For Chettiar Group children

Prayer:
nārāyaṇaṁ namaskṛtya naraṁ caiva narottamam devīṁ sarasvatīṁ vyāsaṁ tato jayam udīrayet
Meaning:
Before reciting this Mahabharatham, which is the very means of conquest, one should offer respectful obeisances
unto the Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa, unto Nara-nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi, the supermost human being, unto mother
Sarasvatī, the goddess of learning, and unto Śrīla Vyāsadeva, the author.

vyAsam vasishta-naptAram Sakteh pautram akalmasham

parAsarAtmajam vande Suka-tAtam tapo-nidhim.
Vyasaya Vishnu Roopaya, Vyasa Roopaya Vishnave |
Namove Bhrama Nithaye, Vasishtaya Namo Namaha:||
Meaning:
vyAsa is the Great-Grandson of vasishta and the grandson of Sakti. He is the son of parAsara and the father of Suka. I offer
my obeisance to that vyAsa who is free from all defects and is a mine of austerities.
Salutation to Vyas who is in the form of Vishnu and Vishnu who is in the form of Vyas and one who is the treasure house of the
Vedas. Salutation to one who was born in the noble family of Vasishta. The honour of being equal to Vishnu belonged
to Maharushi Vyas.
நீ டாழி உலகத்து மறை நாலலாடு ஐந்து என்று நிறல நிை் கலே (Needali Ulgathu Marai Naalodu Ainthenru Nilai Nirkave
ோடாத தே ோய் றம முனி ராசன் மாபாரதம் சசான்ன நாள் (Vaadatha thava vaaimai Munirasan Maabaratham Sonna Naal
ஏடாக ேட லமரு சேை் பாக ேங் கூர் எழுத்தாணி தன்(Yedaga Vada Meru verpaga Angoor Yeluthani than)
லகாடாக எழுதும் பிராறனப் பணிந்து அன்பு கூர்ோம் அலரா. (Kodaga Eluthum piranai paninthu Anbu kurvamaro)
 6. DHAUMYA RISHI AND HIS THREE DISCIPLES
• Guru Dhaumya had three disciples who came to him to learn the Vedas. They were Aruni Panchal, Baid and Upamanyu.
One day Aruni was asked by the Guru to water his field so that the cereal crop would grow well. The water had to be
brought into the field through a canal from a tank which was a little far away. The tank was shallow. Aruni dug the canal,
and water started flowing into the field. Then unfortunately, a breach developed in one of the bunds of the canal and the
water started draining out and escaping away through the breach, thus stopping the flow of water into the field. Aruni
tried his best to fill up the breach by piling up stones and filling it with sand, but he could not succeed. The water was
going waste and he was worried as to how to get the field filled with water. Then, he had an idea. He laid down at the
side of the breach, thus blocking it. The water thereby, started flowing into the field. He remained there in the same
position so that the field would get water fully.

• It was quite late in the night and as the boy did not return home, the Guru was worried as to what would have happened
to him, and he went to the field searching for him. He was surprised and felt glad to find the field full of water, which had
never happened before, but at the same time, he was worried as Aruni was nowhere in sight. He called out loudly, “Aruni!
Aruni!”. From the waters of the canal Aruni replied in a feeble voice, “Gurudeo! I am here.” The Guru reached to him and
pulled him out.Aruni fell prostrate at the Guru’s feet and offered his obeisance to him. The Guru was touched by the boy’s
unselfish devotion to him and placing his hand on the boy’s head, blessed him saying, “May you become proficient and
gain mastery in all Vedas and the Shastra.” No sooner than the Guru said this, Aruni became fully enlightened and all
knowledge dawned on him in a flash.

• Here’s the account of Upamanyu’s Guru Seva & Bhakti. Upamanyu was also a very devoted disciple, but he had an habit
of over eating. The Guru wanted to curb this habit of his of over indulgence with food. The Guru gave Upamanyu the task
of looking after his herd of cattle.

• The grazing grounds were far away. Upamanyu used to leave home early in the morning along with the herd and used to
come back late evening. During this time, he was supposed to eat a very little food that the Guru used to give him.
However, being unable to control his hunger, he used to beg alms from the nearby houses. The Guru finding the boy still
fat, asked him what he was eating in the afternoons. Upamanyu told him that he was begging alms and eat it. The Guru
said he should not eat it, but bring it to him and eat only whatever he (the Guru) gave him. Upamanyu started doing what
the Guru said. But, as he was feeling very hungry in the afternoon, he started drinking the remnants of the milk from the
cows’ udders. The Guru prohibited that too.
DHAUMYA RISHI AND HIS THREE DISCIPLES
(CONTINUED)
• Upamanyu became very much emaciated for the lack of food. Unable to bear the hunger, one day, seeing some milk-like sap exude
from the plant, he drank it. It was poisonous and it affected his eye nerves and made him blind. While driving the cattle home in the
evening, he couldn’t find the way due to his lost eyesight and he fell into a well. As he did not reach home, Dhaumya rishi went
searching for him calling out his name. When Upamanyu answered the Guru saw his disciple fallen into the well. He pulled him out.
After hearing the entire story, the Guru moved by his truthful and implicit obedience. He asked him to chant the invocation-mantra to
the Ashwini Devatas. After chanting the mantra, Upamanyu instantly regained his sight. He also received scriptural knowledge and
wisdom with Guru’s blessings. Later, he became a most renowned Rishi. He became guru to great shishya like Udanka who presided
over the Great Serpent Sacrifice of King Janamejaya, which brought even Indra down from the Heaven, along with his throne towards
the sacrificial fire. It is also said that Udanka, soon after completing his discipleship, obtained from Adisesha in Patala, the latter’s ear
kundalas, and brought and offered them as the Guru Dakshina to his Guru Upamanyu.
• The third disciple Veda was asked to work in Dhaumya's house. He performed his tasks with sincerity and dedication enduring all kinds
of hardships including hunger, thirst, heat and cold. He was also eventually discharged.

Veda chose the domestic way of life. He got married and lived with his wife in a house. His house became the Gurukula for three
pupils. But Veda didn't ask them to perform any arduous tasks in his house. He didn't like his pupils to suffer the way he, Aruni and
Upamanuyu had suffered under Dhaumya. He treated his disciples with kindness and dignity.
 GARUDA PURANA

Vinata and Kadru were the two wives of sage Kashyap. Kadru was the mother of a thousand
radiant snakes, whereas Vinata had two eggs which had not hatched for a long time. Thinking
that something was wrong with the eggs, Vinata broke open one of the eggs. She was
horrified to find that the child inside the egg was not fully formed. The child – Aruna cursed
her to be become a servant to somebody. However when Vinata asked for forgiveness Aruna
told her that if she was patient with the other egg, Aruna’s brother would come and save her.
Some time later Kadru placed a bet with Vinata. Kadru won the bet by cheating and Vinata
became Kadru’s servant. Vinata served Kadru and her snake sons. It was at this time that the
other egg hatched and a child came out of it. The child had the face, beak, wings and talons
of an eagle, but the body of a human. The body of the child glowed with a fierce white light.
However as the child was born during the time his mother was a servant to someone, he was
also considered as a servant. When he was born, the child – Garuda, saw his mother do all
the work in the house whereas Kadru happily roamed doing nothing. Garuda wondered why
his mother was the one who did all the work. Garuda felt very unhappy and angry with Kadru
and the snakes for treating his mother like that.
At night he talked to his mother, "Mother, why do you do all the work in the house, whereas
Kadru just enjoys herself? You look so tired all the time..." He said caressing his mother’s face.
Vinata slowly told him the entire story, "Son before you were born, me and Kadru had a bet
regarding the colour of Uncchashravas – Indra’s horse. I said that Ucchashravas was totally
white and Kadru said that the horse had a black tail. We had a bet that whoever would lose
the bet would become the servant to the other. I was so sure that Ucchashravas was white... But
the next day we went to Indra’s palace and we saw..." Vinata sobbed unable to go on...
• So his mother had lost the bet and had become Kadru’s servant... Garuda felt even more anger towards his snake brother but realised that now was not the time to act.
He would have to wait for the appropriate time to act.

