Cyavana
By Jit Majumdar Cyavana literally means ‘one who dropped down’.
Etmytology[edit]
- moving; active; agile
- a distinguished ŗşi of the Bhārgava clan who was the son of Bhŗgu and Pulomā and the husband of Sukanyā the daughter of King Śaryāti (Ai. Br.); a son of Suhotra (Bg. Pur.); a sage of the 2nd manvantara (Hv. Pur.).
Saint[edit]
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]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore