Four Kumaras

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The Four Kumaras
Other namesSanakadika Rishis
AffiliationChildren of Brahma
Devotees of Vishnu
AbodeBrahmaloka
Personal information
ParentsBrahma
SiblingsChitragupta, Narada and Daksha

The Kumaras are four sages (

Puranic texts of Hinduism who roam the universe as children,[1][2] generally named Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana, and Sanatkumara.[3] They are described as the first mind-born creations and sons of the creator-god Brahma. Born from Brahma's mind, the four Kumaras undertook lifelong vows of celibacy (brahmacharya) against the wishes of their father. They are said to wander throughout the materialistic and spiritualistic universe without any desire but with the purpose of teaching.[1] All four brothers studied Vedas from their childhood, and always travelled together.[4]

The Bhagavata Purana lists the Kumaras among the twelve mahajanas (great devotees or bhaktas)[5] who although being eternally liberated souls from birth, still became attracted to the devotional service of Vishnu from their already enlightened state.[6] They play a significant role in a number of Hindu spiritual traditions, especially those associated with the worship of Vishnu and his avatar Krishna, sometimes even in traditions related to Shiva.

Names

The group is known by various names: "Kumaras" (the boys/male children/young boys), "Chatursana" or "Chatuh Sana" (the four with names starting with Sana) and "Sanakadi" (Sanaka and the others).[7] Individual names usually include Sanaka (ancient), Sanatana (eternal), Sanandana (ever-joyful) and Sanatkumara (ever-young).[1][2][8] Sometimes, Sanatana is replaced by Sanatsujata. A fifth Kumara named Ribhu is sometimes added. Sometimes, the Kumaras are enumerated as six with Sana and Ribhu or Sanatsujata added.[9]

Though in Mahabharata, a total of seven sons are mentioned, namely: 1) Aniruddha, 2) Sana, 3) Sanatsujata, 4) Sanaka, 5) Sanandana, 6) Sanatkumara, 7) Kapila, and 8) Sanatana and further mentions that, "Knowledge comes to these seven rishis, of itself (without being dependent on study or exertion). These seven are wedded to the religion of Nivritti (inward contemplation).[10]

Sanatkumara

Sanatkumara in

Vaishnavite devotional texts. He taught Bhishma
the mental and spiritual sciences.

The Chandogya Upanishad, Chapter seven, is about Sanatkumara's Instructions on Bhuma-Vidya to celestial sage Narada,[12][13] Sanatkumara finds mention across Mahabharata, as a great sage, who dispels doubts[14][15] and the preceptor in all matters affecting Yoga[16]

Also mentioned is the

tapas, he attained great ascetic powers.[17]

Legend

Origin

The four Kumaras are the eldest sons of the creator-god Brahma.[18] When Brahma undertook the task of creating the universe, he first created some beings from different parts of his body to aid him. The Kumaras were the first such beings. They were created from his mind and appeared as infants. Brahma ordered them to aid in the creation, but as manifestations of sattva (purity), and uninterested in worldly life, they refused and instead devoted themselves to God and celibacy, against the wishes of their father.[7][18] The Bhagavata Purana narrates further that their refusal made Brahma angry and his wrath manifested into the god Rudra, also known as Shiva.[1] As per a variant, Brahma practised austerities (tapas) and pleased the Supreme God Vishnu, so he appeared in the form of the four infant Kumaras as Brahma's sons.[18] Some texts like the Devi Bhagavata Purana and the Bhavishya Purana narrates the four Kumaras appeared even before the Brahma of the present age. (In a cycle of time, some texts say that a Brahma dies and is reborn.)[7]

The four Kumaras learnt the

jnanis (learned beings), yogis and Siddhas (the perfect enlightened ones). The Kumaras remained in form of children due to their spiritual virtues. The age of the sages varies in various sacred texts. While five is the most popular, they are also mentioned as being five-year-old boys.[19] They practised the vow of renunciation (Sannyasa) and celibacy (brahmacharya) and remained naked. They wander together throughout the materialistic and spiritualistic universe without any desire but with a purpose to teach.[1][7][18] They are sometimes included in the list of Siddhars (Tamil equivalent to Siddha).[20]

The four Kumaras are said to reside in Janaloka or Janarloka (loka or world of the intellectuals in the present parlance) or in Vishnu's abode Vaikuntha.[18][21] They constantly recite the mantra Hari sharanam ("God the Redeemer our Refuge") or sing Vishnu's praises. These hymns and glories of Vishnu serve as their only food.[18] Another son of Brahma, the sage Narada, who is described as their disciple, extolls their virtues in the Padma Purana. Narada says though they appear as five-year-old children, they are the great ancestors of the world.[18]

They are possessed also of deep knowledge of the

Sankhya philosophy. They are preceptors of the scriptures on duty and it is they that introduce the duties of the religion of Nivritti (inward contemplation), and cause them to flow in the worlds".[22]

Discourses

The discourses of the four Kumaras are found in the

Hindu epic Mahabharata as well as the Bhagavata Purana.[18]

