JAYANTEYA UPAKHAYANAM

Srimad Bhagavatam is termed as Puranaraja by virtue of the chore of Jnana-bhakti- Vyragya thought imbibed in each of the anecdotes narrated therein by none other than Sri Shuka Muni, dearest son of the Great Vedavyasa Maharshi. As Bhagavata details several Avatara manifestations of Narayana, it has  several anecdotes of great Vishnu Bhaktas.

Krishna spends some time at Dwaraka with his family and relatives. Once, Vasudeva- Devaki, his parents ask Naradamuni who had come there to have Lord’s  Darshan and request  him to brief them about Bhagavata Dharma. Narada narrates them Jayanteya Gita or Upakhyanam, which was a topic of discussion in Videha Janaka’s palace.

Vasudeva  asked Narada : ‘O respected Yogis! I am aware of my son Krishna, in reply to my prayers to manifest  as my son: can you please tell me how to attain Liberation? Narada narrated him in detail what was discussed earlier at the court of King of Videha- Janaka, also called Nimi, in presence of 9 realised souls.

These Nine Yogis lived like Avadhutas away from the luxury of their parental palace, spent time in meditation and preaching Bhagavata Dharma. They are Kavi- Hari- Antariksha, Prabuddha- Pippalayana- Avirhotra- Drumila- Chamasa and Karabhajana.

Once, King Videha Janaka also called Nimi Chakravarti, a poweful yet benevelont King mindfuly invites  the great Yogis of his times, the Nine Yogis- sons of Vrishabhadeva and Jayanti, royal couple of Manu lineage, to his palace at Videha. Vrishabha deva is an avatara of Lord Srihari. These young celebate Yogis called themselves as Jayanteyas, after their mother Jayantidevi.

King Nimi asked a Question to them: Could you please tell me what makes Sri Hari pleased much? If it is Bhakti, what is the nature of genuine Bhakti?

1. Kavi, one among them said: When a devotee constantly serves the lotus feet of Sri Hari, he will certainly out of fear. Whatever you speak, do, eat or enjoy just dedicate all to Him. Do not worry about the results of your action. Chant his names: listen to his prayers. This makes a devotee free from fears. He develops intense love towards Him. He gets detached from wordly things: this is the basic discipline in Bhagavata Dharma.
2. Nimi puts another question: What are the signs of such devotion?

Hari answers thus: One who sees the Lord everywhere is indeed the best devotee ( Bhagavatottama). He is indifferent to evil, enemies of God, heretics, ties himself to the lotus feet of Sri Hari, and never gets disappointed. He is never separated from Him. There are 3 types of devotees of Lord. One we ho loves God, who is indifferent to non belivers is hates his enemies is mediocre: one who worships Lord only in images (Pratimas) is a basic devotee, but one who sees Him everwhere is Bhagavatottama- best among them. he can never be taken away from the Lord. He is Bhagavatottama- best among devotees.

3. ‘ What is  Maya, the deluding power of God’? asked Nimi.

Antariksha, one among them replied: Lord Sri Hari creates the world through the power of Maya. Jiva, individual falls in the trap, thinking that it is his original abode. Thus, he moves in the cycle of births and deaths, till the final day of pralaya, great dissolution of the world.

4. ‘ How  to get rid of this Maya of the Lord”? asked Nimi.

For this question, Prabuddha gives him a meaningful answer. O Rajan! There are certain ways to get rid of Sri Hari’s Maya. Seek knowledge ( Jnana) from those who are well versed in Shastras and Vaishnava lore. Give up  attachments slowly but steadily with wordly things: cultivate to be kind to all; be humble, have unaltered faith in scriptures. Practice self control ( Samyama) Start singing only the glory of God, not others. Dedicate and surrender all you do to Him. Remember him always, have ultimate supreme love and faith in him. This way, one can surely get away from his Maya.

5. The Fifth query by King Nimi was: ‘ What is the real nature ( Svarupa) of the Supreme Lord..?  

This question is answered by Pippalayana like this. ‘Paramatman is the Cause of Creation ( Srishti), Sustenanence ( Sthiti), and desolution ( Laya) of the entire world seen to us or otherwise. He is the Supreme Reality. He is unaffected by any action, and actions thereon. Indeed, He gives Life to our Body, Soul and Mind. He causes their manifestation. One who is beyond Birth and Death and all other related changes is the Supreme Lord, Sri Hari’.

6. Nimi feeling satisfied by above answers by the Yogis, has another Question to get answered: ‘ How can a seeker (sadhaka) gets purified by Yoga of Action ( Karma Yoga)?

Avirhotra answers him the 6^th question:

‘ My dear King! One can get purified by Anushthanams, procedure by scriptures, on periodical basis, however without any attachment or expectation, and the Result ( Phala) from them, which of course comes at the right time for sure’. At the end of each task on daily basis (Nityanushtana) they have to be offered at His lotus feet: Sri Krishnarpanamastu. This way, you can be free from the bondage of Karmas.

7. The Seventh Question was put by Nimi again: “ Please enlighten us about various Leelas, done by the Lord in his various Avataras - Manifestsations for the benefit of us, the mortals?

Drumila answered him: O King! The Lord manifests in several avataras by his Sankalpa, decision to help Sadhakas, who yearn to have his  presence felt from time to time. There are several Avataras, all for purpose of destroying evil forces troubling noble. Nara- Narayana, Dattatreya, Rishabhadeva, Hamsa and so on. They are Jnanavataras, apart from the known Dasha 10 manifestations like Matsya, Kurma and Varaha… He also assumed the form of Hayagriva, to restore Vedas. Kurma form was taken to help Devas in Churning of Ocean. Again he showed himself as Narasimha to bless the great devotee Prahlada. He crushed the ego of King Bali as Vamana, a dwarf boy. The Lord manifested as Rama to kill Ravana and save sages. God takes the form of Krishna among Yadavas to help Pandavas in restoring Dharma. He preaches nonviolence as Buddha. At the end of Kaliyuga, he assumes the form of Kalki, to kill unrighteous rulers.

8. Nimi was pleased at above answers and again has a doubt about “ How to control senses, which are always restless, making humans intolerant and stressed out. What happens to such people after death’.

Chamasa answers this query. ‘ in this world, many forget to show their gratitude towards God, never worship or even remember him. Some hate or intentionally ignore him. Both are non-dharmic, facing turmoil of several births and deaths. Many of them are literate, rich and know morality and sciences. For them, prime goal of life is to make money and enjoy. Since they are deeply attached to their body, they never attain peace. They workhard, make money, build mansions, surrounded by many keeping eye on their wealth.  But alas! Whether they like it or not, one day death comes to them, taking them to hell’.

9. Nimi, who was enlightened to a large extent feels curious to know the nature of God. He asks them: “ Please tell me about the form and complexion of God, and by what name we have to adresss him’.

Karabhajana, answers the King in detail. “ God takes innumerable forms. He has different complexions in various Yugas- Krita, Treta, Dwapara and Kali.  

God appears White in Satya (Krita) Yuga, in Treta he assumes Red complexion, blue in Dwapara Yuga, and Black in Kaliyuga. His form also varies. He has 4 arms in Satyayuga, holds a staff and bhiksha patra, known by names like Hamsa, Suparna and Eshvara. In Treta Yuga, he is 4 armed, having names like Vishnu, heYajna and Prishnigarbha. Dwaparayuga has him as Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Narayana and other names, dressed in yellow garment. Finally, in Kaliyuga, he is dark coloured as diamonds, accompanied by Parshadas ( attendants ) People adore him according to that particular Yuga.

In Satyayuga, seekers  worshipped by Tapas- meditation, Tretayuga by vedic rituals like Yajna. Dwaparayuga seekers worshipped Him by way of Veda mantras  and tantra ( rituals) ways. But, in Kaliyuga all above is substituted by just Namasmaranam, chanting His holy Names, and singing his glories.

Kaliyuga is indeed blessed since ways of worshiping the glory of God is very simple: Kalau sakeertya Keshavam’,  devotees get the same benefits by Nama Sankirtanam as that of Tapas, Yajna and other rituals in earlier Yugas. Thus, age of Kali is greater than other Yugas. After repeating the holy names of God, people make it a habit till the last breath before shedding off mortal coils, and surely be freed from Samasara, and attain liberation Supreme- Moksha.

On hearing this from Jayanteyas, the 9 supreme Yogis, Vasudeva and Devaki realised from Narada, that they are lucky to have Sri Hari, Krishna as their son. They lead the rest of their life in Peace, Devotion and Satsangha. This the gist of Jayateyagita/ upakhyanam  in 11^th Book (Skandha) of Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana.