A Few More Spiritual Stars

      Although many spiritual figures already have been described, a few more important ones are added here to illustrate the moral value that each represents. Hindu philosophy recognizes that spirituality is manifested more prominently in certain individuals and is then called vibhuti. The following list is by no means complete; it’s simply characteristic of the mindset of Hindu philosophy. Parents often read these stories to their small children to instill good behavior.
• Satyavadi Raja Harishchandra
During the age called Tetra Yuga, there was a king, Raja Harishchandra, whose reputation of truth and charity had spread to all corners of the world. He was the disciple of Rishi Vashista and was the king of Ayodhya, the place of Lord Rama. A rival Rishi, Visvamitra, then planned something to test the trustworthiness of Harishchandra. He called on the king and asked for some charity. Harishchandra, without hesitation, told the Rishi that he could ask whatever he wished, as was his custom for all saints and seers. Vishvamitra then asked for the entire kingdom and every belonging that Harishchandra owned. After Raja Harishchandra complied with this strange demand, Vishvamitra ordered him to leave his kingdom and to arrange for more gold as an offering(dakshina), as was the practice. The king sold his wife and child and, finally, himself to procure the gold—he became the slave to a master who owned a funeral home, and it was now his duty to cremate the dead. When his own son died of hunger and sickness, his wife, Taramati, brought the body of their dead son to Harishchandra for cremation. Harishchandra was now put to the ultimate test. He asked his wife for payment for the cremation, without which he could not perform the cremation; this was what his master had instructed him. It was then that all the gods of heaven descended and hailed Harishchandra’s moral character and commitment to truth. This is the way the Hindu Rishis would often manifest divine intervention in the end, in order to protect the virtuous.
• Shravan Kumar
Shravan Kumar is the legendary hero of the Hindu pantheon. He has earned his place in history for his remarkable service to his blind and crippled parents. He placed them in a palanquin and carried them on his shoulders to visit all the places of sacred pilgrimage. At one site in a forest, when he went in search of water for quenching their thirst, he was accidentally struck and killed by an arrow shot by King Dashrath. When Shravan Kumar’s parents learned of their beloved son’s death, they cursed the king in anguish: “You, too, will die one day, crying for your son, who will leave you!” King Dashrath eventually met his fate when his son, Lord Rama, got ready to depart for the fourteen-year exile. This tale thus emphasizes the inevitable principle of karma. As one sows, so does he reap! But even more
important, Shravan Kumar is remembered for his fine service to his blind and handicapped parents.
• Bhagat Prahalada
Prahalada is the spiritual hero of the mythological tale in the Srimad Bhagavatam. His father, the demon king Hiranakashyapu, had four sons. The youngest was Prahalada. The king was too arrogant and callous. He wished that all should worship him as the Supreme God. Young Prahalada had a spiritual mind and humbly declared, “Sri Narayana only is the supreme deity who is omnipotent and omnipresent.” This devotion to Narayana enraged the king, who would not listen to such defiance from his own son. When he could not persuade Prahalada to worship him, nor could he frighten him in any way, he finally called Prahalada to his court so that he could kill his son with his own hands. Once again, he confronted his son. Pointing to a large pillar, he said, “You say that Narayana is everywhere. Is he there inside this pillar too?” Little Prahalada repeated what he had said earlier—that Sri Narayana is omnipotent and omnipresent. With that, the king pulled his sword to kill Prahalada and hit the pillar strongly with his fist. Lo! The Lord appeared from within the pillar in the form of the half-lion/half-man, Narasimah. At once, the Lord struck the wicked Hiranakashyapu, killed him, and saved his devotee Prahalada. This is one more tale in the Hindu pantheon that shows how the Lord comes to the rescue of his true and loyal devotees and frees them from the clutches of cruel and tyrannical oppressors. The story of Prahalada is a symbolic reminder that a person with true spiritual knowledge, or jnana, need not be afraid of any worldly obstacles. Nothing can ever harm him.
• Bhagat Dhruva
Bhagat Dhruva is another child hero of Hindu mythology. One day he ran to his father, who was the king, to sit in his lap. Seeing this, his stepmother reprimanded him and asked him to go away. She told him that he was not worthy of his father’s affection unless he had been born of her womb. Disturbed, Dhruva immediately went to his real mother, who consoled him. She told him to worship Lord Vishnu instead, as he would grant him vision (darshan), which would make him most blissful. The child Dhruva then meditated for a long time and would not leave the place of worship until the Lord appeared before him and granted moksha (salvation). Hindu theology named the North Star after this spiritual hero!
• Ahilya Devi
Ahilya was a very beautiful daughter created by Lord Brahma. She was married to a renowned seer, Rishi Gautam. Both lived a good life, fulfilling all their household duties and responsibilities properly. The celestial god, Indira, however, was entranced by Ahilya’s beauty and approached her when her husband was away. Ahilya, too, could not resist the charm and strength of Lord Indira and succumbed to his advances. When Rishi Gautam learned of this, he became very annoyed, and he cursed her to become a stone. Ahilya immediately realized her mistake, and entreated her husband most sincerely to pardon her. Rishi Gautam then felt pity for his wife and agreed to forgive her and return her to human form—but this would occur only after Lord Rama touched her with his toe. Thus, Ahilya lived for many ages as a stone at the door of Rishi Gautam’s cottage. Only when Lord Rama passed by this cottage during the sojourn of his forest life did he bring her back as a woman by the blessing of his nudge. She afterwards lived with Rishi Gautam in happy union. This mythological tale recalls the importance of purity and faithfulness in marriage. At the same time, any error, regardless of how big it is, may be excused if proper atonement is made and the Lord’s grace is sought. It is important to note that these tales only project spiritual principles; there is no need to justify the details.
