'Kalidasa and Bhoja Raja, the king of 'TARA'

As we see dark clouds in the sky, we rush to a place of shelter since heavy downpour is likely.

A devotee asked a Pandit why Lord Vishnu is compared to the dark water bearing cloud or in other words as " Kala Megham " in Sanskrit or ' Dark Cloud' in English.
The Pandit cleared his throat first, and the devotee moved forward with increased attention as he was sure something very interesting was in the offing from the Pandit. The erudite scholar began the story of Kalidasa and Bhoja Raj. Kalidasa was the chief and distinguished poet in the Kingdom of Bhoj, 'TARA' , being its capital. The citizens of Tara were well versed in singing classical poetry.

The king knew well the talent of Kalidasa as a poet especially the innumerable ways of bringing simile in his poems. He developed a strange interest, knew not why, but he desired Kalidasa to sing the last song for him before he died. Normally the ' charama sloka' is sung only after a person is dead. Kalidasa, therefore made it clear to the king that as he was blessed by Kali Devi if he sang the song, the king 's life would come to an end immediately. Bhoja raja got angry with Kalidasa for disobeying his order and banished him from the capital of ' Tara'.

Kalidasa wandered in the city of Tara in the disguise of a hermit . But the King could not get over his strange wish. He launched a search to find Kalidasa's whereabouts and for this purpose he disguised himself as a ' Sooth Sayer ' . The king spotted the sanyasi near a mutton shop and to make sure that he was none other than Kalidasa he enquired him, " You are a Sanyasi, how come you are seen near a mutton shop , Is it not unbecoming of a true sanyasi?"

Kalidasa, impulsively reacted to the remarks of thr Sooth Sayer but unfortunately let the cat out of the bag by saying, " Where else a person can go after his banishment by the king?". On hearing this, the king became sure that he was Kalidasa only. The King decided to play a strategy to make Kalidasa to sing the last song for him. He continued the conversation with Kalidasa.

In due course Kalidasa also enquired the Sooth Sayer where from he hailed. The Sooth Sayer replied " Tara" .

Kalidasa with genuine interest in the welfare of King Bhoj enquired him for the news of Tara and whether the King Bhoj was keeping sound health. The Sooth Sayer replied ," Oh, what a calamity, Bhoj King is dead as he was unable to bear the separation from his best friend and poet Kalidasa". Kalidasa was shattered to hear the sad news about his friend and with great grief sang the ' charama sloka' in praise of the departed soul!!

" ATHYA TARA NIRATARA NIRALAMBA SARASWATHI;
PANDITHAHA KANDITHA SARVE BHOJRAJA DIVAM GATHE "
( meaning :- The Kingdom of Tara is now deserted due to the demise of Bhoj Raj. The learned poets would get punished anywhere now as Goddess Saraswathi has lost the grip and interest.)
The moment Kalidasa sang the charama sloka, the King in thedisguise of the' Sooth Sayer ' fell down on the ground and died. Kalidasa was quick to realise that it was none other than his best friend and the King himself who acted as the Sooth Sayer to hear the charama sloka from him.

Kalidasa prayed to Kali Devi to spare his friend by singing the same sloka to give the opposite meaning:-

" ATYA TARA SADHA TARA SADALAMBA SARASWATHY
PANDITHA MANDITHA SARVE BHOJ RAJA DIVAM GATHE "



Kali Devi was moved by Kalidasa's poetry and gave a new lease of life to the King but restricted it to a time of 3.75 Nazhi. ( a very short time only)

Kalidasa embraced the King and told about the short life at his disposal. King Bhoj urged to compose Kalidasa an epic and Bhoj also joined him to make it.The kavya is well known as" Bhoj Sambu " .
The epic work describes Vishnu as ' Kala Megham '.




The Pandit explained to the devotee why Kalidasa described Vishnu as ' Kala Megham '.

1) Colour:- The Cloud appears black when it is about to rain. Vishnu is also dark.
2) There is rainbow in the sky. Vishnu bears the weapon " Saranga" which is also a bow .
3) Lightning strikes as a thread in streaks. Vishnu's consort Laksmi is slender and a sparkling beauty
4) The birds in sky long for the rain from the clouds. Here devotees look for Vishnu's Grace.
5) The cloud when it showers, cools the Earth. The Grace of Vishnu helps the devotee to overcome his troubles.
The Pandit also explained why 'Rama Nama' is a Mantra.


The letter "Ra" gets emphasis in the name ' NaRAyana '. If you remove the letters "RA" in Narayana, it becomes ' Na Ayana" which means there is no Vishnu.
Similarly in the name " naMAsivaya', MA gets the emphasis. When MA is taken off, the name reads as 'na siva' which means there is no Siva. Thus RA from Narayana and MA from Namasivaya makes the mantra " RAMA " which is known as Taraka Mantra. There is a temple for " Sankara narayana" in Trinelveli district in the place called "Sankaran Koil" where the main deity is half Siva and half Narayana combined.


The list of famous devotees of Vishnu may stand long. But the names that come upmost are:-
1) King Parikshith who enjoyed hearing Vishnu Purana.
2) Sage Vyasa who sang Vishnu's greatness thru' his works.
3) Prahlada considered Vishnu as his whole life and his thoughts were always with Vishnu.
4) Laksmi was at Vishnu's feet always in service to the Lord.
5) Brugu Maharaj worshipped Vishnu with intense devotion.
6) Akrurar entertained Vishnu in an eloborate manner
7) Hanuman worshipped Rama in his heart and performed all duties for the his Lord.
8) Arjuna was Krishna's comrade and had an easy rapport with Krishna.
9) Bali Chakravarthi surrendered to Lord and sacrificed his life to keep up his word.
10). Sage Narada is the foremost of theVishnu bhaktas who popularised ' namasangeerthanam ', the simplest but most effective form of bhaktirasa .

The quote below is taken from the famous poem
' Christabel ' by Coleridge and suitably modified to fall in line with the topic:-

" Gods Will Help if Men May Call
For the Blue Sky Bends Over All. "

'The Efficacy of Nama Parayanam"

Krishna narrates Gita to Arjun in Mahabharath. Bhishma narrates Vishnu Sahasranamam also in Mahabharath which is heard by Krishna himself.It always brings plesure to Krishna when HIS namavali is sung as also reciting the namavali is equivalent to performing 'yagya' according to Veda.

The efficacy of reciting ' Bhaghavan Nama' is three fold; Sri Mukkur Lakshmi Narasimmacharyar in his book " Kurai Onrum Illai' in Tamil explains as follows:-

1) " Dhrushta Phalam'
2) " Adhrista Phalam "
3) "Dhrishtadhrista Phalam"

Dhrishta Phalam refers to the direct fruit of our action. Dhrushta in sanskrit means found. Phalam means fruits of labour. For example, a student prepares well for the exam and recites Bhagavan Nama also for success in the exam. The results are announced and when he sees that he has obtained 100 out of 100, he realises
" Dhrista Phalam". It is something like 'seeing is believing'. He believed that he didn't get even one mark less was due to the prayers he did before going to the examination hall. He starts quoting Tennyson to his close friends about the efficacy of prayers 'More things are wrought by prayer than the world dreams of'.

Bhagavatham cites one instance for ' Dhrishta phalam'.
('Jami' refers to a woman of virtues and Ajami is opposite of that).
A person by name Ajamilan met an Ajami in a forest and stayed with her for a number of years and begot 10 children. At the age of 88 he was very ill & bed ridden. Ajami neglected him totally. His end was nearing and three Yama kinkaras came to fetch him. Since Ajamilan committed sin in great proportion three were sent by Yama instead of the usual two. Ajamilan shivered when they were about to come near him. He called his 10th child by name " Narayana, Narayana" who was playing nearby. God Narayana heard HIS name pronounced by Ajamilan in distress. HE immediately appeared on the spot and drove away the Kinkaras. Ajamilan wondered if Bhagavan could respond even for a single call, what benefit he could have reaped if he had been singing HIS name regularly! Ajamilan obtained 'moksha' for uttering "Narayana" in the last minute! This episode explains ' Dhrishta Phalam' ! (God comes in person to help HIS devotee-Dhrishta Phalam)

2) Next in line is ' Adhrishta Phalam ' which means help comes although God remains
away from the scene. Draupadi's case stands as a ready illustration . When she prayed to Krishna to save her modesty at the hands of Dussasana, Krishna's 'abhaya karam' made the saree to grow endlessly. Here Krishna does not appear on the scene - adhrishta palam.

