How Agni Became Auspicious

The great Rishi Saunak and his students had once gathered at the Naimesharanna at the beginning of the Kali Yug to save themselves from the effects of this age. Here Ugrasrava Sauti, the great Sage and son of Sage Lomharshana came to meet them. He surprised them with stories of King Janmejaya's strange Swarpa Yagna and the strangest tales he heard from Maharshi Krishna Daipayan Vyas Dev there, at this strangest of events. The eager Rishis asked Sauti about the story of Bhrigu and Agni.

Bhrigu was a powerful Rishi. His wife was Puloma, Daughter of Daksha Prajapati and granddaughter to Brahma. One day when his wife was pregnant, he left her in the darkness of the awaiting dawn to go for a dip in the holy Ganges far away. She was alone in the hut when a Rakshas attacked her. Scared and alone, Puloma cried helplessly for aid. Her beauty had mesmerized the animals who wanted to marry her by force. The demon leader took her into the hut and shut the door. But inside the hut, to her rescue stood Agni Dev. Agni Dev was married to her sister Swaha. Puloma prayed for his help.

" Let go of the sacred woman, you Demon." Agni roared in anger. Sensing danger, the Rakshas set Puloma free. But he was intelligent.

" Pravu Agni Dev, you are the most truthful in the whole Arya Varta God, answer my prayers." He pleaded. Agni wanted to hear what this demon had to say.

" Long ago, Puloma was promised to me by her father. Her father proposed marriage and I accepted it. But then Bhrigu came and Daksh found him more worthy of her. Without letting me know, her marriage was organised for him. I have searched lands for her. Tell me O truthful Lord, does she not belong to me?"

Puloma was shocked at this development, and Agni Dev was in a dilemma. He knew the truth, but saying it would mean Puloma being kidnapped. The demon would probably kill her child and Bhrigu's anger would destroy the world. Thinking carefully, Agni chose his words wisely, " Rakshas it is true that you were proposed marriage and she is yours actually but she was not married to you before marrying Bhrigu Maharishi. She took the Seven Vows with him and hence is his wife legally. Please leave her in peace."

Angered, the demon took a violent shape and scared Agni. He forcefully ran away with Puloma to hide her in a cave. Suddenly light filled the cave and Puloma was in deep pain. A beautiful baby boy appeared from her womb. His appearance was godly, his radiance spectacular. The Demon came to kill the child. A scared Puloma wailed. But as soon as the baby boy set his eyes on the demon, the demon turned to ashes. Puloma realised her boy was no ordinary baby, he was God sent to save his mother. Puloma returned with the baby to her hut.

But guilt filled her heart. Another man had touched her. She feared Bhrigu's anger and rejection. A few hours later, Bhrigu came back and saw a baby on his wife's lap. His happiness knew no bounds as he held his son. But Puloma seemed sad and aloof. After Bhrigu forced her to talk, she cried out spilling whatever had happened to her while he was gone. Bhrigu got angry and cursed Agni, " You will remain Hungry forever, nothing will satisfy your hunger, and you will destroy forests, villages, animals and birds. They will fear you like a demon."

Chyavana

Agni was surprised and scared. This way his flames would destroy the world. He went to Brahma and pleaded, " My Lord, I have never lied in my life yet I suffer this curse. You teach people that lies lead to curses and hell. But if people hear that I got cursed for being truthful then they will stop speaking the truth, My Lord." Brahma added a boon to Agni's curse. "Your touch will free the soul of sin, it will purify all and no Puja or Yagna will be complete without it. " Happy, Agni went back to stay on earth. He purified all and helped Pandavas burn down the Nagas at Khandavprastha.

Bhrigu understood his son was no ordinary human, meant to be a sage, he went to Narayana for advice. Narayana told him, " Name your son Chyavana. He will be a learned man. He will create a medicine called Chamanprash and will be powerful enough to oppose Lord Indra's Vajra. He will create history." Grateful Bhrigu returned home.

|| Mahabharat Vaani Amrit Saman||

|| Kahe suno Vyas Dev aur Kasiram||

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