Hindu Philosophy and Temple System for APPSC Executive Officer · Chapter 3

Bhagavatham

What to remember

The Bhagavata Purana has 12 Skandhas (cantos). It is one of the 18 Mahapuranas. It is traditionally credited to Vyasa and is narrated by Shuka to King Parikshit.
The tenth Skandha is the story of Krishna. It is the most popular and the longest part.
The Telugu Bhagavatam was written by Pothana (Bammera Pothana, 15th century). It is closely linked with Vontimitta in Andhra Pradesh.

The text and its telling

The Bhagavata Purana is a Vaishnava text that stresses bhakti (devotion). It has around 18,000 verses.
Frame story: King Parikshit was cursed to die by a snake bite (by Takshaka) in seven days. He sat on the bank of the Ganga and heard the Bhagavata from sage Shuka (son of Vyasa) over seven days. This is the "Bhagavata Saptaha".
It was retold by Suta to the sages led by Shaunaka at Naimisharanya.
Pothana, called Sahaja Pandita, wrote the Andhra Maha Bhagavatam. Tradition says he declined to dedicate it to a king and offered it to Lord Rama. His Bhagavatam is famous for its verses and for the stories of Gajendra, Prahlada, Vamana and Rukmini Kalyanam. Pothana is also credited with Veerabhadra Vijayam and Bhogini Dandakam.
Other Bhagavata traditions are linked with Vallabhacharya and Chaitanya.

The twelve Skandhas

Skandha	Main content
1	Introduction, Suta and Shaunaka, Parikshit's curse, list of avatars
2	Cosmic form of the Lord, how to meditate
3	Creation, Vidura's pilgrimage, Kapila's teaching to his mother Devahuti, Varaha avatar
4	Dhruva, Prithu, Daksha
5	Priyavrata, Rishabha, Bharata, geography of the world
6	Ajamila (power of the Lord's name), Vritrasura
7	Prahlada and Hiranyakashipu, Narasimha avatar
8	Gajendra Moksha, churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthana), Vamana avatar
9	Dynasties: Surya and Chandra vamshas, story of Rama in brief
10	Krishna: birth to Dwaraka
11	Krishna's advice to Uddhava, end of the Yadavas
12	Kali Yuga, end of Parikshit, summary

Avatars

The Bhagavata lists 22 avatars in the first Skandha and says that the avatars are innumerable.
The most common Dashavatara list: Matsya (fish), Kurma (tortoise), Varaha (boar), Narasimha (man-lion), Vamana (dwarf), Parashurama, Rama, Krishna (or Balarama), Buddha and Kalki (future).

Avatar	Reason and story
Matsya	Saved the Vedas and Manu from the flood
Kurma	Held the Mandara mountain during the churning of the ocean
Varaha	Lifted the earth from the water and killed Hiranyaksha
Narasimha	Killed Hiranyakashipu and saved Prahlada
Vamana	Asked Bali for three steps of land
Parashurama	Son of Jamadagni, destroyed arrogant kings
Rama	Killed Ravana
Krishna	Killed Kamsa and guided the Pandavas
Buddha	Listed in some traditions
Kalki	Will come at the end of Kali Yuga

