The Story of Bharthru Hari

Bharthru Hari got married 360 girls. He was concerned to the promise, which he had given to his father. That’s why he was not spending with his wives before the twelve days to their menstrual period in order to prevent the birth children. [In those days, there were no medicines and medical assistance to prevent the birth of children.]


In those days, there was a great saint, famed as equivalent to God Shiva, and the best among saints by name Chandyoga Rushi. One day he had toured on 14 worlds. [It is as per the belief of Indians i.e. Hindus] From heaven, he reached earth. On the way, when he had a shire in the divine garden ‘Nandanodyanam’, he found a divine fruit.


He came to the court of Bharthru Hari. Bharthru Hari observed the saint and sensed that he might be great man. Immediately Bharthru Hari personally welcomed the saint, offered his seat, served him and treated him with obedience and devotion. The saint, Chandyoga Rushi was pleased by the behavior of the king. He said, “Oh. Maharaj! I’m saint Chandya. Because of my penance power, I’m able to visit all the worlds. When I was in heaven, I found this fruit in the Indra’s Nandanodyanam. This fruit has a power. Whoever eats this, they will get rid of the fear of old age and death. If I live long time with youth and without death fear, what is the use to this world with me? If you eat this fruit, because you are the king and ruling the kingdom with morals, people will be comfortable and peaceful under your ruling. That’s why I wish to give this fruit to you. Eat this and lead long life with youth. I bless you.”


Bharthru Hari had taken that fruit and expressed his thankfulness to the saint. After nice hospitality, the saint had left there.


After the royal works, the king Bharthru Hari had gone to his palace. Among his 360 wives, the pattamahishi [Elder Queen] was Mohanangi. [The meaning of this name is a girl who has crazy body.] She was the elder wife to him. Bharthru Hari told the magic power of the fruit to her. He said, “My dear wife. If I eat this fruit, I will live long life with ever youth. But in front of my eyes, on some day you will die. That I can’t bear. Because, I love you so much. Hence you eat this fruit.” He had given that fruit to her. She had kept it aside and made him happy with her company.


But this woman, Mohanangi was not loyal to her husband. She had a secret love affair with her chariot driver, by name Sahini. On the next day morning, she had given that fruit to him and told about its specialty. This man had a secret affair with another servant-maid. She was working in the palace to clean the palace. She used to apply the paste of mud and dung to the floor of palace surroundings. Sahini went for her in the evening. She met him. Sahini told her about the fruit and gave it. She said, “Okay! Later I’ll eat this after bathing.” She had taken send off from him. This servant-maid had kept the fruit on dung in the basket, by keeping the basket on head; she was walking on the royal road to her house. By that time, accidentally the king Bharthru Hari was relaxing in the evening terrace walk. He had recognized the fruit. But he felt wonder as how this servant woman got it to keep on the dung basket. He ordered his servants to bring that woman. The soldiers presented her in front of the king. Bharthru Hari asked her, “Look Mother. [Indians used to call and treat other women as Mother] How do you get this fruit?”


The servant-maid trembled and said, “Maha Raja! Forgive me. The chariot driver of the royal palace, Sahini had given this to me. I don’t know how he got it.”


The king summoned Sahani. He sensed the danger. He thought, “I can’t prevent the truth. If I try to hide it, the king may hang me.” With fear, he told, “Maha Raja! Please excuse me. Your wife, Queen Mohanangi had given this fruit to me.”


Bharthru Hari understood the truth. He had taken the fruit from the servant-maid and sent them away. He had gone to the palace of Mohanangi immediately. He asked her, “Mohanangi. Yesterday I had given a miracle fruit to you. Where is it?” she said, “I had eaten it up already.”


Bharthru Hari said, “Then, how this fruit is in my hands?”


She felt shocked by it. Immediately she could guess what had happened and what would be going to happen. She revealed the truth to the king and begged for mercy.


Because Bharthru Hari was a scholar, he didn’t angry to her. He called on all of his wives and said, “I want to go to penance in forest. I’m leaving all of you. You can remarry with whom you want. Take your ornaments and wealth and go to your desired places.”


Later he made his brother Vikramadithya as king. He ate the divine fruit and went to forest to do penance.


[In Indian Sanskrit literature, there is a great poet Bharthru Hari. He had written moral slokas with beautiful lyric, meaning with nature comparison. I don’t know whether he is the above mentioned or some other. Here we have to notice one point, that is more interesting. The saint Chandyoga Rushi got the miraculary fruit. By eating that fruit, anybody can get rid of the fear of old age and death. But he didn’t eat the fruit by thinking that there won’t be any use of his long life to this world. Hence, he had given that to the king Bharthru Hari. Being king, he didn’t eat it to enjoy the life. Because he loved his wife Mohanangi, he had given that to her. Finally, while going to the forest to do penance, after giving his kingdom to his brother Vikramadithya, he had eaten up the fruit. But not to enjoy the life. He had eaten up the fruit to effort to get ‘Mukti’ by doing penance, through long life. Such is the Indian blood. Ancient people, they didn’t think to enjoy themselves. Their attitude was to make the others to be happy.]


Vinoda Ranjitha idol said, “Bhoja Raja. I told the past history i.e. story of Vikramadithya’s father and brothers. Now I’m going to narrate the story of Vikramadithya and his brother, Minister Bhatti. Listen with care.”


The idol continued …


Vikramadithya made his brother Bhatti as Prime Minister and started to rule the kingdom. They developed their administration and country.


One day Vikramadithya said, “Bhatti! I have a desire in my mind. To fruitful it, I need your co-operation, I’m putting a proposal now to you. You think about it without emotions, analyze it and then tell me about its advantages and disadvantages. Don’t hesitate to oppose if you want to do so. Don’t oblige my proposal as the king’s desire. Think well then support me. Our kingdom, which we received from our father, is very small. To satisfy with this is not advisable to us. If we live here, life long, it will be like a frog in well. Life will end without fame and satisfaction. When we born in this world, we should achieve something. People should recognize us and praise us. That’s why let us defeat other kings and expand our kingdom. Let us construct a new, big and beautiful city as our capital. You should locate suitable place for it. It should be surrounded by hills in all directions. There should be a river. It should be like heaven i.e. AmaraVathi Nagaram. By having such capital, we should rule our kingdom. Brother Bhatti. What do you say?”


Bhatti replied, “Oh brother. You told the truth. What your desire is, it is my desire also. There won’t be any difference in our attitude and thinking. Let us expand our kingdom”.


On one auspicious day, after performing devotional programs, Bhatti, Vikramadithya along with their army had gone to defeat the other kings. It was like a procession with musical instruments, war music’s, singers, dancers and poets. The army had enjoyed the wars and victories. Vikramadithya made so many kings as his sub ordinates and made them to pay ‘Kappam’ to him. [Kappam means the monthly or yearly tax share paid by subordinate kings to the Emperor.] With huge wealth, after expanding this kingdom wide, they returned to Kanya Puram. Then Bhatti went on to search suitable place to construct their capital city. He wandered so wide. Finally, he reached Vindhya Mountains area. There was a beautiful place surrounded by hills. A river by name Guna Vathi was flowing beside that. It was filled with beautiful plants, which bear fruits and flowers. Bhatti felt happy and satisfaction. He decided to construct their capital city there. He returned to Kanya Puram to inform this to his brother, king Vikramadithya. On the way, he had seen a beautiful lake and an old temple.


He took bathe in that lake and went into the temple. When he was taking walking around temple as per tradition, he had seen a pillar on which a notice was carved. He read it. On that rock plank pillar, the following was carved.


Any person, irrespective to which caste or community does he belongs, can perform this. Whoever has adventurous nature, can come to this holy temple and take bathe in this lake. Then he has to climb up the banyan tree on the bank of the lake. There are 7 slings [hanging frames] to this tree. There is a spear in the mid of lake. The man has to cut off the 7 slings at a time and before the slings fall down; he has to jump vertically inverted [as head in the bottom and foot in the top] on to the spear. Like that, if any man sacrifices his life, to such man Goddess Maham Kalika Devi would appear and give boons. Such man could become rich and fame emperor.”


By reading this notice on the rock pillar, Bhatti was extreme happy. He had confidence that Vikramadithya was able to do such adventures. He was happy because what they wished, it was there. Bhatti had entered into the temple and performed devotion to Goddess Mahan Kalika Devi there. He had observed that a spear was ejected in the mid of the lake without any base. He wondered about it.


After taking little rest, he had returned to Kanya Puram. He approached the king and his brother Vikramadithya and put namaskar to him obediently. By watching Bhatti, Vikramadithya felt very happy. With affection, he hugged Bhatti and said, “My dear brother, Bhatti! You are protecting me like eyelid to eye. You left from here since six months back. Did you watch any place as we discussed?” Bhatti replied, “Yes brother”. He narrated everything about the temple and notice on the pillar.


Vikramadithya felt happy. They decided to go there. They appointed an eligible man to look after and to rule Kanya Puram. On an auspicious day, and at good time, in disguise they started to go to Vindhya forest. They crossed thick and beautiful forests, hillocks, hills and rivers. They had enjoyed the beauty of forests, nature and wild animals. After few days, they reached the Vindhya hills and GunaVathi River. They entered into the temple. They had taken bathe in the lake and had darsan of Goddess Maham Kali Devi. Goddess Kali Devi was pleased by Vikramadithya’s appearance. She wished to construct a beautiful city there by him. She was watching the both Vikramadithya and Bhatti with affection like a mother towards her sons. She wanted to test his adventure and determination. She was accompanied them, in invisible form.


