TO SACRIFICE ONE’S OWN SON?!! (Great parallels (3)

It is difficult for ordinary human beings to find out the reasons behind happenings around them which have far-reaching consequences.  Some attribute it all to destiny. The faithful believe that everything happens as per a pre-designed plan of God and it is futile to question its reason or purpose.  When suddenly one faces turbulences in one’s personal life, one is tempted to ask :”Why me?”  For want of a viable option, many face calamities with a sense of resignation, musing that ‘this phase will also pass’!  

In all religions, there is an underlying belief that God tests the devotion of his followers by placing obstacles in his path.  Will he denounce God or will he submit to His will?   The stories of Job in the Old Testament and of King Harishchandra are some examples.  We have now two almost identical stories from the eastern and western myths about fathers being forced to sacrifice their own beloved sons by the test of divinity.

ABRAHAMS’ SACRIFICE OF ISAAC

Abraham was a devoted servant of the God.  Such was his devotion that as per the Lord’s command, he was even prepared to sacrifice his own beloved son Isaac.  This is detailed in the Old Testament (The Book of ‘Genesis’    Ch. 18-22).

The background of this story is given below:

Abram with his wife Sarai moved from Haran to Canaan in obedience to god’s command.  Because of this unquestioned devotion to god, he was chosen by the Lord with whom He made lasting covenants. At critical times, the Lord assured him: ‘ Fear not, Abram. I am thy shield and reward.’  [Ch.15].   For long years, they had no children.  By now, Abram was 86 years old and Sarai had passed the child bearing age.  Sarai had an Egyptian handmaiden by name Hagar.  At Sarai’s advice, Abram accepted Hagar as his wife, so as to have a child.  After Hagar became pregnant, she became disrespectful to Sarai.  Hagar nearly fled from them. However, on the advice of an Angel, Hagar stayed back.  A son was born to her whom she named ‘Ishmael’ as advised by the Angel. Abram was eighty-seven years of age when Ishmael was born. (Genesis 16:4–16)

Thirteen years later, when Abram was ninety-nine years of age, God manifested before Abram and said: ‘Behold my covenant is with thee and thou shalt be a father of many nations’.  [Ch.17]. The Lord accordingly declared Abram’s new name: “Abraham” – “a father of many nations” (Genesis 17:5).   Sarai’s name was changed to Sarah.  The Lord further said: ‘I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee.’  [17.7] The Lord assured that Sarah would give birth to a son who should be named Isaac. [17: 15,16]  But Abraham was a little doubtful because he was almost  hundred years old  and Sarah, ninety years.  Ishmael was then thirteen years old.

Abraham’s three visitors 

Shortly thereafter, one evening, three distinguished visitors appeared before Abraham. He and Sarah welcomed them and entertained them with utmost hospitality.  (Genesis 18:1–8)

One of the visitors told Abraham that next year, Sarah would have a son.   Sarah also heard it but was sceptical and laughed because she felt she was too old for child-bearing. [‘Abraham and Sarah were old and well-stricken in age.  -18.11] .  The visitor told them that nothing is too hard for God and vanished after assuring the old couple of Lord’s protection and love.

As prophesied, (Genesis 17:21), Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham.   Abraham named him ‘Isaac’  as per divine instruction. [ 21.3]  Isaac continued to grow with elder cousin Ishmael.  Once Sarah noticed Ishmael was mocking Isaac and she felt there would be trouble if they continued to stay together. She persuaded Abraham to send out Hagar and his son Ishmael from their household.[21.14]  Abraham was sad; but he followed as per his wife’s advice since God concurred with it.  Next day early morning, Abraham sent away Hagar and fourteen-year old Ishmael with bread and water.  God took care of them. (Genesis 21:14–21)

Abraham and Sarah lived happily with their new-found joy Isaac.

Abraham‘s sacrifice of Isaac.

It is not clear exactly how old Isaac was, but at some point in his youth, God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac in the land of Moriah. [‘Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac whom thou lovest and get thee into the land of Moriah and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. 22.2]   The father-son duo, with attendants travelled three days until he came to the mount that God told him of. The servants were left at the base of the mountain and only Abraham and Isaac proceeded into the mount.[ Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it upon Isaac his son and he took the fire in his hand and a knife and they went both of them together.  22.6 ] Along the way, he asked his father where the animal for the burnt offering was. [Behold the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?’ 22.7 ] Abraham replied “My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering. 22.8]

Later Abraham revealed God’s command to Isaac who readily yielded.  At the indicated place, Abraham built an altar and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar upon the wood. 22.9]  .’And Abraham stretched his forth hand and took the knife to slay his son.’ [22.10]

Just as Abraham was about to sacrifice his son, he was interrupted by the voice of the Lord from heaven: ‘ Lay not thine hand upon the lad!’  [22.11]

Abraham listened and turned around found behind him a ram “caught in a thicket by his horns”, which he sacrificed instead of his son. [ According to the Hebrew Bible, God commanded  Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. (Genesis 22:5 and 22:8). After Isaac is bound to an altar, the angel of God stops Abraham at the last minute, saying “now I know you fear God.” At this point Abraham sees a ram caught in some nearby bushes and sacrifices the ram instead of Isaac.] For his unquestioned obedience, Abraham received divine blessings for numerous descendants and abundant prosperity.

It is believed that this is the same spot where later thee great Emperor Solomon built the celebrated temple.  Crucifixion of Jesus Christ also presumably occurred about the same mountain.

After this event, Abraham went to Beersheba. (Genesis 22:1–19)

[Old Testament- Genesis]

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KING RUGMANGADA



King Rugmanagada was of the Solar Dynasty ( Soorya Vamsa) – a noble upright king who ruled the country of Vidisa and took care  of his subjects and followed the path of righteousness, just like his father Ritadhwaja. He, along with his wife Sandhyavalli and son Dharmangada was living very happily.

He had an exquisite garden which sprouted fragrant flowers of unseen beauty so much so that its fame reached heaven. Occasionally, divine damsels came down in their chariot and plucked these flowers.  That was a mystery and once the king tried to find the reason of loss of flowers from his garden.

As he was hiding, he espied a chariot descending from above and a few celestial damsels came out of it and began plucking those special flowers. As they were climbing the chariot to return, the king rushed and caught the chariot.  It got arrested.  The divine damsels were unable to go up because their chariot got grounded. Thee ‘unholy touch’ of a ‘mere mortal’ drained away the celestial power of the chariot to fly. They were angry and scolded the king for his transgression. The king had no intention to obstruct the divine damsels; so he explained to them the reasons of his action.  They told him that these flowers were required in heaven for the special offering to Lord Maha Vishnu on ‘Aekadasi Day’, i.e. every eleventh day after full moon or new moon.  They ordered the king to locate someone in his country who was observing fast on that day, whose touch will release the divine chariot.

The king’s agents went through the country to locate anyone who was fasting on that day but found none. At last they brought a very old lady beggar who had had nothing to eat the whole day. At her mere touch, the chariot got released.  At the request of the king, the celestial ladies explained to him the importance of fasting and meditating on Lord Vishnu on Aekadasi day which will lead one and all to prosperity and well-being on earth and eventual salvation – ‘Moksha’.  They also advised the king that on that day, he should abstain from all mortal vices like drinking, gambling, war, lust, sex etc. and spend the day meditating on Lord Vishnu.  They departed blessing the king.

From that day, the king made it a practice to observe fast and meditate on all ‘Aekadasi’ days.  He began becoming more prosperous and emotionally and spiritually more exalted after he began this practice.  There is a saying in India: “ Yathaa Raajah Thataha Prajah” – meaning : the people of a country looks up to and  behave like their monarch emulating him in their actions.   Soon, all people in his country began observing the ‘Aekadasi’ fast and meditation without fail.    They eschewed their evil ways and began leading lives of righteousness.  This resulted in accumulation of the benefits of their good deeds- merits - [‘Punya’] and they no more committed any ‘sins’.  The country as a whole became contented and happy. 

As we know, as per Hindu scriptures, a soul, after death, goes to hell or heaven depending on the merits of his deeds performed on this earth. And Lord Yama, based on his personal secretary, Chitragupta’s accounts, assigns punishments to the wicked souls upon arriving in hell, proportionate to their sins.

It so happened that after King Rugmangada began fasting and meditating on Aekadasi days and his countrymen began emulating him, not a single wicked soul was to be found in that country and the ‘inflow of souls’ to hell came to a standstill since all dead souls from there directly went to heaven!  This caused alarm in the minds of Yama!    This may have cascading effect on the equilibrium of universe and so, the god of Death decided to appeal to the highest authority, Lord Brahma, the Creator for a solution.  Somehow, the king must be made to abandon this new-found practice!

 Lord Brahma listened and decided that in the interest of universal harmony and equilibrium, something has to be done to make the king abandon his ‘Aekadasi’ fast.  All mortals are subject to temptations of the flesh and hence he decided to exploit that aspect.

