हरी ॐ
Dear Parents,
Dear Parents,
Today marks the 104th birthday of our Pujya Gurudev, Swami Chinmayananda ji. We will have an hour of class, and will join all other classes virtually in the Paduka Pooja at 8pm.
Opening Prayers: Om Sahanā vavatu, followed by the chants Om Sree Ganeśaya Namaha, Sree Saraswatyai Namaha, Sree Sat Gurubhyo Namaha.
Story: Arjuna had learned to dance from Chitrasena, and also mastered many instruments, as he knew this skill would come in handy while he spent the 13th year as a eunuch. When Sage Lomasa visited Indraloka, he was surprised to see Arjuna on the throne. Indra then revealed that he was his son, the Nara to Krishna's Narayana, that a blood letting war was to ensue, cleansing Mother Earth of all evils. When Lomasa questioned why he was in Indraloka while his family was on Earth, Indra told him that he had asked Arjuna to help him with the Nivatakavachas, who were harassing everybody in the heavens. As Sage Lomasa was ready to depart, Indra requested that he inform the Pandavas, Draupadi and Dhaumya that Arjuna was well, and will return to their fold after they finish teerthayatra.
In Kamyaka, Yudhisthira was unhappy. He missed his dear Arjuna, while Bheema and Draupadi cribbed incessantly, finding fault with Yudhithira's tapas, meditation and anything that did not reflect his Kshatriya warrior roots. If Arjuna were there, he would have defended him against the eloquent Bheema. While in the midst of one such depressing mood, Sage Brihadaswa approached Yudhisthira. Unable to keep it all in, he lamented on the situation. How could a simple game of dice lead to so much pain and despair? He could not please Draupadi and Bheema, but he did not wish to deviate from the right path. The sage told him about King Nala who also lost his kingdom on a game of dice, but managed to learn the manipulations of the game to restore his former glory. The art of Akshahridaya, was about sleight of hand, and the sage taught Yudhisthira the art.
A few days later, both Lomasa and Narada visited Kamyaka, and asked Yudhisthira to take his family and Dhaumya on a teerthayatra, as a visit to all holy places would bless them with more strength and wisdom. Lomasa also accompanied them.
Their first stop was at Naimisa, a forest by the river Gomati. They went on to Prayaga where the differently colored waters of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati met in a place appropriately called the Triveni Sangamam. They spent four months in the company of the great Sage Agastya, and then proceeded towards the River Godavari and other Southern rivers. Finally they arrived at Prabhasa, to a rousing welcome from Krishna and Balarama. Upon seeing Yudhisthira in simple bark attire and matted hair, Balarama was incensed and wished to wage war against Hastinapur. Krishna and his cousin Satyaki calmed him down with the same words that Yudhisthira had said earlier. They should wait for the exile to be completed in its entirety, so that the war can be fought with Dharma on the side of the Pandavas. This placating response from Krishna and Satyaki pleased Yudhisthira immensely, glad to see that his cousins understood him completely. After Prabhasa, they continued towards the north, visiting Rivers Saraswati, Ganga, and Bindusaras (source of the Ganga) and wanted to spend some time by Kubera's abode on Mount Mandara.
The climb was steep, and the seven of them braved the cold gales and incessant winds, sometimes even carried by Bheema when it got too tiring. When Bheema was exhausted from carrying Draupadi, he called on his son Ghatotkacha to do the needful. Ghatotkacha's minions, each carried one member of the group and found their way quickly to the top of Kailasa. In the land of sunshine and eternal beauty, they found the Badari Ashrama.
One day, Draupadi chances upon a beautiful flower that had the most fragrant smell she had ever known. With her need to own many more of the same flower, she chased down the scent, which led her to a forest. Bheema, noticing Draupadi's absence, went looking for her. Upon seeing Bheema, she revealed her need to acquire more of that fragrant flower. Following the strong fragrance emanating from the forest, Bheema took it upon himself to fulfill her desire. When Draupadi worried for his safety, he pacified her saying he would blow a conch periodically to let her know that he was safe. Appeased, Draupadi agreed and Bheema found himself moving quickly into the forest, following the scent and blowing the conch. As he travelled deeper, it got dense and difficult to maneuver. Suddenly he chanced upon a large monkey, sitting on the floor, with his tail blocking the path forward. Bheema was impatient to find the flowers, and asked the monkey to move. The monkey replied that he was too old and unable to move it, and requested. Beema to do it himself. Bheema put his right hand out to lift the tail, but it did not budge. He tried with both hands and it still didn't work. Using his entire strength he tried lifting the tail, but it didn't move even a hair's breadth. It dawned on him that this was no ordinary monkey, and prostrated before him. The monkey rose and patted Bheema, calling him his brother. Confused, Bheema wondered how he could be related to such a mighty being. The monkey revealed himself to be Hanuman, Vayu's son, just like Bheema. Thrilled to be united, the brothers hugged each other. When asked why he was in the forest, Bheema remembered the flowers and told Hanuman of his search. Hanuman warmed him saying it was a treacherous route, and that he may not be successful. Bheema then explained that he needed to be successful, and fulfill this one small desire of Draupadi. Especially after all the misery she has had to undergo. Bheema decided to take leave of Hanuman, but also wanted to know when he would see his brother again. Hanuman replied that he will sit atop Arjuna's chariot during the war. Bheema weaved his way through the forest, with renewed energy after meeting his brother, and very soon came upon a beautiful garden surrounded by the smell of the fragrant flowers. He immediately went about picking the flowers, oblivious to the collection of guards advancing towards him. The guards perplexed by the audacity of the flower picker, asked him to stop picking Lord Kubera's favorite flowers from his garden. Bheema ignored their commands, and continued. Realizing that this wouldn't end without a fight, the guards pounced on Bheema, not realizing the might of their opponent. Some of the guards went running to Kubera. Upon sensing the identity of the 'stranger', Kubera went to
Bheema directly. He invited him to his palace to spend some time with him. But Bheema insisted on going back to Draupadi.
Draupadi ran to Yudhisthira who was relaxing at the ashram, informing him of Bheema's departure into the forest and the lack of any communication from him. Yudhisthira immediately jumped up, summoned his other two brothers and the foursome left towards the forest. Bheema having cleared the way for them, it was easy to find their way to Kubera's palace. Seeing Bheema hale and hearty, Yudhisthira was happy to accept Kubera's invitation to stay in his palace and accept his hospitality.
Pranāms,
Akshay and Nivedita
