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Rishi and Divine Cows
There are two Rishi who had the divine cows, and who entertained a king and his army with that cow. Kings got very jealous and had a kind of war with Rishi. 

(1) Maharshi Vashishth had Kapilaa cow and he entertained king Vishwaamitra Jee and his army. Vishwaamitra Jee asked for that cow but the cow herself didn't go with him...

(2) Maharshi Jamadagni Jee had Kaamdhenu cow, and he entertained king Sahastrabaahu and his army. Sahastrabaahu also wanted to take that cow, so he took the cow to his capital Maahishmatee Puree forcefully. Later when Parashuraam Jee came to he Aashram, he went to Sahastrabaahu, killed him and brought the cow back to his father's Aashram.

It is worthwhile here to mention Bharadwaaj Muni's name also who hosted Bharat and his army, although not through cow, but through his Yog power. All, including Bharat, were astonished to see his hospitality for such a large group. 


Famous Donors
There are two people famous for donations: Raajaa Bali and Karn. Others are Raajaa Shibi, Raajaa Rantidev, Maharshi Dadheechi, and Raajaa Harishchandra.

(1) Raajaa Bali gave the whole Trilok to Vaaman Bhagvaan in donation and got Indra's status in a coming Manvantar. 

(2) Karn gave his Kavach and Kundal (which he was born with and made him invincible) to Indra who came to ask them in the form of a Braahman to save His own son Arjun.

(3) Raajaa Shibi gave his whole body to satisfy a falcon to save a pigeon. Then Dharm Raaj and Indra gave Darshan to him.

(4) Raajaa Rantidev used to live on very minimum quantity of things. He never used to take money from Royal treasure for his own purpose. Once he and his family had to go without food for 40 days, and when he got something to eat and he was about to eat it, that a dog came, so Raajaa gave some to him out of it. When the dog went away, he again sat to eat food, that a beggar came and he gave all his food to that beggar. Then Bhagvaan gave His Darshan to him.

(5) Rishi Dadheechi was very strong. So when Vritraasur was getting strong, Indra had to beg for his bones so that he could build a weapon out of them to kill Vritraasur. Dadheechi left his mortal body by Yog method and gave his bones for the good of the world.

(6) Raajaa Harishchandra donated the whole Prithvi to Vishwaamitra and he himself served a Shoodra after selling his wife and son Rohitaashwa to a wealthy man. Later when he wanted to kill his wife for not paying the fee to burn the dead body of his own son, Dharm Raaj and Indra appeared before him.

(7) There is one story more of a Braahman (MBH, Ashwamedh, 90) who was subsisting on Unchchh with his wife, son and daughter-in-law. Once there was a severe famine and the Braahman family had to undergo very difficult situation. Once he got some barley, he made Sattoo out of that barley. As the family sat to eat it, a guest came there. The Braahman family welcomed him and one by one all the family members gave him their share of food. They went to Heaven.


Angry Muni Durvaasaa
When it comes to an angry Muni, only one name comes to our mind - that is Durvaasaa Muni who is famous first for his anger and then Shaap. There are many events of his Shaap. Some of them are listed here :--

(1) He gave Shaap to Shakuntalaa, so she was forgotten by Dushyant.

(2) He gave Shaap to a Gandharv who became Kabandh Raakshas. Then Raam killed him. (In Maanas)

(3) He was about to give Shaap to Paandav when they were living in forest as a result of losing dice game for 12 years, but Krishn saved them by eating a leaf from Draupadee's Divine pot.

(4) He was about to give Shaap to Lakshman and his family and city for not obeying him, but he then himself obeyed him to save his Vansh and city. 

(5) He gave Shaap to Indra when he threw the garland, given to him by Durvaasaa, on his elephant Airaavat, and Airaavat crushed it under his feet. Durvaasaa got very angry at this and gave Shaap to Indra. As a result he lost his kingdom, luster, glory everything. After that Saagar Manthan took place to get Amrit.

