Durvasa Muni
दुर्वस मुनि
durvasa muni
Durvasa was son of Atri Maharshi and Anasuya Devi. He was born with element of Siva. He was an ancient sage best known for his anger. Though the actual contribution of the Sage Durvasa is not known, he still found a place in the Guru Parambara remembered by Madhva School of Thought. To Madhva the four Sanakadi Rishis are the originator of Dvaita Sanyasin sect and Sage Durvasa was a direct disciple of Sanakadi Rishis. So, Durvasa must be a prominent Dvaita philosopher of his time. An incidence in Gopal Tapani Upanishad says, he only ate a grass named durva grass and Radha Rani asks him how he lives on that. For that Durvasa reply turned out to be a philosophic discourse, “as sound is contained in the element of ether, and although sound and ether are different, this ether does not know I am spirit; how can I be a materialistic enjoyer? Touch is contained within the element of Air, although touch and air are different. This air does not know I am the Spirit; how can I be a materialistic enjoyer? Form is contained within the element of Fire, although form and fire are different. This fire does not know I am the Spirit; how can I be a materialistic enjoyer? Taste is contained within the element of water, although taste and water are different. This Water does not know I am the Spirit; How can I be a materialistic enjoyer? Aroma is contained within the element of earth, although aroma and earth are different. This earth doesnot know I am the Spirit; How can I be a materialistic enjoyer? It is mind that remains among the senses and accepts them. When spirit is everything, how does one think? Where does one go? I am spirit. How can I be a materialistic enjoyer?”
An upapurana as ‘Durvasa Purana’ carry his name
There are many stories related to his anger. Ram and Krishna met with their last and left for their abode because of some curse, thought not directly intended at, but uttered from his mouth. There are many stories related to his short temper. Once, Sage Durvasa gave a wonderful garland of fragrant Kalpaka flowers to Indra. Indra sitting proudly on his elephant Airavata dont cared the Sage and his present, unmindfully placed the garland on Airavata and the elephant in turn tossed it on the ground. This angered Durvasa leading to a curse which weakened the Devas, leading to the Churning of the Ocean. Durvasa perceived that, Indra had become haughty because of the praise of famous Munis like Gauthama and Vasishtha.
Once Duryodhana requested Durvasa and his fellow Sages to visit his cousins, the Pandavas, hoping that they would incur his wrath, as Pandavas won’t have enough to feed a big group of Sages. Krishna come to the rescue of Pandavas,and Durvasa blessed Pandavas and left the place. Durvasa cursed Shakunthala to be forgotten by Dushyantha, herhusband; this is the main story which developed into Shakuntalam, a drama by Kalidasa. His curse to Ambareesh, a devotee of Vishnu troubled him a lot and he was at last rescued by Ambaresh himself. Once, Maharishi Durvasa visited Kuntibhoja, the adoptive father of Kunti with his follower. The young princess, Kunti was in charge of taking care of Durvasa and his 10,000 deciples, and she did her service at the most appropriate level. As a gratitude to her service Durvasa gave her a Mantra, which while repeating one can attract any God to give birth a child.
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