Rose-Apple Continent - Jambudvipa OR Bharata-varsha

Rose-Apple Continent  -  Jambudvipa  OR  Bharata-varsha 

   

Bharata  was one of those unique kings who descended from the solar line of kings through his mother, Shakuntala, and from the lunar line of kings through his father, Dushyanta.  Since his descendents ruled whole of Jambudvipa, the rose-apple continent of India, the land itself was called Bharata-varsha, or simply Bharata, after him.  India got her name from her son King Bharat.

 

             

                                                                          

In his youth, Bharata became the King. Young Bharata conquered and ruled the entire sub continent of India, from sea to Himalaya. His empire was named Bharatavarsha, the land of Bharata.

Let us take a break from Bharata and examine his parents’ love story which is one of the magnum opus of Kalidasa and has to be detailed for the beautiful, naïve and Gandharva touch of sensitive portrayal of their love marriage.  Shakuntala being naïve and innocent becomes easily an object of desire and trusts Dushyanta when he proposed that they will marry with trees as the witnesses and such a marriage has legality in the prevailing customs.

The legend of the exquisitely beautiful Shakuntala and the mighty king of Hastinapuri, Dushyant is a thrilling love story from the epic Mahabharata, which the great ancient poet Kalidasa retold in his immortal play Abhijnanashakuntalam.

Shakuntala’s birth –

A King called Kaushika, a surya-vamshi  or descendent of the sun wanted to become a Rishi. So he gave up his material possessions, took the vow of celibacy and started performing ascetic practices known as tapasya.  If successful, he would become more powerful than any man, or god.

Fearing that Kaushika aka Vishwamitra intended  to displace him, Indra sent an Apsara called Menaka to distract Kaushika.  Of all the damsels in Amravati (Indra’s heaven), Menaka was the most beautiful.  Kaushika has fallen head over heels for Menaka.  Kaushika lost control of his senses when she danced before him. This was the greatest seduction game in the history of human race.  He abandoned his tapasya, forgot his vow of celibacy, and surrendered to passion. From that union of hermit and nymph was born a girl.

The child was abandoned on the forest floor by both her parents, by her father because she represented his monumental failure and by her mother because she was nothing more than proof  of her success.

Shakuntala’s Hermitage life -

A Rishi called Kanva found the abandoned girl under the wings of a flock of Shakun birds who had surrounded her.  So he named her Shakuntala, she who was found sheltered by birds.  Kanva raised Shakuntala as his own daughter in his hermitage in the forest, and she grew up to be a very beautiful and cultured woman.

Shakuntala’s Gandharva Vivah –

One day, King Dushyanta, descendent of Pururava, arrived at Kanva’s hermitage.  He was hunting in the forest and wanted to pay his respect to the sage and may be rest for a few days in the hermitage.  Unfortunately, Kanva was away on a pilgrimage he found himself welcomed by Shakuntala.   Dushyanta fell in love with Shakuntala instantly.

‘Marry me’, he said, unable to control his desire.

‘Ask my father,’ said a coy Shakuntala.

If you wish, we can marry as the Gandharvas do with the trees as our witness. This is allowed by tradition, said Dushyanta.  The innocent Shakuntala, smitten by the handsome king, agreed.

As the two got married with the mother nature as their witness spent the days in the hermitage making love. They seem to be filled with joie de vivre.  Finally, it was time for Dushyanta to return home. Kanva had still not returned and Dushyanta could not wait any longer.  ‘It is not right to take you with me while he is away.  I will return when he is back’ he promised.

Many weeks later Kanva returned.  No sooner did he enter his hermitage than he realized that his daughter was in love, and she was carrying her beloved’s child. Kanva was overjoyed. Both celebrated the event and waited for Dushyanta to return.  Days turned into weeks.  Weeks turned into months.  There was no sign of Dushyanta. 

There is a twist in the story here on.  In Mahabharata’s Shakuntala, in due course Shakuntala gave birth to a son who was named Bharata.  Bharata grew up in the care of Kanva and Shakuntala.   Father and daughter forgot all about Dushyanta’s promise until Bharata one day asked, “Who is my father?

‘He needs to know,’ said Kanva.

Rather than wait for Dushyanta to send an invitation, Kanva felt it is best for Shakuntala to go to Dushyanta on her own and introduce the boy to his father.  Shakuntala agreed and, her son by her side ventured out of the forest for the first time.  As she left trees gifted her with cloth, flowers and fragrances so that she looked beautiful when she met her beloved again.

But when Shakuntala stood before Dushyanta and introduced herself and her son, Dushyanta shown no signs of recognizing her.  ‘Are there any witness of our alleged marriage?’ he asked caustically.

The trees, she said.  Everyone including Dushyanta laughed. Shakuntala a simple woman of the forest uncontaminated by the politics of kings and kingdoms, was indignant.  ‘I came here not seeking a husband but to show my son his father.  I have done so.  I have raised him as a mother should. Now I request you to raise him as a father should. So saying Shakuntala turned her back to Dushyanta and headed for the forest. 

Suddenly, a voice boomed from the sky admonishing Dushyanta for doubting Shakuntala.  She was indeed his wife and Bharata was indeed his son.  Dushyanta apologized for his behavior and blamed it all on his fear of social disapproval.  He then declared Shakuntala as his queen and Bharata his heir.

The bane of sage Durvasav -

As we mentioned earlier about the twist in the story, Kalidasa’s Shakuntala after Dushyanta’s departure to his kingdom was found lost in his sweet memories.  One day sage Durvasav enters Kanva’s hermitage found Shakuntala day-dreaming and not feeling his presence in the hermitage cursed her that she will forget that person about whom she was found deeply lost in her thoughts.  When pleaded mercy he said if Dushyanta or that person in question find any souvenir he gifted to Shakuntla he will remember her.  Shakuntala was gifted with a signet ring by Dushyanta when they were together in the hermitage in their honey-mooning days.  Shakuntala proceeded to Dushyanta’s palace to remind him about the souvenir.  Unfortunately, while washing her hands in a river she lost her ring in the water.  A fish swallowed the ring and after some days the fishermen caught that fish and presented the ring to the king.  After seeing the ring presented by him to Shakuntala he recollects the incident of his love affair with Shakuntala and sent his emissory in search of Shakuntala.  The entire episode unspooled like a film reel to Dushyanta and thus resulted in their reunion.  Kalidas’s Abhijnhanashakuntalam is different towards the end from Mahabharata’s Shakuntala.

In Kalidasa’s Shakuntala, she seeks recognition as Dushyanta’s wife whereas in Mahabharata’s Shakuntala want her son to enjoy the legacy of the king.

Free Love –

   

While we discuss about the love affair of Shakuntala and Dushyanta in Kanva’s hermitage it points to the love making of a sage called Kindama with his wife disguised as an antelope and doe enjoying in the wild splendor from the prying eyes of the humans. They had used magical powers to turn themselves into animals so that they could make love freely in the open.  An episode of Free Love kick-started and led to enjoyment in the wilderness.

Vitatha a la Shakuntala  -

Bharata grew up to be a great king.  He had three wives. Every time they presented a son to him, he would say, ‘He does not look like me’ or ‘He does not behave like me,’ perhaps suggesting his wives were unfaithful to him or that the children were unworthy.  In fear, Bharata’s wives abandoned these children.

A time came when Bharata was old and had no heirs. So he performed a yagna.  At the end of the yagna, the Devas gave him a son called Vitatha.

Vitatha was conceived when Brihaspati, in an uncharacteristic moment of lust, had forced himself on his sister-in-law, Mamata, wife of Utathya.

Both Brihaspati and Mamata rejected this child, Brihaspati because the child reminded him of his moment of weakness and Mamata because of this child was forced upon her.  Vitatha was thus, like Shakuntala, a child abandoned by his parents.  He was accepted by the Devas who passed him on to Bharata.

Vitatha grew up to be an extremely capable ruler and so despite being adopted, was crowned king by Bharata.

The Rose-Apple continent –

For Bharata criteria for kingship rested in worthiness, not bloodline.  This made Bharata noblest of kings in the eyes of the people.  This was perhaps another reason why the rose apple continent of Jambudvipa came to be known as Bharata-varsha, or smply Bharat the land that was once ruled by one such as Bharata.

While the festival of lights “DIWALI” round the corner, this Blog find the essence of Bharat-varsha, the rose apple continent devoted to light and knowledge with inner Dia the light of wisdom.

Long live Bharat. 

JAI  BHARAT.