Srimadh Bagawatham - Rukmini Kalyanam Part 1

 Continued From:  http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2014/04/srimadh-bagawatham-krishna-and_20.html

Rukmini Kalyanam:

Perumal and Piratti on Garuda Vahanam

 

King Bhishmaka ruled over the kingdom of Vidarbha. He had five sons named as Rukmi, Rukmarathan, Rukmabahan, Rukmakesan, Rukmamali followed by a daughter Rukmini who was the incarnation of Goddess Sri Devi Nachiar.

From a very young age Rukmini listened to many Brahmins sing the glory of Lord Krishna. She fell in love with the Lord even though she hadn’t seen Him as she fell in love with His divine qualities. She wished to marry the Lord and expressed this desire to her father.

Her five elders brothers headed by Rukmini refused to allow her to wed Lord Krishna. Without even informing her, they fixed an alliance with Shishupalan the king of Chedi who was a cousin of Lord Krishna. Bhishmaka was under the influence of his sons and agreed to the match. The wedding arrangements took place in secret lest Krishna should hear about it.

A day before the wedding, Rukmini came to know about the arrangements. She immediately approached a Brahmin and gave him a letter to take to lord Krishna in Dwaraka.

tad avetyāsitāpāńgī

vaidarbhī durmanā bhṛśam

vicintyāptaḿ dvijaḿ kancit

kṛṣṇāya prāhiṇod drutam

The name of the Brahmin is not mentioned in Srimadh Bagawatham except the rishi calls him as “dwija”. Who is this Brahmin who travelled thousands of miles within a day to bring Krishna and Rukmini together? The clue left by the rishi in Srimadh Bagawatham is the name “dwija” and the fact that the Brahmin covered thousands of miles within a day even though he didn’t have a chariot.

Dwija is the name given to Brahmins because they take a second spiritual birth after the Upanayanam ceremony. Similarly tooth is called dwija because it falls and regenerates as permanent teeth. Lastly, birds are called dwija because they take birth as an egg and then hatch from the egg thus taking a second birth.

The rishi did not refer to a brahmin as dwija since he could have also used other synonyms like vipra. The rishi purposely used dwija the name common to both Brahmins and birds. Thus the messenger is none other than the Divine Bird Garudazhwar!

During Ramavataram, Garudazhwar noticed from Sri Vaikuntham that Perumal embraced Lord Hanuman after Lord Hanuman returned to Kishkinda with the message from Sita Piratti.

ityuktvaa priitihRishhTaaNgo raamastam parishhsvaje hanumantam kRitaatmaanam kRitavaakyamupaagatam

 (6-1-14) Thus saying, Rama vibrating with joy clasped Hanuman in his arms who had returned after fulfilling the mission.”

Ref:  (http://www.valmikiramayan.net/yuddha/sarga1/yuddha_1_frame.htm)

Garudazhwar wished to be embraced by the Lord as well. He seized the opportunity when Lord Rama and Lakshmana were tied by the nagastra shot by Indrajit. Garudazhwar flew from Sri Vaikuntham and upon seeing him the snakes ran away. Garudazhwar was dissappointed because Perumal did not embrace him. Garudazhwar overcame his disappointment by embracing Perumal but was further dissappointed when Lord Rama thanked Garudazhwar and asked who he wsa.

‘When you hugged me I felt as if I was embraced by my father Dasaratha or my grandfather Aja!’

taav utthaapya mahaa viiryau garuDo vaasava upamau |
ubhau tau sasvaje hR^iSTau raamash ca enam uvaaca ha ||

6-50-41: Lifting them up both who were like Indra, the highly majestic Garuda the eagle embraced them. Rama also, being pleased, spoke to him (as follows):

yathaa taatam dasharatham yathaa ajam ca pitaamaham |
tathaa bhavantam aasaadya hR^iSayam me prasiidati  ||

6-50-43"By meeting you thus, my heart is gladdened in the same manner as I am meeting Dasaratha, my father and Aja, my paternal grandfather."

ko bhavaan ruupa sampanno divya srag anulepanaH |
vasaano viraje vastre divya aabharaNa bhuuSitaH ||

6-50-44: "Who are you, the one endowed with beauty, having blissful garlands and anointments, wearing clean garments and adorned with divine ornaments?"

aham sakhaa te kaakutstha priyah praaNo bahish caraH |
garutmaan iha sampraapto yuvayoh saahya kaaraNaat ||

6-50-46: "O, Rama! I am your dearest friend Garuda dear as your own breath moving outside I came here for the purpose of helping you, both."”

(Ref: http://www.valmikiramayan.net/yuddha/sarga50/yuddha_50_frame.htm)

After Perumal returned to Sri Vaikuntham, Garudazhwar complained to Perumal.

‘The reason I embraced Hanuman was because he came from Piratti. If you come bearing a message from Piratti I will also hug you.’

Garudazhwar went and complained to Piratti. She agreed to help him by giving him a message to take to Perumal during Krishnavataram.

Thus Garudazhwar took Rukmini’s letter and flew all the way to Dwaraka swiftly. As soon as he entered Lord’s palace, Perumal welcomed him with love, served him food and pressed his feet while he took a nap.

dṛṣṭvā brahmaṇya-devas tam

avaruhya nijāsanāt

upaveśyārhayāḿ cakre

yathātmānaḿ divaukasaḥ

 The Lord worshiped Garudazhwar in the same manner in which the Devas worship Him.

taḿ bhuktavantaḿ viśrāntam

upagamya satāḿ gatiḥ

pāṇinābhimṛśan pādāv

avyagras tam apṛcchata

 After Garudazhwar woke up from his nap Perumal asked, ‘which is your country? Is everything okay in your country? If it is not a secret please tell me the reason for your visit.’

Garudazhwar immediately said, ‘I have a message from you from Rukmini Devi.’

Perumal took the letter and read the seven slokams written by Rukmini Piratti.

Continued On: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2014/05/srimadh-bagawatham-rukmini-kalyanam.html