Puranic encyclopaedia

by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222

This page describes the Story of Bharadvaja included the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani that was translated into English in 1975. The Puranas have for centuries profoundly influenced Indian life and Culture and are defined by their characteristic features (panca-lakshana, literally, ‘the five characteristics of a Purana’).

Story of Bharadvāja

The sage Bharadvāja of Purāṇic fame.

General information.

Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa of Kampa Rāmāyaṇa states that this sage was the son of Atri Maharṣi. He lived for many thousands of years. He is connected with Vālmīki and the story of Śrī Rāma. Bharadvāja was for many years a disciple of Vālmīki. He was present with Vālmīki when the hunter killed one of the couple of Krauñca. When Vālmīki and Bharadvāja reached the shores of the river, Tamasā, that day Vālmīki told Bharadvāja thus: "Look, Bharadvāja, what a clean ghat this is. The water is pure and clear. Place your water-jug here and give me my valkala. We will get down here in this sacred water". Then Vālmīki taking the valkala from the disciple walked along the shore admiring the beauty of the forest trees and found on his way the historic Krauñca couple. (Sarga 2, Bāla Kāṇḍa, Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa).

Bharadvāja and the study of Vedas.

Bharadvāja gave himself untiringly to the study of the Vedas. He obtained from Indra a boon to extend his term of life on earth to many thousands of years by different stages, each stage covering a span of a thousand years of life. All these years he devoted to an incessant study of the Vedas. Finding the term not sufficient for completing the study of the Vedas he appealed to Indra again for extension and Indra appearing in person took him before three mountains and giving him three handfuls of sand told him thus, "What you have studied about Vedas till this time is equivalent to the amount of sand I have now given and what is yet to be studied about the Vedas is as big as the three mountains before you". Any other mortal being would have been disheartened by this revelation made by Indra, but not Bharadvāja. Undaunted he continued his studies. (Bhāgavata).

Bharadvāja in the role of a magician.

The āśrama of Bharadvāja was in Citrakūṭa and Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa in the beginning of their exile went to his āśrama accepting his blessings. Bharata on his return from Kekaya knew about the exile of his brothers and hoping to bring them back to Ayodhyā went in search of them with a big retinue of soldiers and men. Keeping the retinue outside, Bharata went to the āśrama of Bharadvāja. The latter decided to give Bharata and his people a grand reception and calling Viśvakarmā to his side asked him to arrange a royal banquet that night. Devas, Gandharvas, Apsarases, Aṣṭadikpālas and all such people were invited for the night. Renowned dancers from devaloka like Ghṛtācī, Hemā, Viśvācī Miśrakeśī and Alambuṣā appeared for entertainment. Even Vanarājī took part in the dance. Dishes of food came to the guests of their own accord. The night came to an end wonderfully and at daybreak everything vanished and all were amazed at the magic of the sage. (Sarga 91, Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa).

Droṇa’s origin.

Droṇa was the son born to Bharadvāja of the celestial woman, Ghṛtācī. (see under Droṇa).

How Bharadvāja died once but was born again.

See under Arvāvasu.

The name Bharadvāja.

This is how the connotation of the word is explained.

"bhare'sutān bhare śiṣyān bhare devān bhare dvijān bhare ca bhāryāmavyājād bharadvājo'smi śobhane" (I protect even those who are not my sons, I protect my disciples, I protect devas and the brahmins. I protect my wife and all these I do with ease and so I am named Bharadvāja). (Bhāgavata)

Other details.

(1) Bharadvāja once gave refuge in his āśrama to Manoramā, daughter of the King of Kaliṅga and her son. (See under Manoramā).

(2) The sixth maṇḍala of Ṛgveda contains the songs of Bharadvāja.

(3) He was among the sages who once went to Dvārakā and cursed Sāmba. (See under Sāmba).

(4) Bharadvāja had a daughter Devavarṇinī whom Viśravas married and got the son, Kubera. (see under Kubera).

(5) Once Bharadvāja was travelling through an uninhabited forest with his son when he became exhausted by hunger and he then begged of a śūdra, Pṛthu, several cows. (Śloka 107, Chapter 1, Manusmṛti).

(6) This sage took part in a birthday celebrations of Arjuna. (Śloka 57, Chapter 122, Ādi Parva, Mahābhārata).

(7) Because of the blessing of Bharadvāja Bharata got a son named Bhūmanyu. (Śloka 22, Chapter 94, Ādi Parva, Mahābhārata).

(8) Bharadvāja taught the secret of the missile Āgenya to Agniveśa. (Śloka 39, Chapter 129, Ādi Parva, Mahābhārata).

(9) He worshipped Brahmā sitting in the council of Brahmā. (Śloka 22, Chapter 11, Sabhā Parva, Mahābhārata).

(10) This sage came to the battlefield during the Mahābhārata battle and requested Droṇa to lay down his missile. (Śloka 35, Chapter 196, Droṇa Parva, Mahābhārata).

(11) Once Bhṛgu Maharṣi asked him some questions on the creation of this universe and Bharadvāja gave him satisfactory answers. (Chapter 182, Śānti Parva, Mahābhārata).

(12) This sage performed the sacrifice Putrakāmeṣṭi, and gave a son to Divodāsa. (Chapter 30, Anuśāsana Parva, Mahābhārata).

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