Rishi Asita (Sanskrit: ऋषि असित) simply called as Asita (Romanised: Āsita) was a Vedic sage and a pravara in the Shandilya Gotra.[1][2]
Rishi Asita | |
|---|---|
ऋषि असित | |
| Personal | |
| Religion | Sanatana Hinduism |
| Spouse | Ekaparṇā |
| Children | Devala |
| Parent |
|
| Era | Vedic Period |
| Occupation | Vedic Philosopher |
Description
editIn Matsya Purana, Asita is mentioned as one of the pravaras of Shandilya Gotra.[1] According to Saurapurāṇa, Asita was born from the penance of the sage Kashyapa. Then from the sage Asita and his wife Ekaparṇā, sage Devala was born. In Brahmavaivarta Purāṇa, it is mentioned that the sage Asita got the son Devala by the blessing of Lord Shiva.[3] Similarly from the sage Devala, Shandilya was born.[4]
In Srimad Bhagavad Gita Verse 10.12-13, Arjuna has described the sage Asita as one of the four great sages Devashree Narada, Asita, Devala and Veda Vyasa.[5] He is mentioned as a seer sage of some Mantras in the Rigaveda.[6] In Mahabharata, Asita was present in the Rajasuya Yajna organised by the King Yudhishthira. He was among the sages Bhardwaja, Vishwamitra, Gautama, Parshuram, and Vashishtha, etc who chanted the hymns of Samaveda at the Rajasuya Yajna.[7] In the ninth chapter of Bhagavata Purana, the sage Asita came to meet dying Bhishma and talked to him. His association with Lord Krishna is mentioned in some texts. He was the priest of Yajna in Kurukshetra organised by Lord Krishna. Similarly when Lord Krishna went to the Mithila Kingdom to meet his devotees King Bahulashva Janaka and a Brahmin Shrutadeva there, the sage Asita accompanied him to the Kingdom.[8][9]
According to legend, it is said that Yamunotri in Uttarakhand was the living place of the sage Asita.[10] He is believed as the first one to discover the Yamuna river. Therefore, Yamuna river is also called as "Asita".[11] Similarly Mahasiddhishwar Mahadev Mandir in Kashi is associated as his place of meditation.[12]
Ideas
editRishi Asita propagated the idea of rebirth. In Brahmanda Purana, there is a story of the sage Asita explaining the philosophy of rebirth to the King Janaka in Mithila.[13] In the 24th chapter of Vishnu Purana, Prithvi (the earth) chanted the secret of ignorance of the kings of the world in form of verses to Asita. And the sage Asita communicated this "secret of ignorance of the kings" to the King Janaka in a dialogue with him.[14]
In Mandala 9 also known ninth book of the Rigaveda, Asita is the seer sage of the hymns from the Sukta 5 to the Sukta 24.[15] In Brahmavaivart Purana, the sage Asita composed a stotra devoted to Lord Shiva called as Asitakrutam Shivastotram.[16]
References
edit- ^ a b Datta, Swati (1989). Migrant Brāhmaṇas in Northern India: Their Settlement and General Impact C. A.D. 475-1030. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. ISBN 978-81-208-0067-0.
- ^ DADUZEN, Dayal N. Harjani aka (2018-07-18). Sindhi Roots & Rituals - Part 2. Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-64249-480-8.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2009-04-11). "Asita, Asitā, Ashita, Aśīta, Āśita, Āsita: 33 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2014-01-30). "Shandilya, Śāṇḍilya, Śāṇḍilyā, Shamdilya: 26 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2020-05-08). "Verses 10.12-13 [Bhagavad-gita]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2021-08-27). "Rig Veda 9.24.6 [English translation]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
- ^ Dharma, Krishna (2020-08-18). Mahabharata: The Greatest Spiritual Epic of All Time. Simon and Schuster. p. 167. ISBN 978-1-68383-920-0.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2022-07-03). "Yudhiṣṭhira's Acquisition of Kingdom [Chapter 9]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2022-09-03). "Elopement of Subhadrā: The Lord's Grace on Śrutadeva [Chapter 86]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
- ^ "जानिए, पावन धाम यमुनोत्री के बारे में सबकुछ - Know Everything About The Holy Dham Yamunotri". Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 2024-08-24.
- ^ "यमुना नदी, यमराज की बहन है -". Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 2024-08-24.
- ^ "Sawan 2024: अनोखा है काशी में भगवान शंकर का ये मंदिर, यहां तप कर ऋषि मुनियों को मिली थी सिद्धियां". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). Retrieved 2024-08-24.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2019-01-28). "Story of Asita". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2014-08-30). "Dynasty of the kings of the Kali age [Chapter XXIV]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2021-08-27). "Book 9 [English translation]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
- ^ Gita Press Gorakhpur. Shiv Stotra Ratnakar Gita Press Gorakhpur. pp. 82–83.
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