I went to Mahabalipuram with one of my friends in Chennai one day. Before that I did some research on what is so special about Mahabalipuram and to know what I should expect from the visit. When I was browsing through the websites and blogs, I found that the most fascinating carving in Mahabalipuram to visit is the Arjuna's penance rock. It will be right at the entrance of Mahabalipuram and it is a very unique one to spot. I was searching for its significance but no explanation seemed to be satisfying. I was wondering why Arjuna's penance is so important that they carved all that they wanted to convey to the world in just a single stone. Especially, the various animals that are there make it confusing altogether for people to understand what it is. Today I learnt the meaning and significance of it and wanted to share it with others.
As you all know, the Pandavas exiled to the forest for 13 long years as they were defeated in the game of dice with the Kauravas. They went to the forest, but they did not keep themselves idle. They nurtured their skills. They made sure that they were no less than any kshathriya warrior. Arjuna wanted the Pashupathi bow from Shiva, to excel in archery. Nothing in this world comes as easy as what you expect. It has to be earned and the Pashupathi astra that Arjuna got from Shiva is an ample example of how it is done.
Indra, is not a name. It is the name of the position. During Mahabaratha, the Indra was a different person. During Ramayana, the Indra was a different person and for each avatar the Indra was a different person. By performing extreme penance or by performing 1000 yagnas one attains the position of Indra. Penance is one form of reaching God as per the Vedas. Parvathi did 7 years of penance to marry Shiva. Likewise to attain God and get the Pasupathi astra Arjuna went to the Himalayas to do penance for 11 long years. He had to stand in one leg and should forget hunger, both of which demands high level of physical and mental stability. To do this, he got two mantras from a rishi, with which he was able to do both. He went to a forest near the Himalayas, had a bare body in those cold conditions and started his penance to invoke Lord Shiva. Today's cliche like 'standing on one leg to achieve it' (ஒத்த காலுல நின்னு சாதிகறான்), came from Arjuna's penance only.
Elephants normally when it itches in some places of its body, scratches by rubbing against a stone. Animals are more intellectual. A dog won't pee in a temple even if it is open half the time. A elephant won't scratch near houses. But man will pee anywhere without any shame. That a different subject altogether. So elephants normally scratch its itch by rubbing against stones. Arjuna, who is undergoing penance, is as still as a stone. Elephant is scratching on him and he is as still as a hard rock. Snakes slither on him thinking that he is a snake hole. He still stands on one leg firm on the ground. The then Indra, takes a look at Arjuna's penance from the heaven and fears that his position is at stake. Knowing that Arjuna is weak when it comes to women, Indra sends Urvasi, Ramba and other celestial angels to distract Arjuna through Kama. Arjuna never budges from his position. A man is a real winner when he is able to defeat his weakness. After almost 11 years, Shiva gets impressed by the penance of Arjuna. But the Pashupathi astra cannot be given to a man who does not deserve it. So, in order to test the real skill of Arjuna, Shiva comes in the form of a tribal.
He comes to Arjuna and disturbs him. Arjuna gets angry that a tribal disturbed him off his penance. The 11 years of hard work, he thinks is of waste just because some tribal man disturbed him. Angry at what happened, Arjuna starts to fight with the tribal with his bow. The tribal man cuts off the string of the bow of Arjuna. Arrogance can make man go to any extreme. Arjuna, at the heat of the moment, stuck a blow with the bow.
This is not the first time that Shiva is getting a blow from his own devotee. In the case of Kannapanayanaar, he got kicked on his own eye yet he gave him everything, a Muslim being an ardent devotee of Shiva threw stones at him like flowers for the sake of the society, but got the blessings of the lord. Here Arjuna is striking a blow with his back end of the bow but the Lord is just smiling. This instance of Shiva taking a blow is described to be just like how a father gets kicked by a little child on his chest during childhood. Here Shiva considers Arjuna to be his own son. So he accepts everything that Arjuna does. Now Shiva knows that a warrior to handle the Pashupathi Astra needs to have great strength in his hands and shoulders. It is not that easy to handle the Pashupathi Astra.
In order to test it the tribal man, Shiva asks Arjuna for a wrestling fight. In Ramayana, Dasaratha at the time of Rama's pattabhisekam for the first time before leaving the forest, comes to greet Rama and tells him that he is going to be the King of Ayodhya. Normally, in our houses we won't be hugging our loved ones very often. In those times also, the hugging will happen only when there is a long gap between two relations. Now, Dasaratha and Rama are meeting each other daily. But still Dasaratha comes to Rama and hugs him. Do you know why? It is because Dasaratha has been ruling the kingdom for more than 60 years. He is transferring a huge responsibility to Rama. While doing this he has to know whether Rama is physically capable of taking up such a huge responsibility. To know whether the physique of Rama is same as that of his father, Dasaratha hugs Rama and measures the shoulders of Rama. Likewise, Shiva here wants to know whether the shoulders of Arjuna can withstand the Pashupathi astra. This very instance teaches us the fact that everything in life has to be earned. Our great epics give us this knowledge. Arjuna kicks Shiva several times during the fight and Shiva smiles. Finally, the Pashupathi astra is given to Arjuna after a long battle and testing time to ensure that the weapon reaches the right person.
Arjuna's penance included the control of the mind and body. It shows how dedicated, people should be, while achieving their goals. The rock at Mahabalipuram, is a symbolic representation for mankind to know what level of concentration is required in order to achieve any task in this world. Everything has to be earned and everyone has to make themselves deserving for success.
-SATZ
Indra, is not a name. It is the name of the position. During Mahabaratha, the Indra was a different person. During Ramayana, the Indra was a different person and for each avatar the Indra was a different person. By performing extreme penance or by performing 1000 yagnas one attains the position of Indra. Penance is one form of reaching God as per the Vedas. Parvathi did 7 years of penance to marry Shiva. Likewise to attain God and get the Pasupathi astra Arjuna went to the Himalayas to do penance for 11 long years. He had to stand in one leg and should forget hunger, both of which demands high level of physical and mental stability. To do this, he got two mantras from a rishi, with which he was able to do both. He went to a forest near the Himalayas, had a bare body in those cold conditions and started his penance to invoke Lord Shiva. Today's cliche like 'standing on one leg to achieve it' (ஒத்த காலுல நின்னு சாதிகறான்), came from Arjuna's penance only.
Elephants normally when it itches in some places of its body, scratches by rubbing against a stone. Animals are more intellectual. A dog won't pee in a temple even if it is open half the time. A elephant won't scratch near houses. But man will pee anywhere without any shame. That a different subject altogether. So elephants normally scratch its itch by rubbing against stones. Arjuna, who is undergoing penance, is as still as a stone. Elephant is scratching on him and he is as still as a hard rock. Snakes slither on him thinking that he is a snake hole. He still stands on one leg firm on the ground. The then Indra, takes a look at Arjuna's penance from the heaven and fears that his position is at stake. Knowing that Arjuna is weak when it comes to women, Indra sends Urvasi, Ramba and other celestial angels to distract Arjuna through Kama. Arjuna never budges from his position. A man is a real winner when he is able to defeat his weakness. After almost 11 years, Shiva gets impressed by the penance of Arjuna. But the Pashupathi astra cannot be given to a man who does not deserve it. So, in order to test the real skill of Arjuna, Shiva comes in the form of a tribal.
He comes to Arjuna and disturbs him. Arjuna gets angry that a tribal disturbed him off his penance. The 11 years of hard work, he thinks is of waste just because some tribal man disturbed him. Angry at what happened, Arjuna starts to fight with the tribal with his bow. The tribal man cuts off the string of the bow of Arjuna. Arrogance can make man go to any extreme. Arjuna, at the heat of the moment, stuck a blow with the bow.
This is not the first time that Shiva is getting a blow from his own devotee. In the case of Kannapanayanaar, he got kicked on his own eye yet he gave him everything, a Muslim being an ardent devotee of Shiva threw stones at him like flowers for the sake of the society, but got the blessings of the lord. Here Arjuna is striking a blow with his back end of the bow but the Lord is just smiling. This instance of Shiva taking a blow is described to be just like how a father gets kicked by a little child on his chest during childhood. Here Shiva considers Arjuna to be his own son. So he accepts everything that Arjuna does. Now Shiva knows that a warrior to handle the Pashupathi Astra needs to have great strength in his hands and shoulders. It is not that easy to handle the Pashupathi Astra.
In order to test it the tribal man, Shiva asks Arjuna for a wrestling fight. In Ramayana, Dasaratha at the time of Rama's pattabhisekam for the first time before leaving the forest, comes to greet Rama and tells him that he is going to be the King of Ayodhya. Normally, in our houses we won't be hugging our loved ones very often. In those times also, the hugging will happen only when there is a long gap between two relations. Now, Dasaratha and Rama are meeting each other daily. But still Dasaratha comes to Rama and hugs him. Do you know why? It is because Dasaratha has been ruling the kingdom for more than 60 years. He is transferring a huge responsibility to Rama. While doing this he has to know whether Rama is physically capable of taking up such a huge responsibility. To know whether the physique of Rama is same as that of his father, Dasaratha hugs Rama and measures the shoulders of Rama. Likewise, Shiva here wants to know whether the shoulders of Arjuna can withstand the Pashupathi astra. This very instance teaches us the fact that everything in life has to be earned. Our great epics give us this knowledge. Arjuna kicks Shiva several times during the fight and Shiva smiles. Finally, the Pashupathi astra is given to Arjuna after a long battle and testing time to ensure that the weapon reaches the right person.
Arjuna's penance included the control of the mind and body. It shows how dedicated, people should be, while achieving their goals. The rock at Mahabalipuram, is a symbolic representation for mankind to know what level of concentration is required in order to achieve any task in this world. Everything has to be earned and everyone has to make themselves deserving for success.
-SATZ
