| |
|
1-General Curses-1
Hindu scriptures are full of
boons and curses. Boon is grace to be
bestowed on somebody for his good, mostly boons are asked but sometimes they
are given also when somebody is pleased with somebody. On the contrary curse
is never asked, it is only given to somebody when the other person is very angry
at him. It always does bad to him. Boons and curses are not only among human
beings but also between gods and human beings also. Of course there is no reference
of any boon from a human being to a god. Here are given some curses --
(1) Kach, Cursed by Devayaanee
Kach, the son of Dev Guru Brihaspati went to Daitya Guru Shukraachaarya to
learn Sanjeevanee Vidyaa. Shukraachaarya accepted him as his disciple and
kept him in his Aashram. During the period of his stay there, Shukraachaarya's
daughter Devayaanee fell in love with him and when his time came to return
home, she proposed to him, but he politely refused saying that since he was
reborn from the stomach of her father, he was like her brother, that is why
he could not marry her. At this Devayaanee cursed him - "Whichever Vidyaa
you have learnt from my father, you will never be able to use it." Kach
himself could not use that Vidyaa, but he taught that Vidyaa to others.
(2) Devayaanee, Cursed by Kach
At this Kach also cursed Devayaanee - "Since you have cursed me without my
any fault, you will not be able to marry any Braahman." That is why she
married King Yayaati.
(3) King Nimi, Cursed by Rishi Vashishth
This story comes in Bhaagvat Puraan
Bhaagvat Puraan, 9/7. Once Raajaa Nimi decided to do a Yagya, so he
sought the help of Vashishth Jee. He told him that he was going to do a
yagya for Indra and he would do his Yagya when he comes back from there.
Nimi started his Yagya thinking life is short. In the meantime Vashishth
Jee came back and seeing the King doing Yagya got angry and cursed him
that his body should fall down. Nimi left his body through Aatm Vidyaa.
The Rishi kept his body and when the Yagya was over and Devtaa came to
take their share, Rishi prayed them to make him alive. Nimi said - "I
do not want the bondage of this body." Then Devtaa said - "Let
him live without body in the eyes of all living beings. When their eyelids
will rise and fall, Nimi's existence will be known." Since then a blink
of the eye has come to be known as "Nimesh" in Hindi.
(4) Vashishth, Cursed by King Nimi
Vashishth Jee's curse was not according to Dharm, so King Nimi also cursed
him - "Since you did not respect Dharm because of your greed, therefore
your body should also fall down." and thus both fell down. Vashishth Jee
was reborn as Mitra and Urvashee's son.
(5) Ahalyaa, Cursed by Rishi Gautam
Read
Indra, Cursed by Gautam Rishi
(6) King Ambareesh, Cursed by Rishi Durvaasaa
This story comes in
Bhaagvat
Puraan, 9/2. Manu's son was Nabhag, Nabhag's son was Naabhaag,
and Naabhaag's son was Ambareesh. Ambareesh was a very religious
and a great devotee of Vishnu. Even Brahm Shaap could never harm him.
Pleased with his devotion Vishnu appointed His Chakra to guard him.
Once he did Dwaadashee Pradhaan Ekaadashee Vrat and at the end of the
Vrat kept fast for three nights. When he was doing his Paaran (conclusion)
of his Vrat, that Durvaasaa Rishi came there. King welcomed him and
requested him to take food. Rishi agreed and went to do his daily chores
to bank of Yamunaa. Now Dwaadashee remained only for one Ghadee. Not
completing Vrat in Dwaadashee was also a sin and taking food without
offering Braahman was also a sin, so he consulted Braahman to tell him
a way so that he is not blamed for any sin. With the Braahman's consultation
he took water, because it meant not to take food, and still maintaining
the fast.
When Durvaasaa Jee came, the
King welcomed him but Muni understood that the King has done the Paaran of
his Vrat. He became very angry, he broke a flock of his hair from his skull
and produced a Krityaa to kill Ambareesh. The Krityaa proceeded towards Ambareesh
to kill him but Ambareesh stood unmoved. Vishnu's Chakra killed the Krityaa and
then proceeded towards Durvaasaa to kill him. Now Durvaasaa ran away from there
and wherever he went the Chakra followed him. He went to Brahmaa, Mahesh but both
expressed their helplessness in this regard. Then he went to Vishnu, even Vishnu
could not help him. He said - "Muni, I am under the control of my Bhakt, so
I cannot help you, go to the same person to whom you have committed crime."
