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Mythology of Bharani Nakshatra

MYTHOLOGY OF BHARANI NAKSHATRA

We should understand the mythological story of the Nakshatra to understand about that because these stories are symbolic to hide the actual meaning for unworthy one to convey the meaning to worthy one. Rather than literal meaning of story, you should understand the logic behind these stories. Due to nonexistence of written literature, knowledge was passed from Guru to his disciples via Verbal (Shruti) in forms of shlokas and stories.

That is reason that despite destruction and demolition of our libraries by Mughal and British invaders for centuries, some knowledge from our Vedas still exist in form of our religious literatures like Vedas, Upnishad, Ramayan and Mahabharat. You need to decipher the same to understand the meaning. Lot needs to be done by our future generations who will be able to use technology and bring out meaning of these mythological stories.

Knowledge of the story of the Nakshatra is very important to understand the basic traits, behavior, and characteristics of a person born in that Nakshatra because he draws the inference from the mythological story of that Nakshatra.

Sometimes it is argued that Bharani Nakshatra is governed by Venus in the Vimshottari Nakshatra Dasa system, which was first presented by Rishi Parashara. As per this argument, connection with Venus solely applies to the Vimshottari based Nakshatra Dasa system and we should not assume that Venus is the supreme ruler or governing deity of this Nakshatra. In fact, Nakshatras are ruled by Devtas, and in the case of Bharani Nakshatra, Yama is the ruling deity. But after reading so many scriptures, I am of the view that Venus must be associated with this Nakshatra in one form of others. I invite the views of readers on this.

The Presiding Deity of this Nakshatra is Yama. Yama is the God of Death, Son of God Sun, associated with Death warrant and journey of person after Death to upper lokas. References have been found in Surya Puran, Vishnu Puran, Garud Puran and various Vedas. Deciphering the stories as mentioned help to decipher about Yama and hence attributes of Bharani Nakshatras. Let us go through few stories.

Birth of Yama

As per the Surya Puran, Yama was the son of God Sun and Sanjhana, daughter of the celestial architect Vishwakarma. Yami and Manu were his siblings, and all three were born at the same time. Sanjhana, unable to bear the radiance of the Sun, created a shadow self named Chaya to take her place. Unaware of Sanjhana’s deception, God Sun fathered children with Chaya – Shani, Manu, and Tapti.

Chaya favored her own children over Sanjhana’s offspring, causing Yama to feel resentful. In a fit of anger, he kicked Chaya in her stomach with his leg. Chaya in fit of anger cursed his leg with sores and worms and thus weakening it.

Yama refused to believe that a mother can curse her own children so he complained to his father God Sun. God Sun made Chaya reveal the truth about Sanjhana’s deception. To ease the curse on Yama’s leg, Sun gave him a cock that could eat the worms and cure his discharge. Yama is called as Shirnapada, or the one with Shriveled foot. Sun also blessed Yama to be the keeper of justice.

This story influences the characteristics of a Bharani Nakshatra native. A native of this Nakshatra has a great zeal for justice and equality, however on the negative aspect if an individual has a weak Bharani, it could lead to a feeling of dissatisfaction and unfairness towards one’s mother.

Story goes further about birth of Ashwini Kumars due to union of Sun and Sanjhana which I have covered in Ashwini Nakshatra.

Keywords here are two mothers, step treatment by mother, problem in one of the legs, crow, anger, fairness, justice

Yama and Yami Story

In Rig Veda 10.10.1, an interesting dialogue is presented between Yami and Yama. Yami is the sister of Yama and born out of God Sun and Sanjana. She expresses her desire for a child and requests sexual union with her brother, Yama. However, Yama, demonstrating remarkable restraint, refuses her advances and highlights how such an act is not considered appropriate for mortal men or women.  

As per Yama, the sexual consummation with siblings do not befit mortal men or women. Even as per modern scientific reports, children born out of sexual union of bloodline has lot of defects. Hindus believe in matching of Nadi which indicate same bloodline and reject the marriages. Even marriage within Gotras is not allowed. Even in other religions, marriage within bloodline is avoided.

