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Meaning of The Strange Things Uttanka Saw In His Journey

Bhavachakra
Image of Bhavachakra contributed by Ms Sarah Welch.

 

Rishi Veda explained the meaning of everything Uttanka had seen in the city of the serpents. He said, “The two ladies, in the region of the Nagas, were Dhata and Vidhata. The black and white threads represent night and day. The wheel containing twelve spokes being turned by six boys represents the year comprising of six seasons. The man in the region of the Nagas was Parjanya, the God of rain, and the large horse was Agni, the God of fire. The large bull was Airavata, the king of elephants, and the man seated on the bull was Indra. The bull’s dung that you ate was amrit.

You were able to remain alive in the region of the Nagas because you consumed the amrit. Indra is my friend. He helped you because he took mercy on you. It is because of his help that you have returned safely with the earrings.

O Uttanka, now I give you permission to leave. You will have good fortune.”

Thus Rishi Veda, allowed Uttanka to leave after having received the guru-dakshina that Uttanka had insisted on offering.

Note: The story of Uttanka’s experiences in the regions of the Nagas is deeply symbolic. Let’s try to understand why. 

Dhata and Vidhata were the sons of Sage Bhrigu from his wife, Khyati. Khyati had one more child – Goddess Lakshmi. So they were Goddess Lakshmi’s brothers. Dhata was married to Ayati and Vidhata was married toNiyati. 

Ayati and Niyati were daughters of Meru.

Following are the Sanksrit meanings of these names:

Dhata means creator and Ayati means royal.

Vidhata means controller and Niyati means destiny.

The story of Uttanka in the region of the Nagas mentions the creator, controller, royalty, destiny, Indra, time, seasons, day, and night. So the story is allegorical to the creation and certain aspects of creation.

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Uttanka Gifts the Earrings to his Teacher’s Wife in the Nick of Time

Upon seeing Uttanka anxious about running out of time, the man standing next to the horse, said, “Ride this horse, Utanka. He will take you within a moment to your master’s house.’ 

Uttanka mounted the horse and immediately reached his teacher’s house.

At his teacher’s house, Veda’s wife, after having bathed, was dressing her hair. She was thinking to herself what curse she should give Uttanka if he did not return on time. However, Uttanka did return on time and respectfully presented the earrings to her.

Rishi Veda’s wife addressed Uttanka, saying, “Uttanka, welcome my child. You have arrived at the proper time and at the proper place. You are innocent. Therefore, I will not curse you. Good fortune lies before you. May you be successful in obtaining your wishes.”

After giving the earrings, Uttanka went to his teacher – Rishi Veda. The rishi said to Uttanka, “You are welcome. What happened that caused you to get delayed?”

Uttanka told his teacher about Takshaka stealing the earrings and that he had to go to the region of the Nagas to get them back. Uttanka also described what he saw in the region of the Nagas: the two ladies who were weaving cloth with black and white threads, the wheel with twelve spokes that was kept in motion by six boys, the man, and the extraordinary horse. Uttannka also told his teacher about the man sitting on the large bull, who he met on the way to Paushya’s palace, and how that man had lovingly asked him to eat the bull’s dung.

Uttanka requested his teacher to enlighten him about everything he saw and all the people he met.

Rishi Veda replied, “The two ladies, in the region of the Nagas, were Dhata and Vidhata. The black and white threads represent night and day. The wheel containing twelve spokes being turned by six boys represents the year comprising of six seasons. The man in the region of the Nagas was Parjanya, the God of rain, and the large horse was Agni, the God of fire. The large bull was Airavata, the king of elephants, and the man seated on the bull was Indra. The bull’s dung that you ate was amrit.

Note: Amrit is the Sanskrit word for nectar.

You were able to remain alive in the region of the Nagas because you consumed the amrit. Indra is my friend. He helped you because he took mercy on you. It is because of his help that you have returned safely with the earrings.

O Uttanka, now I give you permission to leave. You will have good fortune.”

Thus Rishi Veda, allowed Uttanka to leave after having received the guru-dakshina that Uttanka had insisted on offering.

Note: The story of Uttanka’s experiences in the regions of the Nagas is deeply symbolic. Let’s try to understand why. 

Dhata and Vidhata were the sons of Sage Bhrigu from his wife, Khyati. Khyati had one more child – Goddess Lakshmi. So they were Goddess Lakshmi’s brothers. Dhata was married to Ayati and Vidhata was married toNiyati. 

Ayati and Niyati were daughters of Meru.

Following are the Sanksrit meanings of these names:

Dhata means creator and Ayati means royal.

Vidhata means controller and Niyati means destiny.

The story of Uttanka in the region of the Nagas mentions the creator, controller, royalty, destiny, Indra, time, seasons, day, and night. So the story is allegorical to the creation and certain aspects of creation.

Table of Contents

Previous: Takshaka Returns the Earrings to Uttanka

Next: Uttanka Goes to Hastinapura to Meet Janamejaya

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Rishi Veda’s Wife Puts Uttanka in a Dilemma

Note: In the previous post, we read that Rishi Ayoda-Dhaumya’s disciple Veda was appointed as King Janamejaya’s upadhyaya (spiritual guide). Sometime after his appointment, he had to leave home due to some work related to a sacrifice. Before leaving, he entrusted his disciple, Uttanka, to take care of his house and do everything that he (Veda) would have done.

Uttanka, stayed at his teacher Veda’s house, ever mindful of his teacher’s instructions.

One day, the women in Rishi Veda’s house approached Uttanka and said, “O Uttanka, the mistress of this house is in the season when a connection, similar to that of a couple in marriage, may be fruitful. Rishi Veda is absent, so you have to perform what needs to be done, instead of him.” 

Uttanka answered, “I cannot do this. My teacher has not instructed me to do that which is improper.”

When Veda returned from his journey and learned what had happened, he was pleased with Uttanka’s conduct. He called Uttanks and said, “Uttanka, my child, you have served me well. Your restraint has increased our friendship. Therefore, I give you permission to leave. Go where you choose and may your wishes be fulfilled.” 

Uttanka, however, insisted on giving his teacher a guru dakshina. He replied to his teacher, Veda, “The person who teaches incorrectly and one who receives teachings incorrectly, are doomed to enmity, and one of them dies. Therefore, I wish to do something for you as an honorarium.”

Instead of asking Uttanka to do some task for him, Veda simply asked him to stay at his house for some more time.

After some time had passed, Uttanka approached his teacher and said, “Please command me to bring whatever you desire.”

However, Veda did not want anything for himself, so he told Uttanka to ask his wife if she wanted anything.

Uttanka, went to his teacher’s wife and requested her to ask for something so he could leave their house without being in their debt.

Veda’s wife asked Uttanka to go to King Paushya’s kingdom and bring the queen’s earrings for her. She said, “The fourth day from today is sacred. Several brahmanas will come to dine at this house. I wish to wear those earrings when I appear before them.”

She continued, “Accomplish this task, O Uttanka, and if you succeed, you will have good fortune, but if you don’t, then it will be difficult for good fortune to come to you.”

Note: In the next post, we will find out what happens when Uttanka goes to Paushya’s kingdom.

Table of Contents

Previous: Rishi Veda Chooses to be a Teacher and Enter Into Domestic Life

Next: Uttanka Goes to Paushya’s Kingdom

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Rishi Veda Chooses to be a Teacher and Enter Into Domestic Life

After passing the test his teacher had designed for him, Veda entered the domestic mode of life and had three disciples learning from him. Having learned under a teacher who although loving was a hard taskmaster, he did not want to subject his pupils to harsh discipline. Therefore, he never forced them to obey his commands or perform difficult tasks.

One day, King Janamejaya and Paushya came to Veda’s residence and appointed him as their Upadhyaya (spiritual guide). Sometime after being appointed the Upadhyaya, Veda had to leave his house to attend to work related to a yagna. Before leaving, he asked one of his disciples (Uttanka) to take care of the house in his absence. His parting words to Uttanka were:

“Do whatever needs to be done in my house without neglect.”

Having said these words, Veda left to attend to his work.

Image credit: https://in.pinterest.com/pin/691302611522903003/

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Rishi Ayoda-Dhaumya Tests his Pupil Veda

Note: In the last three posts, we saw how Ayoda-Dhaumya tested two of three pupils: Aruni and Upamanyu. In this short post, we’ll see how he tested his third pupil, Veda.

Ayoda-Dhaumya called Veda and said to him, “Veda, my child, spend some time in my house and serve your teacher.”

Veda did as his teacher said and stayed for a long time in Ayoda-Dhaumya’s house with his family and served them. Just like an ox, he bore heat, cold, hunger, and thirst while serving his teacher and the teacher’s family, without complaining even once.

Veda’s trial got over with Ayoda-Dhaumya’s satisfaction, and as a result of serving his teacher to his satisfaction, Veda obtained good fortune and universal knowledge. 

Note: You might have noticed that Veda’s trial was the most difficult and lengthy in comparison to Aruni’s trial and Upamanyu’s trial. It also involved Veda spending a large amount of time at Ayoda-Dhaumya’s house. This is because Veda was the most promising pupil. By staying with Ayoda-Dhaumya for such a long time, during his trial, the teacher was able to judge Veda’s resolve and spiritual fitness for receiving all the knowledge he had. Finally, when Ayoda-Dhaumya was satisfied, he taught Veda everything he knew.

Table of Contents

Previous: Upamanyu Glofies the Aswin Twins to Regain his Eyesight

 

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