SAGE SAUBHARI
It was the Vedic age and sages from different areas had gathered
on a grand scale to hold a sacrifice. Of them was the son of Sage
Kanva namely Saubhari popularly known as Sobhari to several other
sages. The devout sage glorified Agni, the Fire God in several
hymns sung by him. In some such hymns the sage glorified Agni as
the dear friend of mighty mornings, whose spark is black and
crackling. He also invoked the Ashvin Gods on one such occasion.
Several sages who had seen Sage Saubhari worshipping Agni so
earnestly exclaimed-
Praise Saubhari (attract hither) by a new song the youthful
purifying showerers. Sage Saubhari was well versed in Vedas and
once he set up his hermitage near the Vindhya Mountains. The devout
sage performed several great austerities to attain divine knowledge
on the banks of Kalindi river. In due course, the sage resorted to
a severe penance of 12 years immersed in waters of the river. While
meditating, he observed the fishes in the water one day. The
Sovereign of the fishes named Sammada, of large size had numerous
progeny and he lived a happy life with his children and
grandchildren. On being disturbed mentally, in devotion by their
frolicking, the sage began to have matrimonial thoughts and
forsaking his austerities, he went to the palace of king Mandhata
and sought an alliance to marry his 50 daughters. Mandhata did not
like the appearance of the sage. But at the same time he was in a
dilemma lest he be cursed. So he said that it was the custom of the
family that daughters married their chosen bridegrooms. The sage
realized that it was a mere ploy of Mandhata to avoid giving a
daughter in marriage to an old man. Therefore Sage Saubhari
requested that he be given one chance to meet the daughters of
Mandhata. If anyone wished to marry him, only then he would marry
him else he would go away. Having assumed several forms by his
power of penance, the sage married them and begot 100 sons of each
of them. He summoned the divine architect Vishwakarma and asked him
to build separate palaces for the 50 wives each having its own
ponds, lotuses, swans, beds, seats jewels and so on. One day
Mandhata came to see his daughters and on going to each palace he
found the sage having assumed different forms was happily living
with each of the wives. He fell at the Sages feet and begged
forgiveness.
Once when Sage Saubhari was sacrificing to the Gods with his
family members in Kurukshetra, rats devoured his corn and various
oblations. So he praised Indra, Chitra and Sarasvati. Then, Chitra,
king of rats rejoiced from self satisfaction. Chitra being praised
like a God gave to the seer as many as 1000 cows. The seer accepted
it. Chitra addressed him I do not deserve the praise of a seer
having begotten in an animal womb. Do you rather praise the Gods.
The sage then praised the Gods like Surya, Indra, Soma, Angiras,
Sarama, Agni and Ashvins with several hymns.
One day Sage Saubhari was living with his wife Manomayi in the
forest. A Gandharva named Krauncha set his eyes on the wife of the
sage and was waiting for a chance. Once while Sage Saubhari was
away, she lured him and gave food to the visitor. The sage on
returning back realized the folly and cursed Krauncha to become a
rat. As it proceeded to Sage Parasharas hermitage and started
devouring grain stocks, Lord Ganesha who was at the hermitage
skillfully caught the rat. The rat narrated its tale of woe to the
Lord and mercifully was taken by him as his Vehicle.
After living happily with Mandhatas daughters for several years,
one day the sage realized his folly and contemplated that his
earlier mental devotions were interrupted by attachment to the
fish. The result was his marriage and insatiable desires. Therefore
he again left to perform penance. The sage meditated for