Key stories

Dhruva (Skandha 4): Son of Uttanapada and Suniti. He was insulted by his stepmother Suruchi and did tapas on the advice of Narada. He was given the pole star position (Dhruva Tara).
Prahlada (Skandha 7): Son of Hiranyakashipu and Kayadhu. He was a devotee of Vishnu. His father tried to kill him many times. Vishnu came as Narasimha from a pillar, neither man nor animal, at twilight (neither day nor night), at the threshold (neither inside nor outside) and killed him with nails, on his lap.
Gajendra Moksha (Skandha 8): An elephant king was caught by a crocodile in a lake. He called Vishnu, who came on Garuda and freed him with the Sudarshana chakra.
Samudra Manthana (Skandha 8): Devas and asuras churned the milky ocean with Mandara mountain as the churning rod and Vasuki as the rope. Kurma held the mountain. Halahala poison came out and Shiva drank it (Neelakantha). Amrita came with Dhanvantari. Vishnu as Mohini gave amrita to the devas. Lakshmi also appeared.
Vamana and Bali (Skandha 8): King Bali conquered the three worlds. Vamana asked for three paces. He covered the earth and the sky with two steps. For the third step Bali offered his own head, and Vishnu sent him to Sutala.
Ajamila (Skandha 6): He called his son Narayana at death and was saved from Yama's messengers. This shows the power of the Lord's name.
Kapila (Skandha 3): Son of Kardama and Devahuti. He taught Sankhya yoga to his mother.
Rishabha and Bharata (Skandha 5): Rishabha was a king and ascetic. His son Bharata gave his name to Bharatavarsha. The same Bharata, attached to a pet deer, was reborn as a deer and then as Jada Bharata.
Four Kumaras: Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana, Sanatkumara. They are mind-born sons of Brahma.

Krishna's life (Skandha 10)

1. Krishna was born in Mathura prison to Devaki and Vasudeva. Kamsa, Devaki's brother, was the cruel king of Mathura.
2. Vasudeva carried the child over the Yamuna to Gokula. Nanda and Yashoda raised him. Balarama is his elder brother.
3. Childhood in Gokula and Vrindavan: killing Putana, Shakata, Trinavarta, taming the serpent Kaliya in the Yamuna, lifting Govardhana hill to protect cowherds from the rain of Indra.
4. Rasa lila with the gopis. Radha is named in later tradition.
5. Akrura takes the brothers to Mathura. Krishna kills Kamsa and restores Ugrasena.
6. Studies under Sandipani at Ujjain. Faces repeated attacks by Jarasandha and moves the Yadavas to Dwaraka.
7. Marries Rukmini (taken from her wedding to Shishupala), Satyabhama, Jambavati and others. Friendship with Sudama (Kuchela).
8. Kills Narakasura, Shishupala (at Rajasuya), and takes part in the Kurukshetra war as Arjuna's charioteer.

Places and rivers

Mathura: birthplace of Krishna.
Gokula and Vrindavan: childhood home on the Yamuna.
Govardhana: the hill lifted by Krishna.
Dwaraka: Krishna's island capital in Gujarat.
Naimisharanya: where Suta told the story.
Kshira Sagara: the milky ocean in the churning story.
Vontimitta (AP): Kodandarama temple connected with Pothana.

Philosophy and worship in the Bhagavata

Bhakti: The Bhagavata teaches nine forms of devotion (navavidha bhakti): hearing, singing, remembering, serving the feet, worship, bowing, service, friendship and self-surrender. Prahlada lists these to his father Hiranyakashipu in Skandha 7.
Tattva: The Lord is called Bhagavan, Paramatma and Brahman by those who see Him in different ways. This three-fold view is a well-known statement.
Kapila's Sankhya: In Skandha 3, Kapila explains the twenty-four principles of nature, and the way of devotion to Devahuti.
Uddhava Gita (Skandha 11): Krishna advises his friend Uddhava on detachment and devotion before leaving the world.
Vaishnava schools: The Bhagavata is much used in the Vaishnava traditions. The Pushtimarga of Vallabhacharya and the Gaudiya school of Chaitanya give it a central place.
Reciting practice: A seven-day Bhagavata recitation (saptaha) is a common temple event. Temples in Andhra Pradesh hold Bhagavata discourses, and the stories of Gajendra and Prahlada are often shown in dance and drama.
Pothana's style: The verses are in the Telugu poetic metres such as kanda, champakamala and utpalamala. The Gajendra Moksham episode is often taught as a model of Telugu poetry.
Links with the other epics: The Bhagavata retells the Rama story in a short form in Skandha 9, and treats Krishna's role in the Mahabharata war briefly. The Ramayana and Mahabharata are Itihasas. The Bhagavata is a Purana.
Eighteen Mahapuranas: The Bhagavata is one of the 18. Others include Vishnu, Shiva, Matsya, Vayu, Brahmanda, Skanda and Garuda Puranas.
Names for the text: It is also called Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavata Mahapurana. The word Bhagavata means "that which belongs to Bhagavan (the Lord)".
Preservation of dharma: The text says the Lord takes birth again and again to protect the good and to remove adharma. This idea is shared with the Bhagavad Gita.
Daily use: Many verses are used in prayers, and the names of Hari and Narayana are praised as the easiest path in Kali Yuga.

