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6-Curses to Gods
Hindu scriptures are full of boons and
curses. Here are some curses to gods
(1) Agni Dev, Cursed by Seetaa
- See also Seetaa-4
for its other versions
(2) Agni Dev, Cursed by Bhrigu
(3) Agni Dev, Cursed by Indra
(4) Brahmaa Jee, Cursed by His Wife Saavitree
See also
Brahmaa-2
Once Brahmaa Jee performed a Yagya at Pushkar. His wife Saavitree (called
Saraswatee in some versions) was supposed to join him, but somehow she
could not be present at the designated time to perform the essential part of
the Yagya as she was waiting for her companion goddesses Lakshmee, Paarvatee
and Indraanee. Annoyed at her being late, Brahmaa Jee requested Indra - to find
a suitable girl for him to wed to complete the Yagya. Indra could find only a
Goojar's daughter (in some legends, a milkmaid) who was sanctified by passing her
through the body of a cow. Vishnu, Shiv and the priests certified her purity as
she had passed through a cow, it was her second birth and she was named Gaayatree.
Brahmaa Jee then married Gaayatree and completed the Yagya with his new consort
sitting beside him, holding the pot of Amrit (elixir of life) on her head and
giving Aahuti (offering to the sacrificial fire). But when Saavitree finally
arrived at the venue, she found another woman, Gaayatree, sitting next to her
husband, which was actually her rightful place. She got agitated and cursed
Brahmaa Jee that he would never be worshipped, but then reduced the curse
permitting his worship in Pushkar.
(5) Brahmaa Jee and Shiv Jee, Cursed by Maharshi Bhrigu
This story comes in
Bhaagvat Puraan, 10/u26. Once a discussion broke among Rishi that among
the Trinity who was the greatest Devtaa. Bhrigu Jee was chosen to test them
and give his decision. So Bhrigu Jee first went to Brahmaa Jee. Brahmaa Jee
was sitting in his court and was enjoying. He did not pay much attention to
his son. So Bhrigu Jee cursed him - "You are lost in your enjoyment and
do not care for your guests, you will not be worshipped on Earth. No temple
will be there to worship you."
Next he came to Shiv. Shiv was sitting with his wife Paarvatee Jee. he
saw him sitting with her in a pose that he did not like to see him. Seeing
this he cursed Shiv - "You don't care for the world, you will live in
Shamshaan, and people will offer you whatever offering will not take it back
home.
The story goes further that then he went to Vishnu. Vishnu Jee was lying on
the bed of Shesh Naag and His consort Lakshmee Jee was caressing His feet
with great love. As he arrived there, he hit his foot on Vishnu's chest.
Vishnu Jee got up immediately and asked Maharshi politely - "Hey Rishi,
Is your foot unhurt? Why did you take so much trouble to come here, you would
have called me, I myself would have come to you." Hearing this Bhrigu
Jee had decided that only Vishnu is the greatest Devtaa among the three.
[Read the next part of this story at
Braahman, Cursed by Lakshmee]
(6) Dharm Dev, Cursed by Padmaa
This story comes in
Shiv Puraan. Padmaa (Devee Paarvatee's incarnation), the daughter of
King Aranya, was the wife of Rishi Pippalaad. Once Pippalaad saw her and
got attracted to her so he asked King Aranya his daughter to marry him.
King first thought how can he give his beautiful daughter to a sage like
this, who is very old and almost in the last stage of his life with skeleton
compared body, but then realizing his Tej from Tap he fulfilled Pippalaad's
desire. Thus the King married his daughter Padmaa to Pippalaad.