3) 'Dhrishtadhrishta Palan' concept is evident in the case of 'Gajendra Moksham' episode. " Adhimoolame" was the clarion call made by the Gajendra and Lord Narayana rushed to the spot and got Gajendra released from the clutches of the crocodile which was also killed by Lord's missile.

Here Dhrishta phalam refers to Lord's response to arrive at the spot of trouble after having been called by Gajendran (direct happening) and 'Adhrishta Phalam' refers to Gajendran obtaining mukti by the Grace of Narayana in absentia. The two benefits bestowed by HIM were in union or happened simultaneously. This phenomenon is known as "Dhrishtadhrishta Phalam" !

Chanting HIS name with devotion develops concentration in self and realisation in HIM. Vishnu Sahasranamam has certain distinction and chanting the sahasra namavali yields multi dimensional effects. The first sloka explains the first eight aksharas of Gayatri mantra. The second explains the next eight and the third slokam in Sahasranamam explains the third eight aksharas of Gayatri Mantra. Gayatri is reckoned as the fifth Veda and Vishnu Sahasranamam's first three slokas contain the Gayatri Mantra.

Gayathri at dawn wears crimson colour dress and recites Rig Veda. At noon, she is dressed in White Silk and recites Yajur Veda. In the Sandhya Time, she is dressed in black raw silk and recites Sama Veda. Hence reciting Gayatri Mantra is equivalent to reciting the three vedas. By reciting thr first three slokas of Vishnu Sahasranamam, one begets at once the rich advantage of chanting the four Vedas. These facts are explained in the book " Kurai Onrum Illai" in Tamil by Mukkur Lakshmi Narasimhachariyar.

When the nama 'Govinda' is chanted the ten avatars of Vishnu get reflected as they are inherent part of that Namavali. Mukkur Lakshmi Narasimhachar explains this phenomena step by step in his book :-

'Go' means mountain and refers to'Matsya-Avatar' as the mountain was lifted by Vishnu.

'Go' also means "earth". In Varaha Avatar Vishnu redeems Bhooma Devi.

Devas,in total,propitiated Narasimha in the name of Govinda. Hence Narasimha avatar is inherent in the nama "Govinda".

Vishnu who is also Govinda sought space to cover three measures of HIS steps. Thus Govinda represents Vamana Avatar also.

Parasurama who went around the Earth is also known by the name 'Govinda ' as the word 'go' symbolises Earth,as already referred.

"Go" also means 'weapons' and Rama who obtained the weapons from the Sage Viswamitra gets the name ' Govinda '. Rama Avtar thus figures in the name of Govinda.

Balarama who drained the ocean to plough the Earth gets the name "Govinda'.

'Go' (Gowhu) refers to 'Cow' and Krishna looked after the cows in Brindavan where he grew under the most affectionate care of Yasoda. 'Govinda'thus have the connection with Krishna Avatar. Govinda also means "protector of cows"

Srinivasa or Venkata Nathan who resides in Tirumala is also 'Govinda' as Lord Venkateswara is the presiding deity in Kali yuga. HE is known in Tamil as 'Kan Kanda Deivam'.
That is why devotees perform 'Kalyana Uthsavam' to Venkatramana and seek HIS blessings to beget good rewards in the concurrent life as well as emancipation (mukti) when the end comes.

' Achutha, Anantha, Govinda, Kesava, Narayana, Madhava, Govinda, Vishno, Madhusudhana, Thrivikrama, Vamana, Sridhara, Hrishikesa, Padmanabha, Damodara are some names often recited from the Sahasra Namam.

Nama Sangeertanam is the easiest way in Kali yuga to obtain salvation.

The Womens' Day is an occasion to honour women who gave us the gift of life.

Gandhiji said ' Men and women are equal but not identical '. It is true that no father desires his daughter to speak to him like his son nor his sister to behave like his brother.

