KAMADHENU-DIVINECOW- MORE THINKING Dear friends,
We read about Kamadhenu, the divine cow appeared duringchurning of Milky Ocean. Itwas given to sage Vasistha. This was during Sathya Yuga. Again Kamadhenu appear with sage Vasistha in the Threta Yuga.It reaches sage Jamadagni. During the war with Kartha Veerarjuna it leaves to Goloka. Natural doubts how Kamdhenu had incarnations, whether itlived through Yugas, how it reached sage Jamadagni etc. points are clarified asQA in Google AI mode. Hope an interesting reading to normal members. Again this posting is least intended to all-knowing and simply query raising members. Hope an interesting reading. Gopalakrishnan 13-02-2026 Q Kamadhenu thedivine cow appeared during churning of Milky ocean during Sathya Yuga. How the divine cow came to sage Jamadagni? A According toHindu scriptures, there are several accounts of how the divine cow Kamadhenu(also known as Surabhi) came to be in the possession of Sage Jamadagni. The most commontraditions are: Gift from Lord Indra: One popular version states thatSage Jamadagni received Kamadhenu as a gift from Lord Indra, the king of thegods, to help him perform his sacred duties and provide nourishment for hisguests. Bestowed by the Saptarishi: After emerging from the churning ofthe milky ocean (Samudra Manthan), Kamadhenu was presented to the Saptarishi(the seven great sages) by the gods. Over time, she came into the custody of sages like Vashistha andJamadagni. Reward for Penance: Some accounts, such as theBrahmanda Purana, mention that Kamadhenu (specifically the version named Sushila) was given toJamadagni by the original Surabhi from the realm of Goloka as a result of hisintense spiritual practices. Another tradition suggests she was acquired after years ofrigorous penance. Q Did Kamdhenu/Susila –incarnation of Kamadhenureached the King Kartha Veerjua? A The Legend of Jamadagni and Kartavirya Arjuna The presence of Kamadhenu at Jamadagni's ashram is central tothe story of his son, Parashurama. Divine Hospitality: When the thousand-armed kingKartavirya Arjuna visited Jamadagni’s hermitage, the sage used Kamadhenu to provide a lavish banquetfor the entire royal army. Conflict and Theft: Struck by the cow's power, the king(or his minister) tried tobuy or seize her. When Jamadagni refused to part with her, the king's men forcibly took the cow or her calf. Parashurama's Vengeance: This act of theft led Parashuramato slay the king, which eventually triggered a larger conflict where Jamadagni was killed,prompting Parashurama towipe out the Kshatriya warrior race twenty-one times. Q Why Kamadhenucould not defeat Karthaveerajuna, as it did with king Viswamithra? A The reasonKamadhenu did not defeat Kartavirya Arjuna as she did with King Vishwamitralies in the specific divine boons and identity of the thousand-armed king,which made him an opponent far more powerful than Vishwamitra was at the timeof their encounter. 1. The Power ofDattatreya’s Boons Unlike Vishwamitra, who was a powerful but mortal king whenhe attacked Sage Vashistha's ashram, Kartavirya Arjuna was a supreme devotee ofLord Dattatreya (an incarnation of the Trinity). From Dattatreya, he received severalextraordinary boons: A Thousand Arms: These arms provided him withimmense physical strength and the ability to wield hundreds of weaponssimultaneously. Invincibility: He was blessed to be undefeatable byanyone except a direct incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Sudarshana ChakraIncarnation: ManyPuranas, such as the Narada Purana and Brahmanda Purana, state that Kartavirya Arjuna was actually the human incarnation of Vishnu’sSudarshana Chakra. Because he was a portion of the Divine himself, acelestial being like Kamadhenu could not easily overcome him through force. 2. Differences in theConflict Vishwamitra vs. Vashistha: When Vishwamitra tried to seizeKamadhenu (Sabala), she produced an army of warriors (Pahlavas, Yavanas,Shakas) from her body to annihilate his forces. At this stage,Vishwamitra had no divine boons and relied solely on physical military power,which the divine cow could easily match. Kartavirya Arjuna vs.Jamadagni: In manyversions of the legend, Kamadhenu chose not to fight to avoidfurther bloodshed at the sacred hermitage. In the Padma Purana, she actually defeats his army butthen flies off to heaven to escape the king's greed, rather than engaging in aprotracted war. In other versions, the king (or his minister) wait until Parashurama—theonly one capable of defeating him—is away from the ashram before striking. 