The coming of divine children

Sai R Vaidyanathan

The birth of a child is a joyous occasion for all concerned. But the happiness multiplies on the arrival of a divine child. Here is how the first chapter in the lives of some evolved souls unfolded.

The enlightened one

In Kundagram near Vaishali in Bihar ruled King Siddhartha. He and his wife Queen Trishala had a son called Nandivardhana.

Sometime later, the Queen started having strange dreams. So the king summoned astrologers to interpret the dreams. “The queen will bear a son who is destined to be great,” they said. In time, a boy was born and soon, peace and prosperity began increasing in the kingdom. So the parents decided to name him Vardhamana.

Many years and several austerities later, he became Jina Mahavira.

The one with radiance

In the Persian city of Rae lived Frahimurva and his daughter Dughdhowa. As Dughdhowa was covered with radiance, people thought she portended evil and made her father send her away.

So Frahimurva sent her to his friend Paitarasp’s house. He welcomed her and got her married to Pourushasp.

Some months later, Dughdhowa had a terrible dream. So wise men were called to interpret it. They predicted that the couple would soon have a son who will be a great man.

Some months later was born Zarathustra who founded Zoroastrianism.

Born in a grove

The kingdom of Kapilavastu was ruled by King Suddhodana. One night, his Queen Mayadevi dreamt that a white elephant with six tusks had pierced her womb.

Ten months later, the Queen was on her way to her father’s house. As she was passing through a beautiful grove on the way to Lumbini, she decided to take rest there.

There, a boy was born to her under a sala tree. Seven days later, Mayadevi died after entrusting the child in the care of sister Prajapati.

The boy, as the Buddha, gave the Noble Eightfold Path to the world.

One versus many

In the eighth century, Shivaguru and his wife Aryamba lived in Kaladi village in Kerala. Once, they went on a pilgrimage to a temple at Trichur.

At night, Lord Shiva, disguised as a sage, appeared to them in a dream. The Lord said, “Choose between having many ordinary sons and one extraordinary son who may not live long.” The couple chose having one extraordinary son. In due course, Aryamba gave birth to a boy. He later became renowned as Adi Shankaracharya.

Arrival announced

In the 13th century, many devotees had gathered at the annual festival at Ananteshwara temple in Udupi. Suddenly, a priest climbed up the flag post in front of the temple and said, “Lord Vayu is going to be born in our midst very soon.” One of the couples in the audience was Narayana Bhat and his wife. In 1238 AD, a son was born to them who later came to be known as Madhvacharya.

The author can be contacted at author.sai@gmail.com