Ramayana Simplified: Part 18: Maharishi Vishwamitra creates Trishanku Swarga
Satyavratha was not completely happy with his life even as a king, as his ultimate intention was to attain moksha and reach the swargaloka (heaven) with his entire body. He checked with many people regarding a solution. Maharishi Vasishta still had resentment towards Satyavratha and he stopped coming to the palace being the raja guru. So, Satyavratha directly went to see Maharishi Vasishta and checked if he could reach the swarga with his body. Maharishi Vasishta started teasing Satyavratha asking what qualification he had for going to the swargaloka with his body. He said that it was not possible even for renowned kings, great maharishis, and sannyasins. On hearing this, Satyavratha returned to his palace feeling dejected.
He thought of setting out to the forest to do tapas to fulfill his desire. Thus he left the palace and started doing tapas. One day he saw Narada muni (Sage), and the muni blessed him so that his desire gets fulfilled. Meanwhile, Maharishi Vishwamitra returned after the yaga and was searching Satyavratha. Maharishi Vishwamitra got information that Satyavratha took the throne and thus he set out to the palace in search of him, but he realized that Satyavratha again went back to do tapas in the forest. Maharishi Vishwamitra found out the location in which Sayavratha was doing his tapas through Narada muni. Satyavratha fell at the feet of Maharishi Vishwamitra as soon as he saw the maharishi. He said that somehow he wanted to attain moksha. Maharishi said that something will soon open up for the good things he had done. The maharishi’s words were filled with gratitude and thus Satyavratha slowly realized that it was none other than maharishi Vishwamitra whose wife and kids got saved from the verge of death because of Satyavratha’s initiative to help. Maharishi Vishwamitra made him realize that the things he did with the intention of saving the family, like stealing the cow of Maharishi Vasishta was not considered to be a papa (sins)as his ultimate intention was good. Satyavratha felt greatly relieved when he heard the words of the maharishi as his mind was fully filled with guilt out of the things he did (for which he was cursed by Maharishi Vasishta). Maharishi Vishwamitra asked what help he can do back for saving his family from starvation and death. Satyavratha said that he had a wish to attain moksha and go to the swarga with his body, but he also added that he felt greatly relieved on hearing the words of the maharishi that now he was not particular about his wish to go to swarga with his body. Maharishi said that he will somehow try to fulfill the wish of Satyavratha. He said he will start the preparations for the yaga to fulfill Satyavratha’s wishes.
Maharishi Vishwamitra started the yaga so that Satyavratha gets an opportunity to go to swarga with his body. Satyavratha was vehemently involved in prayers while the yaga was going on. When the yaga was about to be over, the maharishi touched on Satyavratha’s head and all the munis were surprised to see that he was directly transferred to swarga with his body. Maharishi’s mind was filled with pride as he felt he had achieved something great by transferring a person including his body to swarga which he thought was much beyond the accomplishments of Maharishi Vasishta. But his pride was short-lived as Trishanku (Satyavratha) came down after some time. Maharishi Vishwamitra found that Lord Indra had sent Trishanku back. Maharishi Vishwamitra again started his attempts and again Trishanku started going up. But again, the maharishi’s attempts went in vain as he could not compete with the strength of Lord Indra. Thus, with all the strength the maharishi had gained so far, he thought of creating a heaven-like world specifically for Trishanku which was between the earth and the actual swarga (heaven). To the devas’ surprise, the maharishi was able to create a heaven-like world between Earth and the swargaloka, exclusively for Trishanku. Lord Indra became embarrassed and fell at the feet of the maharishi seeing the tapashakthi (power of meditation) of the maharishi. Thus Lord Indra took Trishanku with him to the real swarga.
Few Insights…
Here swargaloka is symbolic of material pleasures. So far we have come across many stories in which devas may engage in adharmic activities (we see how Lord Indra came in search of Ahalya, enthralled by the beauty of Ahalya, in spite of having a lot of beautiful women in swargaloka). Thus we don’t completely worship all the devas. Ramayana and other texts in Sanatana dharma don’t advise us to aim for heaven or a world of pleasures. It teaches us that the ultimate pleasure is obtained through calmness and strength of mind. (For e.g: we may find different people who earn a lot of money and get involved with all kinds of pleasure, but at the end of the day, they may not be leading a calm and peaceful life, if their minds are filled with stress). The final destination for a person recommended is the path of moksha which is much beyond the world of material pleasures.
So, does it say that we should not give importance to material pleasures like earning more money?
Of course not, our texts also have given importance to material pleasures which are encouraged through texts like Arthashastra, Kamashastra, etc. While the ultimate aim is attaining moksha, the essential things for leading a good life on earth like sex, earning money, etc. are also seen with utmost importance. We also find texts which help us in becoming successful in leading a family. So, to conclude, material pleasures are given importance but one should not be obsessed with them.
Spiritual knowledge and practices are always necessary to lead a successful life and to become a better person. Unfortunately, a large percentage of Hindus have a misunderstanding that learning about the texts of Sanatana dharma is important only after retirement, but one should understand that the initiative taken to go through the texts of Sanatana dharma and following spiritual practices right from an early age help us in becoming a more intelligent person who finds it easier to solve the challenges around him with an enhanced strength of mind. At the same time, we should also never forget that our ultimate aim is Brahma nirvana or moksha.
