Upamanyu's Austerities

The rishis asked

As a child, Dhoumya's elder brother did austerities for milk, and because of this the divinity who wields the trident gave him an ocean of milk. How did the child become an expounder of Shiva's sacred texts? How did he come to know Shiva's nature and take up austerities? As he practised austerity on auspicious days, how did he gain higher knowledge? He gained vigour from Rudra's fire through the excellent ash that protected him; how did that happen?

Vayu answered

It was no ordinary child who did these austerities. He was the son of a noble and wise sage, Vyaghrapada. In an earlier birth he had gained siddhi but, for some reason, had been displaced from his own position. By destiny he became a sage's son. By Mahadeva's favour he was learned and gained good fortune, through the power of the austerities he did in his wish for milk. He was given the eternal lordship over all the ganas and the status of Kumara, and Shankara himself also gave him an ocean of milk. By Shankara's favour he gained knowledge of him, and while still a boy he directly gained supreme knowledge of Shakti as well. In this way he also became an expounder of Shiva's sacred texts. The sage loved him too, and the boy gained an ocean of knowledge from him.

The reason he gained knowledge of Shiva is plain. For lack of milk, his mother's words gave rise to grief. Once, in the house of his maternal uncle, he tasted a little milk. He envied his uncle's son, who drank as much excellent milk as he liked. Seeing his cousin drink as he wished, Upamanyu, Vyaghrapada's son, spoke lovingly to his mother.

Upamanyu said

Mother, ascetic lady, fortunate one, please give me some tasty cow's milk. I want to drink it very hot.

Vayu continued

Hearing her son's words, his mother, the ascetic wife of Vyaghrapada, was filled with sorrow. She fondled her son lovingly and embraced him with great affection. Remembering that they had no riches, she was miserable and lamented. But the child Upamanyu kept reminding her of milk, crying again and again, "Give it, please give it." The very radiant boy wept. Understanding, the ascetic lady, the brahmana's wife, turned to a trick. Though it was deceit, she thought it a good way to calm him. She gathered some grain by gleaning, ground it and made a paste with water. Sweetly she said to her son, "Come, son," and in her misery embraced him. To quiet him she gave him this artificial milk. The child drank what his mother gave. Greatly agitated, he told his mother, "This is not milk."

In her grief she looked at him and breathed in the scent of his head. With her hands she wiped the tears from her son's lotus-like eyes.

His mother said

Those who are unfortunate and lack devotion to Shiva never see the rivers full of jewels, whether in heaven or in the nether regions. If Shiva is not satisfied and pleased with them, they get no kingdom, no heaven, no liberation and no milk to eat. Everything comes from Bhava's favour, not from some other god. Those devoted to other gods are miserable and wander. We have always lived in the forest. How would we get milk? Child, we live in the forest; where are the means to get milk? I am poor and unlucky, and I did all this because of that. I gave you artificial milk made by mixing ground grain with water. You had tasted a little real milk in your uncle's house, so you knew; you remembered the taste of what you had drunk. "You did not give me milk." Hearing you weep like this fills me with sorrow. Without Shambhu's favour there is no milk. A person devoted to his lotus feet, with Amba and the ganas, has a cause for every kind of prosperity. We have not worshipped Mahadeva, the giver of riches. Whether this worship is done with desire or without, it gives the fruits described. Wanting riches, we did not worship Shiva. That is why we suffer poverty and have no milk. Son, we have only what Shiva gave us from our former lives. The Lord, or Vishnu, has given nothing more.

Vayu continued

He heard his mother's truthful words, which showed her grief. Though still a child, not yet mature, he spoke boldly.

Upamanyu said

Mother, enough of this fire of grief. If Shankara and Amba exist, put this sorrow aside. Fortunate one, all will be well. Mother, listen to my words. If Mahadeva exists, sooner or later I will win an ocean of milk for myself.

Vayu continued

Hearing the words of the very intelligent child, his spirited mother was greatly pleased and answered.

His mother said

Son, what you have resolved is good and adds to my joy. Do not waste time. Worship Sadashiva and Amba. It is certain that Shiva, the supreme cause above everyone, exists. He made the whole universe. Brahma and the others are his servants. His favours lead to prosperity. We are the lord's servants. Apart from Shankara, we know of no other who brings welfare to the worlds. In thought, word and deed, give up all other gods. So with the highest feeling worship him, with Amba and the ganas. Shiva, lord of all the gods, is the giver of boons. The mantra "Namah Shivaya" is said to be him in person. There are seven crore great mantras and the supreme Pranava, and all of them dissolve into this mantra and come out of it again. The other mantras give their favours to those entitled to recite them, but by Ishvara's command everyone is entitled to chant this one. This mantra is like Shiva. It can always protect all selves, high or low. It is more powerful than all other mantras and can protect everyone. Nothing is above it. So give up all other mantras and devote yourself to the panchakshara. If it is on your tongue, nothing is impossible to get. The excellent Aghora weapon protects all Shiva's devotees and draws its power from this mantra, which is why nothing is held to be higher. From your father I received some excellent ash, consecrated in a Viraja fire, which counters great calamities. Take the mantra I have given you and follow my instructions. If you do japa with it, you will be protected at once.

Vayu continued

So his mother taught him that Shiva does exist. When she had said this and let him go, the sage bowed his head and accepted her words. He bowed to her and told her he would do austerities. His mother said, "May the gods always bring you good fortune." With her leave he went to Mount Himalaya and did extremely terrible austerities there. Controlling himself and living on air, he built an altar of eight bricks and made a clay lingam. He invoked the undecaying Mahadeva with Amba and the ganas. Devoutly he worshipped him with the panchakshara mantra, leaves and wild flowers. For a very long time he worshipped and performed supreme austerities. As the child did austerity alone he grew thin. The mind of Upamanyu, best of brahmanas, was fixed on Shiva.

Earlier Marichi had cursed some sages to become pishachas. With their rakshasa feelings they tried to put obstacles in the ascetic's way. Though harassed by them, he somehow went on with his austerities, and though he suffered, he kept chanting "Namah Shivaya." As soon as they heard it, those who tried to block the ascetic left the child. They became sages and served him. As the great-souled brahmana Upamanyu went on with his austerities, it was as if the sages, the moving and unmoving, and the universe itself were set ablaze.