Incident 4
In late 14th, early 15th century there lived in Gadag, Karnaatak, a poor Braahman called Naranappa. Later, because of the Mahabharata epic "Karnata Bharata Kathamanjari" that he wrote in Kannada, he came to be called as Kumara Vyasa. His greatest desire was to write Mahaabhaarat based on original sources, and to this end he prayed day-in and day-out in the Temple of Veera Naaraayan, temple of Trikooteshwar. One day the Almighty decided to answer his prayers and appeared in his dream and said: "Attend the forthcoming Dwaadashee Paaran (Dwaadashee feast) in the Veera Naaraayan Temple. Watch out for one lone Braahman who would leave the feast the earliest. He is none other than Ashwathaamaa of MBH. Fall at his feast and ask him to narrate the MBH as it happened. You can record it in writing and claim your share of fame".

Promptly Naranappa attended the following Dwaadashee Paaran at the Veera Naaraayan Temple, and then followed the Braahman who finished his feast the earliest and started walking out of the Temple. He approached him and fell at his feet saying, "Sir, I know who you are, you are the very same Ashwatthaamaa of MBH, please help me". At this Ashwathaamaa was taken aback and asked him how do you know this? Naranappa responded saying "The Veera Naaraayan Swamy" appeared in his dream and told me so. Ashwatthaamaa was mightily pleased hearing this and asked Naranappa, OK, tell me what can I do for you. Naranappa responded saying he would like to write the Mahaabhaarat in Kannada as it happened.

To this Ashwatthaamaa agreed under two conditions. He said that Naranappa should start writing the Mahaabhaarat everyday after he finished his bath, wearing a wet Veshti (Dhotee). Ashwatthaamaa said - "You can keep writing till such time your Veshti is wet and the MBH would flow from your pen as it happened. The moment your clothes dry up, the flow would stop. He also put a condition that he should not disclose this secret to anyone failing which the flow would stop forever. Needless to say, our Naranappa, was immensely excited about the project, and he kept his secret till the time he reached the "Gadaa Parv" (the time when Duryodhan and Bheem fought the duel of the mace fight). At this moment it is believed that Ashwatthaamaa appeared before Naranappa and he was in tears -- remembering his friend Duryodhan and the A-Dhaarmik (unjustified) way in which Bheem defeated Duryodhan. Naranappa overcome with excitement disclosed this secret to his wife, and his writing flow stopped immediately. That is why his Mahaabhaarat ends with Gadaa Parv only. Later someone might have added up from Vyaas' MBH, but our Kumara Vyaas's MBH ended only with Gadaa Parv.

The curse that "Ashwatthaamaa would roam the world carrying his own dead body, with people shunning him, and suffering the pain of the wound on his forehead from where the "Mani" was removed by force", was for 3000 years. 3000 years since Mahabharata is now long passed, and I am sure, Ashwatthaamaa is there somewhere in the Himaalaya, performing Tapasyaa.

Incident 5
Dharmdev and Bhaktimaataa (father and mother of Bhagwan Swaminarayan) were cursed over two hundred years ago by Ashwatthaamaa - son of Drone. This is described in Satsangi Jivan written by Shatanand Muni - He was tall and well built robed in orange clothes as a Braaman. His head was strapped just above his eyebrows and he was covered with Bhasm (ash). He had big red eyes.

Mother Bhakti and father Dharm were on their way back from Vrindaavan where Shree Krishn proclaimed to them that there troubles in Chapaiyaa (village close to the banks of Sarayoo) would soon end after He himself would be born to them. On the way back one night (it took 28 days for them to get back to chapaiyaa village - the birthplace of Swaminarayan Bhagwan), as they walked through the forest they lost there way. They saw a tall Braahman roaming in the forest. They asked him for direction. The Braahman with a deep voice asked where they were coming from as they looked feared. Dharmdev explained that they were a Sarvariyaa Saam Vedee Braahman and his Kuldev was Hanumaan Jee and up on Hanumaan Jee's advice at Hanumaan Garhee -Ayodhyaa (where Dharmdev did Tapascharyaa for 3 months) they went to Vrindaavan. Dharmdev further explained the whole incident as well as telling him how they had a revelation from Lord Krishn and Shreemati Raadhaaraanee in Vrindaavan. With this the Brahmin spoke with anger in his voice "Krishna my arch enemy? Will be born to you? I curse Him for the pain I have borne as of Him, that He as your son will never be able to bear weapons and neither shall he be able to fight in any war."

Saying this he left pushing Dharmdev aside. Bhaktimata started trembling and crying. Just then Hanumaan Jee arrived to them once again and calmed them and showed them the way and told them that they need not fear as God does not need any weapon nor need to fight to rid evil and tyranny.

This incident shows that Ashwatthaamaa is still roaming in forests and jungles of India today. As this was just over 200 odd years ago. [4/6/2005]

Incident 6
My Father's uncle was a famous (Vaidya) - Doctor in Ludhiana. He would spend hours meditating too. He was a Bhakt of Data Dayal, a well Known Guru in Panjaab (try to search for Data Dayal on net). One day as he was closing his shop in the after noon, it was summer time and everything was shut due to summers, in 1968-69, Ludhiaanaa, Panjaab, just then an old person came to him, whose face was covered and spoke to him in crude Panjaabee and Hindi mix, "Badaa naam sunaa hai teraa, bhaut badaa vaidya hai too? Ilaaj kar sakdaa hai meraa?

My father's uncle said - "Tell me what the problem is?" and when he removed the Pagadee from his head, there was a dent on the forehead. He had never seen such a dent before, as if the brain was taken away from the fore front, yet the skin was tight as if nothing had happened. My dad's uncle was a bit nervous but still said that he would like to have a second look at him. He said - "Tenu pataa hai main kaun hoon?" and my dad's uncle said - "I think I know who you are but still let me get my stuff." By the time he brings his stuff from the almirah, that man had left, never to be found again. But he said that his eyes always haunted him, He had blue eyes, which were so sharp as if he would walk inside his brain.
[4/7/2005]