• Some days later he was summoned by his snake brothers. "Son of Vinata" They imperiously told Garuda, "We and our mother wish to go an island for a picnic. Your
mother will carry our mother..." The snake said carelessly. "...However she cannot carry all of us. I want you to carry us to the island.."

• Vinata carried Kadru on her shoulders and walked to the island.

• Garuda felt great anger towards the snakes but agreed to their order. He carried them on his back. As he was flying, he purposely flew very close to the sun so that the
snakes would get burnt. The snakes due to the fierce heat of the sun were getting scorched and were falling of Garuda’s back.

• "MOTHER HELP US..." The snakes screamed from Garuda’s back. Kadru heard this and immediately prayed to Lord Indra to save her sons. Indra heard Kadru’s prayers
and sent down cool showers to protect the snakes. Thus the snakes were protected. Garuda saw Indra’s act and felt angry at Indra too. But now he was beginning to
have an idea...

• After they had all landed on the island, Garuda talked with the snakes. "I wish to make a deal with you..."

• The snakes wondered what deal a servant’s son could make to them. But they were still scared of him. He had just tried to burn all of them. "Well..what is it?..."

• "What would take for you grant freedom to me and my mother?" Garuda got straight to the point. "I will give you whatever you want and in return, grant me and my
mother..." Garuda said pointing at Vinata, "freedom."

• The snakes thought that over. They knew that Garuda was extremely powerful and he could accomplish anything that he set his mind on. They knew they would have to
think of something which could not be easily accomplished.

• It was not long before the snakes came up with the answer. "Son of Vinata, get us the Amrita, the amrita of the Gods." Amrit was the nectar of the Gods, which the Devas
had got from churning the ocean. Anyone who drank amrita remained young and immortal. The drinker also became very powerful and strong. The Devas had denied
giving any of the Amrita to the Asuras and the Snakes, thinking that if the Asuras and the Snakes became immortal and powerful, they would get back to their evil ways
and torment the people.

• The Snakes knew that if anybody could get the amrita from the Devas, it would be Garuda.

• Garuda knew that what the Snakes had asked was not easy, but then he did not expect it to be easy. But still he needed a lot of energy to accomplish such a feat. He
turned to his mother, "Mother, I am going to do it..."

• Vinata smiled as she remembered the words of Aruna. My brother will save you if you are patient with him. Vinata realised that her days of being a servant were
numbered. She turned to Garuda. "Son, you are going to need a lot of food to keep you strong, if you are going to do this. Go to the Himalayas, son. There you will find
an elephant and a tortoise fighting each other for many years. You can eat them to satisfy your hunger."
 GARUDA STORY CONTINUED

• Garuda smiled, "Bless me mother" Vinata raised her hands and blessed her son. Garuda then spread his wings and without another word flew up to the Himalayas.

• There he met his father Sage Kashyap who was meditating and told him of Vinata’s predicament and his own mission. Sage Kashyap also blessed him and asked him to eat the elephant and the
tortoise.

• Garuda spied the two animals from far and came close to them and in a single swoop caught them both in his claws and flew off. Being a bird, Garuda went to sit on a branch of the tree to eat
his food. Garuda was huge and in his hands were the two heavy animals. Unable to bear the weight, the tree branch snapped under his weight and came falling down.

• As it was falling down, Garuda realised that the Valakhila sages were meditating hanging up side down from the branches of the tree. Clutching the two animals in his hands, Garuda caught the
broken branch in his mouth and flew on. The Valakhila sages opened their eyes and realised that a massive bird was a carrying them and also the two animals in its hands.

• The Valakhila sages looked at awe in Garuda. Though they knew that the person emerging from the yagna would be strong, this was not what they expected. The bird was way powerful than
they expected. The Valakhila sages turned to Garuda. "You can put us down on one of the peaks, strong one."

• Garuda gratefully nodded his head and placed the branch in one of the peaks.

• The Valakhila sages blessed the bird, "Because you are so strong, henceforth you shall be called as "GARUDA"" [Garuda means one who can lift immensely heavy loads]

• That is how Garuda got his name. After depositing the rishis on another peak in the Himalayas, Garuda then finished his lunch.

• Now that he felt full and happy, Garuda let out a loud shriek. He then set out to the Heavens to obtain the pot of Amrita.

• Meanwhile as Garuda approached the heavens, there was many bad omens there. The Devas were worried. Sensing that something was seriously wrong, Indra ran to Brihaspati, the teacher of
the Devas.

• Brihaspati had just come to know that Garuda was on the way to take the nectar from the Gods. He was about to send for Indra, when Indra came hurrying inside Brihaspati’s home.

• "Indra, thank the Gods! I was about to send for you! We are all in trouble." Brihaspati said in a rush.

• "What is it, Acharya? Even during our fight with the Asuras, I have never seen anything like this..." Indra said breathlessly.

• "Garuda, Vinata’s son is on the way here Indra. He wants the pot of Nectar..." Brihaspati told Indra all about the order of the Snakes and Garuda’s quest.
• When he heard Garuda’s name, Indra turned pale with fear. He remembered the yagna and how Garuda would have almost been the next Indra. Indra resolutely shook his head. He had a war
to fight right now. He could not let the nectar go to the Snakes.

• Indra hurried back to his own palace. "Summon all the gods, we are going to a war." Indra said quickly dispatching the guards.

• Soon the other gods had come and Indra told them about Garuda’s attack.
• Agni spoke crisply, "We will have all the thousand Devas lined up in the first line of defence. Getting past that itself would be difficult for him" Agni said arrogantly.

• I don't think so. Indra wanted to tell Agni, but he did not say anything.

• Vayu continued. "I think that alone would not sufficient. After the line of Devas, I think Surya and Agni should both create a wall of fire. It should be so hot that no one should be
able to penetrate it. Looking at Vayu and Indra, both Surya and Agni nodded realising that they were after all defending the pot of Nectar and they would have to use all the
defences they had.

• "Wait!..."Wait that must not be all" Varuna came forward excitedly. "We can keep the pot of nectar in the centre and have two of those metal wheels with the pointed blades
around it so that no one would be able to some close to it. And... so that no one sneaks under the metal wheels, we will have two snakes there protecting that area..." Varuna
finished triumphantly.

• The other gods listened and nodded their heads. They decided that they were going to crush Garuda.
• Indra was the only one who felt otherwise, but he did not say anything and kept his thoughts to himself. I hope this is enough to stop him...

• When Garuda reached the gates of heaven in a massive form, even Varuna felt troubled. Garuda was not just huge... he was massive. The Devas were nowhere close to him.
Anyway they were all ready for war, and he could not show weakness now. He pulled himself togerher.

• "Ok, this is it..." Indra muttered under his breath. As all the Devas had drunk the nectar they were very powerful and could not die. But if the Bird were to crush them, it would hurt
terribly and it would take some time to come back and fight.

• Garuda looked at the tiny Devas and let out another shriek. Indra yelled, "ATTACK!" The Devas then as one attacked all Garuda.
• Garuda flapped his wings hard. The air from the wings was so fierce and the dust was so high that the Devas could barely see anything. The Devas did not know who to attack as
they could not even see anything before them!

• "Vayu!" Indra commanded. "Swallow the air! We cannot fight if the bird keeps pulling up more dust in our eyes." Vayu nodded and in one huge gulp swallowed the air. The Devas
cheered as the air became clear. Indra yelled again, "ATTACK!"

