SUKRACHARYA

We have heard of Sukracharya, the guru of Asuras and how he came to the rescue of demons in their critical hours! Who is this great individual and what is his history? Not many of us know about this. In the Santhi Parva of the Mahabharatha Dharmaraja questions Bhismapitamaha why the renowned Sukra hated the Devas and favored the demons. He also wanted to know why there is enmity between the Devas and the Asuras. Bhishma was delighted and narrated the entire story of Sukracharya as he had heard earlier from reliable sources. Modern readers may not believe in what Bhisma said but these incidents belong to krutha Yuga! The original

name of Sukracharya was Yasanasa and he belonged to the clan of Bhrigu. Once, requested by the Devas,  Lord Vishnu killed  his mother with his Sudarsana Chakra. It was from that time that Yasanasa became the hater and enemy of the Devas! By his yoga, Yasanasa entered into Kubera, the Lord of wealth, bound him and took away all his wealth! Having lost all his wealth, Kubera ran to  Kailash and complained to Lord Siva how Yasanasa overpowered him with his yoga and robbed him of all his wealth!

This infuriated Maheswara and He took up his trident or Trula to kill Yasanasa! Sensing the intention of the Lord through the power of Yoga, he, for a while didn't know what to do. He sat in severe tapas, prayed to the Lord and settled himself on the tip of Trishul! Realizing the trick of Yasanasa on the tip of His Trshula, Lord Siva bent the trident like a bow! That came to be called  as “Pinaka” from that time onwards! Even as Yasanasa  came very near to His palm, the Lord opened his mouth and gulped him down his throat! Great yogi that he was, Yasanasa entered the Lord’s stomach and moved about in it! “How did Yasanasa  move about in the great stomach of the Lord?,” asked Dharmaraja.

Bhishma replied that after swallowing Yasanasa, Lord Siva entered into waters and performed severe penance and yoga for a hundred thousand years! He remained stable like a rock--:’Sthanu’. The Creator  Brahma' visited the Lord and enquired if his tapas went off well. The Lord found out that Yasanasa was progressing well within the stomach on account of the great penance he had undertaken! Once again Lord Siva went into deep meditation. Yasanasa continued movement in the stomach of the Lord and prayed for release from it! But the Lord had sealed all the openings in His body to prevent  Yasnasa from escaping! With all escape routes sealed, Yasanasa felt the heat and could not bear the torture within! Implored upon, Lord Siva instructed Yasanasa to escape from the reproductive organ! Without any other alternative except emerging out of the organ, Yasanasa came out!

Emerging out of the Lord’s stomach, Yasanasa looked radiant! Lord Siva who was very angry with him wanted to kill him and directed his Trishul towards him! But Uma Devi prevented the Lord from killing Yasanasa, the renowned brahmin and a sage. She pointed out that having come out of the Lord’s stomach, Yasanasa is equal to His son and should not be killed!  The Lord  appreciating the words of Devi desisted from killing him and allowed Yasanasa to go wherever he wanted! Yasanasa fell at the feet of Lord Siva and Uma Devi and went away according to his will! Bhishma narrated this story of Yasanasa who by his supreme meditation, tapas and yoga  came to be called “Sukracharya” because of the way he emerged from the stomach of Lord Siva!

Sukracharya is always partial to Asuras and he is  their mentor! He has mastered the  “Mritasanjeevani” mantra! With the help of this mantra he resuscitated thousands of demons who died in the war between the Devas and Asuras. On one occasion his student Kacha was taught the “ Mritasanjivani” mantra. Other demons killed Kacha, powdered his bones, mixed it in a drink and made Sukracharya drink it! Knowing the mischief, Sukracharya asked Kacha to come out breaking his stomach! Kacha came out and brought Sukracharya back to life with the help of “Mritasanjivani” mantra! During the Vamana avatar Sukracharya tried to prevent Maha Bali from giving away three feet of land to Vamana! Bali refused to obey his mentor! But  Sukracharya is said to have obstructed the water flow from the kamandalu for giving away the land! Vamana pierced one eye of Sukracharya with the blade of kusa (a kind of grass) and he became blind in one eye!! In astrology planet  Sukra is the karaka for wife and fine arts! He is also responsible for manliness(semen). His position in a horoscope is very important for an individual!