Originally posted by: Aj_Styles
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I always thought that it was Narad curse on Lord Vishnu that lead to Ramayan. This is the first time I'm hearing of someone else's curse on Narayan leading to Ramayan???
He had multiple curse further fine -tuning along the way to Lord Ram and Ravan Avatar.
From Wikipedia under Ramcharitmanas couldn't find a better explain of the multiple curses.
During the Balaka??a it is mentioned that Shiva is retelling the story of Ram (Ram Katha) to his spouse Parvati. During this retelling, Shiva explains as many as five reasons as to why Ram incarnated on earth.
Balance of Creation: Shiva explains to Parvati that whenever virtue declines and vile and haughty demons multiply, and whenever demigods and the earth herself are in distress, the gracious assumes various transcendent forms and relieves the distress of the virtuous. Killing the demons, He reinstates the demigods and diffuses His great glory throughout the universe. This is the primary motive for Ram's decent.
Jay and Vijay
Jay and Vijay :The brothers Jay and Vijay are the two favoured gate keepers of Hari. Due to a curse, by the Brahman Sanaka and his three brothers, Jay and Vijay were born in the species of the demons. One took the birth of Hiranyakashipu and the other was born as Hiranyaksha. The Supreme incarnated Himself as Varaha in order to kill Hiranyaksha, while incarnating as Narasimha to kill Hiranyakashipu. Even though these brothers are killed by Hari Himself, they do not attain liberation as the Brahman's had cursed them to three births and so were reborn as the powerful demons Ravan and Kumbhakarna. Hari took a human incarnation, as Ram, to kill Ravan and Kumbhakarna.
The curse of Narad Muni: Narad Muni was wondering in Himalayan mountains and begins to think about Vishnu. He instantly falls into a deep meditative trance. Seeing the sage's state, Indra becomes apprehensive as he sees Narad's trance as a threat to his own position as the chief of demigods in heaven. Indra asks Kamadeva to disturb Narad's trance. He creates an illusion of frangrant flowers, delightful breezes and such. Heavenly damsels are called but all this has no effect on the sage. Kamadeva accepts defeat and falls at Narad's feet, addressing him with deep humility. He recalls all that happened to Shiva and becomes puffed up with pride of his defeating of Kamadeva. Shiva admonishes him and begs him not to repeat the story to Hari.
Narad visits Vishnu at His abode, and unable to control his pride, retells his episode with Kamadeva, ignoring all that Shiva had advised. Vishnu further fans Narad's pride by telling him that his steadfast vow of celibacy is so strong that he can never be smitten. Narad then departs Vishnu's abode. Hari tells Laksmi that he has a plan and sets his illusionary powers (maya) into operation. As Narad departs Vaikuntha, Vishnu creates a beautiful illusionary city with illusionary inhabitants. The city is ruled by King Sheelanidhi, who has a beautiful daughter called Vishvamohini. Narad is intrigued with the city and decides to visit the king. Narad sees the king's daughter and falls in love with her. The king explains that he wishes to marry his daughter to a suitable man. Narad devises a plot to get the princess to choose him.
Narad approaches Hari and asks him for the gift of great beauty. Vishnu says that he will do only that which is beneficial to Narad. The sage is glad at heart and thinks that with Vishnu's favour, the princess will surely choose him. In reality the Hari had made Narad look hideous. The entire royal court is aware of Narad's appearance, but says nothing. The princess filled with rage as soon as she sees Narad's ugly form and completely ignores him. He sees a reflection of his face in water and is consumed with rage. He instantly goes back to Vaikuntha and begins to speak to Hari in ugly tones. He curses Hari, "You made me look like a monkey; therefore You shall have monkeys for Your mates. And as You have grievously wronged me, so shall You suffer the pangs of separation from Your wife". Hari accepts Narad's curse and instantly withdraws his illusionary spell.
Narad realises that there is no city and there is no Visvamohini, and is dismayed at what he has done. He begs the to invalidate his curse. Hari explains that it was His will and advises Narad to chant his name to absolve himself of any sin. Narad returns to his abode chanting the praises of Ram.
Svayambhuva Manu and Shatarupa: Svayambhuva Manu had Shatarupa as his wife. Manu ruled the earth for many years and carried out the 's commandments. He longed to devotion to Hari and decides to give up rulership to his son so that he can retire to the forest with Satarupa and meditate upon the . Manu and Satarupa settle at the banks of the Gomati river and devoutly repeat the twelve-syllable Mantra, calling out to who is the source of many Brahmas, Vishnus and Shivas emanate.[29] Some commentators indicate that the twelve-syllable mantra is the Vishnu mantra (O? Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya).[30] Rambhadracharya comments that the twelve-letter mantra is the coupled mantra for Sita and Rama.
Manu and Shatarupa first sacrifice food and then water and are finally willing to sacrifice air. Brahma, Hari and Shiva call on Manu but Manu and Satarupa are resolute and do not swerve on their sacrifices. A great voice from the heavens tells Manu, in sweet tones, to ask for a boon. Rama and Sita approach Manu in a beautiful form,[32] which leaves Manu overcome with emotion. Manu explains now that he and Satarupa have seen the 's lotus feet, all their desires have been met. Manu has one longing but doesn't know how to ask the . Finally he asks, "O gracious Lord, I tell You my sincere wish: I would have a son like You. I have nothing to conceal from You."