• For a few minutes, the Devas actually thought that Garuda had stopped by the stream of weapons. But only for a few minutes...Then Garuda showed his true form.

• He grew even larger and his body was giving out a bright light that the Devas almost looked away. Then in a swoop, he scooped hundreds of Devas in his hands, talons and beak
and threw them all away. In a few minutes, there were nothing more than 50 or Devas out of the original thousand. Indra was flabbergasted. Never before had he been routed so
completely. Fear totally overcame him and he along with a few Devas ran away from there.

• Now that the Devas were all gone, Garuda immediately proceeded forward. However a huge fire stopped him. The fire was so hot that Garuda felt the searing pain in his flesh. I
need water...he thought plenty of it...

• No sooner had Garuda thought it, he grew to a massive size with 80,000 faces! He then flew back to the earth and in each of his mouth carried one river of water. He then
returned to heavens with the water in his mouth and poured the water on the fire.
• Though the fire was hot, the quantity of water was so high that the water was snuffed out immediately. The wall of fire evaporated as Garuda stepped through the second line of
defence.

• Then Garuda saw the metal wheels. There was no way to go above it, as he tried again and again to go from the top. The side of the metal was too sharp and that way was out
too. If not up or by the side...down! Garuda thought triumphantly as he became the size of a small mosquito and went underneath the wheels.

• That was when he saw the two large snakes slithering towards him. Quick as thought, Garuda flapped his wings so hard that he again racked up the dust again. The snakes were
unable to see. In between the dust and the smoke, Garuda caught the two snakes and killed them.

• He then went near the centre of the metal wheels and got hold of the pot of nectar and then he grew bigger and bigger. The metal wheels shattered when he grew of immense
size.

• With a whoop of joy Garuda then flew in the air with the pot of nectar in his hands. He was going to be free. His mother was going to free...Garuda thought happily as he flew
through the air.

• Garuda then flew straight back to Kadru’s place. That was when he was seen by Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu had seen the entire spectacle and was amazed by the strength of the
bird. Now looking at Garuda, he was even more amazed. He has not even once thought of taking the nectar for himself...

• "Garuda, stop!" Lord Vishnu said. Garuda stopped to see a beautiful, dark God. The God looked so serene and calm. Garuda felt a surge of devotion, when he looked at the
God.

• He bowed his head, "My Lord!"

• Lord Vishnu smiled. All this and humility too..."Garuda, I saw the whole thing. I am very impressed with you. I want to grant you any two boons, ask and it shall be given to you."

• Garuda said, "I wish to be immortal and free from all diseases, my Lord" Lord Vishnu smiled and blessed Garuda, "...and the next boon?" Lord Vishnu asked.

• Garuda smiled as he came up with a very playful answer, "Lord I wish to be above even you!" He said impishly.

• Lord Vishnu gave Garuda a very playful smile with twinkling eyes, "Make yourself small, my dear Garuda!"

• Garuda looked curiously at Lord Vishnu and made himself very small. Looking at the small Garuda, Lord Vishnu pulled out a Staff about his own height, "This is my Staff. Now climb
to the top of it and sit there."

• Garuda sat on top of the Staff and saw Lord Vishnu from above and laughed out. He regained his original form and bowed to Lord Vishnu, "Lord! You are wise, loving and
compassionate. I will give you whatever you want.

• Lord Vishnu said, "I wish you to be my vehicle, to carry me around!"

• Garuda smiled, "It would my honour to carry you around my Lord! But first I have to finish my job. I have to give the pot of nectar to the Snakes and free myself and my mother
from the Snakes. Then I will come to you my Lord.
• Lord Vishnu blessed him, "Go forth Garuda!"
• Garuda was flying back to Kadru’s palace, when Indra came back to fight Garuda. Garuda remembered how Indra had thwarted his plans when he had carried the Snakes on his
back. Garuda fought with Indra and was about to defeat him when Indra hurled his weapon at Garuda. Indra’s weapon is called as Vajrayuda [thunderbolt]. It was the most
feared weapon of the Gods. The effect of the Vajrayuda was devastating.

• However Indra in this case had wasted his weapon. Nothing happened to Garuda, other than the fact that a single feather shook and fell down from Garuda’s back.

• Indra was astonished and then went and bowed to Garuda, "I know I cannot fight and win you. I know that you are a good person and will not harm anyone. I wish to stop fighting
with you and I wish to be your friend. Please accept my friendship."

• Garuda saw the sincerity in Indra’s eyes and soon they both became friends.

• Indra asked Garuda, "Garuda, even my Vajrayuda had no effect on you. Can you tell me how strong you are?"

• Garuda smiled, "Friend, a single feather of mine is strong enough to lift the whole earth."

• Indra stared at Garuda dumb folded and realised that no army could ever defeat Garuda. "Garuda, I would like to ask you one more thing. I understand that you have to give the
Snakes the amrit and once you give it to them, you would free right?"

• Garuda nodded.

• Indra continued, "Would you mind, if I take away the nectar after you give it to the Snakes. That way you would be free and I will make sure that the Snakes do not harass people
after taking the amrit and becoming immortal."

• Garuda thought that over. That way he would have kept his bargain and also made sure that the Snakes do not get any nectar. It was a good deal. He nodded. "I have no
problem, friend."

• Indra was overjoyed, "Friend ask me anything and I will grant you the wish" he cried.

• Garuda again thought that over. The whole mess started because his brothers has mistreated him and his mother. Even now Garuda felt angry when he thought about the Snakes.
They had to be taught a lesson. He turned to Indra, "I want snakes to be my natural food!" He said.
• Indra nodded and vanished. He was a happy man.
• Garuda took the pot and gave it to the Snakes. The Snakes were very happy when they saw the pot. They turned to Garuda and Vinata, "You are both free. You are
no longer our servants.." Garuda and Vinata were overjoyed. However Garuda had one more task in hand. He turned to the Snakes, who were eyeing the pot.
• "Snakes" He said solemnly, "You are about to taste the nectar of the gods. Would it not be better if you had a bath before you actually tasted the nectar?" He said
slyly.
• The snakes then placed the Pot of nectar on the sharp "Kusha" grass and then went to the river to have a bath. When all the Snakes were gone, Indra came in and at
that time carried away the pot of nectar. Garuda and Vinata watched this with a smile on their faces.
• The Snakes came in to find Indra carrying away the pot. They yelled and tried to stop Indra, but Indra had already carried away the pot with him. As he was
carrying the pot, a few drops of the nectar fell on the "Kusha" grass. The Snakes decided that they would get atleast some drops of nectar and licked it. However the
sharp grass cut the tongues of the snakes and since then it is believed that snakes have a forked tongue!
•
Varaha Charana Sloka
sthite manasi suswasthe sareere sati yo narah /
dhaatu saamye sthite smartaa viswaroopam cha maam ahjam //
tatas thum mriyamaanam tu kaashta-paashaana sannibham /
aham smaraami mad bhaktam nayaami paramaam gatim //
Meaning:
If a person who while having mind and body in good shape with all the natural
elements in fine fettle, thinks of me as the birth less one, when such a person
reaches the time of death lying insentient like a log of wood or stone and
becomes unable to think, I will remember that person at that time and take him
to the highest state.
Rama Charana Sloka

Sakrud eva prapannaaya tavaasmeeti ca yaacate lAbhayam

sarva bhootebhyo dadaamyetad vratam ma-ma ll
To all those beings that fully seek My shelter and plead for My
mercy, and say I am yours, I shall certainly offer My protection
to all of them. This is My vow.

Krishna Charana Sloka

sarva-dharman parityajya
mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
moksayisyami ma sucah
Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I
shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.