MAARKANDEYA presents MAHAABHAARATHAM

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W E L C O M E

"After praying to Naaraayana, Nara, Sarasvathi and Vyaasa, then one should read the Jayam."

DEDICATED TO MY DEAR NIECE VYSHNAVI KRISHNA

SHUKRA ( or KAAVYA)

Also see the links, kacha and devayaani.

(The SH in this name is pronounced like one between 's' in 'sip' and 'sh' in 'ship'.)

Shukra was adescendent of the lineage of Bhrigu, Kavi etc. He was mentor of the demons. He was a person of very strong penitentiary powers. He was extremely affectionate to his beloved daughter Devayaani. He loved wine too, very heartily.Those two were his weaknesses. His counterpart Brihaspathi was mentor of the Gods. Shukra was said to be an expert of regal policies. A book named Shukra-neethi is said to be his treatise on the state policies.

Shukra was a great asset to the demons because he had a powerful chant (Mrithasanjeevani, Mritha=dead, sanjeevani=vivifier)with which he revivified the demons killed by the gods in the wars. The gods devised a plan to gain that knowledge from him to neatralise the advantage of the demons caused by Shukra's power. They sent Brihaspathi's son Kacha to Shukra on a mission of obtaining that knowledge from him.

Shukra gladly accepted Kacha as his disciple. Kacha served him with devotion for many years and won his heart. Kacha also endeared himself to Shukra's daughter Devayaani by gifting her with various fruits and flowers. But, the other demon-disciples of Shukra did not like a boy from the gods to be so dear to their mentor. They killed kacha many times but Devayaani prevailed upon her father to bring him alive again with the power of his Mrithasanjeevani. The demons were equally persistent in killing Kacha, as they were afraid of the possibility of Shukra's delivering that Mrithasanjeevani in favour of their adversary Kacha. They killed Kacha, burnt him and made a fine ash of his body. They mixed that ash in wine and gave to Shukra who drank it unsuspecting. As usual, Devayaani did not find Kacha return and he prayed her father to enliven Kacha again. Shukra came out of drunkenness after a very long time and sent Mrithasanjeevani to bring Kacha alive but Kacha could not be found. Finally, Shukra understood that Kacha was in his stomuch itself. He thought of how to get Kacha out safe while he himself remaining unhurt. He enlivened Kacha first and taught him the chant of Mrithasanjeevani. Then he called Kacha to come out, ripping his stomuch. Kacha did so causing Shukra's death and he himself vivified his dead teacher with his newly acquired power. Thus, the intended harms of the demons brought good to Kacha unexpectedly.

After some time, Kacha prayed Shukra for leave to go. Shukra granted happily but Devayaani did not bear with his partition. She disclosed her love towards him and asked him to marry her. Kacha outright rejected her word saying that a teacher's daughter is like a sister to him. Devayaani cursed Kacha that the much coveted Mrithasanjeevani shall not work for him. Kacha told that the chant would work for those who were taught by him, though it did not work for him. He also cursed her that she shall not be married by a Braahmana and went home.

Later, Devayaani married king Yayaathi with her father's approval. At the time of marriage, Devayaani went to her husband's place along with her king (demon) Vrishaparva's daughter Sharmishtha who was serving her due to an imposition . Shukra specifically warned Yayaathi not to entertain any ideas about peasures with Sharmishtha, though she shall be well provided with all the luxuries. But Yayaathi and Sharmishtha married secretely which Devayaani understood and complained to her father about her husband's unfidelity to her. Shukra was angry and cursed the king to become a ripe old man. At the prayer of the king, he sanctioned that he may exchange his old age with the youth of any one of his sons and that obliging son shall be the successor to his throne. All his elder sons rejected Yayaathi's plea but Pooru, the youngest son of Sharmishtha, obliged him. And after his father's retirement, he brcame the king. His dynasty was later known as Pooru or Pourava after his name.

Thus,Shukra was an important person in Mahaabhaaratham.

"After praying to Naaraayana, Nara, Sarasvathi and Vyaasa, then one should read the Jayam."

DEDICATED TO MY DEAR NIECE VYSHNAVI KRISHNA