Sri Sukha Maharishi

Sukha : an epitaph refers to perfect memory


Suka Jayanti is the birth anniversary of Suka Maharishi. It is observed on the Amavasi in the Vaishakha month. He was the only son and student of Veda Vyasa with a perfect memory, who was able to recite without any omissions the entire Bhagavatham.

 

BIRTH AND BACKGROUND

According to the Mahabharata, after one hundred years of austerity by Veda Vyasa, Shuka was churned out of a stick of fire, born with ascetic power and with the Vedas dwelling inside him, just like his father.

There are some interesting stories connected to his birth. According to some Puranas he was born out of the vedic pyre. When Ved Vysa was attracted to the apsara Ghritachi and discharged his semen on to the wood Sticks meant for Arani (Arani is one of the two ceremonial rubbing-sticks used to ignite the sacrificial fire), and out of it a son was born. Ghritachi flew away in the form of a Parrot thus Suka Maharishi got his name which literally means parrot. Many a times he is illustrated as a sage with a parrot head.

In some text I read, I came across a story that tells us that Suka Maharishi was in his previous birth the Parrot of Radha during Krishna Avatara, who used to carry message of Radha to her Lord Krishna. It is often quoted that Suka Maharishi used to go into trance (“ecstatic trance for six months called Nirvikalpa Samadhi”) at the mention of the name “Radha.” So throughout the Bhagavatham, the name of Radha is almost not mentioned by him; and even if so, he does it in a very subtle manner, like calling her Radhasa.

In I think in the ISKON book there is beautiful interpretation of the phrase Sri Suka Maharishi uvacha which interprets it as “Sriya Suka Maharishi” Suka Maharishi, parrot, of Sri (Radha). It also says that for one keeps those things which are dearest to him hidden such was Suka Maharishi’s approach to the name Radha throughout the Bhagavatham.

“Like oil hidden within mustard seeds or butter hidden within milk, the glories of Srimati Radhika are hidden within the Srimad-Bhagavatam.”

Now continuing with the story, when it was time for Radha to depart from this world, the parrot wanted to go along but Radha told the parrot to stick around and she wouldn’t be missed by him because whenever the story of Radha and Krishna would be told he would feel her presence there. And his mission would be to propagate Shrimad Bhagavatham. So the parrot in his wanderings happens to hear Hari Katha being told by Shiva to Parvathy. Suka Maharishi the parrot hides amongst the leaves to hear the stories. Parvathy was in the beginning intend on listening and responded with a “Hmmm.” But somewhere in the middle she dozed off and Suka Maharishi, in the assumption that Shiva might stop the narration, continued Parvathy’s “Hmmm.” Parvathy suddenly woke up and apologized to him as she had dozed off, which left Shiva quizzical about who was uttering the “hmm.”

Shiva looked around to find Suka Maharishi hidden amongst the leaf. Angered that a mere parrot had the audacity to hear the Bhagavatham, Shiva chased him with the Trishula with intent to kill. The parrot entered the mouth of Vitika who happened to be yawning at that very time. Vitika was the wife of Veda Vyasa. Meanwhile Shiva entered the hermitage and enquired about the parrot to Veda Vyasa, who in turn enquired as to what the issue was. After the narration Veda Vyasa asked Shiva as to what the result was if one hears the Bhagavatham, to which Shiva replied that the soul becomes free from the cycle of birth and death and becomes eternal. Vysa tells Shiva to let go now that the parrot has heard it he cannot be killed, hearing thus from Veda Vyasa, Shiva realizes the truth and returns to his abode. It is said that Suka Maharishi turned into a baby and was in the womb of his mother for 16 years in comparison with the normal 9 months. Some other version says it was12 years.

 

Suka Maharishi lived a life of a Digambara, he had no consciousness of the body. He had already become one with the nature and also was probably highly influenced by Sage Ribhu and Sage Brighu, who too walked in bare minimum as they too had no consciousness of the body. Suka Maharishi used to walk around for alms, and he was known for not staying in a place for too long. He is often depicted with a green parrot head. Suka Maharishi was a realized soul by birth and was greater than Veda Vyasa himself. He attained oneness with nature early on in his life to the extent that when Veda Vyasa called out for him the nature was said to have responded to the call. Such was his greatness.

Once when Suka Maharishi passed past some bathing celestial damsels, who were sporting in the water without clothes covering them. He remained unmoved as he took no notice of them nor they of him, though he was young, handsome, and unmarried. But when Veda Vyasa followed behind Suka Maharishi trying to catch up with him, the ladies hurriedly covered themselves up, although Veda Vyasa was old and a rishi. Veda Vyasa asked them why they took notice of an old man, whereas they took no notice of his young son. Then they explained that Suka Maharishi was a Samadrik, a person who saw no difference between man and woman, but that Veda Vyasa had not yet reached that stage, such was the spiritual plane he (Suka Maharishi) dwelled on.

APPEARANCE

He is portrayed as a delicate and handsome person with skin color akin to Krishna. He is said to have a very pleasing personality and easily attracted everyone with his smile and his beautiful wide eyes. He had curly hair that fell on his slender neck that was “beautiful like a conch shell.” He is sometimes portrayed with a parrot head, as we see the many reasons as to why. There is yet another reason that seems more logical. The ancient sages did not often take samadhi in their physical form, they usually left the bodies and took forms of bird and smaller forms and wandered about in the world. It is said that those who seek them find them.

SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

Veda Vyasa wanted Suka Maharishi to settle down in his Grishasta Ashrama which was not agreeable to Suka Maharishi. He was not keen on Grihasta which according to him pulled him back to the samsara and the constant struggle with Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada, and Matsaryam. He preferred to skip that ashrama to continue on his spiritual journey. Veda Vyasa sends him to King Janaka who supports his decision after Suka Maharishi convinced him that spiritual journey was his destination.

Suka Maharishi was said to have been knowledgeable right from the time he was in his mother’s womb to the extend hat it is said that God suspended the action of Maya for five seconds so that he could be born. He had access to all the worlds. But he was once denied entry at Vishnu Loka as he did not have a guru, in fact he thought with Veda Vyasa as his father he was above all that. So he asked his father as to who would be the perfect guru for him. When Veda Vyasa pointed him to king Janaka he couldn’t understand how a house holder could be a guru to a renunciate.

It was believed that Suka Maharishi was born as an avatara with 12 supernatural powers. Every time he went to King Janaka he would return without getting initiated as he was skeptical of the great King, thus he would lose one of his supernatural power without his knowledge every time he returned from King Janaka.

 

To guide him to the right path Sage Narada decided to help him. He disguised as an old man and started to throw baskets of sand into a river. Suka Maharishi happened to see this. On enquiring, the old man told Suka Maharishi that he was building a bridge/dam. Suka explained to the old man that it was not the way and that he had to use wood and stones and only later add the sand. The way he was building would only wash away the sand which was put up with a lot of effort. At which Sage Narada retorted back that he was no better that Suka Maharishi to have lost his power because of his haughtiness. A stunt Rishi realizes his folly to see that the old man and the river had disappeared.

KING JANAKA AND SUKA MAHARISHI

King Janaka though living in a palace and among the worldly affairs, was one of the noblest of saints one would have known. Veda Vyasa, father of Suka Maharishi sent him to King Janaka to get initiated. Janaka wanted to test Suka Maharishi before initiating him.

On his way up to see the King, Suka Maharishi left his clothes and his kamandala in the courtyard of the palace. Both of them were engaged in conversation when one of the palace guards came and announced that the army barracks were on fire. King Janaka responded by saying that it was God’s will. Suka Maharishi was taken aback by the kind of response and started to assume and judge the king. The king showed no confusion, no sharp response, just calm as a cucumber as he sent the guards away. Sometime later the guards returned to say that the fire had spread into the city, this time too Suka Maharishi saw that it was the same kind of response, unfeeling, unsympathetic. He deemed him as not fit to be a king. Suka Maharishi was wondering why didn’t he care for the people and the kingdom? Was he that selfish that he only thought of himself, such negative thoughts were passing through Suka Maharishi’s mind.

The guards rushed back to the king and told him that the fire had reached the palace courtyard. Suka Maharishi immediately went to retrieve his belongings when the king stopped him and asked him as to who was the renunciate, as Suka Maharishi couldn’t not even let go of his clothing. The king then explained that he did not go to save them as he was unattached to them, unlike Suka Maharishi who wanted to save his clothes and Kamandala. At this point Suka Maharishi realized that he was attached to the world unlike King Janaka, who even though lived like a worldly person with obligations and responsibilities, he was least attached to all those things. He decided to get his initiation from that King Janaka.

Janaka said that he would do so after he had tested him. The king gave him a cup of oil and asked him to around the city. The condition was that if even one drop fell down, his head will be cut off by the soldiers walking behind him. King Janaka had arranged for a lot of distractions in his route. His desire for realizing God and wanting to get the initiation from the King was very strong but stronger was the fear that his head would be cut off if the oil spills. So his sole concentration was on the oil and finally he reached back at the palace. When the king asked him whether he liked the city and what he saw, Suka Maharishi explained his predicament at which the king told him that his mind was ready for concentration, but because he lacked humility the king asked him to go back to his father and come back when he was ready.

 

Disappointed Suka Maharishi went back to his Veda Vyasa his father. He asked Suka Maharishi to repent for the criticism he had of the king, his assumptions about him, and of being judgmental about him. Suka Maharishi was now a realized soul; he waited for 12 years at the garbage dumb at the king’s palace and let the garbage fall him, now proving his humility. King extremely pleased at his determination and devotion and initiated him. He returned to his father as a happy soul all in awe of his great master whom he considered untainted.