Rishi Ashtawakra

Story of Ashtavakra is narrated in great epics Ramayan and Mahabharat. Astavakra is the son of Rishi Kahoda and Sujatha Daughter of Rishi Aruni. He was born with physical deformities and hence got the name Ashtavakra. When he was very young his father went to Raja Janak’s place to participate in a debate against renowned scholar Vandin/Vanin, son of water God Varun. His father lost the debate and was immersed in water as condition of the debate.

When Ashtvakra was ten years old, his mother told him about his father’s fate and the kid went to meet Raja Janak. Janak first tested the boy and found him very knowledgeable. He then went on with the debate against Vandin and won the argument. After Ashtavakra won the debate, his father and other drowned scholars were released by Varun dev.

He is credited with writing of Ashtavakra Gita, which mostly talks about nature of God and metaphysical nature of existence.

There is an interesting story behind Ashtvakra’s physical deformities.

When he was inside his mother’s womb, his father was teaching him verses from Vedas and boy would correct him from inside the womb. This irked his father a lot and once out of irritation he cursed the boy to be born with deformities.

After Ashtavakra rescues his father, his father is very impressed with his young son and his knowledge and accepts his mistake in cursing him. On their way back from Janak palace, he asks Ashtvakra to take a dip in a divine lake. After taking the dip in the lake, he is cured of his deformities and becomes normal again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices