Shunahshepa - Revision history

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	'''Shunahshepa''' ([[IAST]]: Śunaḥśepa) is a legendary sage mentioned in the Indian [[Indian epic poetry\|epics]] . A number of passages in ''[[Rigveda]]'' are attributed to him. He was adopted by the sage [[Vishvamitra]], and given the new name '''Devarata'''. His name is also transliterated as Cunahcepa, Cunahçepa, Sunahsephas, Sunahshepa, and Shunashepa. He was first mentioned in Mandala 1, Hymn 24 of the Rigveda as a devotee of the god [[Varuna]].		'''<span lang="Sa" dir="ltr">Shunahshepa</span>''' ([[IAST]]: Śunaḥśepa) is a legendary sage mentioned in the Indian [[Indian epic poetry\|epics]]. A number of passages in ''[[Rigveda]]'' are attributed to him. He was adopted by the sage [[Vishvamitra\|<span lang="sa" dir="ltr">Vishvamitra</span>]], and given the new name '''Devarata'''. His name is also transliterated as Cunahcepa, Cunahçepa, Sunahsephas, Sunahshepa, and Shunashepa. He was first mentioned in Mandala 1, Hymn 24 of the Rigveda as a devotee of the god [[Varuna]].

	According to a legend, Shunahshepa was chosen to be [[human sacrifice\|sacrificed]] in a ritual, but was saved after praying to the Rigvedic deities. The earliest extant text to mention this legend is ''[[Aitareya Brahmana]]'' (7.13-18) of ''[[Rigveda]]''. The story is repeated in the ''[[Balakanda]]'' (1.61) of [[Valmiki]]'s ''[[Ramayana]]'' with some variations. Several other texts borrow the story: these include ''Sankhyana Srauta Sutra'', ''[[Baudhayana Shrauta Sutra]]'', the [[Puranas]], and the works of [[Chandrakirti]] among others.		According to a legend, Shunahshepa was chosen to be [[human sacrifice\|sacrificed]] in a ritual, but was saved after praying to the Rigvedic deities. The earliest extant text to mention this legend is ''[[Aitareya Brahmana]]'' (7.13-18) of ''[[Rigveda]]''. The story is repeated in the ''[[Balakanda]]'' (1.61) of [[Valmiki]]'s ''[[Ramayana]]'' with some variations. Several other texts borrow the story: these include ''Sankhyana Srauta Sutra'', ''[[Baudhayana Shrauta Sutra]]'', the [[Puranas]], and the works of [[Chandrakirti]] among others.
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	Varuna agreed to the replacement on the basis that a Brahmin was a worthy substitute for a [[Kshatriya]]. King Harishchandra combined the sacrifice with his own [[Rajasuya]] ceremony. Four [[Vedic priesthood\|priests]] were called to conduct the sacrifice: Ayasya (the [[udgatr]]), [[Jamadagni]] (the [[adhvaryu]]), [[Vashistha]] (the brahman) and [[Vishvamitra]] (the [[hotar]]). However, all of them refused to bind Shunahshepa to the sacrificial post. Ajigarta then offered to bind his son for another hundred cows. Rohita accepted the offer, and Ajigarta bound Shunahshepa to the post. However, the priests refused to slaughter him. Ajigarta then offered to sacrifice his own son in exchange for another hundred cows. The prince agreed to his demand. As Ajigarta readied to kill his own son, Shunahshepa prayed to the [[Rigvedic deities]]. With his last hymn, which invoked [[Ushas]] (the deity of the dawn), his bonds were loosened and King Harishchandra was also cured of his illness.<ref name="David_1991"/>		Varuna agreed to the replacement on the basis that a Brahmin was a worthy substitute for a [[Kshatriya]]. King Harishchandra combined the sacrifice with his own [[Rajasuya]] ceremony. Four [[Vedic priesthood\|priests]] were called to conduct the sacrifice: Ayasya (the [[udgatr]]), [[Jamadagni]] (the [[adhvaryu]]), [[Vashistha]] (the brahman) and [[Vishvamitra]] (the [[hotar]]). However, all of them refused to bind Shunahshepa to the sacrificial post. Ajigarta then offered to bind his son for another hundred cows. Rohita accepted the offer, and Ajigarta bound Shunahshepa to the post. However, the priests refused to slaughter him. Ajigarta then offered to sacrifice his own son in exchange for another hundred cows. The prince agreed to his demand. As Ajigarta readied to kill his own son, Shunahshepa prayed to the [[Rigvedic deities]]. With his last hymn, which invoked [[Ushas]] (the deity of the dawn), his bonds were loosened and King Harishchandra was also cured of his illness.<ref name="David_1991"/>

	Vishvamitra, one of the priests, offered to adopt Shunahshepa as his eldest son. Reviling his own father Ajigarta as a [[Shudra]], Shunahshepa agreed. Vishvamitra gave him the name Devarata ("deity-given"). Half of Vishvamitra's sons - the younger ones - accepted Devarata as their elder brother. However, the elder ones refused to accept the adoption. Vishvamitra then cursed their offspring to be exiled out of [[Aryavarta]]. According to the Aitareya Brahmana, the descendants of these 50 sons included the [[~~Andhra in Indian epic literature~~\|~~Andhras~~]], the ~~Mutibas~~, the [[~~Pulindas~~]], the [[Pundra Kingdom\|Pundras]], the ~~Shabaras~~, and the various [[Dasyu]] tribes.<ref name="Wendy_1998">{{cite book \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YxoaUKmMG9gC&pg=PA22 \|title=Textual Sources for the Study of Hinduism \|author=[[Wendy Doniger]] \|publisher=University of Chicago Press \|isbn=9780226618470 \|year=1998 \|pages=22–25 }}</ref><ref name="David_1991"/>		Vishvamitra, one of the priests, offered to adopt Shunahshepa as his eldest son. Reviling his own father Ajigarta as a [[Shudra]], Shunahshepa agreed. Vishvamitra gave him the name Devarata ("deity-given"). Half of Vishvamitra's sons - the younger ones - accepted Devarata as their elder brother. However, the elder ones refused to accept the adoption. Vishvamitra then cursed their offspring to be exiled out of [[Aryavarta]]. According to the Aitareya Brahmana, the descendants of these 50 sons included the [[Āndhra (tribe)\|Āndhra]]s, the [[Mūtiba]]s, the [[Pulinda]]s, the [[Pundra Kingdom\|Pundras]], the [[Sora people\|Śabara]s, and the various [[Dasyu]] tribes.<ref name="Wendy_1998">{{cite book \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YxoaUKmMG9gC&pg=PA22 \|title=Textual Sources for the Study of Hinduism \|author=[[Wendy Doniger]] \|publisher=University of Chicago Press \|isbn=9780226618470 \|year=1998 \|pages=22–25 }}</ref><ref name="David_1991"/>

	== Ramayana legend ==		== Ramayana legend ==
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	== Interpretations ==		== Interpretations ==

	According to scholars like [[Arthur Berriedale Keith]] and [[Rudolf von Roth]], the intent of the legend is to show that [[human sacrifice]] is an unacceptable practice. However, some others, such as [[Rajendralal Mitra]], [[Max Müller]] and [[Julius Eggeling]], believe that the legend indicates the existence of human sacrifice as a practice around the time the legend originated, and that the legend marks Shunahshepa's case as an exception.<ref name="Jan_1997">{{cite book \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0tPjVJF8roYC&pg=PA161 \|title=The Strange World of Human Sacrifice \|author=Jan N. Bremmer \|publisher=Peeters \|year=1997 \|isbn=9789042918436 \|pages=161–165 }}</ref>		According to scholars like [[Arthur Berriedale Keith]] and [[Rudolf von Roth]], the intent of the legend is to show that [[human sacrifice]] (''[[purushamedha]]'') is an unacceptable practice. However, some others, such as [[Rajendralal Mitra]], [[Max Müller]] and [[Julius Eggeling]], believe that the legend indicates the existence of human sacrifice as a practice around the time the legend originated, and that the legend marks Shunahshepa's case as an exception.<ref name="Jan_1997">{{cite book \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0tPjVJF8roYC&pg=PA161 \|title=The Strange World of Human Sacrifice \|author=Jan N. Bremmer \|publisher=Peeters \|year=1997 \|isbn=9789042918436 \|pages=161–165 }}</ref>

