40. Description of the Sages

Asceticism in India is under the definite and strong sanction of religion. India has always been the

651 p home of asceticism, and from the very earliest times, this feature of Indian life has attracted attention. The sanction of religion to asceticism was given by the example of the greatest saints and heroes of old, and of the gods themselves, who are represented as enduring self-inflicted tortures for thousands of years in order to attain supernatural or enhanced power. The Rsis of old, the demigods of legend and story, the dwellers in heaven as well as on earth, engaged in the practice of tapas to secure dominion for themselves, or to confound their foes. In the doctrine of the four Asramas asceticism was made an integral part of * the orthodox Hindu life%3B and it became the duty of every Hindu, as advanced age overtook him, homeless and a wanderer to chasten himself with austerities. Formally this was to be done for the sake of detaching himself from earthly ties, and of realising union with Brahman. And a religious motive was thus supplied for that which in itself was a welcome release from responsibility, care and the minute 325 requirements of an elaborate social code. The general characteristics of the sages are tranquility of mind, freedom * from kama, krodha and dvesa, 325 ERE. Vol. II, PP. 90-91. For details vide also Dr. Sharma's Thesis entitled 'Brahmanical Asceiticism' Poona Oriental Book Agency.

652 devoid of sanga, Ahamkara, a tendency to mind the welfare of all the beings, predominance of the sattva quality, a passion for practising penance, and an intense desire to know the highest being (56.24-25). The Brahma Purana states that there were different groups Thus it relates that of sages in different Manvantaras. the seven sons of Brahma, Viz. Marici, Atri, Angira, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulastya and Vasistha were the sages of the Svayambhuva manvantara and they resided in the northern direction (5.8,9). The Maharsis of the Svarocisa manvantara were Aurva, Stamba, Kasyapa, Brhaspati, Datta, Atri and Cyavana (5.11,12). In the Uttama manvantara, the sages were the seven Vasisthas, the sons of Vasistha, and Urias, the sons of Hiranyagarbha (5.10,17). The sages of Raivata manavantara were Devabahu, Yadudhra, Vedasiras, Hiranyarona, Parjanya; Urdhvabahu, the son of Soma; Satyanetra, the son of Atri (5.20,21). The sages of the fourth Tamasa manvantara were Kavya, Prtha, Agni, Jahnu, Dhata, Kapivan, Akapivan (5.25,26). The sages of the sixth, viz. Caksusa manvantara were Bhrigu, Nabha, Vivasvan, Sudhama, Viraja, Atinama and Sahisnu (5.29,30). The sages of the Vaivasvata manvantara were Atri, Vasistha, Kasyapa, Gautama, Bharadvaja, Visvamitra, Jamadagni (5.34,35).

653 The Brahma Purana then states that the sages are meant for the maintenance of Dharma and protection of the world. At the end of every manvantara, four sages go to Brahmaloka and other four sages take their place (5.39-41). Further it enumerates the would-be-sages of the future manvantaras. The sages of Savarni manavantara would be Parasurama, Vyasa, Atreya, Asvatthama, the son of Drona bomn in the Bharadvaja family; Saradvan born in the family of Gautama, Galava born in the Kausika family and Aurva, the son of Kasyapa (5.43-45). Thus it could be surmised that the existence of the sages for the maintenance of righteousness was very important. Some sages were very learned, and had studied all the sastras. Thus Vyasa is highly eulogised. About him it is said that he was well-versed in all the sastras, expert in vedas and vedangas, the composer of the Mahabharata the speaker of puranas and Agamas, engrossed in the welfare of all the beings, meditating on Adhyatma, 326 and best among the intelligent (26.5,7). present and the future (26.26). He knew the past, the He is also praised for composing the Brahma purana (A.245), The great sages (26.9-14) like Kasyapa, Jamadagni, Bharadvaja, Vasistha, Jaimini, Dhaumya, Markandeya, Valmiki, Visvamitra, Satananda, 326 missing in ms. 'kha'. 327 The sages after 'Valmiki are missing in ms. 'kha'.

