SAPTHA RISHIS
Saptha rishis seven in number
On marriage day couples made to remember
Vashista, Bharatvaja, jamadagni
Gautama, visvamitra, kasyapa and atri
On the happy marriage night
Priest guides couples to sight
Arundati, wife of sage Vashista
Her devotion, harmony to Vashista
Vashista known for dharma, twenty kalas or divine arts
In Ramayana he taught, Dasaratha chariot driving art
On earth, space, above seas, in ten directions right
None to match rishi Vashist , in this art perfect.
Vashista, beloved guru of lord Rama
Of Ikshavaku dynasty of Dasratha
With knowledge of cosmos, guru excellent
Peace loving, self- less, intelligent
Arundati, eighth daughter of Sage Kardami
A wish born son of Lord Brahma and Devehuti
Called Aksharamala too, married to Vashishta
On bank of Sarasvati river, their kuteer
Hundred sons born to them, the first one Shakti
Had a cow Nandini, can feed a whole army
A visit of Kaushika and Visvamitra to ashram
Power of Nandini, beyond their comprehension.
Visvamitra in vain, take away Nandini by force
Nandini’s super power began to surface
Decides to acquire Vashista like spiritual power
Renouncing luxury, became an ascetic liver.
Dilip, king of Raghuvamsa dynasty
His wife Sudakshina had no children, pity
Approached Vashista for blessings
Advised twenty one days, attend all Nandini needs
On twenty first day, a lion attacked Nandini
Dilip attacked the lion, but hand got paralyzed
Lion in voice said, Nandini as its chosen meal
Lion had some power Dilip realized well.
Dilip offer himself as Lion’s meal
Lion agreed and Dilip sacrificed his life as meal
Lion disappeared from view seen
Nandini expressed lion was an illusion
Nandini granted him a son
Dilip and Sudakshina loved their possession
On the starry wedding night,
Bridegroom asks bride to sight
North pole star Dhruva
Bride addressing this mantra
Dhruvakshith dhruva yonith
Dhruvamasi dhruvatah sthitham
Tvam nakshatram medhy as
Sampathi pritanyatah
Thou art established in firmness
Has got a firm place, dost stand
By firmness and art the firm
Thou art the pole star, protect me
From him who wars with me.
Sapta rishaya, prathamam krittikanam
Arandhatim yad dhruvaten ha minyul
Shat krittika mukhya-yogam
Vahanti- iyamamsakam edhatu ashtami
In as much as seven rishis led Arundhati
First of the krittikas to attain dhruvata
The other six krittikas
Bear their fond union
Or embrace (to her) may this(newly married wife)
Of ours prosper as eighth among them.
Like the starry seven high
May this couple too shine in life.
K.S.V.SESHADRI
No comments:
Post a Comment