THE MAHABHARATAM : 3. Prelude to the Bhagavad Geeta & GEETA DHYANAM Meditation on the Bhagavad Geeta.

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Wednesday, February 23, 2022. 20:00.

MAHABHARATAM : ( (in 18 Episodes) - Prelude to the Bhagavad Geeta

Post-3.

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Reflections by Swami Gurubhaktananda on the Series of 13 Lectures by Swami Advayananda Acharyaji, 15th Batch Vedanta Course at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Powai, Mumbai Mahabharata: October 8th – October 18th , 2012 (10 Lectures) Geeta Dhyanam: October 25th– October 27th, 2012 (3 Lectures).

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Adi Shankaracharya Swami Sivananda Swami Tapovanji Swami Chinmayananda

SERVE  LOVE  GIVE  PURIFY  MEDITATE  REALISE

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THE START OF THE MAHABHARATA WAR:

Episode 1: How the Writing Began.

The story below gives the background to the Mahabharata War. By the time Sanjaya gives his report to Dhritarashtra in the First Discourse of the Geeta, the war was already in its tenth day, i.e. half the battle was over. Bhishma had fallen and Dronacharya was in charge of the Kaurava army.

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Episode 3: Amba Seeks Revenge on Bhishma :

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Santanu married the fisherman king’s daughter. Two sons were born from them, Chitrangada and Vichitraveerya. The former was killed in a battle with the Gandharvas, the latter became crowned as Prince. Bhishma himself brought up Vichitraveerya and trained him to be a capable king.

At the appropriate time, Bhishma went in search of a bride for Vichitraveerya. He organized a Swayamwara. The King of Kashi had three daughters, named Amba, Ambalika and Ambika. Bhishma told the King that he had come for brides for Vichitraveerya. King Shalva, who had already declared his affection for Amba, challenged Bhishma but did not say why. Bhishma defeated him and took all three sisters for Vichitraveerya. Just before the marriage, Amba confided to Bhishma, “I have something to tell you. My heart is with Shalva.”

Bhishma then understood, and said, “I will arrange to send you to Shalva with all respect and honour.” Amba agreed to go. Shalva said he could not accept Amba as he was honourably defeated by Bhishma. When Vichitraveerya came to know of this secret love for Shalva harboured by Amba, he refused to keep her. When Amba returned to Bhishma after  being refused by Shalva, Bhishma also refused to take her. The entire situation was thus changed for Amba. She lamented, “I have lost my honour. Now, no one will take me.”

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Amba was furious and wild at the turn of events. She sought to take revenge on Bhishma. She meditated on Lord Subramanya, the Senapati (Commander-in-Chief) of the Devatas. Her vengeance was growing. Subramanya gave her a garland saying the one whom you give it to will be instrumental in destroying Bhishma. Amba took the garland and threw it towards Drupada’s palace, knowing that Drupada was very powerful. The garland fell on the entrance gate of the palace. Parasurama picked it and decided to challenge Bhishma, but was no match for him. Dissappointed and still burning with revenge, Amba went to the Himalayas and surrendered to Lord Shiva.

The Lord asked her, “What do you want, Amba?” Amba told her whole story. The Lord said, “In this birth nothing is possible. In your next birth you will succeed.”

Her vengeance was so strong that she at once jumped into fire and immolated herself. She was reborn as the daughter of a powerful King. When she could walk, she went into exile in the forest where she did intense Tapas and became transformed into a man and became known as Shikhandi. It was this Shikhandi who was used as a shield by Arjuna in his battle against Bhishma. Bhishma would not attack Shikhandi knowing that ‘he’ was a woman. Thus Arjuna was able to shoot the “bed of Arrows” that rendered Bhishma  powerless, until Bhishma chose to leave this world.

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Next : Episode 4: The Story of Vidhura :

To be continued .....

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