After performing devotional programs, i.e. Pooja to Goddess Kali Devi, Vikramadithya and Bhatti reached the lake. Vikramadithya read the notice on the pillar once again. They watched the spear ejected in the mid of the lake. Vikramadithya wondered how the spear ejected there without any base. He asked Bhatti how it was happened. Bhatti said, “Maha Raja! Because this spear is just in front of Goddess Kali Devi, due to her magic, it is like that. I think so.”


Vikramadithya felt emotional, and devotion. He determined himself to perform the feat as per written in the notice. With devotion, once again he had taken bathe in the lake and put namaskar to Goddess in the temple. He asked his brother Bhatti to stand under the tree. He put namaskar to the banyan tree; and climbed up. He had taken his sword from holder [Vora] and held it in hand. He had very much known that how much risk it was. But they had trust on Goddess. Vikramadithya reached the branch of banyan tree to which 7 slings were hanging. It was right above the spear. But the 7 slings were hanging circularly.


He said, “Brother, Bhatti! These 7 slings are not attached to one rope. They are hanging to 7 different ropes in circular shape. I have to cut them off at a time with a single sword attack. Tell me any idea to achieve it.”


Bhatti observed them. He said, “Brother. Keep your right foot in one sling and hold its side sling with your left hand. You take a round swing towards right side. Then 7 slings’ ropes will turn in round and become as one by tensile force. Then cut off them with one stroke. Before the slings reach the lake, you take inverted jump on to the spear in the mid of the river.”


Vikramadithya observed it keenly. He had taken a long breath and got ready to do the adventure. He meditated Goddess for few seconds. With care and determination, he kept his right foot in one sling. He had hold beside sling with left hand and moved his body to right by having a swing. The ropes of 7 slings came together. He had cut off them with a single stroke of the sword. Immediately he jumped vertically inverted on to the spear before the slings reached the lake. Bhatti was watching all this without breathing. When the head of Vikramadithya touched the spear, a big flash appeared in front of Bhatti’s eyes. He closed his eyes. Next moment, he watched nothing there. Vikramadithya’s body was not there. Bhatti guessed that Goddess Kali had saved him. Immediately he ran into the temple. There he watched Vikramadithya lay in front of Goddess Kalika Devi’s idol. Vikramadithya was unconscious.


Bhatti expected this. He prayed to Goddess Mahan Kalika Devi as “Oh Mother! Happiness Donor! You bless good people. You are the protector to helpless. You save people from dangers. You are kind to all! Sankari! Shambhavi! Parameswari! The form of extreme joy! Bhavani! Kali! Bhadra Kali! Parananda Kali! Om kari! Kreemkari! Hreemkari! [These are all other names of Goddess Durga i.e. Kali] you are our mother! Please be kind to us. To secure your kindness Vikramadithya had got ready to loss his life. Bless him.”


Goddess Kali was pleased to both Vikramadithya due to his determination, to Bhatti due to his sweet words i.e. prayer. She made Vikramadithya conscious and appeared before them.


Vikramadithya and Bhatti were extreme happy. They put Namaskar to Goddess and praised her with joy. She said, “Children. What is your desire? I’ll fulfill it.” Vikramadithya said, “Oh mother! We want to construct a big and beautiful city here. Bless us to construct a wide city around this temple with 10 Amadas radius [Amada was the ancient measure of distance in India. Approximately, it is equal to the 4 miles of FPS system]. We need wealth to construct it and to rule the kingdom. Please bless us to achieve all!”


Goddess Kalika Devi said, “Dear sons! I’m giving every boom what you asked. You dig North East of this temple. You can locate huge gold and gems. You can construct a capital city and kingdom here. By name Ujjain, it will become famous.”


By saying like this Goddess Kalika Devi vanished. Vikramadithya and Bhatti were happy. [Still, Ujjain Kali temple is in Madhya Pradesh State of India. It is one of the Shakhty Peetham.]


Bhatti and Vikramadithya deputed army and workers to dig at North East of the Kali temple. There they found mine of gold and diamonds. By investing that wealth, they had constructed wide and beautiful city of Ujjain. They had constructed palaces, residential colonies, Royal office buildings, gardens, stadiums, swimming pools, halls, museums and temples. They had made Kanya Puram as their territory and appointed their representative there to rule it.


Along with family members and fellow men, they had entered into the city of Ujjain on an auspicious day. It was celebrated like a festival. They performed pooja [devotion] on grand scale to Goddess Mahan Kali Devi for serial of days. They allotted houses to their fellow men, their ministers, employees, army and common people according to their eligibility.


Every body was happy in their ruling. Bhatti and Vikramadithya once again had gone on war on to the surrounding kingdoms and expended their kingdom. They established a very good and strong administration. People in their kingdom were enjoying the life without the fear of theft and natural disasters like floods, droughts, and earth quacks etc. Due to the Goddess Kalika Devi; there the weather was cool and comfortable. Rains were sufficient. The crops were prosperous. Life of public was peaceful.