Devi in Mahabharata - Page 2

Draupadi was also avatar of Goddess Shree or Wealth who was the wife to five Indras in their mortal manifestation, that is, the five Pandavas. She was born many times for imprisoning the Indras. Her first birth was as Vedavati (the avatar of Swaha, Agni's wife) who cursed Ravana. She then came again as Maya-Sita, especially to take revenge from Ravana, while Agni hid the real Sita. The third birth was partial - she was both Damayanti and her daughter Nalayani. She married Sage Mudgala. Her fifth avatar was that of Draupadi herself. Hence, it could be said that Draupadi was a composite avatar of all the eight goddesses, namely, Kali, Parvati, Sachi, Shyamala, Usha, Bharati, Shree and Swaha.

There is popular belief that Draupadi was also an incarnation of Maha Kali, who was born to assist Lord Krishna (who is Maha Kaal) to destroy all the arrogant Kings of India. That is why they are considered brother and sister though they shared no blood relation. Draupadi is believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Parvathi's Kali roop, and since Krishna was an incarnation of Vishnu, they shared a sibling relationship on Earth too.

In Rajasthan, we have the story of Barbareek, also known as Khatu Shyamji, told with slight variations in different places. According to local legends, Krishna and Arjuna, dressed as ascetics, were roaming in search of warriors who could fight on their side in the Mahabharata war. It was while they were resting under a peepal tree that they came across a powerfully built young man on a horse. Asked who he was, he told them he was Barbareek, the grandson of Bheema [according to another version, he is the son of Bheema himself and the Naga maiden Ahilavati], and was on his way to join the Mahabharata war, as asked by his mother. They enquire on whose side he would fight and he says on the side of those who lose - that is the instruction he had been given by his mother. Krishna asks him what he can do and he demonstrates his skill with arrows by tying up all the leaves of the peepal tree with a single arrow shot from his bow. The tale also tells us that Krishna hid one fallen peepal leaf under his foot and that the arrow, after piercing all other leaves and threading them together, approached Krishna's foot and hovered over it until Krishna lifted his foot and the arrow succeeded in piercing and collecting that leaf too, after which the arrow went back to Barbareek's quiver.

Sensing how dangerous Barbareek could be if he joined the Kaurava side, Krishna, as a monk, asks for bhiksha, alms: Barbareek's head. Barbareek readily gives it, and requests for a return favour. He should be allowed to see the war. His head should be placed on the top of the peepal tree from where he would be able to see the Kurukshetra battle. Krishna does so and Barbareek's head watches the entire war from atop the tree.

Legend also says that when the battle was over the Pandavas argued among themselves about who was responsible for victory and Krishna suggested that they ask Barbareek - after all, he had seen the entire war from the tree top. Barbareek answers that he saw only two things in the entire war: Krishna's Sudarshana wheel slaughtering Kaurava warriors and Draupadi drinking up all the blood, having transformed herself into Mahakali.

http://creative.sulekha.com/krishna-human-limitations-of-incarnated-god_263339_blog

Draupadi is one of the most celebrated and loved characters of the Mahabharata. She is unapologetic and courageous, and exudes strength and intellect.

She is the ultimate embodiment of ‘shakti’ or power. She is gambled away, mistreated, assaulted and humiliated in Mahabharat, yet brings the upholders of ‘dharma’ to their knees when she questions their principles of morality. She emerged as an ancient symbol of reform in a staunchly patriarchal setup.

Her veneration thus, as a goddess, sees no bounds. Her valor and influence are celebrated till today.

An important part of the cult is the idea that Draupadi is an incarnation of goddess Kali. Legend says that Kali was born to assist Krishna in his bid to destroy all evil and arrogant kings of the world. This also reinforces the notion of the proximity between Draupadi and Krishna.

Draupadi as a queen and as a goddess has worshiped by many. Some consider her to be the cause of the Kurukshetra war, others see her as a victim of male dominance and injustice. However, from within these spurious notions, Draupadi emerges as a true heroic Queen of Mahabharata.

Draupadi emerged as a goddess in the local context of worship in the Tamil community. This permeated the worshiping traditions of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh as well as those of Sri Lanka. She is referred to as Draupadi Amman.

Shubh Maha Sasthi to all!

