Thread by @artist_rama

Why are we not taught such great Stories – which are full of ethics & values?

Story of Dhwaja Sthambha – Mahabharata – 14th Book, Ashwamedika parva.

@ReclaimTemples @punarutthana @LostTemple7

After Mahabharata War. Yudhishthira starts donations across the kingdom thinking himself as the greatest Samaritan. Sri Krishna wanted to teach him a lesson. So, advises to perform Ashvamedha Yagam.

Yaga Ashwa along with other Pandavas start moving and all the kings accept the suzerainty of Yudhishthira. It reaches the Manipura Kingdom.

The courageous king of Manipura is MayuraDwaja, A great Devotee of Sri Krishna knows that Ashwa is of Yudhishthira sided by Krishna.

Still MayuraDwaja thinks – to give up is not an element of the brave and stops the Ashwa. He understands stopping Ashwa is stopping his God and Pandavas. His son ThambraDwaja fought and defeated all the Pandavas and message reaches the Yudhishthira.

Yudhishthira at once thinks to start for Manipura. But Krishna has something in his mind – Says MayuraDwaja is invincible so let’s make a plan. Both disguises as old Brahmans and reach Manipura.

MayuraDwaja expresses his desire to facilitates them. Sri Krishna Says – O MayuraDwaja, my Son is caught by a lion on the way, if you can give half part of your body as meat, we can submit it to the lion in return for the Son.

MayuraDwaja happily says yes. But one Condition Krishna Says – You should be cut by your wife & Children - he agrees. Astound by MayuraDwaja’s greatness Yudhishthira observes Tears in left eye of MayuraDwaja and says –

it seems you are not happy doing the “Daanam” and we don’t receive such unsatisfactory “Daanam”. MayuraDwaja Says – “Its not that I am unhappy giving half my body. I am unhappy for my rest of the body is not of any help to you or others and that hurts me”.

Yudhishthira had no words & his ego bubble broke.

Sri Krishna immediately appeared in his VishwaRoopa and granted a boon saying – “You will become Dhwaja Sthambha” in the places where Gods are worshipped and everybody will worship you before Gods.

Without your worship, the worship of Gods is of no gain.
***
Since then Dhwaja Sthambha is part of Temple revered for generations remembering the great sacrifice of "MayuraDwaja"

"Atulya Bharath"

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