654 Vatsya, Gargya, Asuri, Samantu, Bhargava, Kanva, Medhatithi, Mandavya, Cyavana, Dhumra, Asita, Devala, Maudgalya, Trnayajna, Pippalada, Samvarta, Kausika, Raibhya, Maitreya, Harita, Sandilya, Vibhanda, Durvasa, Lomasa, Narada, Parvata, Vaisampayana, Galava, Bhaskari, Purana, Suta, Pulastya, Kapila, Uluka, Pulaha, Vayu, Devasthana, Caturbhuja, Sanatlumara, Paila and krsna went to the sage Vyasa to have the solution of their doubts regarding worldly parlance. Elsewhere (A.145) it is said that the ages Markandeya, Bharadvaja, Vasistha, Atri, Gautama, Yajnavalkya, Jabali and other Munis were the propagators of sastras and proficient in vedas, vedangas, puranas, Myaya and Mimamsa. They discussed with lord Brahma, Visnu and Siva as to whether karma was higher or jnana was higher and came to the conclusion that as nothing can be attained without performing an action, karuana should be given the prime importance. Again it is said that when the Munis killed the king Vena as he behaved in an unrighteous way, the sages Vamadeva and others approached the sage Kapila who was a knower of the highest essence, engrossed in penance and vrata and who was cruel as well as kind-hearted and asked him as rub to what they should do and the sage advised them to ent the arm of Vena out of which Prthu, the righteous, would be created (A.141). The sage Apastamba asked a very interesting

655 question to the sage Agastya (130,5-14) as to who among the three gods Brahma, Visnu and siva was the highest and the sage Agastya's remarkable answer establishes the identity and non-difference of the three gods and thus blends the theories of many wes with the theory of one god, and finally concludes by saying that the forms of the three gods are different and as regards forms, the vedas are the authority but regarding the formless, there is only one, non-dual and no other. Still, however, for the sake of getting success, one should worship lord Siva. Once it is said that the sages Sanaka and others know the inner secret of Vedanta (129.69). Bahlika, the son of Kanva, was wellversed in vedas and vedangas (148.4). Sunahsepa, the son of Ajigarta, was a knower of Brahman (151.3). The god Dhanvantari was born to Dhanu as a result of severe penance and he learnt the Ayurveda from the sage Bharadvaja and divided it into eight parts and taught it to his pupils (11.36438). Elsewhere it is said that the sages like Vasistha, Jabali, Yajnavalkya, Angira, Daksa, Marica who were devoted to Visnu, others like Satatapa, Saunaka, Deva, rata, Bhrgu, Agni, Vesya, Atri, Marici, Manu, Gautama, Kausika, Tumbaru, Parvata, Agastya, Markandeya, Pippyla and Galava who were engrossed in the practice of Yoga and the sages Vamadeva, Angirasa and Bhargavas who were proficient

656 in smrti, sruti and puranas worshipped the river Godavari (154.2-4). The sage Sandipani was an expert in Dhanurveda and lord krsna and Balarama learnt it from him (194.22-25). The sage Kapila was considered to be a manifestation of lord Visnu and the fire emnating from his eyes burnt the progeny of king Sagara (8.55,56). The sage Narada was considered to be the best among the Devarsis (69.70). + The performance of sacrifice was one of the main functions of the sages. Thus many sages had gathered together in the Naimisa forest for the performance of the sacrifice that was to last for twelve years (I.11). The sage Atreya performed sacrifices with the help of many sages and at the completion of all of them, he obtained the power to move everywhere (140.2-4). The sage Bharadvaja performed a sacrifices and offered the sacrificial cake for the Agnisomiya and the Aindragna and then he transformed the black form of the demon Havyaghna into a fair one by sprinkling the water of the river Gautami on him. The sages Vasistha and others performed a sacrifice on the bank of the river Godavari (134.2). Another main function of the sages was to mind the welfare of the world. When being harassed by Rahu,

657 the Sun was falling on earth the sage Prabhakara blessed him and saved the world from the calamity of darkness (13.8-14). When it did not rain in the kingdom of Kasi, the sage Svaphalka was called and after his arrival, it began to rain (14.4-8). When the unrighteous Vena harrass, ed the people, the sages killed him and created Prthu out of his right hand (4.42,49; 2.21). The mountain Vindhya was rising higher and higher and in order to avert the calamity, the sage Agastya went near him and asked from him not rise till his a promise that he would never return. Ultimately he never returned and the mountain remained in the same position (118.3-5). Sometimes the sages helped the gods. In the marriage of lord Siva with Parvati, the sages Vasistha, Agastya, Paulastya and Lomasa had gone to the Himavan mountain (72.3). The sages Mandavya, Vasistha, Gautama, Agastya, Atri, Kasyapa and others conscerated Indra in order to free him from the sin of brahmin-murder. The sages Mandavya, Vasistha, Gautama, Agastya, Atri, Kasyapa and others consecrated Indra to free him from the sin of a Dadhici gave his boynes to gods brahmin-murder (96.21). in order to prepare a weapon, out of them (A.110). Dadhici was a great devotee of lord Siva and was very enraged when Daksa did not invite him in his sacrifice (39.28,29). When

