Srtory of King Bharthari (Bhartrihari)
Bharthari Cave is located in Ujjain. In relation to this, it is believed that here Bharthari did penance. This cave is in a secluded area outside the city. Shipra river is flowing near the cave.
The entrance to the cave is very short. When we go inside this cave we also feel difficulty in breathing. The height of the cave is also very low, so one has to be very careful while going inside. There is another cave here which is smaller than the first cave. This is the cave of Gopichand, who was the nephew of Bharthari.
Here the light is also very less, there are bulbs for illumination inside. Despite this, darkness is visible in the cave. If a person is afraid, he will also be afraid to go inside the cave alone.
The roof here is supported by big stones. At the end of the cave there is a statue of King Bhartrihari and next to that statue is the way to another cave. Regarding this second cave, it is believed that there is a way to the four dhams from here. There is also a Dhuni in front of the idol of Bhartrihari in the cave, whose ashes are always hot.
If you look closely, you will see a secret path at the end of the cave, which is said to lead to the Char Dhams.
The story of King Bharthari becoming a monk hurt by the deception of his wife :-
Ujjain was also known as Ujjayini. Vikramaditya was the most majestic king of the city of Ujjayini. Vikramaditya's father was Maharaja Gandharvasena and he had two wives. One wife's son was Vikramaditya and the other wife's son was Bhartrihari.
After Gandharvasen, Bhartrihari received the royal text of Ujjain, because Bharthari was older than Vikramaditya. King Bhartrihari was a scholar of religion and ethics. According to popular legends, Bharthari had two wives, but still he married the third one, Pingala. Pingala was very beautiful and because of this Bharthari was very much infatuated with the third wife.
According to the legends, Bharthari was very much infatuated with his third wife Pingala and had blind trust in her. The king had also forgotten his duties in his wife's attachment. At that time an ascetic Guru Gorakhnath arrived in Ujjain.
Gorakhnath reached the king's court. Bharthari treated Gorakhnath with due respect. This pleased the ascetic guru very much. Being pleased, Gorakhnath gave the king a fruit and said that by eating this he would remain young forever, old age would never come, beauty would always remain.
Gorakhnath left from there after giving this miraculous fruit. The king took the fruit and thought what he needed for youth and beauty. Since the king was very much fascinated by his third wife, he thought that if this fruit pingala was eaten, she would remain beautiful and young forever.
Thinking of this, the king gave that fruit to Pingala. Queen Pingala was not fascinated by Bhartrihari but on the Kotwal of her kingdom. The king did not know this. When the king gave that miraculous fruit to the queen, the queen thought that if the kotwal eats this fruit, then he will be able to fulfill his wishes for a long time.
Thinking this, the queen gave the miraculous fruit to the Kotwal. The Kotwal was in love with a prostitute and he gave her a miraculous result. So that the prostitute always remains young and beautiful.
The prostitute thought that if she remained young and beautiful, she would have to do this dirty work forever. You will not get freedom from a life like hell. Our king needs this fruit the most. If the king is always young, he will continue to give all the facilities to the people for a long time. Thinking of this, he gave the miraculous fruit to the king. The king was shocked to see the fruit.
The king asked the prostitute from where he got this fruit. The prostitute told that the Kotwal has given this fruit to her. Bharthari immediately called the Kotwal. On being asked strictly, the Kotwal told that this fruit has been given to him by Queen Pingala.
When Bharthari came to know about the whole truth, he understood that Pingala was cheating on him. Due to the deceit of his wife, Bharthari's disinterest was awakened and he surrendered his entire kingdom to Vikramaditya and came to a cave in Ujjain. In this cave Bharthari did penance for 12 years.
Devraj Indra was frightened by the harsh penance of King Bharthari. Indra thought that Bharthari would attack heaven after getting the boon. Thinking this, Indra dropped a huge stone on Bharthari. Bharthari, who was sitting in penance, held the stone with one hand and kept sitting in penance.
Similarly, after doing penance for many years, the mark of Bharthari's claws became on that stone. This mark is still visible on the stone above the king's statue in the cave of Bharthari. The mark of this claw is very big, seeing that it can be easily guessed that how huge the stature of King Bharthari must have been.
Bharthari composed Vairagya Shataka on Vairagya, which is quite famous. Along with this, Bharthari also composed Shringaar Shatak and Neeti Shattak. All these three centuries are still available today and are worth reading.
King Bharthari of Ujjain had 365 cooks, who prepare food for the king and his family and guests. A cook got a chance to cook food only once in a year. But during this time when Bharthari went to the feet of Guru Gorakhnath ji, he started eating after asking for alms.
Once Guru Gorakhnathji said to his disciples, 'Look, despite being a king, he has conquered lust, anger, greed and ego and is determined.' The disciples said, 'Guruji! These are the kings, 365 cooks used to live here.
How else did the king, who came from such an atmosphere of luxuries, become free from lust, anger and greed?'
Guru Gorakhnath ji said to King Bharthari, 'Bharthari! Go, get wood from the forest for the Bhandara.’ King Bharthari went barefoot, collecting wood from the forest and carrying a burden on his head.
Gorakhnath ji said to the other disciples, 'Go, hit him in such a way that the burden falls.' The disciples went and pushed such that the burden fell and Bharthari fell. Bharthari carried the burden, but neither the wrinkle on the face, nor the fireballs in the eyes, nor the lips twitched. Guruji said to the disciples, 'Look! Bharthari has conquered anger.
The disciple said, 'Guruji! Now even more tests should be taken. After going a little further, Guruji built a palace with the power of yoga. Gorakhnath ji was showing Bharthari the palace. The servants started felicitating the girls with different types of dishes etc. Seeing the Bharthari girls, they did not even get angry and did not even get angry at their tantrums, they went on walking.
Gorakhnathji said to the disciples, now you are convinced that Bharthari has conquered lust, anger, greed etc.
The disciples said, Gurudev, take one more test. Gorakhnathji said, Good Bharthari, to become our disciple, one has to pass through a test. Go, you will have to walk barefoot in the desert for a month.
Bharthari started on his designated route. Crossing the mountainous area reached the desert of Rajasthan. If you set foot in the blazing sand, scorching desert, it will burn. Six days passed while traveling for one day, two days.
On the seventh day, Guru Gorakhnathji reached there with invisible power along with his dear disciples. Gorakhnath ji said, 'Look, it is going to Bharthari. I am now making trees stand with the power of yoga. Will not even sit in the shade of the tree.' Suddenly the tree stood up. While walking, Bharthari's feet came on the shade of the tree and he jumped as if he had fallen on the coals.
'How did the tree come to the desert? How did the foot come under the shade tree? Guru ji's order was to travel in the desert. He jumped away. Guru ji was pleased that look! How does one obey the Guru's orders? One who has never put his foot down on the rug, walking in the desert feels like embers at the touch of a tree's shadow.'
Gorakhnath ji was very happy at the persistence of the disciple in his heart, but there was jealousy in the heart of the other disciples. The disciple said, 'Guruji! This is fine, but the test is not yet over. Let me go.'
Gorakhnath ji thought, 'Okay! Let's see how much you are moving.' Going a little further, Gorakhnath ji created thorns with the power of yoga. Such a thorny bush that the kantha (cloth made by joining torn old clothes) got torn. The colic started pricking in his feet, yet Bharthari did not even 'aah'.
Bharthari became even more introverted, 'It is all a dream, what Guruji has ordered, it is austerity. This is also Guruji's grace.
For the final examination, Guru Gorakhnath ji created strong heat with his power of yoga. Due to thirst, Bharthari's life came down to his throat. Then Gorakhnath ji raised a green tree very near him, under which was kept a jug full of water and a golden cup.
Once, Bhartrihari looked at him, but immediately thought that the Guru was not being disobeyed. He thought so much that Gorakhnath was seen coming from the front.
Bharthari bowed down. Guruji said, "Well done Bharthari, ask for a boon. I will give Ashtasiddhi, I will give Navnidhi. You turned down the beautiful dishes, the girls were ready to pamper your feet, but you did not fall for them. Ask what you want.
Bhartrihari said, 'Guruji! You are just happy, I got everything. For the disciple, the guru's happiness is everything. You were satisfied with me, my crores of virtuous deeds and sacrifices, penance were all successful.' Gorakhnath said, 'No Bharthari! Don't disrespect You have to take something or the other, you will have to ask for something. Picking him up, Bharthari said, 'Guruji! Throat is torn, thread this thread in a needle so that I can take my throat.'
Gorakhnath ji was more happy that 'the limit is reached! It is so absolute, nothing is needed for Ashtasiddhi and Navnidhis. I said ask for something, then it says that put a little thread in the needle. He kept the word of the Guru. No Expectations? Bhartrihari you have been blessed! Where the emperor of Ujjaini barefoot in the desert. Not even a month was allowed, passed the exam in seven-eight days.