Viswamitra 6

"King trishanku, the fact that you have performed Somayaga does not entitle you to go to heaven as you desire. I cannot help you in this regard. You can seek the help of someone else if you desire so,"Vasishta said firmly. Evenwithout caring to seek his blessing, the king left Vasishta's ashram in a huff. Trishanku was thinking of other waysof reaching heaven as he desired.'Look for someone else' Vasishta had told him. He knew that someone else could helphim achieve his goal. He straight away came to the hundered sons of Vasishta. He told them what he desired and requestedthem to help him.

They said," Rajan we do not wish to do something which our great father refused to do. By doing so we would be puttingour father to shame". They refused to oblige him.

Now Trishanku had no other way. He told them that if they could not help him he would go to someone else to fulfillhis desire. He could ask someone else to act as his royal priest in their race." he was really angry.They got angry.

They got angry. They said,"You are arrogant fellow, do you have the guts to put our father to shame? Take this curse.You are going to become a chandala forthwith". So saying they took a handful of water and chanting a mantra they sprinkled it on him. They fairskinned king became dark as coal, his hair became rough, his dress become dull and tornand in an instant the king became ugly. He begged the sages to take back the curse and make him as he was before. Butthey did not relent.

Trishanku knew about the Vasishta-Kaushika enmity and therefore he straightaway went to Kaushika and told him in detailabout what went on between him and sage Vasishta. He then said,"Hei Bhagavan, help me fulfill my desire".

As soon as Kaushika heard Vasishta's name his old enmity came back to him. 'I must do the task Vasishta cannot do andI must put him to shame", he thought and his bad desire sprouted in his mind. He was confident that he could perform thetask."O king, so be it,"he said," and I have no doubt about my ability to help you satisfy your desire. Stay with metill then", he assured the king.

Kaushika began a special yaga for the purpose. Sage Jamadagni took the position of the overseer of the Yajna and Kaushikahimself tool the position of the performer of the Yaga. A number of sages came to take part in the Yajna, when Kaushikaand Jamadagni had invited them and they were frightened of the anger of the two.

All the ritual part of the Yaga was over successfully. In the end Indramantra offering relating to Devandra was offered.Devendra, who had to receive the havis, failed to turn up. Kaushika was humiliated on account of it and began to doubtabout the Lord of the devas. Kaushika thought,'It does not matter if devendra did not come at my call. I am going tosend Trishanku to heaven on my own' He took an oath to that effect. He involved Vayudeva and offered an ahuti. Vayudevaappeared before Kaushika and lifted Trishanku, as one would lift a limp of cotton wool and took him till the gate ofheaven.

Trishanku thanked everyone and began his journey heavenward. when Kaushika was engaged in some other work a momentlater he heard, "O sage Kaushika save me, save me; I am sent out of heaven. I am falling headlong,"This was trishanku'scry for help.

Kaushika looked up. Tishanku was falling headlong to the earth through the air. Immediately Kaushika shouted "Trishankustop there, stop there. The effect of Kaushika's words was magical. Trishanku stopped half way. Kaushika was in a fit of rage. He came to know from a heavenly messenger that Trishanku was not accepted in heaven because of his beinga chandala.

In great anger Kaushika began creating an alternative heaven at the point where Trishanku was hanging in the mid air. He intented to create a seperate Devendra and other dwellers of heaven. At first he created constellations of starsand saptarshis those who were observing thsi act of creation praised Kaushika, while Devendra and other were tremblingwith fear. The frightened group of sages along with Brhaspati and Devendra came to Kaushika and implored,"O greatsage stop your creation. Trishanku is not entitled to come to heaven. He is a chandala and therefore he is not allowed to enter heaven."

Kaushika said,"I have promised Trishanku to help him reach heaven with his body. I donot want to go back upon myword. I cannot stop this act of creation."

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