Devapi
Encyclopedia
In Hindu mythology
, Devapi or Devāpi Arṣṭiṣeṇa is an immortal sage. According to the Nirukta
(ii.10), the Brihaddevata, the Mahabharata
and the Puranas
, he was a Kuru prince and the eldest son of King Pratipa of Hastinapura
. He was a noble and well-liked prince but he was not allowed to succeed Pratipa, because he was affected with leprosy
and the council of Brahmin
s and elderly citizens were opposed to this proposal. As a result of this, his younger brother Shantanu succeeded Pratipa as the king of Hastinapura. Later Devapi retired to the forest for penance. According to the Matsya Purana
and the Bhagavata Purana
, he along with sage Maru will remain alive till the end of the present Kaliyuga at a place called Kalapagrama and will revive the Paurava
dynasty in the next Kritayuga
.
, when Devapi abdicated the throne in favour of Shantanu and left for forest, the realm of Kuru suffered from severe drought for twelve years, as Parjanya
didnot rain. Finally, Shantanu along with his subjects went to the forest and offered him the Kuru throne, which he declined. Instead, he agreed to become Shantanu's purohita (priest) and conduct a yajna
(sacrifice) for him to produce rain. A later version of this narrative is found in the Vishnu Purana
(IV.20), but there, according to Romila Thapar
, the Vedic narrative is readjusted to highlight the importance of primogeniture
. According to the Vishnu Purana, the reason of drought, as explained to Shantanu by his brahmin
ministers, was the displeaure of the gods because of Shantanu's ascending the throne in place of his elder brother, a violation of the law of primogeniture. When, a wily minister of Shantanu heard this, he despatched a number of heretics to the forest, who perverted the simple-minded prince Devapi in anti-Vedic doctrines. When the Brahmins sent by Shantanu came to the forest to offer him the throne, he advanced arguments contrary to the percepts of the Vedas. As a result, Brahmins declared him degraded and unfit to rule, whereupon there was rain.
literature, Devapi is always mentioned as Devāpi Arṣṭiṣeṇa, though the later texts, the Mahabharata and the Puranas mention Devāpi and Arṣṭiṣeṇa as different persons. The earliest reference is found in the Rigveda
(X.98). Modern scholars are not unanimous about the true meaning of Arṣṭiṣeṇa. A present-day scholar, F.E. Pargiter argues that it means Devapi was son of king Ṛṣṭiṣeṇa, and so both Shantanu and Devapi were actually grandsons of Pratipa, but other modern scholars, which include S.N. Pradhan and V.S. Misra believe, that, Devapi after becoming a brahmana
, entered Ṛṣṭiṣeṇa gotra
.
Hindu mythology
Hindu religious literature is the large body of traditional narratives related to Hinduism, notably as contained in Sanskrit literature, such as the Sanskrit epics and the Puranas. As such, it is a subset of Nepali and Indian culture...
, Devapi or Devāpi Arṣṭiṣeṇa is an immortal sage. According to the Nirukta
Nirukta
Nirukta is one of the six disciplines of Hinduism, treating etymology, particularly of obscure words, especially those occurring in the Vedas. The discipline is traditionally attributed to , an ancient Sanskrit grammarian...
(ii.10), the Brihaddevata, the Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
and the Puranas
Puranas
The Puranas are a genre of important Hindu, Jain and Buddhist religious texts, notably consisting of narratives of the history of the universe from creation to destruction, genealogies of kings, heroes, sages, and demigods, and descriptions of Hindu cosmology, philosophy, and geography.Puranas...
, he was a Kuru prince and the eldest son of King Pratipa of Hastinapura
Hastinapura
Hastinapur is a town and a nagar panchayat in Meerut district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.-History:Hastinapur was the capital of the kingdom of the Kauravas, belonging to the Kuru dynasty of kings. The throne of this city was the prize over which the Kurukshetra War of the epic...
. He was a noble and well-liked prince but he was not allowed to succeed Pratipa, because he was affected with leprosy
Leprosy
Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
and the council of Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
s and elderly citizens were opposed to this proposal. As a result of this, his younger brother Shantanu succeeded Pratipa as the king of Hastinapura. Later Devapi retired to the forest for penance. According to the Matsya Purana
Matsya Purana
Matsya Purana is the sixteenth purana of the Hindu scriptures. During the period of mahapralaya, Lord Vishnu had taken Matsya Avatar to save the seeds of all lives and Manu...
and the Bhagavata Purana
Bhagavata purana
The Bhāgavata Purāṇa is one of the "Maha" Puranic texts of Hindu literature, with its primary focus on bhakti to the incarnations of Vishnu, particularly Krishna...