Padmaa was very beautiful
and Pativrataa. One day Dharm Dev came to test her virginity near the
river. He tried a lot to distract her by pointing again and again to the
old age of Pippalaad Muni. At this she got annoyed and cursed him to get
demolish soon. Listening her curse, Dharm Dev appeared in his original
form and asked an apology from her. Devee replied - "I cursed you
unknowingly but even then a given curse cannot be taken back. I cannot
release you from this curse, but in every Yug, one part of Dharm will be
destroyed. In Sat Yug, Dharm will be present in all your four forms, in
Tretaa Yug Dharm will be present with three forms, in Dwaapar Yug Dharm
will stand with two forms, while in Kali Yug only one form of Dharm will
be present." This is the reason Kali Yug is running short of Dharm.
Dharm then being satisfied by Devee's virginity blessed her with 10 sons
and made her husband a handsome youth. They both lived happily and had ten
children. They were all great sages and vigorous performers of Tapasyaa
like their father.
(7) Dharm Raaj, Cursed by Maandavya Muni
Yam Raaj was cursed by Maandavya Muni. Once a King's servants caught some
thieves at the Aashram of Maandavya Muni. They thought that Maandavya Muni
was also in that group of thieves, so they caught him also and took all of
them to the King. The King assigned death punishment to all of them. So
his people put all of them on stake. Since the King's servants brought the
Muni while he was doing Tap, he did not feel the slightest touch of the
stake. But it happened so that a Pativrataa wife was carrying her leper
husband to a prostitute's house, his leg touched him and he woke up from
his Tap and felt the pain. He immediately asked the King's servants to bring
him down from the stake. The servants told this to the King, so when the King
came to know about Maandavya Muni, that he was a Rishi, he immediately
called him back and asked for his forgiveness.
Maandavya Muni went to
Yam Raaj, and asked him, "What was my sin to get this severe punishment?"
Yam Raaj said, "You have committed a Paap." "What?" "Once
you have pierced a Tiddee (locust) with the tip of a Kush." Muni said -
"That I must have done when I was a very little child and unknowingly. And you
punished me so much for that little crime?" Then Muni cursed Dharm Raaj,
"Go, and live in Shoodra Varn on Prithvi for 100 years." So he was born
as maid-servant's son as Vidur Jee.
[According to some other sources he cursed him to be born on Prithvi three times
as a Shoodra. So once he was born as the in-charge of the Shamashaan land where
Harishchandra worked, another time he was born as Vidur as a maid's son].
(8) Ganesh, Cursed by Tulasee
Once Ganapati was meditating for Vishnu, that Tulasee came to him and requested him
to marry her. Ganapati refused to marry her saying that he did not want to marry and
wanted only to meditate on Vishnu. This made Tulasee angry, she cursed Ganesh -
"Since you are not marrying me, you will have to marry without your wish." -
see also below "Tulasee, Cursed by Ganesh".
[See Ganesh, Stories, 21]
(9) Indra, Agni, Vishnu and Braahman, Cursed by Saavitree
In the above reference, Saavitraa also cursed Indra to be easily defeated in
battles, Vishnu to suffer the separation from his wife when He is as a human,
the Fire-god Agni who was offered the Yagya to be all-devouring and the priests
officiating the Yagya to be poor. But endowed by the powers of Yagya, Gaayatree
diluted Saavitree's curse and blessed Pushkar to be the king of pilgrimages,
Indra would always retain his Heaven, Vishnu when born as the human being Raam
will finally unite with his consort and the priests would become scholars and
be venerated.
(10) Indra, Cursed by Durvaasaa Muni
Durvaasaa Rishi cursed him. Once Indra was going somewhere riding on his
Airaavat elephant. Durvaasaa Muni was coming from opposite side from
Bhagavaan's court. He had a flower garland in his hand. Considering Indra
the Swaamee of Tri-Lok he thought that this garland would be appropriate
for Indra as Prasaad. So he threw that garland on coming Indra. Indra
didn't care for it and he threw it on Airaavat's head, and Airaavat picked
it from his head, threw it on the ground and crushed it under his feet.
