Durvasa Muni took 'sannyasa' from Sanaka Kumara

Once a quarrel arose between Brahma and Siva which was so violent the other demigods became afraid, so much so that they ran off, frightened to see Lord Siva seething in rage.

Lord Siva's consort said to Siva: "durvasam bhavati me." "Because of this, it has become impossible for me to live happily with you."

Knowing that it was his anger which had caused this, Lord Siva decided to deposit his anger which had caused so much unhappiness for his consort Parvati into the body of Anasurya, the wife of Atri Muni. From this a child was born out of the same fiery, angry aspect, and was called Durvasa, due to his nature of making life miserable for Lord Siva's consort. (Brahmananda Purana, Chapter 44.)


There are many incidents in the Puranas and Mahabharat involving the anger of Durvasa some are with Ambarisha Maharaja, Kunti and Indra, to name a few. Even though Durvasa had this fiery nature, still he had his part to play.

He is also in the 'guru parampara' that the Madhwa line lists, and he lived his life very austerely, travelling the three worlds as a sannyasi. Everywhere that he travelled his 10,000 disciples travelled with him, so there was always 10,001.

The following preaching of Durvasa Muni's is the essence of Sripad Madhwacarya's Dwaita philosophy which is transcendentally echoed in the Aitareya Upanishad, Sripad Madhwacarya's favourite Upanishad. Surely Durvasa Muni is a transcendentally unusual person.

 This incident is taken from the Gopal Tapani Upanishad: "In his eating habits Durvasa Muni completely fasted from everything except he ate only Durva grass. Once he was asked by Srimati Radharani (Gandharvi): 'How is it that you eat only sacred Durva grass?'

 "Durvasa Muni replied:

1. As sound is contained in the element of ether, and although sound and ether are different, this ether does not know I am spirit; How can I be a materialistic sense enjoyer? 
2. Touch is contained within the element of air, although touch and air are different. Touch is contained within the air. This air does not know I am spirit. How can I be a materialistic sense enjoyer? 
3. Form is contained within the element of fire. Although form and fire are different, form is contained in fire. This fire does not know I am spirit. How can I be a materialistic sense enjoyer? 
4. Taste is contained within the element of water, although taste and water are different. Taste is contained within water. This water does not know I am spirit. How can I be a materialistic sense enjoyer? 
5. Aroma is contained within the element of earth, although aroma and earth are different. Aroma is contained within earth. This earth does not know I am spirit. How can I be a materialistic sense enjoyer?
6. It is the mind that remains among the senses and accepts them. When spirit is everything, how does one think? Where does one go?
7. I am spirit. How can I be a materialistic sense enjoyer? 

 "Your beloved Krsna is the original creator of the two kinds of bodies. On the tree of the body are two birds. One is an expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is a witness. The other is an enjoyer. They are an enjoyer and a non-enjoyer. The first enjoys and the second is Krsna (Paramatma), the witness in the heart. In Him we do not find material so-called knowledge and ignorance. This ignorance and real knowledge are different. How can Krsna who is full of real knowledge, become a material enjoyer. He who lusts after pleasure is lusty. He who does not lust after pleasures is not lusty. Krsna, Who is free from birth and death, Who is unchanging, Who cannot be cut, Who stays by the Yamuna, Who stays among the surabhi cows, Who stays among the cowherd boys, Who stays in all the Vedas, Who is glorified by all the Vedas, Who has entered all living entities and Who controls all living entities, is Your consort."

 "Gandharvi (Sri Radha) said: "Why has the Supreme Personality of Godhead taken birth among us as a cowherd boy? O sage, how do you know this about Krsna?  What is His mantra?  What is His abode?  Why has He taken birth in Devaki's womb. Who is His elder brother Balarama?  How is He worshipped?  Why has the Supreme Personality of Godhead Who is far above this world of matter descended to this earth?" etc, etc.

 "Durvasa said: "In the beginning only Lord Narayana existed. In Him the material worlds are woven as thread on a loom. From His lotus navel the demigod Brahma was born. When Brahma performed severe austerities, Lord Narayana granted him a boon. Brahma chose a question. Lord Narayana granted his request. Brahma asked about incarnations and why Krsna, Govinda was best. Lord Narayana then describes His creation and His holy dhamas, etc."(Gopal Tapani Upanishad)

There is more but to include it here would make this chapter even more lengthy. One should read Gopal Tapani Upanishad for the complete reply of Durvasa but here we can at least see that he was of our parampara's conclusion. Srimati Radharani received a boon from Durvasa Muni that whatever she cooked would be better than nectar. (Sri Caitanya Caritamrta Antya Lila 2:6:116.).

The full story of Durvasa Muni's blessing Srimati Radharani is told in a wonderful book by H.H. Narayana Maharaja entitled "Sri Vraja Mandala Parikrama." The incident happened at Jawat.

Some Gaudiya Vaisnavas do not accept that the incident with Srimati Radharani was with the same Durvasa, they see all the arguments and anger he displayed in other situations, consequently and unfortunately they do not see where he fits in, always and only stressing his angry attributes.

In "Sri Vrndavana Dhama Ki Jaya" the author also substantiates that the Durvasa Muni who is the plenary incarnation of Lord Siva is the same who met with Srimati Radharani (Gandhavika). He also states that Durvasa used to perform austerities on the bank of the Yamuna opposite the Visrama Ghat.(Dhruva Maharaja dasa. 1988., page 2.).
 
