Devavrata, the rock-solid

Devavrata was the childhood name of Bhishma (means the formidable), a large iconic figure in the history of Mahabharata.  He was also one of the most powerful of all the warriors of his time.  He was a highly respected statesman among both Kaurava and Pandava dynasties.  The name ‘Bhishma’ is a hallmark when it comes to keeping promises and keeping words.  Standing for rich values and morals, Devavrata earned a rare boon— iccha-mrityu, ability to leave the body at will, since he promised to remain a celibate all his life.  He kept his promise.  

With the help Shikhandi, the eunuch, Arjuna pierced the body of Bhishma with numerous arrows on the eleventh day of the Mahabharata war.  He was fatally wounded. His body fell on the battle ground of Kurukshetra.  It lied there on the bed of arrows for fifty-one nights till the onset of winter solstice (Uttarayana).

Apparently, physical construction of Bhishma was unparallel in human history.   

Ganga was the name his mother. The small kid Devavrata was living with his mother Ganga at the house of his grand-mother.  The kid was playing in the open.  The setting was natural. Plenty of trees, shrubs, stony and uneven land, birds and animals around. Agile Devavrata was gripped with innocent fearlessness.  He was riding on the free spirit of a small boy.  He was playfully jumping and rolling on the ground, scaling the rocks and climbing the trees. 

All of a sudden, his feet slipped off a rock. The boy fell on a stone down below with a big thud.  Both his mother and grand-mother rushed out to see if the body was hurt.  No!  Devavrata sprang up in a jiffy, laughing and jumping.  He was not a bit hurt. Rather the stone on which he fell was broken into pieces.

From the very tender age of a toddler, Ganga passionately taught her son to grow physically strong, have a rock-solid body, high physical stamina, indomitable spirit, indefatigable courage and strong yet pure mindset. 

The boy was blessed by his mother. So, the stone he fell upon was broken.

Here are the lines from Kaushitaki Brahmanopanishad:

ASmaa Bava prSauBa-va ihrNyamasaRtM Bava

tojaao vaO pu~naamaaisa sa jaIva Sard: Satma\

‘My dear son!  May you be like a stone! May you remain always healthy! May your body remain ever free of diseases! May you be able to destroy your enemies just as an axe does! May you be loved by all! May you remain ever filled up with the essence of life-force that provides energy to the entire universe!

‘My dear Son! May you remain energetic forever!

‘May you live for hundred years!’

These are the words uttered by a mother while blessing her son.   

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