Raja Shri Ambrish Ji
OPULENCE & INTELLIGENCE OF MAHARAJA AMBRISH
Pujya King Sri Ambrish ji was a great devotee of Lord Shri Hari.
He was very knowledgeable and had immense love at the lotus feet of Lord Shri Hari. Even though he was the ruler of the seven islands of the earth, properties and incomparable opulences, he considered them to be a dream, because he knew that the wealth and splendor for which a man gets greedy and run after all his life, has to go to ghastly hells, these opulences are just a moonlight of 4 days.
He had all the wealth of the world, but he had so much knowledge of the scriptures (shaastras) that he use to unsee all what he had and just kept his focus on the lotus feet of Sri Krishna.
𝟭. The son of Maharaj Manu was Nabhag,
𝟮. The son of Nabhag was Naabhag, .
𝟯. The son of Maharaj Naabhag, was Pujya King Sri Ambrish ji.
He was full of wealth and properties, at the same time he had so much knowledge that he always kept ignoring the immense wealth, he always kept his mind at the lotus feet of Lord Shri Krishna and sages and saints and used to praise and worship them with all his heart……
“Those who have imbibed their heart into Lord Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, which kind of sacrifice and unattachment is there for the devotees, which they cannot do? They are capable of doing everything and capable of renouncing everything.”
Sri Raja Ambrish ji, Sapta-dvipavati (ruler of the 7 islands) was the ruler of the entire earth and the wealth he had was never going to end. There was no comparison to his opulence in the entire planet, unimaginable. It is easy for a poor person to become dis-passionate in the absence of pleasures, but to be detached and unattached on having the wealth, while getting the full material of luxury enjoyment, to stay away from all these luxurious objects, is under the control of the devotee and it is only possible by the grace of God.
Even a small amount of wealth and simple authority makes a man intoxicated, but those,
𝟭. Who take shelter of Lord Sri Krishna,
𝟮. Who are able to relish the Madhuri in the beauty of Mayapati Sri Krishna,
𝟯. Whose soul catches the beauty of all beautiful Sri Mohan,
It becomes impossible for Maya to tempt them with the material pleasures. Like a lotus in water, a devotee remains uninterested even in the midst of the great wealth and opulence.
Sri Raja Ambrish ji knew that getting wealth leads to “attachment” and kills the real intellect and knowledge.
To the devotee of Lord Sri Hari, the whole world seems like a lump of mud. Absolutely detached from the world and its pleasures, Sri Raja Ambrish ji had devoted his entire life to the holy lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Hari.
SIMPLICITY & THE VAIRAAGYA OF SRI AMBRISH JI
When Shri Raja Ambrish ji use to accept Tulsi leaves offered as prasad at the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krishna, he used to feel the taste of nectar in it.
Whenever he use to go on a pilgrimage, he did not used any vehicle (ride).
He said that the head which does not bow down at the lotus feet of Lord Shri Krishna, is like a bitter gourd.
His mind was always fixed at the lotus feet of Shri Hari. He had soaked his life in the wave of righteousness in such a way that he did not even had a desire for heaven or other worlds before it.
He use to consider the home, family, women, money, jewellery, elephant, horse, chariot etc. as “NOTHING” in front of the devotion of Shri Krishna.
King Ambrish ji had supreme love in Lord Hari and his beloved sages, he,
𝟭. Placed his Mind unto the lotus feet of Shri Krishna.
𝟮. His Speech, in singing the glories and the talks of Lord Sri Krishna.
𝟯. His Hands, in doing the service of the temple of Shri Krishna.
𝟰. His Ears, in listening to the auspicious satsanga of the Lord.
𝟱. His Eyes, in the seeing and taking the darshan of Shri Krishna in the temple.
𝟲. His Nostrils, in the divine fragrance of Tulsi which was offered at the lotus feet of Shri Krishna.
𝟳. His Tongue, in eating the prasad offered to Lord Sri Krishna.
Shri Raja Ambrish use to travel on foot to visit the pilgrimage places of the Lord, and continued worshipping the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krishna.
