30. Kacha and Devayani

There were frequent encounters between the Asuras (the demons) and the Devas (the celestials). The Devas performed many sacrifices to get the power to destroy the Asuras. The Devas had as their mentor Brihaspati, the son of Angiras. The Asuras had  Usanas, also known as Sukra, as their mentor. 

Both Brihaspati and Sukra were Brahmins well versed in many fields of knowledge. However, Sukra had mastered Sanjivni, the science of reviving the dead through the use of Mantras (divine utterances). But this science was not known to Brihaspati.

Sukra was, by making use of the Sanjivini Mantra, able to bring back to life the Asuras killed by the Devas, in the encounters. Since Brihaspati couldn’t revive the Devas killed in the battles, the population of the Devas was declining while that of the Asuras remained the same.

The Devas devised a plan to acquire the knowledge of Sanjivini from Sukra.  

They approached Kacha, the eldest son of Brihaspati and suggested to him that he become a disciple of Sukra, learn the Sanjivini Mantra in due course and then return to the kingdom of Devas to help them by reviving those killed by the Asuras. 

Sukra was in the court of the Asura king Vrishaparva. Kacha went to him and  introduced himself as the grandson of Angiras and the son of Brihaspati and requested him to accept him as his disciple. Sukra gladly agreed to his request.

Since Kacha was young and had knowledge of various musical instruments, he was able to please Devayani, Sukra’s daughter. He also gratified her by offering flowers, fruits etc. She began to develop a soft corner for him. 

The Asuras, becoming apprehensive that Kacha would learn the Sanjivini Mantra from Sukra, decided to kill him. They slew him when he was tending the cows of Sukra, cut him to pieces and fed him to the jackals and the wolves.

In the evening, the cows returned home, without Kacha leading them. Devayani, finding that Kacha had not returned, conveyed her apprehensions to her father. 

Sukra uttered the Sanjivini Mantra to bring Kacha back to life. Kacha emerged by tearing the bodies of the wolves and the jackals that had eaten his body parts. 

Prompted by his Guru, Kacha narrated what had happened to him.

On another occasion, Kacha was gathering flowers in a forest at the behest of Devayani.  The Asuras killed him, pounded him into a paste and dispersed the paste into the waters of the ocean.

Responding to the plea of Devayani, Sukra invoked the Sanjivini Mantra again. Kacha came alive rising from the waters of the ocean. Again, Sukra got apprised of what had happened to Kacha.

The Asuras did not stop with this second attempt. In their third attempt, they burnt Kacha and mixed his ashes in wine and offered the wine to Sukra, Sukra drank it. 

When Devayani complained to her father about Kacha not returning home, Sukra said, “It seems Kacha has entered the region of the dead. I brought him to life twice but his life is being endangered again. He is not immortal. So, don’t grieve over his death.”

But Devayani was adamant and said that she would starve and follow Kacha.

Sukra then summoned Kacha to come alive. Kacha's voice was heard from Sukra's stomach. Sukra found out from Kacha how he had entered his stomach. 

Sukra told Devayani that the only way Kacha could come alive was by piercing his stomach and killing him in the process. Devayani replied that her father’s death would be as painful to her as Kacha’s death.

Sukra then told Kacha that he would teach him the Sanjivini Mantra so that Kacha could use it to bring him to life after coming out of his stomach. 

He then taught the Mantra to Kacha. Kacha came out of Sukra’s stomach by piercing it open. He then revived  his Guru by invoking the Sanjivini Mantra he had just learnt.

Kacha told Sukra, “Since you have given me knowledge, you are to be considered as my father. Since I came out of your stomach, I have to regard you as my mother as well. If I cause any harm to you, I will be considered the most sinful of all persons.”

Sukra realized that because of his inebriated state, he had failed to detect that Kacha’s ashes were mixed in the drink given to him by the Asuras. 

He felt angry and pronounced, “From now onward, the wretched Brahmin, who is unable to resist the temptation to drink will be considered as having lost his virtue and will be hated by both the worlds.”

Kacha, after completing his studies, took leave of Sukra and returned to his abode, the Celestial kingdom.

Next Post: Devayani and Sarmishta

Previous Post: Worship of Indra by the kings

29. Worship of Indra by the Kings

In the Paurava race, there was a king by name Uparichara. He was also known by the name Vasu. He was a virtuous ruler but had a passion for hunting. He conquered the kingdom of Chedi as per the wishes of Indra, the god of the Devas (the celestials). 

After ruling for many years, Vasu decided to live an austere and peaceful life. He retreated to a secluded place and began to do penance.

