Why did Krishna choose Arjuna instead of Karna,Drona or Bhishma ?

The Mahabharata is one of the greatest literature’s in the world. No other work brings out the complexity of human problems in such a profound and entertaining way. It shows us the application of philosophy when it comes to deciding between the right and wrong in such cases where the answer is not straightforward.

Four of the most striking characters in the Mahabharata are Arjuna,Karna,Drona and Bhishma  . These men were perhaps the four greatest warriors of the era and were also well learned and had firm principles by which they lived.

They lived their life by different values and their lives came to very different ends. The Mahabharata shows that all four men were great in their own way, but three of them failed in doing what is truly right and therefore came to futile ends, their lives not serving the greater good.

Out of the four characters, Arjuna is the character who stands out as the hero who future generations of Hindus admire the most. The other three are remembered as tragic heroes. Their names are not associated with the same awe and respect as that of Arjuna. They all met sad deaths on the battlefield, fighting on the side of evil despite knowing in their hearts that they were doing wrong

There is a fundamental difference in the outlook and character of these four great men that was responsible for their different outcomes.

Karna

Karna was a great warrior, in many ways greater than Arjuna. They may have been equal as archers, but physically, Karna was by far the stronger of the two. And even in sticking to one’s principles, Karna appeared more steadfast compared with Arjuna. But in Karna’s life there was one fatal flaw. He made his friendship and loyalty to Duryodhan higher than anything else, even higher than right and wrong, and even higher than God. While loyalty is a great value in such cases when it overrides a sense of dharma and even the direct calling of the Divine in the form of Shri Krishna, such loyalty leads one to a tragic end.

Karna used all his strength to serve his friend Duryodhan, without even one selfish thought for himself. However, his loyalty was so blind that he would even follow his friend when he was doing something totally wrong, selfish and harmful to others. This shows that loyalty to another person can lead even a great man to a tragic end. Dharma, and the call of God, must always be greater than loyalty to another. Karna knew what he was doing was wrong and paid the price for it.

Karna put loyalty to Duryodhan as his highest loyalty. His tragic story warns us to choose loyalties wisely. Only Krishna deserves such unflinching loyalty.

Bhishma

Bhishma was another person who never performed a selfish action in his whole life. He was mighty, learned and respected. But he too ended up fighting on the side of adharma, and came to a tragic end. He was actually an impediment to the establishment of a righteous kingdom. Why? Because he put his personal oath on a pedestal and made it the focus and obsession of his life.

That oath was that he would unquestioningly follow and do the bidding of whoever was the king of Hastinapur (Delhi). This vow, he would never break as long as he lived, even when it involved fighting his own beloved nephews who he knew had done nothing wrong.

Sticking to a vow is important, especially today when people make promises and break them the very next day (or even the very next second). But the Mahabharata demonstrates that if your attachment to a personal vow stops you from doing what is blatantly right, and ends up making you serve evil, such a vow should be discarded and set aside.

Bhishma put his personal vow above anything else, even when that vow became an instrument of evil. He disregarded Krishna’s advice, which was that to drop the vow for the greater good.

Drona

Drona was an employee of the king of Hastinapur, who happened to be Dhitirashtra, the father of Duryodhana. He was employed to teach all the princes of that kingdom in the art of warfare and statecraft, and was considered the very greatest teacher of the era. For his services, he was remunerated handsomely. Before he got this job, he was very poor and therefore was very grateful to the King for employing him.

When Duryodhan was doing wrong, Drona was fully aware of it. On some occasions he even tried to stop Duryodhan, at which Duryodhan would say: “Do not bite the hand that feeds you.”

When the battle finally dawned, Drona fought on Duryodhan’s behalf and was eventually slain in a scheme engineered by Krishna. Drona, despite being an outstanding warrior, and well versed in morality, put his loyalty towards his employer before the more important and fundamental question of dharma. Despite knowing better, he never quite had the guts to just leave and tell the king – “Enough is enough, what you are doing is wrong, I will not support you anymore.” He was too afraid of being called ungrateful.

Drona put his loyalty towards his employer above the bidding of Shri Krishna who tried to tell Drona not to keep supporting the side of evil just because of his loyalty to his employer.

Arjuna

Arjuna was a great man. Yet he had weaknesses that were actually absent in Karna, Bhishma and Drona. He was in some ways foolhardy, saying and doing several stupid things that could have landed his brothers and himself in serious trouble.

For example, at one point, Arjuna had made a vow that he would take the life of anybody who insulted his ‘Gandiva bow’, which he was exceedingly proud of. During the Mahabharata war, it happened to be Arjuna’s eldest brother and leader, Yuddhistir, who dealt the fatal insult.

Arjuna drew his sword and was about to kill his own brother, and was restrained only by Krishna’s presence. Instead of killing Yuddhistir, Arjuna instead insulted him in public. But then, Arjuna felt bad for insulting such a virtuous person as Yuddhistir, and said that he would commit suicide as there was no point even being alive after doing something so vile as insulting his own brother in public! Once again, it was only Krishna’s presence which restrained Arjuna. Krishna eventually talked Arjuna out of suicide, but Arjuna was sad that he had not kept his own word,and felt very bad. Krishna gave Arjuna a loophole. According to dharma, praising yourself in public is a sin that is as bad as one’s own death. So Krishna said to Arjuna that just praise yourself in public, and your vow will be fulfilled. And thus were the lives of both Arjuna and Yuddhistir saved.

Yet despite this foolhardy streak in his character, Arjuna is the one who is etched upon the heart of humanity as the ideal to which to aspire.

This story illustrates that while Arjuna was far from perfect, he had one over riding quality which sets him above and apart from the others. To Arjuna, it was Krishna’s words that were absolute. He would follow Krishna’s words even at the expense of other principles or promises that he held dear. Therefore he had the grace and favour of Krishna’s guidance throughout his life.

Therefore, Arjuna’s fate was to be the hero of the era, and the instrument of God in being the restorer of dharma to society, rather than a tragic figure who ended up wasting their huge life potential in fighting on behalf of a fake cause. Arjuna put Krishna as his highest guide and ideal, and despite his faults, stands out as the most successful and glorious of the four.

Conclusion

The comparison between Karna, Drona, Bhishma and Arjuna shows us that while we can admire a person’s loyalty to a friend, loyalty to their employer and dedication to their principles or promises, all of these things must never be allowed to become an obstacle in doing what is truly for the benefit of the greater good. Krishna, the divine guide, will always shower his grace on people who will put Him first, and thus we remember Arjuna as the true hero above any of his contemporaries.

दुनिया के सर्वश्रेष्ठ 5 धनुर्धर

धनुर्धर तो बहुत हुए हैं। राम और कृष्ण भी धनुर्धर थे, लेकिन वे भगवान थे। भगवान तो कुछ भी कर सकते हैं, लेकिन एक ऐसा भी धनुर्धर था, जिसकी विद्या से भगवान कृष्ण भी सतर्क हो गए थे। एक ऐसा भी धनुर्धर था जिसको लेकर द्रोणाचार्य चिंतित हो गए थे और एक ऐसा भी धनुर्धर था जो अपने एक ही बाण से दुश्मन सेना के रथ को कई गज दूर फेंक देता था। इन सभी के तीर में था दम लेकिन सर्वश्रेष्ठ तो सर्वश्रेष्ठ ही होता है। आप सोच रहे हैं कर्ण सर्वश्रेष्ठ है तो जवाब है नहीं।
आप सोच रहे होंगे कि यह बात जरूर अर्जुन या एकलव्य के बारे में की जा रही होगी। नहीं, धनुर्धर तो बहुत हुए लेकिन उस जैसा धनुर्धर आज तक नहीं हुआ और भविष्य में भी कभी नहीं होगा। लेकिन प्राचीन भारत में हुए हजारों धनुर्धरों में सर्वश्रेष्ठ कौन था।

यहां प्रस्तुत है दुनिया के पांच सर्वश्रेष्ठ धनुर्धरों के बारे में संक्षिप्त जानकारी।


  



1.लक्ष्मण:-राम के छोटे भाई लक्ष्मण को कौन नहीं जानता। लक्ष्मण ने अपने तीर से रेखा खींच दी थी। उस रेखा में ही इतनी ताकत थी कि कोई भी उसके उस पार नहीं जा सकता था। लक्ष्मण की धनुष विद्या के चर्चे दूर-दूर तक थे।
शास्त्रों अनुसार लक्ष्मण को श्रेष्ठ धनुर्धर माना गया है। लक्ष्मण ने राम-रावण युद्ध के दौरान मेघनाद को हराया था जिसने युद्ध में इंद्र को परास्त कर दिया था इसीलिए मेघनाद को इंद्रजीत भी कहा जाता है।
लेकिन लक्ष्मण से भी कोई श्रेष्ठ था...

2अर्जुन:-पांच पांडवों में से एक अर्जुन की धनुष विद्या भी जग प्रसिद्ध थी। गुरु द्रोण के श्रेष्ठ शिष्यों में से एक थे अर्जुन। द्रोण ने अर्जुन को धनुष सिखाते वक्त वचन दिया था कि तुमसे श्रेष्ठ इस संसार में कोई धनुर्धर नहीं होगा। अर्जुन के धनुष की टंकार से पूरा युद्ध क्षेत्र गुंज उठता था।
रथ पर सवार कृष्ण और अर्जुन को देखने के लिए देवता भी स्वर्ग से उतर गए थे। लेकिन अर्जुन से भी श्रेष्ठ कोई था जिसे दुनिया अर्जुन से श्रेष्ठ मानती है।

3.एकलव्य:-गुरु द्रोण की मूर्ति बनाकर मूर्ति के समक्ष एकलव्य ने धनुष विद्या सिखी थी। गुरु द्रोण को जब इस बात का पता चला कि एकलव्य अर्जुन से भी श्रेष्ठ धनुष बाण चलाना सिख गया है तो उन्होंने एकलव्य से पूछा कि तुमने यह विद्या कहां से सीखी। इस पर एकलव्य ने कहा- गुरुवर मैंने आपको ही गुरु मानकर आपकी मूर्ति के समक्ष यह विद्या को हासिल किया था।
इस बात पर द्रोण ने कहा कि तब तो हम गुरु दक्षिणा के हकदार हैं। एकलव्य यह सुनकर प्रसन्न हो गया और कहने लगा मांगिए गुरुदेव क्या चाहिए। द्रोण ने कहा कि तुम जिस हाथ से प्रत्यंचा चढ़ाते हो मुझे उस हाथ का अंगूठा चाहिए। अर्जुन को दिए वचन की रक्षा के लिए ही उन्होंने एकलव्य से उसका अंगूठा मांग लिया था।
एकलव्य से भी कोई श्रेष्ठ था..

4कर्ण:-वैसे तो महाभारत काल में सैकड़ों योद्धा हुए हैं, लेकिन कहते हैं कि युद्ध में कर्ण जैसा कोई धनुर्धर नहीं था। कवच और कुंडल नहीं उतरवाते, तो कर्ण को मारना असंभव था।
कर्ण के अर्जुन और एकलव्य से श्रेष्ठ धनुर्धर होने का प्रमाण यह है कि कर्ण के तीर की इतनी ताकत थी कि जब वे तीर चलाते थे और उनका तीर अर्जुन के रथ पर लग जाता था तो रथ पीछे कुछ दूरी तक खिसक जाता था। कृष्ण अर्जुन से कहते थे कि जिस रथ पर मैं और हनुमान विराजमान हैं उसके इस तरह पीछे धकेले जाने से पता चलता है कि कर्ण की धनुर्विद्या में बहुत बल है।
लेकिन लक्ष्मण, अर्जुन, एकलव्य और कर्ण से भी कोई श्रेष्ठ धनुर्धर है। कहते हैं दुनिया में उसके जैसा धनुर्धर न हुआ और न कभी होगा...

5.बर्बरीक :हां बर्बरीक दुनिया का सर्वश्रेष्ठ धनुर्धर थे। युद्ध के मैदान में भीम पौत्र बर्बरीक दोनों खेमों के मध्य बिन्दु, एक पीपल के वृक्ष के नीचे खड़े हो गए और यह घोषणा कर डाली कि मैं उस पक्ष की तरफ से लडूंगा जो हार रहा होगा।
भीम के पौत्र बर्बरीक के समक्ष जब अर्जुन तथा भगवान श्रीकृष्ण उसकी वीरता का चमत्कार देखने के लिए उपस्थित हुए तब बर्बरीक ने अपनी वीरता का छोटा-सा नमूना मात्र ही दिखाया। कृष्ण ने कहा कि यह जो वृक्ष है इसके सारे पत्तों को एक ही तीर से छेद दो तो मैं मान जाऊंगा। बर्बरीक ने आज्ञा लेकर तीर को वृक्ष की ओर छोड़ दिया।
जब तीर एक-एक कर सारे पत्तों को छेदता जा रहा था उसी दौरान एक पत्ता टूटकर नीचे गिर पड़ा, कृष्ण ने उस पत्ते पर यह सोचकर पैर रखकर उसे छुपा लिया की यह छेद होने से बच जाएगा, लेकिन सभी पत्तों को छेदता हुआ वह तीर कृष्ण के पैरों के पास आकर रुक गया।
तब बर्बरीक ने कहा प्रभु आपके पैर के नीचे एक पत्ता दबा है कृपया पैर हटा लीजिए क्योंकि मैंने तीर को सिर्फ पत्तों को छेदने की आज्ञा दे रखी है आपके पैर को छेदने की नहीं।..


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Mantra Jap

hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
.
hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
.
hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
.
hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
.
hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
.
hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
.
hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
.
hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
.
hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
.
hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
.
hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
.
hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
.
hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
.
hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
.
hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
.
hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
.
hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
.
hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
.
hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

Why do we give so much importance to idol worship , while the Vedas explain Hinduism on a spiritual level ?

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The vEdAs do not deny the idol worship. They take us step by step, holding our hand, as if the loving father teaches his kid how to walk. They start with karma kAnda and for the sake of antah karana shuDdhi (mental purity) and then showers the open the gates of wonderful jnAna (Jnana kAnda).

Lord or what goes by the name Brahman (of VEdas) is infinite. If we want to concentrate upon the infinite, first we need to concentrate on a finite thing / object / form. Once we gain the mastery of mind and can see lord's divinity everywhere, we need not worship idols. Nobody worships mere idols , they see God in that idol. We want to see a concrete form of god and we find it easy when they see the god in a form.

Idol worship is not a compulsory thing in our dharma but a process of concentrating on the Infinite. Hence it ought not to be condemned. Harihi Aum!~
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Hinduism: Do Hindus worship idols?

No, Hindus are not idol worshippers in the sense implied. They are intelligent people, and intelligent people do not worship stones or statues. Hindus invoke the presence of great souls living in higher consciousness into stone images so that we can feel the presence of God. Though we may have a stone image of a God, we are invoking the physical presence of the God into the stone image to bless us. Invocations of this nature can be performed by invoking God's presence in a fire, or in a tree, or in the enlightened person of a Sat Guru.

Shri Duttstavastotra

Why do we chant Hari Om?

Hari Om


meaning of Hari -`" to take away or remove evil or sin "'

The name Hari is of Hindu and Sanskrit origin. Hari is a name of Lord Vishnu from the Vishnu Sahasranama. Apart from God, it also means "lion" in sanskrit.

Hari means "the remover." When one remembers His name and repeats it, sins, karmas and bad astrological effects are steadily erased. This is the power of the name of Hari. The name also has the force to reduce ignorance. The reduction of illusion culminates in the deathless state when birth and death cease. The most famous mantra is Hari OM. Its essential meaning is that Hari is OM. As OM is the primordial cosmic vibration from which sprang the entire cosmos and all creation, we can thus understand a fraction of drive greatness of Hari. Hari Om is a universal mantra and contains within itself the cosmic vibration.

Chanting the name of Hari has a great spiritual effect. It has a tremendous spiritual vibration and is effectively used in japa (repeating prayers) and kirtan (repeating the names in the form of devotional songs). "Hari bol, Hari bol!"…sing the name of Hari has been the advice of many great saints throughout Hindu history.

"I remove the sins of those who remember Me
I take what is offered in holy sacrifices
My complexion is blue in colour
Therefore I am known as Hari." ... Lord Krishna from the Mahabaratha

Hari Om!!! Hari Om!!! Hari Om!!!!

Shri Vishnu Sahasranama Sthotram

Shri Vishnu Sahasranama Sthotram