with Manmatha. Hence you guard vigilantly ensuring that these Devatas do not release the bound Devatas. I will fight Manmatha. You just watch the battle”.
The fight between the King and Manmatha was as fierce as the battle between Maha-vishnu and demon Kaitabha. In that fight, the armours of both were ripped apart. They fought for three days. The battle turned fiercer on the 4th day.
All the worlds were totally covered with the heat emitted by the weapons they released. At that time, Viravrata’s energy began to weaken while Manmatha was becoming stronger. At that juncture, Viravrata remembered Lord Shiva.
With this, Shiva sent his Trishula (trident) weapon. It arrived in Viravrata’s quiver. Recognizing it, the king took it in his hand. But it was exceedingly heavy. The king was stunned,
“What is this? I have never seen an arrow like this in my quiver. As my energy is depleting am I finding this arrow extremely heavy? Or could it be that Lord Shiva, the protector of our lineage, has realized that my strength is weakening and hence has sent this weapon to protect me?” As he was thinking, he fixed it on the bow.
From that weapon that was as powerful as the Vajrayudha, sparks of fire began to emerge. At that moment, Manmatha’s left hand twitched. Birds and animals screeched horrendously. All the directions were lit up. The earth shook violently. The dust from the earth covered everything.
When everything thus turned haywire, Manmatha thought of his Mother Lakshmi who immediately sent some Devatas for his protection. Meanwhile, the king released that weapon upon Manmatha. As it fell on Manmatha, all the Devatas let out loud cries.
Just as the fiery flames fall on the dry grass and burn it down, that weapon burnt down Manmatha. Like a person who falls from the skies when his merit has depleted, Manmatha lost his life and fell down.
By then Lakshmi’s messengers arrived and saw the lifeless Manmatha. Immediately they carried him to Mother Lakshmi.
Sudhrti and others were ecstatic when the King totally destroyed the enemy. The soldiers beat victory drums. The citizens were elated. Everyone surrounded the king and shouted victory slogans.
Some bowed to him, some embraced him, some looked at him lovingly, while some spoke lovingly to him. When the army was thus ecstatic, the King said to Sudhrti, “O Sudhrti! Along with the four-fold army proceed to the kingdom. Proper treatment should be given to the injured. Ensure that the proper death rites are performed for the deceased warriors so that they can reach the higher worlds. The soldiers who were fleeing like animals and who died due to being stabbed from behind should be buried like animals”.
Then the attendants, soldiers and commanders took the bound Devatas and travelled along with the king to the kingdom.
The entire city was decorated. Proclamations of the King’s victory were made everywhere. Prime Minister Vardhana sent messengers who travelled swiftly to convey the news of the King’s victory to all his relatives. The royal path was decorated beautifully. Minister Vardhana issued instructions for the special worship of the Lord Chandramouleshwara in the temple.
Beautiful women dressed in silken garments and ornaments were holding akshata mixed with curd and waiting. Some ladies arranged the lamps in different types of vessels and were standing to welcome the king.
As per the custom, the Guru Vidyapati along with the learned brahmins arranged all the materials necessary for sprinkling the sacred waters on the king.
Having completed all the arrangements, Vardhana went along with the other ministers. The royal priest Vidyapati mounted his chariot and along with other Brahmins stood outside the city. Vardhana came there riding a horse. Other ministers arrived either riding horses or on elephants.
At that time, the king mounted a four-tusked white elephant named Kularathna belonging to the Airavata clan and left for his capital. Shatrunjaya and other princes followed the king.
Ranadhira mounted a chariot and travelled ahead of the king. Holding the mace, Sudhrti, who was accompanied by his army, was taking Indra and other Devatas who were bound.
At the outskirts, the king saw the royal priest and instantly got down from the elephant. All others too got down from their vehicles.
The King placed his head at his Guru’s feet and offered namaskaram to him. Shatrunjaya and others also bowed to their Guru.
Guru Vidyapati honoured the king and enquired about his wellbeing. He then said, “O King! The present time is not appropriate for setting foot into the kingdom. Hence let us stay here for a while. When the good time arrives let us set foot there”.
