Ashtavakra (Sanskrit: अष्टावक्र) was a physically challenged Vedic sage who defeated the most prominent 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. Their dialogues are collectively known as the Ashtavakra Gita (The Song of Ashtavakra), a 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, a sage named Uddalaka Aruni ran a Gurukula where any student thirsty for knowledge was welcome and treated equally. He had a beautiful daughter named Sujata. When Sujata reached the age of marriage, he married her to one of his disciples, Kahoda, who was a talented student.
After some time, Sujata got pregnant. Once, her husband recited 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 made by his father.)
The curse did not go in vain, and the baby was born with his body crooked in 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. According to a version, it was not the baby but Sujata who pointed out Kahoda’s mistakes, 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 the mistakes. (Abhimanyu also learned the art of entering Chakravyuha while 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 impoverished. After Sujata got pregnant, she told Kahoda they did not have money, and how she would manage her pregnancy. Therefore, he went to the court of King Janaka to request some wealth. At that time, a philosophical debate was 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 then.
Kahoda accepted the challenge but was defeated. Therefore, per the condition of the debate, Bandi drowned him in the water.
When Sage Aruni learned about the news, he advised Sujata never to tell her child about his father. Sujata did the same, and Ashtavakra did not 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 his father’s lap. 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 born a genius who decided to visit the king’s court 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 child. He requested to let him in as he was a Brahmin, but the guard disagreed.
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, he asked him some cryptic questions 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 for a long time, but ultimately, Ashtavakra defeated Bandi. Then, Ashtavakra requested King Janaka to drown Bandi in the water, as he had done to many Brahmins.
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 whom Bandi had drowned appeared there along with Kahoda.
Ashtavakra Got Cured:
Ashtavakra returned to his home along with his father and uncle. Kahoda was very happy with his son’s intelligence and asked him to enter River Samanga so that his crooked body would be straightened.
As soon as Ashtavakra touched the river water, his body parts were straightened, and he became normal.
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 Brahma blessed with immortality. But he became arrogant after that. Once, he laughed at the sage Ashtavakra because of his crooked 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 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 him (or Atman). Names and forms shroud the ignorant man’s vision, but a wise man sees only himself.
You are unbound and actionless, 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 anyone based on outward appearance but on intelligence.