658 I Indra was dethroned for the third time owing to his undesirable union with Ahalya, he went to the sage Brhaspati for advice (122.51), When Sarama spoke lie about the theft of dogs to Indra, Brhaspati found out the truth and held Sarama to be the cause of the whole thing (131.9-13). The sage Maudgalya was a staunch devotee of lord Visnu and lord Visnu manifested himself to him every day (136.5,6). When there was a great famine in the world, the sage Gautama supported the world and the gods by the power of his penance (74.27-30). When lord Siva concealed the river Ganges in his locks, Parvati requested Skanda and Ganesa to find out a way through which Siva would release her. At that time also Ganesa thought that none was capable of bringing the Ganges down except the sage Gautama (74.39-42). Finally the sage Gautama prayed lord Siva and brought the river Ganges on earth (A.75). The sage Sveta was a devotee of lord Siva and when on the completion of his life Yama came to take away his life, lord Siva fought with Yama, killed him and reenlivened him on the condition that Yama would not have any control over the devotees of lord Siva (A.94). At the time of famine, the sage Visvamitra forced Indra to pour rain (A.93). The sages served as the Purohitas of the kings and advised them on all the important matters. By the grace

659 of the sage Vasistha, king Sagara obtained sons (78.10), By the favour of the sage Rayasrnga, king Lomapada had the son Caturanga (13.38) and king Dasaratha had the famous four sons, viz. Rama and others (123.84). All sages acted as Purohitas in the sacrifices and helped the kings. Thus the sage Kasyapa acted as a Purohita in the performance of the ten Asvamedhas of the king Bhauvana (82.3). Vasistha acted as a Purohita in the sacrifice of king Priyavrata (103.3) and (109.14) in the reign of Daksa The sage Madhucchanda was the king Dasaratha (123.5).and a Purohita in the reign of king Saryati and he accompanied him when he started to conquer the world (138.3,4). When the king Aila was very distressed on account of the separation from Urvasi, the sage Vasistha consoled him (151.12-16). The sage Visvamitra taught Rama and Laksmana the great Mahesvarividya, Dhanurvidya, sastravidya, Astravidya, Laukiklvidya, Rathavidya, Gajavidya, Asvavidya, Gadavidya and the recitation of mantras (123.97,98) and gave them divine weapons (213.142), Uttanka, the sons of king Kuvalasva killed the demon Dhundhu and the sage Uttanka granted them boons (7.74-85). King Indradyumna performed a sacrifice with great pomp after calling the priests who were experts in the performance of sacrifice (47.35-36). By the advice of the sage i

660 The lives of Piots sages stamped deep impression on the lives of people. Many sages were reverred for their holy lives. The sages practised severe penance and restrained their senses. Thus the sage Atri practised penance called Anuttara for 3,000 divine years and his virile-semen manifested in the sky in the form of Moon, and the tears falling from his eyes brightened the ten directtions (9.2.6). Sage Visvamitra, the son of King Gadhi was a great ascetic and he became a great Brahmarsi (10.55-60). He had many famous sons like Devarata, Katyayana, Hiranyaksa, Renu, Renuka, Kacchapa and Harita; and they were the promulgators of the gotras Panini, Babhra, Dhyanajapya, Parthiva, Devarata, Salankayana, Baskala, Lohitayana. Harita and Salankayana and Baskala, Lohitayana, 328 Harita and Astakadya-jana (10.58-63). The sage Sakalya practised severe penance on the mountain Suohra (163.4). The Siddhas like Sanandana and others meditated on krsna with concentration on the tip of their nose (193.42). The sage Kandu practised severe penance but he was disturbed by the nymph Pramaloca (A.178). The penance of the sage Visvamitra was also disturbed by Menaka (147.6,7). There is an interesting example of Angirasas who though practiced severe penance did 328 The name Lohitayana and the following are according to ms. 'ka'.

661 not get success as they had not asked the permission of their mother before practising it (158.8-11). The sage Narada is considered to be the best among the Devarsis (69.70). Sage Rcika was very zExX righteous and has the power to create sons according to his liking (A.10). The sages were unable to bear adharma and cursed those who barred the proper path of action. Thus when Samba and his friends wanted to poke fun of the sages Visvamitra, Kanva and Narada and had garbed Samba into the role of a pregnant woman, they cursed them that Samba would give birth to a musala which would bring disaster to the whole Yadu family (A.210). Another anecdotes relates that when the nymphs Rambha, Tilottama and others satisfied the sage Astavakra he granted a boon to them that they would get lord Purusottama as their husband but when they laughed at his crooked limbs, he cursed them that they would be carried away by the Dasyus (212.79-84). When Indra enjoyed with Ahalya after taking the form of her husband Gautama, the sage Gautama cursed him to have a 1,000 signs of female organ on his body and cursed Ahalya to become a dry river (87.59). King Kartavirya gave his whole kingdom in dana to Agni and Agni devoured it. In this disaster, the hermitage of the sage Apava was also burnt, so he cursed Kartavirya that he would be killed by an ascetic brahmin

662 Parasurama (13.192.197). When Pippala, the sister of Visvavasu poked fun of the sages at a sacrifice, they cursed her to be a river (132.3). Kadru was cursed to pose one eye as she poked fun of the sages (100.28). of sages. Sometimes the gods had to intervene in the matters Thus when Soma carried away Tara, the wife of sage Brhaspati, lord Brahma brought the reconciliation between the two (9.19-25). Many a times the sages grew Jealous of each other and a great rivalry arose among them. Thus the rivalry between the sage Vasistha and the sage Visvamitra is famous (147.5). A sage Kanva was very envious of the prosperity of the sage Gaubama and he prayed the river -goddess Godavari in order to attain prosperity (A.85). About the sages Vasistha, Atri, Pulastya, Angira, Pulaha, Kratu, Bhrgu and Marici who were the sins-in-law of Daksa, it is said that they were religious, great yogins, observed vratas and meditated on Brahman (34.16,17), and that the sages Bhrgu, Atri and Pulaha worshipped Sun (33.17). Some sacred places were ascribed to the Rsis.

663 Thus Prabhasa, Bhargava, Agastya, Nara, Narayana, Vasistha, Bharadvaja, Gautama, Kasyapa, and Manu were called the arsatirthas after the names of the sages (70.37,38). Various anecdotes are given in the Brahma Purana regarding different sages. Thus it is said that in the marriage of lord Siva with Parvati, Brahma's semen-virile fell on seeing the beauty of Parvati and from it the sages Valkhilyas were created (72.18,19). The sage Atri obtained the power to move at his will everywhere by the performance of the sacrifice and he went to Indraloka and then asked Tvasta to construct a similar Indraloka for himself. He enjoyed the pleasures but when he was confronted by the troubles of the danavas, he requested Tvasta to destroy the Indraloka (A.140). Elsewhere it is said that Atri worshipped Brahma, Visnu and Mahesvara and requested them to be his sons. Later on they were born to him as Datta, Soma and Durvasa (A.144). The sages Argirasas saved people when the earth devoured them (155.4). Lord Visnu protected the sage Markandeya at the time of the great deluge (A.53). By the grace of lord Siva, the dead child of the sage Kapalagautama was reenlivened (59.8). The sage Yajnavalkya had discussions with the king Janaka regarding Bhukti and Mukti (88.5-15). When Brahma created Ahalya, he had a problem before him as to who should be given the charge of

664 bringing up Ahalya, He selected the sage Gautama and later on married Ahalya to him (87.5,6,29). The sage Galava was well-versed in vedas and vedangas and he showed the proper way of behaviour to Sanajjata and his mother (92.40,41). The sage Mandavya consecrated Indra in the country Malava (96.18,19) King Hariscandra asked the sages Narada and Parvata about the importance of a son in one's life (104.4-14). A sage Veda was a great devotee of lord Siva (169.4). The seven sages came with their wives to see the merging of the river Ganga into the ocean (A.172) and divided the river Ganges into seven parts and called the seven parts after their seven names, viz. Vasisthi, Daksineyi, Vaisvamitri, Vamadevi, Gautami, Bharadvaji, Atreyi and Jamadagni (173.3-5). The sage Visvamitra explained the philosophy of Karma to Visvarupa (173.10-25). Lord Visnu in his incarnation as the sage Dattatreya taught the Astanga Yoga to the sage Alarka (183.31,32). The sage Vasistha drank the semen-virile of lord Siva and deposited it in the six wives of the seven sages after excluding Arundhati. Afterwards a child with six faces was born who later on killed Taraka (82.1-12). When the sage Jahnu did not accept the river Ganges as his

665 wife, she drowned the sacrificial altar of the sage. Thereupon, the sage was all wrath and he drank the Ganges. Being requested thereupon by other sages, he accepted her as his daughter and thereafter she was known as Jahnavi (10.14-21, 13.82-88).