The king said, “I shall do as you say”. The Guru then got down from the chariot and sat on a good seat beneath a tree. On his command, the King too sat on another seat. The others also took their seats. Vidapati then noticed the Devatas who were on the chariot and enquired, “Who are these who are bound?”
The king replied, “Gurudeva! They are Indra and other Devatas. Sudhrti and others have defeated and bound them”.
Vidyapati was very broadminded. He said, “O King! Your deed is incorrect. It is not right to bind the Devatas. Devatas alone are the cause for the good fortune of humans. Hence, they should be worshipped. We must never aspire to fight and defeat the Devatas who are the cause for all our fortune. Hence immediately release and honour them”.
Hearing these words, the King immediately looked at Sudhrti. Understanding his opinion, Sudhrti immediately released the Devatas and brought them with all respect before the king.
Seeing them arriving, the King instantly stood up, bowed to each of the Devatas, seated them appropriately and honoured them. He offered to them his treasury, vehicles etc. Further he instructed his sons, wives and relatives to be at their service and said to the Devatas, ‘We are all your servants’.
Pleased at King’s magnanimity, Indra and other Devatas blessed him saying, “O best among kings! You who have shown such intense Guru-bhakti are truly the most blessed being. We have never seen anyone having this Guru-bhakti. This Guru-bhakti will shower the utmost auspiciousness upon you. It will bless you with the perfect accomplishment of all tasks. You will accomplish whatever you seek. We will now leave for Swarga”- saying this, the Devatas vanished.
Then, Guru Vidyapati said that the auspicious moment had arrived. Hearing this, the King set foot into the city.
Sri matre namah
Chapter 21
The attendants carried Manmatha to Mother Lakshmi and narrated everything to her. Mother Lakshmi was aggrieved at his death. She slowly composed herself and with a pure mind meditated upon the Supreme Goddess Tripura Devi. Immersed in that meditation, she derived total bliss.
Thereafter she looked at Manmatha with her eyes that showered nectar. Instantly Manmatha woke up as if he was waking up from sleep. Eager to fight the opponent, he looked around. But he could not spot any weapons. He ashamedly looked at his Mother Lakshmi, fell at her feet and said,
“O Mother! Why did I lose to humans? After all, you are the wife of Vishnu and I have taken birth directly from your mind. Seeking the victory of the Devatas you created me from your mind. How could your resolve turn futile? How could the Devatas get bound in battle?
O Mother of the universe! This grief is burning me down. When, I am that insignificant one who has been defeated and killed in battle, why did you revive me? I, who was born from your mental resolve, have lost to ordinary humans. Hence my life is a waste. I have become worthy of condemnation. O Mother! I shall learn from you the reasons for my failure and then abandon this body”.
Hearing these sorrowful words Goddess Lakshmi said, “O Manmatha! Do not weep. Heroic and valiant warriors never succumb to grief. Despite being submerged in the ocean of difficulties they board the boat called courage and quickly arrive at the shore called prosperity.
The lowly lament when difficulties strike. I shall tell you the reason for your defeat. You were not defeated due to mere human valour. King Viravrata had worshipped Lord Shiva, the great Lord. Shiva’s blessings enabled him to defeat you. Hence O Manmatha! You too worship that great Lord. With his blessings you will be victorious”.
Manmatha was enraged hearing this. His wisdom depleted and he said, “Do not ask me to worship him who has protected my enemy. One like me cannot seek shelter under any such God or human. Hence suggest another God under whom I can seek shelter and with whose blessings I can conquer Devatas or humans in battle. With his blessings, firstly I seek to conquer Mahadeva Shiva itself. Thereafter I shall vanquish all the Devatas, humans and demons”.
Mother Lakshmi then said, “Dear boy, you do not know the greatness of that three-eyed Lord. I shall narrate to you a little of his greatness. Listen. There is no Devata superior to Shiva, the Lord of the Devatas. Just as the ocean is the best among the water bodies, just as the Sun is the most-supreme among the stars and just as Meru is the best among the mountains, Lord Shankara is the most-supreme of all the Devatas.