(6) He produced a Krityaa to kill Ambareesh (Manu's great grandson) because he drank water to do Paaran of his Vrat. Although He had to run away from there, because Vishnu's Chakra was guarding Ambareesh and as Krityaa proceeded to kill Ambareesh, the Chakra killed her and proceeded to kill Durvaasaa Muni. In the end he had to fall on Ambareesh's feet to spare his life.

(7-1) He gave Shaap to Saamb, son of Krishn, to become a leper, when he made a mockery of his style when he came to Dwaarakaa wandering around the Universe. He was lean and thin with yellow eyes. Muni thought that Saamb was very proud of his beauty and youth so he gave him Shaap to become a leper soon.

(7-2) He gave another Shaap to Saamb when the members of Krishn's family took Saamb to some Rishi and presented Saamb in a woman form and asked them to tell whether she would have a son or daughter as she was expecting. Rishi knew that those people were lying to them so Durvaasaa Muni sadi - "She will give birth to a Moosal (pestle) and it will destroy your whole Vansh (family)." Those people got very sad hearing this, so they came to Ugrasen's court and told everything in the court. Ugrasen got worried hearing all this, he ordered his men to grind that pestle and throw it into the sea. They did that, but they could not grind it completely, a little piece still remained, but they threw it also in the sea.

Later, a fish swallowed that remaining iron piece and a fisherman caught that fish and sold it to a maker of arrows. When the arrow maker cut that fish to cook, he found this iron piece in its stomach. He found this piece superior and different from other iron pieces, so he made a very special arrow with that piece and sold it to a hunter. The same hunter killed Krishn, thinking that His red colored foot was of an animal. Beside this piece, the powder, Ugrasen's people threw in the sea, grew as a very sharp bladed grass along the sea coast. When a hot argument broke among Yadu people members while eating food near the sea coast and they started fighting, their all weapons were exhausted, they picked up that grass and started throwing it on one another. It worked as very sharp arrow and killed people. All people died of that grass. Thus the whole Yadu Vansh got destroyed by Durvaasaa's Shaap.

(8) He gave Shaap to Dharm Raaj also. This story comes in Padm Puraan, 2/2. Once both Rishi Durvaasaa and Maharshi Dattaatreya did severe Tap. They did Tapasyaa for 10,000 years without eating anything, drinking only air. Then they did Panchaagni Tapasyaa for another 10,000 years. Then they stood inside water for another 10,000 years. Both became very weak, Durvaasaa got very angry at Dharm, so Dharm appeared before him along with  Brahmcharya and Tap and many others.

He said to Durvaasaa - "Hey Braahman, Why did you get angry in spite of being a Tapaswee? Anger destroys man's both grace and Tapasyaa, therefore one should abandon this anger at least at the time of Tapasyaa." Durvaasaa asked - "Who are you and who are all these persons along with you?" Dharm said - "They are Brahmcharya, Satya, Tap, Dam (control on Indriyaan), Niyam (discipline), Shauch (cleanliness) etc etc. I am Dharm, please be calm and protect me. Why are you so angry?" Durvaasaa said - "I can see that I have done Tapasyaa with all discipline but you are not pleased with me, that is why I am angry at you. I will give you three Shaap - Dharm, you become a king and a maid's son and be born in Chaandaal caste." Thus after giving these three Shaap, Durvaasaa went away. Because of these Shaap, Dharm incarnated as king Yudhishthir in Bharat family; when he was born as a maid's son, he was known as Vidur; and when Vishwaamitra afflicted king Harishchandra, he was born as Chaandaal to give him a job."

(9) This incident comes in Padm Puraan, 4/15, in the context of Raam's Ashwamedh Yagya. The horse He sent for His Yagya was cursed by Muni Durvaasaa. As He touched the horse, a man came out of him. He told his story to Raam. "In my previous life I was a very religious Braahman, but I committed a crime. One day I went to the banks of Sarayoo River and started meditating upon You after doing Tarpan etc. At that time many people came to me and I cheated them in many ways. Durvaasaa Rishi also came and looked at me. I was observing Maun (quiet), so neither I offered him Arghya nor I welcomed him by words. Durvaasaa Rishi got angry at this and he gave me Shaap - "You are showing such pride on the banks of Sarayoo River, be born in animal species."

I felt very sad so I held his feet. He kindly said to me, "You will become Raam's Ashwamedh Yagya horse and as soon as Raam will touch you, you will attain Parampad." So that Shaap became a Var for me. Whatever touch is difficult to attain even after taking millions of lives even for Devtaa, I have got that touch of your fingers now. Now please permit me, I am attaining Parampad because of Your grace only." He circumambulated Raam and went to Sanaatan Dhaam riding in a Divine Vimaan.

(10) A story comes of an Apsaraa in Padm Puraan, 5/20. He gave Shaap to her also to be as a lotus flower for 100 years, just because she was playing with water in a pond and he had seen her without clothes.

But when he gets pleased he can give anything. He gave a Mantra to Kuntee which she used to get five sons - Paandav.


Kaam-Mohit Muni
In Hindu religious literature, Kaam (sexual desire) tops every other desire and that it can affect even very great Muni and Yogee. Here are some Muni who were affected by it:

(1) First name comes to our mind is of Muni Vishwaamitra. When he was doing Tapasyaa to get the status of Brahmarshi, Indra sent Menakaa to disturb his Tap. She stayed with him for 10 years and produced a daughter from him named Shakuntalaa.

(2) Second name comes to our mind of Muni Paraashar. He was attracted to Satyavatee, the daughter of Daashraaj, while crossing Gangaa River. He produced a son named Krishn Dwaipaayan, who was popularly known as Ved Vyaas, on an island. Pleased with her he bestowed her a boon of sweet fragrance also which came out of her body and used to spread miles together around her. Before meeting Sage Paraashar she used to smell like a fish.

(3) Another name comes to our mind is of Richeek Rishi, father of Maharshi Jamdagni and Parashuraam's grandfather, who got attracted to Satyavatee, Raajaa Gaadhi's daughter and Vishwaamitra's sister. Raajaa Gaadhi did not marry his daughter to Richeek Rishi until he brought 1,000 horses with one of their ears black and another one white. Richeek Rishi understood, so he went to Varun and brought such horses and married Satyavatee.
[5Bhaagvat, 9/9]

(4) Another name is of Maharshi Sharadwaan. He saw Urvashee Apsaraa and his semen fell down on a Moonj bush. This caused it to born one son and one daughter. Urvashee left them there only. Raajaa Shaantanu saw them, brought them home, named them as Krip and Kripee. Krip became the Kul Guru of Kaurav family; and Kripee was married to Drone.
[5Bhaagvat, 9/12]


Kings Who Were Pushed Down From Swarg Lok
(1) Raajaa Yayaati
He had to fall from Swarg because of his pride. He went to Swarg because of his good Karm. Once when he was sitting in Swarg with Indra, Indra asked him "Who is the best man on the earth." Yayaati replied with simplicity "It is I." Indra immediately said - "There is no place for a proud man here in Swarg, so fall down on Earth." And he pushed him down. Although later he again regained his position on the basis of Punya received from his wife and sons. [Mahaabhaarat says he regained his position on the basis of Punya received from his daughter Maadhavee and her four sons]

(2) Nahush
He had to fall down from Swarg because of misbehavior with Indraanee. Once Indra got the sin of Brahm Hatyaa so he had to hide. There was nobody on the throne of Indra. Raaja Nahush was found the most suitable candidate for it, so he was appointed as Indra. As he became Indra he became very proud and desired to have Indraanee. To save herself from him, she asked him to come to her palace in a palanquin carried by Rishi.

Nahush didn't mind that, he was very happy to hear that so he asked Rishi to carry his palanquin to Indraanee's palace. As the Rishi had never done this work before, they were going slowly, but Nahush was blind in happiness to reach Indraanee's palace soon, so he said to them "Sarp, Sarp" which means "go fast, go fast". Rishi could not go fast so he again said this to them and hit Agastya Muni with his foot. At this Agastya Muni gave him Shaap "Go and become a big serpent (Sarp) yourself."

Nahush became a big serpent and fell down on Earth. On asking when he will be released from this Yoni (species), Muni said - "When in the end of Dwaapar Yug Paandav will be roaming around because of their exile, you will meet one of them and you will be free then. One of them will answer your questions too." So when Paandav were in their exile period Bheem came across this serpent. When Yudhishthir came in search of him, he found Bheem in the grip of this serpent. Then he answered his questions and Nahush got freed from his serpent Yoni.

(3) Trishanku
Raajaa Satyavrat desired to go to Swarg Lok with his mortal body. So he went to his Kul Guru Vashishth and expressed his desire. Vashishth clearly refused to do this saying that it was impossible. Then he went to his sons, but they also refused to do this saying "When our father couldn't do it, we also cannot do this."

Roaming around in search of somebody who could send him to Swarg with his mortal body he came across with Vishwaamitra who, at time, was in the process to become a Maharshi to lower down Vashishth. As he heard king's request, he agreed thinking that in this way he will prove himself superior to Vashishth.

He did a Yagya and the king started rising up to Swarg. When Indra saw him coming to Swarg, he was very surprised. He pushed him down to Earth, but Vishwaamitra kept him rising. Indra was pushing him down, and Vishwaamitra was pushing him up. This was the question of his powers. But at last neither Indra allowed him to enter Swarg, nor Vishwaamitra got ready to take him back. So he is still hanging in sky. That is why he got the name of Trishanku.


Chakravartee Kings
There have been many Chakravartee kings in Bhaarat Varsh. Chakravartee means who alone is the ruler of a whole piece of a land.

(1) Chitraketu
He was the Chakravartee king of Shoorsen Desh. He had 10 million (1 Crore) queens but no child from anyone.

(2) Ambareesh
He was the descendent of Swaayambhuv Manu -> Nabhag -> Naabhaag -> Ambareesh. He ruled all the seven Dweep Prithvi. He was such a devotee of Bhagavaan that His Chakra used to guard him and even Brahm Astra could not affect him.
[5Bhaagvat, 9/2]

(3) Maandhaataa
Maandhataa was born in Ikshwaaku Vansh. Ikshwwaku -> -> Ambareesh -> Kakutsth -> -> Senjit -> Yuvanashwa -> Maandhaataa. He ruled 7-Dweep Prithvi alone.
[5Bhaagvat, 9/3]

(4) Sagar
Sagar was in the lineage of Maandhaataa -> -> Trishanku -> Harishchandra -> -> Sagar. He was also a Chakravartee Samraat.
[5Bhaagvat, 9/4]

(5) Khatwaang
He was born in Soorya Vansh.  Ikshwaaku -> Sagar -> -> Bhageerath -> -> Saudaas (Kalmaashpaad) -> -> Vishwasaha -> Khatwaang. He helped Devtaa to fight with Asur. When Devtaa asked him to ask for a Var, he wanted to know his remaining age. Devtaa said, "Two Ghadee time". Khatwaang immediately came to Earth from Swarg Lok and with his Yog power got Parampad.
[5Bhaagvat, 9/5]

(6) Yayaati
He was born in Ikshwaaku Vansh. He was Nahush's son. He also ruled 7-Dweep Prithvi alone.
[5Bhagvat, 9/11]

(7) Bharat
He was born in Yayaati's youngest son Pooru's Vansh. Yayaati -> Pooru -> -> Eleen -> Dushyant -> Bharat. His mother's name was Shakuntalaa who was the daughter of Vishwaamitra and Menakaa and was brought up by Maharshi Kanv.
[5Bhaagvat, 9/12]

(8) Suhotra (Bharat ->Bhumanyu ->Suhotra)
He was the great grandson of Dushyant and he performed many Raajsooya and Ashwamed Yagya and ruled over the whole Prithvi.

