Kissaa Kahaani

July 23, 2014

Hindu Mythology: Why do Babies Suck Thumb

In Mahabharata there is a reference to King Mandhata, the child of the Golden Age.  There is an interesting story about how he was born.

There was a king, King Yuvanshva of Ikshvaku Clan. He had several wives and concubines but sadly he was not blessed with a child. He requested the sages to prepare magical nectar which would enable his wives to bear his children. The sages invited him to the Ashram, after travelling many days the king reached the ashram. He was weak due to thirst and hunger and upon reaching the ashram he saw a pot of water and drank it, unaware that the water was actually the magic potion created for his wives by the sages. He ended up being pregnant and upon the completion of gestation period he experienced labor pain.

Due to lack of female organs, there was no way he could give birth to the baby. He invoked The Ashwini Kumars- the divine physicians. They cut open his thighs and Yuvanshva gave birth to Mandhata. Now the problem arose of nursing the child as the king was incapable of breastfeeding. Indra, the king of Devas, came to his rescue. The Deva King, cut open his thumb and out flew the milk, as in the veins of Devas flow milk and not blood as unlike humans. The infant Mandhata sucked on to the thumb and sought comfort. That is why babies suck on to their thumbs as it is considered in Hindu Mythology and Legends that babies, until they understand and speak human languages, are  reflections of Gods and hence their thumb has milk.

The King Mandhata was called as one who belonged to the Golden Age, as he was born of a man; his midwives were divine physicians and his wet-nurse was the King of Devas.

Reference: The Story of Mandhata was retold in Mahabharata twice. In genealogical lists of Puranas, Mandhata was ancestor of Rama- both belonging to Ikshvaku clan.

special thanks to Devdatta Patnaik’s Shikhandi.


July 5, 2011

Few Anecdotes from Hindu Mythology- 2

Once again, my fingers are itching to scribble something (and i am in office, so far no work on my desk and having the privilege of internet, sans facebook/twitter, gives me an access to cure this itching!!) And what should I write about?? I was thinking more on the lines of fantastical, and amazingly wonderful Hindu mythology- the store house of numerous stories and wonderful tales… So once again, today I will tell you few chosen stories from mythology!!! Before I start, let me clarify- I have read these here and there, I do not have the authority to authenticate these tidbits but you have to agree that the stories are wonderful!!!

Well now that my rambling preamble is over, let me tell you about Lord Tirupati. Tirupati temple which is in Andhra Pradesh on a hill called Tirumalai (‘malai’ means hill) is considered very rich temple. It is said that before the foundation for this temple was laid, a Shri Yantram was kept. Shri Yantram is a yantra, a device which brings honor, wealth and prosperity to the one who keeps it and worships it, Shri denotes Lakshmi or the goddess of wealth and prosperity. This is the reason, they say, that the temple is so well endowed with prosperity and is constantly showered with offerings from devotees. However there is a story behind it. It is said that one morning, Lord Vishnu traveled to earth from his Baikunth Lok and the first place he landed was beautiful Tirumalai, there he was welcomed by the King and his daughter, Padmavati. The princess was nymph of ethereal beauty, her skin glowed with an aura of piousness and her eyes were as lit as fire balls, yet compassionate. Padmavati’s upward tilted chin gave a look of arrogance and it suited her. All the jewels she adorned were not necessary, he beauty was enough to entice any mortal and immortal. Her body was lithe and full. The lord lost his heart at the site of the princess and asked the King of Tiru Hills for her hands, however the princess was a haughty one after all, and she had conditions. She wanted ‘dowry’ from Lord Vishnu. This condition signified that the Lord will have to bring all is possessions from his abode, Baikunth Lok. He didn’t like the idea but his heart was too much involved in Padmavati, he agreed and went back to his home to his existing wife Lakshmi. Well you can imagine that Godless of Wealth was enraged to hear the news, she loved him and did not want to share him. But Vishnu was adamant and then he did the unforgivable, he begged Lakshmi to provide him with wealth and money required for dowry. Needless to that blindly angered Lakshmi gave Vishnu what he wanted but with her own condition, that the money she is giving him is actually a loan and unless each and every pie is paid back, Vishnu and Padmavati will not welcomed in Baikuntham. Poor Vishnu, he went back to Tirumalai, now he had to be a Ghar Jamai till he pays back his wife’s money. So as soon as he married Padmavati, he requested his devotees all over world to help him pay back the loan, and hence the temple gets so much offering in terms of money, jewels and grans!!

Now I will give another anecdotal incidence about Indra- this one is quite interesting!!!