He created a woman of exquisite beauty and charm, taking essence of all good things in the world and called her ‘Mohini’ – the Enchantress  and  sent her to King Rugmangada’s  court, informing her that her mission was to dissuade the king from observing Aekadasi fast.

One day, when King Rugmangada was enjoying natural surroundings in his garden, he spotted a divinely beautiful woman!   Her ravishing beauty and demeanour became irresistible for the king and he approached her and requested her to become his consort.  She was of course, all too willing but put forth a condition to the king that at no time, he should say or do anything ‘unpleasant to her ‘ or resist her actions or intentions. The infatuated king readily vowed to abide by  all her wishes and they returned to the palace and enjoyed the bliss of each other’s company.

Days, weeks, and months passed by.

His subjects wondered that even after being in the company of the loveliest woman in the world, the king kept observing fast during Aekadasi days  and praised him for his adherence to carnal abstinence.

But-

Among the Aekadasi days, one was very special, known as ‘Vaikunta Aekadasi’.  The belief that if you observed fast  and penance during this particular Aekadasi, you will surely reach VAIKUNTAM, the abode of Lord Vishu when your mortal time on earth gets over.   The king was observing  the fast on Vaikunta Aekadasi day when, Mohini approached him with a request for carnal pleasure.   The king was horrified. He told her that his vow to observe fast on Aekadasi day is unbreakable and what she sought was unbecoming on that day. But Mohini became adamant.   She insisted that the king must not say ‘No!’ to any of her wishes and reminded him of his promise with which he bound himself.   King   Rugmangada was in a dilemma. He could not break his fast; and it was wrong on his part as a king to break a promise once given.  There was no easy way out.

Mohini became more and more aggressive and began taunting the king. 

The king also remained resolute.  He told her that he would grant her any other wish; but not this one on that day. 

“Any other wish?  Is it a promise?’  She insisted to know.

He said: ‘Yes; it is a promise. Any other wish.”

Then Mohini made a preposterous demand.

“ Honoured King!  If you are a man of words, grant me this wish. I want you to cut off the head of your beloved son Dharmangada with your own sword when he is lying on his mother’s lap.  No tear should fall from either of the parents’ eyes while doing so!’  - She demanded remorselessly.  ‘If you can do this I will agree to your continuing with your Aekadasi fast.   Else you dishonour yourself!’.

The king was dumb-struck!  Never could he imagine that the lovely damsel could turn out to be a creature of this low and mean nature – an  ogress.   He was now in a very tricky situation.  He had given promise which he was honour-bound to adhere.   His wife and son who came to know about this development also were alarmed.   They knew how much the king was devoted to his principles. Mohini kept reminding the king periodically for an urgent decision,  giving them no peace of mind.

At last, Dharmangada, the son took a decision.  More than his life, his father’s honour was dear to him.  He told his parents: “There is no difficulty at all. Let father keep his word. I am willing to lose my simple life to protect his honour. Neither of you should grieve.  There is no need to shed tears. We are doing our duty to Lord Vishnu. He gave me a life and it is His!  I will lie on my mother’s lap and, Father!  You can make good your word.” 

His declaration was further increasing their mental tension.  He was not only their only son; but was the crown-king,  in waiting.  How could one be so cruel to one’s own child?  The world was watching.  Mohini pranced around seeking her promise.  Dharmangada’s mother Sumanagali could not bear with it all.  She just remained dumb.

The king finally decided that under no circumstances will he abandon his Aekadasi fast. If he has to kill his own son with his own hand as demanded by Mohini, then that could be Lord’s wish. He would not retract.

Rugmangada got ready with his sword.  Dharmangada lay on his mother’s lap with outstretched neck which could be struck off by his father’s sword.  The whole assembly watched this macabre scene with trepidation.

The hand with the sword rose for the blow.

It just came down…..and lo, an invisible power stopped it mid-air!

Lord Vishnu Himself then appeared before them.  He told king Rugmangada:

“Honoured king!  This was a crucial test to know how far you are devoted to me.  You passed the test admirably.   This Mohini was deputed by Brahma to test you. She is returning with your permission. Have no ill-will.  I am pleased with your devotion and hence, you and your beloved wife are together joining my heaven.  Let Dharmangada be crowned as the next king. He would reign with honour and fame and he would be as devoted to me. “

All bowed before the Lord.  Mohini took leave of the king. The entire assembly heaved a sigh of relief and all praised the king Rugmangada. 

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[Source: Hindu mythology: Aekadasi Mahatmya.]

Dr. C. N. N. Nair, Camp; Bengaluru