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== वृत्रस्य पूर्वजन्म || Vrttra's Previous Birth ==

== वृत्रस्य पूर्वजन्म || Vrttra's Previous Birth ==

Chitraketu ruled over Soorasena kingdom. Chitraketu and his wife Kritadyuti were childless. Seeing their sorrow Angirasa maharshi informs them that a son would be born to them. However, the envy of Chitraketu's other wives led them to poison the child and kill him after he was born. Angirasa and Narada try to bring back the child back to life but the soul replies that he was the son to a large number of parents, in various births, and requested to be enlightened as to which of those parents he was to live with.  

Chitraketu ruled over Soorasena kingdom. Chitraketu and his wife Kritadyuti were childless. Seeing their sorrow Angirasa maharshi informs them that a son would be born to them. However, the envy of Chitraketu's other wives led them to poison the child and kill him at birth. Angirasa and Narada tried to revive the child but the soul replies that he was the son to a large number of parents, in various births, and requested to be enlightened as to which of those parents he was to live with. Understanding the situation, Narada leaves after imparting spiritual wisdom to Chitraketu and his wife. Both of them then immerse themselves in the spiritual path and attain the form of Gandharvas. Once in the land of Vidyadharas, Chitraketu was travelling in the aerial space in the vehicle given by SriMahavishnu. When flying over the Mountain Kailasa, the abode of Shiva and Parvati, Chitraketu laughs at the sight of Parvati being seated in the lap of Shiva. He accuses Shiva, being enlightened is embracing his consort, Parvati, when present in the view of Siddhas and saintly people as an ordinary human being. This anecdote is given in Bhagavata Purana in 6th Skanda as follows   <blockquote>जटाधीस्तीव्रतपा ब्रह्मवादिसभापतिः अङ्कीकृत्य स्रियं चास्ते गतह्रीः प्राकृते यथा || (Bhag. Pura. Skan. 6. Chap 17. Slok 7)</blockquote><blockquote>प्रायशः प्राकृताश्चापि स्रियं रहसि बिभ्रति । अयं महाव्रतधरो बिभ्रर्ति सदसि स्रियम् || (Bhag. Pura. Skan. 6. Chap 17. Slok 8)</blockquote>Enraged by his laughter, Parvati curses Chitraketu to be born as an asura.  <blockquote>नायमर्हति वैकुण्ठ पादमूलोपसर्पणम् सम्भावितमतिः स्तब्धः साधुभिः पर्युपासितम् (Bhag. Pura. Skan. 6. Chap 17. Slok 15)</blockquote><blockquote>अतः पापीयसीं योनिमासुरीं याहि दु्र्मते यथेह भूयो न कर्ता पुत्र किल्बिषम्</blockquote><blockquote>जज्ञे त्वष्टुर्दक्षिणाद्नौ दानवीं योनिमाश्रितः वृत्र इत्यभिविख्यातो ज्ञानविज्ञानसंयुतः (Bhag. Pura. Skan. 6. Chap 17. Slok 38)</blockquote>Thus Chitraketu was born as Vrttrasura.   

 

Understanding the situation, Narada leaves after imparting spiritual wisdom to Chitraketu and his wife. Both of them then immerse themselves in the spiritual path and attain the form of Gandharvas. Once in the land of Vidyadharas, Chitraketu was travelling in the aerial space in the vehicle given by SriMahavishnu. When flying over the Mountain Kailasa, the abode of Shiva and Parvati, Chitraketu laughs at the sight of Parvati being seated in the lap of Shiva. He accuses Shiva, being enlightened is embracing his consort, Parvati, when present in the view of Siddhas and saintly people as an ordinary human being. This anecdote is given in Bhagavata Purana in 6th Skanda as follows <blockquote>जटाधीस्तीव्रतपा ब्रह्मवादिसभापतिः अङ्कीकृत्य स्रियं चास्ते गतह्रीः प्राकृते यथा || (Bhag. Pura. Skan. 6. Chap 17. Slok 7)</blockquote><blockquote>प्रायशः प्राकृताश्चापि स्रियं रहसि बिभ्रति । अयं महाव्रतधरो बिभ्रर्ति सदसि स्रियम् || (Bhag. Pura. Skan. 6. Chap 17. Slok 8)</blockquote>Enraged by his laughter, Parvati curses Chitraketu to be born as an asura.  <blockquote>नायमर्हति वैकुण्ठ पादमूलोपसर्पणम् सम्भावितमतिः स्तब्धः साधुभिः पर्युपासितम् (Bhag. Pura. Skan. 6. Chap 17. Slok 15)</blockquote><blockquote>अतः पापीयसीं योनिमासुरीं याहि दु्र्मते यथेह भूयो न कर्ता पुत्र किल्बिषम्</blockquote><blockquote>जज्ञे त्वष्टुर्दक्षिणाद्नौ दानवीं योनिमाश्रितः वृत्र इत्यभिविख्यातो ज्ञानविज्ञानसंयुतः (Bhag. Pura. Skan. 6. Chap 17. Slok 38)</blockquote>Thus Chitraketu was born as Vrttrasura.   