3. The Divine Purpose(Leela) The defeat of KartaviryaArjuna was destined to be the task of Parashurama (the 6th Avatar of Vishnu). Had Kamadhenu defeated the king,the primary reason for Vishnu's incarnation as Parashurama—to cleanse the worldof arrogant and corrupt Kshatriyas—would not have been fulfilled. Kartavirya Arjuna was a legendary king of an ancient ... 17 Sept 2020 — Kartavirya Arjuna was a legendary king of anancient Haihayas kingdom with capital at Mahishmati which is on the banks ofNarmada ... Facebook · Anand Neelakantan Q Did Kamdhenuflew to Goloka or she was took away from sage Jamadagni? A According tovarious Puranic accounts, the fate of the divine cow (often specifically namedSushila, the sister of the original Kamadhenu) differs between her fleeing tothe heavens or being taken by force. The Two Main Traditions She Flew to theHeavens (Brahmanda and Padma Purana) In these versions, when the forces of King Kartavirya Arjuna(led by his minister Chandragupta) attempted to seize her by force, the divine cow became enraged. Sheused her horns to route the soldiers and then ascended to the sky, disappearingback into the celestial realms or Goloka to escape capture. However, in this version, the king's men managed to captureher calf and took it back to their capital, Mahishmati, which still triggeredthe wrath of Parashurama. She Was Taken by Force (Mahabharata and Bhagavata Purana) The earlier and more widely known versions state that theking or his army successfullyabducted the cow herself. They destroyed Jamadagni's hermitage,struck the sage, and forcibly led the crying cow (and her calf) away to theirkingdom. In this narrative,Parashurama had to travel to Mahishmati, defeat the king, and physically bringthe cow back to his father's ashram. Comparison of the Outcomes Source Outcome forKamadhenu/Sushila Outcome for the Calf Brahmanda Purana Escapedto the sky/heavens. Padma Purana Flewaway to the heavens after defeating the army. Usuallyescapes or is not the focus. Bhagavata Purana Capturedby the king's forces. Captured alongsidethe cow. Captured and taken toMahishmati. Mahabharata Abducted after the ashram was destroyed. Abductedby Kartavirya Arjuna. In most traditions, regardless of whether the cow herself wastaken or she escaped to the heavens, the theft of the calf or the insult to thesage was the direct cause for Parashurama's vow to eliminate the Kshatriyawarrior race. Q ConsideringBhagavatham as most authentic, Kamadhenu was brought back to Jamadagni Ashram.What happened afterwards? In the Bhagavata Purana (Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 9, Chapter15), the return of Kamadhenu to the ashram marks a pivotal moment of moral conflictand tragedy that eventually leads to the near-extinction of the warrior class. Here is what happened after Parashurama brought Kamadhenuback to Sage Jamadagni: Jamadagni’s Reprimand: Instead of praising his son,Jamadagni was deeply upset. He told Parashurama that by killing theking—who is considered an embodiment of the demigods—he had committed a grave sin. He reminded Parashuramathat the duty of a Brahmana is forgiveness, which is as illuminating as thesun. Atonement andPilgrimage: To atone forthe sin of killing Kartavirya Arjuna, Jamadagni ordered Parashurama to visitvarious holy places for one full year. Parashurama strictly followed hisfather's command and left the ashram for his pilgrimage. The Murder ofJamadagni: WhileParashurama was away, the sons of Kartavirya Arjuna came to the ashram seekingrevenge. Finding Jamadagni alone in deep meditation, they brutallymurdered him, cutting off his head and carrying it away as a trophy. The Vow of Genocide: When Parashurama returned and saw hisfather’s body, his mother, Renuka, beat her breast 21 times in grief. Thisdrove Parashurama to vow to rid the world of the arrogant Kshatriya race 21times over. The Final Fate of theFamily: Afterannihilating the Kshatriyas, Parashurama rejoined his father's head tohis body and performed sacred sacrifices. Through divine grace,Jamadagni was revived and eventually promoted to the status of a celestialbeing in the Saptarishi-mandala(the Great Bear constellation). Kamadhenu, having served her purpose in the ashram and thedivine