Thus he devoted all his actions and karmas to the Yagya Purusha, the transcendental Lord Sri Hari, considering the Lord to be present everywhere.
He ruled the entire earth planet according to the orders of the brahmins who were devoted to the Lord.
He worshiped the Lord by performing many yagyas by distributing large amounts of dakshinas. The people who were living under his rule had a great respect for the leelas of the Lord, which were sung by the sages, they use to listen to it with great love and sometimes they use to sing those leelas.
Thus the men of his kingdom, the most beloved of the gods, did not desire even heaven.
Pleased with the unparalleled loving devotion of Raja Ambrish, the Lord appointed Sudarshana Chakra for his protection, which frightens the opponents and protects the devotees of the Lord.
FASTING FOR THE EKADASHI & A MEETING WITH SAGE DURVASA MUNI
Once Sri Ambrish Ji accepted the rule of observing Dwadashi Pradhan Ekadashi fasting for 1 year to worship Lord Krishna along with his wife.
At the end of the Ekadashi fasting, he fasted for three nights in the month of Kartika and worshiped Lord Krishna after bathing in Yamunaji.
Thereafter, after providing delicious and very beneficial food to the Brahmins, he donated 60 crore cows to the Brahmins, the cows were decorated with gold on their horns, along with beautiful clothes.
He served the sages, saints and brahmins with a lot of charity and food . The brahmins were satisfied with his service, when the brahmins had got very respectful service from King Sri Ambrish ji, then he made the arrangements to break the fast, by taking permission from them.
At the same time Durvasa ji, who is capable of giving curses and boons, also visited him as a guest at the same time.
Seeing the sage, Sri Ambrish ji stood up from his place giving him the respect…..
Sri Ambrish ji, made the arrangements to break the fast, by taking permission from the Brahmins. At the same time Durvasa ji, who is capable of giving curses and boons, also visited him as a guest at the same time.
Seeing the sage, Sri Ambrish ji stood up from his place giving him the respect….. Sri Ambrish ji welcomed him and made him sit on the best place. Thereafter, after he was done worshipping Rishi Durvasa, Sri Ambrish ji requested him to take the food.
Rishi Durvasa accepted his request. Durvasa ji said – I will take food after taking bath in Yamuna ji. King Sri Ambrish accepted his saying.
COMPLICATIONS IN BREAKING THE FAST OF EKADASHI
Sage Durvasa ji went to Yamuna ji and after meditating on Parabrahm, he started bathing in Yamunaji. Now there was only sometime left in Dwadashi, within which the king had to open the fast, otherwise the result of the fast would have been void.
Thinking of this, the king started getting worried that even Durvasa ji still did not come, time is running out here.
He thought If I break the fast by eating the food without first giving the food to the sage, then I will incur a sin and if I eat the food after Dwadashi then this fast would be of no use…….
Sri Ambrish ji thought, If I break the fast by eating the food without giving the food to the sage, then I will incur a sin and if I eat the food after Dwadashi then this fast would be of no use…….
Seeing himself in this situation, King Sri Ambrish ji, in consultation with the Brahmins, asked- “Oh Brahmins! Eating the food myself to break the fast without feeding it to the sage and not eating the food on the auspicious time of Dwadashi – both make a person guilty of a sin.
Therefore, at this time, please tell me such a solution, so that I may not become a part of the sin.”
The brahmin said – “Rajan! It is said in the scriptures that water is “equal” and at the same time “not equal” to food. That is why at this time you should break your fast in this auspicious time of Dwadashi by drinking the water.
On hearing this, remembering God in his heart, Sri Ambrish ji drank the water and continued waiting for the arrival of Sage Durvasa.
RETURNING BACK OF THE SAGE, SAGE'S ANGER & THE PROTECTION FROM THE LORD
Durvasa ji returned from the banks of Yamuna and when the king went ahead and greeted him, Durvasa ji found out through his powers that the king had drunk the water and breaked his fast.
The king said – Lord! Please have a meal but He refused to eat.
Sri Ambrish ji who was standing with his folded hands, Sage Durvasa started scolding him saying – ‘Aha! Look how cruel he is! The devotion of God has not even touched him and he considers himself as very capable. Today he has done a great injustice by violating the dharma. I have come as his guest but still he has drunk the water without feeding me.
Look, “Now I will give you its result.” saying this, Sage Durvasa got burnt with anger. He uprooted one of his hair and with his powers he created a kritya (demoness) from it to kill Sri Ambrish ji. She scorched like a fire, took a sword in her hand and came before Sri Ambrish ji……
Sri Ambrish ji did not even feared at all and started remembering Lord Sri Krishna within his heart and there came the Sudharshan chakra of the Lord and it demolished that demoness and when Durvasa ji saw that the sudharshan chakra was moving rapidly towards him, he became frightened and saw that the demoness which was appeared by him got burnt and now the sudharshan chakra is coming towards him, he suddenly started escaping that place to save his life.
SUDARSHAN CHAKRA OF THE LORD BEHIND THE SAGE DURVASA MUNI
Now, Durvasa ji went to hide in Meru’s cave, the Lord’s sudharshan chakra did not leave him even there.
He hid in all the three worlds, the ocean, the paatal loka, the sky, the earth and the heaven etc. The chakra kept following him all the time. Durvasa ji went to the lower worlds, the Atal-Vital etc., the Lokpal but wherever he went, wherever he reached he saw Sudarshan Chakra with unbearable brilliance following after him………
To save his life, he went to the Brahmaloka to Dev-shiromani Lord Brahma and he said – ‘Brahma ji! You are swayambhu. Please protect me from the sudharshan chakra of the Lord. Brahma ji said- ‘Durvasa ji! I, Lord Shiva, Daksha-Bhrigu,Prajapati, Bhuteshwar etc. are all bound by the rules made by Lord Sri Krishna and by obeying those orders we do the benefit of the world, we are unable to save the enemy of the devotee of the Lord.
Sage Durvasa muni, getting upset with the response of Lord Brahma, went to take the shelter of Lord Shiva, the swami of Kailasha. Lord Shiva said- ‘Durvasaji! From That Supreme Purusha unlimited millions of universes are born, this sudharshan chakra is the weapon of that same Vishweshwar Lord Sri Krishna.
We cannot do anything in this, you must take the refuge of Lord Sri Hari himself, only he can help you from this trouble…….
VISIT TO THE VAIKUNTHA LOKA
Disappointed, Durvasaji ran towards the Vaikuntha-loka, the supreme abode of Lord Shri Narayana.
Durvasaji was feeling the burning sensation with the fire of the Lord’s chakra. He fell at the lotus feet of the Lord. He said- ‘O Achyuta! O Eternal! You are the only well-wisher of the saints, O Lord! I am the offender for not knowing your ultimate influence and the powers, Thus I have committed the offense of your dear devotee. Lord! Please save me.’
Lord Narayan picked up the sage Durvasa muni and explained, “Munivar! I am always under the control of my devotees.
My simple devotees have tied me in their love. How can I even think of not protecting those devotees who have come to my shelter who have detached themselves from the wife, son, home, life and wealth?
There is no doubt that for the Brahmins penance and vidhya are the means of the ultimate welfare. But if the brahmins becomes arrogant and unjust then both the penance and vidhya start giving their opposite result.
I am the only shelter of my devotees. Therefore, I love my devotees more than myself and Goddess Lakshmi.
I cannot think of any way to leave the devotees who have come to my shelter after renouncing their near ones and all the pleasures and luxuries.
Durvasaji! Listen, I will tell you a solution, the devotee whom you have caused trouble, King Sri Ambrish ji, go to him only and apologize.
If he shows mercy to you then you will be saved from the sudharshan chakra otherwise it’s not possible.
Apologize to him and you will find peace.
Burning with the flame of Sudarshana Chakra, Durvasa muni returned and came back to King Sri Ambrish ji, and being very sad, he grabbed the lotus feet of the king.
SAGE DURVASA MUNI APOLOGIZING FROM A GREAT DEVOTEE - SRI AMBRISH JI
Durvasa ji felling at his lotus feet said, O great devotee of Lord Vishnu! Please forgive me, forgive me for my unintentional offense.
Seeing this effort of Durvasaji, King Sri Ambrish ji got very emotional and sad, King Sri Ambrish ji started praising the sudharshan chakra of the Lord.
He said- O Lord Sudarshan! You are the form of fire, Beloved of the Lord, The thousand-toothed wheeled God! I greet you as a Destroyer of all the weapons and as a protector of the earth! You are the protector of the brahmins. Please do the welfare for Durvasaji. It will be your great grace upon us.
If I have donated anything with the grace of the Lord, Performed a yajna or followed my religion sincerely, If the people of our lineage had considered Brahmins as their Lord, then the burning sensation of Durvasa ji would vanish.
The Lord is the only shelter of all the great qualities, if I have seen Lord Sri Hari as the soul in all the living beings and if the Lord is pleased with Me, then all the burning sensation of Durvasa ji’s heart would vanish……
King Sri Ambrish ji said – The Lord is the only shelter of all the great qualities, if I have seen Lord Sri Hari as the soul in all the beings and if the Lord is pleased with Me, then all the burning sensation of Durvasa ji’s heart would vanish.
When King Sri Ambrish thus praised the Sudarshana Chakra of the Lord who gave the burning sensation to Durvasa ji from all the sides, the chakra was pacified by his kind prayers.
When Durvasa ji was freed from the fire of the chakra and his mind became healthy, he started praising King Sri Ambrish ji by giving him many excellent blessings.
Durvasa ji said- Blessed! Today I saw the importance of loving devotees of the Lord Sri Krishna. Rajan! I have committed your offense, yet you came out as a well wisher for me. Maharaj Ambrish, your heart is full of compassion. You have bestowed a great favor on me. Oh, Rajan! you have saved me by forgetting my offenses!
He told King Sri Ambrish ji – You are the best among the righteous and very kind, that is why you have soon forgiven the person who has committed your offence.
You have saved my life by forgetting my evil behavior…….
This much compassionate and down to earth was the great devotee of Lord Sri Krishna, King Sri Ambrish ji Maharaj.
Durvasa ji said to King Sri Ambrish that you have saved my life by forgetting my evil behavior.
SERVING DURVASA MUNI
King Sri Ambrish ji had not eaten since Durvasa ji had escaped from his place from the chakra to save his life.
He was waiting for Durvasaji to return. Now he touched Durvasa muni’s feet and pleased him and served him and made him eat properly. After having the food, Durvasa ji requested the king – you should also eat.
Durvasa ji was very satisfied and praised the qualities of King Sri Ambrish and after taking permission from him, he left from the place of King Sri Ambrish ji and went from the sky route.
When Durvasaji was on the run in fear from the Sudarshan Chakra, a year had passed since his return.
For that many days, King Sri Ambrish drank only water with the desire to see him.
But when Durvasa ji came back when he had completed his food, and after the departure of Durvasa ji , the king took the very holy food left from his plate with the family.
After a few years, King Sri Ambrish ji left the responsibility of the kingdom on his sons and he himself went to the forest to do the devotional service of the Lord.
Thus King Sri Ambrish devoted his entire life to the devotion and worship of Lord Shri Hari.
In the forest with great patience and sincere bhakti, he became liberated by putting his mind in the lotus feet of Lord Shri HARI…….