Boons and Curses have always been held in High regard throughout Indian Mythology and History. Here are few Boons and Curses that laid the foundation of our Indian Mythology as we know it!
1. : After Lord Vishnu killed Mahrishi Bhrigu’s wife, he cursed Lord to be born on Earth and suffer the cycles of birth and death several times- Hence the epics- Ramayana and Mahabharata
2. The Curse of Vriddhastra that backfired:
In Mahabharata, Jayadhrata killed Abhimanyu, Arjun’s son. Arjun swore to avenge his son’s death. Lord Krishna knew of this curse and advised Arjun to Shoot a rain of arrows toward Jayadhrata’s head that would shoot his head directly to his father’s lap who was meditating. Vriddhashtra, after the birth of his son cursed that “He, who shall cause my son’s head to roll down on the ground, shall have his head burst at that very moment into fragments.”So after Arjun shot the arrows, Jayadhrata’s head fell on his father’s lap who shocked on seeing his son’s head on his lap gets up, thereby rolling his head onto the floor- causing his curse to come in effect.
3. The curse of Draupadi:
Bheem wanted to spend some time with Draupadi, and when he went to her room, saw that there were no sandals eft at the doorstep – which was a rule to indicate that any brother who enters her room should leave his footwear at the doorstep as an indication. After Bheem entered, he was shocked and Draupadi and one of the Pandava who was with Draupadi were angry; later they realized it was a dog who played a mischief and Draupadi in anger cursed that the dogs would get stuck after mating- to feel the same embarrassment that she had to feel.
4. Curse that Killed Karna:
We all know that Karna was cursed thrice- One by Lord Parshurama, One by a Traveler and another by Mother Earth. It was all these curses that saved Arjuna and helped in killing Karna thereby Almost winning the war.
5. The curse that made Villains: When 4 sons of Brahma went to Lord Vishnu’s abode to meet him, Jaya and Vijaya- the 2 gate keepers of Lord Vishnu’s abode didn’t let them in; Brahma’s sons in anger cursed Jaya and Vijaya that they would lose their Divinity and be born as human beings. Lord Vishnu then helped them modify the curse giving 2 choices-
1. To be born seven times as devotees of Vishnu.
2. To be born 3 times as the enemies of Vishnu.
Jaya and Vijaya, ardent devotes of Lord Vishnu chose the 2nd option as they cannot live without their Lord. Hence, they were born as Hiranyakashyap and Hiranyaksha in their first life, Ravana and Kumbhakaran in their second and Dantavakra and Shishupala in their third.
6. Curse due to which Women gossip and cannot keep a secret.
After Arjun kills Karna, Kunti reveals that Karna was their elder brother- Yudhisthir in grief cursed all women that they can never keep a secret ever again in the future.
By: Archa Dave
