Katyayani the Epitome of Prema Bhakti

Once upon a time, in a place called Charanadri Gadh, lived a young girl called Katyayani. She was a scholar. While in her mother’s womb, she was initiated into Shri Vidya. She became a great scholar in Vedas and Shastras at a young age with the power of Shri Vidya.

She told her father, ‘I will only marry someone who would defeat me in knowledge.’ She was also very beautiful. Many scholars came from all over the world to have a debate with her, hoping to marry her. But no one could succeed. She used to tell whoever failed to remove their turban and leave it behind as a sign of their failure. Her house started filling with such turbans. Her name spread all around, and scholars stopped coming for fear of being defeated.

Her father became worried. She was growing older. He decided to get her married the conventional way. Katyayani flatly refused, saying, ‘No, I will remain unmarried but will not break my vow.’

Once, a saint called Bopadeva was passing by. Katyayani’s father respectfully invited him home and honoured him. When he saw the troubled face of the girl’s father, he asked him, ‘What is wrong?’ He called Katyayani and told the saint about his predicament. The moment the saint saw Katyayani, the entire background flashed through his mind. He said, ‘This is not an ordinary girl. She is divine. Don’t force her to get married. I will come back after some time and have a debate with her, just like that, not for marrying her or anything.’

Bopadeva left, but he left a great influence on Katyayani’s mind. She became obsessed with him and his calm composure. Katyayani was a great artist. She made a painting of Bopadeva and started worshipping him every day, like a god.

After some time, the saint returned. A long debate ensued between Katyayani and Bopadeva. He gave answers to each and every question. At the end of this, Katyayani told him, ‘I want to be with you always. I want to serve you.’ Bopadeva said, ‘That is not possible. I am a brahmachari. My life is surrendered at the lotus feet of Lord Krishna. You may marry someone your father identifies.’ Katyayani said, ‘After this debate with you, will someone ever like to get married? I am not talking about marriage. Let me also know about that Shri Krishna.’

Bopadeva said, ‘Do you know who you are? You are the rebirth of that demoness who chased Ambarisha. The demoness who was born out of the anger of Durvasa. You are the tapa shakti of Durvasa. You had to take birth on Earth because you attacked a devotee of Shri Hari.’ Katyayani fell at the saint’s feet and started weeping. Suddenly, a crescent appeared. In the half-moon, Katyayani could see the beautiful form of Lord Krishna inside it. That form entered through the eyes of Katyayani and settled in her heart. Katyayani closed her eyes firmly so that the image would never go out through her eyes again. Shri Hari was firmly settled in her heart. She started worshipping him throughout. All signs of prema bhakti became visible in Katyayani.

She went to Vrindavana. As soon as she reached Vrindavana, the image of the Lord disappeared from her heart. She started suffering viraha dukkha. She was sitting, sobbing in pain, on the banks of Yamuna. She heard a voice from behind. To her surprise, it was Bopadeva. She pleaded with him, ‘Please help me. The Lord has gone away from me. He is hiding from me.’

Bopadeva said, ‘The other day, what you got was deeksha of prema bhakti. But now, what you need is deeksha of Taraka Mantra. Taraka Mantra will find a solution for your viraha dukkha. Taraka Mantra is Rama Mantra.’ Bopadeva gave her upadesha of Rama Mantra. The moment she got the upadesha, not only her heart but all her seven chakras filled with the image of Shri Hari.

She moved about the streets of Vrindavana, singing his glories, singing his praises. There was so much emotion, love, and devotion in her voice. She is considered the epitome of prema bhakti, just like the Gopikas. And she became one with Shri Hari.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi