Astika () is a

rishi ''Rishi'' () is a term for an accomplished and enlightened person. They find mentions in various Vedic texts. Rishis are believed to have composed hymns of the Vedas. The Post-Vedic tradition of Hinduism regards the rishis as "great yogis" o ...

(sage) featured in

Hinduism Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...

. He is the son of

Jaratkaru Jaratkaru () is a rishi (sage) in Hindu mythology. He is the husband of the serpent-goddess Manasa and the father of their son, Astika (Hinduism), Astika. He appears as a secondary character in the tales of Manasa and Astika (sage), Astika. Ja ...

by the

serpent Serpent or The Serpent may refer to: * Snake, a carnivorous reptile of the suborder Serpentes Mythology and religion * Sea serpent, a monstrous ocean creature * Serpent (symbolism), the snake in religious rites and mythological contexts * Serp ...

goddess, Manasa.

Legend

Birth

According to the

Devi Bhagavata Purana The Devi Bhagavata Purana ( sa, देवी भागवतपुराणम्, '), also known as the Srimad Devi Bhagavatam, Srimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavata Purana or simply ''Devi Bhagavatam'', is one of the eighteen Mahapuranas of Hindui ...

, a sage named Jaratkaru was wandering a forest when he came across his Pitrs (spirits of his forefathers), hanging over a precipice of blades of grass. His forefathers explained to him that they suffered due to the fact that Jaratkaru had no children, and was the last of his line. In a bid to save his Pitrs from their ordeal, Jaratkaru decided to marry a woman who shared his name. He visited the

naga Naga or NAGA may refer to: Mythology * Nāga, a serpentine deity or race in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain traditions * Naga Kingdom, in the epic ''Mahabharata'' * Phaya Naga, mythical creatures believed to live in the Laotian stretch of the Mekong Ri ...

king

Vasuki Vasuki (IAST: ) is the second king of the nagas in Hinduism. He is described as having a gem called ''Nagamani'' (serpent's ornament) on his head. Adishesha, the first king of the serpents and the mount of Narayana, is his elder brother, and ...

, and married his sister, Manasa, one of whose names was Jaratkaru. At the site of Pushkara, one evening, Jaratkaru slept upon the lap of his wife, and had not performed his prayers at dusk. Facing the dilemma of having to disturb the sleep of her husband so that he may perform his duty, she chose to rouse him. Furious, Jaratkaru decided to leave his wife for this act. When Manasa begged for his forgiveness, Jaratkaru informed her that she was pregnant with his child, and proclaimed that he would be brilliant and devoted. Thus, he was named Astika.

Snake sacrifice

According to the ''

Mahabharata The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the '' Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the struggle between two groups of cousins in the K ...

'', Astika saved the life of the serpent

Takshaka Takshaka (Sanskrit: तक्षक, IAST: Takṣaka) is a Nagaraja in Hinduism and Buddhism. He is mentioned in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. He is described to be a king of the Nagas. He is one of the sons of Kadru. Takshaka also known i ...

. This occurred when the king

Janamejaya Janamejaya ( sa, जनमेजय) was a Kuru king who reigned during the Middle Vedic period. Along with his father and predecessor Parikshit, he played a decisive role in the consolidation of the Kuru state, the arrangement of Vedic hymns ...

organised a snake sacrifice known as the

Sarpa Satra According to legend, Sarpa Satra or Snake sacrifice was a yagna performed by Emperor Janamejaya of the Kuru empire who had ascended to the throne of Hastinapura upon the death of his father Parikshit. The legend states that Parikshit, the lon ...

, where he made great sacrifices of serpents, to avenge for the death of his father Parikshit, due to snakebite of

. Ultimately, he induced and prevailed upon the king to end his persecution of the serpent race. His father left him before his birth. In popular tradition, the day these serpents were saved is regarded to be the

Shukla Paksha Paksha (also known as ''pakṣa''; sa, पक्ष, Nepal Bhasa: ''thwa'' and ''gа̄''; ) refers to a fortnight or a lunar phase in a month of the Hindu lunar calendar. Literally meaning "side", a paksha is the period either side of the Ful ...

Panchami Panchami is the fifth day (tithi) of the fortnight (paksha) in Hindu lunar calendar. Festivals * Nag Panchami is a Hindu festival celebrated by Hindus in most parts of India. It is celebrated in Shravan month. On this day, people worship Nāga D ...

in the month of

Shravana Shravana is the 22nd '' nakshatra'' (Devanagari नक्षत्र) or ''lunar mansion'' as used in Hindu astronomy, Hindu calendar and Hindu astrology. It belongs to the constellation Makara (Devanagari: मकर), a legendary sea creatu ...

, and is celebrated as the festival of Naga Panchami.

References

Bibliography

* *''

Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend The ''Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend'' (2002) is a book written by Anna L. Dallapiccola, and contains information on over one thousand concepts, characters, and places of Hindu mythology and Hinduism, one of the major religions of the Indian ...

'' () by Anna L. Dallapiccola {{HinduMythology Rishis Characters in the Mahabharata