Introduction
Bahlika also called as Vahlika(an incarnation of the great Vishnu Bhagavata, Sri Prahalada), was the famous king of Bahlika kingdom and he lived during the previous Dwapara Yuga. He was very generous in gifting things to others, similar to the great Karna, and hence he was popularly praised by the people as “THE KING WITH GOLDEN HANDS”.
He was the son of Pratipa and Sunanda, and he was the elder brother of Shantanu, who was the great king of the kingdom of Hastinapur. His other brother was Devapi, his consort was Ma Kripavati, and their children were Somadatta and Pauravi. Bahlika bravely fought on the side of the Kaurava army in the Kurukshetra War along with his son Somadatta. He was the oldest warrior who fought in the Mahabharata war.
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After Bahlika was crowned as a king for his Bahlika Kingdom, his marriage took place at his palace, in presence of his parents, brothers, ministers, officials, friends, relatives, well-wishers and the people who were lived in his kingdom.
In the epic Mahabharata, the marriage ceremony of king Bahlika was mentioned as follows:-
The marriage ceremony of king Bahlika and Ma Kripavati took place in a wonderful manner, in presence of lot of people.
During the time, rain was also slightly poured, which adds more sweetness, delightfulness and pleasantness to the event. Apart from the ordinary people, divine people like Narada, Tumburu and Parasurama were also present during the marriage event, and glorified it. Narada and Tumburu were also sung some beautiful songs by playing their musical instrument “TAMBURA”.
Even celestials like Lord Indra, Surya, Chandra, Varuna, Agni and Vayu were assembled on the marriage hall, by taking the form of ordinary Humans, they directly accepted the oblations derived from the fire sacrifices (HOMAMS), and blessed the newly married couple. When the Chief priest had given the sacred knot at the most auspicious time to King Bahlika, he has tied it on the neck of Kripavati, who looked very shy and slightly tensed at that moment, and King Bahlika made her as his everlasting lovely wife. Joyful tears were shed by Ma Kripavati, and she immediately fell down at the feet of her husband, Bahlika, and sought his immediate blessings.
Grand feast were arranged at the marriage hall, and the delicious, nutritious food was properly served and it was taken by all the participants, and tasty food was even served to birds, since they were also eagerly viewed the wonderful marriage event by sitting on the trees, and they also raised a beautiful voice after getting satisfied in eating the nice marriage food!
Their marriage lasted till their end, and when Bahlika was killed by Bhima during the Kurukshetra war, Ma Kripavati fell down at the pyre of her husband Bahlika, and went along with him to the heaven. According to Hindu scriptures, ancient women are considered as very pure and chaste, and some great women rishis are also mentioned in the Vedas, due to their good knowledge in the divine subjects.
Though we could not attend the marriage function of the great King Bahlika, at least, by reading it from the holy epic Mahabharata, we can get the excellent feeling of attending the marriage function.
Nowadays marriages of humans are not lasting for a long period of time. At least by reading about the details of the divine marriages of the noble people, like King Bahlika and Ma Kripavati, from the holy epics like Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bhagavata, the couples would be able to avoid clashes on their life, and would happily live together forever in their life till their last breathe.
“OM SRI KRIPAVATI SAMEDHA SRI BAHLIKA MAHARAJA NAMAHA”
Sent
By
R.HARISHANKAR
