"Yes, I promise I will never question you" . Thus spoke King Shantanu of Hastinapur to Ganga in response to her condition for her to marry him. At the time it looked like a romantic, innocent and maybe, a little naughty promise. Maybe, it shows that it was quite a matriarchal society or maybe at least in that part of the region. Ganga as a woman had a right to reject/accept a king as well as imply a condition. Women were maybe highly respected then. Time, though, has changed concepts now. But then, little did anyone know that it will be just one of the many factors which would almost end up King Shantanu's own clan. Maybe, the most important question is if a man can give more prominence to one role than the other in the efficient working of a society? Can a king make such a promise? Won't this lead to chaos?
Ganga beared King Shantanu 8 children (sons) in all. But every time right after the birth of a child, Ganga would go and drown the child in the river Ganga. King Shantanu stayed silent and lived up to his promise till the seventh child. But he could no longer hold himself back at the birth of the 8th child. He told Ganga to stop this and let him have at least one child.
Ganga, the wise one, informed that all these children were Vasus (facilitators of primary Gods) who were once cursed to 1 earthly life by Sage Vasistha for stealing their cow during their vacation on Earth. These Vasus had then begged Ganga to be their mother and then kill them as soon as they were born (thereby finishing their earthly existence soon). Maybe, that is how she too came around to get married to the king. But now since the king had broken his promise, Ganga did not kill the child but informed the king that the child will live a terrible life (as per the curse). Ganga took the child with her, taught her under the guidance of Sage Parshuram and returned him to King Shantanu when he was a teenager. This was Devavrata - who would later be called Bheeshma.
Every action has a cause behind it. Primarily, the individual atma would be solely responsible for them. Maybe, that is what was shown in this story of the Vasus birth and immediate death. Also, the action (of Ganga) on the outside might look cruel but it was much more noble. Likewise, King Shantanu's action to stop her looked noble but as we will see with the future developments that it was not. In all, it makes us reflect if we have enough knowledge of the world to jugde anyone else's action. How much do we know and think before we jump in and try to change something? As I have read that mythologies are stories to reflect upon. They will not shout out the truth but it depends upon the reader to reflect and understand and then derive the truth out of it. Should we read our life and all the life around us in the same manner before we judge and condemn? It is for us alone to answer..
Ganga beared King Shantanu 8 children (sons) in all. But every time right after the birth of a child, Ganga would go and drown the child in the river Ganga. King Shantanu stayed silent and lived up to his promise till the seventh child. But he could no longer hold himself back at the birth of the 8th child. He told Ganga to stop this and let him have at least one child.
Ganga, the wise one, informed that all these children were Vasus (facilitators of primary Gods) who were once cursed to 1 earthly life by Sage Vasistha for stealing their cow during their vacation on Earth. These Vasus had then begged Ganga to be their mother and then kill them as soon as they were born (thereby finishing their earthly existence soon). Maybe, that is how she too came around to get married to the king. But now since the king had broken his promise, Ganga did not kill the child but informed the king that the child will live a terrible life (as per the curse). Ganga took the child with her, taught her under the guidance of Sage Parshuram and returned him to King Shantanu when he was a teenager. This was Devavrata - who would later be called Bheeshma.
Every action has a cause behind it. Primarily, the individual atma would be solely responsible for them. Maybe, that is what was shown in this story of the Vasus birth and immediate death. Also, the action (of Ganga) on the outside might look cruel but it was much more noble. Likewise, King Shantanu's action to stop her looked noble but as we will see with the future developments that it was not. In all, it makes us reflect if we have enough knowledge of the world to jugde anyone else's action. How much do we know and think before we jump in and try to change something? As I have read that mythologies are stories to reflect upon. They will not shout out the truth but it depends upon the reader to reflect and understand and then derive the truth out of it. Should we read our life and all the life around us in the same manner before we judge and condemn? It is for us alone to answer..
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