Vashista to Vishwamitra Is the Bridge That Connects Me to Us

The story of Rishi Vishwamitra’s feud with Rishi Vashista from the Hindu Puranas (mythology) provides a brilliant metaphor for the relationship between the people in our world and us. The story goes that one day, during a hunting expedition, the powerful King Kaushik came across the ashram (hermitage) of Brahmarishi Vashista (Seer of the Supreme Reality). He was mesmerized by Vashista’s Kamadhenu (the wish-fulfilling cow), who could feed the King and his entire retinue at a moment's notice. He first requested and then demanded the cow, but Vashista apologized for not being able to meet the King’s request because only a Brahmarishi could have a wish-fulfilling cow. After being defeated by Vashista in a fight to get possession of Kamadhenu, Kaushik was consumed with anger, envy, and vengeance. Finally, after decades of arduous penance, Lord Brahma blessed Kaushik with the title of Maharishi Vishwamitra, one degree lower than Brahmarishi. Lord Brahma stipulated that if Kaushik wanted to be a Brahmarishi, he must seek the blessings of Vashista. Kaushik had undergone unimaginable austerities to be able to be one up on Vashista, only to end up having to acknowledge the superiority of Vashista all over again! His ego couldn’t handle this, and he wanted to kill Vashista once and for all. However, when he went to Vashsita’s ashram, he overheard Vashista telling his wife that finally, Vishwamitra had proved himself worthy of being a Brahmarishi, and he was waiting to meet to confer the title of Brahmarishi on him. When he heard these words, Vishwamitra fell at the feet of Vashista, begging for forgiveness. Vashista picked up Vishwamitra and blessed him with the title of Brahmarishi. And in that state of indescribable ecstasy, when Vishwamitra didn't care about the title anymore, the Gayatri Mantra was revealed to him by the Universe. 

Let’s unpack the story to understand what messages it conveys in the context of relationships. Read and focus on the story to get a relationship life coaching.

The Pauranic stories hide deep wisdom in the form of incongruent details that sound ridiculous if interpreted literally. Although this story has many lessons to be learned, this article will focus on four significant events relevant to understanding the relationship between us and others. First, why did Lord Brahma insist that only Vashista could confer the title of Brahmarishi on Vishwamitra? Second, why did Vashista say that only a Brahmarishi could own a wish-fulfilling cow? Third, why did Kaushik have to go through all those trials and tribulations to become Vishwamitra? Fourth, why was the Gayatri Mantra revealed to Vishwamitra and not Vashista? 

Only Vashista Can Confer The Title Of Brahmarishi On Vishwamitra

When Vishwamitra was known for his feud with Vashista, why did Lord Brahma state that Vishwamitra had to get the blessings of Vashista to become a Brahmarishi? To understand the psychological significance, we must understand the Sanskrit meaning of these names. Vashista means “one who is self-aware and in control of himself,” and Vishwamitra means “one who is a friend of the entire world.” It is important to understand that Vashista and Vishwamitra are not two different people but rather two aspects of a person. As long as we are conflicted within, we cannot have a healthy relationship with other people. Success in all our relationships depends on confidence in our competence and character. Whatever disturbs and upsets us in other people are aspects we need to work on and overcome for our freedom and the growth of our relationships. So, in the process of being a Brahmarishi, the Vashista stage precedes the Vishwamitra stage.

The “blessing of Vashista” symbolizes that only a self-realized person (Vashsita) can give rise to a Vishwamitra, a person who is a friend of the world. The final barrier to self-realization is our ego. So Vishwamitra needed to get Vashista’s blessing as a sign that he had sublimated his ego before he could become a Brahmarishi. Ultimately, the foundation for any relationship begins with the experience of our oneness with the Universe, followed by the realization that this universal essence is within each of us. In the language of Vedanta, Rishi Vashista is the personification of the spiritual truth “Aham Brahmasmi” (I Am the Universe), and Rishi Vishwamitra is the personification of its corollary “Sarvam Khalvidam Brahman” (the Universe is within each one of us).

The essence of this story is to proclaim that self-mastery is foundational to maintaining good relationships with all others. Now, we can see why Vishwamitra had to overcome his feud with Vashista by seeking his blessings before he could become a Brahmarishi.

Only A Brahmarishi Can Own A Wish-FulFilling Cow

It is natural to wonder that if Vashista was such a self-realized person (Brahmarishi), why was he so attached to his wish-fulfilling cow? Why couldn't he give it to his King, who could have more uses for it to serve his kingdom? To understand Vashist’s statement, we must understand the spiritual concept of wish fulfilment. Kamadhenu is the mythical cow of plenty who could give her owner whatever they desired. She was one of the magical things brought to light in the Churning of the Milky Ocean and was gifted to Vashista by Lord Brahma. 

The Churning of the Milky Ocean is an allegorical representation of the introspection and reflection we have to undergo to realize our infinite powers and immortal nature. This emotional and spiritual seeking at first gives rise to Halaahal, the poison in the form of our hitherto unprocessed fears, anxieties, resentment, insecurities, etc. Once we can acknowledge, confront, and release these emotional poisons, we can access the many precious gifts that lie untapped within us. The gifts from this churning were given to the appropriate recipients based on their worthiness and ability to make the best use of them. Lord Brahma gifted Kamadhenu to Brahmarishi Vashsita in recognition that only one who is self-aware and in perfect control of his thoughts and feelings can manifest his wishes.