play (leela), isgenerally understood to have returned to the celestial realms or continued toserve the resurrected Jamadagni in his higher planetary abode. Q. While Parasurama was blessed to be chranjeevi by sage Jamadagni,it would have remained with sage Parasurama? A Actually, you’ve hit on a very insightful point. WhileParashurama is indeed a Chiranjeevi (an immortal who lives through the Yugas),the presence of Kamadhenu changes significantly as the eras progress. According to the Srimad Bhagavatam (Canto 9), here is why she wasn't "inherited" by Parashurama in the way aphysical asset would be: The Nature of the Cow: Kamadhenu is a Divya-Shakti (divineenergy) rather than a mere animal. She resides in the ashram of a Sage only as long as they are performing specific Yagyas (sacrifices) orduties that require her celestial providence. Parashurama’sLifestyle: After thedeath and resurrection of his father, Parashurama did not continue thelife of a householder-sage (Grihastha). He became a Yati (ascetic) and awarrior-priest. He gave away all his land and possessions to Sage Kashyapaduring a great sacrifice and retired to Mahendra Mountains for intensemeditation. Since he no longer maintained a large sacrificialkitchen or guest-hostel, the "need" for Kamadhenu at his side ended. Return to the Heavens: Once Jamadagni ascended to theSaptarishi-mandala (the constellation of the seven sages), Kamadhenu returned to heroriginal abode in Goloka or Indraloka. In Hindu cosmology, thesedivine beings appear on Earth for a specific Leela (divine play) and departonce the purpose is served. Q Did Kamadhenu was there in Treta Yuga? A She was, but in a different "deployment." In theRamayana (which also takes place in Treta Yuga), we see a version of Kamadhenu(often called Sabala or Nandini) in the ashram of Sage Vashistha. This led to the famous conflict with King Vishwamitra, whichmirrored the one between Jamadagni and Kartavirya Arjuna. This confirms that while the Chiranjeevi Parashurama remained on Earth,the divine cow moved to where she was most needed by the Sages of that era. Interesting Fact: Parashurama eventually gave up hisweapons and his "active" role after his encounter with Lord Rama,handing over the divine responsibility of the world's protection to the Raghudynasty. Q Confusing- Vasistha was foremostamong Sapatharshies in Sathyayuga. Kamadhenu was with him during Sathya Yuga. DidJamadagni was a sage of sathya yuga?. It was earlier told she left to Golokaafter war with Kartha Veeryarjuna. Didkamadhenu came back to Vasistha in threthayuga? It is perfectly natural tofeel confused by this,as Puranic timelines often overlap and the name "Kamadhenu" is usedboth for a specific individual and a "type" of divine being. According to the SrimadBhagavatam and the Brahma Purana, here is how to reconcile these events: 1. Multiple"Kamadhenus" (The Lineage) The original Kamadhenu (Surabhi) stayed in the celestialrealms. The cows found in the ashrams of Vashistha and Jamadagni were often herdaughters or incarnations. Nandini (or Sabala) isthe famous daughter ofKamadhenu who resided with Sage Vashistha. Sushila is often thename given to the specific divine cow bestowed upon Sage Jamadagni. 2. The Shift of Eras (YugaSandhi) Jamadagni and Kartavirya Arjuna lived during the TretaYuga, not Satyayuga.While Vashistha is indeed one of the Saptarishis who exists across all Yugas,his conflict with Vishwamitra over the divine cow also takes place in the TretaYuga, specifically during the early life of Lord Rama. 3. Did Kamadhenu"come back" from Goloka? She did not necessarily move from Jamadagni to Vashistha.Rather: With Vashistha: Nandini remained with him as his permanentspiritual companion to assist with his duties as the Guru of the Ikshvaku dynasty. With Jamadagni: Sushilawas given to him for a specific period. After the tragedy and Jamadagni's ascension to theSaptarishi-mandala, she returned to Goloka. The Resolution The "Kamadhenu" that Kartavirya Arjuna tried tosteal and the "Kamadhenu" that Vishwamitra tried to steal were two different divine cows(mother/daughter orsisters) living in two different ashrams at roughly the same time in history(Treta Yuga). Jamadagni's cow departed to the heavens after theconflict. Vashistha's cow remained on Earth to witness the marriageof Lord Rama and the transformation of Vishwamitra into a Brahmarishi. Q In summary- Original Kamadhenu appeared was given to sage Vasistha during Sathya yuga. It's incarnation was with sage Vasistha in Tretha yuga. Another incarnation was given to sage Jamadagni- Confirm To confirm your summary, it aligns well with the broaderPuranic tradition, though with a few vital clarifications regarding the"identity" of the divine cows in each ashram. Original Kamadhenu (Surabhi): Confirmed ✅. She emerged during the SamudraManthan (Churning of the Milky Ocean). The gods presented her to the Saptarishi(Seven Sages) collectively, and she eventually came into the custody of SageVashistha during the Satyayuga. Incarnation with SageVashistha in Treta Yuga:Confirmed ✅. In the Treta Yuga (the era of theRamayana), the divine cowin Vashistha's ashram is often specifically named Nandini (or Sabala).She is described as the daughter of the original Kamadhenu and possessed thesame wish-fulfilling powers. Incarnation to SageJamadagni: Confirmed✅. Sage Jamadagni was gifted a divinecow named Sushila (or sometimes referred to as Kamadhenu). The Brahmanda Puranaexplicitly states that Sushila was an incarnation or sister of the originalKamadhenu, sent from Goloka to assist him. Summary of Lineage Era Sage Divine Cow Name Relationshipto Original Satyayuga Vashistha Kamadhenu (Surabhi) The Original (from Ocean Churning) Treta Yuga Vashistha Nandini (Sabala) Daughter of Kamadhenu Treta Yuga Jamadagni Sushila Sister/Incarnationof Kamadhenu Q So Kamadhenuincarnated once in Theta yuga. It was with sage Vasistha. Another incarnation came to sage Jamadagni. On war with karthaveerarjua, she flew back to Goloka. In Dwapara yuga there was no incarnation. Am I correct? You are partially correct, but there are a few importantdetails to adjust regarding the "lineage" and presence of the divinecow across the Yugas. 1. Multiple Incarnationsin Treta Yuga It is more accurate to say there were multiple"daughters" or incarnations of Kamadhenu (Surabhi) present on Earthduring the Treta Yuga simultaneously, rather than a single cow moving from onesage to another. With Sage Vashistha: He was in possession of Nandini (alsocalled Sabala), the daughter of the original Kamadhenu. With Sage Jamadagni: Hewas in possession of Sushila, who is described as a sister or an incarnation ofthe original Kamadhenu sent from Goloka. The Difference: The cow that fought Vishwamitra (Nandini)and the cow involved in the conflict with Kartavirya Arjuna (Sushila) weredistinct individuals living in different ashrams. 2. War with KartaviryaArjuna You are correct that after the conflict, the divine cow(Sushila) departed. In the Padma Purana and Brahmanda Purana, she flies back tothe heavens (Goloka) to escape the king's greed. However, in the Bhagavata Purana, Parashurama physicallyretrieves her from the king's capital and brings her back to the ashram beforeshe eventually returns to the celestial realm after Jamadagni's death andresurrection. 3. Presence in DwaparaYuga While there is no famous story of a King trying to steal adivine cow from a Sage in the Dwapara Yuga, Kamadhenu did have a presence: Krishna’s Leela: In the Devi Bhagavata Purana, Lord Krishna is said to havecreated a version of Kamadhenu (Surabhi) and a calf (Manoratha) in Vrindavanfor his pastimes. The Gita: In the Bhagavad Gita (10.28),Krishna declares, "Among cows, I am Kamadhuk (Kamadhenu)," affirmingher eternal spiritual status during that era. Symbolism of Dharma: Traditionally, it is said that theBull of Dharma (closely linked to the divine cow) stood on two legs during theDwapara Yuga, representing the further decline of morality compared to theTreta Yuga. Summary Table ofTimeline Era Primary Sage Divine Cow Final Fate Satya Yuga Vashistha Original Kamadhenu Returned toGoloka/Patala. Treta Yuga Vashistha Nandini (Daughter) Remained as theGuru's companion. Treta Yuga Jamadagni Sushila (Incarnation) Flew back to Goloka after the war. Dwapara Yuga Krishna Surabhi (Re-manifested) Central to thecowherd culture of Vraja. Q by AI- Ask Anything? A No -My doubts are cleared. Thank you AI-You're very welcome! It’s quite a journey to trace thelineage of these divine beings across the Yugas, but it seems you’ve successfully piecedtogether the puzzle of how Sushila and Nandini played their roles in the livesof the great sages. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. 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