MUSICAL MAESTRO CURSED TO BE A PIG

 

MUSICAL MAESTRO CURSED TO BE A PIG

 

 

 

 

Geethavidyadharan was a renowned singer which makes him stand out among other Gandharvas.  He was the most gifted singer in the Indra's court.  His talent was phenomenal.  He was the most liked Gandharva by God Indra and he was proud of being the same. 

 

One day he set out to the earth along with Apsara "SUTARA".  After seeing the beautiful world he determined to stay there for some time.

 

The rivers, meadows, plains, mountains and floral gardens all liked and impressed by Geethavidhyadharan and Sutara.  

 

"The flowing water is making the melody",  he told Sutara at the river bank. 

 

 "The river is singing and it has music", he said to Sutara inviting her attention.  She was immersed in knee deep water in the river and smilingly said  "the waves are doing the background score".  

 

Both the Gandharva and Apsara loved the scenic beauty and enjoyed the picturesque locales which was an eye feast for them.

 

The water body of Mount Kailas enthralled Sutara.  She recollected her swimming in the lake alongwith the apsaras Ramba and Tilottama.  Sutara opined that the cold water of Amritsaras was exceptional.

 

It is a great pleasure to swim and play in the shallow waters.  After spending enjoyable hours in the stream, they started walking alongside the river.  It was about sunset at that time.  

 

"What a beautiful fragrance, it is better than the flowers and fragrance  in the heaven",  said Sutara.

Dharan (Geetavidyadharan) told Sutara that we, the Gandharvas can create even better.    But I want to enjoy the unadulterated beauty of the earth.  While walking alongside Sutara,  he said  "We Gandharvas can make the spring, full moon and star bungalows in a flash of an eye-lid. We can even make the river and sea".

 

Sutara responded saying that even the Apsaras can also make a magical world.   By saying that she created a horse with golden wings.  An astonished Dharan said "It looks like Indra's horse.  Shall we ride on this horse and take a view of the beautiful surroundings?".  Sutara agreed merrily.  She was thrilled and sported goosebumps.  

Sutara pillion riding the horse with Dharan saw the overflowing rivers, and atop the forest and across flying almost touching the mountain peaks and enjoyed the roller-coaster experience.   Then they saw a sage sitting in "padmanasa" on a risen rounded rock among the beautiful flowers and plants.  The sage had a silver grey beard and long hair.  The sage sat with closed eyes and meditating like a statue.  They started spying on the sage hiding near the plants.  The magic horse vanished like a picture drawn on a beach sea shore getting washed away by the waves. 

Dharan wanted to know more about the sage.  They spied on him hiding behind the bushes.  Dharan started meditating for some moments and then a bird on a tree branch said "Pulasthya Maharshi".  Dharan opened his eyes murmuring Pulasthya Maharshi with joy.

"Maharshi is in a retreat.  He will open his eyes listening to my song and will be pleased with me", said Dharan with confidence. 

 

He is a great sage and very famous.  All three worlds knew about him, Sutara informed Dharan. 

She advised him that Maharshi is in deep meditation.  He may not like to be disturbed.  He may even get enraged if his meditation is disturbed.  Let us bow to him and go away from here.  

"The Maharshi will get angry  --  not at all -- he would be dancing with great happiness", Dharan said this and at the same time snatched a Veena from the air.  Sutara tried her best to demotivate Dharan.  Sutara knew that Maharshi will get angry and shower banes on him.   

"It will be danger according to my instincts", said Sutara.  Let us go back, Dharan, she wanted to stop him from disturbing the sage.

But, Dharan said "It is almost end of evening now.  After some time the stars will sparkle and full moon will be visible.  It would be the most beautiful experience to witness a moonlit earth.  I heard this at Amrapuri".   Dharan started playing Veena by saying that.  

An enraged Sutara with her unsuccessful efforts to convince Dharan, immediately disappeared from the scene and returned to Devalok.  She did not even say goodbye to Dharan.

However, Dharan was unfazed and started his music.   He said, "Vanadanam Maharshe!, Vandanam!.  Billions of greetings, the great sage".  He then lost the count of hours.  He expected the sage will open his eyes and bless him.  It was morning and the sage was still in his deep meditation. 

 

Dharan felt let down by the sage  and also experienced self pity. He was desperate and sorrowful.  He then discarded the Veena and started inching forward to the sage.  Then he produced a cacophony.  It was a pig's voice.  After listening to this irritating noise, the Pulasthya Maharshi opened his eyes with rage.  He said to  Dharan, "You idiot, you will suffer for breaking my meditation".  He cursed him that you will become a pig for imitating a pig's sound.  By listening to the sage's bane a startled Dharan had fallen at the feet of the Pulasthya Maharshi and begged him for pardon.  He uttered this with great grief and agony.

Pardon me great sage,  I beg your pardon.  Please don't curse me.

The sage was fuming with rage.  You will be a pig and wander about this place.  One day you will be killed by the King Ishaku and then you will regain your real self.

 

Dharan wanted to plead mercy to the sage but he was already a pig and started to make noise like a pig.

 

Several years he roamed about the places and became wild and started destroying the crops and done damages to the property of villagers.  The upset villagers decided to meet the king with their grievances.  The king started hunting for the pig and showered arrows on his body.  Dharan made grueling sounds for some time and died on the spot.  The moment the pig was dead, Dharan got his Gandharva self and also got his extraordinary powers.  

 

He started praising the great sage.  Vandanam Maharshe!, Vandanam!.  Thereafter, he rose to the sky and vanished.  The next moment he was in the Devalok.  

 

Sutara greeted him with flowers and  diyas and welcomed him back to Indralok.