Further Yami persists in her argument by citing the example of gods who had engaged in such behavior. Yama dismisses her argument by questioning the authenticity of such accounts and the interpretation of scriptures.

Yami finally resorts to pointing out that they both were lying together naked in the same womb and were therefore not strangers to each other’s bodies. However, Yama remains steadfast in his conviction and upholds his moral code at the cost of pleasure, setting an exemplary standard for others to follow.

Another Story of Yama and Yami

According to another mythological story, Yami discovered Yama lying motionless under a tree. Despite her efforts to awaken him, Yama remained lifeless, and Yami realized that her brother had passed away, becoming the first mortal to die. Yami is said to have cried a river of tears that seems to be overwhelming for the gods. The gods are supposed to have created night to calm down Yami.

The following morning, Yami declared that Yama had died the previous day and that there was renewed hope with the start of a new day. It is said that Yami transformed into the river Yamuna. According to the Rig Veda, Yama was the first mortal to discover the path to heaven.

As the first mortal, Yama holds seniority and he is bestowed with the authority to guide souls from the mortal world to the world of the ancestors. Yama judges each soul based on their deeds and determines whether they move forward towards higher lokas, such as Pitru loka or heaven, or are directed towards the purgatory of hell to face the consequences of their actions. Based on the soul’s karma, Yama may redirect them back to Earth to learn lessons and improve their karmic account. Yama is also known as Dakshinasapathi and serves as the regent of the south quarter. In Hindu culture, the custom of turning the feet of the dead towards the South is pondering the respect to the Yama.

As the intricacies of soul actions become more complex over time, Pitru loka expands into different specific areas. To meet his expanding needs, Yama requested Vishwakarma to create a vast and expansive palace for him.

Yama sits in his palace referred as Kalichi or Sanjeevani is having luxuries of all kinds, music by musicians such as Gandharvas, dancing Apsaras, all kinds of delights and luxuries imaginable and there is no sorrow or fear. The legendary palace of Yama has a circumference of 800 miles and is surrounded by a vast trench of water, which becomes the Vaitarnee river. This river allows easy passage for good souls, while evil souls suffer torments and pangs as Agni boils the water based on their misdeeds. The porter Vaidhyata guards the entry of souls to Yama’s palace for judgment. In Garuda Puran, you may find lot of details regarding travel of Soul from earth to Yama Loka and description of route.

Opposite its south door, Vishwakarma created four pits to punish the wicked, and the three other doors are reserved for good souls to enter, so they do not witness the punishment area while being judged by Yama, who sits on his grand central throne.

Yama, also known as Dharma Raj, becomes the king of the ancestors and is assisted by messengers called Yama dhutas, who collect souls that are about to die. Chanda and Kala Purusha are Yama’s chief attendants and custodians. Chitragupta, the karmic accountant, keeps records of a soul’s karmic transactions in the book of destiny, Agrasandhani, and shares the karmic record with Yama. Yama then decides the soul’s path towards Pitru Lok, back to Earth, or to the hell realms of naraka, where the soul can cleanse itself and wash away its sins on its journey towards salvation. Yama rewards souls with lighter karma with comforts and luxuries based on their good deeds of charity before they proceed towards Pitru Loka.

Yama and Ravan Story

According to mythology, Yama encountered Ravana during the latter’s attack on the gods. Ravana had been granted a boon that made him invincible to all gods. To avoid Ravana’s wrath, all the gods took the form of birds, with Indra choosing to be a peacock and Yama becoming a crow. Ravana looked for the Yama but could not find Yama disguised as a crow. After Ravana departed, Yama blessed the crow for its assistance and declared that as long as humans did not consume crows, they would never go hungry. As a result, crows have been associated with ancestors and Pitris, and offerings are often made to them during post-ancestor rituals.