	According to David Gordon White, the original Shunahshepa myth alluded to in ''Rigveda'' (in passages attributed to Shunahshepa) may have been an astronomical explanation for the fact that the three stars in the [[Ursa Minor]]'s tail never fall below the line of horizon. However, its variants in ''Aitareya Brahmana'' and ''Sankhyana Srauta Sutra'' are an origin myth for the outcasts, who are described as the descendants of Vishvamitra's disobedient sons.<ref name="David_1991"/>		According to David Gordon White, the original Shunahshepa myth alluded to in ''Rigveda'' (in passages attributed to Shunahshepa) may have been an astronomical explanation for the fact that the three stars in the [[Ursa Minor]]'s tail never fall below the line of horizon. However, its variants in ''Aitareya Brahmana'' and ''Sankhyana Srauta Sutra'' are an origin myth for the outcasts, who are described as the descendants of Vishvamitra's disobedient sons.<ref name="David_1991"/>
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	* The inhumane father Ajigarta not only sells his son, but also agrees to murder him for an additional payment.		* The inhumane father Ajigarta not only sells his son, but also agrees to murder him for an additional payment.
	* Vishvamitra falls somewhere in the middle of the spectrum, cursing the sons who don't obey him and rewarding the ones who do.		* Vishvamitra falls somewhere in the middle of the spectrum, cursing the sons who don't obey him and rewarding the ones who do.

			== Secondary literature ==
			The story of Shunahshepa has been retold and adapted into poetry and plays in India. These versions vary from each other depending on which version of the story they are based on.

			=== Poetry ===

			* [[Jaishankar Prasad]]'s poetry collection Karunalay features a retelling of the story of Shunahshepa in the form of poetic drama or [[gītināṭya]].
			* Vijay Kumar Singh's 2022 poetry collection [[Shunahshep & Nachiketa]] features a retelling of the version of Shunahshepa's story mentioned in the [[Aitareya Brahmana]], in the form of an epic poem written in [[Hindi]].

			=== Graphic Novel ===

			* [[Amar Chitra Katha\|Amar Chitra katha]] new series number DG461 titled Shunahshepa, published in 1983, tells the story of Shunahshepa in the form of a graphic novel.

	== See also ==		== See also ==

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Moving Category:People in Hindu mythology to Category:Characters in Hindu mythology per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2021 June 18#Category:People in Hindu mythology

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{{use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox character
| name = Sunahsepa / Devarata Vaiśvāmitra
| family = [[Vishvamitra]]
}}
'''Shunahshepa''' ([[IAST]]: Śunaḥśepa) is a legendary sage mentioned in the Indian [[Indian epic poetry|epics]] . A number of passages in ''[[Rigveda]]'' are attributed to him. He was adopted by the sage [[Vishvamitra]], and given the new name '''Devarata'''. His name is also transliterated as Cunahcepa, Cunahçepa, Sunahsephas, Sunahshepa, and Shunashepa. He was first mentioned in Mandala 1, Hymn 24 of the Rigveda as a devotee of the god [[Varuna]].

According to a legend, Shunahshepa was chosen to be [[human sacrifice|sacrificed]] in a ritual, but was saved after praying to the Rigvedic deities. The earliest extant text to mention this legend is ''[[Aitareya Brahmana]]'' (7.13-18) of ''[[Rigveda]]''. The story is repeated in the ''[[Balakanda]]'' (1.61) of [[Valmiki]]'s ''[[Ramayana]]'' with some variations. Several other texts borrow the story: these include ''Sankhyana Srauta Sutra'', ''[[Baudhayana Shrauta Sutra]]'', the [[Puranas]], and the works of [[Chandrakirti]] among others.