== सप्तसिन्ध॑वः || Saptasindhus (The Seven Rivers) ==

== सप्तसिन्ध॑वः || Saptasindhus (The Seven Rivers) ==

Rig Veda describes the following about Vrttrasura and his blocking the Sapta sindhu's (the seven rivers).  <blockquote>अतृप्णुवन्तं वियतमबुध्यमबुध्यमानं सुषुपाणमिन्द्र | सप्त प्रति प्रवत आशयानमहिं वज्रेण वि रिणा अपर्वन् || (Rig. Veda. 4.19.3)</blockquote><blockquote>atr̥pṇuvantaṁ viyatamabudhyamabudhyamānaṁ suṣupāṇamindra | sapta prati pravata āśayānamahiṁ vajrēṇa vi riṇā aparvan || (Rig. Veda. 4.19.3)</blockquote>Meaning : Vrita having an insatiable bulky body, is very powerful, personification of ignorance, and deep in slumber. Serpent like he sleeps in a way that that sapta sindus can’t flow. Such Vritra is killed by Indra with his thunderbolt, on the day of full moon.   

Rig Veda describes the following about Vrttrasura and his blocking the Sapta sindhu's (the seven rivers).  <blockquote>अतृप्णुवन्तं वियतमबुध्यमबुध्यमानं सुषुपाणमिन्द्र | सप्त प्रति प्रवत आशयानमहिं वज्रेण वि रिणा अपर्वन् || (Rig. Veda. 4.19.3)</blockquote><blockquote>atr̥pṇuvantaṁ viyatamabudhyamabudhyamānaṁ suṣupāṇamindra | sapta prati pravata āśayānamahiṁ vajrēṇa vi riṇā aparvan || (Rig. Veda. 4.19.3)</blockquote>Meaning : Vrita having an insatiable bulky body, is very powerful, personification of ignorance, and deep in slumber. Serpent like he sleeps in a way that that sapta sindus can’t flow. Such Vritra is killed by Indra with his thunderbolt, on the day of full moon.   

'''Esoteric Meaning :''' Here the birth and killing of Vritra represent an eternal principle that happens in this world. Water is the main life force that keeps things green, without water called as drought, nothing survives. Similarly in the personality of human beings, if the flow of life or the sapta sindus stop, then there is a drought of spiritual existence and elevation.  Every aspect of human beings, the emotions, intellectual capacity, friendship, values, relationships, are affected by the lack of spiritual elevation which is a drought like situation. Anything which stagnates brings about decay and destruction.  

'''Esoteric Meaning :''' Here the birth and killing of Vritra represent an eternal principle that happens in this world. Water is the main life force that keeps things green, without water nothing survives, drought occurs. Similarly in the personality of human beings, if the flow of life or the sapta sindus '''stop??,''' then there is a drought of spiritual existence & elevation.  Every aspect of human beings, the emotions, intellectual capacity, friendship, values or relationships are affected by the lack of spiritual elevation which is a drought-like situation. Anything which stagnates brings about decay and destruction.  

In this way the flow of ruthu or season has to continue which is the nature of this world.  One who is on the ruju marga (path of righteousness) seeks to go with the flow of spiritual elevation and to lie down and sleep against this flow of water is the important activity of Vrttrasura.  [[Panis (पणिकाः)|Panis]] steal spiritual knowledge, but Vrttra is the one who stops the flow of life. He is the one who lays down obstacles for those who seek to achieve higher realms of life and that gives him happiness.  

In this way the flow of ruthu or season has to continue which is the nature of this world.  One who is on the ruju marga (path of righteousness) seeks to go with the flow of spiritual elevation and to lie down and sleep against this flow of water is the important activity of Vrttrasura.  [[Panis (पणिकाः)|Panis]] steal spiritual knowledge, but Vrttra is the one who stops the flow of life. He is the one who lays down obstacles for those who seek to achieve higher realms of life and that gives him happiness.  

This relationship of Vrttrasura as one who seeks to impede water flow is given in the following Rig Veda mantras<blockquote>समुद्रज्येष्ठाः सलिलस्य मध्यात्पुनाना यन्त्यनिविशमानाः | इन्द्रो या वज्री वृषभो रराद ता आपो देवीरिहमामवन्तु || (Rig. Veda. 7.49.1)</blockquote><blockquote>samudrajyēṣṭhāḥ salilasya madhyātpunānā yantyaniviśamānāḥ | indrō yā vajrī vr̥ṣabhō rarāda tā āpō dēvīrihamāmavantu || (Rig. Veda. 7.49.1)</blockquote>Meaning : The river waters flow continuously, purifying the entire existence on their way to reach the Chief of waters, the Ocean. Oh Indra! the one who weilds the Vajra (Vajraayudha) to free the waters, one who freed the cows, protect me (freed the rivers (by removing the impediment of Vrttra) and freed the cows (by removing the impediment of Vala and [[Panis (पणिकाः)|Panis]]).  

This relationship of Vrttrasura as one who seeks to impede water flow is given in the following Rig Veda mantras<blockquote>समुद्रज्येष्ठाः सलिलस्य मध्यात्पुनाना यन्त्यनिविशमानाः | इन्द्रो या वज्री वृषभो रराद ता आपो देवीरिहमामवन्तु || (Rig. Veda. 7.49.1)</blockquote><blockquote>samudrajyēṣṭhāḥ salilasya madhyātpunānā yantyaniviśamānāḥ | indrō yā vajrī vr̥ṣabhō rarāda tā āpō dēvīrihamāmavantu || (Rig. Veda. 7.49.1)</blockquote>Meaning : The river waters flow continuously, purifying the entire existence on their way to reach the Chief of waters, the Ocean. Oh Indra! the one who wields the Vajra ('''Vajraayudha) to''' free the waters, one who freed the cows, protect me (freed the rivers (by removing the impediment of Vrttra) and freed the cows ('''by removing the impediment of Vala and [[Panis (पणिकाः)|Panis]]).??'''

== वृ॒त्रः क्षु॒त्खलु॒ || Vrtra is Hunger ==

== वृ॒त्रः क्षु॒त्खलु॒ || Vrtra is Hunger ==

Tvashtra prajapathi had a son named Vishwarupa. Once the purohit of the devathas: Brihaspati, being angry, left his priestly work and  so the devatas invited Vishwarupa as their priest. Vishwarupa was favorable to the asuras and without the devatas knowledge, he offered havishya (oblations) to the asuras which belonged to devatas.  When Indra came to know about this, he was furious and killed Vishwarupa. Hearing this, Tvashtra was very angry and performed a yajna to get a son who could kill Indra.

'''Tvashtra prajapathi HL ha'''d a son named Vishwarupa. Once the purohit of the devathas: Brihaspati, being angry, left his priestly work and  so the devatas invited Vishwarupa as their priest. Vishwarupa was favorable to the asuras and without the devatas knowledge, he offered havishya (oblations) to the asuras which belonged to devatas.  When Indra came to know about this, he was furious and killed Vishwarupa. Hearing this, Tvashtra was very angry and performed a yajna to get a son who could kill Indra.

While chanting the mantras due to wrong pronunciation the purport changed. Instead of "let there be a son who could kill indra", it became "let there be a son who will be killed by Indra". Instantly, Vritra was born and he grew over the expanse of the universe in circular fashion. Indra with the blessing of Mahavishnu then defeated Vrttra who entered into a truce with Indra.

While chanting the mantras due to wrong pronunciation the purport changed. Instead of "let there be a son who could kill indra", it became "let there be a son who will be killed by Indra". Instantly, Vritra was born and he grew over the expanse of the universe in circular fashion. Indra with the blessing of Mahavishnu then defeated Vrttra who entered into a truce with Indra.