Mritsanjivni - I

In the incessant battles between the demi-Gods and demons, the demons were always at the losing end. This was in no small measure attributable to the assistance given by the trinity of the supreme Gods to the demi-Gods. Once Shukracharya, the preceptor of the demons, decided that enough was enough. He told the demons that he would meditate and acquire divine powers with which he could even the scales. He would be away for a long time and since without him the demons would be powerless, he instructed the demons not to engage in any conflict with the demi-Gods till his return.

Shukracharya undertook an arduous penance and invoked the blessings of Shiva. He asked for a mantra with which would ensure that the demons never lost. Shiva agreed to do so, but Shukracharya would have to perform a certain ritual for a thousand years and live only on smoke during this period. Shukracharya began this ritual in order to get mantra from Shiva.

Meanwhile the demi-Gods learnt of Shukracharya's plans. They decided to destroy the demons while Shukracharya was away and before he acquired the divine mantra. As instructed by Shukracharya, the demons were residing at the hermitage of Sage Bhrigu, Shukracharya's father. The demons pleaded that they had given up their weapons and were leading a peaceful life and hence it was unfair for them to be attacked at this time. But the demi-Gods carried on regardless. Since Bhrigu was away, the demons requested his wife, Usha, to come to their aid. Summoning her mystical powers she rendered Indra, the king of the demi-Gods, immobile. The other demi-Gods fled to Vishnu and implored him to rescue Indra. Usha threatened to reduce both Indra and Vishnu to ashes, but before she could complete the incantation Vishnu released his Sudarshan chakra (a disc like weapon) and beheaded Usha. When Bhrigu returned and saw the decapitated body of his wife, he gave a curse to Vishnu. Since Vishnu was guilty of killing a woman he would have to take birth on earth time and again. This provided the basis for the incarnations of Vishnu. Bhrigu then used his divine powers to rejoin the head and body of Usha and gave her fresh life.

After his failure with the demons, Indra turned his attention to Shukracharya. He sent his daughter, Jayanti, with instructions to either distract Shukracharya using her charms or win him over with her service. Jayanti's modest demeanour prevented her from seducing the sage, so she followed the second option. For the remaining part of the thousand years Jayanti devotedly served Shukracharya. When the period of the penance was over, Shiva appeared and taught Shukracharya a mantra that would bring a dead person back to life. This mantra was known as the 'Mritsanjivni' or 'the one which brings the dead to life'. Having achieved his mission, Shukracharya turned his attention to Jayanti. He promised Jayanti a boon for the selfless manner in which she had attended to the needs of his penance. Jayanti asked that he live with her as her husband for ten years and Shukracharya willingly acquiesced.

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