Mahabharata Special Story

Today, a lot of us are seeing in the news about “Sengol”, the royal staff that our Prime Minister held at the inauguration of the new Parliament. The Sengol or Raja Danda was historically held by Kings of Bharata as a symbol of their duty and power to rule and establish Dharma and punish the evil and wrong-doers.

Once there was a King named Vasuhoma who went to the sacred Teertha known as Munjaprishta by Rishis, as Bhargava Parashurama had matted his locks here. King Vasuhoma stayed there and became famous as a Rajarishi by all there.

Once there came King Mandhatri (an ancestor of Shri Rama) and told Vasuhoma, “O great King. You know of the doctrines of Brihaspati and Shukra on Rajadharma. Can you tell me how the Raja Danda appeared in the past.

King Vasuhoma said, “Hear! Once Brahmadeva decided to perform a Yagna for the good of the world, but could not find a priest. So he conceived a priest in his brain and held him for a 1,000 years and then after that when he sneezed, a divine being named Kshupa appeared.”

“He conducted the Yagna of Brahmadeva and as the Yagna began, the Raja Danda disappeared as Brahmadeva was Himself present physically.”

‘As the Danda disappeared, there was confusion. There was no difference between Dharma and Adharma, Paapa and Punya. The strong killed the weak and there was chaos.”

“Brahmadeva then worshipped Sriman Narayana, who then prayed to Mahadeva. Mahadeva then meditated for a while and himself turned into the Raja Danda.”

“Then Devi Saraswati made the legs of that Danda, as Danda-niti (the Science of Danda).”

Then Mahadeva appointed the chief Devas as rulers and managers of the world.

• Indra was made King of the Devas.
• Yama Dharmaraja, son of Surya Deva was made lord of the Pitris.
• Kubera was made the lord of treasures and of all the Rakshasas.
• Meru was king of the mountains, and Sagara was made the lord of the rivers.
• Varuna was sovereign of the waters and the Asuras.
• Mrityu was made the lord of life and all living things,
• Agni was appointed as the lord of all energetic things.
• Mahadeva Himself as Ishaana became lord of Rudras.
• Maharishi Vasishtha was made the lord of Brahmanas
• Jatavedas was made the chief of the Vasus.
• Surya was made the lord of all bright bodies,
• Chandra was made the king of Stars and constellations. Amsumat was made the lord of herbs
• Twelve-armed Kumara was made the chief of all the Bhoota Ganas.
• Kaala was made the sovereign of all creatures as also of weapons, diseases, Yama, and acts and lastly of grief and joy.
• Indra was made King of the Devas.
• Yama Dharmaraja, son of Surya Deva was made lord of the Pitris.
• Kubera was made the lord of treasures and of all the Rakshasas.
• Meru was king of the mountains, and Sagara was made the lord of the rivers.
• Varuna was sovereign of the waters and the Asuras.
• Mrityu was made the lord of life and all living things,
• Agni was appointed as the lord of all energetic things.
• Mahadeva Himself as Ishaana became lord of Rudras.
• Maharishi Vasishtha was made the lord of Brahmanas
• Jatavedas was made the chief of the Vasus.
• Surya was made the lord of all bright bodies,
• Chandra was made the king of Stars and constellations. Amsumat was made the lord of herbs
• Twelve-armed Kumara was made the chief of all the Bhoota Ganas.
• Kaala was made the sovereign of all creatures as also of weapons, diseases, Yama, and acts and lastly of grief and joy.

The Danda was given to Kshupa and after Brahmadeva’s Yagna ended, the Danda was given by Mahadeva to Sriman Narayana who gave it to Angiras –> Indra –> Marichi –> Bhrigu  –> All the Rishis –> Prajapatis –> Kshupa –> Vaivaswata Manu. And then on it continued into all the kings who succeeded Manu.

Om Namah Shivaaya!