Since in the past, some kings had performed penance with the aim of becoming the Lord of the Devas, Indra became apprehensive of the intentions of Vasu. 

Indra, along with some other Gods went to Vasu and persuaded him to resume his duties as the king. They pointed out that his people were looking up to him for protection. 

They praised his rule pointing out how various sections of people and even animals were happy under his rule and how the economy of his country flourished making the people prosperous and happy.

Good governance made life good for people and good life, in turn, promoted virtues and values among people. Families were united with no demand for partition from any member of the family,they pointed out.

Persuaded by the celestials, Vasu returned to his capital to resume his monarchy. 

Indra who was relieved that he was able to ward off a potential threat to his position as the head of the gods, presented Vasu with a crystal car (chariot) that would move in space defying gravity. Only the gods had possession of such a car. 

Indra also presented him with a garland of lotuses that would never wilt but would remain ever fresh. That garland, known in the earth as Indra's garland, would protect the person wearing it from sustaining injuries in the battle field. 

Indra also gave him a bamboo pole as a symbolic weapon for protecting the virtuous and punishing the wicked.

One year after receiving the pole, Vasu planted it in the ground, adorned it with clothes and flowers and worshiped it treating it as Indra itself. 

Indra came to the scene assuming the form of a swan to accept the worship offered. Indra blessed Vasu and and also told him that all kings who would worship him in the form of a pole would receive his blessings. 

From that time onwards, it has become a practice for all kings on earth to plant a pole in the ground and worship it treating it as a manifestation of Indra.

Next Post: Kacha and Devayani

Previous Post: High drama at Janamejaya's sacrifice

28. High Drama at Janamejaya's Sacrifice

Astika was impressed by the grandeur of the sacrifice being performed by Parikshit. 

He went to Parikshit and expressed his appreciation saying, "In an earlier period, Soma, Varuna and Prajapati  had performed sacrifices at Prayaga. Your sacrifice matches theirs. 

"Your sacrifice  is equal to one thousand sacrifices of Sakra who had performed hundred sacrifices. Your sacrifice also compares well with the sacrifices of Yama, Harimedha, Rantideva, Maya, Sasavindu, Vaisravana, Nriga, Yudhishthira and several others. 

"The priests who are conducting the sacrifice are erudite and have nothing left to learn. In this world, there is no other king equal to you in protecting his subjects. 

"I am highly pleased with your abstinence. You are like Yama, the God of Justice. In this earth there is no man so great as you are and no King who can conduct such a great sacrifice. 

"You are like Khatwanga, Nabhaga, and Dilipa. In prowess, you are equal to Yayati and Mandhatri. In splendour, you are on par with the Sun and in taking a vow and fulfilling it, you are like Bishma! 

"Like Valmiki, you are full of energy stored within you. Like Vasishtha, you have controlled your anger. You are a lord like Indra.

Your splendor resplends like that of Narayana. Like Yama, you know how to dispense justice. Like Krishna, you are adorned with every virtue. You are the home of the good fortune and the refuge of the sacrifices.”

Astika then conveyed his appreciation to all the priests conducting the sacrifice.

Janamejaya told the sages assembled there, “Though he is only a boy, he speaks like a wise old man. I want to bestow on him a boon. Please give me the necessary permission.”

The sages said, “'A wise man deserves the respect of kings. This boy deserves every desire of his being fulfilled by you, but not before Takshaka comes and falls into the sacrificial fire.”

Janamejaya, however, requested Astika to ask for a boon. The priests protested saying that Thakshaka had not yet come near the sacrificial fire.

The King requested the sages to use their powers for early completion of the sacrifice by making Thakshaka arrive soon.

The sages said that Thakshaka was taking refuge in the kingdom of Indra. Indra had assured him that he would protect him from being consumed by Agni.

The king asked the priests to do what was required. 

The priests then chanted the mantras (holy hymns) and poured ghee into the fire. 

As a consequence of this, Indra himself arrived on the sky above the venue of the sacrifice in his chariot along with other devas (celestials), celestial singers and dancers, 

Takshaka was hiding in the upper garment of Indra and was not visible.

Janamejaya, filled with anger, told the priests to ordain that if Takshaka was in the abode of Indra, he be cast into the fire along with Indra himself. 

As the priests uttered the mantras, Thakshaka became visible in the skies. Indra became alarmed and beat a hasty retreat to his abode, abandoning Thakshaka to his fate. 

Thakshaka was brought near the sacrificial fire by the power of the mantras.

The priests said, “Oh King, your sacrifice is being performed duly and is nearing fruition. If you please, you can now grant the boon to this brahmin Astika.”

Janamejaya then told Astika, "Oh sage, with a handsome and child-like appearance! I desire to grant you a boon. Ask whatever you desire. I will grant it, even if it is ungrantable.”

The priests said, “'O King, Takshaka will be coming under your control soon. We are all hearing his terrible cries, after being forsaken by Indra. His body is falling from the heaven due to the effect of the mantras.”

Even before Thakshaka would fall into the fire, Astika said, “Oh, King! if you want to grant me a boon, let this sacrifice come to an end immediately and let no more serpents fall into the fire.”

Dismayed by Astika’s request, Parikshit told him, “O illustrious one, I will give you gold, silver, or whatever other possessions you desire. But let not my sacrifice come to an end before its objective is realized.”

Astika replied, “I don’t  ask for Gold or Silver. I only ask for the termination of this sacrifice so that my mother’s relatives will be relieved of sorrow.”

Janamejaya repeatedly pleaded with Astika to ask for some other favour, but Astika was firm on his plea. The sages advised Janamejaya to grant Astika what he had asked for.

Though considerable time had lapsed between the moment Takshaka was thrown off Indra's hands, the serpent remained in mid air, without falling into the sacrificial fire, in spite of the fact that the priests had been chanting the mantras and pouring ghee into the fire by way of libations. 

This was because Astika had said ‘Stay (where you are)’ thrice into the ears of Thakshaka who had become unconscious after being thrown off by Indra.

Janamejaya finally yielded to the advice of the priests and granted the wish of Astika saying, “Let Astika’a wish be fulfilled. Let the sacrifice be ended and let the serpents be safe."

The sacrifice of Janamejaya, the King of the Pandava race and the son of Parikshit came to an end.

Rather than getting disappointed by the premature ending of the sacrifice, Janamejaya was pleased with the performance of the sacrifice.  

He concluded his sacrifice according to the prescribed rites and rewarded all the priests who conducted the rituals, the sages that graced the ritual by their presence and all those present at the site with liberal grant of money and goods. 

He also rewarded Lohitaksha, the architect, well versed in the rules of building and foundations, who, even during the construction of the venue for the sacrifice, had predicted that the sacrifice wouldn’t be completed.  

The king also honoured Astika and told him, “Please come again to preside over the horse sacrifice (Aswameta Yaga), I plan to perform in the near future.” 

Astika accepted the invitation and returned home with the satisfaction of having achieved his objective.

After reaching home, Astika narrated the events to his mother and uncles. The serpents were very much pleased with Astika and asked him to ask for a favor in return for the service he had rendered to them.

Astika said, "Let those who, in the morning or in the evening, read the sacred account of this may be bestowed with concentration, have no fear from any of you." 

And the serpents gladly agreed to his request. They said those who called Astika to mind would have no fear of serpents. 

They also ordained that a serpent that did not refrain from biting, after hearing the mention of the name Astika would have its hood divided a hundredfold like the fruit of Shimsapa tree.

Astika, who saved the serpents from the serpent-sacrifice ascended to heaven when his time came, leaving sons and grandsons behind him.

Next Post: Worship of Indra by kings

Previous Post: Vasuki seeks Astika's help for saving the snakes.

27. Vasuki Seeks Astika's Help to Save the Serpents

Takshaka, the prince of serpents, whose action gave rise to the sacrifice, on hearing about the sacrifice, went to Indra and sought his protection, admitting his own sin of biting King Parikshit to death. Indra gave him solace and granted him refuge in his abode.

Vasuki was grieved over many serpents getting killed and his own family getting reduced to only a few. 

He went to his sister Jaratkaru and apprised her of the situation. Saying that his own turn to be drawn into the sacrificial fire might come that day, he pointed out that the time had come to fulfill the purpose for which she was married to Jaratkaru. 

Reminding her of Brahma’s prophecy that her son Astika would save the snakes from extinction, Vasuki asked her to persuade Astika to act immediately to put an end to the sacrifice.

Jaratkaru called her son Astika and told him "Oh, son, the time has come for the accomplishment of that object for which I was married to your father by my brother. Therefore, do what should be done.”

"Astika asked, 'What was the purpose for which you were bestowed on my father by my uncle? Tell me about it.”

Jaratkaru told him the entire story starting from the curse of Kadru on her sons.

After hearing the story, Astika  promised his mother and uncle that he would act immediately.

After allaying the fears of  his uncle Vasuki, Astika rushed to the site of Janamejaya's sacrifice. He was initially denied admission by the gatekeepers but he managed to enter the site after gratifying them.

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26. Sarpa Yaga - The Sacrifice that Pulled the Serpents to Death!

The Serpent-Sacrifice commenced following the due procedure. 

Many eminent sages like Chandabhargava (belonging to the Chyavana lineage), Kautsa, Jamini, the Sarngarva and Pingala duo, Vyasa, his son Sukha and Vyasa’s disciples, Uddalaka, Pramataka, Swetaketu, Pingala, Asita, Devala, Narada, Parvata, Atreya, Kundajathara, Kalaghata, Vatsya, Srutasravas, Kohala Devasarman, Maudgalya, Samasaurava) participated in the sacrifice playing various roles.

The priests, well-versed in the nuances of the rituals were clad in black. Their eyes, in contrast, were red from contact with the smoke from the sacrificial fire. 

As they poured ghee into the sacrificial fire raised and contained in the huge homa kundas (trough like structures for containing the sacrificial fire) chanting the appropriate mantras, the serpents were lifted up from where they were, carried to the site of the sacrifice and fed to the fire.

The serpents came in large numbers, many of them twining with others and uttering loud cries out of fear, fell into the fire and were quickly burnt into ashes. 

The serpents were of different colors, sizes and breed. Thousands of snakes including some giant ones of the sizes of a horse and an elephant were killed. The atmosphere was filled with a pungent and unpleasant stench due to the incessant burning of the serpents.

Next Post:  Vasuki seeks Astika's help to save the snakes

Previous Post:  Sarpa Yaga

25. Janamejaya Plans the Serpent Sacrifice

Parikshit having been bitten to death by Thaklshaka, his councilors had his last rites performed and crowned his eldest son Janamejaya the king. 

Janamejaya was only a boy when he was crowned the king. After some time his ministers, intending to provide a strong support to the young monarch, approached Suvarnavarman, the King of Kasi and asked him to give his daughter Vapushtama in marriage to Janamejaya. 

The king accepted the proposal and got his daughter Vapushtama married to Janamejaya. After the marriage, Janamejaya travelled to many places along with his wife, enjoying life in the company of his wife.

After some time, Janamejaya asked his ministers about his father and his achievements. The ministers told him what a great virtuous and compassionate ruler Parikshit was. Then he asked them about the cause of his father’s death. They told him all the details including Thakshaka’s persuading Kasyapa to go back by giving him the wealth he wanted to get from the king.

Janamejaya asked them how they came to know of what transpired between Thakshaka and Kasyapa.They said that this was revealed by a man who was sitting on a dry branch of a banyan tree with the intention of cutting some wood to be used as a sacrificial fuel. He had overheard their conversation. He was also burnt to ashes when the tree was bitten by Thakshaka but was subsequently revived when Kasyapa brought the tree back to life.

On learning that his father was bitten by the serpent Thakshka using deception, Janamejaya decided to avenge the death of his father. His anger was directed at Thakshaka for having prevented Kasyapa from coming to the palace and bringing the king back to life after he was bitten by Thakshaka. He felt that Thakshaka should have done this because he would have become an object of ridicule if the king was brought back to life by Kasyapa after he was bitten by Thakshaka.

Janamejaya was also prodded by Sage Utanka to avenge his father’s death. He called the chief priest of his country and expressed his intention to burn Thakshaka and other snakes who had burnt his father through his poison. 

The priests told him that there was a sacrificial ritual called Sarpa Yaga (Serpent Sacrifice) through which the snakes can be offered to Agni, the God of Fire. The king ordered that arrangements be made to perform such a sacrifice by engaging the services of Brahmins well versed in the rites.

When the platform for the sacrifice was being built, a construction expert, by examining the soil on which the platform was being constructed, said that the type of soil and the time at which the measurement was made indicated that the sacrifice won’t be completed.

Next Post:  Sarpa Yaga
Previous Post:     The Story of Parikshit

24. The Story of Parikshit

There was a king by name Parikshit. He was the son of Abhimanyu and the grandson of Arjuna. 

After the Mahabharata war, Drona’s son Aswathama tried to decimate the entire Pandava race to avenge the killing of the Kauravas by the Pandavas in the Kurukshetra war using the most powerful Narayana Astra. Parikshit who was in the womb of Uthara, Abhimanyu’s wife, was protected by Krishna using his Sudarsana Chakra.

Parikshit was a great warrior. He was also fond of hunting. Once while hunting in a forest, he pierced a deer with his arrow. The wounded deer ran away. 

Parikshit went in search of the deer. He walked a long distance in the forest but could not find the deer. Fatigued and thirsty, he came across 

Sage Samika was seated in a cow-pen drinking the froth oozing out of the mouths of calves after they had fed themselves of the cows.