(9) Arjun (Sahastraarjun, or Sahastrabaahu or Sahasbaahu or Kaartveerya)
He was born in Haihaya Vansh. Chandramaa ->Budh ->Pururavaa ->Aayu ->Nahush ->Yayaati ->Yadu ->->Haihaya ->->Kanak ->Kritveerya ->Arjun. He was known as Kaartveerya also because he was the son of Kritveerya. He was known as Sahstrabaahu or Sahasbaahu because he had got 1,000 arms in a Var from Dattaatreya Jee.
[5Bhaagvat, 9/14]

(10) Shashbindu 
He was in Yadu's lineage. Yadu -> Kroshtu -> Vrijinvaan -> Shwaahi -> Rusheku -> Chitrarath -> Shashbindu. He had all the 14 gems with him. He was a Chakravartee king and was invincible in war. He had 10,000 wives and his each wife had 100,000 children - totaling one billion children.
[5Bhaagvat, 9/14]

(11) Vikramaaditya
He was a king in Kali Yug. He was also a Chakravartee king. In the end he attained Swarg Lok. Indian year "Vikram Samvat" is in use on his name.
[9Bhavishya, 3/9]


Kings Who got Children from Rishi
(1) Saudaas
Saudaas was in the lineage of Ikshwaaku and Sagar. Ikshwaaku -> -> Sagar -> -> Saudaas. He got his son - Ashmak, from Maharshi Vashishth.
[3Vishnu, 4/4]    see also No 6 below.

(2) Vichitraveerya
He was the son of Shaantanu and Satyavatee. He died leaving his two widows - Ambikaa and Ambaalikaa, without any child. Kuru -> -> Shaantanu -> Vichitraveerya. His two widows got their children - Dhritraashtra and Paandu, from Maharshi Ved Vyaas Jee.
[MBH, 1/5]

(3) Bali
Bali was born in Yayaati's lineage. Yayaati -> Anu -> -> Mahaamanaa -> Usheenar and Titikshu. Titikshu -> Rushdrath -> Hem -> Sutapaa -> Bali. Bali's wife had six sons from Deerghaatmaa Muni - Ang, Vang, Kaling, Suhm, Paundra, and Aandhra; they had the names of their kingdoms on their names.
[5Bhaagvat, 9/21] [3Vishnu, 4/11]

(4) A Yavan king 
A Yavan king didn't have a son, so he pleased Gaargya Muni and Gaargya Muni produced a son from his wife, named Kaalyavan. He was the same Kaalyavan who went to kill Krishn, Krishn took him to a cave where Raajaa Muchukund was sleeping. Kaalyavan thought that it was Krishn who slept there to hide Himself, so he kicked him with his foot. Muchukund woke up and as he looked at Kaalyavan, he got burned to ashes.
[3Vishnu Puraan, 5/8]

(5) Ratheetar
Ratheetar was the son of Ambareesh. He had no child of his own so he requested Angiraa Rishi to give him sons. Angiraa produced several sons from his wife equipped with Brahm Tej. Although his children should have had the same Gotra as of Ratheetar's but they were called Aangiras.
[5Bhaagvat, 9/3]

(6) Kalmaashpaad
He was cursed by Shakti, Vashishth's son, to be a Raakshas. During this period he killed a Braahman engaged with his wife under his Raakshas nature. His wife gave him Shaap - "You will also die when you will be engaged with your wife. She will have a son from the same Rishi Vashishth whose sons you have eaten and the same son will carry you family forward." So when he got freed from Shaap of Shakti, he approached his wife since he had forgotten about the Braahman woman's Shaap. His wife then reminded about it. Although he repented for it but it was of no use. That is why he asked Muni Vashishth to produce a son upon his wife Madayantee, which he did. His son's name was Ashmak who inhabited Paudanya city.
[MBH, 3-youth/7]    see also No 1 above.


