You just can’t live without Shantanu
Every character in the Mahabharata has a mysterious significance and pragmatic relevance. Shantanu is the great grandfather of the Kauravas and the Pandavas. He comes from the Bharat race. He was the youngest son of King Pratipa of Hastinapura and had been born in the latter's old age. However, his birth has been the result of the Creator’s curse to King Mahabhisha in His court when instead of worshipping Him he looked at Ganga, also present in the court, when the wind blew her saree off her breasts. Later, Mahabhisha was born as Shantanu. He married Ganga on the condition that he wouldn’t question any of her actions. However, he found her throwing babies into the Ganga. He couldn’t hold it and questioned her when she did it with the eighth son. The eighth son was Bheeshma. Ganga left Shantanu. Shantanu later married Satyawati, who came to be known as Bheeshma’s stepmother. Satyawati too had a son from Parashar, named Ved Vyas. Vyas was the father of Dhritrashtra, Pandu and Vidura. We all know this.
Real import: But, this is history. Shantanu (Shant + Anu) in Sanskrit means part of Vishnu in human form to work out the Creator’s curse. What is the Creator’s curse? In the case of King Mahabhisha, who was reborn as Shantanu, the cause of the curse was Ganga. Instead of worshipping the Creator in the latter’s court, he developed sensuality for Ganga. Ganga in Sanskrit means “the ever-flowing primordial vibration”. She is the Mother of eight entities (Ashta Vasus). The Creator’s curse is the blessing for sub-creation (anuprakriti). That is why He sends the part Purush (Shant + Anu) to create through Ganga in the finite dimension. Ganga begets eight children (eight vasus), seven of them she dumps in the Ganga—means reabsorbs in Her vibratory impulse. But, Bheeshma, the ego or Dhruva, remains on the earth to serve His purpose. I have already discussed in the Bheeshma blog how ego never dies and is a constant (Dhruva) entity in the created dimension. Therefore, the first wife of Shantanu is Ganga—that Supreme Primordial Vibration, which begets Bheeshma (ego) and resumes Her infinite flow. When Purusha and infinite Prakriti meet then finite existence, that is ego is created. Ego is what gives us separating individuality. Shantanu then marries Satyawati (apara prakriti, finite, real, visible nature). Satyawati, who has also been referred to in the Mahabharata as Kali, is in fact the finite dimension of Ganga, nothing else. She retains the primordial link with the Ganga. That is the reason why Bheeshma always treats her, obeys her as a son, except for begetting children from Vichitravirya’s wives.
That is the nature of Dhruva or ego—it doesn’t leave its assumed stand and it goes on life after life, body after body to realise its betrothed idea. But, who is Shantanu in our body-mind system? He is the silent witness in our system. He is behind every movement, every action, every thought which synchronises, coordinates and harmonises everything in out nature. He is that part of Krishna who remains as Adhiyagya ( the principle harmoniser) in our body-mind system. Without Him nothing will work—no Mahabharata will take place! That means no activity in the brain system (Mahat) and body system (Bharat) will work without Shantanu.
Example: Have you ever thought how electricity is generated? It is generated at the dam at 10,000 volts and stepped down to 440 volts and further to 220 volts to make your household appliances work. The power symbolised the primordial vibration—Ganga. But, the transformer which steps it down to suite and maintain your consumption level is called Shantanu. It is through Shantanu that your body cells continue to receive regulated supply. Therefore, the power vibrating from the source is Ganga. The power running in the supply lines is Satyawati and the regulating transformer is Shantanu. Krishna says in chapter 8, shlok 4 second line —“I am the inside witness and regulator in the body, O the owner of a well-regulated body (Arjuna).” I can only say Krishna is simply amazing. Just imagine why the regulation through the regulator is required? The arrangement has been made to ensure your safety. Imagine if 10,000 volts enter your system? You will just blow up. The regulation is directly proportional to Bheeshma in you. The amoeba will get this supply in accordance with its Bheeshma and a Brahman, according to his. Remember one thing, ego is your identity and posing somebody else's identity as yours, is ahamkaar. If a mouse says 'I am a mouse' then it is his ego (his identity). But, if the mouse says 'I am a lion', then it is ahamkaar (false ego).
Takeaway: Please don’t ignore the Shantanu in you—or your body-mind hormonal balance, nutrition cycles and energy distribution mechanism may go unregulated. That means respect and remember Shantanu, the inner regulator of the body mind system. Through regulated action, prayers, entertainment and sleep, you can please the Shantanu in you.
Next: Who is Satyawati?
Vivek Sharma
Vivek Sharma