, he along with sage Maru will remain alive till the end of the present Kaliyuga at a place called Kalapagrama and will revive the Paurava
Puru
The Purus were a tribe, or a confederation of tribes, mentioned many times in the Rigveda, formed around 3180 BCE. RV 7.96.2 locates them at the banks of the Sarasvati River. There were several factions of Purus, one being the Bharatas...
dynasty in the next Kritayuga
Satya Yuga
The Satya Yuga , also called Sat Yuga, Krta Yuga and Krita Yuga in Hinduism, is the "Yuga of Truth", when mankind is governed by gods, and every manifestation or work is close to the purest ideal and mankind will allow intrinsic goodness to rule supreme...
.
Devapi and drought in Kuru realm
According to the Brihaddevata of ShaunakaShaunaka
Shaunaka is the name applied to teachers, and to a Shakha of the Atharvaveda. It is especially the name of a celebrated Sanskrit grammarian, author of the , the , the and five Anukramaṇīs to the Rigveda. He is claimed as the teacher of Katyayana and especially of Ashvalayana, and is said to have...
, when Devapi abdicated the throne in favour of Shantanu and left for forest, the realm of Kuru suffered from severe drought for twelve years, as Parjanya
Parjanya
Parjanya, according to the 1965 Sanskrit–English dictionary by Shri Vaman Shivram Apte gives the following meanings:* Rain-cloud, thunder cloud, a cloud in general* Rain...
didnot rain. Finally, Shantanu along with his subjects went to the forest and offered him the Kuru throne, which he declined. Instead, he agreed to become Shantanu's purohita (priest) and conduct a yajna
Yajna
In Hinduism, yajna is a ritual of sacrifice derived from the practice of Vedic times. It is performed to please the gods or to attain certain wishes...
(sacrifice) for him to produce rain. A later version of this narrative is found in the Vishnu Purana
Vishnu Purana
The Vishnu Purana is a religious Hindu text and one of the eighteen Mahapuranas. It is considered one of the most important Puranas and has been given the name Puranaratna...
(IV.20), but there, according to Romila Thapar
Romila Thapar
Romila Thapar is an Indian historian whose principal area of study is ancient India.-Work:After graduating from Panjab University, Thapar earned her doctorate under A. L. Basham at the School of Oriental and African Studies, the University of London in 1958...
, the Vedic narrative is readjusted to highlight the importance of primogeniture
Primogeniture
Primogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings . Historically, the term implied male primogeniture, to the exclusion of females...
. According to the Vishnu Purana, the reason of drought, as explained to Shantanu by his brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
ministers, was the displeaure of the gods because of Shantanu's ascending the throne in place of his elder brother, a violation of the law of primogeniture. When, a wily minister of Shantanu heard this, he despatched a number of heretics to the forest, who perverted the simple-minded prince Devapi in anti-Vedic doctrines. When the Brahmins sent by Shantanu came to the forest to offer him the throne, he advanced arguments contrary to the percepts of the Vedas. As a result, Brahmins declared him degraded and unfit to rule, whereupon there was rain.
Devapi in Vedic literature
In VedicVedic
Vedic may refer to:* the Vedas, the oldest preserved Indic texts** Vedic Sanskrit, the language of these texts** Vedic period, during which these texts were produced** Vedic pantheon of gods mentioned in Vedas/vedic period...
literature, Devapi is always mentioned as Devāpi Arṣṭiṣeṇa, though the later texts, the Mahabharata and the Puranas mention Devāpi and Arṣṭiṣeṇa as different persons. The earliest reference is found in the Rigveda
Rigveda
The Rigveda is an ancient Indian sacred collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns...
(X.98). Modern scholars are not unanimous about the true meaning of Arṣṭiṣeṇa. A present-day scholar, F.E. Pargiter argues that it means Devapi was son of king Ṛṣṭiṣeṇa, and so both Shantanu and Devapi were actually grandsons of Pratipa, but other modern scholars, which include S.N. Pradhan and V.S. Misra believe, that, Devapi after becoming a brahmana
Brahmana
The Brāhmaṇas are part of the Hindu śruti literature. They are commentaries on the four Vedas, detailing the proper performance of rituals....
, entered Ṛṣṭiṣeṇa gotra
Gotra
In the Hindu society, the term Gotra broadly refers to people who are descendants in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor. Panini defines gotra for grammatical purposes as apatyam pautraprabhrti gotram , which means "the word gotra denotes the progeny beginning with the son's son"...
.