CHYAVAN

Chyavan was a sage in Hinduism. He was a son of Bhrigu and is known for his rejuvenation through a special herbal paste known as chyawanprash, which he first prepared. According to the Mahabharat, he was powerful enough to oppose the thunderbolt (vajra) of Indra and was responsible for the Ashvins getting their share of the sacrificial offerings. He created a demon, Mada, to achieve it.

Chyavan is also mentioned in the Rigved, where he is described as an aged and feeble person whose youth and strength was restored by the twin Asvins (RV VII.68:6). According to Rigved X.61:1-3, Chyavan is a weak opponent of Turvayan, an Indra worshipper Pakth king, as the latter was closer to the Ashvins.

According to one tradition, he married Vaivasvata Manu's daughter Arushi and their son was Aurva. According to another tradition, he married Sukanya, daughter of Vedic king Sharyati and granddaughter of Vaivasvata Manu. They had two sons: Apnavana and Dadhicha. He is also considered as the father of Harita.

Birth :

According to an account found in the Mahabharat (Adi Parva, Ch.5-6), when Bhrigu's wife Puloma was pregnant and lived in her hermitage, a rakshash harassed her. Puloma's child slipped from her womb, called a 'chyuta' child in Sanskrit ("early delivery") and thus received his name Chyavan. The rakshash released the mother after seeing the child drop, but immediately converted into ashes.

Chyavan studied the Vedas from his father and later acquired the knowledge of Vedas from Brahma. He subsequently became a Brahmarshi.

Penance and rejuvenation :

The earliest version of the narrative of Chyavan's practice of austerities and subsequent restoration of youth is found in the Brahmanas. A later version of this narrative is found in the Mahabharat. More later versions are found in the Bhagavat Puran and the Padma Puran.

In the Brahmanas :

In a narrative found in the Satapath Brahman (IV.1.5.1-13), Chyavan is mentioned as a descendant of Bhrigu. While, all the Bhrigus, the descendants of the Angirasas, were away, Chyavan with senile body was living in his Ashram. Once, King Sharyati, son of Manu came for hunting near Chyavan's Ashram (hermitage) with his army. Sharyati's daughter Sukanya along with friends was also with him. She went to Chyavan Rishi's Ashram, where the Rishi was in meditation. White white-ants had covered his body and only his eyes were visible. Not knowing it was a human, Sukanya pierced the Rishi's eyes. Chyavan was in pain and became furious and his curse created discord amongst Sharyati's army. When Sharyati found the cause of his misfortune, he offered his daughter Sukanya for marriage to Chayavana, so that she could take care of revered saint.

Later, the Ashvins came to his Ashram and tried to seduce Sukanya. Sukanya who refused to leave her husband, instead asked the Ashvins to restore Chyavan's youth. Following their advice, Chyavan'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. A herbal paste was prepared for application on the body of Rishi, which was part of 'Kayakalp'. And a special herbal paste, Chyawanprash was prepared for Rishi to take as 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 the Indra's coronation.

In the Mahabharat :

Sukanya praying to Aswini to reveal her husband's identity

According to the narrative found in the Van Parv (Ch.122-5) of the Mahabharat, Chyavan 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 the harem 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. Chyavan 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. Subsequently, the Ashvins came to the hermitage of Chyavan. They saw Sukanya while she was bathing and tried to convince Sukanya to reject old and ugly Chyavan and accept one of them as her husband. They also promised to restore the youth of Chyavan first so that she could make an unbiased choice amongst Chyavan and one of them. Sukanya rejected their proposal and informed Chyavan. Later, at the behest of Chyavan, 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 Chyavan and selected him only.

In gratitude, Chyavan assured the Ashvins that he will ensure that the Ashvins get shares of the sacrificial offerings. Accordingly, Chyavan, while officiating as a priest of Sharyati in a soma sacrifice, offered the share of the sacrifice to the Ashvins. Indra objected it saying Ashvins are physicians of celestials, and are servants to them, so they have no right to receive offering of Soma juice. When Rishi ignored his opinion, he tried to hurl his vajra (thunderbolt) towards Chyavan, but his arms were paralysed by Chyavan, before he could do so. Chyavan by virtue of his ascetic energy, created a huge demon, Mada, with four fangs. Mada was on the point of devouring Indra, when he became afraid and finally accepted the right of the Ashvins to have share of the offerings.

Chyavan and Kushik :

In a narrative found in the Anushasan Parv (Ch.52-56) of the Mahabharat, Chayvana exacted many menial offices from king Kushik 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 to the status of a Brahman.

Hermitage :

According to the Padma Puran (Patal Khand, Ch.8), his hermitage was on the Satpur Range, near the river Payoshni. According to another tradition, his hermitage was in Dhosi Hill in the Vedic State of Brahmavarta, near Narnaul in Mahendragarh district. Another place claimed to be the location of Chyavan's hermitage (ashram) is Chaunsa in Buxar district of Bihar.