Āraṇyakaparvan 219.16-23 narrates how Skanda permitted his Mothers (i.e. Skandamātṛ, the fifth of the Nava-Durgā Goddesses) to devour human progeny:

मातर ऊचुः ।

mātara ūcuḥ

Mothers said:

यास्तु ता मातरः पूर्वं लोकस्यास्य प्रकल्पिताः ।

अस्माकं तद्भवेत्स्थानं तासां चैव न तद्भवेत् ।।

yās tu tā mātaraḥ pūrvaṃ lokasy'āsya prakalpitāḥ

asmākaṃ tad bhavet sthānaṃ tāsāṃ c'aiva na tad bhavet

Whoever those Mothers are that were formerly appointed for this world, let their position be ours and let it not be theirs.

भवेम पूज्या लोकस्य न ताः पूज्याः सुरर्षभ ।

प्रजास्माकं हृतास्ताभिस्त्वत्कृते ताः प्रयच्छ नः ।।

bhavema pūjyā lokasya na tāḥ pūjyāḥ surarṣabha

prajā'smākaṃ hṛtās tābhis tvatkṛte tāḥ prayaccha naḥ

Let us be worshipped by the world, and let them not be worshipped, bull among Gods! They stole our progeny for you; give that progeny to us.

स्कन्द उवाच ।

Skanda uvāca

Skanda said:

दत्ताः प्रजा न ताः शक्या भवतीभिर्निषेवितुम् ।

अन्यां वः कां प्रयच्छामि प्रजां यां मनसेच्छथ ।।

dattāḥ prajā na tāḥ śakyā bhavatībhir niṣevitum

anyāṃ vaḥ kāṃ prayacchāmi prajāṃ yāṃ manase'cchatha

That given progeny cannot be returned to you ladies. What other progeny shall I give you, as your hearts wish?

मातर ऊचुः ।

mātara ūcuḥ

Mothers said:

इच्छाम तासां मातॄणां प्रजा भोक्तुं प्रयच्छ नः ।

त्वया सह पृथग्भूता ये च तासामथेश्वराः ।।

icchāma tāsāṃ mātṝṇāṃ prajā bhoktuṃ prayaccha naḥ

tvayā saha pṛthagbhūtā ye ca tāsām ath'eśvarāḥ

We want to eat the progeny of those Mothers, and give us, along with yourself, whoever are their individual masters too.

स्कन्द उवाच ।

Skanda uvāca

Skanda said:

प्रजा वो दद्मि कष्टं तु भवतीभिरुदाहृतम् ।

परिरक्षत भद्रं वः प्रजाः साधु नमस्कृताः ।।

prajā vo dadmi kaṣṭaṃ tu bhavatībhir udāhṛtam

parirakṣata bhadraṃ vaḥ prajāḥ sādhu namaskṛtāḥ

I give you the progeny, but you ladies' undertaking is difficult. Good luck to you! Protect the progeny well, and be honoured.

मातर ऊचुः ।

mātara ūcuḥ

Mothers said:

परिरक्षाम भद्रं ते प्रजाः स्कन्द यथेच्छसि ।

त्वया नो रोचते स्कन्द सहवासश्चिरं प्रभो ।।

parirakṣāma bhadraṃ te prajāḥ Skanda yathe'cchasi

tvayā no rocate Skanda sahavāsaś ciraṃ prabho

Good luck to you, Skanda! We'll protect the progeny as you wish. Lord Skanda, we would like to stay with you for a long time.

स्कन्द उवाच ।

Skanda uvāca

Skanda said:

यावत् षोडशवर्षाणि भवन्ति तरुणाः प्रजाः ।

प्रबाधत मनुष्याणां तावद्रूपैः पृथग्विधैः ।।

yāvat ṣoḍaśa-varṣāṇi bhavanti taruṇāḥ prajāḥ

prabādhata manuṣyāṇāṃ tāvad rūpaiḥ pṛthagvidhaiḥ

Until the progeny of humans becomes youths sixteen years old, afflict them that long, with your individually determined appearances.

अहं च वः प्रदास्यामि रौद्रमात्मानमव्ययम् ।

परमं तेन सहिता सुखं वत्स्यथ पूजिताः ।।

ahaṃ ca vaḥ pradāsyāmi raudram ātmānam avyayam

paramaṃ tena sahitā sukhaṃ vatsyatha pūjitāḥ

And I will share with you my furious nature, undiminished. Together with it, you will live most comfortably, worshipped.

Happy Dussehra

Vijayadashmi ki hardik shubhkamnaye ❤️