Dhruva the immortal

Swayambu Manu’s son King Uttanapada married to Suniti  and Suruchi and the respective sons were Dhruva and Uttama. The younger wife and son dominated the King. Once Dhruva desired to sit on his father’s lap as his cousin too did, the younger queen prevented Dhruva and talked insultingly and the father remained passive. The young mind of Dhruva was badly hurt and he walked off to his mother who expressed her helplessness and said that only Bhagavan Narayana could help.The disgusted boy entered a nearby forest where he encounterd Sapta Rishis and conveyed his anguish that he was not able to sit on his father’s lap. The Rishis unanimouly advised that he could sit on ‘Moksha Pada’ or the Seat of the Supreme, let only on his father’s lap provided he could worship Narayana relentlessly and please Him. Dhruva requested the Rishis to teach him as to how to worship and in one voice gave him the Upadesha and the Mantra of Om Namo Vaasudevaaya Shuddha Jnana Swarupiney. Armed with the method of puja and Japa,  Dhruva entered a forest named Madhubana on the banks of River Yamuna, where subsequently Shatrughna of Ramayana killed Daitya  Madhu’s son Lavanasura. The young Dhruva performed Dhyana and Puja of Narayana with enormous concentration and dedication for years together ; so much so  that as a single legged Dhruva leaned to the left, Bhumi too got tilted and vice versa and in the process, Rivers-Samudras and Parvatas  got disturbed. Indra utilised all kinds of gimmicks to advise, tempt, frighten and subdue the young Dhruva but to no avail. Finally, delegations of Devas prayed to Janardana but the latter assured that the boy had no ambitions to dislodge any of them of their positions including those of Indra, Surya, Varuna or Kubera and none of them needed to fear on that count. Finally, Bhagavan appeared before Dhruva and asked him to terminate his Tapasya. Dhruva prostrated before Narayana, Dhruva was elevated to heights of trance; he requested Narayana to reveal himself which no Parama Yogi or Maharshi ever realised. Maha Vishnu granted Dhruva the vision of his Brihad Swarupa and bestowed to him the unique ‘Dhruvasthaana’-the Permanent Place on the Sky even above the Lokas of Chandra, Surya, Mangala, Budha, Brihaspati, Shukra, Shani Grahas,  and even above the Places of Nakshatras, Sapta Rishis and Devas. Vishnu assured that while Devas would have the longevity of only Four Yugas and a few only of Manvantaras,  Dhruva was granted existence for a full Kalpa! He called Dhruva’s mother also to occupy the position of a Nakshatra near Dhruva Loka as she was indeed the very first to inspire Dhruva towards Narayana!

Sri V.D.N.Rao and Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham

Kamakoti.org presents the Essence of Puranas in English, condensed by Sri. V.D.N.Rao, devotee of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. Compiled, Composed and Interpreted by V.D.N.Rao, Former General Manager, India Trade Promotion Organisation, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India The author can be contacted at [email protected]