More importantly, animals that move are more superior than those that do not move. Among those that move, humans are superior. (After getting such supreme human birth, we must not waste it in fulfilling desires, telling lies, engaging in wrong deeds. Instead, we must utilize this birth to scale to higher levels). Greater than humans are the Devatas. Greater than the Devatas is the creator, Lord Brahma. Lord Maha-Narayana is greater than Lord Brahma. Lord Shiva is greater than Lord Maha-vishnu.
Shiva is the annihilator of the creation. Based on his command, the fierce and angry Rudras, who are born from his aspect, destroy the creation. Attaining renown as Sadashiva, he is the Lord of the Devatas. He is Parameshwara.
Even Vishnu could not locate the base of his Jyotirlinga. Virabhadra, who is Shiva’s partial aspect, subdued Brahma’s arrogance and chopped off his big head. Hence know that there is none greater than Shiva. With this understanding, surrender to him”.
Hearing this Manmatha said, “Dear mother! Shiva may be the Lord of the universe and the most supreme as you say. But I cannot worship him, for, he has blessed my enemy. If I follow your command, it implies I have surrendered to my enemy.
O mother of the universe! Hence tell me about that God due to whom Shiva has obtained this greatness or in whom this greatness inherently exists. I shall worship him and vanquish Mahadeva”.
Hearing this, Goddess Lakshmi closed her eyes and contemplated for a while. She prayed to Mother Tripura seeking success in her son’s mission.
Mother Tripura deputed Gowri to ensure Manmatha’s success. Lakshmi got up on seeing Gowri. Welcoming her reverentially she seated her upon a seat made of precious stones, worshipped her and then prayerfully said,
“O Gowri! I am truly fortunate that I could obtain your compassionate glance. You are the wife of Parameshwara himself. O Empress of the worlds! It is difficult for even Brahma and others to get your darshan. Under such circumstances, if you have manifested before me, I conclude that Mother Tripura is pleased with my meditation. You are Vishnu’s sister. By seeing you I have obtained blessedness”.
Then, Mother Gowri smilingly said, “O Lakshmi! Tell me what you desire. I shall fulfill it”.
Mother Lakshmi said, “For accomplishing the task of the Devatas, this boy Manmatha was born from my mind. But King Viravrata vanquished him. Due to the blessings of your husband Shiva, that King could conquer my unvanquishable son in battle. Due to this, my son is grieving and is seeking to conquer them all. I asked my son to worship Shiva. But he is not heeding my advice”- saying this, she looked at Manmatha.
Gowri then looked at Manmatha and said, “My son! Come near me”. Manmatha went and bowed to her. Gowri then asked, “My son! What do you wish to do?”
Manmatha said, “O Mother! I shall undertake fierce penance and vanquish everyone. Tell me the God who, pleased with my penance, will fulfill my desire”.
Mother Gowri then said, “My dear Manmatha! Your resolve is truly great. However, without worshipping Shiva you can never attain success in your mission. Hence you worship him. Barring my husband there is none who is competent in fulfilling even the most difficult boons. Hence you must hold on to him”.
She then said to Lakshmi, “O Lakshmi! Seeking your well-being, Mother Tripura has sent me here. Your son’s desire shall undoubtedly be fulfilled. I am here to convey Her message. Let Manmatha propitiate Lord Shiva and accomplish his goal!”.
Hearing this, Manmatha flew into a rage. “O wife of Shiva! I will never seek refuge under Shiva who has protected my enemy. I shall appease that God who is greater than Shiva and through him fulfill my desire. With my valour I shall conquer Shiva and all those who have sought shelter under him. If this is not accomplishable, I shall abandon my life, but I will never worship Shiva”.
These words angered Gowri. She said, “O Manmatha! I have given an advice that will benefit you. But yet you are not heeding them. Hence in the fight with Shiva you will be reduced to ashes”.
When Gowri cursed her son, Lakshmi was enraged. She immediately cursed, “For having cursed my son, during Daksha’s yaga you will hear abusive words about your husband and you will be reduced to ashes”.
Enraged with this, Mother Gowri cursed, “O Lakshmi! Deluded due to your love for your son, you are behaving without proper thought. Hence you will face separation from your husband and will grieve for long. Further you will also have to bear the harassment due to co-wives”.
