• This part covers story of Keechaka Vadh, why Tirupati Balaji is called Govinda and Sword of Shivaji Maharaj.

Part One covered Guru, significance of Ganga Saptami and Sambaji Maharaj and son of Shivaji. Part Two covered Mohini Avatar, Tiger stories Ayyappa and Mother’s Day. Part Three tells you stories of Kamadhenu, Sita Navami and Narasimha Jayanti. Part Four is about Buddha Purnima, Athithi Devo Bhava and Tenzing Norgay. Part Five is about destiny-how karmas can alter it, animal sacrifice and the power of surrender. Part Six covers do not Wait for tomorrow, The Strange Prophecy and Know the Value of Money. Part Seven covers Ravana & Ma Kali, Naama-Japa and Gratitude. Part Eight covers This Too Shall Pass, Child Freedom Fighters and Ekalavya. Part Nine covers God proposes and disposes, stories of the brave Jassa Singh Ahulwalia and Ganga Dussehra.

Why did I start writing these Stories? 

As a mother of three I have realized that many children are deprived of hearing tales that are Indian in origin. This could be for various reasons, an important one being that parents themselves do not know these tales.

The desire to learn English and about Western Nations meant that atleast two generations were fed tales from the West namely Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, etc. Because of this when you ask a child to write an essay of their favourite character they will write about Santa Claus and Snow White but not Shivaji.

So I took it upon myself to write short stories about India’s cultural heritage. The stories have been written in such a way that they can be read to children. At the same time I added snippets of our culture, rituals, shlokas, food, etc. so that children get to know about them. Must add that these stories are not meant to be scholarly pieces of work.

Keechaka Vadh 

Keechaka Vadh

In the Mahabharata we come across many stories where Kings or people in very high positions try to molest women or take advantage of them. In all these stories, such men have been severely punished, sometimes even with death. One of the stories is that of Keechaka, General of Matsya Pradesh that was ruled by King Virata.

The Pandavas along with Draupadi had decided to spend their Agyatwas (one year in disguise) in the kingdom of Matsya. Draupadi took employment there as Sairandhri, a beautician and hairdresser, to the Queen.

The Pandavas knew that Keechaka, the Army commander was very powerful, feared and had a roving eye for the ladies. So Draupadi told the Queen (whose brother Keechaka was) that she had five Gandharvas as her husbands. She also told the queen that if anyone so much as laid a hand on her, her husbands would kill that person.

Despite this warning Keechaka could not resist himself from lusting after Draupadi. One day he told his sister to send Draupadi to his room with some wine for him. When Draupadi (Sairandhri) reached the room, Keechaka pulled her hand and tried to molest her. Draupadi managed to escape his clutches and ran towards the Royal Court. Keechaka followed her and in front of the whole court, pulled her by her hair and threw her to the floor.

Then he kicked her for resisting his advances. The whole court was stunned, but no one raised a voice because everyone was scared of Keechaka. Draupadi cried, but the king did not come to her rescue. Somehow she managed to leave the court and reach the Queen’s room. There, the Queen told her that no one would come to her rescue, so Draupadi should agree to Keechaka’s advances.

When a woman is insulted thus, it is Divine Karma that Mother Earth relieves Herself of such wormlike people. It was the Dwapar Yug then. That night, Arjuna and Bheema met a crying Draupadi and made a plan. Draupadi would pretend to accept Keechaka’s advances and call Keechaka to a secluded room, in the night. Draupadi went and told Keechaka, “I am scared to meet you in public, since my Gandharva husbands would never allow me to meet other men. So meet me at night in the dance hall.”

Keechaka was overjoyed and in the night he had a lot of wine to drink and went to the dance hall. There, he saw a woman sleeping on the couch, with her face covered. He went forward to touch her. But surprise! It was Bheema and he had come there to kill Keechaka. Arjuna played the table at the same time, so that no one would hear Keechaka’s cry for help. Bheema ripped him apart.

When Keechaka was dead, both Arjuna and Bheema left and then Draupadi called out to the guards and cried that her Gandharva husbands had killed the man who had dragged her by her hair and molested her. Mother Earth had been relieved of the burden of such a vile man! Every person in the kingdom secretly celebrated the death of the horrible Keechaka.

