M2 - Mahabharata - Sage Jagadkaru's Marriage and Aastika Maharishi Stops Sarpa Yaga

 M2- Mahabharata - Sage Jagadkaru's Marriage and Aastika Maharishi Stops Sarpa Yaga

Who is Sage Jagadkaru?

Sage Jagadkaru is the father of Maharishi Aastikai. On the request of the Maharishi Aastika, King Janamejaya stopped Sarpa Yaga, and thereby, serpent species were protected.

Sage Jagadkaru was a great tapasvi and remained brahmachari. He had no permanent place to live. His tapas were so powerful that he could see pitrudevatas in person. 

Once, to quench his thirst, the Sage was in search of a well. In a dry well, he saw pitrudevas hanging upside down from tree roots. He questioned them about their identity. They said they were his ancestors and explained their predicament (owing to the want of progeny they were unable to move to heaven).

Sage Jagadkaru agrees to marry

The Sage understood the plight of pitrudevatas and agreed to marry in order to beget a son. However, he put in some unique conditions for marrying. The sage sought for a bride who possessed good character, a matching name as his, said that he would take up tapas once a son is born, and also demanded that the bride should be given as part of Kanyadhan. Pitrudevatas agreed to his terms and agreed to facilitate the process.

 Sage Jagadkaru Meets Serpent Vasuki 

The Sage Jagadkaru was roaming around a forest and said,” Is there anyone who is willing to give me a bride as kanyadhan?”. 

Shortly, Vasuki, the serpent head, met the Sage and agreed to offer his sister, Jagadkaru, in kanyadhan to him. As all his conditions were met, the Sage agreed to marry Jagadkaru.

A son, Aastika, was born out of wedlock. Aastika was well versed in Vedas and was revered. 

Aastika Maharishi Makes a Request

Aastika Maharishi went to King Janamejaya’s Sarpa Yaga and was welcomed by the King with honours. The King politely asked him the purpose of his visit. 

When Serpent King Takshaka was about to fall into the Homa kund of Sarpa Yaga, Aastika Maharishi stopped him from falling. 

Maharishi said to King Janamejaya, “I request you to stop this Yaga in order to protect the remaining snakes belonging to my mother’s relatives”. The king agreed, and thus, snake species were protected.

Source: Mahabharatha- Adiparva