Chefajaychopra123 at 19:09, 25 November 2025

2025-11-25T19:09:07Z

New page

{{Short description|Ancient Hindu sage}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox religious biography
| image = Chyavana.jpg
| alt = Chyavana
| caption = 17th century artist's imagination of Chyavāna
| father = [[Bhrigu]]
| mother = [[Puloma]]
| spouse = [[Sukanya]]
| children = Aurava, Apnavana, Dadhicha, Pramati, Sumana and Harita
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
}}
[[File:The Goddess Worshiped by Rishi Chyavana.jpeg|thumb|''The Goddess worshipped by the sage Chyavana'' from a [[Tantra|Tantric]] [[Devi]] series attributed to [[Kripal of Nurpur]] identified as a tantric form of Goddess [[Lakshmi]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rishi Chyavana Worships The Tantric Roopa Of Lakshmi (Tantric Devi Series) {{!}} Exotic India Art |url=https://www.exoticindiaart.com/product/paintings/rishi-chyavana-worships-tantric-roopa-of-lakshmi-tantric-devi-series-hl32/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=www.exoticindiaart.com |language=en}}</ref>(active c. 1660 - c. 1690). [[Freer Gallery of Art]]]]
'''Chyavana''' ({{Langx|sa|च्यवन|translit=Cyavana}}) was a [[rishi|sage (rishi)]] in [[Hinduism]]. He was a son of [[Bhrigu]], also known as Bhrigu Varuni in the [[Upanishads]], and is known for his rejuvenation through a special herbal paste (ayurvedic jam) or tonic known as ''[[chyawanprash|chyavanaprasham]]'',<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Sivarajan |first1=V. V. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jCMNAQAAMAAJ&q=Cyavanapr%C4%81%C5%9Bam |title=Ayurvedic Drugs and Their Plant Sources |last2=Balachandran |first2=Indira |author-link2=Indira Balachandran |date=1994 |publisher=International Science Publisher |isbn=978-1-881570-21-9 |pages=28 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2020-04-06 |title=Cyavanaprasha, Cyavanaprāśa, Cyavana-prasha: 5 definitions |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/cyavanaprasha |access-date=2022-10-31 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref> which was prepared by the [[Ashvins]].<ref>Mahabharat</ref> According to the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', he was powerful enough to oppose the celestial thunderbolt (''[[vajra]]'') of [[Indra]], and was responsible for the [[Ashvins]] getting their share of the sacrificial offerings. He created an [[asura]], [[Mada]], to achieve it.<ref name="dowson">{{cite book|last=Dowson|first=John|title=A classical dictionary of Hindu mythology, and religion, geography, history|publisher=Asian Educational Services|location=Delhi|year=2004|pages= 73–5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ejh82j8G_CYC&pg=PA73 | isbn=978-81-206-1786-5}}</ref>

Chyavana (with a different spelling: च्यवान Cyavāna) is also mentioned in the ''[[Rigveda]]'', where he is described as an aged and feeble person whose youth and strength was restored by the twin Aśvins (RV VII.68:6).<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Rigveda : the earliest religious poetry of India|others=Jamison, Stephanie W., Brereton, Joel P., 1948-|year=2014|isbn=9780199370184|location=New York|pages=968|oclc=849801119}}</ref> According to Rigveda X.61:1-3,<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Rigveda : the earliest religious poetry of India|others=Jamison, Stephanie W., Brereton, Joel P., 1948-|year=2014|isbn=9780199370184|location=New York|pages=1475|oclc=849801119}}</ref> Cyavāna is a weak opponent of Tūrvayāṇa, an Indra worshipper and a [[Pakthas|Paktha]] king, as the former was closer to the Ashvins.<ref name=vi>{{cite book|last1=Macdonnel|first1=Arthur Anthony |last2=Keith|first2=Arthur Berriedale |title=Vedic Index of Names and Subjects|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t6TVLlPvuMAC&pg=PA264 |volume=1|orig-year=1912|year=1985|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|location=Delhi|isbn=81-208-1332-4|pages=264–5}}</ref>

According to one tradition, he married [[Vaivasvata Manu]]'s daughter Arushi. Their son was [[Aurva]]. According to another tradition, he married [[Sukanya|Sukanyā]], daughter of Vedic king Sharyati and granddaughter of Vaivasvata Manu. They had two sons: Apnavana and Dadhicha.<ref>Pargiter, F.E. (1922, reprint 1972). ''Ancient Indian Historical Tradition'', Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, pp.193-7</ref> He is also considered as the father of Harita and Uddalaka Varuni.<ref name="dowson"/>

==Legend==

=== Birth ===
According to an account found in the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' (''[[Adi Parva]]'', Ch.5-6), when Bhrigu's wife Puloma was pregnant and lived in her hermitage, a ''[[rakshasa]]'' harassed her. Puloma's child slipped from her womb, called a 'chyuta' child in Sanskrit ("early delivery") and thus received his name '''Chyavana'''. The ''rakshasa'' released the mother after seeing the child drop,<ref>{{cite book|last=O'Flaherty|first=Wendy Doniger|title=The Origins of Evil in Hindu Mythology|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sktbYRG_LO8C&dq=Bhrgu+Puloma+Cyavana&pg=PA304|year=1988|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|location=Delhi|isbn=81-208-0386-8|page=304}}</ref> but immediately got converted into ashes.

Chyavana studied the ''Vedas'' from his father and later acquired the knowledge of ''Vedas'' from [[Brahma]]. He subsequently became a ''Brahmarshi''.

=== Austerities and rejuvenation ===
The earliest version of the narrative of Chyavana's practice of austerities and subsequent restoration of youth is found in the ''[[Brahmanas]]''. A later version of this narrative is found in the ''Mahabharata''. More later versions are found in the ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'' and the ''[[Padma Purana]]''.<ref name="wilson">{{cite book|last=Wilson|first=Horace Hayman (tr.)|title=The Vishnu Purana|year=1840|publisher=John Murray|page=354fn29|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/vp/vp093.htm|location=London}}</ref>

==== ''Brahmanas'' ====
In a narrative found in the ''[[Satapatha Brahmana]]'' (IV.1.5.1-13), Chyavana is mentioned as a descendant of Bhrigu. While the other [[Bhargava|Bhrigus]] were away, Chyavana, with a senile body, was living in his [[ashram]]a. Once, King Sharyati, son of Manu, came for hunting near Chyavana's ashrama (hermitage) with his army. Sharyati's children were also with him. They went to Chyavana Rishi's ashrama, where the rishi was in meditation. While white-ants had covered his body, only his eyes were visible. They humiliated Chyavana, and in his fury, the sage cursed them. His curse created discord amongst Sharyati's family. When Sharyati found the cause of his misfortune, he offered his daughter Sukanya in marriage to Chayavana, so that she could take care the revered saint.

Later, the Ashvins came to his ashrama, and tried to seduce Sukanya. Sukanya, who refused to leave her husband, instead asked the Ashvins to restore Chyavana's youth. Following their advice, Chyavana's youth was restored by a combination of three treatments. Certain herbs were put into a pond and the rishi was asked to have a dip in the pond.<ref>{{cite book|last=O'Flaherty|first=Wendy Doniger|title=Śiva, the Erotic Ascetic |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dnfZ_MBErlQC&dq=Cyavana+rejuvenation&pg=PA57|year=1981|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=London|isbn=0-19-520250-3|pages=57–61}}</ref> A herbal paste was prepared for application on the body of the rishi, which was part of '[[Kayakalpa]]'. A special herbal paste, [[Chyawanprash|chyavanaprasham]], was prepared for the rishi to take as a medicine.

In return, the Ashvins obtained a share in the sacrificial offerings in [[Kurukshetra]] on her suggestion. In the [[Aitareya Brahmana]] (VIII.21.4), the inauguration of Sharyata by him is compared with [[Indra]]'s coronation.<ref name=vi/>

==== Mahabharata ====
According to the narrative found in the [[Vana Parva]] (Ch.122-5) of the Mahabharata, Chyavana was so absorbed in practising austerities on the side of a lake that termites built up their mound all over his body and only his eyes were left. Once, Sharyati, along with his army and household, came to visit the place. [[Sukanya]], daughter of king Sharyati, seeing only two bright eyes in what seemed to be an anthill, poked them with a stick. Chyavana felt excessive pain and became furious. He obstructed the calls of nature of Sharyati's army. He was pleased only after the king gave him his daughter in marriage.<ref name="ganguli1">{{cite book|last=Ganguli|first=Kisari Mohan |title=The Mahabharata: Book 3: Vana Parva|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03122.htm|date=1883–1896|publisher=Sacred texts archive|chapter=Ch.CXXII}}</ref> Subsequently, the Ashvins came to the hermitage of Chyavana. They saw Sukanya while she was bathing, and tried to convince Sukanya to reject old and ugly Chyavana and accept one of them as her husband. They also promised to restore the youth of Chyavana first so that she could make an unbiased choice amongst Chyavana and one of them. Sukanya rejected their proposal and informed Chyavana. Later, at the behest of Chyavana, Sukanya requested the Ashvins to do so. All three took bath in the lake and came out with the same youthful divine look. Each of them requested Sukanya to be his bride, but she identified Chyavana and selected him. In gratitude, Chyavana assured the Ashvins that he would ensure that the Ashvins get their share of the sacrificial offerings.<ref name="ganguli2">{{cite book|last=Ganguli|first=Kisari Mohan |title=The Mahabharata: Book 3: Vana Parva|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03123.htm|date=1883–1896|publisher=Sacred texts archive|chapter=Ch.CXXIII}}</ref> Accordingly, Chyavana, while officiating as a priest of Sharyati in a [[soma sacrifice]], offered the share of the sacrifice to the Ashvins. [[Indra]] objected to this, stating that as mere servants of the devas, they have no right to receive offering of Soma juice. When the sage ignored his opinion, he tried to hurl his [[vajra]] (thunderbolt) towards Chyavana, but his arms were paralysed by Chyavana before he could do so. Chyavana, by virtue of his ascetic energy, created a huge asura, Mada, with four fangs.<ref name="ganguli3">{{cite book|last=Ganguli|first=Kisari Mohan |title=The Mahabharata: Book 3: Vana Parva|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03124.htm|date=1883–1896|publisher=Sacred texts archive|chapter=Ch.CXXIV}}</ref> Mada was on the point of devouring Indra, when he became afraid, and finally accepted the right of the Ashvins to have a share of the offerings.<ref name="ganguli4">{{cite book|last=Ganguli|first=Kisari Mohan |title=The Mahabharata: Book 3: Vana Parva|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03125.htm|date=1883–1896|publisher=Sacred texts archive|chapter=Ch.CXXV}}</ref>

=== Chyavana and Kushika ===
[[File:King kushik with sage Chyavan.jpg |thumb|King Kushika with the sage Chyavana.]]
In a narrative found in the ''Anushasana Parva'' (Ch.52-56) of the Mahabharata, Chayvana exacted many menial offices from king Kushika and his queen for 21 days. Later, he was pleased by their devotion and rewarded them by creating a magical palace of gold and predicting the birth of their grandson endued with great energy, [[Vishvamitra]], who would attain the status of a [[Brahmana]].<ref name="dowson"/><ref name = "ganguli5">{{cite book|last=Ganguli|first=Kisari Mohan |title=The Mahabharata: Book 13: Anusasana Parva|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m13/m13b020.htm|date=1883–1896|publisher=Sacred texts archive|chapter=Ch.LV}}</ref>

==Hermitage==
According to the [[Padma Purana]] (Patala Khanda, Ch.8), his hermitage was on the [[Satpura Range]], near the river ''[[Purna River (tributary of Tapti)|Payoshni]]''. According to another tradition, his hermitage was in [[Dhosi Hill]] in the Vedic State of [[Brahmavarta]], near [[Narnaul]] in [[Mahendragarh district]].<ref>Bhargava, Sudhir (20–22 November 2009). Location of Brahmavarta and Drishadwati river is important to find earliest alignment of Saraswati river. Saraswati river – a perspective. organised by: Saraswati Nadi Shodh Sansthan, Haryana. Kurukshetra: Kurukshetra University. pp. 114–117</ref>

==See also==
* [[Ashvins]]
* [[Shaunaka]]
* [[Sukanya]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Rishis of Hindu mythology}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rishis]]

Chyavana - Revision history

Chefajaychopra123 at 19:09, 25 November 2025