Kings who Fought in Dev-Asur War
(1) Dashrath - A king in Soorya Vansh.  Ikshwaaku -> -> Sagar -> -> Rituparn -> -> Saudaas (Kalmaashpaad) -> -> Khatwaang -> -> Dashrath. Where he gave two Var to his youngest queen Kaikeyee.

(2) Khatwaang - A king in Soorya Vansh. Ikshwaaku -> -> Sagar -> -> Rituparn -> -> Saudaas (Kalmaashpaad) -> -> Khatwaang. He also helped Devtaa in fighting with Asur. When Devtaa asked him to ask for a Var, he wanted to know his remaining age. Devtaa said, "One Muhoort (half an hour) time". Khatwaang immediately came to Earth from Swarg Lok and with his Yog power he left his physical body and got Parampad.   [Vishnu Puraan, 4/4,  Bhaagvat Puraan, ]

(3) Puranjaya - A king in Soorya Vansh. Ikshwaaku -> Shashaad -> Puranjaya. He fought with Asur and killed them riding on the back of Indra who assumed the form of a bull to make him sit on his back.

(4) Raji - A king in Chandra Vansh. Pururavaa -> Aayu -> Raji. In one Dev-Asur war both Asur and Devtaa went to Brahmaa Jee and asked as who would win that war. Brahmaa Jee said - "Whoever will have Raji on on his side, they will win war." So Asur went to ask for his help. He asked them to regard him as their Indra after he had defeated Devtaa, but asur said - "Our Indra is Prahlaad Jee and we fight for him only." Then devtaa went to ask his help. He asked Devtaa the same thing "to regard him as their Indra after he had defeated Asur". Devtaa agreed for it. When he had killed all Asur, Indra said to him tactfully - "You are the best in Trilok, you have saved us from Asur so you are our father and I am your son." Hearing this he smilingly left Swarg to Indra.


Where Men Gave Birth to Their Son
It is not only always women who give birth to children, In Hindu mythology a few men have also given birth to their children. Who are those?

(1) Yuvanaashwa -> Maandhaataa
A king of Soorya Vansh. Ikshwaaku -> -> Puranjaya -> -> Yuvanaashwa. He was childless, so he was living in Muni's Aashram. Once some Muni pitied on him and did a Yagya for him to get a son. In the night Muni slept after keeping Yagya Water pitcher in the sacred fire place. Raajaa got thirsty in the night, so he did not wake up Muni and drank water himself from that pitcher. In the morning Muni asked - "Who drank this water? Whoever has drank this water he will get pregnant." Raajaa said - "I have drank it unknowingly." And he got pregnant after drinking that water. When the time came the child came out bursting his right eye. As he was born, Muni asked - "How he will survive?" Indra appeared and said - "I will feed him." And he gave his index finger in his mouth. He suckled on his finger and in one day he became a grownup man. He was named Maandhaataa and was crowned as the king.

(2) Vane -> Prithu
Manu -> Uttaanpaad -> Dhruv -> Shishti -> Ripu -> Chaakshuah -> Manu -> Kuru -> Ang -> Vane. Braahman killed Vane because he was not looking after affairs of his kingdom very well. But then because of fear of agitation in public they thought they should have a king, so they churned his right arm to get a son. A man appeared out of that churning with weapons and golden crown. He was named Prithu on whose name this planet was named as Prithvi.

 

 

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Created by Sushma Gupta On 5/27/04
Contact:  mahaabhaarat@yahoo.com
Modified on 02/27/08