Story of Trishanku

admin

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 28, 2019
Messages
73
Reaction score
0
Points
6
It is a well known custom in our religion to name a child after ancestors if it is a male child then it is named after grand or great grandfather and similarly if the child is a girl then the grandmother or great grandmother’s name is normally kept.

These names would finally be linked to their family deity, the god or goddess. Similarly after Ambarisha the son of Nabhaga his descendents were named. Ambarisha’s son Virupa had no issue and in order to sustain his linage the elders requested the sage Angira to be the progenitor and sons born to him were Kshatriya brahmanas of Angirasa linage in which the famous Sage Harita came and a gotra Haritha gotra came about.

Like this in that linage sons were born who were again named Ambarisha, Yuvanasva, Harita and Mandhatha.

Mandhatha’s son Purukutsa had a wife called Narmadha is of Naga (Serpent world) kingdom , Vasuki and other prominent members of that kingdom were her brothers. He was taken by his wife Narmada to Nagaloka where the demons were tormenting them and he fought with them valiantly and won the war and established peace.

In his linage was born Tribandana also known as Prithu and he had a son called Sathyavrtha! This prince once kidnapped a Brahmin girl at her marriage ceremony and made her his queen and this act was not approved by his elders and came to be called thereafter “Trisankhu” thrice afraid of heaven! For his mistake!

This King Trishanku of Ikshvaku clan got an idea to perform a rare yagna that bestows ascendance to the heavens with the physical body!

Though such a yagna is very difficult to perform and to bear fruits, he was determined to perform it! He duly approached his Guru Vasishta and told him about his wish, but to his disappointment, he discouraged him and said it is quite impossible for him to perform that yagna!

Not satisfied with his reply, Trishanku went southwards in search of a suitable preceptor who would accept the assignment and perform the yagna and complete successfully.

He approached the hermitage where one hundred sons of Sage Vasishta equally capable like their father were performing austerities!

With folded hands the King told them about approaching their father and having been refused by him he is now before the next in Sage Vasishta’s clan. All the sons of Vasishta spoke in one voice and said that it is not advisable for the King to ignore the proclamation by his own Kula guru.

Moreover there is none in the three worlds who would be equal to Vasishta in proficiency and honor! So avoid going against his verdict, said the sons of Vasishta.

Trishanku replied them reverentially, that he is determined to perform the rare yagna and would seek someone else to perform it on his behalf. On hearing this the sons of Vasishta got angry and cursed him, saying that he would be the first Ikshvaku King to go against the Kula guru and would be relegated to a profane world!

Soon the curse upon the King took effect!

All that was glorious immediately deserted him , his clothes and jewellery turned into black, and his hair became matted, and his luster left him too. All his retinue deserted him. All his ornaments changed into iron ones! Crest fallen King spent the night near the asram and left the next day determined his mind to complete his mission.

Soon he reached sage Viswamitra’s hermitage!

Arriving at the asram he approached the sage reverentially and said that he has come to him seeking his abode and the sage should not disown him like the Kula guru and his sons have done! Hearing these words Sage Viswamitra spoke benevolently, and inquired about the whole story.

Then said the King who has not spoken untruth till now, and has ruled the country in a just manner without any transgressions should not have been subjected to this treatment. He also assured that the yagna shall be performed on his behalf and he can go to heaven with the body in its present state where it bears the curse of the sages the sons of Vasishta so that all in the heavens would realize the unjust manner in which these sages have behaved!

Then Viswamitra ordered all his sons and disciples to go in all directions and invite eminent rishis including the sons of Vasishta to this yagna and tell them that it is being performed under the aegis of Sage Viswamitra. He also told them to come and tell in entirety the replies given by various rishis who are being invited.

Soon the disciples and sons of Viswamitra left as instructed and returned after a while. They told him that many eminent rishis have agreed and have already started to arrive at the hermitage except Mahodaya the son of Vasishta and the other one hundred sons who spoke in expletives and denounced the effort as one being conducted by a Kshatriya for another profane King!

They also said such efforts would go in vain! This reply infuriated Viswamitra and he thundered by cursing them to lead a life of neglect and wretched state!

Having passed his judgement on the sons of Sage Vashista and cursing them, he told the assembled rishis to get ready to perform the ritual, they deliberated among themselves about the possible outcome and the divergent declarations given by the two eminent sages, and being afraid of the seething anger of Viswamitra, they agreed to start the proceedings with Sage Viswamitra as the officiator. Soon it was time for the gods to come and receive the oblations!

They were all assembled at the abode of Indra, and were utterly confused and consulted him. Indra said that there is no merit to this exercise that the sage has undertaken and Trishanku having been denied such a position by the great sage Vashishta is one without merit to come to heaven with his body!

This deliberation delayed their arrival at the yagna and the sage got angry at this tardy response of the Gods went ahead and declared that all his ascetic powers are now yoked to this yagna and the King shall ascend to heaven merely by his power that would propel him.

Soon, with every one watching Trishanku ascended to the heaven. Despite the Gods refusal to come and accept the offerings the yagna yielded the results.

Indra accosted the King Trishanku and spoke to him that he had not acquired the merits in due course and his arrival is not the qualification to enter the heavens and proclaimed that he would fall down to the earth head down immediately.

The King speedily started to fall, and cried aloud to Viswamitra to save him from destruction! Soon Viswamitra angrily proclaimed that he would stay despite the order of Indra where he is at present and through his ascetic powers would replicate all that is there in the heavens for this King, saying this Sage Viswamitra ordered replication, and soon the entire cosmos emerged including a cloned Indra and demigods!

This baffled the Gods and Indra too, they came to the abode of Sage Viswamitra and requested him to pardon them and also said that the merits of the King do not confer ascending to the heavens with his body that is why he was refused by Indra.

Listening to this Sage Viswamitra spoke kindly to the Gods, and said that he is not unduly worried about the King but having faith in his truthful nature and his good deeds while administering his Kingdom, he was inclined to grant him his request and said that the worlds created by him would last as long as the ones at present last!

Lord Indra then said “Let that be so” but then the King would remain upside down as he had proclaimed, and would shine as another celestial star! Having said this all the Gods paid their respects to the sage and departed to their abode! Soon the sages assembled there for the yagna too felt happy at the whole episode ending amicably and left for their abodes. Sage Viswamitra too retired towards Western direction to continue his ascetic sadhana in the quiet forest nearby.
 

Similar threads


Top