RIGOROUS PENANCE OF SHRUTAVATI FOR INDRA

Shrutavati burns her own legs in the fire and Arundhati helps in raining

Did you know that other than Sachi, Deity king Indra had a wife named Shrutavati(Srutavati)? She practiced intense austerities with an intention to get Indra. Indra took a test to understand her love. It was in no way smooth. moreover, he gave an example of the extreme penance of Arundhati. let us understand it in brief. in the course of the Pilgrimage to Sarasvati riverside, Lord Balarama reached close to Vadarapachana tirtha in which Shrutavati used to live earlier than.

Shrutavati was the Brahmacharini daughter of incredible Sage Bharadvaja. one day Sage Bharadvaja saw an appealing apsara named Ghrtaci and he had an involuntary emission of semen. The sage collected the semen in his hand but it fell down on a Leaf Dona. A girl child was born out of it. After finishing her Jatakarman samskara left her in the Asrama and went to the woodland of the Himalayas.

No person on earth matched her splendor. She carried out inflexible penance whilst following the Vedic rituals in her Asrama. Her simplest purpose was to get Indra as her husband. She used to observe austere tapas which were commonly painful and near to impossible for any woman. Many years passed. Indra was thrilled with her conduct, wholehearted willpower, and devotion to Asceticism. He took the shape of sage Vasishtha and came to her Asrama. Shrutavati civilly worshiped sage in her Asrama and told him that, "Sage! I am obliged to you. I can obey all of your commands. I can virtually give you the whole thing you wish for but apart from my hand because of the truth that I've stored my devotement for Indra only. I desire to please the deity king Indra through my penance. "

Indra looked at her and at the same time as consoling informed her that, "I'm aware of the intense austerities that you do. You'll absolutely attain your desire for which you have executed such penance. Thru austerities, one could acquire the Paramdham of deities and splendid happiness. Many human beings through asceticism receive Devatv or divinity after their loss of life through penance only. Subrote! Take these five plums and cook them nicely. "

In the meantime, Indra went to take a bath in the holy water of the same tirtha and did chanting there. (Vadarapachana is also referred to as Indratirtha within the three Lokas). Indra in order to test Shrutavati's dedication didn't allow the plums to be cooked. Shrutavati placed the plums on the fire to prepare it at the earliest but could not do it. It took a long time still remained the same. The entire day was over. The whole firewoods had been already used as fuel. There was nothing left. Shrutavati then started out burning her own body parts as fuel. She placed her legs on the hearth and didn't hesitate at all. She only wished to delight the sage by means of cooking those plums. Even though burning her own body parts, she was unable to cook those plums. Each of her legs was already burnt within the fireplace.

Indra was pleased with her determination, appeared in his real form in front of her and blessed her by means of saying that, "I'm very much glad about your Asceticism, rituals, and devotion. I grant you the fulfillment of your choice. You'll stay in Svargaloka(heaven) with me after leaving your body. This tirtha will be named Vadarapachana with a purpose to end all the sins. This place is well-known in three Lokas. Many Brahmarishis have dived in this auspicious tirtha.

Once the Saptarishis(seven great sages) got right here in this tirtha together with Arundhati; spouse of exquisite Sage Vasishth.  They left her here, went to the Himalayas, and stayed inside the forest there. Sages made Asramas there and started gathering fruits. It stopped raining in this country for twelve years.

Throughout the period, Arundhati kept her mind in Asceticism simplest. She accomplished severe penance and thrilled Lord Shiva. Lord went to her as in disguise of one Brahmin and begged her for alms. At that point, Arundhati replied to him that food was already over and he could simplest consume the plums that had been kept there. Mahadev asked her to cook those plums for him.

Arundhati with a view to please the Brahmin started out cooking the plums. Without eating any food, she only engrossed her thoughts in getting ready the plums for the Brahmin. Twelve years passed and due to her devotion, it then rained like before. The sages returned back to Arundhati. Being glad about her asceticism and ethics, Lord Shiva then asked her to go back to the sages. He revealed his true form in the front of the sages and told them that, " The exceptional austerities carried out by way of Arundhati here is incomparable to all your penance achieved in the Himalayas. This Tapasvini without ingesting anything simplest cooked the plums for twelve years constantly. "

Lord Shiva wished to provide her a boon. Arundhati replied to him that, "God! if you are pleased with me then grant this place to be recognized as Vadarapachana tirtha. This tirtha will also turn out to be the favorable area for all the sages. An individual after staying without food for three nights in here will additionally fulfill his desires similar to the fasting accomplished for twelve years." Mahadev granted her desire. All the sages did his Stuti. Lord then went back to his Loka. Sages were greatly surprised to see Arundhati no longer looking exhausted or susceptible even after an extended period of fasting. 

Shrutavati! Arundhati acquired Sidhi via her awesome asceticism just like you did for me. you have got sacrificed yourself in this Vrat. Pleased in your willpower, I will grant you uncommon boon ahead to the boon granted by way of Lord Shiva to Arundhati. 'An individual will gain Punyaloka after his passing even though staying right here for one night with entire concentration and taking bath within the holy river.' After saying this Indra returned back to heaven. Shrutavati left her body and became the wife of Indra. Via her superb asceticism, she got Indra and stayed with him in Devaloka.

Ref: Mahabharata book

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