Sripad Durvasas is one of the much miss understood characters of the Vedic literary library. There are many examples of how Durvasas was used by the Lord to emphasise a particular attribute of this unlimitedly faceted philosophy. We see the same situation arising with Sri Narad Muni also, sometimes he is seen as a trouble maker, and sometimes as spiritual master of the universe. This is the difference between a pure soul and one who is very much self interested, for one who has his own prestige, or cool in mind, to be seen as rude or offencive harms one's profile, and so is not paletable for the false ego. However for the great sage Durvasa Muni he simply did as he was requested to do, so sometimes he is famous, and sometimes infamous, he didn't mind being used as an example by the Lord, so long that points could be made.

Practically there are unlimited stories - the pastimes of Durvasa Muni and his being made an example, and little tests of tolerance and humility that he had to undergo. Even once he came to test Lord Sri Krsna and Rukmini Devi in Dwaraka. This kind of drama can only be performed by one who is very close to the Lord.

Lord Krsna, showing Himself to be the perfect householder, invited the great muni in, sat him down, and washed his feet. However, the unpredictable guest had a plan, and "accidentally on purpose" broke precious and beautiful objects around his palace to see how far Krsna would go with his elevated brahmin guest. "Oh, such a nice vase, oops." Smash! "Oh, such an opulent couch. Rip! Oops, sorry." Like that, then he made many demands for food, I want this and that like this with that, and Rukmini Devi personally served their respected guest. Finally Durvasa called for some payasam, sweet pudding, but when it arrived he said he was now full. Still Krsna and Rukmini tolerated everything and continued their mood of treating Durvasa as a welcomed guest. Durvasa then said to Krsna, "Here You take this, and instead of me eating it, You take this 'payasam' and smear it all over Your body, everywhere. Now do the same to Rukmini, starting with the face." Krsna did like this in all humility. Now Durvasa said, "Give me one chariot." The chariot came. "Now give me Your beautiful wife Rukmini." Lord Krsna ascended another chariot and came up close behind Durvasa. Durvasa stopped his chariot and enquired as to what Krsna was doing there, following him. Krsna, still not wanting to offend his guest said, "I was just accompanying you to see if you needed any assistance." Durvasa Muni then relented saying, "You, Krsna and Rukmini, are the perfect householders. I give you all benedictions. Rukmini, you will always be known as the principal Queen of Krsna. I offer my respectful obeisances unto you both."

There is a similar story, "Sometimes the gopis would go to the great sage Durvasa Muni and ask for his blessings to always have the association of Lord Krsna. On one such journey to reach his ashram, the 'gopis' approached Yamuna devi, and on the banks of her pure flowing waters, they addressed her, "On the strength of Krsna being a strict 'brahmacari', kindly allow us to cross." Upon hearing their words, Yamuna parted her waters and allowed the 'gopis' to cross. Upon reaching Durvasa Muni's 'ashram', the 'gopis' presented him with all the sumptuous foodstuffs they had brought with them after offering due respects. Durvasa was very pleased with them and blessed them all, but especially he gave his special blessings to Srimati Radharani, saying that whatever she would cook would taste just like nectar. Not only that, but anyone who had the great good fortune of tasting that cooking would achieve a long and healthy life, free from all disease. To again gain Yamuna Devi's mercy to cross her wide waters, Durvasa Muni advised the 'gopis' to tell Yamuna devi that as true as Krsna is a 'brahmacari', Durvasa is always fasting, living only on sacred Durva grass, and thus on the strength of this she will give all the 'gopis' safe passage again. On Radharani's return from Durvasa Muni's 'ashram' with all the other 'gopis', Mother Yasoda (Krsna's mother) invited Radharani to come and cook for Krsna daily, hearing of the boon she had received there from Durvasa."(Padmalocana Prabhu, 1985. "Yamuna the Personification of Prema Bhakti", Page 20.).

 In the story of Durvasa Muni and Ambarisha Maharaja, Durvasa Muni was chased by the Sudarsana Disc of Lord Visnu after offending the Lord's pure devotee Ambarisha. Throughout the universe Durvasa was chased. He tried, out of fear for his life, to approach various demigods and finally Lord Visnu Himself, but due to the cause being that he had offended the Lord's devotee, everyone told Durvasa that the only one who could help him was the devotee he offended. After this, Durvasa approached Ambarisha Maharaja and begged forgiveness, and only then did the Sudarsana Disc stop following Durvasa Muni. 

What an example, what devotion, that he would go along with the Lord's plan even if his life was threatened, and his reputation destroyed. 

Due to the incident mentioned earlier, with Ambarish Maharaj, Durvasa has practically become infamous throughout the Vedic literatures as the fiery mendicant, who cursed many and also gave many boons.

But above all things, he was a great Vaisnava follower of the Lord. Because of his ill rupute in the Gaudiya line he is not included. Although tracing back some of the firey mendicants life it is interesting to see that Durvasa Muni took 'sannyasa' from Sanaka Kumara and received many transcendental instructions from him. These same four Kumaras are considered the originators of 'sannyasa' in the Madhwa line, though they themselves are the heads of another Sampradaya named the Kumara or Sanaka Adi Sampradaya which later became known as the Nimbarka Sampradaya. Nimbarka was a Vaisnavacarya in the line of Sanaka Kumara. Actually all the Vaisnava Sampradayas are directly the family of the Lord, His descendants, and as stressed before, and which cannot be stressed enough, one can only approach Krsna through the 'guru'. 'Guru' means 'guru parampara'.