A woman's uniqueness lies in her feminine quality. Ahalya, Draupadi, Sita, Tara and Mandodari are named as ' Pancha Kanyas ' (The Five Women) in puranas for the sacrifices they made to maintain the equilibirium of life.

To mark the International Womens' Day, a flag called " Ananya", is hoisted which depicts the colours of a muted rainbow, under the Indian national tricolour against a white background.The colours of rainbow signify freedom and new hopes. The other colours represent expanding horizons, new aspirations and skills and yearning for true emancipation.

A woman shows her her feminine quality when she becomes a mother. No one can ever perform the duties and exhibit love for the child like the mother. The child grows happily because of the confidence it develops in the hands of his or her mother.

Adi Sankara in his works entitled as " Mathru Panchakam " quotes :-

" Oh, mother, you happened to suffer from nausea too often after bearing me in the womb...; you had to take castor oil in a mixture of herbs to protect me in the womb...; when I was five months, you were on a bland diet without salt or chilles...; when I started my tiny movements in the seventh month, you encouraged them by foregoing sleep...; did I not cause you to faint due to the excess atmosphere of gas when I was occupying your stomoch in a growth form..; and after giving birth to me, you took such care which no words could describe and bore my wetting and let-outs..; for all such sacrifices ever since my birth till I undertook saint hood... I could probably never repay in several births also...; all I could perform is only to say my ' pranams ' at the last hour of mine..." so poignantly Adi sankara's ' Mathru- Panchakam ' describes woman hood and mother hood.

Today Indian Overseas Bank proudly announces the inauguration of " All Women Branch " @ Basavangudi, Bangalore.
and Indian Bank declares their Katpadi Branch as an " All women Branch ".

We also hear ' Women's outfits'; "Women's Organisation"; ' Women's Lib and such slogans. But does it echo loudly or is it just feeble to hear?

Why do we celebrate Womens' International Day only on 8th March ?
What about the status in the rest of 364 days ?

' Women, in your laughter, you have the Music of the Fountain of Life ".

' A woman takes birth as a baby, growsup as a daughter, a sister, a wife to a mother ; the journey of a woman ends nowhere. She enlightens the world as she is the second creator of the world around her'.

' March 8 as International Women's Day '

The Women's' Day is an occasion to honour women who gave us the gift of life.

Gandhi said ' Men and women are equal but not identical '. It is true that no father desires his daughter to speak with him like his son nor his sister to behave like his brother.

A woman's uniqueness lies in her feminine quality. Ahalya, Draupadi, Seeta, Tara and Mandodari are named as ' Pancha Kanyas ' (The Five Women) in Purana's for the sacrifices they made to maintain the equilibrium of life.

To mark the International Women's' Day, a flag is hoisted which depicts the colours of a muted rainbow, under the Indian national tri colour against a white background.The colours of rainbow signify freedom and new hopes. The other colours represent expanding horizons, new aspirations and skills and yearning for true emancipation.

A woman shows her her feminine quality fully when she becomes a mother. No one can ever perform the duties and exhibits love for the child like the mother. The child grows happily because of the confidence it develops in the hands of his or her mother.

Adi Sankara in his works entitled as " mathru panchakam " quotes :-

" Oh, mother, you happened to suffer from nausea too often after bearing me in the womb...; you had to take cast or oil in a mixture of herbs to protect me in the womb...; when I was five months, you starved in a diet of no taste without salt or chill es...; when I started my tiny movements in the seventh month, you encouraged them by foregoing sleep...; did I not cause you to faint due to the excess atmosphere of gas when I was occupying your stomach in a growth form..; and after giving birth to me, you took such cares which no words could describe and bore my wetting and let-outs..; for all such sacrifices ever since my birth till I undertook saint hood... I could probably never repay in several births also...; all I could perform is only to say my ' pranams ' at the last hour of mine..." so poignantly Adi Sankara's ' Mathru- Panchagam ' describes his true feelings about women hood and mother hood especially.

We see today Indian Overseas Bank proudly announces inauguration of " All Women Branch " @ Basavangudi, Bangalore. Indian Bank declares their Katpadi Branch as an " All women Branch " today. We also hear ' Womens' outfits'; "Women's' Organisation"; ' Women's' Lib and such slogans.
But does it echo loudly or is just feeble to hear?

Why Women's International Day id on 8Th March only. What happens in the rest of 364 days ?

" Maha Sivarathri "

Siva means extremely pure, auspicious. Siva is worshipped as Lingam. Mount Kailash is conceived to be in the form of a Lingam. Varanasi is the holiest among the places of pilgrimage. MahaKala ( Great Time ) is the fearsome form of Siva which destroys all things.

We shall know more about " Maha Sivarathri " .

PICTURE of KOTILINGESWARA TEMPLE IN KARNATAKA



" Ohm Nama Sivaya " " Sivaya Namaha " " Mahasivarathri " - Maha Sivarathri falls on
6th March this year.

The days which are called " Nithya-Sivarathri " are the 14 days after the new moon or full moon or they are Sukla paksha or Krishna paksha Chathurdasis that come in all the 12 months.

Sivarathri of a month is the 14th day in Krishna paksha.



Paksha Sivarathri is observed in Makara Masa (Thai) during the 13 days in Krishnapaksha when Vratham is observed and aradhana for Siva is performed.

Yoga Sivarathri happens if that full day consisting of 60 Nazhigai is a Somavara and Amavasya together.

MAHA SIVARATHRI occurs on Krishnapaksha Chathurdasi in the month of Kumbha otherwise known as Masi, the Tamil month.




There is a unique coincidence in the Avtars of Lord Siva and Vishnu. While Vishnu took the Avtar on Gokulashtami day in Dakshinayana at midnight, Lord Siva took avtar as " LINKOTHBHAVA " on the same day in Uttarayana in the next Kumbh Masa in Krishnapaksha Chathurdasi. One is Hari and the other is Haran but they are one and the same as Hari Haran.

Sivarathri's Significance:-

The Big Statue of SIVA in Bangalore on the way to the existing Airport:-


(1) Siva appeared in the form of a Linga from Jyothi-Swarupa which has no beginning or end. That day is known as MahaSivarathri

(2) Pralaya occurred on a Shivaratri day and the whole world got attached to Siva. There existed no other person on that day except Siva. .

(3) It is the MahaSivarathri day when Parvathi, after an intense worship of Siva, became a part of Siva in the form "Ardhanariswara".

(4) It is on the Mahasivarathri day Siva took the poison that came forth while churning the ocean of milk.

(5) Arjuna obtained 'Pasupathasthra" on Mahasivarathri day after undergoing penance.

(6) It is the day when Baghirath after undergoing severe penance brought Ganga to Earth. ( "Bhagiratha Prayathnam " refers to such hard fought struggles)

(7) Siva does samhara of Yama Dharma Raja to save Markandeya from the clutches of death on Mahasivarathri day.

(8) On Mahasivarathri day, Kannappan gave his eyes to Lord Siva.

(9) It is on Mahasivarathri day Lord Siva revealed HIS full form to Vishnu and Brahma who went in search of His feet circumventing the entire Universe.


The picture of Nija Linga at Somnath

Devotees fast on Mahasivarathri day, keep awake the whole night, worship Siva and visit Siva Temples chant the Panchakshara Japa " Om Nama Sivaya "


Major deities, rishis, planets, worshipped Shiva and established Shivalingas in various places.

1)Pashupatinath Lord of all living beings, located at Kathmandu, Nepal.

2)Somnath located at Prabhas Patan in Saurashtra in Gujarat.

3)Dwarka in Gujarat is home to the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga temple.

4)Mahakal, Ujjain (or Avanti) in Madhya Pradesh is home to the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga temple.

5)Srisailam - Srisailam near Kurnool enshrines Mallikarjuna in an ancient temple architecturally and sculpturally rich.

6)Bhimashankar, in the Sahyadri range of Maharashtra, contains a Jyotirlinga shrine associated with Shiva destroying the demon Tripurasura.

7)Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh is an island in the Narmada river, home to a Jyotirlinga shrine and the Amareshwar temple.

