३१ एकत्रिंशदशकः - भ्रामर्यवतारः 31 ekatrimshadashakah' - bhraamaryavataarah' Incarnation as Bhraamarya(bee Goddess )

 ३१ एकत्रिंशदशकः - भ्रामर्यवतारः

31 ekatrimshadashakah' - bhraamaryavataarah'

           Incarnation as Bhraamarya(bee Goddess )

(there was an Asura called Aruna who by mastery over Gayathri manthra got

several boons which included that he would not be killed by two legged or 4

legged Animals. When the Devas were in trouble, as per instruction of the

Goddess, their Guru met him and made him not chant Gayatri manthra. The

bees(Bramara) with six legs which rose from the body of the Goddess killed

him. This story occurs in 13th chapter of the tenth book of Devi

Bhagawatham. This form of the goddess has a temple in Sri Sailam. )

कश्चित्पुरा मन्त्रमुदीर्य गार्त्री

इश्चि प्रश्चिद्धं श्चदश्चिजोऽरुणाख्यः ।

श्चिरार् कृत्वा िप आत्मर्ोनः

प्रिाश्चदिादाप वरानपूवाय न् ॥ ३१-१॥

kashchitpuraa mantramudeerya gaayatree

iti prasiddham ditijo'runaakhyah' .

chiraaya kri'tvaa tapa aatmayoneh'

prasaaditaadaapa varaanapoorvaan .. 31-1..

1.Once upon a time an asura called Aruna, did penance for a long

time chanting the famous Gayathri mantra, and got wonderful boons

from a very pleased Brahma.

An asura named Aruna did penance for many years by chanting the

Gayatri Mantra. He pleased Brahma, who appeared before him. He

asked various boons from brahma that had not been asked by

anyone so far. This asura had a speciality, that was to chant the

Gayatri Mantra forever.

The intelligent Daitya asked from Brahmā the following boon that “I

shall not die. Grant this.”

Brahmā then gently explained to him:-- “O Best of the Dānavas! See

that Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Maheśvara and others are not free from this

limitation of death! What to speak then for others! I cannot grant

you a boon that is an impossibility. Ask what is possible and just. The

intelligent persons never show an eagerness to an impossibility.”

Hearing the above words of Brahmā, Aruṇa again said with devotion

:-- “O Deva! If Thou art unwilling to grant me the above boon, then,

O Lord! Grant me such a boon, as is practicable, that my death shall

not be caused by any war, nor by any arms or weapons, nor by any

man or any woman, by any biped or quadruped or any combination

of two and grant me such a boon, such a large army as I can conquer

the Devas.” Hearing the words of the Daitya, Brahmā said “Let that

be so” and went back instantly to His own abode.

स्त्रीपुम्भिरस्त्रैि रण श्चिपादै -

ििुष्पदै िाप्युभर्ात्मकैि ।

अवध्यिां दवपराजर्ं ि

लब्ध्वा ि दृप्तो श्चदवमाििाद ॥ ३१-२॥

streepumbhirastraishcha rane dvipaadai-

shchatushpadaishchaapyubhayaatmakaishcha .

avadhyataam devaparaajayam cha

labdhvaa sa dri'pto divamaasasaada .. 31-2..

2.He-that asura- got the boon that he should not be killed by man or

woman, by two legged(humans) or four legged(animals) creatures. A

mixture of these, By arrows in war. With that pride, that he had the

power to defeat the devas, entered heaven.

The boons that Aruna got has been described here.

The asura did not want to make same mistakes that were made by

the asuras like hiranyakashipu(he cannot be killed -In day or night -

By a man, woman or beast -In sky water or earth),

mahishasuran("man or animal" on the face of Earth), shumbha and

nishumbha(they will not be killed by any male whether human being

or animal / bird etc. but by a woman only). That is why he asked for

many boons. That is why, 2 legged humans, the 4-legged animals

and also creatures like Narasimha who were neither man nor animal,

would not be able to kill him. With the arrogant pride that he cannot

be defeated and cannot be killed, he invaded heavens.

रण श्चजिा दै त्यभर्न लोक-

पालैः िह स्वस्वपदाश्चन श्चहत्वा ।

दवा द्रुिाः प्राप्य श्चिवं ररपूणां

िंर्ग्वधोपार्मश्चिन्तर्ंि ॥ ३१-३॥

rane jitaa daityabhayena loka-

paalaih' saha svasvapadaani hitvaa .

devaa drutaah' praapya shivam ripoonaam

samyagvadhopaayamachintayamshcha .. 31-3..

3. Defeated in the war, the devas along with those who took care of

the world left their positions and ran away, due to fear and met Lord

Shiva. They started thinking of methods to destroy their enemies.