Exam traps

Skandha 10 is Krishna. Skandha 7 is Prahlada. Skandha 8 is Gajendra, Samudra Manthana and Vamana.
Pothana wrote the Telugu Bhagavatam. Ranganatha Ramayanam is by Gona Buddha Reddy. Nannaya, Tikkana and Errana (the Kavitrayam) wrote the Andhra Mahabharatam.
Shuka narrated to Parikshit. Suta narrated to Shaunaka. Vaishampayana narrated to Janamejaya.
Kapila of the Bhagavata is the son of Kardama and Devahuti.
Dhruva is the son of Uttanapada. Prahlada is the son of Hiranyakashipu.
Narasimha killed Hiranyakashipu. Varaha killed Hiranyaksha.
Kurma held the mountain. Vasuki was the rope.
The Bhagavata Purana is not the same as the Bhagavad Gita.

One-liners

1. The Bhagavata Purana has 12 Skandhas.
2. Shuka told it to Parikshit.
3. Skandha 10 is devoted to Krishna.
4. Pothana wrote the Telugu Bhagavatam.
5. Gajendra was saved by Vishnu from a crocodile.
6. The first Skandha lists 22 avatars.
7. Narasimha appeared from a pillar.
8. Vamana asked Bali for three steps of land.
9. Kurma held the Mandara mountain.
10. Dhruva became the pole star.
11. Krishna was raised by Nanda and Yashoda.
12. Kamsa was the king of Mathura and the maternal uncle of Krishna.

