Uttara I Uttara I
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UTTA5IKA 816 UTTARA I 4) Uttafika and Dhundhumdra. See under Dhundhumara. Uttanka tied to the branch of a vilva tree the ear-rings at a in deer skin ate vilva fruits. 5 ) Uttanka attained salvation. Uttanka was put up bundled and Just then the place called Ujjalaka. When he became old, he went bundle of deer skin got untied and the ear-rings kept in tour it fell the about visiting many temples. During this one day on ground. A serpent carried off the rings Uttanka saw a hunter in the forest called Gulika between its teeth and concealed itself in a mole-hill. attempting to steal the golden plates on the dome of Highly grieved and upset by the sight, Uttanka fell the Visnu temple in Sauvira. Gulika raised his sword to down from the tree. For 35 days Uttanka dug the mole- kill Uttanka, when he told the former that he would hill. Then Indra felt great sympathy for him, appear- have to suffer the results of sin during many births ed on the spot, and passed his Vajrayudha through the if he committed a sin. This admonition of Uttanka so mole-hill. Then the earth burst open and Uttanka touched the heart of the hunter that he fell dead on the entered Patala through the opening, and a horse, its spot with a repentant heart. Uttanka sprinkled Gariga tail white and the rest of the body black in colour water on the corpse of the hunter, who attained Vai- presented itself to him. It asked Uttanka to blow kuntha (abode of Visnu) . On the advice of Visnu, through its anus. Uttanka did so and the Nagaloka to he did also filled with flames of fire. Uttanka went Badari where tapas and was (The horse was Agnideva) . attained Vaikuntha. (Naradiya Purana). Then did the serpents return the ear-rings to Uttanka, In Chapters 53-58 of Asvamedha Parva of Maha- who returned with it to Gautama and presented it to bharata is related the story of one Uttanka muni, under him (Gautama) as tuition fee. the caption 'Utarikopakhyana'. In Mahabharata 3) Uttanka about to curse Sri Kr$na. Uttanka once went (original) he is referred to as Uttanka; but in its to Dvaraka, and during their talk was about to curse Malayalam rendering he is called Utaiika. There are Krsna for not attempting to bring about a compromise no substantial differences between the story of Uttanka between the Kauravas and the Pandavas. At once and that of Utarika, Veda's disciple. But, since, there Krsna exhibited his Vis"varupa (himself as containing are differences, in certain aspects some information the whole universe) . Thereupon Uttanka saluted Krsna, about the Uttanka of the 'Utankopakhyana' is given who asked him to request for any boon. He prayed for below the boon that water might be made available in any 1) General. Uttanka was a disciple of Gautama, the desert he visited. Krsna told him that whenever he , husband of Ahalya. The guru had more love for required water he might successfully think of him. Uttanka than for his other disciples, and therefore did 4) Indra tested Uttanka. Some time afterwards, while not permit the latter to leave the As"rama even after roaming about quite thirsty and tired in a desert, the other disciples were sent away. Uttanka became Uttanka thought about Krsna, and at once there ap- old wrinkles attacked his and his before him a naked his ; body greyness head. peared Candala, body covered 2) Tuition fee (Gurudakfind). Uttanka once returned with mud. Dogs encircled him. Uttanka hesitated to from the woods with firewood, in a very tired condition. drink the water given to him by this Candala, who had The daughter of the guru shed tears at the sight. some water with him. The Candala again insisted on Gautama called Uttanka to him and asked him about Uttanka drinking the water, but he again refused the the cause of his grief and sorrow. Uttanka replied that offer. The candala then disappeared with the dogs. the hairs on his head turned grey on account of sorrow Within a few minutes a person with disc, conch, club that he was not permitted to leave the Asrama although etc. about him appeared, and Uttanka recognised him it was hundred years since he had gone there first as as Sri Krsna. Uttanka told Krsna that it was not disciple. Then Gautama permitted Uttanka to quit the proper to give water to a brahmin through a candala. Ai'.rama. Uttanka asked Gautama what he should Krsna's reply to this was as follows: "I asked Indra to offer as tuition fee. Gautama consulted his wife on the give you nectar instead of water, and he argued that it topic and she suggested as tuition fee the two ear-rings was not proper that men should be given nectar. I of gems worn by the wife of King Saudasa, who used pleaded for you again. Indra replied to this that he to eat the flesh of man. Immediately Uttanka set out himself would, in the guise of a candala give nectar to to fetch the ear-rings and on his way met Saudasa in you, and he should not be found fault with, if you the forest, and told the latter about his mission. Sau- relused the nectar. I accepted that proposition of his. dasa tried to eat Uttanka, who told him that he was But, you did not accept nectar thus offered to you. So, in duty bound to obtain the ear-rings for his guru's you cannot be given nectar now. But, there will appear wife and that, after fulfilling the mission, he would water-laden clouds in deserts which you traverse, which return to Saudasa to be eaten up by him. Saudasa would be known as 'Uttanka clouds' and they would agreed to the proposition. He directed Uttanka to his give you sweet water. wife Madayanti, who spoke to him thus "Devas and Uttanka was pleased, and it is the Uttanka clouds, Maharsis covet these ear-rings. If I place them on the which form as per the above orders of Krsna that cause will steal if rain to in deserts even ground, serpents them ; handed over to fall, though rarely, today. Ucchista, Yaksas will steal them, and if the watchman UTTARA I. The son of King Virata of Matsya. sleeps, Devas will snatch them off. Therefore, you Mention is made in the Mahabharata, Virata Parva, should bring some token for me to believe that you are Chapter 35, Stanza 9 that Bhuminjaya was another deputed by my husband." Accordingly Uttanka went name of Uttara. Uttara also accompanied his father back to Saudasa and returned to his wife with a token Virata, when he went to take part in the Svayarhvara from him, and Madayanti handed over her ear-rings to (choice of a husband) ofDraupadl. (M.B. Adi Parva, Uttanka. Being told by Saudasa that Uttanka need Chapter 185, Stanza 3). not return again to him, Uttanka started for Gautama's 2) Uttara and Arjuna. Seethe paragraph Ajnatavasa as"rama with the ear-rings. Feeling hungry on the way, under Arjuna,.