Ashtavakra (Sanskrit: अष्टावक्र) was a physically-challenged Vedic sage who defeated the biggest scholar in the court of King Janaka at a young age. Because of his genius, King Janaka became his disciple and learned more about philosophy from him. The dialogues between them are collectively known as Ashtavakra Gita (The Song of Ashtavakara), which is a very popular Hindu book.
The Meaning of the Word Ashtavakra:
The word Ashtavakra comprises two words, viz. ashta and vakra. Ashta means eight, and vakra means bend or deformity. Therefore, Ashtavakra means ?eight bends/deformities?.
The sage got this name because he was born with eight bends in his body. There are different stories about how he was born with those deformities.
Why Did Ashtavakra Have Eight Deformities in His Body?
In the Treta Yuga, there was a sage named Uddalaka Aruni who ran a Gurukula where any student who had a thirst for knowledge was welcome and given equal treatment. He had a beautiful daughter named Sujata. When Sujata attained the age of marriage, he got her married to one of his disciples named Kahoda who was a talented student.
After some time, Sujata got pregnant. Once, her husband was reciting hymns from the Vedas before his disciples but made some mistakes in intonation. Sujata was also listening to the hymns. The baby in her womb spoke to its father and pointed out his mistakes. Kahoda could not tolerate the insult. Therefore, he cursed the baby in the womb that he would be born with eight deformities.
(But why eight deformities? Why not seven or nine? Maybe, the baby pointed out eight mistakes of his father.)
The curse did not go in vain, and the baby was born with his body crooked at eight places and hence got the name Ashtavakra (the one with eight bends).
He was born in Videha (present-day Janakpur, Nepal)
How Could a Baby Speak from the Womb?
It seems impossible that a baby could speak from the womb. Therefore, the other two versions of the story seem logical.
1. Per a version, it was not the baby but Sujata who pointed out the mistakes of Kahoda, so he pushed her hard, and she fell on her stomach. This caused deformities in the baby.
2. Per another story, the baby did not speak but made a noise ?hum? when he found out the mistakes. (Abhimanyu also learned the art of entering Chakravyuha when he was in his mother?s womb. So, it is possible that the baby learned the Vedas when Sujata used to listen to them).
But still, we shouldn’t rule out the possibility of the baby speaking from the womb because nothing is impossible. There are many things that modern science does not know yet. Ashtavakra might have been a great person in his last birth and was born with some special powers.
Kahoda Defeated by Bandi:
But before Ashtavakra was born, his family faced a debacle. Ashtavakra?s family was very poor. After Sujata got pregnant, she told Kahoda that they did not have money, and how would she manage her pregnancy. Therefore, he went to the court of King Janaka to request some wealth. At that time, there was a philosophical debate going on in the court. When Kahoda approached the king, he requested him to participate in the debate with Bandi, who was an undefeated erudite at that time.
Kahoda accepted the challenge but was defeated. Therefore, per the condition of debate, Bandi drowned him in the water.
When Sage Aruni came to know about the news, he advised Sujata never to tell her child about his father. Sujata did the same, and Ashtavakra did not come to know about his father until he was 12 years old.
Ashtavakra Comes to Know About His Father and Decides to Challenge Bandi:
Once, Ashtavakra was sitting on the lap of his grandfather, Aruni. At that time, Shwetketu entered the scene and saw Ashtavakra sitting on the lap of his father. He did not like that and started crying. He caught Ashtavakra?s hand and pulled him away. Then, he said, ?This is not your father?s lap?.
This caused great emotional pain to Ashtavakra. He went to his mother crying and asked her about his father. Then Sujata told her about the defeat of his father and how Bandi drowned him in the water. Ashtavakra was a born genius and decided to visit the court of the king and defeat Bandi to avenge his father?s death.
Ashtavakra Defeats Bandi:
When Ashtavakra reached the place where King Janaka?s yajna was going on, the guards stopped him from entering the place because of his physique and the fact that he was a kid. He requested him to let him in as he was a Brahmin, but the guard did not agree.
Ashtavakra was adamant about entering the place. Therefore, the guard told him to speak with the king. When Ashtavakra approached the king and expressed his desire to argue with Bandi, the king asked some cryptic questions to him to test his knowledge. Ashtavakra answered them correctly and impressed the king. The king allowed him to argue with Bandi.
The argument between Ashtavakra and Bandi lasted very long, but in the end, he defeated Bandi. Then Ashtavakra requested King Janaka to drown Bandi in the water as he did the same to many Brahmins in the past.
Bandi said, ?I am the son of Lord Varuna. I did not kill anyone, but there was a yajna going on in Varun Loka for 12 years. Therefore, I sent those 12 Brahmins there in disguise to drown them. They all will be returning soon.?
He did not believe him and requested the king to drown him, but at the same time, the 12 Brahmins who were drowned by Bandi appeared there along with Kahoda.
Ashtavakra Got Cured:
Ashtavakra returned his home along with his father and uncle. Kahoda was very happy with the intelligence of his son, and he asked him to enter River Samanga so that his crooked body would be straightened.
As soon as Ashtavakra touched the water of the river, all his body parts were straightened, and he became a normal person.
Ashtavakra and the Demon Kabandha:
This story is not in the Valmiki Ramayana but in Adhyatma Ramayana. It tells that Kabandha was a chief of Gandharvas, who was blessed by Brahma with immortality. But he became arrogant after that. Once, he laughed at the sage Ashtavakra because of his crokked body. Therefore, the sage cursed him to become a Rakshasa. When Gandharva apologized, he reduced his curse and assured him that Lord Rama would free him of the curse.
Ashtavakra Gita:
Ashtavakra Gita?is a dialogue between Ashtavakra and Janaka on the nature of Self/Atman, reality, and bondage. It offers a radical version of non-dualist philosophy. The Gita insists on the complete unreality of the external world and the absolute oneness of existence. It does not mention any morality or duties and therefore is seen by commentators as ‘godless’. It also dismisses names and forms as unreal and a sign of ignorance.
In a conversation between Janaka and Ashtavakra, about the deformity of his crooked body, Ashtavakra explains that the size of a temple is not affected by how it is shaped, and the shape of his own body does not affect himself (or Atman). The ignorant man’s vision is shrouded by names and forms, but a wise man sees only himself.
You are unbound and action-less, self-illuminating, and spotless already. The cause of your bondage is that you are still resorting to stilling the mind. (I.15)
You are unconditioned and changeless, formless and immovable, unfathomable awareness, imperturbable- such consciousness is un-clinging. (I.17)
You are not bound by anything. What does a pure person like you need to renounce? Putting the complex organism to rest, you can go to your rest. (V.1).
Listen to Ashtavakra Gita online for free:
Conclusion:
Not much information is available about his death and family life, but it seems he got married afterward to Suprabha.
Ashtavakra’s story tells us that one should not judge any person from outward appearance but from his intelligence.