Anaraṇya

King Anaraṇya was a powerful and handsome king, known far and wide. He went to the divine Mānasa-sarovara and saw the Brahmodbhava padma, a sacred lotus that arises from the essence of Brahmā and stays in one place for only six months. He wished to wear it as an ornament and sent his charioteer to bring it. When the charioteer touched the lotus, a terrible sound rose and the charioteer fell dead. The king at once fell ill with kushṭha-roga (leprosy) and lost all his strength. The ṛshi Vasishṭha came, explained the holy nature of the lotus and the reason for the punishment, and taught him the Ārogya Vrata, the worship of Bhāskara (Bhagavān Sūrya). The king kept the vrata with devotion and was cured at once.

The visit to Mānasa-sarovara

Anaraṇya was a sārvabhauma, a king over the whole earth, of great might and beauty. One day he went with his divine retinue to Mānasa-sarovara, the celestial lake that is the home of the devas.

In the middle of its clear water he saw a huge, splendid white lotus. This was the Brahmodbhava padma, the lotus that arose from Brahmā himself. It shows itself in one place for only six months before it disappears. The Varāha Mahā Purāṇa tells of its power. Whoever sees it finds all the devas visible to him. Whoever sees it and enters the water is freed from all pāpa (sin) and reaches moksha. Inside the lotus sat Bhagavān Sūrya himself, the deathless Paramātmā in its centre.

The wish to own it and what followed

The beauty of the lotus struck Anaraṇya. He ordered his charioteer (sārathi), “Bring me that lotus. I will wear it on my head and all will praise me.” The charioteer went into the water and reached for the lotus. As soon as he touched it, a loud roar (huṅkāra) came out of the lotus. The charioteer was seized with terror and fell dead.

At the same moment, the king was struck for having spoken his wish to wear the divine lotus as a personal ornament. His colour changed completely. In an instant he became a kushṭhin (a leper), without bala and vīrya (strength and vigour).

The royal hero looked at his changed body. He was overcome with deep sorrow and confusion and said, “What is this?” He stayed there, filled with grief and doubt.

Vasishṭha’s teaching

While the king sat grieving, the great mahātapasvi (one of great tapas) Vasishṭha, the son of Brahmā, came to that place. He saw the king’s state and asked, “O Mahārāja, what punishment has fallen on your body? What must you do now?” The king told him all that had happened.

Vasishṭha explained:

  • The king was sādhu (good) because he had seen the divine lotus.
  • He was also at fault (asādhu), because he gave in to attachment (moha) and to the wish for his own glory.
  • The charioteer entered the holy water to take what cannot be taken, and without knowing it he gained sugati (a good end).
  • The king had said that he would wear the lotus as an ornament, and for that he was punished.

Vasishṭha told who he was. “I am the son of Brahmā. I come here every day to see this Parameśvara in the lotus. You also saw it, so you are sādhu. But your attachment brought this result.”

He then told the king, “Inside this golden lotus Bhagavān Sūrya himself is seated. He is the eternal Paramātmā. You saw this lotus and said you would wear it on your head to be praised in the world. Bhagavān Sūrya showed you this punishment for those very words. Now worship that same deva.”

Vasishṭha then described the Ārogya Vrata in full.

The Ārogya Vrata

The Ārogya Vrata is a year-long upāsanā (devotion) of Bhāskara (Bhagavān Sūrya). It is kept like this:

  • Begin on the saptamī (seventh day) of the bright fortnight (śukla-paksha) of the month of Māgha.
  • Fast on shashṭhī (the sixth day), worship Bhānu on saptamī, and eat on ashṭamī (the eighth day).
  • Worship Sūrya every day with these names: Āditya, Bhāskara, Ravi, Bhānu, Sūrya, Divākara, Prabhākara.
  • Keep this for one full year.

The Purāṇa says that a person who worships Sūrya in this way for a full year gains health (ārogya), wealth and grain in this life. In the next life he gains the good state of no return, which is moksha.

Anaraṇya kept this vrata with full bhakti. He was cured of his leprosy at once and gained the highest siddhi (spiritual attainment).

Anaraṇya in the Uttara Kāṇḍa

The Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Uttara Kāṇḍa (Chapter 24), tells of a different King Anaraṇya. He was a king of the Ikshvāku line whom Rāvaṇa met during his campaign to conquer the world.

Rāvaṇa had received a vara from Brahmā that made him invulnerable. He then swept through the kingdoms of the earth and demanded that kings submit to him. King Anaraṇya of the Ikshvāku line refused to give in and fought Rāvaṇa. He kept the kshatriya dharma of defending his realm even against very great odds. He was beaten and fatally wounded. With his last breath he spoke a śāpa (curse): “A scion of the Ikshvāku line will kill you, Rāvaṇa, and destroy your whole clan.” Śrī Rāma, who was himself of the Ikshvāku solar dynasty, fulfilled this curse in the great war at Laṅkā.

Sources

  • Varāha Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 62
  • Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Uttara Kāṇḍa, Chapter 24