== Aitareya Brahmana legend ==

King [[Harishchandra]] of the [[Ikshvaku dynasty]] had 100 wives, but no son. On advice of the sage [[Narada]], he prayed to the deity [[Varuna]] for a son. Varuna granted the boon, in exchange for an assurance that Harishchandra would make a sacrifice to Varuna in the future. As a result of this boon, a son named Rohita (or Rohitaswa) was born to the king. After his birth, Varuna came to Harishchandra and demanded that the child be sacrificed to him. The king postponed the sacrifice multiple times citing various reasons, but finally agreed to it when Rohita became an adult. Rohita refused to be sacrificed and escaped to forest. An angry Varuna afflicted Harishchandra with a stomach illness. Rohita intermittently visited his father, but on advice of [[Indra]], never agreed to the sacrifice.<ref name="David_1991">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=glmjo9UrP2YC&pg=PA81 |title=Myths of the Dog-Man |author=David Gordon White |publisher=University of Chicago Press |year=1991 |isbn=9780226895093 |pages=81–84 }}</ref>

In the sixth year of wandering in the forest, Rohita met a starving [[Brahmin]] named Ajigarta Sauyavasi, a descendant of [[Angiras (sage)|Angiras]]. Ajigarta had three sons. Rohita offered Ajigarta a hundred cows in exchange for one of his sons to be sacrificed to Varuna in his place. Ajigarta agreed to the offer. He didn't want his eldest son to be sacrificed, and his wife didn't want their youngest son to be sacrificed. So, Shunahshepa—the middle son—was chosen for the sacrifice. Rohita then gave a hundred cows to Ajigarta, and took Shunahshepa and Ajigarta to the royal palace.<ref name="David_1991"/><ref name="Wendy_1998"/>

Varuna agreed to the replacement on the basis that a Brahmin was a worthy substitute for a [[Kshatriya]]. King Harishchandra combined the sacrifice with his own [[Rajasuya]] ceremony. Four [[Vedic priesthood|priests]] were called to conduct the sacrifice: Ayasya (the [[udgatr]]), [[Jamadagni]] (the [[adhvaryu]]), [[Vashistha]] (the brahman) and [[Vishvamitra]] (the [[hotar]]). However, all of them refused to bind Shunahshepa to the sacrificial post. Ajigarta then offered to bind his son for another hundred cows. Rohita accepted the offer, and Ajigarta bound Shunahshepa to the post. However, the priests refused to slaughter him. Ajigarta then offered to sacrifice his own son in exchange for another hundred cows. The prince agreed to his demand. As Ajigarta readied to kill his own son, Shunahshepa prayed to the [[Rigvedic deities]]. With his last hymn, which invoked [[Ushas]] (the deity of the dawn), his bonds were loosened and King Harishchandra was also cured of his illness.<ref name="David_1991"/>

Vishvamitra, one of the priests, offered to adopt Shunahshepa as his eldest son. Reviling his own father Ajigarta as a [[Shudra]], Shunahshepa agreed. Vishvamitra gave him the name Devarata ("deity-given"). Half of Vishvamitra's sons - the younger ones - accepted Devarata as their elder brother. However, the elder ones refused to accept the adoption. Vishvamitra then cursed their offspring to be exiled out of [[Aryavarta]]. According to the Aitareya Brahmana, the descendants of these 50 sons included the [[Andhra in Indian epic literature|Andhras]], the Mutibas, the [[Pulindas]], the [[Pundra Kingdom|Pundras]], the Shabaras, and the various [[Dasyu]] tribes.<ref name="Wendy_1998">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YxoaUKmMG9gC&pg=PA22 |title=Textual Sources for the Study of Hinduism |author=[[Wendy Doniger]] |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=9780226618470 |year=1998 |pages=22–25 }}</ref><ref name="David_1991"/>

== Ramayana legend ==
[[File:Ambarisa offers the youth Sunahsepha in sacrifice.jpg|thumb|350px|A 16th century [[Mughal Empire|Mughal era]] depiction of [[Ambarisha]] offering Sunahsepha in sacrifice]]
King [[Ambarisha]] of [[Ayodhya]] was engaged in a sacrificial ceremony, when his animal-victim was stolen by [[Indra]]. The priest conducting the ceremony told the king that he needed to find the animal, or perform a human sacrifice to avert the misfortune resulting from the situation. The king tried to search for the horse unsuccessfully. While searching for the animal, he came across the sage Richika (Ṛcīka) in the mountain region known as Bhrugutunda. He offered to buy one of the sage's three sons for the human sacrifice. The sage refused to part with his eldest son, and his wife refused to part with the youngest. The middle one - Shunahshepa - volunteered to go with the king. The king gave Richika one hundred thousand cows and gold coins, and left with Shunahshepa.<ref name="David_1993"/><ref name="Wendy_1993"/>