He went back to Ambareesh and fell down on his feet. Ambareesh prayed Chakra, the
Chakra calmed down, fed Muni, and took food himself too. Durvaasaa Muni blessed
him and went to his Lok.
(7) Arjun, Cursed by Urvashee
During the exile of 13 years of Paandav, Naarad Jee advised Arjun to get
celestial weapons. So he went to Heaven to his father to get those weapons.
Seeing his beauty, Urvashee Apsaraa got attracted to him and asked him to
be with her. Arjun politely refused her saying that he had always seen her
as his mother, because she was the wife of his ancestor Pururavaa. But
Urvashhe was mad about him so she cursed him to become a eunuch. Later it
was shortened for one year only and that also whenever he wanted to be like
that by his father Indra. Arjun availed this when he was passing one year
of living incognito in Viraat's palace.
(8) Braahman, Cursed by Lakshmee
This story continues from Brahmaa Jee and Vishnu Jee,
Cursed by Bhrigu. When Bhrigu Jee hit his foot at Vishnu's chest, Vishnu forgave
him, but Lakshmee Jee did not like it. She cursed all Braahman that she would not
live with Braahman. Hearing this Bhrigu Jee went away. Since then Braahman remained
poor. However, all was not lost. Lakshmee Jee then provided a Paap Vimochan or cure
for sin by saying that she would not desert those Braahman who would worship Her
husband sincerely .Later Bhrigu Jee also wrote Bhrigu Sanhitaa and brought it to
Lakshmee Jee to bless it. He said to Her - "Devee, I have written this book,
please bless it." Lakshmee Jee blessed it." Bhrigu Jee came back, and
after that Braahman started earning some money out of that book.
(9) King Chitraketu, Cursed by Paarvatee
We find only one curse by Paaravatee. There was a King Chtraketu. He was
very religious and a qualitative king. One day he was riding his Vimaan
(airplane given by Bhagavaan) that he saw Bhagavaan Shankar sitting amidst
Rishi, Muni, Siddh etc and Paarvatee Jee was sitting in his lap and he had
one arm around her. Seeing this he went to him and sitting in the Vimaan
started laughing and said addressing Paarvatee Jee - "See, These are
all the religious teachers of the world. They are the highest among human
beings. He is sitting with his wife clinging to her body in the midst of
so many people. He is a great Tapaswee and knows Brahm very well, still
he is sitting putting his wife in his lap shamelessly. Even normal people
sit with their wives like this when they are alone only, but he is sitting
in the midst of so many people?"
Hearing this Shiv kept quiet, but Paarvatee Jee got angry and she cursed him -
"....Whose feet Brahmaa Jee etc all great Devtaa meditate upon, he has
insulted that Bhagavaan? That is why he is to be punished. Go to Asur Yoni,
O Son, then you will not be able to commit such a crime again against great
people." Although Chitraketu had so much power that he could also curse
Paarvatee Jee but he accepted her curse and was born from Dakshinaagni of
Twashtaa as an Asur -
Vritraasur who was killed by Indra.
[Bhaagvat Puraan,
6/6]
(10) King Dasharath, Cursed by Shravan Kumaar's Father
Once Dasharath, Raam's father, was practicing for Shabd Vedhee Vaan on
Satayoo's banks that he heard some sound and shot his arrow. When he went
to check for his prey, he found that it was not an animal but it was a man
who was filling his pitcher to carry water to his blind parents waiting at
some distance. Thus he heard the sound of filling water which he thought
that it was the sound of drinking water of an animal. The man died and
when the King went to his parents to give them water, they recognized that
he was not their son. they asked him who was he and where was their son?
He told them the hwhole story, hearing whhich they cursed him - "As we
are dying in the grief of the separation of our son, you will also die in
the same way." Dasharath died as Raam left for 14-year exile.
(11) Sage Deval, Cursed by Rambhaa
Once Rambhaa – the Divine Dancer of Devtaa desired to have Sage Deval
for her pleasures which was refused by the Sage. Thus, Rambhaa got angry
with him and cursed the Sage to born in an inferior caste. That is why,
Sage Deval was born in Devaang Caste and he became the Prime person of
that caste. He was blessed with three sons named Divyaang, Vimalaang, and
Dhavalaang who helped the sage to create and manufacture wonderful clothes
for the benefit of the Society and also for the benefit of the Divine Lords.
[Read Other Stories About Deval
No 4]
(12) King Janamejaya, Cursed by Celestial Bitch Saramaa
When Janamejaya started his Snake Yagya with his three brothers, the son
of celestial bitch Saramaa came there. Janamejaya's brothers tried to push
him away, so he went back to his mother weeping. Saramaa asked him - "Why
do you weep?" He told that he went to Janamejaya's Yagya and his brothers
beat him. Saramaa said to him - "You must have committed some mistake
there." "No." Saramaa came to Janamejaya and asked him why her
son was beaten without any mistake. He could not reply anything, so Saramaa
cursed him - "Since you have beaten my son without any reason, an evil will
fall upon you when you will least expect it."
[MBH,
G-0-prolog/4]
(13) Kaagbhushundi, Cursed by Lomash Muni
This story comes in Tulasee's
Maanas. Lomash Muni cursed Kaagbhushundi Jee to be born as a crow, so he was born
as Kaagbhushundi. Lomash Muni wanted to teach Kaagbhushundi Jee Nir-Gun Brahm, but
Kaagbhushundi Jee's mind was towards Sa-Gun Brahm - Shree Raam. When Lomash Jee found
that Kaagbhushnundi Jee is not interested in Nir-Gun Brahm, he got angry and he cursed
him to be born as a crow.
(14) King Karn, Cursed by Rishi Parashuraam
Although Karn was the son of Kuntee from Soorya Dev, but because he was
born in her maiden period, she flowed him in a box in a river. A childless
Soot found that box, took out the child and brought him up as his own son.
Now as he was the Soot's son, no good Guru was ready to give him education
as he wished for. Drone refused to train him in weaponry because he was
neither a royal prince nor a Kshatriya. So he went to Parashuraam and got
trained from saying that he was Braahman as Parashuraam Jee was the enemy
of all Kshatriya. After his education was completed, he asked what Guru
Dakshinaa he could pay to him. Parashuraam was so happy with him that he
refused to take Guru Dakshinaa from him saying - "I am very proud of
you, only lucky Guru get such disciples and that also rarely. So you need not
to worry now, I will take it when I will need it."
One day Parashuraam was lying
placing his head in Karn's lap, that a worm came and bit him in his thigh.
It started bleeding, it was paining, but Karn did not move at all lest his
Guru's sleep is disturbed. At one point Parashuraam woke up and saw Karn's
thigh bleeding like anything, he asked him why didn't he push that worm away?
Karn said - "If I did this your sleep would have disturbed." Parashuraam
got very angry and said - "You cannot be Braahman, because a Braahman
cannot be so tolerant, tell me truly who are you?" Karn replied - "I
am a Soot's son." Parashuraam got angrier than before and said - "Since
you have acquired this education by deceit, it will not be of any use when you
will need it most." and went away.
[MBH, ]
(15) King Karn, Cursed by a Braahman
Once Karn was practicing his archery after finishing his education, that his arrow
hit a cow of a Braahman. At this the Braahman who owned the cow, cursed him - "As
you have killed this innocent animal, you will also be killed in a helpless condition."
(16) King Karn, Cursed by Prithvi
Once Karn was driving his chariot in his kingdom Ang, that he encountered a child
who was crying over a pot of Ghee which had spilt. She was scared of her stepmother
for this matter. Karn assured her to have another Ghee, but the child wanted the
same Ghee mixed with soil. Taking pity on the child, Karn took the soil in his
hands, squeezed it hard to take out the Ghee and poured the extracted Ghee in the
pot. In this process he heard a voice of a wailing woman. He opened his fist and
realized that the voice was coming from the soil, the Earth goddess (Bhoo Devee).
She cursed him that "in his very crucial battle of his life, she would trap
his chariot wheel in such a way as he held her soil in his fist, thereby vulnerable
him to his enemy."
[Wikipedia]
(17) Kuntee, Cursed by Yudhishthir
When Yudhishthir had performed the last rites of his people, including
Karn, he was deeply hurt that Kuntee did not tell him about Karn to him
before that Karn was his brother. Deeply hurt, Yudhishthir cursed Kuntee -
"From today no woman will be able to keep any secret in her heart - a
sexist curse but true.
(18) King Nahush, Cursed by Rishi Agastya
King Nahush was a very pious and able king. Once Indra was attached to the
sin of Brahm Hatyaa, so he hid in the stalk of a lotus flower. At that
time there was no Indra, so the Devtaa felt the need of an Indra for the
time being. Brihaspati Jee suggested that King Nahush was a pious king in
those days on Prithvi, so he could be appointed as Indra till the original
Indra comes back. So he was appointed as Indra. After a while he became
proud of his status and he thought that when he was Indra why Indraanee
should come to him. So he sent a message to Indraanee that since he was
now the new Indra, she should live with him. Indraanee got very worried
and she consulted Dev Guru Brihaspati Jee. Brihaspati Jee suggested her to
agree to his proposal with a condition that he should come to her in a
palanquin (Paalakee) carried by Rishi and Braahman. So she sent this
message to Nahush.
