17. Vasu, Parvataka and the Origin of the Yajna

[Full title: Informative stories; (C) Stories of Genesis; (17) Vasu, Parvataka and the Origin of the Yajna ]

There an Ravana while on his war compaign reaches Rajapura (Rajagrha). animal sacrifice was being performed by king Marutta. Listening to the name of sacrifice (Janna-yajna) Srenika inquires about its origin and Gautama narrates the story (11.6-45). Ksirakadamba, the preceptor of Iksvaku king Vasu of Ayodhya (the son of Ajita or Jiyariraya 11.21 born of Surakanta), had two more pupils, his own son Parvataka and brahmin Narada. Once on being enlightened by Carana muni, he became a Jaina monk. In due course there grew a controversy between Parvataka and Narada about the meaning of 'aja' which was to be used in the sacrifices. They went to Vasu for clarification. He gave his judgement from his bright crystal seat (phalihamaya asana) in the favour of Parvataka on the recommendation of the latter's mother explaining that 'aja' meant a goat and not the corns which would not germinate as advocated by Narada. On account of telling a lie the earth split up and absorbed Vasu into it. He went to the seventh hell. Parvataka having been humiliated by the public, performed perverse penances and after his death, he was reborn as a Raksasa. He transformed himself into a brahmin and preached animal-killing, taking meat and drinking of wine on sacrificial occasions. The Bhattaparinna states that Vasu went to hell for telling a lie. The Paumacariya (11.13-104) mentions Yayati in place of Ajita. The Paumacariu (15.9) refers to Vasu who went to hell on account of telling a lie, but the story is not narrated. The Harivamsha-purana of Jinasenasuri (ch. 17) agrees with the Paumacariya The Vasudevahindi Vol. I. (p. 188-193) describes the topic under the 'Origin of the Anarya Veda." It mentions that Vasu who belonged to Harivamsa reigned Suktimati. Here Ksirakadamba is said to have examined the prudence of his pupils through the test of killing an artificial ram. Parvataka killed it while Narada did not, because there was no place where no body could see his action. Therefore Ksirakadamba made him his heir. The crystal slab is said to have been given to Vasu by a hunter. Parvataka was humiliated by the people for enmeshing Vasu to tell a lie. It further states that Madhupingala could not marry Sulasa on account of the

158 A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM intrigue of Sagara, the king of Saketa. After his death he became Mahakala deva. He wanted to take revenge upon Sagara. He met Parvataka and introduced himself as Sandilya, a friend of the father of Parvataka. He promised to propagate Parvataka's view on 'aja'. He spread epidemic in Suktimati. Parvataka propogated animal-sacrifice. Thereby the disease was stopped. He spread epidemic in the country of Sagara. The latter sent for Parvataka. He preached animal-sacrifice. there too and Mahakaladeva by the power of his maya exhibited that the sacrificed animals attained heaven. Sagara then performed many animal-sacrifices. Narada prevented Sagara from killing animals, but the latter was so much influenced by Parvataka and Mahakaladeva that he could not realise as to where lay his own good. Therefore he attained hell. Sandilya thus popularised his teachings which were incorportated into a book called Anarya Veda. The Uttarapurana (67.212) states that the animal-sacrifice was started by Mahakalasura. The story agrees with Vasudevahindi with minor changes. Vasu is said to be the son of Visvavasu of Suvastikavati and Srimati. Parvataka is turned away by the monks when he explains 'aja' as a goat. Here Vasu does not decide the controversy. Parvataka meets Mahakala and propagates animal-sacrifices. Sagara is entangled. A monk tries to prevent Sagara but in vain. Visvabhu, the minister of Sagara is also involved. Here Narada appears and tries to interpret the right meaning of 'aja' but Parvataka intervenes and opposes him. Then they go to Vasu who tells a lie. Visvabhu again starts animalsacrifices. Parvataka and Visvabhu go to hell. Mahakala reappears and confesses his guilt. The Mahapurana (69.23) mentions that Vasu was the prince of Sravastipura. therwise it follows the Uttara-purana The Trishashti Shalaka Purusha-caritra (IV. 143) mentions. Abhicandra as the father of Vasu and ruler of Suktimati. Parvataka is said to have explained the reference to 'aja' in the Rgveda as 'mesa' a goat. Then the account follows the Valmiki Ramayana Thereafter the Asura prompts Parvataka to propagate drinking, establishing of illicit relations in the Gosava sacrifice, flesh-eating and animal-killing. The Ramapurana of Bhattaraka Somasena. (6) mentions that Vasu belongs to Suvastikavatipura. Further it follows the Uttara-purana up to the acceptance of monkhood by Ksirakadamba. Then it follows the version of the Paumacariya upto the death of Vasu. Thereafter with the assistance of Mahasura, Parvataka prepares many counterfeit hymns and inserts them into the Vedas. He instigates Sagara to perform animal-sacrifices. The advice of a monk to abstain from animal-sacrifices is believed by Mahasura. Sagara takes to animal-sacrifice and goes to the seventh hell,

INTERVENING STORIES The Mahabharata (12.335-337) contains the story as follows:- 159 Vasu, also known as Uparicara was a great king of the Satya age. He was a disciple of Brhaspati and a devotee of Visnu. He followed the tenets of Satvata and the Pancaratra system. He performed an Asvamedha without killing any animal. He offered the oblations with the forest-produce. Once he was appointed as an umpire to decide a controversy between the Gods and the sages over the interthe 'aja'. He showed partiality for Gods pretation of the word 'aja'. and maintained that it meant a goat and not the grains of corn. Thereupon the sages cursed him to get born in a hellish region. While living in the hell, he was nourished by a stream of clarified butter. It was poured for him by the priests. It was an obtation offered in the sacrifices and was named as 'Nasordhara'. Being advised by the Gods, he continued to worship Visnu. In due In due course he attained freedom by the favour of Visnu and ascended to Brahmaloka. The Mahabharata (13.6.342) also mentions that Vasu attained hell account of being cursed by the Rsis. The Matsyapurana on (ch.142) contains the story. Here the controversy is between the Indra and the Rsis. The point is whether the 'jangama' creatures or the 'sthavara' objects should be oblated in the sacrifices. Vasu, the son of Uttanapada advocated 'himsatmaka' yajna i.e. the oblation of living beings. He attained hell on being cursed by the Rsis. 18. Srikantha and Puspottara : 19. Amaraprabha and Gunamati: 20. Sumukha and VIraka : For stories Nos. 18, 19 and 20 see 'Origin of Vanaravamsa', "Adoption of Vahara-emblem" and "Origin of Harivamsa' in the chapter "Origin and Genealogy of various Vamsas".