Shravan

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For the month of the Hindu calendar, see Shraavana. For the Nakshatra, see Shravana. For the Indian actor, see Shravan (actor).
Shravan
Dashrath Raja and Shravan.jpg
King Dasharatha and Shravana Kumara
In-universe information
FamilySantanu (father)
Gyanvanti (mother)

Shravana Kumara (Hindi: श्रवण कुमार), mentioned in the ancient Hindu text Ramayana, known for his filial piety towards his parents, was killed accidentally by King Dasharatha.[1]

Filial piety[]

Shravana Kumara's parents, Shantanu and Gyanvanti (Malaya), were hermits. They were both blind. When they became aged, Shravana wanted them to take to the four most sacred places of Hindu pilgrimage to purify the soul. Since Shravana Kumara could not afford the transport, he decided to put each parent in a basket and tie each basket to an end of a bamboo pole, which he would carry on his shoulder while on their pilgrimage.[1]

According to Punjabi folklore, Shravana's mother was distantly related to King Dasharatha as his sister.

Death[]

Dasharatha cremates Shravana and his parents (painting by Laharu of Chamba)

According to the Ramayana, while hunting in the forest of Ayodhya, then-Prince Dasharatha heard a sound near a lake and unleashed an arrow, hoping to hit an animal. When he crossed the lake to collect his kill, he found that his arrow had fatally struck a teenage boy who was bleeding. The injured boy was Shravana, who then told Dasharatha he had come to the lake to collect water for his sick and aged parents, who were both blind and whom he had been carrying on a sling. With his dying breath, Shravana requested Dasharatha to take water to his parents and to tell them what happened.

Shravana then succumbed to his wounds, and when Dasharatha took water for his parents and told them of his tragic mistake, they were unable to bear the shock. Despite acknowledging that it was an accident, they cursed Dasharatha that he too would experience 'Putrashoka' (Sanskrit, 'putra' is child/son and 'shoka' is grief; grief due to loss of a son). Thus Shravana's sick and thirsty parents died without drinking water.[2]

The blind hermit and his wife mourn their son, who was slain accidentally by Dasarath.

This curse turned out to be true when King Dasharatha had to suffer the exile of his eldest and most beloved and Rama who had to be exiled at his own orders (it was actually his second queen Kaikeyi's wish that could not be ignored since he had promised her a boon years back when she had saved his life). So he did it unwillingly.[1]

Legacy[]

Local tradition holds that the place where Shravana died was named 'Sarvan' in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh in India, and the spot where Dasharatha shot his arrow came to be known as 'Sarwara' and the place where Shravana's parents died is called 'Samadha'. An old and dilapidated memorial for Shravana on the banks of the lake is now withering away.[2]

Shrine[]

Mukhed in Nanded district of Maharashtra has a samadhi (shrine) dedicated to Shravana.[3]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c Bhalla, Prem P. (2009). The Story Of Sri Ram. p. 89. ISBN 9788124801918.
  2. ^ a b An unfinished ancient tale. IndiaToday.in. 2008-05-23. Retrieved 2012-09-14.
  3. ^ "Historical significance of Mukhed". NandedOnline.com. Retrieved 2019-08-04.
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