The Story of Druva, a young boy who became a star

This is the story from Indian mythology, the story of Dhruva, the little boy who became the Pole Star, and of his protectors, the Seven Rishis(monks) who forever circle round him in the sky.

Read on...

long time ago, there lived a king called Uttanapada. King had two queens, Suniti and Suruchi. Queen Suniti was good and kind and gentle. She had a little son called Dhruva. Queen Suruchi, the younger queen, was very beautiful, but proud. Suruchi, too, had a son named Uttama.

Suruchi was determined that her son Uttama should be king when he grew up. But since Dhruva was the older son, he was more likely to be made king. So Suruchi decided to get rid of Suniti and her baby son Dhruva.

Now, Suruchi was also the King's favourite queen. Uttanapada loved her for her beauty, and was willing to do anything to make her happy. So Suruchi made him banish Suniti and Dhruva into the forest, far away from the royal palace. Suniti lived quietly in the forest, bringing up her little son, who soon grew to be a bright, clever little boy. One day, when Dhruva was seven, he asked Suniti, 'Ma, who is my father?'

Suniti smiled sadly. 'The great King Uttanapada himself is your father, Dhruva,' she said. 'He lives far away in the royal palace.'

'I want to meet my father,' asked Dhruv. 'Please, Ma, can I go and visit him in his palace? Suniti blessed him, and let him go.

Soon Dhruv reached the King's palace. King Uttanapada was sitting in his gardens, admiring the flowers and listening to the birds. Dhruva ran up to him, and touched his feet. 'Oh King,' said Dhruvs. 'Do you recognize me? I am Dhruva, your son.' The King was overjoyed. He picked up the little boy and sat him on his lap.

Just then, Suruchi appeared, holding her small son Uttama by the hand. She was furious when she realised that the little boy in the King's lap was Dhruva. 'You horrible little brat,' she cried, 'How dare you come here?' And snatching Dhruva out of the King's arms she threw him out of the palace.

'Never, ever, come back,' Suruchi screamed at Dhruva. 'It is my son Uttama - not you - who will be king one day. There is no place here for you or your mother in this palace.'

Dhruva went back to his mother in the forest. He was very quiet and thoughtful all day long. Finally he asked Suniti, 'Ma, is there anyone more powerful than the King?'

'Yes,' said his mother. 'Narayan is more powerful than the King.'

'Where does he live?' asked Dhruv.

'Far away, in the mountains,' answered Suniti.

That night, when his mother was asleep, Dhruva left the house and began walking towards the mountains. He walked and he walked and he walked, and thought only of Narayan. Narayan is no other than the great god Vishnu, the Preserver of the world.

Finally he came to the edge of the northern sky, where he met the sage Narada and asked him, 'Where can I find Narayan?'

'Stay right where you are,' answered Narada. 'Think only of Narayan, and have patience. You will find him.'

So Dhruva stopped where he was, and meditated, thinking only of Narayan. His meditations released such tremendous energy that the very earth shook and disturbed the Saptarishis, the Seven Sages, who were meditating nearby. They wondered who it could be who was releasing such energy by the strength of his meditation. 'It must be a great king, or a god,' they said, 'to have so much power.' They were amazed to find it was only a little boy. The Rishis surrounded him and prayed with him as he meditated.

Soon Indra, the king of the gods, became worried. What does this little boy want from Narayan?' he wondered. 'Maybe it is my throne in the heavens that he will ask for!' So Indra tried to distract Dhruva from his meditation. He came as  Suniti, Dhruva's mother, and begged him to come back home. But Dhruva barely heard. Indra sent all kinds of monsters and snakes and evil creatures to scare the boy and make him give up his meditation, but Dhruva stood still and calm, unaware of everything except Narayan.

Ultimately Vishnu himself noticed the boy and felt the strength of his meditation. 'I must grant him what he wants,' said the great god Narayan to himself. 'Such perseverance and steadiness of purpose must be rewarded.'

So Narayan came down to the forest, and stood before Dhruva. 'I am here, Dhruva,' he said. 'What is it that you want so much?' But Dhruva only smiled when he saw Narayan.

So Vishnu turned Dhruva into a little star and placed him high in the sky, above the world, and away from all jealousy and evil. The Seven Rishis, who had protected Dhruva as he prayed, Vishnu turned into seven bright stars and placed them protectively around the little Dhruva-star.

Even today, when you look up into the sky, you will be able to see a little star shining high above. This little star never moves, for it is Dhruv, who never moved from his meditation of Narayan. We call this star the pole star. Children in India still call it 'Dhruva-tara' or 'Dhruva-star'. The seven stars of the Seven Rishis can also be seen, slowly moving around the pole star. These Seven Stars form the constellation known as Saptarishi in India, and as the Great Bear in other parts of the world.