The Shanti Parva book of the Mahabharata describes the discourse given by the four Kumaras to the demon king Vritra and his guru – the sage Shukra. The king and his guru worship the Kumaras and then Shukra asks them to describe the greatness of Vishnu. Sanatkumara starts by describing Vishnu as the creator and destroyer of all beings. He equates Vishnu's body parts with parts of the universe and the elements, for example, the earth is Vishnu's feet and water is his tongue. All gods are described as being Vishnu. Then Sanatkumara categorizes all beings into six colours depending upon the proportion of the three gunas: sattva (pure), rajas (dim) and tamas (dark). From the lowest to the foremost beings, the colours are dark (tamas is high, rajas is mid, sattva is low), tawny (tamas is high, sattva is mid, rajas is low), blue (rajas is high, tamas is mid, sattva is low), red (rajas is high, sattva is mid, tamas is low), yellow (sattva is high, tamas is mid, rajas is low) and white (sattva is high, rajas is mid, tamas is low). The Vishnu Purana mentions non-living things, lower animals and birds, humans, Prajapatis, gods and the Kumaras are respective examples of the above colours. Sanatkumara elaborates further how a Jiva (living entity) journeys from dark to white in his various births, ultimately gaining moksha if he does good deeds, devotion and yoga.[23][24]

The Bhagavata Purana narrates the visit of the four Kumaras to the court of King

pleasure decay with this life. While all beings are subject to destruction, the soul and God in our bodies are eternal. So it is paramount that one surrenders to God (as Vishnu or Krishna), said Sanatkumara ending his counsel. Prithu worships the Kumaras again, who blessed him.[25]

The first section or Purvabhaga of

Puranas to Narada. Narada transmitted it to Vyasa, who scripted them into the Puranic texts. The Vishnu Purana is recorded in two parts, the Vishnu Purana and Naradiya Purana. The teachings of Sanaka of the Kumara brothers are contained in the Naradiya Purana which is also divided into two parts, the first part containing the teachings of Sanaka and others. [27]

Visit to Vaikuntha

Jaya and Vijaya obstruct the Kumaras from entering Vaikuntha as Vishnu rushes to the spot

The four Kumaras roamed around at their free will with their cosmic powers all over the universe. During one of their sojourns, they arrived at

Hiranyakasipu.[2][28]

In the second life, during the

Mahabharata
.

In Shaiva tradition

Shaivas believe that Shiva assumed the form of Dakshinamurti, the great teacher and meditating facing South observing a vow of silence. The four Kumaras approached Shiva for self-realisation. He taught them about the Supreme Reality, Brahman, by making the chin mudra gesture with his hand. The index finger is touched to the thumb, indicating the union of Brahman and jiva. Thus, Shiva made the Kumaras as his disciples.[29]

The

kalpa (eon) as sons of Brahma of that kalpa. In the 29th kalpa, Shveta Lohita is the main Kumara; where they are named as Sananda, Nandana, Vishvananda, and Upananadana of white colour; then in the 30th kalpa, they are named as Virajas, Vivahu, Visoka and Vishvabhavana, all of the red colour; and in the 31st kalpa in yellow colour; and in the 32nd kalpa, as of black colour.[9]

The four sages, Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana, Sanatkumara were learned Brahmins. They were the sons of Brahma. They were very proud of their father, Brahma, because he was the creator of the holy books, Vedas. They were aware of three Vedas -

Atharva approached Shiva to gain his approval of his collected knowledge, which he gathered from the universe using his divine powers. Shiva, impressed by his creation, blessed Sage Atharva, stating that his book of knowledge would be added to the list of Vedas, and would be called the Atharvaveda. When this news reached the sons of Brahma, they protested, believing that there was no need for a fourth Veda. They argued with Shiva and challenged his authority to certify the fourth Veda. The parties decided that a knowledge-debate (jnana-vivada) amongst them would settle this matter. The goddess Saraswati was appointed as the judge. The four Kumaras posed very complicated questions to Shiva and were very confident of their victory. But Shiva, as the supreme deity of wisdom, answered each and every question. The Kumaras accepted their defeat gracefully and asked for forgiveness. The Atharva Veda was thus added to the list of Vedas, making the total four. The Kumaras went to their brother, the Prajapati Daksha, who was a bitter rival of Shiva. On listening about the defeat of his four brothers, he cursed them to become small children. The Kumaras thanked Daksha for this curse, reasoning that it would instil a great passion for learning within them.[citation needed
]

Other legends

An incident about the meeting of the four Kumaras with Vishnu's avatar Rama is narrated in the Uttarakanda of the Ramcharitmanas. The Kumaras once stayed in the hermitage of the sage Agastya, who told them about the glory of Rama. So to meet Rama, they went to a forest grove where Rama with his brothers and disciple Hanuman had come. Rama and his brothers were so pleased with meeting the four enlightened sages that they paid obeisance to them. The sages were wonderstruck looking at the divinity of Rama that they prostrated before him and out of great ecstasy started shedding tears of happiness. Rama looking at the sages was deeply impressed and asked them to be seated and praised them for their great achievements and their erudite knowledge of the Vedas and Puranas. The four Kumaras were also delighted to hear the words of praise showered on them by Rama. They in turn extolled his great virtues in a hymn.[30]