The mention of co-wives enraged Lakshmi completely. She readied for a fight. Shiva’s wife Gowri also sat on a lion ready to fight. Holding delicate bows, Lakshmi and Gowri targeted each other with sharp arrows.
In the terrible battle that ensued, Shiva’s troops, the Pramatha-ganas, joined hands with Gowri and fought with Lakshmi. Using very sharp weapons, Lakshmi attacked them injuring them badly. Escaping from the battlefield, they went to Shiva and narrated everything.
Immediately Shiva mounted his vehicle Nandi and arrived there. Exactly at that moment, Vishnu too arrived. Brahma arrived there accompanied by the hordes of Devatas. Even Saraswati arrived. All the Siddhas, Gandharvas, Vidyadharas, Kinnaras, Maha-nagas arrived to witness the combat.
Gowri and Lakshmi were creating newer weapons and attacking one another with them. Seeking to stop this fight, Shiva and Vishnu approached them. However unable to withstand the heat from those weapons, they fell unconscious.
With her sharp arrows, Lakshmi cut off Gowri’s bow. With a sharp arrow she pierced Gowri’s heart injuring her severely. Blood began to flow from Gowri’s body and she fell unconscious. However, the blood from her body appeared to burn the worlds. Fearing that the worlds would perish, with folded hands, the creator Brahma prayed to Lakshmi,
“O Mahalakshmi! Victory to you. O presiding deity for all prosperity! O mother who is seated on a lotus! O mother of the universe! O beloved of Narayana! O Lakshmi! Victory to you.
You are the protector of all the worlds. You dispel the fear in those who are petrified. You dispel all the difficulties of the devotees. O Nārāyani! Salutations to you. Merely by bowing once to you, people are freed from dire poverty.
O wife of Narayana! Kindly dispel the fear that has overtaken the world. I bow to you. You are the creator of the universe. You, the beloved of Vishnu, are its protector. In a fierce form, you annihilate the universe. O beloved of Narayana! Salutations to you. With kindness protect this world from getting destroyed. Obeisance to you”.
Brahma then fell flat on the ground and prostrated to her. Even Indra and other Devatas, the Siddhas, Vidyadharas also prostrated to her. “O Mother! O Maha-lakshmi! Kindly protect us”- they beseeched.
Seeing the Devatas who, petrified of the flames arising from Gowri’s blood, had surrendered to her and hearing Brahma’s prayers, Goddess Lakshmi was pleased. “Do not be afraid”- she said.
Within a second, she drank the fire that had emerged from Gowri’s blood. Further, with her nectareous glance she protected the Devatas and humans who were being engulfed by the flames that had arisen from Mother Gowri’s blood. Thereafter Shiva and Vishnu regained consciousness.
At that moment, due to the fiery flames emerging from her body, Mother Lakshmi appeared like the embodiment of fire.
Gowri came out of her unconscious state and neared Lakshmi who, from her body hair was releasing fiery flames. Lakshmi’s eyes were boiling in anger.
Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva coaxed Saraswati to bring peace between Lakshmi and Gowri. Saraswati came forward and joined Lakshmi’s hand with Gowri’s hand and said to them,
“O Lakshmi and Gowri! Listen to my good words. It is incorrect for you both to be angry. Your anger will harm the worlds. Hence become peaceful. You have cursed each other. I shall tell you how the curses will span out. Due to Gowri’s curse, Manmatha will be burnt to ashes by Shiva. At Parvati’s behest, he will again take birth and conquer Shiva.
O Gowri! In another form of yours, you will have to hear abuses against your husband Shiva and with it, you will be reduced to ashes.
O Lakshmi! Due to the grief caused by co-wives, your body will quickly perish. You will then get a more beautiful form. Further, when your husband Vishnu incarnates, you will face separation from him. Hence give up delusion and instead contemplate on your highest form”. Hearing her words, Gowri and Lakshmi were pacified. They abandoned their ignorance and attained peace.
Datta Swami said, “O Parashurama! I have narrated to you the auspicious story of Goddess Lakshmi. Mother Lakshmi will fulfill the desires of those who listen to this story”.
Sri mātre namah