Vashista’s statement is a recognition of the fact that we alone possess the power and the responsibility to fulfil our wishes. Wish fulfilment has to come from within, and no one can gift it. What we are attracted to in other people is something we feel lacking in ourselves. The solution is to find/develop these aspects in ourselves and bring them to the relationship instead of expecting others to complete or fulfil us. The good news is that we already possess the ability to experience the love, respect, and validation that we seek from our relationships. We just need to know how to discover it within ourselves. The only wish-fulfilling tools we need are an independent will, creative imagination, and self-awareness which is the domain of a Brahmarishi.

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The Trials On The Journey from King Kaushik To Brahmarishi Vishwamitra

After failing to get Kamadhenu from Rishi Vashista, King Kaushik was convinced that Brahma Vidya (power that comes from self-realization) was more powerful than Shastra Vidya (power that comes from control of the external world). Kaushik resolved to develop the same kind of power to avenge himself. He was originally motivated by greed, anger, lust, and ego. The trials were tests he had to overcome to become a Brahmarishi.

It is important to note that as long as Kaushik (hidden treasure of self-love) resisted Vashista (establishing victory over the self), he fell for the traps set by anger, lust, ambition, and vengeance. He had to overcome these negative qualities to become Brahmarishi Vishwamitra. The only one completely in control of himself can be a true friend to the world.

The personal transformational journey from King Kaushik to Brahmarishi Vishwamitra requires tremendous personal struggle and sacrifice of pride and ego. We must bring an acute awareness to and control over our character and integrity with painstaking effort, patience, and persistence. Self-mastery is not a quick fix. To get victory over ourselves, we have to conquer the Shadripu (six enemies) of the mind, which are - Kama (desires), Krodha (anger), Lobha (greed), Moha (attachment), Mada (arrogance), Matsarya (jealousy). And, we will need a strong will and self-awareness to conquer these internal demons that limit us.

The Vashista-Vishwamitra relationship equation is inside-out and not outside-in. Our relationships don't define us, and they mirror us. The greatest gift we can give to others is to help them discover who they are. And the only way to do that is to first discover who we are - Brahmarishi Vashista. This formula of an inside-out approach to successful relationships is reiterated in the Jaya-Vijaya (the two doormen who guard the entrance to Lord Vishnu) metaphor from Hindu mythology. Here again, it is suggested that to be one with the universal power (Lord Vishnu), we have to first go through the threshold of Jaya (victory over ourselves) and then Vijaya (victory over others) and not the other way around. It is imperative to first conquer our insecurities and experience self-love and self-worth. Only then can we afford to love, forgive, and understand others unconditionally.

To become a Brahmarishi, we have to get victory over the six internal enemies. Kaushik’s many trials and tribulations are the processes of establishing this private victory. This private victory (Jaya) eventually enables us to get victory over all external circumstances (Vijaya), as was symbolized by Vashista’s invincibility against the might of King Kaushik’s royal army.

Why Was The Gayatri Mantra Revealed To Vishwamitra And Not Vashista

Only when Vishwamitra acknowledged the superiority of Vashista was he able to access one of the greatest gifts to mankind - the Gayatri Mantra, a tool capable of granting self-realization to anyone who wants liberation from limitations. Vashista is the state of being when one has already gained enlightenment through self-realization and, thus, does not need any tool for liberation. We cannot give others what we do not have ourselves, and the desire to share it with others arises only after experiencing a sense of inner joy. As we awaken our Vashista nature, we cannot but welcome the Vishwamitra in us. Thus, we can understand why Vishwamitra, and not Vashista, received a tool that could help others experience self-realization. 

CONCLUSION

It is important to remember that our most important relationship is the relationship we have with ourselves. All other relationships are a reflection of us. How we relate to ourselves determines how we relate to anyone. When our security comes from within, we care more about other people’s opinions because they are not vital to our sense of personal worth. We need to understand that nobody can make us happy, which was why Vashista stated that only a Brahmarishi could have a wish-fulfilling cow. If we look for love, approval, and happiness from outside sources, we are doomed to be disappointed. 

Only when we have an intrinsic sense of self-worth can we truly appreciate the caring, love, and gifts from others without being dependent on them. Only when we cultivate the inner bliss of Vashista can we give rise to the Vishwamitra inside us who can relate to all as friends. That evolution is reflected in King Kaushik’s journey from wanting vengeance to finally being able to sublimate his ego. However, at the start of our journey to become a Brahmarishi, we must have a Kaushik-like ego to persevere through the tremendous trials and tribulations on the path to self-realization. 

Ultimately, the story of Vashista and Vishwamitra teaches us that the foundation of all relationships is “Sat-Chit-Ananda” (awareness of our inner bliss). With that comes the realization that what is in you is also in everybody, and what you cannot find inside you cannot be given to you by anybody.

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