Seeing the insult of this Prasaad, Durvaasaa Muni got very furious and he
cursed Indra: "You will loose all your wealth, grace and kingdom very
soon." and went away. Soon Indra was attacked by Daitya Raaj Bali and
lost everything. Then Samudra Manthan took place.
(11) Indra, Cursed by Gautam Rishi
Once Brahmaa Jee created the most beautiful woman and named her Ahalyaa.
Many Devtaa and Rishi were sitting in his court. They all got attracted
to her, even Brahmaa got attracted to her. Later he gave Ahalyaa to Gautam
Rishi. Ahalyaa went with the Rishi and started serving Rishi. Pleased with
her services Muni married her. Indra did not like this at all from the very
beginning, but he could not oppose Brahmaa Jee, but still he had his eyes
on her.
Once he took the help of Chandramaa to have her. Gautam used to go for his
daily chores to Gangaa River when the cock used to crow. On that particular
day Chandramaa assumed the form of a cock and crowed before time. Guatam
thought that morning has broken so he got up and went to Gangaa River. As
he reached there, Gangaa said - "Muni, Today you are early today, how?"
Muni's mind got shocked. He went back to his Aashram. In the meantime Indra
assumed the form of Gautam Rishi and came to Ahalyaa and had her. Seeing Muni
Ahalyaa got suprised that how come Gautam Muni came so early? But she was a
Pativrataa, so she obeyed her husband. After that when Indra was going out
of the Aashram, he met Gautam Rishi on the entrance.
As both met each other, Gautam understood everything. he immediately cursed
Indra that by whichever emotion he had committed this sin, its 1,000 marks
should appear on his whole body. Immediately Indra had 1,000 marks on his
body. He felt very ashamed. he then did penance for Shiv Jee and he changed
those marks into 1,000 eyes. Since then he has been called Sahastraaksh. Muni
cursed Ahalyaa also that she should turn into a stone. When Ahalyaa asked for
his forgiveness, he said - "When Vishnu will incarnate as Raam in Tretaa
Yug, then only He will uplift you and you will come to me." Ahalyaa became
a stone and when Raan was going to Janak Puree He touched His foot to that stone
and she turned into Ahalyaa and went to her husband's Lok.
(12) Krishn, Cursed by Gaandhaaree
Gaandhaaree's Curse - After the war when Krishn went to condole Gaandhaaree,
Gaandhaaree said to Him - "Krishn, You could have stopped the war, if you
have stopped it I would not be crying on my children's death, nor you had to come
to me for condolence. So this war was only because you wanted this war; that is
why I curse you that as my Vansh has finished like this, your own Vansh will also
be finished." Krishn accepted the curse and came back from there.
[MBH,
G-7-PostWar/3]
(13) Krishn, Cursed by Durvaasaa
Once Durvaasaa Rishi came to see Krishn's house. Everybody knows that Durvaasaa
Rishi is famous for his anger and then his curses, so Krishn took great care to
serve him. Everything was going well. Krishn fed him the best food, and he was
satisfied. However, that unpredictable guest had a plan, and "accidentally
on purpose" broke precious and beautiful objects around his palace to see
how far Krishn would go with his elevated Braahman guest. "Oh, such a nice
vase, Oops." Smash! "Oh, such an opulent couch. Rip! Oops, sorry."
Like that, then he started making many demands for food, I want this, I want that,
and Rukminee Jee personally served their respected guest very well.
Finally Durvaasaa Jee called for some
Paayasam, sweet pudding, but when it arrived he said he was now full. Still Krishn
and Rukminee tolerated everything and continued their mood of treating Durvaasaa
as a welcomed guest. Durvaasaa then said to Krishn, "Here You take this, and
instead of me eating it, You take this Paayasam and smear it all over your body,
everywhere. Now do the same to Rukminee too, starting with the face." Krishn
did like this in all humility, but He did not smear it on His feet, because He did
not want to touch that Prasaad by His foot. Durvaasaa Rishi asked Him - "Have
you smeared it on whole of your body?" Krishn replied - "Except my feet."