Keywords Yama resided in Crows, Crows medium to connect with Pitur Lokas or ancestors

Yama and Ajamila Story

 Ajamila, a wicked man, escaped the death, by virtue of having called out his son’s name Narayana at his final moment of his death. This act caused Vishnu to send his messengers, who prevented Yama dhuthas from carrying his soul to Yama loka. Vishnu being one of the primordial trimurthi got preference and asked Ajamilla to change his ways, which Ajamilla did, and eventually became a celestial immortal.

Yama and Savitri Story

A famous tale that captured imaginations for centuries was that of Savitri. The devoted wife of Satyavan followed Yamaraj all the way to Yama lok at the point of death of her husband. Impressed by her persistence of being a good wife staying beside her husband, Yama grants her a favor, anything except her husband’s life. She asks that her father in law’s sights be restored and that he gets his kingdom back. Still following Yama after the first favor, Yama is again impressed, but now more frustrated and gives her a second favor. Savitri asks that her father begets more children for she was the only child. Even after this favor, Yama is frustrated and asks Savitri to leave him alone, upon which Savitri asks him to get lots of children but from Satyavan. Yama grants her favor to get rid of her, only to realize that he has to let go of Satyavan now, and that he has been outwitted by Princess Savitri. All of Yama’s favors get fulfilled, and Savitri was able to live happily with Satyavan thereafter with their children.

Yama and Markandeya Story

One of the most well-known figures among them is undoubtedly Sage Markandeya, a devout follower of Shiva. Despite having only a few years left to live, Markandeya demonstrated unwavering devotion to Shiva by performing daily pooja to the Shiva Linga. When the moment of his death arrived, Markandeya was still engaged in his worship, causing the Yamadhutas to fear taking his life while he was in the presence of the great lord. Yama himself had to appear and use his iron noose to try and drag Markandeya away from the ShivalingaMarkandeya is said to have recited the Chandra Ashtothara stotra and Maha Mrityunjana mantra during this time. However, Lord Shiva was incensed that his devotee was being threatened, and that Yama would dare to drag his representation on Earth, the Shiv Linga, away. In response, Shiva destroyed Yama and saved Markandeya. The gods then pleaded with Shiva to restore Yama, as the world would be out of balance without death and its consequences. Shiva is said to have granted their request and restored Yama to life, thereby returning balance to the world. This story highlights the fact that Yamraj, who is associated with death and destruction, reports to Lord Shiva, one of the Trimurti.

Yama and Pandava

Yama is also considered as father of Yudhishtira, the eldest of the Pandavas, who was born through the boon Kunti obtained. He was the eldest of the Pandavas, who was as just as his father.

Yama and Nichiketa

One of the more famous mythological stories associated with Yama is his encounter with Nachiketa as is mentioned in the Katha Upanishad. Nachiketa the young son of sage Vajashravas. Once, Sage decided to perform a great sacrifice in which he wanted to give away all that he had. His son Nachiketa was very young but extremely intelligent and very pure in mind and heart. He saw that his father was giving away the lean and weak cows that were unable to give milk. My father is not doing the right thing by giving the old cows in charity, said Nachiketa to himself so he went near his father and asked, “Father, I have heard that the kind of Yajna that you are performing, one has to give up all that one possesses. This being the case to whom will you give me?” Vajashravas did not give any reply. After some time Nachiketa asked again the same question, but in vain. He did not get any response from his father. Again for the third time, Nachiketa repeated the same question. Vajashravas could not control his temper; he burst out saying to his own son, “I will give you Yama, the God of Death.”

Keyword Three times, insistence, following right path, intelligence

Following his father’s instructions, Nachiketa embarked on a journey to the kingdom of Death, but upon arrival, he found that Yama was not present. Despite this, Nachiketa waited patiently at the gate for three days and three nights without taking any water. Upon Yama’s return, he was moved by Nachiketa’s dedication and offered him hospitality, including holy water. In gratitude, Yama granted Nachiketa three boons, to which Nachiketa replied by asking for his father’s forgiveness and acceptance upon his return to Earth. Yama granted the same. As second boon, he requested him to teach proper rituals for fire sacrifice and Yama even taught the same.