In Kumara Sampradaya

Nimbarka, the main exponent of the sampradaya.[31]

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e "Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 3.12". Vedabase.net. Archived from the original on 2 March 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  2. ^ . Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  3. .
  4. . Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  5. ^ "Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 6.3.20–21". Vedabase.net. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  6. . Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  7. ^ .
  8. ^ Bhag-P 3.15.12 Bhagavata Purana Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine "Lord Brahma said: My four sons Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanandana and Sanatkumara, who were born from my mind"
  9. ^ a b The Vishńu Puráńa: A System of Hindu Mythology and Tradition. Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. 1840. pp. 38–39. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  10. ^ "The Vedic dharma (religion) is verily twofold, characterized by Pravritti (social action) and Nivritti (inward contemplation), designed to promote order in the world; this twofold dharma has in view the true social welfare and spiritual emancipation of all beings."-Adi Shankaracharaya (A.D. 788–820).
  11. ^ Sage Sanatkumara
  12. ^ Part Seven Chapter I – Dialogue between Narada and Sanatkumara by Swami Nikhilananda.
  13. ^ Chapter Three: Sanatkumara's Instructions on Bhuma-Vidya by Swami Krishnananda, The Divine Life Society, Shivananda Ashram, Rishikesh, India.
  14. ^ Markandeya continued.. The Mahabharata translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883 –1896), Book 3: Vana Parva: Markandeya-Samasya Parva, Section: CLXXXIV. p. 372 "Markandeya continued, 'On hearing this, the great-mind Munis went instantly to Sanatkumara who was well versed in religion to clear their doubt...
  15. ^ Sanatkumara The Mahabharata translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883–1896), Book 12: Santi Parva: Mokshadharma Parva: Section: CCLXXX. p. 295."While they were thus conversing with each other there came unto them the great sage Sanatkumara of the righteous soul for the purpose of dispelling their doubts. Worshipped by the prince of Asuras and by the sage Usanas, that foremost of sages sat down on a costly seat.".
  16. ^ Narada The Mahabharata translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883–1896), Book 2: Sabha Parva: Lokapala Sabhakhayana Parva, section: XI. p. 25 And Daksha, Prachetas, Pulaha, Marichi, the master Kasyapa, Bhrigu, Atri, and Vasistha and Gautama, and also Angiras, and Pulastya, Kraut, Prahlada, and Kardama, these Prajapatis, and Angirasa of the Atharvan Veda, the Valikhilyas, the Marichipas; Intelligence, Space, Knowledge, Air, Heat, Water, Earth, Sound, Touch, Form, Taste, Scent; Nature, and the Modes (of Nature), and the elemental and prime causes of the world, – all stay in that mansion beside the lord Brahma. And Agastya of great energy, and Markandeya, of great ascetic power, and Jamadagni and Bharadwaja, and Samvarta, and Chyavana, and exalted Durvasa, and the virtuous Rishyasringa, the illustrious Sanatkumara of great ascetic merit and the preceptor in all matters affecting Yoga..."
  17. ^ Kanakhala The Mahabharata translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883–1896), Book 3: Vana Parva: Tirtha-yatra Parva: Section: CXXXV. "Here, O king, before thee is the Kanakhala range, the favourite resort of sages. 'And yonder is the mighty river Ganga. Here, in ancient times, the holy sage Sanatkumara attained ascetic success. O scion of the Ajamidha race, by performing thy ablutions here in this river, thou wilt be freed from all thy sins."
  18. ^ . Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  19. ^ Dalal p. 215
  20. ^ Dalal p. 407
  21. ^ Dalal p. 224
  22. ^ Vaisampayana continued... The Mahabharata translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883 -1896), Book 12: Santi Parva, Part 3, Section: CCCXLI. p. 147 "The puissant Lord who is charged with the creation of all the worlds is called Aniruddha, Sana, Sanatsujata, Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatkumara, Kapila, and Sanatana numbering the seventh,--these seven Rishis are known as the spiritual sons of Brahman. Their knowledge comes to them of itself (without being dependent on study or exertion). These seven are wedded to the religion of Nivritti. They are the foremost of all persons conversant with Yoga. They are possessed also of deep knowledge of the Sankhya philosophy. They are preceptors of the scriptures on duty and it is they that introduce the duties of the religion of Nivritti and cause them to flow in the worlds.
  23. ^ Mahabharata Published by Geeta Press in Gorakhpur. Written in Hindi.
  24. ^ The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Santi Parva translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli [published between 1883 and 1896]
  25. ^ "Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 4.22". Vedabase.net. Retrieved 22 December 2012. Click individual verses for explanatory notes
  26. ^ Dalal p. 273
  27. ^ Deshpande 2005, pp. 66–69.
  28. . Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  29. ^ V. Ravi (2010). Lalita Sahasranama. MANBLUNDER. pp. 432–3. GGKEY:BH0QHZDKYK6. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  30. . Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  31. ^ Dalal p. 129

Sources

External links