When the Pandavas were living in Virata as part of their exile, Sahadeva had assumed the name Arishtanemi, as per Mahabharata Virataparva Chapter 10 verse 5.
Monthly Archives: August 2010
Arishtanemi (3)
A king called Arishtanemi was present in the court of Yama, as per Mahabharata Sabhaparva Chapter 8 verse 9.
Arishtanemi (2)
In Mahabharata Shantiparva Chapter 208 verse 8, Arishtanemi is mentioned as the second son of Kashyapa.
Arishtanemi (1)
One of Vinata’s six sons.
Antecedents: Vishnu – Brahma – Kashyapa – Arishtanemi. Kashyapa married Dhritarashtri, daughter of Daksha. Shuki was their daughter. Shuki – Nata – Vinata – Arishtanemi, as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 65 verse 40.
Arishtanemi meditated in the forests with his son. Once, his son was meditating in the form of a deer. The prince of Hehaya – Parapuranjaya was hunting in the forest then. He shot the deer by mistake and repented when he came to know it was a sage. He went to Arishtanemi and apologised. Arishtanemi pointed to his son, who was standing nearby, and asked the prince if this was whom he had killed. The prince was surprised. Arishtanemi clarified that their tapas energy was so great that no one could kill them. As per Mahabharata Aranyaparva a relieved king left after being blessed by the sages.
Sumati, wife of the Suryavanshi king Sagara, was the daughter of Arishtanemi, as per Ramayana Balakanda Sarga 38 verse 4.
According to Ramayana Kishkindakanda Sarga 66 verse 4 and Devibhagavata Saptamaskanda, Kashyapa was also called Arishtanemi.
As per Agnipurana Chapter 19, Arishtanemi’s mother had 16 children.
According to the Mahabharata Aranyaparva Chapter 184 verses 17-22, Arishtanemi has made a lot of statements about Brahmanahatya sins.
As per Mahabharata Shantiparva Chapter 288 verses 5-46, Arishtanemi gave spiritual advice to Sagara.
Arishta (2)
Also known as Arishtaka. A retainer of Kamsa. As per Kamsa’s instructions, he once tried to kill Krishna, in the form of a huge bull. On its way, it terrified people by uprooting massive trees and even hills. Krishna heard of the bull and fought it. Krishna hit the bull with such force that it fell 100 dandas away, attained its original form, and died, as per Bhagavata Dashamaskanda Chapter 37.
Arishta (1)
A wife of Kashyapa, from whom the gandharvas were born, as per Agnipurana Chapter 19 and Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 67 verse 83.
Arimejaya
A king of the Puru dynasty, as per Agnipurana Chapter 278.
Pipal
A tree beloved to the trimurti. As per the scriptures, man is not supposed to touch it. Women should circumambulate it a thousand times daily. According to the Shravanamahatmya, on all Saturdays of August-September (Chingam in the Malayalam calendar) people should worship the tree. The sage Vaikhilya claimed that the tree had been born from Vishnu. Its roots and leaves are used for sacred rituals.
Arali
One of the sons of Vishwamitra, as per Mahabharata Anushasanaparva Chapter 4 verse 58.
Swan
A bird. The initial part of ‘swan’ in many languages is associated with royalty and prestige. eg. rajhans. It finds mention as a bird of the gods in many stories.
As per the scriptures, swans reside in Manasa in the upper reaches of the Himalayas. Since they don’t like the rains, they migrate to the plains during that time, and go back when it rains in the plains.
Kashyapa married the eight daughters of Daksha, one of whom was Tamra. They had five daughters – Kraunchi, Bhasi, Shyeni, Dhritarashtri, Shuki. They gave birth to an owl, Bhasas, an eagle, a cuckoo and a swan, and a parrot respectively, as per Ramayana Aranyakanda Sarga 14.
Before Shishupala died, he insulted Bhishma and told him the story of a swan, which used to live near the sea. He spoke to the other birds on righteousness and they all respected him. They left their eggs with the swan and went away to find food. Many of them died, and the swan ate up their eggs and became fat. One bird got suspicious, kept watch on the swan and realised what it was doing. It conveyed this to the other birds and they kileld the swan. Shishupala said that this was what would happen to Bhishma too, as per Mahabharata Sabhaparva Chapter 31 verse 30-41.
Once, Nala a swan in his garden. Though he caught it, he soon released it, sensing its fear. As per Mahabharata Aranyaparva Chapter 53, the grateful swan became the messenger between Nala and Damayanti, the princess of Vidarbha.
Marutta was once conducting a Maheshwarasatra in the forest. Indra and the other devas came to the hermitage to receive the offerings. This was the time that Ravana had begun his campaign. On hearing that the devas were present at the hermitage, Ravana reached there with his forces. Indra and the other devas immediately took the form of animals and birds in order to escape. Indra became a peacock, Yama became a crow, Kuber became a chameleon and Varuna became a swan. Ravana and his forces left when they couldn’t find the devas. The devas blessed all the animals whose forms they had taken. Indra gave the peacock’s feathers multiple colours, and made its eyes beautiful. He also blessed that they would be free of illnesses and when it rained, they’d be able to do a beautiful dance. Yama blessed that the crows would now receive the offerings that humans made for their forefathers. Varuna blessed that the swans, who had a black and white plumage, would now be purely white. Kuber blessed that chameleons would be able to change their colours whenever they desired and that their cheeks would appear golden. The devas then left the hermitage as per Uttararamayana.