On the way to the King's place, the two took a rest break at the sacred site of [[Pushkar]]a. There, they encountered the sage Vishvamitra, whom Shunahshepa recognized as his maternal uncle. Shunahshepa sought the sage's refuge, asking him to do something that would conclude the king's rite successfully but also save his life. The sage asked his sons if any of them were willing to replace Shunahshepa in the sacrifice. His sons rejected the demand with scorn, stating that it would be equivalent to eating dog meat. Angered at their impudence, Vishvamitra cursed his sons to be reborn as outcaste dog-meat eaters for a thousand years, just like Vashistha's sons.<ref name="David_1993"/><ref name="Wendy_1993">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r4I-FsZCzJEC&pg=PA54 |title=Asian Mythologies |authors=[[Yves Bonnefoy]] and [[Wendy Doniger]] |publisher=University of Chicago Press |year=1993 |isbn=9780226064567 }}</ref>

Vishwamitra then turned to Shunahshepa, and asked him to recite two hymns during the sacrifice. Ambarisha and Shunahshepa then reached the palace, where the sacrificial ceremony started. Ambarisha concluded the Ashvamedha ceremony successfully, and Shunahshepa recited Vishwamitra's hymns as he was about to be sacrificed. Indra then appeared on the spot, and blessed him with a long life. He also rewarded Ambarisha for his sacrifice.<ref name="David_1993"/><ref name="Wendy_1993"/>

== Interpretations ==

According to scholars like [[Arthur Berriedale Keith]] and [[Rudolf von Roth]], the intent of the legend is to show that [[human sacrifice]] is an unacceptable practice. However, some others, such as [[Rajendralal Mitra]], [[Max Müller]] and [[Julius Eggeling]], believe that the legend indicates the existence of human sacrifice as a practice around the time the legend originated, and that the legend marks Shunahshepa's case as an exception.<ref name="Jan_1997">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0tPjVJF8roYC&pg=PA161 |title=The Strange World of Human Sacrifice |author=Jan N. Bremmer |publisher=Peeters |year=1997 |isbn=9789042918436 |pages=161–165 }}</ref>

According to David Gordon White, the original Shunahshepa myth alluded to in ''Rigveda'' (in passages attributed to Shunahshepa) may have been an astronomical explanation for the fact that the three stars in the [[Ursa Minor]]'s tail never fall below the line of horizon. However, its variants in ''Aitareya Brahmana'' and ''Sankhyana Srauta Sutra'' are an origin myth for the outcasts, who are described as the descendants of Vishvamitra's disobedient sons.<ref name="David_1991"/>

[[David Dean Shulman|David Shulman]] interprets the story as a tale about father-son relationships:<ref name="David_1993">{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eOgnapMK3PwC&pg=PA87 |title=The Hungry God: Hindu Tales of Filicide and Devotion |author=[[David Dean Shulman|David Shulman]] |publisher=University of Chicago Press |year=1993 |isbn=9780226755717 |chapter=Sunahsepa: The Riddle of Fathers and Sons |pages=87–105 }}</ref>

* The loving father Harishchandra tries to postpone his son Rohita's death, before he reluctantly agrees to the inevitable sacrifice.
* The inhumane father Ajigarta not only sells his son, but also agrees to murder him for an additional payment.
* Vishvamitra falls somewhere in the middle of the spectrum, cursing the sons who don't obey him and rewarding the ones who do.

== See also ==

* [[Purushamedha]], human sacrifice ritual described in the Yajurveda
* [[Jephthah]] and [[Binding of Isaac]], legends of [[filicide]] in Hebrew texts

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Characters in Hindu mythology]]
[[Category:Sages in the Ramayana]]