8)Sukreswar Temple located on Sukreswar hill in Guwahati on the southern bank of Brahmaputra, with the ghat leading down to the river.

9)Uma Nanda Temple located on the Peacock island in middle of River Brahmaputra in Guwahati.

10)Kedarnath in Uttarakhand is the northernmost of the Jyotirlingas.

11)Varanasi|(Benares) in Uttar Pradesh is home to the Vishwanath Jyotirling temple.

12)Trimbakeshwar, near Nashik in Maharashtra, has a Jyotirlinga shrine located associated with the origin of the Godavari river.

13)Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga shrine, in Maharashtra, is located near the rock-cut temples of Ellora.

14)Deoghar, in the Santhal Parganas region of Jharkhand, is home to the Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga temple.

15)Ganesha worshipped Shiva at Pillayar patti (100 km from Madurai, India)
The four Vedas worshipped Shiva at Thirumaraikaadu (i.e., Vedaaranyam near Tanjore)

16)Skanda worshipped Shiva at Thiruchendur (200 km from Madurai, India)
Rama (avatar of Vishnu) worshipped Shiva in Rameswaram(India)

17)Vishnu worshipped Shiva atKanchipuram (Kachiswarar Temple)

18)Parasurama (avatar of Vishnu) worshipped Shiva at Sreesailam, Karnataka and also at Chennai (Parasurama at Lingeshwara Temple, Iyanavaram)

19)Goddess Lakshmi (wife of Vishnu) worshipped Shiva at Tirupachethi (50 km from Madurai).

20)Surya worshipped Shiva at Srivilliputhur (Vaidhyanathaar Temple 100 km from Madurai)

21)Brahma and Vishnu at Tiruvannamalai (180 km from Chennai)

22)Brahma at Vrinchipuram (155 km from Chennai, 15 km from Vellore)

23)Rahu and Ketu at Kaalahasthi (50 km from Tirupathi, Andhra Pradesh, India)

24)Indra at Madurai (Soma Sundareeswar Temple)

25)The Rishi Agastya at Papanasam (100 km from Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India)

26)Goddess Parvati at Kancheepuram (Ekambeeswarar Temple, 70 km from Chennai, India)

27)Shani at Thirnallar (near Kaaraikal, Pondicherry)

28)Moongod at Thingalur (near Tanjore)

29)Shiva and Sani at Thirvidaimaruthoor (near Kumbakonam)

30)Brahma at Kumbakoonam (Kumbeeswarar, near Tanjore)

31) Ujjain Jyotirlinga shrine, in Madhya Pradesh.

32) Lord Shiva at Trilochan, is famous with name of Trilochan Mhadev Temple, 30 km from varanasi , india

33)Manjunatha-Lord of mist at Dharmasthala this one famous pilgrim of Dakshina Kannada,Karnataka.

34)Nanjundeshwara -One who has gulped nanju-pain or Halahala in his throat or
35)SriKanteshwara at Nanjangud near Mysore,Karnataka

36)AtmaLinga at Gokarna ,Karnataka.

37)Panchalingeshwara-5 Linga all of which is covered with sand but opens up at specific dates at [Talakad]] ,Karnataka.

38)Shivagange-Believed to be patalaGanga flowing by rishi Agastya worship. Bangalore, Karnataka.

39)Murudeshwara in Uttara Kannada,Karnataka.

40)Kudalasangama in Basavakalyana,Karnataka.

41)By Lava and Kusha (sons of Rama) in Kurungaleeswar temple at Koyambedu Chennai.

42)Bakreshwar and Tarakeshwar in West Bengal

43)In South India, five temples of Siva are held to be particularly important, as being manifestations of him in the five elemental substances:

(i)Tiruvannamalai, as fire

(ii)Chidambaram, as ether

(iii)Srikalahasti, as air

(iv)Tiruvanaikal, as water

(v)Conjeeveram, as earth

To conclude, a piece from RUDRA :- " namaste asthu Bhagavan, Visweswaraya, Mahadevaya, Triyambakaya, Tripurandakaya, Trikagnikalaya, Kalagnirudraya, Neelakantaya, Mrithyunjayaya, Sarveswaraya, Sadasivaya, Sriman Mahadevaya Namaha "