The announces that it shall be, however, where would he find a son like Himself? The tells Manu that He Himself would be a son to him. then asks Satarupa of her wish. She says that she greatly likes the boon received by her husband and wants the same. Bowing at the 's feet, Manu then asks one more favour. He asks that he be dependent on which is granted. The then commands the couple to dwell in Indra's capital in heaven.
The explains that after some time Manu would be born as the king of Ayodhya, Dashrath and Satarupa as Kausalya. He would then manifest Himself in the royal household as their son. He reassured the couple that their desire would be accomplished.
Tale of King Pratapbhanu:Prior to the birth of Ram, Muni Bharadvaja is told the story of King Pratapbhanu by Sant Yajnavalkya. There is a kingdom called Kaikay where Satyaketu is king. He has two sons, Pratapbhanu and Arimardana and rules his kingdom with his prime minister Dharamaruchi. Satyaketu abdicates and hands the reign to Pratapbhanu, who becomes conqueror of the world.
Once Pratapbhanu goes into the forest to hunt and sees a wild boar. The boar is actually the demon Kalaketu in disguise who runs away from the king. Pratapbhanu gives chase deeper into the forest. Pratapbhanu chases for many miles and becomes thirsty. He approaches a fake saints ashram, where the resident fake saint wants to hurt and insult Pratapbhanu due to a previous incident. Pratapbhanu doesn't recognise the saint, who begins to sweet talk the king and says that by pure love, he wishes to impart boons onto the king. The king asks to be invicible and never ageing, which the fake saint grants, but with the condition that he needs to win favour of all Brahmans. The fake saint advises that the king arrange the cooking of holy food (prasadam) to feed the bramanas, who would surely be in his favour for such an act of kindness. The fake saint's real intention is to trap the king and repay him for his old grievances.
The fake saint asks the king to go rest, and that he would arrange the feast for the bramanas using his mystic powers. Pratapbhanu waits for three days for the fake saint. Kalaketu, now disguised as a priest, approaches the King in his court and says that he has been sent to cook the holy food. The entire brahmana community is invited. A heavenly voice from above warns the brahmanas that the food is unpure and they should run away immediately. They curse the king that he, his kingdom and entire family are wiped from the face of earth. They also curse that he be born a demon in his next life. The heavenly voice says that the brahmana's curse is ill thought, as Pratapbhanu is not to blame. Since their curse cannot be taken back, the voice says that it is the Brahmana community that will bare the brunt of the evil of his next life.
Pratapbhanu is distraught and quickly goes to his kitchen to find Kalaketu. The king is pained and cries as he realises Kalaketu has vanished. The brahmanas feel sorry for Pratapbhanu and tell him that his evil next life will be ended by Supreme Vishnu himself. As per the curse, Pratapbhanu, Arimardam and Dharmaruchi are all killed as other neighbouring kings invade Kaikay.
Pratapbhanu is reborn as Ravan, Arimardam is reborn as Kumbhkarna and Dharmaruchi as Vibhishan. All three take great penances and are approached by Brahma and Shiva and are asked for any boon. Ravan asks that no one should be able to kill me except the tribes of man and monkeys. Kumbhkarna asks for uninterrupted sleep for periods of six months. Vibhishan asks for unshakeable love for the feet of Vishnu.
Maha Rishi Brighu Curse.:
A great scholar and an Acharya, Shukracharya bore ill will towards Sri Mahavishnu. He was under the impression, that Mahavishnu's Sudarshana Chakra had decimated a lot of the asuras, who took shelter under the protection of his mother, and whom Sri Mahavishnu was searching for annihilation. In the Matsya Purana, it is stated, that when Shukracharya, was engaged in meditation, in the distant mountains and observing a vrata, the demons engaged the Devas, who retaliated and started killing the Asuras. The demons fled to the mother of Shukracharya and sought her protection and when the Devas, pursued the demons under the leadership of Lord Indra, she immobilized Lord Indra with her yogic powers. The unnerved Gods fled the scene and approached Sri Mahavishnu to save Lord Indra and the Devas. Accordingly Sri Mahavishnu, came to the abode of Shukracharya's mother and requested her to release Lord Indra from his state of rigidity and surrender the demons who have been a nuisance to the Devas. She refused. Sri Mahavishnu then fused the static frame of Lord Indra into himself and prepared to attack the demons under the protection of Shukracharya's Mother.
"I will burn both of you up through my powers". Roared Shukracharya's mother.
"What are you waiting for?" squealed Indra from the inside of Sri Mahavishnu. "Can't you see that this woman will destroy both you and me and I entreat that you kill her forthwith?"
Sri Mahavishnu summoned his Sudarshana Chakra, and neatly severed the head of the lady. When maharishi Brighu returned to his hermitage and saw the beheaded body of his wife, he at once knew, through his yogic powers, that it was Sri Mahavishnu, who had committed this sacrilage. He was greatly agitated. And since Sri Mahavishnu had committed the crime of killing a defenseless woman, maharishi Brighu cursed that Sri Mahavishnu would have to be born several times on earth. And these are Sri Mahavishnu's Avataras (ten major ones and 18 minor ones). And maharishi Brighu through his enormous yogic powers resurrected his wife.
Because of this animosity towards the Devas, and especially towards Sri Mahavishnu, Shukracharya decided to become the Acharya of the Asuras as already noted. He helped them achieve victory over the Devas and used his knowledge of Mritasanjivani to revive the dead and wounded among them. And the acharya of the Devas Brihaspathi lacked this vital knowledge and he has to send his son, Kacha, as a disciple to mahrishi Shukracharya, to learn this art of reviving the dead. This is extensively covered in the episode Kacha & Devayani.
Fan Fictions