As part of third Boon, Nachiketa desired to know about life beyond death. Yama offered him lot of wishes in lieu of this demand but Nachiketa persisted to know about the mysteries of life and death, and nothing else. Finally, Yama gave him knowledge about the mysteries of life and death with the following words:

“The Self is immortal. It was not born, nor does it die. It did not come out of anything, neither did anything came out of it. Even if this body is destroyed, the soul is not destroyed.”

“The one who thinks that he is the slayer and the one who thinks that he is slain, both are ignorant. For the Self neither slays nor is it slain.”

“Smaller than the smallest and larger than the largest, the Self is living in all beings.”

“The knowledge about it can neither be obtained by discussion, nor by brain power, nor even by much learning. It reveals itself to the deserving one.”

“This body is the chariot, intelligence the driver, the senses are the horses, conscience the rein and the soul is the lord of the chariot. The Self is superior to body, mind and senses.

“Greater than the individual soul is the enveloping super consciousness, the seed of everything in the universe, still greater is the Ultimate Person than whom there is nothing greater. He is the goal of our aspiration. Once That (Supreme Self) is realized, death loses all its terrors, and the one who has realized becomes immortal.

“The path to realization is long and difficult, like the razor’s edge, narrow and sharp. Therefore, there is no time to be lost. Awake, arise, bestir yourself, and do not stop until the goal is reached.”

Nachiketa listened attentively and absorbed the profound teachings imparted by Yama. He realized the impermanence of life and the need to strive for spiritual enlightenment. Nachiketa thanked Yama for his wisdom and returned to the mortal world, where he lived a life of righteousness and spread the teachings he had learned from Yama.

I have tried to give script in details rather than going in concise form because it is important for everyone to understand.

 

Keywords – knowledge of life and death, three days and three nights, persistence, three times, strive for spiritual enlightenment, Guide

Lord Yama, Garuda, and Karma theory

One day Lord Vishnu mounted on Garuda came to meet Lord Shiva at his abode Mount Kailash. While Garuda was waiting at the entrance, he noticed a tiny bird and was overwhelmed by the Lord who created the splendor of the lofty mountains and also the tiny bird, the big and the small. Just then Lord Yama came to visit Shiva. As he passed the bird, his gaze fell pensively on it. When he went inside, Garuda was filled with anguish as he felt that the pensive glance of Yama indicated the death of the bird. To save the bird from the clutches of death, he swooped the bird in his beak and deposited thousands of miles far away. Then he returned to his original position at the entrance of Kailash. When Yama emerged, Garuda approached him and asked him why he had stared at the bird. Yama replied that in a short while, the bird was to be swallowed by a python and die in a forest thousands of miles away and he was wondering how such a tiny bird could fly that long distance. So, he had been puzzled and then he looked at Garuda and smiling gently he went away. Garuda then marvelled at the law of Karma (law of cause and effect) and the sequence of actions that had just taken place.

Keywords – no one can escape from fruits of Karmas or destiny

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You should keep noting down the keywords of any Nakshatra which will be used in prediction during transit and understanding the nature and life path of a person.

After going through all these stories we can conclude the important charaterstics of the Bharni Nakshtras like – the one who has or bears the responsibilty to give transformation, bear the pain in life and transfer that into a boon, to mould a pain/difficult situation in a way helpful to them, power to rejuvenate any work or project that might have stuck, to follow hard principles and maintain strict discipline in life, not attatched to anything that can create any obstruction in their goals. The natives born in this Nakshatra have magical ability to project things into life which are generally rejected by others. As a crow is very intelligent bird and also never gives up easily to achieve its target, so the native born in this Nakshatra are very hardworking and motivated to achieve great success. Inspite all of these qualities they will fell a sort of step mother treatment or less attention from mother or in the organisation. They often ignore the feelings of the others and never support immortal acts.