Now Nahush was very happy
that now he would have Indraanee, so he immediately ordered for a
palanquin to be carried by Rishi and Braahman. A palanquin was made ready,
but when Rishi and Braahman heard that they have to carry it, they all
abused him, but still, soince it was Indra's order, they carried it. As
they were carrying it, and they were not used to such type of work, they
were walking slowly. On the other hand the King Nahush was so happy with
the idea of meeting Indraanee that he forgot all his etiquettes. When
Rishi were walking slowly, he prompted them to go fast saying "Sarp,
Sarp". In Sanskrit language Sarp has two meanings - one is "go
fast" and another is "snake". Rishi started walking faster
but still not as fast as Nahush was expecting. he wanted to reach Indraanee
as soon as possible, so he again prompted them to walk fast. Still they were
not able to walk as fast as he wanted, so Nahush hit Rishi Agastya with his
foot to go afst saying again "Sarp, Sarp." This time Agastya Muni
got angry. he said - "O King, By virtue of your becoming Indra you have
become proud and have forgotten you all etiquettes. First you have employed
us Rishi as a labor, secondly you are ordering us to go fast. We are not used
to such labor. Thirdly, you are hitting us with your foot. I curse you that
since you are saying to us "Sarp, Sarp", you yourself become Sarp
(snake) and fall on Prithvi."
Hearing this curse, King
Nahush came into senses and he asked for his forgiveness and asked the way
to be freed from his curse. Agastya Jee said - "When you meet the
mightiest man of the world, then only you should expect your Mukti from
this Yoni. One person will come to you, you may ask him as many questions
as you wish. When he had replied your questions, you will be free from
this curse." After this nahush became a python and fell on the Earth.
He passed thousands of years in that Yoni. He caught as many men to test
their might, and thus he ate many people, but one day he caught Bheem (the
3rd Paandav) and he could not kill Bheem, so he understood that it was the
time to be free from that Yoni. When he did not free Bheem, his bother
Yudhishthir came in search of him, and he replied his questions, then only
Nahush became free from his Sarp Yoni and went away to his own Lok.
(19) King Paandu, Cursed by Rishi Kindam
After his marriage to Kuntee and Maadree, Paandu went to forest for pleasure.
He knew to shoot Shab Vedhee Vaan (shooting on hearing the sound). There, once,
he went for hunting and he heard some sound. He thought it was a deer and shot
the arrow at him. The arrow hit him and he died. When Paandu came to take his
prey, he found that it was not a deer but was a Rishi. He got stunned and asked
for his forgiveness. At that time Rishi was with his wife, so he cursed Paandu -
"As I am dying when I am with my wife, you will also die when you will be
with your wife." and died. Paandu got very sad and came back to his place.
He could not have a child now. Seeing his condition, Kuntee remembered Durvaasaa
Muni's Mantra (read Durvaasaa
Muni and Kuntee) and got three sons from Dharm Raaj, Pavan Dev and Indra. She
got a twins from Ashwinee Kumaar for Maadree too. Paandu died when he was in the
arms of his wife Maadree.
(20) King Pareekshit, Cursed by Rishi Shringee
Once Pareekshit went for hunting. he followed some deer, but they escaped
and the King got separated from his followers, He got hungry and thirsty.
Searching in water he came to Shameek Muni's Aashram. At that time he was
sitting in Meditation, so he did not know that somebody had come to his
Aashram. Thirsty Pareekshit went to him and asked for some water, but since
he was in meditation, he could not entertain him. The King asked him a couple
of times, and when he did not get any reply, he got angry. In anger he looked
around and found a dead snake lying there. He picked that up with the corner
of his bow and out it in Muni's neck and came back to his kingdom.
Shameek Rishi had a son
named Shringee who was playing with his friends at that time. He was also
very powerful. One of his friends told him that somebody had put a dead
snake in his father's neck. he got very angry hearing this and he cursed
the person - "Whoever has put this dead snake in my father's neck, he
will die by Takshak bite on the 7th day from today." When Pareekshit
heard this, he went to Gangaa River's bank and heard Bhaagvat Kathaa from
Shuk Dev Jee for seven days.
[Bhaagvat Puraan,
1/6]
Continued on General Curses-2
|