Parikshit asked the sage, “Oh saint, I am King Parikshit, son of Abhimanyu. A deer pierced by me has been lost. Did you see it?'

Since the sage was observing a vow of silence, he didn’t reply. Angered by the sage’s silence, Parikshit picked up a dead snake with the end of his bow and placed it on the sage’s shoulder.  Even then, the sage didn’t react and suffered the insult silently.

Finding that the sage didn’t protest at the treatment meted out to him, Parikshit felt sorry for his act and returned to his place quietly. 

Sage Samika had a son by name Sringin who had gone out. He had great energy and observed severe austerities. He was severe in his vows, very wrathful, and difficult to be appeased. 

One of his friends told him that King Parikshit had insulted his father by placing a dead snake on his shoulder.

Sringin became very angry on hearing this and cursed Parikshit to be bitten by Thakshaka, the King of snakes within seven days. After throwing this curse, Sringin went to his father and found him sitting with the dead snake on his shoulder. He told his father that he had cursed Parikshit.

The sage chided his son saying, “I am not happy about what you have done. Ascetics should observe restraint. We live in the country ruled by King Parikshit and we are protected by him. If he didn’t protect us, we wouldn’t be able to perform the penances peacefully.

"Parikshit was tired and thirsty when he came here. He was not aware of my vow of silence and had acted in haste. We should have forgiven him.. The king protects the sacrificial rites and these rites please the gods who give us rains which help the plants and trees that provide food to us grow. A country without a king will suffer. You have acted in haste and you have acted with immaturity.”

Sirgin replied, “Whether what I have done is right or not, the words I have uttered will come true and a curse can never be revoked.”

Sage Samika sent one of his disciples named Gurumukha to King Parikshit for apprising the king of the curse.  

Gurumukha went to the palace, met the king and apprised him of the developments. 

Parikshit grieved not so much about the curse as about the fact that he had insulted the great sage without being aware of his vow of silence.

Parikshit then consulted his ministers and as per their advice had a mansion erected on a solitary column. The mansion was closely protected by guards and no one could enter the palace unseen. Brahmins sitting in the mansion were engaged in chanting mantras continuously.

On the seventh day, a Brahmin named Kasyapa decided to go to the palace with the intention of bringing the king back to life in case he was bitten by Thakshaka, the snake, thereby earning the goodwill of the king. 

On the way he was met by Thakshka in the guise of a Brahmin. After ascertaining the intention of Kasyapa, Thakshaka revealed his identity and told him that Kasyapa couldn’t bring the king back to life after he was bitten by him. But Kasyapa claimed that he had the power to revive the king, after he was bitten by the snake.

Thakshka said that he would bite a banyan tree that was on the side of the road and challenged Kasyapa to bring it back to life. Kasyapa accepted the challenge. 

Thakshaka bit the banyan tree. The poison released by the snake blazed like a fire and burnt the tree to ashes. But Kasyapa brought back the tree to life by first reviving its sprout, then making two leaves appear, then creating the stem, then the branches and so on.

Impressed by Kasyapa’s feat, Thakshaka asked Kasyapa why he wanted to save the king. When Kasyapa said that he wanted to get huge wealth from the king, Thakshaka offered to give him more wealth than the king would give. 

Tempted by this offer, Kasyapa sat in meditation and through his spiritual powers learnt that the king’s life span was coming to an end. So he accepted the large quantity of gold given by Thakshaka and went away.

Thakshaka then devised a deception to enter the mansion. He made some snakes take the form of ascetics and enter the palace with gifts of fruits for the king. 

Thakshaka took the form of a small insect and penetrated one of the fruits. The snakes, as per the plan, disguised themselves as ascetics and entered the mansion and met the king. 

The unsuspecting king accepted the gifts offered to him. After the ‘ascetics’ had left, King Parikshit, along with his ministers began to eat the fruits. 

As fate would have it, the fruit in which Thakshaka was hiding came to be eaten by the king. Parikshit  observed a small insect coming out of the fruit and took it in his hand.

Parikshit  told his ministers, “The sun is about to set. The deadline for the curse is about to end. Let this insect become Thakshaka and bite me so that my sin will be expiated by the words of the sage coming true.”  

This was seconded by all the wise men assembled there.

King Parkikshit placed the insect on his neck. Even as the King was smiling, Thakshaka, assuming his real form, coiled around the king's neck and bit him causing him to die instantly. The entire mansion blazed with the fire of Thakshaka’s poison, making all  the ministers flee the scene. 

They saw Thakshaka coursing through the sky.

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