Arundhati Wins: Viswamitra defeated

jayasala42 · Apr 10, 2015

Arundhati wins; Vishwamitra defeated!

Arundhati was one of the celebrated women of ancient India. Though born in a low caste she was elevated to the highest status due to her chastity. Ancient Tamil Sangam poets who lived 2000 years ago praised her sky high. They said she was the symbol of chastity. Arunthathi seeing is a ritual in Hindu marriages.t
It is a double star which is seen as Vasishta and Arundhati by the Hindus.

There is a very interesting story about Arundhati. Ancient Hindu women were very intelligent and educated in the scriptures. Once Vasistha invited his arch enemy Vishwamitra for a feast on a Shraaddha day. On the day of shraaddha, the departed souls are propitiated. Brahmins and saints were fed on the day. The guests are worshipped as the representatives of the departed souls. Vishvamitra promised to participate on one condition. He insisted that he must be served with 1008 curries (side dishes).

Vasishta knew what he was up to. He told him that he would inform his ‘home minister’ Arundhati as she was in charge of the guests.

The fight between Vishvamitra and Vasishta began on the day Vishwamitra tried to snatch the wish fulfilling cow from Vasishta. He was badly punished for this. He clashed with Vasishta on many more occasions. At the end he did great penance and was certified as Brahma Rishi by Vasishta himself.

Vasishta informed Arundhati the condition laid by Vishwamitra. She did not bother. On the day of Shraaddha , Vishwamitra came and sat at the dining hall. But to his disappointment he saw only 10+ curries on the plate (plantain leaf). When he angrily questioned Vasishta, he told him to put the question to Arundhati as she was in charge of the ceremony. Before Vishwamitra questioned her, Arundhati recited a popular sloka (couplet) which made Vishwamitra speechless. What did Arundhati tell him?

कारवल्लि शांत चैव वज्र वल्लि शतत्रयं पनसं षट् शतंचैव श्रार्धकाले विधीयते
Kaaravalli satam chaiva vajra valli satatrayam Panasam shat satam chaiva sraardhakaalE
VidhiiyatE

“If someone serves at the time of Shraaddha , karela/bitter gourd that is equal to 100 items, Pirandai that is equal to 300 curry items and the Jack fruit that is equal to 600 items. That is the rule for the ceremony.”

Kaaravalli = bitterguard
Vajravalli = Pirandai (Cissus quadrangularis)

Panasam = Jackfruit

She served these three vegetable dishes along with 8 more items on the plate. So it came to 1008 items. Vishwamitra was happy at the explanation from the chastest woman in the world.[TABLE="class: Ma My-0 W-100"]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Just as I am writing this I am reminded of a similar event during avvaiyar's period.[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Chola King ordered the court poets to compose four crores poems within a night. The poets were
absolutely panicky.avvai came there." Why are you worried for this simple thing?"she asked.I shall compose 'four crore songs' just now. You can exhibit the same before the king' she said.
The following is the song.Sorry, The essence will be lost, if it is translated/transliterated..
[TABLE="class: yiv2212459495, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD]
மதியாதார் முற்றம் மதித்தொரு கால்சென்று
மிதியாமை கோடி பெறும்;
உண்ணீர் உண்ணீர் என்று உபசரியார் தம்மனையில்
உண்ணாமை கோடி பெறும்;
கோடி கொடுத்தும் குடிப்பிறந்தார் தம்மோடு
கூடுதல் கோடி பெறும்;
கோடானு கோடி கொடுப்பினும் தன்னுடைநாக்
கோடாமை கோடி பெறும்.

[/TD]
[TD="width: 38"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

என்பதே அப்பாடல்.
இப்பாடலில் கோடி என்று ஒரு கோடி பொன் குறிப்பிடப் பட்டுள்ளது. இப்பாடலில் ஒவ்வொன்றும் ஒரு கோடி பொன்னுக்கு இணையானவை என்று நான்கு செயல்களை ஒளவையார் குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளார்.

1. நல்ல பண்புகளை மதித்து நடக்காதவரை மதித்து அவரது வீட்டின் முன்பகுதியை மிதிக்காமல் இருப்பது, செல்லாமல் இருப்பது கோடி பொன்னுக்கு இணையானது ஆகும். (நம்மை மதிக்காதவரின் வீட்டுக்குச் செல்லாமல் இருப்பது கோடி பொன்னுக்கு இணையானது என்றும் பொருள் கூறுவார்கள்) (Not visting the house of people who have no respect for values-equals one crore gold coins.

2. உண்ணுமாறு விரும்பிக் கேட்டுக் கொள்ளாதவரின் வீட்டில் உண்ணாமல் இருப்பது கோடி பொன்னுக்கு இணையானது ஆகும்.(( Not to have lunch with people who have not invited you-equals one crore gold coins)

3. கோடி பொன்னைக் கொடுத்தாவது நல்ல குடும்பத்தில் பிறந்தவர்களுடன் சேர்ந்து வாழ்வது கோடி பொன்னுக்கு இணையானது ஆகும். ( It is worth parting with a crore of gold coins to lead a life with good family people)

4. பலகோடி பொன் கிடைப்பதாக இருந்தாலும் சொன்ன சொல்லிலிருந்து தவறாமல் வாழ்வது கோடி பொன்னுக்கு இணையானது ஆகும்.(Not to swerve from one's words even at a loss of one crore gold coins)

How intelligent,smart and rational women of those days were!

Jayasala 42 [TABLE="class: yiv2212459495, align: center"]
[TR]
[/TR]
[TR]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: yiv2212459495, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]