Dharma & Duty

When the demon Hayagriva steals the Vedas from a drowsy Brahma, Vishnu incarnates as a tiny fish that appears to King Satyavrata. The fish grows progressively larger, revealing its divine nature and warning of an impending deluge, instructing the king to gather all life forms onto a boat which Matsya guides to safety using the serpent Vasuki as a rope.

When Parashuramas mother Renuka momentarily entertains impure thoughts, her husband Jamadagni orders his sons to behead her. While elder brothers refuse, Parashurama obeys without hesitation, impressing his father who grants him a boon - he requests and receives his mothers restoration to life.

When King Kartavirya Arjuna forcibly seizes the divine cow Surabhi from sage Jamadagni and murders him, his son Parashurama receives divine weapons from Vishnu including his legendary axe. He then wages a relentless campaign, severing Kartaviryas thousand arms and eliminating the corrupt kshatriya class twenty-one times.

In Pancharatra theology, the supreme Para-Vasudeva progressively emanates into four forms for cosmic administration: Vasudeva governs the soul; Sankarshana separates individual souls from matter; Pradyumna upholds dharma and governs the mind; and Aniruddha sustains the material world and facilitates liberation.

When asuras seize the pot of Amrita after ocean churning and fight among themselves, Vishnu assumes the form of Mohini - a woman of extraordinary beauty. Through charm and clever strategy, she distributes the nectar exclusively to devas, beheading demon Rahu with Sudarshana Chakra when Sun and Moon expose his disguise.

Vishnu appears as a dwarf brahmin during Balis great sacrifice. Despite guru Shukracharyas warnings, Balis generosity compels him to grant Vamanas request for three steps of land. The dwarf assumes cosmic form covering earth and heaven in two strides, placing his third step on Balis head - rewarding his surrender by making him lord of the netherworld.

Demons Madhu and Kaitabha steal the Vedas from Brahma and receive a boon from Mahadevi that they can only die by their own consent. When Vishnu praises their power and offers boons, they mockingly offer to grant him one instead - whereupon the clever Vishnu, as horse-headed Hayagriva, asks for the boon of slaying them, which they cannot refuse.

Rishabhadeva, the first Tirthankara, taught humanity the foundations of civilized life including agriculture, writing (Brahmi script), arithmetic, pottery, and weaving. He instituted marriage, almsgiving, and funeral rites, transforming primitive society into organized civilization before renouncing worldly life to become a monk.

After Neminatha abandoned their wedding to become a monk, Princess Rajimati followed and took initiation as a nun. When Neminathas brother Rathanemi tried to seduce her in a cave, she admonished him powerfully, saying succumbing to desire would be like consuming vomit. Her words awakened his spirituality, and she achieved liberation.

A devotee of Shiva received sacred ashes from Shivas dhuni fire through Parvatis blessing. However, his wife threw them upon a dung heap instead of swallowing them. Years later, a divine child was discovered there and brought to Lord Shiva, who named him Gorakhnath - one who would transform spiritual waste into liberation.

Adishesha, the divine serpent serving as Vishnus couch, was mesmerized by Shivas cosmic dance and wished to learn this art. He had a vision of yogini Gonika praying for a son. As she offered water to the Sun God, a tiny snake appeared in her cupped palms and transformed into a human child - Patanjali, from pata (fallen) and anjali (prayer hands).

Sthulabhadra, consumed by infatuation with dancer Kosha, renounced everything after his fathers death revealed lifes impermanence. Years later, to test his detachment, he spent the monsoon retreat in Koshas gallery. She tried every seduction, but he remained unmoved. Recognizing his transformation, Kosha asked for spiritual instruction and became a devoted follower.

Monk Metarya, born as an untouchable but accepted as equal in the Jain order, came for alms at a goldsmiths house. When a bird swallowed golden grains and he was accused of theft, Metarya chose to endure torture and death rather than expose the innocent bird to harm. His martyrdom demonstrates that protecting even the smallest creatures life surpasses ones own existence.

Princess Malli was born with extraordinary beauty due to past-life karma. Contemplating the fleeting nature of worldly life and beauty, she developed acute detachment. Renouncing her royal status, she took self-initiation as an ascetic. Through intense spiritual practice, she attained Kevala Jnana, becoming the 19th Tirthankara, proving liberation transcends gender.

When Matsyendranath became entrapped in worldly pleasures in a kingdom of women, his disciple Gorakhnath sensed his gurus peril. He transformed into a dancing girl and entered the palace. Playing a mridangam drum, he embedded the message Chalo Machhindar, Gorakh Aaya into its rhythm. Hearing these words, Matsyendranath awakened from his delusion.

Ramana Maharshi taught primarily through silence, guiding seekers to reflect on the source of their inquiries rather than answering questions directly. Visitors received spiritual instruction simply by sitting in his presence. When asked about his death, he said: I am not going away, I am here! The body is not the guru.

Ritualist Mandana Mishra challenged young Shankaracharya to a debate - the loser would adopt the winners path. Mandanas wife Ubhaya Bharati served as judge using flower garlands - the one whose flowers wilted first from anger would lose. After months of discourse, Mandanas garland withered. He became Shankaras disciple, later heading Sringeri Math.

In Vishnumangalam, Madhvacharya faced Trivikramacharya, a brilliant logician, in fifteen intense days of philosophical contest. Trivikrama deployed every logical weapon but was so convinced by Madhvas Tattvavada that he surrendered at his feet. The irony: the defeated scholars son later wrote the Madhva-vijaya, glorifying his fathers conqueror.

Walking to Vishwanath Temple in Kashi, Shankaracharya asked an untouchable blocking his path to move. The Chandala challenged: Were those words to the body or soul? How can you who teaches oneness see difference between Brahmin and Chandala? Stunned, Shankara realized Lord Shiva himself had appeared to test him. He composed Manisha Panchakam, declaring whoever possesses true knowledge is his guru.

During the Shraddha ceremony for his ancestors, Eknath prepared a feast traditionally meant for Brahmins. Instead, he invited hungry Chandalas and served them with reverence, seeing Lord Vishnu in all beings. The enraged Brahmins left, but Eknaths ancestors appeared in visible form and partook of the offerings themselves, vindicating his actions.