Practice questions

How many Skandhas (cantos) does the Bhagavata Purana have?
1. 18
2. 10
3. 7
4. 12
Answer
D. 12
The text is divided into 12 Skandhas.
To whom did sage Shuka narrate the Bhagavata?
1. Yudhishthira
2. King Parikshit
3. Dhritarashtra
4. Janamejaya
Answer
B. King Parikshit
Parikshit heard it in the seven days before the snake bite.
Who wrote the Telugu Bhagavatam?
1. Tikkana
2. Molla
3. Nannaya
4. Pothana
Answer
D. Pothana
Bammera Pothana of the 15th century wrote the Andhra Maha Bhagavatam.
Which Skandha of the Bhagavata describes the life of Krishna?
1. The twelfth
2. The tenth
3. The fourth
4. The second
Answer
B. The tenth
The tenth Skandha is the story of Krishna.
In the story of Gajendra Moksha, who caught the elephant?
1. A tiger
2. A python
3. A lion
4. A crocodile
Answer
D. A crocodile
The elephant called Vishnu, who freed him with his discus.
Which avatar of Vishnu killed Hiranyakashipu?
1. Vamana
2. Kurma
3. Narasimha
4. Varaha
Answer
C. Narasimha
Narasimha came out of a pillar.
Prahlada was the son of
1. Ravana
2. Hiranyakashipu
3. Hiranyaksha
4. Bali
Answer
B. Hiranyakashipu
His mother was Kayadhu.
What did Vamana ask from King Bali?
1. His crown
2. A golden chariot
3. Half of his kingdom
4. Three paces of land
Answer
D. Three paces of land
Vamana covered the earth and sky in two steps.
Dhruva was given the position of
1. the moon
2. the king of heaven
3. the pole star
4. the sun
Answer
C. the pole star
Dhruva Tara is the fixed pole star.
Which avatar held the Mandara mountain in the churning of the ocean?
1. Kurma
2. Narasimha
3. Varaha
4. Matsya
Answer
A. Kurma
The tortoise avatar supported the mountain.
Which serpent was used as the rope for churning the ocean?
1. Shesha as Kaliya
2. Vasuki
3. Kaliya
4. Takshaka
Answer
B. Vasuki
Vasuki was the rope and Mandara was the rod.
In which city was Krishna born?
1. Mathura
2. Gokula
3. Dwaraka
4. Hastinapura
Answer
A. Mathura
He was born in Kamsa's prison at Mathura.
Who raised Krishna at Gokula?
1. Ugrasena and Kamsa
2. Vasudeva and Devaki
3. Nanda and Yashoda
4. Akrura and Sandipani
Answer
C. Nanda and Yashoda
Vasudeva carried the child over the Yamuna to Nanda's house.
Kamsa was the ___ of Krishna.
1. elder brother
2. maternal uncle
3. paternal uncle
4. foster father
Answer
B. maternal uncle
Kamsa was the brother of Devaki, Krishna's mother.
Which serpent did Krishna tame in the Yamuna?
1. Takshaka
2. Shesha
3. Vasuki
4. Kaliya
Answer
D. Kaliya
Krishna danced on the hoods of Kaliya.
Which hill did Krishna lift to protect the cowherds from rain?
1. Meru
2. Govardhana
3. Mandara
4. Chitrakuta
Answer
B. Govardhana
The hill was lifted to protect Gokula from Indra's storm.
Which avatar killed Hiranyaksha by lifting the earth?
1. Kurma
2. Narasimha
3. Varaha
4. Vamana
Answer
C. Varaha
Varaha, the boar, raised the earth from the water.
Who drank the Halahala poison that came up when the ocean was churned?
1. Shiva
2. Indra
3. Vishnu
4. Brahma
Answer
A. Shiva
Shiva became Neelakantha, the blue-throated one.
Gajendra Moksha, the churning of the ocean and the Vamana avatar are found in which Skandha?
1. The eleventh
2. The sixth
3. The third
4. The eighth
Answer
D. The eighth
These three stories belong to Skandha 8.
The story of Prahlada is in which Skandha?
1. The ninth
2. The seventh
3. The fifth
4. The fourth
Answer
B. The seventh
Skandha 7 tells of Prahlada and Hiranyakashipu.
The story of Dhruva is in which Skandha?
1. The fourth
2. The second
3. The tenth
4. The seventh
Answer
A. The fourth
Skandha 4 describes Dhruva, Prithu and Daksha.
Kapila, who taught Sankhya to his mother in the Bhagavata, was the son of
1. Kashyapa and Aditi
2. Atri and Anasuya
3. Kardama and Devahuti
4. Vasishtha and Arundhati
Answer
C. Kardama and Devahuti
Kapila was born to Kardama and Devahuti.
Parikshit was cursed to die by the bite of which serpent?
1. Kaliya
2. Vasuki
3. Ananta
4. Takshaka
Answer
D. Takshaka
The curse led to the seven-day recitation of the Bhagavata.
Why could Narasimha kill Hiranyakashipu only at twilight, on the threshold?
1. He was weak at that time
2. The boon said he could be killed neither by day nor night, nor inside nor outside
3. The temple door was open
4. Prahlada asked for it
Answer
B. The boon said he could be killed neither by day nor night, nor inside nor outside
The boon covered man, animal, day, night, inside and outside.
The story of Ajamila shows the power of
1. giving gifts
2. pilgrimage
3. fire sacrifice
4. chanting the Lord's name
Answer
D. chanting the Lord's name
Ajamila called his son Narayana at death and was saved.
Who narrated the Bhagavata to the sages at Naimisharanya?
1. Vyasa
2. Narada
3. Suta (Ugrashravas)
4. Shuka
Answer
C. Suta (Ugrashravas)
Suta told it to the sages led by Shaunaka.
Which friend of Krishna is known for his gift of beaten rice (poha)?
1. Sudama (Kuchela)
2. Uddhava
3. Akrura
4. Arjuna
Answer
A. Sudama (Kuchela)
Sudama visited Krishna at Dwaraka.
The advice of Krishna to Uddhava (Uddhava Gita) is found in which Skandha?
1. The sixth
2. The first
3. The ninth
4. The eleventh
Answer
D. The eleventh
Skandha 11 contains it, before the end of the Yadavas.
The first Skandha lists how many avatars of Vishnu?
1. 5
2. 18
3. 22
4. 10
Answer
C. 22
It lists 22 and says that the avatars are countless.
Rukmini was betrothed by her brother to a king whom Krishna defeated at her request. Who was he?
1. Duryodhana
2. Shishupala
3. Kamsa
4. Jarasandha
Answer
B. Shishupala
Krishna took Rukmini away from her planned marriage with Shishupala.
The Telugu poet Pothana is closely linked with which temple town in Andhra Pradesh?
1. Vontimitta
2. Tirupati
3. Srisailam
4. Simhachalam
Answer
A. Vontimitta
Pothana is associated with the Kodandarama temple at Vontimitta.
Consider these statements. 1. The Bhagavata has 12 Skandhas. 2. It is one of the 18 Mahapuranas.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
C. Both 1 and 2
Both statements are correct.
Consider these statements. 1. Dhruva was the son of Uttanapada. 2. Prahlada was the son of Uttanapada.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
A. 1 only
Prahlada was the son of Hiranyakashipu.
Consider these statements. 1. Varaha killed Hiranyakashipu. 2. Narasimha killed Hiranyakashipu.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
B. 2 only
Varaha killed Hiranyaksha.
Consider these statements. 1. Kapila was the son of Kardama. 2. Kapila taught Sankhya to his mother Devahuti.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
C. Both 1 and 2
Both are correct.
Consider these statements. 1. Kurma was used as the rope in the churning. 2. Vasuki was used as the churning mountain.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Mandara was the churning rod and Vasuki was the rope. Kurma supported the mountain.
Consider these statements. 1. Shuka narrated the Bhagavata to Parikshit. 2. Vaishampayana narrated it to Parikshit.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
A. 1 only
Vaishampayana narrated the Mahabharata to Janamejaya.
Consider these statements. 1. Pothana wrote the Telugu Bhagavatam. 2. Pothana wrote the Telugu Mahabharatam.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
A. 1 only
The Telugu Mahabharatam was by Nannaya, Tikkana and Errana.
Which pair of Skandha and content is correctly matched?
1. Skandha 7 - Krishna's life
2. Skandha 10 - Prahlada
3. Skandha 4 - Gajendra
4. Skandha 8 - churning of the ocean
Answer
D. Skandha 8 - churning of the ocean
Skandha 8 has Gajendra, Samudra Manthana and Vamana.
Which pair of avatar and purpose is correctly matched?
1. Kurma - killed Hiranyaksha
2. Vamana - asked Bali for three steps of land
3. Narasimha - lifted the earth
4. Matsya - held Mandara mountain
Answer
B. Vamana - asked Bali for three steps of land
Vamana measured the worlds in two steps and sent Bali to Sutala.
Consider these statements. 1. Krishna was born in Gokula. 2. Balarama was Krishna's elder brother.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
B. 2 only
Krishna was born in Mathura and raised in Gokula.
Consider these statements. 1. The Bhagavata speaks of nine forms of devotion. 2. Prahlada lists them in Skandha 7.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
C. Both 1 and 2
Both are correct.
Which pair is correctly matched?
1. Ajamila - boy who held up a hill
2. Dhruva - king of the Yadavas
3. Bali - the elephant of Indra
4. Gajendra Moksha - elephant saved from a crocodile
Answer
D. Gajendra Moksha - elephant saved from a crocodile
Vishnu freed the elephant Gajendra with his discus.
Consider these statements. 1. Vishnu drank the Halahala poison. 2. Dhanvantari appeared with the pot of amrita.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
B. 2 only
Shiva drank the poison.
Which avatar saved the Vedas and Manu from the great flood?
1. Vamana
2. Varaha
3. Matsya
4. Kurma
Answer
C. Matsya
Matsya, the fish avatar, saved Manu and the Vedas.

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