Durvaasaa said - "You have made a mistake, Krishn. It was not a Paayasam but
it was a Kavach (armor) and I gave you that so that your body becomes invulnerable
to all the things in the world, but since you have left your feet, now your feet have
remained vulnerable. Now You will die only because of your feet." Krishn bowed
His head and said - "Whatever, but I could not have touched your Prasaad with my
feet." And Krishn died by an arrow hit in His sole.
(14) Moon, Cursed by Daksh Jee
Daksh Prajaapati had 60 daughters. He married 13 daughters to Kashyap Jee,
4 daughters to Dharm and 27 daughters to Chandramaa. For the welfare of
the people they all became Nakshatra of Chandramaa. When Daksh Jee married
his 27 daughters to Chandramaa, he told him to love his all daughters
equally, but Chandramaa loved Rohinee more than all others. For some time
the other 26 daughters watched, then tried to solve the problem themselves
but when they did not find any change in Chandramaa's behavior, they told
this to their father. Daksh Jee warned Chandramaa to love them equally but
Chandramaa still loved Rohinee more. Seeing the adamancy of Chandramaa
Daksh Jee cursed him to
[Daksh
(15) Moon, Cursed by Ganesh Jee
Once Ganesh Jee was taking a tour of the Universe riding his mouse that he
came to Chandra Lok also. Moon was very proud of his beauty, so seeing the
big-bellied Ganesh riding on a tiny mouse he laughed at him. This was a
great insult to Ganesh Jee. he was filled with rage. he also cursed the
Moon - "Since you are very proud of your beauty. I am worshipped first
all over the world, but because of your beauty you laughed at me. I curse
you that whoever will see you on the 4th day of Krishn Paksh of Bhaadrapad
month, on my birthday, he will suffer because of unjust accusations.
Moon got very sad hearing
this curse, so he prayed Ganesh Jee and Ganesh Jee got pleased. He said -
"I did not wantr to curse you, my purpose was only to shatter your
pride, nothing more, still my curse cannot go waste, but I assure you
that who will suffer from this will regain his position after seeing you
on the 2nd day of Shukla Paksh (Dooj Kaa Chaand, or Doyaj Kaa Chaand),
or by listening to the story of
Syaamantak Mani. The Moon got satisfied.
[Ganesh, Stories, 10]
(16) Narasinh, Cursed by Sapt Rishi
When Vishnu incarnated as Narasinh to kill HHiranyakashyap, His anger did not subside
even after killing him. He was still ready to swallow Tri-Lok. Seeing this Sapt Rishi
cursed Narasinh Bhagavaan that He would fall into the mouth of a demon. Lord Vishnu,
out of compassion for the sages had now willfully acceded to their curse. Therefore
When Andhakaasur came to fight with Shiv, he summoned Gilaa named swallower and asked
him to swallow everythhing. he swallowed the Sun, the Moon, Brahmaa, Vishnu etc. So it
was because Narasinh Bhagavaan fell into the mouth of the demon Gilaa, Gilaa could
swallow everything including Vishnu, otherwise, there is no way anyone could swallow
Vishnu. he had swallowed Vishnu too.
[From Andhakaasur]
(17) Shani, Cursed by Sage Pippalaad
Once Pippalaad asked Devtaa why his father left him before his birth. Devtaa told
him the whole story. It all happened because of Shani's (Saturn) violent Drishti
(sight) - the main cause of a person's pain and death. Pippalaad got very angry
hearing this and cursed Shani to be out of the Galaxy, but then at Devtaa's prayer
he placed Shani back into the Galaxy. But he ordained that Shani would not torment
the devotees of Shiv and all others till the age of sixteen. If Shani would violate
his declaration, he would reduce him to ashes. That is why, it is advisable to light
lamp under a fig tree on Saturday to get rid of Shani's problem.
