Rajashekhara Dasa
From the book “Chaurasi-kosa Vraja Mandala Parikrama”:
This place was formerly on the bank of the River Yamuna where Saubhari Muni performed his penance. He is one of the sages who find mention in the Rig Veda and after establishing his ashrama at Sanorakha, he would spend long periods of time meditating deep inside the River Yamuna. There is a temple located here on a small hill which contains the Deity of Saubhari Muni. Formerly this place was situated on the banks of Yamuna, but since a long time the river has changed course and is now located over one kilometer to the east. From this place there is a good view of the Madana-mohana Mandira in Vrindavana and Kaliya-hrada, the lake where the poisonous serpent Kaliya Naga used to live and which previously stretched from Sunrakh up to Kaliya Ghata.
Whenever Garuda, the eagle carrier of Lord Vishnu, used to visit Vrindavana, if he felt hungry, he would catch fish in the Yamuna River for his lunch. One day, Garuda caught a large fish that was a prominent leader among the other fish and his death created a disturbance amongst the fish community. Consequently, all the other fish complained to Saubhari Muni who was engaged in meditation within the Yamuna. Because of having spent long years engaged in severe austerities and impersonal speculation, when he heard the complaint of the fish, Saubhari Muni became consumed with anger and immediately pronounced a curse on Guruda, saying that if he ever came to this part of the Yamuna again to eat fish, he would be immediately burnt to ashes on the spot. When the black snake Kaliya Naga, who lived in mortal fear of being eaten by Garuda, heard about the curse of Subhari Muni, that Garuda could no longer visit the Yamuna River in Vrindavana, Kaliya decided to move to the Yamuna as he would be much safer living among the fish that were being protected by Saubhari Muni.
Some people are surprised to hear that Garuda, the servant of Lord Vishnu ate fish, which, like all types of flesh is forbidden for Vaishnavas. But it must be remembered that Garuda is an eagle and like many other species of eagle, survives on fish, as well as snakes, and similar other prey. If an animal kills and eats flesh there is no sin. Another point to consider is that by killing and eating poisonous serpents, Garuda is fulfilling the Vedic edict that a serpent must be immediately killed. Similarly a kshatriya warrior must kill the enemy as a religious duty. A warrior must the practice the art of killing by slaying animals in the forest as a part of kshatriya training in the martial skills which is done as an act of religious duty, and thus there is no sin. When a soldier, out of duty kills an enemy on the battlefield, he is sinless. Garuda, besides being an eagle, is also considered as a kshatriya, because he also fights on the battlefield as part of his duty to serve Lord Vishnu, so in both cases Garuda is completely sinless.
Due to this curse of Saubhari Muni, Garuda was unable to enter the inner-most region of Vrindavana known as Seva Kunja where the rasa-lila and other intimate pastimes took place. Instead, he used to stand at Shakatikara (Chhatikara) and offer his obeisance’s from the spot where the Garuda Govinda Mandira now stands. Meanwhile, Saubhari Muni who had committed a grave offence by cursing a great Vaishnava like Garuda, fell down from his position. It so happened that Saubhari Muni, who was meditating deep within the water of the Yamuna, happened to witness two fish engaged in sex-life. Almost immediately his mind became polluted and the desire to enjoy sexual intercourse arose within his heart. Within a short time he was forced to abandon his austerities and very soon left his ashrama to find a woman and get married.
In order to find a suitable wife, Saubhari Muni approached King Mandhata, the father of Ambarisha Maharaja, who had fifty beautiful daughters all of marriageable age. Mandhata, being a member of the Surya-vamsa dynasty, ruled over the kingdom of Ayodhya. When Mandhata saw the skinny, anemic and wrinkled body of the Muni, who was not only old but had spent a very long time living under-water, he felt embarrassed; thinking which one of his beautiful young daughters would accept this decrepit grey-haired old Muni as their husband. After hearing Saubhari’s request for the hand of one of his daughters, the king sarcastically said that he would give all fifty daughters to anyone of their choice who was able to satisfy their desires. Understanding the king’s mind, Saubhari Muni immediately left the palace and by dint of his mystic power achieved by many years performing severe austerities, with the help of the physicians amongst the demigods, the Ashwini Kumaras, he was able to rejuvenate his old body into that of a strong and handsome young man with the effulgence of a demigod. When he returned to the palace, upon seeing him, all the king’s daughters desired to marry him and began arguing amongst themselves about who would possess him. Seeing such a transformation in the Muni’s appearance due to his mystic power, keeping to his word, the king was happy to give all fifty daughters in marriage to Saubhari Muni. After spending many long years enjoying with his wives, he eventually decided to return to his ashrama at Sonarakha and along with his wives, engaged in penance and the performance of Vedic sacrifices. It is said that he eventually achieved Vaikuntha along with all his wives.