It is the duty of the chief of every land to protect the women and their modesty. Anyone who rapes or molests women should be severely punished. This is Dharma.

Tirupati Balaji. 

Secret behind why Tirupati Balaji is called GOVINDA?

There is a wonderful and very interesting story. SWAMY…..GOVU ….INDA ………….!!!!!

A lovely incident happened when Lord Vishnu came to Bhuloka in search of Mahalaxmi …..when he entered Bhuloka as usual, he got human qualities like thirst and hunger, this following incident is a conversation between Lord Srinivasa and Sage Agastya Muni..…

Lord Srinivasa once went to the hermitage of Sage Agastya and said "Munindra, I have come to Bhu Loka (Earth) on a particular mission and going to stay here till the end of the Kali Yuga.... I'm very fond of Cow milk and need one for my daily needs. I know you have a large Gosaala with many Cows. Can you offer me one Cow for my needs?”

Sage Agastya smiled and said, “Swamy, I know very well that you are Lord Sri Maha Vishnu in the human form of Srinivasa. I'm so happy that the creator and the ruler of this universe has come to my hermitage and seeking a favor from me. But, I also know your maya Swamy and know that you have come all the way to test my devotion.”

“So Swamy, please allow me to follow the rules. The holy Cow should only be gifted to a man who comes and seeks it along with his wife. I shall certainly be happy to gift a Cow to you but will only be able to do so when you come to my hermitage along with my Mother Goddess Lakshmi and ask for it. Until then You will have to forgive me Swamy.”

Lord Srinivasa smiled and said, “Ok Munidra, I shall certainly do what you want me to do”, and returned to his place.

Later Lord Srinivasa married Goddess Padmavathi. Some days after their marriage, Lord Srinivasa came to Sage Agastya maha muni’s hermitage along with His divine consort Padmavathi to seek the holy Cow. But the Sage was not there in the hermitage.

His disciples who do not know who Lord Srinivasa is asked Him...., “Who are you and what can we do for you?”

The Lord replied, “My name is Srinivasa and she’s my wife Padmavathi. I asked your Acharya to offer me a Cow for my daily needs. But he wanted me to come along with my wife and take it. So I have come now. Will you please inform your Acharya that I have come.” said Lord Srinivasa.

“Our Acharya is not there in the ashram (hermitage) right now. So please come again later to collect your Cow.” said the humble disciples of Sage Agastya.

Lord Srinivasa smiled and said, “I agree. But I'm supreme ruler of this entire place so you can trust me and offer me one Cow. I cannot come again.”

“Maybe you are the ruler of this place or may be this entire universe. But our divine Acharya is supreme to us and we shall not do anything that displeases him and also without his knowledge and permission," replied the stubborn disciples.

Smiling gently, the holy Lord said, "I value your respect towards your Acharya. Please convey him when he returns, that Srinivasa had come from Gnanadri hills along with his wife to seek the Cow from him.” 

Saying so Lord Srinivasa turned back and started walking towards the seven hills of Tirumala.

Exactly after a couple of minutes, Sage Agastya returned to the hermitage and was extremely disappointed when he heard from his disciples about the arrival of Lord Srinivasa during his absence.

Thinking loudly, “How unfortunate really I'm not to be there at the hermitage when Sri Mahanarayana himself graced along with my divine mother Lakshmi”. The holy sage immediately rushed into the Gosala (Cow shed); took a Govu (Telugu word meaning Cow) and started running in the direction Lord Srinivasa and Goddess Padmavathi were going.

After running a few paces He found at a long distance, Lord Srinivasa going along with His divine consort Padmavathi. Running behind them the holy sage started shouting in Telugu language...

“Swamy, Govu Inda (Govu in Telugu means cow and Inda means take and Telugu is the local local language where Tirupati is situated)

Swamy, Govu Inda.. Swamy, Govu Inda.. Swamy, Govu Inda..”

But the Lord didn’t turn back. Increasing the speed of his running, the Sage Agastya started shouting further more loudly and very devotionally.

“..Swamy, Govu Inda.. Swamy, Govu Inda. Swamy, Govu Inda. (Swamy, take this Cow). Swamy, Govu Inda. Swamy, Govu Inda. Swamy, Govu Inda. Swamy, Govu Inda. Swamy, Govu Inda. (Oh my lord take this cow) Swamy, Govu Inda” but still the lord didn't turned back ……

Hurriedly increasing the speed of his shouting, the holy sage from here on started involuntarily saying the following sacred words. The noble sage thought he was saying ‘Swamy Govu Inda’ but see what it turned out to be -

“Swamy Govinda.. Swamy Govindaa.. Swamy Govindaa.. Swamy Govinda.. Swamy Govindaa.. Swamy Govindaa.. Swamy Govinda..Swamy Govindaa.. Swamy Govinda.. Swamy Govindaa.. Swamy Govindaa.. Govinda.Govinda.. Govindaa.. Govinda.. Govinda..

Govindaa.. Govinda.. Govindaaaa..”

After some more shouting from the holy sage, a smiling Lord Sri Venkateswara and Goddess Padmavathi turned back and then while accepting the holy Cow from him said,

“Priya Munindra, knowingly or unknowingly you have by now recited my most favorite name Govinda 108 times. I'm going to reside in Eka Murthy idol form on this sacred GNANADRI hills until the end of the 28th Kali Yuga. As long as I'm residing here in Bhu Loka in this idol form I shall be called by this name by all my devotees.”

“A Temple would be constructed here for me on these sacred seven hills and devotees would keep coming in large numbers to see me every day. These devotees, either while climbing these hills or while they are in front of me in the Temple would call me by this name.”

“Please remember Munindra, every time I am called by this name you are remembered too. If any devotee for whatever reason is unable to come to my Temple I shall still grant him whatever he rightfully deserves if he recites just this name GOVINDA as many times as he’s comfortable chanting”.

“I shall also grant salvation (moksha) to all those devotees who recite this sacred name at least 108 times while climbing the seven hills.”

Sword Shivaji Maharaj. 

THE SWORD OF SHIVAJI MAHARAJ

In Maharashtra in Tuljapur, Osmanabad, there is a Shakti Peetha (seat of the Divine Mother) called Tulja Bhawani. She is the Kuldevi (family Goddess) of Shivaji Maharaj. Today is the anniversary of the Coronation day of Shivaji. He was declared as “Chhatrapati Shivaji” on Vaishakh Shuddh Trayodashi in the year 1674. There is a deep connection between Shivaji Maharaj and Tulja Bhawani. Shivaji Maharaj used to take Tulja Maai’s blessings before every military campaign.

Shivaji Maharaj had 3 main swords – Bhawani, Jagadamba and Tulja. Yes, they were all named after Shakti – Maa. If it were not for Shivaji and his swords, Hinduism would have probably been wiped out in Maharashtra. Shivaji Maharaj and his brave warriors saved Maharashtra from the cruel Aurangzeb, who wanted to convert all of Bharat into Islam.

Once, Shivaji Maharaj and his band of warriors were heavily outnumbered by the Mughal soldiers. Everyone was tired. This happened near Tuljapur, close to the temple of Tulja Bhawani. Shivaji Maharaj got an idea – he knew that his men believed in the divine power of Maa. Shivaji himself believed that Maa would give him the Vivek, Buddhi and the Shakti to destroy the enemy. He decided to go to Tulja Bhawani’s temple and pray to Her. The whole night, while his men rested in turns, Shivaji Maharaj did meditation. In the morning he came out of the temple and told his men that Maa had blessed him and told him to use the sword Tulja. His warriors felt a surge of optimism and together they went ahead and faced the cruel Mughal army and routed them, even though they were heavily outnumbered. Maa had indeed blessed Shivaraaya.

Author is a mother to three children and writes on Spirituality, Women Empowerment and National Affairs. Her articles are published on Indusscrolls.com amongst others. She believes in the cause of the Indian Breed of Cows and is a follower of Shree Ramachandrapura Matha, Karnataka.

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