There was a Daitya who was born of a Brahmin, his name was Vrtrasura and the sages and saints of the earth reuested Indra to kill this Daitya but Indra was hesitant, Vrtrasura was arfter all a Brahmin and killing him would inflict Brahm Hatya on him, greatest of sin. The sages promised to chant certain Mantam to help nullify the effect of the sin. And Indra had the moral duty to help the sages who were tormented by this monster Vrtrasura. So he agreed. And after a viscous battle, Indra killed him. As soon as Indra killed Vrtrasura, he could sense that the chanting of the Mantram was not as effective as it should have been and was devastated. he approached all the Lords- Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesha and asked for their help. They divided the sin of Indra in four parts and distributed it to Women, Earth, Water and Trees. Would you believe it, that the menstruation of Women folk, the sap in trees are the sins of Indra!!! I forgot how the remaining sins were apportioned however! 😦

Do tell me if you like the stories!!! I will post more!!!!

April 13, 2011

Few Anecdotes from Hindu Mythology.

Today I feel like writing, however I dont know what should I write!!! I thought and I thought… And I raked my mind… I thought of this topic… and that topic… none suited! And I realized! Why, Mamta!! You silly silly girl! You love Hindu Mythology, why not some anecdotes from the same!!! So her it is!! Some tiny stories about Hindu Mythology!

You all must be knowing that characters of Ramayana – Vali and Sugreev were brothers, half brothers to be exact! Its is said that Their fathers were Indra, the King of the Gods and Surya, the Sun God respectively. It is said that Aruna, the Charioteer of Surya was bored of his monotonous life and was eager to have a break. Someone told him that the nymphs in the Indra’s palace were the most beautiful ones and since then it was his intention to and visit the palace of Indra, but then he was a lowly charioteer! Who would allow him to enter the gates of Indra’s court! He was saddened. And bored. Did I say that already! Anyways, one day he got an idea, he might be down the ladder but he certainly had few powers! He meditated one evening and changed into a beautiful lass and went to Indra’s Durbar and hidden in a corner he saw the Apsaras dancing and in his heightened happiness forgot that he is supposed to remain hidden and Indra saw him. Indra did not see Aruna, he saw a beautiful girl and he beckoned her. Aruna went silently to Indra and since he could not reveal who he is, he remained silent and let Indra have his way with ‘her’. By the time Aruna left Indra’s place, it was already too late and Surya was angry with Aruna for neglecting his reponsibilities and rebuked him. Aruna stood their with his head hung and in shame. He told Surya his story of what happened in Indra’s Palace. Surya was intrigued and in his curiosity wanted to see how Aruna would look like if he were a girl and ordered the charioteer to take the form of the same nymph as of the last night! And as you can imagine, poor Aruna had to satisfy his master too. The consequence was birth of Vali and Sugreev.

Another story which I am narrating is about Lord Hanuman. My favourite! As we know Hanuman had taken a vow of celibacy. But do you know he had a son? No, he did not violate his celibacy. Wait, let me tell you the story.

It is said that After Lanka Dahen, Hanuman jumped off into the sea to cool himself and in the process a drop of his perspiration fell into the mouth of a fish, a huge fish. That drop made that fish pregnant and gave birth to Makardhwaj, who was later on made king of nether world after Hanuman rescued Rama and Lakshmana from Ahi Ravan and conquered the nether world and gifted it to makardhwaj.

There is a legend which says That Hanuman was married. The story goes like this-

Surya’s wife Sanjana, daughter of Vishwakarma could not bear the heat of Surya and hence her father offered to rub off a little of the heat and that heat took form of a beautiful young gilr who was named Suvarchala. She was so beautiful! Everyone wanted to marry her, but her luminescence would not allow anyone to touch her or to go near her. Hanuman was the disciple of Surya. And Lord Brahma thought that since Hanuman is the only one who can remain near Surya without getting scorched that mean he alone can handle Suvarchala. Surya asked Hanuman for gurudakshina and asked him to marry Suvarchala. Hanuman was in dilemma, he had already taken the vow, how could he marry. He put forward his thought towards his master. Surya told him patiently that since Suvarchala was not conceived due to carnal activity and was a divine creation, Hanuma’s vow would not be tested and Hanuman was given a boon that even after marriage he will remain celibate. So they were married.

I understand that the above story can be quite controversial one, however I would like to mention that this incidence in mentioned in Parasar Samhita and is not a fruit of my imagination. Parasar Samhita is an astrological compilation of incidents from our Hindu Mythology by the great Rishi Parashar.

If you enjoyed above stories, do tell me, I will put up more!! 🙂

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