Bharatha and Shatrughna

The discus and the conch

Vishnu is typically depicted with four hands, each holding an object. The rear left hand holds the conch or shanka, called “Paanchajanya”. The rear right hand holds the discus, called “Sudarshana”.

These positions change when the Lord assumes different rupas (forms). Paanchajanya is said to have emerged during the churning of the ocean, and is considered to be the foremost among all musical instruments, the producer of primordial sound.

The Sudarshana Chakra is a celestial weapon, depicted as a whirling discus of fire, resplendent as a thousand suns.

An imaginative story describes how the conch and the discus chided Vishnu’s sandals for not knowing its place, when he is supposed to have entered Vaikunta along with the sandals, after granting moksha to Gajendra. As a result of this the conch and discus had to venerate the Lord’s sandals and worship them every day for fourteen years :-)

Bharatha

Bharatha, the only son of Kaikeyi, was married to Mandavi, the daughter of Kushadhwaja, sister of Shruthakirthi, cousin of Sita and Urmila, and niece of Janaka Maharaaja. They had two sons, Taksha and Pushkala.

Bharatha’s strength of character is revealed after the exile of Raama, where he condemns Kaikeyi and announces that he will not call her “mother” thereafter and refuses to ascend the throne.

Bharatha goes to the forest and entreats Raama to return to Ayodhya. Upon being firmly refused, he concedes to ruling in the name of Raama, by placing his sandals on the throne. Carrying the sandals on his head, he returns heavy-hearted to Nandigram, on the outskirts of Ayodhya, and lives the life of a hermit, for fourteen years.

Some say that he dug a pit and slept in it so as to be lower than Raama, who would sleep on the ground. Bharatha had also sworn that if Raama were to not return at the end of fourteen years he would immolate himself. Raama, wondering if Bharatha had gotten used to being king, sent Hanuman to find out. If that were the case, Raama had decided to remain in exile forever.

When Hanuman came to Ayodhya, he saw Bharatha preparing a pyre at Nandigram, ready to enter it. Hanuman hurriedly conveyed the news of Raama’s impending arrival at which Bharatha rejoiced. Bharatha carried Raama’s sandals on his head and welcomed him by placing his feet in them.

Bharatha made peace with Kaikeyi, after Raama became king. Goswami Tulasi Das has captured the fraternal love between Raama and Bharatha in the Hanuman Chaalisa, where, Raama hugs Hanuman who has flown in with the Sanjeevani and revived Lakshmana, by saying, “Tum hum priya Bharatha sama bhai..” You are as dear a brother as Bharatha!

Shatrughna

Shatrughna was the incarnation of Vishnu’s chakra. He was married to Shruthakirthi, sister of Mandavi, cousin of Sita and Urmila, and niece of Janaka Maharaaja. They had two sons called, Subahu and Shatrughati.

Shatrughna, the twin of Lakshmana, was exceptionally close to Bharatha. He accompanied Bharatha, whenever the latter visited Kekeya, his maternal grandfather’s kingdom. He was the only brother who stayed in Ayodhya during the 14 year exile of Raama, running the kingdom, handling the administration, looking after the queen-mothers and reporting every night to Bharatha.

The episode of him grabbing Manthara by her hair and dragging her offers us a tiny glimpse of his fiery temper, befitting his swaroopa.

In the Raamayana, his act of slaying Lavanaasura, nephew of Raavana and king of Madhupura, finds special mention. Lavanaasura was undefeatable as he was in possession of Shiva’s trishula or trident. Shatrughna succeeds in his mission, by using an astra (weapon presided by a specific deity) invoking Vishnu.

Raama crowns him the king of Madhupura. Later, Shatrughna divides his kingdom into Madhupura and Vidisha, passing them on to his sons, while he joined Raama, along with Bharatha, in performing jala-samaadhi (giving up the mortal body in water) by entering the river Sarayu.