Talk:Cyavana
By Swami Harshananda
Cyavana literally means ‘one who dropped down’.
Cyavana was a great sage, the son of another great sage Bhṛgu and Pulomā. He got this name since he was aborted from the mother’s womb. When Pulomā was threatened by a demon and was hence struck with fear, the baby dropped down. But the baby reduced the demon to ashes just by staring at him.
Once, when Cyavana was sitting in meditation for many years at a stretch and an anthill had grown over him, Sukanyā, the young daughter of the king Saryāti, happened to come there. Out of curiosity, she pierced the holes in the anthill from which a strange light was emanating. This struck the sage blind. As an expiation, the king had to give Sukanyā in marriage to the sage and she had to serve him. She however gladly accepted her fate and sincerely served her husband.
Due to her power of chastity she was able to win the grace of Aśvins[1] who restored the youth of the sage Cyavana. Out of gratitude, got them the right of sharing sacrificial offerings along with Indra and other gods.
References[edit]
- ↑ Aśvins are the twin deities, who are physicians of gods.
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore