Madhwa Vijaya - 2

Sarga 1 Part 2

The second avataara of Vayu devaru was Bheemasena, conceived by Pandu’s wife Kunti by a mere loving touch of Vayu devaru.

While Indra had to use his celestial weapon, the thunderbolt, to cut off the wings of the mountains, this child, slipping out of his mother’s hands, split a hill upon landing on it.

When at the palace, he observed the Kuru princes getting tired from playing tame games and he recollected his time in the forest gambolling with lions.

When an attempt to poison and drown him was made (by Duryodhana), Bheemasena effortlessly emerged from the depths of the waters having digested the poison rendering it ineffective and having slain the serpents underneath, in the waters.

When the palace of lac was set afire, Bheemasena emerged unscathed and carried his brothers and mother on his shoulders to safety. When accosted by the man-eating demon Hidimba, Bheemasena ended his (Hidimba’s) life. Lauded by the Devas, he was instructed by Veda Vyaasa to accept Hidimbi as his wife. Bheemasena’s triumph was akin to a victorious spy being reunited with his comrades, like an ascetic who purifies himself by burning up by his yogic powers, like one worthy of being revered by the three worlds, like a devotee reaching the ultimate goal, Naarayana.

With immense spiritual knowledge, the discerning Bheemasena offered all his worthy acts to Lord Veda Vyaasa and took an oath that he would do so in future too.

With the protection of Hari manifested as the vast sky, like a brilliantly plumed bird (Raja Hamsa*) he defeated the demon Baka (an ordinary crane), and every other opponent (like insignificant birds). This victorious Raja Hamsa, along with his illustrious brothers, wed the beauteous Droupadi, who was like a Raja Hamsi.

*literally, flamingo

Bheema was delighted to see Krishna, his cousin, (at Droupadi’s swayam-vara) after a long time, and greeted the one who had the face of a moon, and eyes like lotuses.

In due course, accompanied by Krishna and Arjuna, he killed the mighty Jarasandha, the wielder of the mighty mace. Thus annihilating evil warriors and rulers, he along with Krishna and Arjuna, enabled Dharmaraaja (Yudishtira) to perform the Rajasuya yagna with pomp.

Lovingly braiding his beloved Droupadis’s mass of black, curly, tangled hair, pulled so roughly by Dushasana, like a fearless person brazenly handling angry cobras that have been wickedly set on him.

Fearing that their fate would be that of groves of trees uprooted and burnt by the fire called Bheema, the wicked, preying upon people like locusts, disappeared from his vicinity. The wolf-bellied* Vrikodara destroyed these demons to rid the earth of her burden.

*insatiable appetite yet slender waisted

He destroyed those who wandered spreading terror, those lost in sin and lust, and the asuras called Krodhavashaas, including their leader Manimantha. These sinful ones have been compared to venomous snakes which move around hissing and with precious gems in their hoods.

This son of wind, whose fiery embers were fanned by the wind, grew to a raging flame and burnt to ashes the likes of Keechaka, who were filled with conceit, emerging from his period of inaction, spent in in hiding (agnaatavasa).

Following Krishna’s footsteps, along with Arjuna, wielding his powerful mace, he braved the onslaught of warriors like Bheeshma and Drona, like an inferno that has engulfed a forest causing its inhabitants to perish.

When the evil sons of Dhritarashtra rushed towards Bheema, they appeared like storks that have burnt their wings when he, effortlessly making use of various weapons, slew them.

Reigning gloriously with his brothers, hovering around the feet of Krishna, like a bee around a lotus, beloved of the lotus faced Droupadi, he was the sun to the lotus pond of his citizens.

Handed over the reins of the kingdom to their grandson, and the grandnephew of Krishna; their fame known in the three worlds, with the name of the Lord in their hearts, the very name that burns the hearts of the wicked.

Owing to the assault of the tempest that is Vayu devaru, the asuras who were puffed up and spread all over, like clouds in the skies, were reduced to listless fluff scattered far and wide.

Didn’t these demons rendered ineffective, realising that they stood no match to the physical prowess of Vayu devaru, decide to be born in Kali-yuga and launch a fresh assault by spreading false theories of a nirguna Bhagavantha*, that is, a God not distinct from everything else?

*An attribute-less God

To avenge their defeat, they took birth, and among them their leader Manimantha, empowered with the boon of eloquence after propitiating Shiva, took birth as “Sankara” in a place called Kaladi.

This sinful person sought to grasp the Vedas like a cat tries to drink milk in stealth, like a dog defiles the holy offerings to the sacrificial fire, like a monkey fiddles with a string of pearls.

This person took to the fourth ashrama (sanyaasa) knowing full well that this was the way to attract followers, like a roguish tusker sullies the water of a lotus pond by entering it.

Adapting the principles of Mahayaana Buddhism (which opposed the wisdom offered in the Vedas), he sought to carve a path for his endeavour.

Using terms such as “asat” or non-existence and unreal, “maya” for the layer of ignorance, and “gunashunya” or bereft of qualities to describe the supreme consciousness; to disseminate his philosophy, he came to be as a “masked Buddhist”.

As one who has attempted to rob the luminous sun comprising the Bramhasutras or Vedantic principles, and thus cast a shadow on the light of true knowledge, he is a great charlatan.

Opposing the very essence of the Bramhasutras yet masquerading as its advocate, the fact that he was not reduced to ashes by the lord, in the form of Vyaasa, verily reflects the benevolent patience of the lord.

His words and teachings buried the glowing jewels of the Vedas in marshy soil. Thus misleading and befuddling people, he was true to his name “Sankara*”.

*one who creates doubts?

The world is unreal, God has no attributes, there is no difference between jeevas (and Paramaatma); these were the concepts propagated widely, slowly but surely obliterating the awareness of the glorious Vaasudeva by enveloping the minds of even the pious in a blanket of misconception.

End of Sarga 1