(18) Tulasee, Cursed by Ganesh Jee
After Tulasee cursed Ganesh Jee on not marrying her (see "Ganesh Jee, Cursed
by Tulasee" above), Ganesh Jee said - "Since you have cursed me without
any reason, you will become plant." but also blessed her that she will be used
in the worship of his Isht Dev Vishnu, but he himself will never accept her.
[See Ganesh, Stories, 21]
(19) Vaaman, Cursed by Bhrigu
When Lakshman went to leave Seetaa Jee in the forest he was very sad. Seeing this
Sumantra told Lakshman many things about Raam. Then pnly Lakshman realized that
his brother Raam is in fact the Supreme Lord Vishnu. Sumantra continued telling
Lakshman the story that Durvaasaa Muni had told Dasharath once: "Once, a very
big battle ensued between the demigods and the demons. The demons were defeated and
went to the wife of Bhrighu Jee to take shelter; and, being very merciful, she gave
them shelter. The demigods went to Bhagavaan Vaaman and told him that Bhrigu's wife
had given shelter to demons. Vaaman Bhagavaan then took His Chakra and beheaded Bhrigu's
wife. Bhrighu got very upset at this and cursed Vaaman Bhavaan saying, "You are
responsible for my wife's death. I loved her very much. Now I will have to suffer so
much in separation from her. For this I curse you that you will have to suffer in the
same way in the future. You will have a very beautiful wife who will serve you in every
way. You will be fully satisfied and completely enamored with her feminine grace and
charm, and her saintly qualities. You will then be separated from her, and you will
always suffer immensely from that pain of separation." Hearing this, Bhagavaan
Vaaman happily accepted the curse. He knew that in the future the whole world would
be benefited by this.
(20) Vishnu, Cursed by Naarad
Once Naarad Jee, wandering
around, came to a cave which he liked very much and sat in a Samaadhi there.
When Indra saw this, he got worried and sent Kaam Dev to distract him. Kaam
Dev tried it but Naarad Jee didn't get distracted and when Kaam Dev asked
for his forgiveness, he forgave him. Now Naarad Jee got proud of this and
told many Devtaa about his victory over Kaam Dev in spite of warned by Shiv
Jee. When he told this to Hari, He thought to remove his pride. So He created
a city in the sky and in that city, its king was organizing his daughter's
Swayamvar. When Naarad Jee passed by that city, he was surprised to see it as
he had never seen that city before, so he went in and saw the Princess. He got
attracted to her and thought to marry her himself. But how? If he could get
beauty, maybe the Princess might marry him and who else could give him this
beauty except Hari.
So he went to Hari and asked
Him to make him beautiful. Hari said - "I will do only whatever is in
your benefit." Naarad Jee came back and sat in the Swayamvar with surety
that now the Princess will choose him as her husband. There were Hari and two
Shiv Gan also in that assembly. But when the Princess came, she chose Hari
and Naarad Jee got disappointed. Later the two Shiv Gan ran awaay laughing
seeing Naarad Jee and saying to him - "Go and see your face in the mirror."
He went to a pond and saw his shadow in the water and found that his was not
beautiful, rather it was a monkey face. Now Naaraa Jee filled with rage and
proceeded towards Hari's Dhaam. But he met Him on the way. Hari was going
along with Ramaa and that Princess. Naarad Jee cursed Him - "You cannot see
anybody's happiness that is why you have given me monkey face. Go and incarnate
on Prithvi. As I am afflicted in the separation of the Princess, you will also
be afflicted in the separation of your wife and as you have given me the face
of monkey, only monkey will help you find your wife." Shree Hari bowed
His head to Naarad Jee and accepted his curse. The then Hari drew His Maayaa
so both Ramaa and Princess got disappeared, and Naarad Jee came back to himself.
He fell on Hari's feet and asked for His forgiveness many times.
[Maanas, 1/8]
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