Guru B

 Bruhaspathi – Deva Guru and his incarnations

According to Shivapurana Guru was born to Angeerasa and Suroopa. His brothers are Utathya and Samvartana. Bruhastathi also known as Brahmanaspati is the teacher of Gods and is praised in many hymns of the Rigveda.

Garuda purana:

3.28.45 states – “Bruhaspati, the preceptor of Gods, had three forms, o lord of birds. When Rama was incarnated on earth, he was born as Bharata. As such Brahma pervaded him.

3.28.47 states – “When Lord Krishna was incarnated on earth, Brhaspati, the preceptor of Gods, was incarnated as Drona [son of Bharadvaja and apsara Ghrtaci]. The creator pervaded him. As Brhaspati was born of drona [jug], he was called Drona.

According to the Rigveda, Jupiter is very pleasing to watch. He himself has constructed his abode. He is worth worshipping for the whole world. If he is pleased with his devotees he blesses them with prosperity and intelligence.

 1.1 Guru – the life giver

Once Indra and Bruhaspathi were believed to have gone to Kailasa, the abode of Lord Shiva. Shiva put them to the test and obstructed their entrance in the guise of a furious Digambara. Failing to recognize the Lord, Indra wielded his powerful weapon, Vajraayudha, over Shiva who reduced the disbelieving Indra to ashes. Bruhaspathi, quick to recognize Shiva’s divinity, appeased his anger and appealed to the Lord to restore Indra to life. Thus Bruhaspathi saved Indra and with this he earned the title of ‘Jeeva’ – the life giver.

1.2 Bruhaspathi – family details and his deity

Bruhaspathi had three wives: the main was Tara the other two being Subha and Mamta.

Seven daughters were born to Shubha: Bhanumati, Raka, Archismati, Mahishrvati, Siniwali and Havishmati.

Seven sons and a daughter were born to Tara from Bruhaspathi. I do not have details about them. Tara had another son from Moon God, the story of this son has been told in this posting.

Mamta gave birth to Bhardwaja and Kacha.

The presiding deity of Jupiter is Indra. There is a manthra recited “Tarabalam Chandra balam thameva Vidya balam Deivabalam thameva” about the auspiciousness of muhurtha recited by our sasthrikals at all functions.

1.3 Abduction of Tara

Chandra performed a rajasuya yajna (royal sacrifice) and the ceremony was an outstanding success. But all this success and glory went to Chandras head. The preceptor of the Gods was the Sage Bruhastathi and Bruhastathis wife was Tara. Chandras eyes fell upon Tara and he forcibly abducted her. In fact Tara too had no hatred to Chandra and she did not resist.

On several occasions Bruhastathi asked Chandra as such to return Tara, but the Moon-God would not listen. A terrible war was waged between the Gods and demons over Tara.

The Gods fought on Bruhastathi’s side and the demons aided Chandra. Shiva also fought on the side of the Gods. As the war raged, Shiva let fly a terrible divine weapon named Brahmashirsha at Chandra. Chandra countered this with another terrible divine weapon named Somastra. These two weapons of destruction threatened to burn up the entire universe. Brahma decided that it was time for him to intervene.

“Stop this nonsense at once,” he told Chandra. “What you have done is most improper. Return Tara at once.” These words ashamed Chandra and he returned Tara

Birth of Buddha

But while with Chandra, Tara had already conceived. But still Guru accepted her in that condition. The son born was Buddha.

Buddha became very skilled in the handling of elephants. In fact, the knowledge of tackling and handling elephants goes back to Buddha. 

The story of Buddha marrying Ila and birth of son Pururava to them and King Pururavas love and life with Apsara Urvashi are interesting stories, which we will see later.

1.5 Mrita Sanjeevani

The demons and Gods fought with each other all the time. Bruhastathi was the preceptor of the Gods and Shukracharya was the preceptor of the demons. Shukracharya knew a wonderful art known as Mritasanjivani. Thiswas the knowledge of bringing back dead people to life. (The Harivamsha tells us that Shukracharya learnt this art by praying to Shiva and pleasing him. The Matsya Purana refers to this story later.)

Since Shukracharya knew this art, the Gods were in a terrible fix. Any demons that the Gods killed were promptly brought back to life by Shukracharya. But Bruhastathi knew no such art. So any Gods that the demons killed, stayed dead. The Gods pondered about this problem and finally arrived at a solution.

1.6 Kachha becomes sishya to Sukracharya

Kachha was Bruhaspathi’s son from his wife Mamta. The Gods told Kachha. “Go and become Shukracharyas disciple. Try to learn the art of mritasanjivani from him. Shukracharya has a beautiful daughter named Devayani. Try to curry her favor so that your task may become easier.”

Kachha went to Shukracharya. “Please accept me as your disciple,” hesaid. 

“I am the great Bruhastathis son. I will serve you faithfully for years.” Since no mention was made of Mritasanjivani, Shukracharya gladly agreed to this proposition. Kachha lived with Shukracharya and served his Guru (teacher). He became friendly with Devayani and Devayani gradually fell in love with Kachha. Days passed.

1.7 Asuras attempt to end Kachha 

The demons got to know that Kachha was Bruhastathi’s son. Since they hated Bruhastathi, they hated Kachha as well. Kachha was in the habit of taKing Shukracharya’s cattle to the forest for grazing. When Kachha was alone in the forest, the demons seized their chance. They slew Kachha and fed his body to the tigers.

In the evening, the cattle returned home alone. Kachha was not with them.

1.8 Devayani expresses her love with Kachha to Sukracharya

Seeing this, Devayani told her father, “The cattle have returned home without Kachha. I am certain that someone has killed him. I am in love with Kachha and cannot survive without him. Please do something.”

“Do not worry,” Shukracharya told Devayani. “I will bring Kachha back to life with the art of mritasanijivani. ” As soon as Shukracharya recited the magical mantra (incantation), Kachha appeared before them, hale and hearty. Days passed.

1.9 Sukracharya consumes Kachha

Kachha went to the forest once more, this time to pluck flowers. The demons killed him again. But this time they burnt his body and mixed the ashes in a goblet of wine. They then served the wine to Shukracharya to drink. When Kachha did not return, Devayani again told her father. “I am certain that someone has killed Kachha. I cannot survive without him. Please do something.”

Through this power, Shukracharya discovered what had happened. He told his daughter, “We have a real problem on our hands. Kachha is inside my stomach. I can revive Kachha by summoning him through mritasanjivani. But in the process, he will have to tear asunder my body and I shall die. Tell me, beloved daughter, which do you want? Either Kachha or your father will live.”

“I refuse the choice.” replied Devayani. “Both you and Kachha must live. I cannot survive without either.”

1.10 Mritasanjeevani taught to Kachha

Shukracharya then decided that there was only one way out. He addressed Kachha, who was inside his stomach, and taught him the words of the mrtasanjivani mantra. He then recited the words himself and out came Kachha. Shukracharya’s body was torn apart and the Sage died. But Kachha had learnt the words of the mantra. He now recited them to bring Shukracharya back to life. Kachha thus learnt what he had set out to achieve. After spending some more time with Shukracharya, he prepared toreturn to heaven.

1.11 Devayani gets betrayed

“Where are you going” asked Devayani. “Don’t know that I am in love with you? Please marry me.”

“I am afraid that I cannot do that,” replied Kachha. “You are my Guru’s daughter. Therefore, you are my superior just as my Guru is my superior. I cannot marry you. Moreover, I have spent some time inside his body. And when I came out, it was as if a son had been born fromhim. You are therefore my sister. How can I possibly marry you?”

Devayani became very angry. “You are playing with words,” she said. “I curse you that although you have learnt the art of mritasanjivani, it will prove to be of no use to you.” 

“You have needlessly cursed me,” retorted Kachha. “I too curse you that no brahmana will ever marry you and that you will never get whatever it is that you wish for. Later Devayani married a King Sharmishta. Devayani- Sharmishta story we will see later.

1.12 Jayanti lures Sukracharya

Keeping the demons by his father Sage Brighu’s hermitage Sukracharya went for a penance to know the manthra from Lord Siva, which would help the demons become invisible.

Meanwhile, the Gods got to know what Shukracharya was up to. They realized that, once Shukracharya returned, they would be in no position to tackle the demons. Indra had a daughter named Jayanti. Indra reasoned that he ought to try and disturb Shukracharya’s meditation. He therefore sent Jayanti to the place where Shukracharya was praying. Her instructions were to try and distract the Sage. Jayanti served Shukracharya faithfully throughout the appointed period of a thousand years. When the vrata was over, Shiva appeared before Shukracharya and taught him the art of

 Mritasanjivani.

It was then that Shukracharya noticed Jayanti. “Who are you” heasked. “And why have you been serving me thus I am exceedingly pleased with what you have done. Tell me what I can do for you.” 

“If you wish to grant me a boon, marry me and live as my husband for ten years,” replied Jayanti. Shukracharya was lured away by Jayanti.

 1.13 Bruhaspathi disguises as Sukracharya

Indra was bent upon ensuring the destruction of the demons and he now hit upon a plan. He asked Bruhastathi to adopt Shukracharyas form and go to the demons. The demons were expecting their Guru back after the thousand years were over and took Bruhastathi to be Shukracharya.

They honored him and served him faithfully. When the ten years with Jayanti were over, Shukracharya returned and discovered Bruhastathi among the demons.

“Who is this upstart?” he demanded to know. “Give him up and seek refuge with me. I am the real Shukracharya. “

“Not at all,” replied Bruhastathi. “I am the real Shukracharya. ” The demons were bemused. Bruhastathi and Shukracharya were as alike as two peas in a pod; there was no way of telling them apart. They finally reasoned that the person who had been living with them for the last ten years must be their real Guru. They therefore accepted Bruhastathi and shooed Shukracharya away.

Shukracharya cursed the demons that they were bound to be destroyed. As soon as Shukracharya cursed the demons, Bruhastathi adopted his own form.

The demons realized that they had been tricked, but the harm had been done. This story is from Matsya purana.

Summary:

Bruhaspathi was Deva Guru. He is one among the Navagraha. He had a son kachha. Through him Devas tried to learn Mritasanjivani sending him as student of Sage Sukracharya. He had three wives- prominent was Tara. Tara was abducted by Chandra and son born to them is the Mercury. (Note – From the way we have seen the story of Guru he has actually try to cheat two times Sukra. But Sage Sukra accepted his son Kachha and for the sake of his daughter, taught him Mritasanjeevani too.