Durvasa Rishi (A non-astro Angry Sage?)

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Dear All,

Again from VV Raman at: http://www.siddha.com.my/ubb/Forum3/HTML/000053-7.htmlLove and regards,Sreenadh=========================

Durvasa Rishi

Different rishis were known for their different peculiarities. But this muchwas common to all of them: they were men of high principles and standards,and they would not easily brook disrespect. This trait may be seen even insome globe-trotting swamis of our own times. In spite of their enormouslearning and Vedic wisdom, quite a few rishis were rather short tempered.But few of them equaled, let alone surpassed, Durvasa Rishi in the quicknessand severity of his curses when he was annoyed. He is described in theMahabharata as "the terrible Brahmana of rigid vows."

Durvasa Rishi is sometimes mentioned as a son of Atri, one of the SaptaRishi. Some puranic sources also speak of him as having arisen directly fromShiva. The Vishnu Purana calls him a descendent of Mahadeva. In theMahabharata there is an episode in which Krishna says that the BrahmanaDurvasa stayed with him for sometime. Krishna described his complexion asgreen and tawny. He was clothed in rags, and carried a stick from a bilvatree. He was taller than anyone on earth. Durvasa is said to have exclaimed:"Who is there that would host the Brahmans Durvasa? He gets into a rage whenhe sees the slightest transgression in the hospitality towards him.." Let usrecall three events where the wrath of this rishi was let loose.

First, there was the incident at Kanva Rishi's hermitage. A version of theincident is narrated in Kalidasa's play Shakuntala. Durvasa once paid avisit there while Kanva was away. He asks: "Does anyone hear me?"

Shakuntala's friend Anasuya informs her that there was a guest. ButShakuntala's mind is elsewhere: She is thinking of her recent bridegroomKing Dushyanta who has gone to the capital. Durvasa becomes furious. "Thisis an insult," he screams, and curses that whoever was in Shakuntala's mind,that person will not remember her even when reminded, even as a drunkardcannot remember his own words when he becomes sober."

The Vishnu Purana narrates how Durvasa was responsible for the memorableepisode of the churning of the ocean: It is said that once while taking astroll, Durvasa saw a pretty woman with a beautiful garland. He wanted it,and she gave it to him. As he walked further, he encountered Indra riding onhis magical elephant Airavata. Durvasa flung the garland to Indra as a gift.The latter found it to be so beautiful that he placed it on the elephant'shead. The elephant wanted to experience the fragrance, and curled his trunkto the head. In the process, the garland fell to the ground. Durvasa becamefurious, and hurled a curse on Indra to the effect that Lakshmi would quithis realm. And she did. This led to such disasters that the evil ones(asuras) began to assault the good ones (devas). The latter appealed toVishnu for help. It was then that the plan for the churning of the ocean washatched, using Mount Mandara and the snake Vasuki.

In the Shakuntala story Durvasa went for a visit; and in the Indra story hewas paying his respects. In a third episode, he was himself the honoredguest. Lord Krishna once invited the Rishi for a hearty meal. The rishi wastreated to a sumptuous dinner with great regard and reverence. However, somegrains of rice were not appropriately cleared after the meal, and Durvasa'srage came to the fore on account of this omission. He spelled out another ofhis memorable curses: that Krishna be killed by his enemy.

Durvasa also appears in the Ramayana. In the Uttara Kanda he becomes furiouswith Lakshmana because the latter did not give him immediate entry to seeRama. He said, "I will curse you, this kingdom, Bharata and the descendantsof Rama. I cannot withhold my anger any further." Rama heard this threat,and he came out immediately. He asked the rishi what he wanted. DurvasaRishi spoke respectfully to Rama and said that his thousand years of fastingwas coming to an end that day. Therefore he wanted some food to eat.Thereupon the rishi was given a sumptuous feast. He ate to his satisfactionand moved away from the scene.

It may be difficult for us, in this day and age, to understand thesignificance of such extreme reactions to relatively innocuous behavior.Perhaps these episodes suggest an important aspect of the mores of the time.

Spiritual wisdom and asceticism were always held in the highest esteem.Ritualistic subservience and reverential gestures towards the sages weremandatory codes of behavior. The rishis came to expect these from everybody,including even the gods. Stories such as these served to bring home thispoint to the common folk in no uncertain terms. By portraying characterslike Durvasa in the popular literature, the ascetics ensured for themselvesthe trembling prostration from the common people: an attitude and behaviorthat persist to this day in the Hindu world.

On the other hand, Durvasa Rishi was also generous to people who treated himwith respect. One such beneficiary was Kunti. He taught her the mantra bywhich she could summon any of the celestials to bear her a child.

V. V. RamanSeptember 29, 2005

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