Renuka and Jamadagni

 

Renuka and Jamadagni

Bhishma was lying on the bed of arrows. Having been defeated by Arjuna, Bhishma fell but did not die. He had a boon that he could choose his time of death. He was waiting for Uttararyana Punyakaalam when the sun starts its northern movement towards the northern hemisphere. Yudhishtira being the knowledge seeker, used this period to get the knowledge and wisdom of Bhishma. This is called as the Bhishma – Yudhishtira Samvaad and continued for six days. The following story was one told by Bhishma to Yudhishtira during this conversation.

Yudhishtira asked Bhishma how did the practice of giving footwear and umbrellas as an offering to the ancestors in the shrardh ceremony started. Bhishma narrated this story to Yudhishtira.

Sage Jamadagni loved archery. He was happy when he honed his archery. He loved to set himself difficult targets and shoot at them. All this was nice except that his wife Renuka was his assistant. Since arrows were limited and took time to make, they tried to reuse arrows. So everytime Jamadagni shot the arrows, it was Renuka’s job to go and fetch the arrows. ooki

That day Sage Jamadagni was particularly enthusiastic. He started very early in the morning. He started slow and steady. Jamadagni shot the arrows at nearby targets. Renuka enthusiastically fetched the arrows. The day wore on. The sun was hot and bright in the sky. Having finished his nearby targets, Sage Jamadagni now started looking for far off targets that too in small obscure corners.

Renuka was braving the sun. She walked the distance and picked up the arrows without complaining. But she was getting slow in the sun as she was also walking bare foot inside bushes, on rough stones and in water puddles. By noon, Renuka was really tired. This particular arrow that Jamadagni shot was a bit difficult to find. She picked it up and, on the way, back stopped under the shade of a tree to recover herself.

Sage Jamadagni was so engrossed in his own activity that he did not realise the problem his wife was facing. He was about to shout at her for delaying the return of the arrow when he saw how tired she was. She was sweating, her legs were red from the walking and she was looking weak. Renuka folded her hands and said “It was too hot and I had to walk a long distance. I took rest for a few minutes under a tree.”

Sage Jamadagni felt guilty. He knew that his pious wife, even though the daughter of a King, was living a simple and ascetic life for his sake. He wanted to punish the Sun God for beating down on his wife with his powerful rays. He told his wife that he would shoot an arrow at the Sun and reduce his heat.

Listening to this the Sun God got worried. He knew that a tapasvi like Sage Jamadagni was capable of shooting an arrow at him and reduce his powers. This will make the Sun God not able to follow his duties as laid down by the scriptures and affect all humans. The Sun God took the form of a brahmin and came in front of Sage Jamadagni.

The Sun God in the guise of the brahmin asked Jamadagni “What harm did the Sun do? It is only doing its duties. If you affect the Sun’s heat it will affect everyone.” Sage Jamadagni who had realised with his yogic powers that the person standing in front of him was none other than the Sun God himself remained adamant and said “He should have realised that before troubling my wife.”

The brahmin persisted. “The sun is always on the move. How can you shoot an arrow at the sun?” To which Sage Jamadagni replied “The Sun is still for a few seconds in the twilight before setting. I shall shoot my arrow then.”

The Sun God realised that Sage Jamadagni could not be discouraged. He took his original form and surrendered to the Sage and requested the Sage not to hamper him from doing his duties. Sage Jamadagni smiled and said “I knew it was you who came as a brahmin. I understand that I cannot punish you as you were only doing what nature gave as your duty. But do tell humans how we can protect ourselves from your rays especially during mid day.”

The Sun God was relieved that the Sage was pacified. He brought forth a pair of footwear and umbrella and told the Sage that the umbrella would protect the person from direct sunlight, while the footwear will protect the feet when walking in the sun.

The Sun God also added that anyone who gives the umbrella and footwear as part of the offerings to brahmin will get the same punya as offering wealth. Hence the custom of offering footwear and umbrella to brahmins as part of the shrardh ceremony started so that the giver can be blessed by their ancestors and the Gods.