The asura won the war. The devas and all the guardians of the world,

out of fear, ran away from heaven. All of them took refuge in shiva,

in kailash. Shiva was aware of the boons that the asura had got. He

told all that to them. What is the solution to destroy our enemies?-

everybody asked one another. They had a high level discussion on

this topic.

Hearing from the messenger that the Daityas were willing to fight

with the Devas, Indra trembled with fear and went instantly with the

Devas to the abode of Brahmā. Taking Brahmā, too, along with them

from there, they went to the Viṣṇu Loka and took Viṣṇu with them

and all went to the Śiva Loka.

There they all held a conference how to kill the Daitya, the enemy of

the Gods.

The Daitya, then, through the power of his Tapas, assumed various

forms and seized the rights and possessions of the Moon, the Sun,

Yama, Agni and all the others. All the Devas, then, dislodged from

their stations went to the region of Kailaśa and represented to

Śaṅkara about their own troubles and dangers respectively. Then,

what was to be done on this subject, on this, great discussions

cropped up. When Brahmā said, that the death of the Daitya would

not ensue from any fight, with any arms or weapons, from any man

or woman, biped, quadruped or from any combination of the above

two.

िदाऽभवत्काप्यिरीररणी वाग्-

भजि दवीं िुभमव वः स्याि् ।

दै त्योऽरुणो वधय र्िीह गार्त्र्य-

उपािननात्मबलं त्वधृष्यम् ॥ ३१-४॥

tadaa'bhavatkaapyashareerinee vaag-

bhajeta deveem shubhameva vah' syaat .

daityo'runo vardhayateeha gaayatry-

upaasanenaatmabalam tvadhri'shyam .. 31-4..

4. At that time they heard a voice from the sky, “Pray to the Goddess

and you will get benefitted. Since that asura Aruna, has mastered

Gayathri mantra, he derives immense strength from that.

While all of them were thinking of a solution as to how to destroy

the enemies, a divine voice was heard. The asura was extremely

strong mentally due to the constant chanting of the Gayatri

manthram. That power is keeping on increasing. Because of which he

is invincible.

र्द्यष िं मन्त्रजपं जहाश्चि

ि दु बयलः िाध्यवधोऽश्चप ि स्याि् ।

एवं श्चनिम्य श्चत्रदिै ः प्रहृष्टै -

रभ्यश्चथयिो दवगुरुः प्रिस्थ ॥ ३१-५॥

yadyesha tam mantrajapam jahaati

sa durbalah' saadhyavadho'pi cha syaat .

evam nishamya tridashaih' prahri'sht'ai-

rabhyarthito devaguruh' pratasthe .. 31-5..

5.If that asura stops chanting that mantra he will eventually become

weak. Thus you will be able to kill him.” Hearing this the devas

became happy and at the request of the devas, their Guru started to

go.

The asura should stop chanting the gayatri mantra-then his powers

will start reducing. It will become easy to kill him. This is the essence

of the divine voice, the devas became very happy on hearing this.

They went to their Guru, Brihaspati, and gave all the news and

requested. Brihaspati started to go to meet the asura.

Then the Devas became all anxious and could not find out any

solution at that instant, when the Spiritual Voice was clearly heard in

the Heavens :-- Let you all worship the Queen of the Universe. She

will carry out your work to success. If the king of the Daityas, always

engaged in muttering the Gāyatrī, forsakes the Gāyatrī any how, then

his death will occur. Hearing this gladdening Celestial Voice, the

Devas held the council with great caution.

When it was settled what ought to be done, Indra asked Brihaspati

and said :-- “O Guru Deva! You would better go to the Daitya from

the Devaś end and do so that he forsakes the Devī Gāyatrī

Parameśvarī. We will all now go and meditate on Her. When She will

be pleased, She will help us.

Thus commanding Brihaspati and thinking that the beautiful

Protectress of Jāmbū Nada would protect them the Devas all started

to worship Her and, going there, began the Devī Yajña and with

great devotion muttered the Māyā Vīja and practised asceticism.

ि प्राप दै त्यं र्श्चिरूपधारी

प्रत्युद्गिो मन्त्रजपाश्चििक्तम् ।

म्भििाद्रय मूि कुिली िबन्धु -

श्चमत्रो भवान् श्चकं जगदकवीर ॥ ३१-६॥

sa praapa daityam yatiroopadhaaree

pratyudgato mantrajapaatisaktam .

smitaardramooche kushalee sabandhu-

mitro bhavaan kim jagadekaveera .. 31-6..

6.He(Deva guru) went to meet the Asura in the garb of a Sanyasi. He

was received well by the asura and the Guru asked the asura with a

smile, who was very strong due to the chanting of the mantra, “Are

you, your relations and your friends, in good health ?’

