Sāmbharāyaṇī
Sāmbharāyaṇī
Sāmbharāyaṇī is a woman siddha (one who has reached spiritual perfection). She has lived in svarga (heaven) since the earliest times. She earned this home by keeping the Māsa-Nakshatra vrata (a vow of observance) with perfect care. Her account is told in the Uttara Parva of the Bhavishya Purāṇa.
Her home in svarga
Sāmbharāyaṇī was not born in svarga. She earned lasting life there through seven years of perfect Māsa-Nakshatra vrata. In the realm of the devas she was known for her great tapas (austerity) and her strict keeping of vows (kaṭhina-vratācaraṇa). She was a brāhmaṇī (a learned brāhmaṇa woman) of the highest learning. She could answer any question that arose in the whole world of the devas.
Indra and Bṛhaspati come to her
One day Indra wanted to hear about all the Indras who had ruled before him, from the time of Svāyambhuva Manu onward. He asked Bṛhaspati to tell their histories. Bṛhaspati answered honestly. He could speak of some of the earlier Indras. He had no knowledge of those who ruled before he became Bṛhaspati. But he knew one person who had all this knowledge, and she was Sāmbharāyaṇī.
Indra took Bṛhaspati and went to her in person. She rose with respect. She honoured both of them with arghya (an offering of water) and proper welcome (satkāra). Then she asked why they had come, and Bṛhaspati told her Indra’s wish.
Her teaching on the Manvantaras
Sāmbharāyaṇī began: “By good fortune I have seen the Manus, the creations of the devas, and the Saptarshis. I know the histories of the sons of the Manus and of the Manvantaras. Whatever you ask, I count it a privilege to answer.”
She then told the accounts of the Manvantaras of Svāyambhuva, Svārocisha, Uttama, Tāmasa, Raivata, Cākshusha and later ones. She told of the Indras of each age and the main events of their times.
One of her accounts was about Śaṅkukarṇa, a great daitya (asura). He conquered all the lokapālas (guardians of the worlds), entered Indra’s palace and sat on the throne itself. Bhagavān Vishṇu came there with the devas. Śaṅkukarṇa knew him and came down from the throne to embrace him. Bhagavān Vishṇu held him in return, but with such force that Śaṅkukarṇa’s bones were crushed and he died with a great sound. Then the Indra of that age came out of hiding and praised Bhagavān Vishṇu with many stotras (hymns of praise). Sāmbharāyaṇī said: “I saw this event myself.”
The secret of her lasting home
Indra then asked her: “How have you lived here in svarga for so many yugas? How did you win this home that never runs out?”
She answered: “Devarāja! For seven full years I kept the Māsa-Nakshatra vrata each month without a break. This life in svarga, this place of Indra, this unfailing aiśvarya (lordship and wealth) and santāna (children) are all the fruit of that vrata. Whether a man or a woman, whoever wants lasting svarga, the place of Indra, wealth and children must worship Mahāvishṇu through the Māsa-Nakshatra vrata. Nārāyaṇa alone gives all four purushārthas (the aims of life).”
Indra and Bṛhaspati were deeply thankful. They took their leave and began the Māsa-Nakshatra vrata themselves as soon as they could.
Sources
- Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapter 107