Upamanyu () is a

rishi In Indian religions, a ''rishi'' ( ) is an accomplished and enlightened person. They find mention in various Vedic texts. Rishis are believed to have composed hymns of the Vedas. The Post-Vedic tradition of Hinduism regards the rishis as "gre ...

(sage) in

Hinduism Hinduism () is an Hypernymy and hyponymy, umbrella term for a range of Indian religions, Indian List of religions and spiritual traditions#Indian religions, religious and spiritual traditions (Sampradaya, ''sampradaya''s) that are unified ...

, best known for being a devotee of the deity

Shiva Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...

, and being the leader of the ganas (Gāṇamtya). He is said to be the father or ancestor of the sage Kamboja Aupamanyava referred to in the Vamsa Brahmana (1.18) of the

Sama Veda The ''Samaveda'' (, , from '' सामन्'', "song" and ''वेद'', "knowledge"), is the Veda of melodies and chants. It is an ancient Vedic Sanskrit text, and is one of the sacred scriptures in Hinduism. One of the four Vedas, it is a l ...

Legend

In the

Shiva Purana The ''Shiva Purana'' (original Sanskrit title: Śivapurāṇa (शिवपुराण) and Śivamahāpurāṇa (शिवमहापुराण) is one of eighteen major texts of the '' Purana'' genre of Sanskrit texts in Hinduism, and part o ...

, Upamanyu is stated to be the son of Sage Vyāghrapāda. Once, he drank his fill of milk at his uncle's ashrama, and urged his mother to offer him milk as well. Dejected that she could not offer her son milk because of their family's poverty, she offered him a milk substitute instead, which he rejected. Upamanyu's mother then told him to devote himself to Shiva, who would grant him what he wished. The boy resolved to perform a penance to Shiva to ask for an ocean of milk, to which his mother offered her consent. He travelled to the

Himalayas The Himalayas, or Himalaya ( ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the Earth's highest peaks, including the highest, Mount Everest. More than list of h ...

, where he built a

lingam A lingam ( , lit. "sign, symbol or mark"), sometimes referred to as linga or Shiva linga, is an abstract or Aniconism, aniconic representation of the Hinduism, Hindu Hindu deities, god Shiva in Shaivism. The word ''lingam'' is found in the Up ...

and started to chant the Panchaksharam. He was harassed by a number of ghosts sent by

Marichi Marichi () or Mareechi or Marishi is the mind-born son of Brahma, and one of the Saptarishi in Hindu mythology. He is also the father of Kashyapa, and the grandfather of the ''devas'' and the ''asuras''. In Jainism, he is referred to as o ...

, but was resolute. Upamanyu's penance was so powerful that he started to cause

Devaloka In Indian religions, a devaloka or deva loka is a plane of existence where deity, gods aka Deva (Hinduism), devas exist. The deva lokas are usually described as places of eternal light and goodness, similar to the concept of Heaven. Teachers ...

to burn. The devas hastened to

Vaikuntha Vaikuntha (), also called Vishnuloka (), and Tirunatu (Tirunāṭu) in Tamil language, Tamil, is the abode of Vishnu, the Parabrahman , supreme deity in the Vaishnavism, Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism,Gavin Flood, An Introduction to Hinduism' ( ...

to inform

Vishnu Vishnu (; , , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism, and the god of preservation ( ...

, who in turn brought these tidings to Shiva. Shiva assumed the disguise of

Indra Indra (; ) is the Hindu god of weather, considered the king of the Deva (Hinduism), Devas and Svarga in Hinduism. He is associated with the sky, lightning, weather, thunder, storms, rains, river flows, and war. volumes Indra is the m ...

and visited the boy, asking him to seek a boon of his choice. Upamanyu chose to be devoted to Shiva as his boon. Shiva asked Upamanyu to abandon him, and made a number of disparaging remarks against himself. Infuriated, Upamanyu chanted the Panchaksharam, cupped some ash, and hurled it at Shiva. The Aghorāstra he hurled was gently extinguished by Shiva, and the latter assumed his true form. Greatly pleased, Shiva offered his devotee all the milk he desired, and endowed him with sacred rites and knowledge.{{Cite book , last=Shastri , first=J. L. , url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bFbsDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1207 , title=The Siva Purana Part 3: Ancient Indian Tradition and Mythology Volume 3 , date=2014-01-01 , publisher=Motilal Banarsidass , isbn=978-81-208-3870-3 , pages=1207 , language=en

Legend

References

See also