Malsyagandhi (Thodupuzha K Shankar, Mumbai-Stories and articles from epics and mythologies)

INTRODUCTION:

From the readings and sapthahams and Navahams I attended in Mumbai, I could gather some knowledge which I would like to share with my readers who have always evinced and expressed great interest and inquisitiveness to acquire the knowledge potential. I too strongly believe that the knowledge we gather from books and discourses and even discussions with knowledgeable souls should be shared with others from time to time. Otherwise, it remains futile like the wealth with a miser which is of no use. I am sure these stories and articles which contain good morals will be more helpful particularly, to the younger generation to instil in them a passion for learning our cultural heritage!

Here in these series of articles and stories, I wish to start with some striking stories which I recollect from Bhagavatham etc and I wish to begin with:

7. MALSYA GANDHI

VASISHTA (son of Brahma) was a brahma rishi and Viswamithra a Raja rishi were the accepted Gurus of king Dasaratha at AYODHYA. But it was Viswamithra who used to give the basic lessons for his four children viz, Rama, Lakshmana, Bharatha and Shathrugna respectively.

Now, Rishi Vasishta was the son of Brahma and his son’s name was Shakthi who was killed by Rishi Viswamithra in a battle between them due to great mutual enmity. Shakthi had a son by name Parasara who wanted to cross a river and Satyavathi was the ferry maid who used to take the needy to the other side and back every day. Satyavathi took him in her boat. Parasara was very much attracted to her and wanted to have a son in her, but she said as she was a fisherwoman, she was always smelling fish which shouldn’t mar his happiness. The Rishi blessed and told her she would have the pleasant odour of a lovely flower then onwards. He also blessed her with the boon that after giving birth to a son, her maidenhood would be restored and she would be as much youthful as ever before. Accordingly, in their union, was born, a son in black colour or Krishna varna in an island or dweepa under a fruity tree by name Badara and it is hence that he is also called Krishna dwaipayana or Badarayana in the mythologies. Afterwards, Sathyavathi returned to her maidenhood.

Now let us see who is this Satyavathi? The story goes like this:

UPARICHARAN was one of the Ashta Vasus, who was travelling in the sky and from far above could view a celestial woman, a nymph by name ADRIKA, who due to a curse or Brahma sapam, was living in the Kalindi river in the form of a fish. He fell in love with her and they became a couple. ADRIKA, uparicharan’s spouse gave birth to two children viz, Malsyan and Malsygandhi. It is the same Malsyagandhi (smelling fish) whose name became Satyavathi afterwards. So Satyavathi, is the daughter of Uparicharan (Ashtavasu) and Adrika (the nymph). Her real name is Malsyagandhi and Vyasa rishi is the son of Sayavathi and Parasara rishi, as is known by all!

So, the generation in order is- Brahma Rishi Vashishta, Shakthi, Parasara and Vyasa whose son is SUKACHARYA, who did the first ever Sapthaham or
(SENNIGHT) for king Pareekshith, on SRIMAD BHAGAVATHAM!

Malsyagandhi (Thodupuzha K Shankar, Mumbai-Stories and articles from epics and mythologies)

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