Devaguru Brihaspati went to meet the asura dressed up like a

sanyasi. The asura entertained him very well. The sanyasi observed

that the asura was always chanting the gayatri mantra. Both were

smiling. The sanyasi like a friend asked the asura, “guess you are

fine.” Note the usage of the word ‘jagad-eka-veera’. This is the

manthra to show love and importance to the asura

दै त्यस्य ि मन्त्रजपन श्चकं र्ो

नूनं बश्चलष्ठं त्वबलं करोश्चि ।

र्नैव दवा अबला रणषु

त्वर्ा श्चजिास्त्वं स्वश्चहिं कुरुष्व ॥ ३१-७॥

daityasya te mantrajapena kim yo

noonam balisht'ham tvabalam karoti .

yenaiva devaa abalaa raneshu

tvayaa jitaastvam svahitam kurushva .. 31-7..

7.” What is the use of chanting this manthra, who is an asura? As it

(chanting of the mantra) will make a strong one weak definite. It is

because of chanting this mantra the devas were becoming weak and

were being defeated by you. So please do those things which would

do good to your future.”

Why are you chanting the mantra so much? -this was the sanyasi’s

question. whatever happiness you have today will not increase

because of your chanting. This chanting will be of no use to you on

the other hand it will cause you more troubles. If you chant this

mantra the strong becomes weak. The proof of this is the defeat of

the devas. They became weak due to the chanting of the mantras.

And hence they were defeated in war. So therefore for your future

good you should act accordingly.

िंन्याश्चिनो मन्त्रजपन राग-

िषाश्चद जिुं िििं र्िन्त ।

न त्वं र्श्चिनाय श्चप मु मुक्षु,रथय-

कामाश्चििक्तस्य जपन श्चकं ि ॥ ३१-८॥

samnyaasino mantrajapena raaga-

dveshaadi jetum satatam yatante .

na tvam yatirnaapi mumukshu,rartha-

kaamaatisaktasya japena kim te .. 31-8..

8.’ Sages chant Mantras so that they can win over anger and passion

and they always keep on trying. You are not a sage; and not one

interested in Salvation. So you who is interested in passion and

prosperity, why do you chant this mantra.

It was stated that, by chanting the Gayatri mantram whatever

strength we have will be destroyed completely. Then why do

sanyasi’s chant this manthram? The fraud sanyasi is giving an answer

to this question. By chanting this mantra ones anger and passion will

be destroyed. The sanyasi want that only. They don’t have any

interest in desires and passion. Chanting of mantras is ok for them.

But, an asura who is infatuated with desires and passion, chanting

this mantra will have reverse effect. By continuously chanting the

mantra anger and passion will be destroyed. The intensity of desires

and passion will reduce. The result of this chanting will be that an

asura will be converted into a sanyasi. Hence, it is desirable to avoid

chanting the manthra.

एकं श्चह मन्त्रं िमुपास्वह िौ

िनाश्चि श्चमत्रं मम ििदाश्चम ।

मन्त्रि म मुम्भक्तद एव िुभ्यं

वृम्भद्धं न दद्यादर्श्चमत्यवश्चह ॥ ३१-९॥

ekam hi mantram samupaasvahe dvau

tenaasi mitram mama tadvadaami .

mantrashcha me muktida eva tubhyam

vri'ddhim na dadyaadayamityavehi .. 31-9..

9.” We both chant and worship the same Mantra. So you are my

friend. That is why I am telling you- Manthra is giving me salvation.

You are not going to gain anything. Please be aware of this.”

Why give advice when it is not asked for?-the answer to this

question can be seen in this shloka. The mantra chanted by this

sanyasi and that asura is the same. Hence, they can be considered as

friends-must see like that. It is the duty of a friend to advice a friend

for his betterment. The fraud sanyasi is trying to convince the asura

that he (sanyasi) is only doing his duty. Chanting mantras is

beneficial for sanyasis. But, for asuras it is not beneficial. As a friend

he has given the necessary advice. Henceforth think and do it is upto

you-this is how the fraud sanyasi advised the asura.

बृहस्पिाववमुदीर्य र्ाि

ित्यं िदु क्तं श्चदश्चिजो श्चवश्चिन्त्य ।

क्रमाज्जहौ मन्त्रजपं िदा श्चह

मूढः परप्रोक्तश्चवनर्बुम्भद्धः ॥ ३१-१०॥

bri'haspataavevamudeerya yaate

satyam taduktam ditijo vichintya .

kramaajjahau mantrajapam sadaa hi

mood'hah' paraproktavineyabuddhih' .. 31-10..

10.After telling like this and after Brahaspathi left, that asura thought

that what he-the sanyasi- said was true, and accordingly stopped

chanting the mantra; A fool always mortgages his brain for the

words said by others.

Brihaspati(Deva guru) who came disguised as a sanyasi, met the

asura and behaved such that he was his best friend, and advised him.

He put forth his opinion in such a way that it felt it was true. The

asura believed it as it is. If an uninvited guest comes and gives you

advice one should think over it(the advice given); one should think

logically. Finally should reach to a conclusion; and one should apply

it also. This is what a wise person should do. The asura believed

every single word that the fraud sanyasi said. Eventually he stopped

chanting the mantra. Fools are always like this. They will never think.

They will loan their brains to others. And finally they will be deceived.

एवं गुरौ कुवयश्चि दै त्यभीिैः

कृत्वा िपोर्ोगजपाध्वराश्चद ।

जाम्बूनदश्वर्यमरै ः स्तुिा त्वं

प्रिाश्चदिा प्रादु रभूः कृपाद्राय ॥ ३१-११॥

evam gurau kurvati daityabheetaih'

kri'tvaa tapoyogajapaadhvaraadi .

jaamboonadeshvaryamaraih' stutaa tvam

prasaaditaa praadurabhooh' kri'paardraa .. 31-11..

11.When dev Guru(Brihaspati) was doing this, oh Jambunadeswari!

The Devas who were afraid of the Asura, prayed to you by doing

penance, yoga, chanting and Yajna etc.. You became pleased, and

appeared before them with a face full of mercy.

While the dev guru was misleading the asura, the devas prayed to

the jambunadeshawari devi. They prayed to the devi by performing

yagnas, penance, yoga etc.. thus pleasing the devi. She appeared

before them filled with compassion.

त्वद्दहजािैर्भ्यमरै रनन्तै र्

दै त्यः ििैन्यो श्चवफलास्त्रिस्त्रः ।

दष्टो हिस्त्वं ि नुश्चिप्रिन्ना

पश्यत्सु दवषु श्चिरोश्चहिाऽभूः ॥ ३१-१२॥

Tvaddehajaatairbhramarairanantair

daityah' sasainyo viphalaastrashastrah' .

dasht'o hatastvam cha nutiprasannaa

pashyatsu deveshu tirohitaa'bhooh' .. 31-12..

12. From your body innumerable bees arose, to attack him as an

army and his arrows weapons were not effective against them. The

bees stung the asura and killed him. You who were pleased by the

prayer of the devas, disappeared as the devas watched.

From the body of the devi, who appeared before the devas,

innumerable count of bees started to originate. Bees in lakhs. All of

them together attacked the asura. As he had stopped chanting the

gayatri mantra, he did not possess the energy he had earlier. He

thought his strength had diminished because he chanted the gayatri

mantra for some time. His weapons were of no use against the bees.

The bees stung the asura and his armies.

Bees have 6 legs. Asura had got a boon that he should not be killed

by 2 legged and 4 legged creatures. Bees did not have 2 legs, nor 4

legs nor were they a combination of the 2. Whatever boon brahma

gives, devi will find a solution to that.

स्वदहिो वै र्भ्मरान् श्चवधात्री

त्वं र्भ्ामरीश्चि प्रश्चथिा जगत्सु ।

अहो श्चवश्चित्रास्तव दश्चव लीलाः

नमो नमस्त भुवनश्चि मािः ॥ ३१-१३॥

svadehato vai bhramaraan vidhaatree

tvam bhraamareeti prathitaa jagatsu .

aho vichitraastava devi leelaah'

namo namaste bhuvaneshi maatah' .. 31-13..

13. Because you produced bees from your own body, in the world

you became famous as Bramarambika. Oh devi! your divine play are

wonderful and strange

Oh goddess of universe, Oh Mother, my salutations to you.

Because devi created bramara from her body, she became famous as

bramara devi. Everything is a divine play by devi. I just want to be the

subject of that devi’s compassion-that is the aim of my life this time.

To get that compassion the poet keeps saluting the devi.

Devi’s story of bramara avataram has been explained in

detail in the 10th skanda chapter 13 of devi

bhagavataham.

In this chapter we find clearly the mention of the several names of

the ten Daśa Mahā Vidyās.

The 10 Mahavidyas are usually named in the following sequence:

Kali, Tara, Tripura Sundari, Bhuvaneshvari, Chhinnamasta, Bhairavi,

Dhumavati, Bagalamukhi, Matangi and Kamala.

Dus mahavidya shabar mantram

Kali Tara mahavidya Sodashi Bhuvaneswari.

Bhairavi Chhinnamasta cha vidya Dhumavti tatha.

Bagala siddha vidya cha Matangi Kamalatmika.

Eta vidya maheshaanee mahvidya prakeertitaaha.

काली िारा महाश्चवद्या षोडिी भु वनॆश्वरर।

भैरवी श्चिन्नमस्ता ि श्चवद्या धूमाविी िथा ll

बगला श्चिद्ध श्चवद्या ि मािंगी कमलाम्भत्मका।

एिा श्चवद्या महिाश्चन महाश्चवद्या प्रकीश्चियिा ll