• Jatayu
Jatayu was the mythological large bird in the epic of Ramayana. Jatayu was not just sympathetic; he also was empathetic. He completely felt Sita’s pain when the wicked Ravana abducted her. He therefore staked everything, including his own life, for Sita. He was well aware that he had no chance whatsoever against the mighty Ravana, but that did not matter. As long as he
had a drop of blood in him, he fought with all his vigor to save Sita. This is an eternal reminder to more superior beings—men and women—who often shy away from the fight against the unrighteousness, if they feel they have no reasonable chance to win.
• Raja Janak
King Janak was the father of Sita, wife of Lord Rama. But he has earned a very special place for himself as a supreme karma yogi. He also became known as Videha (without body), as he became unaware of his own body and its demands. Janak’s example is cited even today to demonstrate that even with all his worldly possessions, he remained unattached. He performed his duties as king and householder, but he was not affected by these surroundings and circumstances. He is therefore considered spiritually higher than a sanyasin—one who has renounced the world. Hindus are often reminded to emulate Raja Janak in everyday life.
• Rishi Visvamitra
Rishi Visvamitra was one of the most exalted sages of the Vedic era. He represents the power and pageantry of the spiritual Hindu titan of this period. Born Kshatriya in the caste of warriors, he became a Brahmin by way of highest degree of austerity and penance. There are many accounts of the legendary rivalry between him and another equally illustrious Rishi, Vasistha, who was the guru of Lord Rama. The contention between the two spiritual giants may be symbolic of the caste tussle, which has remained predominant in the Hindu community at all times in history. There is also a mythological tale of the celestial nymph Menaka, who seduced him. Out of their union was born Shakuntla, who became the inspiration for the immortal classic from the poet Kalidasa. The story of Rishi Visvamitra is a glimpse into the fascinating and picturesque panorama of the grand period of ancient Hindu history. We may occasionally encounter a semblance of this high-profile spiritual dominance in a modern day swami!
• Savitri and Satyavan
In the epic of the Mahabharata, there is a tale of Savitri, a princess who fell in love with the handsome son of a hermit. She expressed her desire to marry him but was told that he would die just one year after the marriage. Undaunted, she and Satyavan tied their wedding nuptials. True to the prophecy, however, he was struck by death exactly after one year had passed. Savitri pursued the lord of death, Yama, unrelentingly to ask him to grant Satyavan an extension of life. However much Yama declined her request, she still refused to depart until finally, Satyavan was brought back to life. The story of Savitri has become the legend in Hindu scriptures that depicts a wife’s eternal loyalty and perseverance for the sake of her husband.
• Gargi and Maitri
Gargi and Maitri were two strong and forceful women Rishis of the ancient Vedic period. In Hindu society, a woman’s place was very high from the earliest times, even though periodically, women were exploited and suffered
injustice. In the Vedas, women were barred from reciting the Holy Scriptures. In the Upanishads, this aberration seems to have been rectified.
• Maharathi Karana
Karana is a sterling character of the Mahabharata. He was the son of Kunti, mother of the five Pandus (also known as the five Pandavas), born of a mythological union with the sun god, Suray. When Kunti got married, she kept the birth of Karana a secret and virtually disowned him. A low-caste charioteer then brought up Karana, and he became a star archer. Once, the Pandu prince Arjuna, who was actually Karana’s half-brother, humiliated him when he refused to accept Karana’s challenge of a bow competition simply because he was the son of a low caste person. Infuriated by this insult, Karana joined with the rival prince Duryodhana. During the war of the Mahabharata, mother Kunti finally realized her mistake and revealed the truth of Karana’s birth. She appealed to him to join with the other five brothers as the eldest amongst them. Karana, however, rejected the offer out of his loyalty to Duryodhana and continued to fight against his own brothers. In the end, he died a valiant death at the hands of Arjuna. Karana’s tale is told for his loyalty and valor.
• Sri Radha
Radha was an ordinary village belle (gopi), but such was the passion and intensity of her love and devotion to the Lord that she has come to occupy a position of unrivaled adoration in the Hindu pantheon. She could neither read the scriptures nor perform any rites or rituals, yet she is venerated and worshipped all over the world. The worship of Radha cuts across barriers of color, race, and geography, as people sing and dance to her melodious tunes. Radha is the epitome of Hindu spirituality. She is the symbol of the seeker in search of the Divine, who finally reaches the destination. The Lord, too, cherishes her beyond any confines. Radha’s path, known as Radha Bhav, is simple and straightforward, full of dedication and sincerity, and completely free from any vanity, complexity, or deception.
• Sri Yashoda
Yashoda occupies a very special place in Hindu theology. Devaki was the real mother of Lord Krishna, but it was Yashoda who brought him up from early childhood. Her name is associated with the Lord’s many playful, mystical sports, or lila, that he performed in Gokul. Of numerous tales, the following has inspired Hindus beyond any measure: One day a few playmates of the Lord complained to Maa Yashoda that little Krishna had eaten mud and it was still in his mouth. When she asked him to open his mouth, she was struck with awe to see the entire universe inside! She saw the celestial world, where all the gods (devas) lived; she saw the earth, the moon, stars, and oceans. This was the divine mystery of the Lord Vishnumaya. Hindu mythology is replete with such wondrous episodes of the immanent God.

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