Syamantakopakhyaan - A story about Krishna Ganapaty and False Allegation

By Sri Chiraan 2009/08/24

When Saturn is in the fourth house in any of the divisional charts one faces allegation in his life. 

Krishna in order to save Yadavs from Jarasandha’s repeated attacks, called Vishwakarma and created a beautiful city of DWARAKA. This city was fully golden with gates doors of each house made of gold. It had 16000 palaces for gopika stree of Lord Krishna. Also it had 11000 crores houses for all Yadavs. The vastu of the city was such that none would ever fall sick or die prematurely.

Note: today world population is itself 6 billion whereas in Dwapara each city itself had the population of 110 billion. This proves the purana statement that distances, men height and living places all change as the yuga changes. In nutshell world shrinks with age. People fight for land food and living. Cultivation has reduced to twice a year, in Dwapar it was 6 times, in Treta it was 9 times and in Krutyuga cultivation was year long. In kruta yuga the mode of exchange was precious stones. In Treta it was Gold and in Dwapara it was silver, in todays era  the bill of exchange are of plastic, paper or coins are copper and iron.

In such Dwaraka lived one by name UGRASEN, he had two sons Satrajit and Prasen. Satrajit undertook ‘ANSHAN VRAT' [fasting unto death] to please Surya [Sun deity] devata. Surya devata, with his bright Gayatri swaroop appeared before him, Deity asked him to seek a boon. Satrajit asked for the dangling Ruby in the deity’s neck and sought as boon. This ruby [Syamantak MANI ] was very lustrous, it had to be worn only by the pious and clean [shuchi] person. It would end the life of the person who is unclean by mind and body. At the same time this Mani would give every day a 8000 kgs of gold .

Wearing the precious stone in his neck, Satrajit came back to the city, as he entered the city everyone thought Sun himself has come to meet KRISHNA. Such was the radiance of Satrajit. Satrajit fearing that Krishna would ask his MANI for himself, he gave it to his brother Prasen. Prasen once wearing the stone went for hunting. On the same day from a different direction even Krishna went for the Hunt.

Prasen was killed by a lion and lion took the Syamnatak mani from him. After a few strolls Lion was killed by a bear [Jambavanta] and he carried the Mani to his cave and tied it to the cradle of the baby.

Seeing Krishna return and no trace of Prasen, Satrajit alleged that Krishna has killed his brother for the want of Syamantak mani. Krishna to get rid of allegation, went into the forest along with all his relatives. They saw the remains of [leftover by lion] Prasen and followed the footmarks of Lion, there they found the footmarks of a bear and killed lion. They followed the footmarks of the bear into a cave, cave was dark and deep. Thus Krishna ordered all his relatives to stay at the entrance and as he was self illuminating personality, he entered the cave all by himself. There after the dark patch, he suddenly saw a bight palace with many dazzling lights. Onto cradle was dangling the Syamantak mani. The lady of the house advised Krishna to take away the mani and go away before jammbavan wakes up. Krishna smiled and blew his conch thus waking up Jambavan. Jambvaan and Krishna had a terrible fight which went onto many days. After seven days when Krishna did not return, relatives at the entrance of the cave assumed Krishna as dead and went back to Dwaraka. There they also performed the last rites.

Here after 21 days of Fight Jambavaan was defeated and fell on the ground exhausted. Jambavaan exclaimed, I belong to the time of Lord SriRAM, no one can defeat me in a straight combat, but since you have defeated me, you must be Sriman Narayana himself. Krishna showed his RaM roopa to Jambavaan, Jambavaan fell on the feet of the Lord, gave Syamantak Mani and also Kaustubha mani along with his daughter Jambavati in marriage to SriKrishna.

SriKrishna came back to Dwaraka and called a huge gathering to clear the allegation that was put unto him and handed back the Syamantak Mani to Satrajit. Satrajit afraid of the backlash of Yadavas and also out of Fear of Srikrishna gave the mani and his Daughter SATYABHAMA to Lord Krishna in marriage.

Shatdhanva and Akrur were not happy with this marriage and in the absence of Krishna [Krishna when he had gone to see the Pandavas] attacked Satrajit and killed him and took away the Syamantak mani fron Satyabhama.

Fearing that Krishna would wage a war, Shatdhanva gave the mani to Akrur and Akrur fled to Kashi along with the Mani and started living a pious life there. He built many temples with the gold available through Syamantak mani.

Knowing all these, yet Krishna pretending as if he knows nothing about Akrur, inspired Balaraam to go together and bring back Syamantak mani from Shatdhanva. Both the brothers chased Shatadhanva, Shatadhanva fearing for his life climbed a mare and rode away, Krishna and Balarama chased him, in a day Shatadhanva crossed over 800 miles. Lastly the mare died of thirst, leaving it to its fate, Shatadhanva fled on foot. Krishna followed him and finally cut his throat through Sudarshan. Then as a normal human he searched for the MAni in his dress . Balraam arrived a bit late, as Krishna declared there is no Mani. 

Balaraam grew angry:

1. For unnecessarily making a false pretext to kill relative Shatadhanva. 

2. Balaraam suspected, Krishna had no intention to give Syamantak Mani to Him [though elder brother], as Balraam was alcoholic.

Balaraam developed anger and frustration on Krishna and left him, and settled in a new town of MITHILA, for next five years brothers did not interact with each other.

Seeing this opportunity Duryodhan went to Balaraam under the pretext of learning Gadayudha from him [art of fighting with Mace]. In these five years Duryodhan expected to gain over Balaraam and ask for the hand of Subhadra. If Balaraam promises, Krishna would not object and once he marries Subhadra, both the brothers would be under his sway for the sake of sister. [Such was the Plan of Duryodhan]. However he managed to get the promise from Balaraam .

Here Akrur became pious day by day. Narad muni asked Srikrishna to perform Ganesh Chaturthi Vrat to get rid of all the allegation onto him. Narad said, as Krishna had seen the moon on the Ganesh Chaturthi day [Bhadrapad shukla chaturthi] [Ganapaty had cursed moon that whoever sees the moon on the Bhadrapad shukla charturthi day, he would face false allegation].

As KRISHNA performed the vrat, Akrur completely guilty ridden went back to Dwaraka and handed over the Syamantak mani to Krishna. All the allegations were cleared.

Seeing Ugrasen, Balraam and Satyabhama all wanting to keep the Mani with them Krishna felt giving it any would annoy the other and hence asked Akrur to keep it for himself as he was pious and always engaged in Yagnya.

Thus one who does Ganesh Vrat gets rid of all allegations and all his works undertaken will be successful and without obstacles.

Krishnarpanamastu