Who is Shri Sankadi Muni…?

How were demons like Hiranyakashipu, Hiranyaksha, Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Shishupal etc. born due to his curse?

At the beginning of the creation created by nature under the supervision of the Lord, the Father of the Universe, Lord Brahma, the Father of the Universe, performed penance (hard work) with the desire to create various worlds. Pleased with that continuous penance of the creator of the world, the Supreme Lord, the support of the universe, combined the name ‘San’ meaning ‘penance’ with the name Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana and Sanatkumara – He incarnated as four Nirvritti-devoted Upharvareta sages (as the mental sons of Brahma Ji).

These four Brahmarishis were dedicated to the path of salvation from their very birth, engrossed in meditation, eternally accomplished, and eternally detached. But even these eternal celibates could not fulfill Brahma’s hopes of expanding the universe.

Sankadi sages, the progenitors of the gods and the progenitors of the human mind of the creator of the world, Lord Brahma, did not have the slightest attachment in their minds. He often used to travel through the sky.

Once, those divine sages yearned to see the Lord, who resides in the Vaikuntha realm. With that desire, they reached the supreme abode of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vaikuntha. There, in the Vaikuntha world, all the pure and sattvic beings live as excellent as the four-armed one. The sages Sanaka and others, in their eagerness to see God, were moving ahead towards the Sixth Dimension, ignoring the rare and divine sights of Vaikuntha. That the Lord’s councillors Jai and Vijay made fun of those Digambara Tejasvi Kumars who looked like five year old children and using their power stopped them from moving forward.

The interruption in their vision of the Lord enraged the sages Sanaka and others. They cursed their councilors, Jai and Vijay, to be born into demonic families. As soon as he received the news of disrespect to his beloved and inseparable sons Sanakadi, Lord of Vaikuntha, Shri Hari immediately appeared there.

At that moment, even the Sanaka and other sons of the world, completely bewildered by the sight of the Lord’s wondrous, transcendental, and divine beauty, were stunned. Everything came to a standstill. They gazed at the Lord with unblinking eyes, their hearts surging with joy.

Praising Lord Vishnu, the lord of Lakshmi, who holds the garland of forest flowers, he said, “O Lord of great fame! This beautiful form that you have revealed before us, It has brought great pleasure to our eyes; it is very difficult for those who are addicted to sensual pleasures and have uncontrolled senses to see it. You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and thus you have appeared clearly before our eyes. We offer our obeisances to you.’

“I wear the sacred dust of the feet of Brahmins on my crown,” said the Supreme Lord in his melodious and sweet voice. “Jay and Vijay have insulted you by not understanding my intention. Therefore, you have done the right thing by punishing them. Sanaka and other Kumaras, who toured the world for the salvation of the people and were the embodiment of simplicity and compassion, understood the essence of the sweet words of Lord Shri Krishna. He said to him in a very humble tone, “O Lord of all! Punish these gatekeepers as you deem fit, or increase their salaries as a reward. We sincerely agree with you in every respect.”

Or, punish us appropriately for the curse we have inflicted on these innocent followers of yours. We will gladly accept that too.’

The Lord smiled and said, “This has happened only because of my inspiration.”

The Lord satisfied them. After this, the sages Sanaka and others saw the all-beautiful Lord Vishnu and his abode. Circumambulating the Lord and singing his praises, the four Kumaras returned.

Due to the curse of these sages Jai-Vijay, the Lord’s councilors were born as Hiranyakashipu-Hiranyaksha, Ravana-Kumbhakarna and Shishupal-Dantavakra respectively in three births.

Once, when the sage Sanakadi, who was as radiant as the Sun, reached Maharaj Prithu, an incarnation of the Lord, through the sky, he considered it his good fortune and worshipped him with due rituals, He sprinkled his holy water from his feet on his forehead, seated him on the golden throne, and paying obeisance to him, he humbly requested those sages – ‘O auspicious Manuswara! Even the yogis find it difficult to have your darshan, What merit have I earned that has allowed me to see you today? Although the great elements and others are omnipresent in this cosmic phenomenon, they cannot see the omniscient soul, In this way, although you roam in all the worlds

Even if you are there, unauthorized people cannot see you.

Then, praising his good fortune, Maharaja Prithu said to him with utmost respect – ‘You are the best friend of the beings distressed by the fire of the world, Therefore, having faith in you, I want to ask how can a human being easily attain salvation in this world?

Hearing such a question from Adiraj Prithu, the incarnations of the Lord, the sages Sanaka and others praised his wisdom and gave him detailed advice on welfare, saying –

‘Thinking about wealth and sensual pleasures destroys all the efforts of a man, because by worrying about them he becomes corrupted from knowledge and science, and being engrossed in these (sensual pleasures), he takes birth in immovable species like trees etc. Therefore, a person who wishes to overcome the darkness of ignorance should never be attached to worldly pleasures, because it is a big obstacle in attaining Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.

Those who wish to cross this ocean of the world, filled with crocodiles in the form of mind and senses, through difficult means like yoga, it is difficult for them to reach the other side because they do not have the support of Sri Hari, the leader. Therefore, by making the Lord’s worshipable feet a boat, you will easily cross this difficult ocean of sorrow.

Inspired by this nectar-filled sermon of Lord Sankadi, Adiraj Prithu praised him and again worshiped him with full devotion.

Then came the end of the Kalpa. Due to the cataclysm that occurred at the end of the Kalpa, the sages had forgotten the enlightenment of the previous Kalpa. In this incarnation (the incarnation of the Sanaka and other sages), Lord Krishna gave them appropriate advice, Due to which those people soon realized that element in their hearts.

Sanakadi Munis, by the power of their yoga or by the effect of chanting the mantra ‘Harih Sharanam’, always remain five years old young men.

He is a prominent Yoga scholar, expert in Sankhya knowledge, Acharya of religious scriptures and founder of Mokshadharma. He had preached the Srimad Bhagavatam to Sri Narada. Lord Sanatkumara had given a detailed sermon in response to the sages’ question related to philosophy and had said –

“There is no eye like knowledge.

There is no penance like truth.

There is no sorrow like attachment and

There is no happiness like renunciation.”

To abstain from sinful acts, to always perform virtuous deeds, to behave like noble men and to follow good conduct—this is the ultimate means of welfare.