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[[File:Dharmaraj and animandavya.jpg|thumb|Dharmaraj and the sage Animandavya]]{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox deity
'''Mandavya''' ({{Lang-sa|माण्डव्य}}) was a sage, who according to [[Hinduism]], was wrongly punished by the king by being [[Impalement|impaled]]. This occurred as the chief of a band of robbers had hidden their stolen goods in a corner of his hermitage when he was in deep contemplation. So the guards of the king of that region came in search of the robbers and asked the sage about their whereabouts. The sage did not answer for he was meditating and he was wrongly assumed to have stolen the goods. The guards punished the robbers and the sage by putting him on the stake. Everyone else died except Mandavya. Other sages came in the form of birds to look at him and asked him why he was thus. When Mandavya began to speak the guards saw him alive and informed the king. The king begged pardon from the sage and tried to free him, but they were unable to remove the stake from his body. So Mandavya came to be known as Ani-Mandavya (Mandavya with a stake within).
| type = Hindu
| name = Mandavya
| image =
| caption =
| affiliation = [[Rishi]]
| texts = [[Mahabharata]], [[Puranas]]
}}{{Short description|Sage in Hinduism}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}


After being freed, Ani-Mandavya began to do austerities still with the stake within. And with these penances he could travel celestial regions. Once he went to the region of [[Yama]] (Dharma) and questioned him about his punishment. Lord Yama gave the answer that he was punished for having tortured insects and bees in his childhood, by piercing them with blades of grass. In response, Mandavya cursed the [[Yama (Hinduism)|Yama]], as his punishment exceeded the sins committed as an ignorant child. Therefore, he cursed him to be born in the mortal world. He was born as [[Vidura]], the wise, to the servant maid of [[Ambika (Mahabharata)|Ambika]], wife of King [[Vichitravirya]], named Parishrami, who was offered by her to Sage [[Vyasa]] in place of Ambika.<ref>[http://www.india-intro.com/ancestors-of-pandavas-and-kauravas] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100408192925/http://www.india-intro.com/ancestors-of-pandavas-and-kauravas |date=April 8, 2010 }}</ref> Mandavya is a bhargava gotrakar rishi.
'''Mandavya''' ({{Langx|sa|माण्डव्य|translit=Māṇḍavya}}), also called '''Aṇi Māṇḍavya''', is a sage in [[Hinduism]]. He is best known for a legend where he is wrongfully punished by a king by impalement.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-06-24 |title=Sage Mandavya's story |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/religion/Sage-Mandavya%E2%80%99s-story/article14399371.ece |access-date=2022-11-19 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>  
It is written in Matsy purana verses १९५.२१.


<br />
== Legend ==
 
=== Impalement ===
According to the [[Mahabharata]], Mandavya was once performing a [[Tapas (Indian religions)|tapas]] with his arms raised, standing in front of his [[Ashram|ashrama]] for many years. During this period, some thieves happened to pass by his ashrama, having stolen property belonging to the king. Finding that the king’s men were pursuing them, the thieves fled, after leaving their stolen property in the sage's ashrama. The king’s men seized Mandavya, believing him to be an accomplice. Mandavya refused to talk to his accusers. When the thieves were caught, Mandavya was also produced before the king, and they were all condemned to death. The thieves and the sage were struck at the tip with a trident, and while the thieves died, Mandavya stayed alive.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Valmiki |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qj9bDwAAQBAJ&dq=ani+mandavya+rishi&pg=PT2346 |title=Delphi Collected Sanskrit Epics (Illustrated) |last2=Vyasa |date=2018-05-19 |publisher=Delphi Classics |isbn=978-1-78656-128-2 |pages=2346 |language=en}}</ref>
 
According to the [[Brahmanda Purana]], while the sage was undergoing this injustice, [[Ugrashravas]], the cruel husband of Shilavati, wished to visit the house of his favourite prostitute, and the unsuspecting Shilavati agreed to carry him to her house. When the couple came across Mandavya, the latter understood the man's intentions, and cursed him to die before the next sunrise. Horrified, Shilavati, with her piety, ensured that [[Surya]], the sun god, would not rise the following morning. Since this led to universal chaos, the [[Deva (Hinduism)|devas]] approached [[Anasuya]], who convinced Shilavati to let the sun rise again.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Krishna |first=Nanditha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DF_af8_547EC&dq=ani+mandavya+sunrise&pg=PT140 |title=Sacred Animals of India |date=2014-05-01 |publisher=Penguin UK |isbn=978-81-8475-182-6 |pages=140 |language=en}}</ref>
 
[[Shiva]] blessed the sage with longevity, and several sages appeared before Mandavya, making inquiries regarding him. When the king realised that Mandavya was innocent, he rushed to seek the sage's forgiveness. His men tried to pull the trident from his body, but were unable to do so. Finally, the sage had to be released by cutting the trident, with its tip (Aṇi) remaining in his form. Hence, he came to be known as Aṇi Mandavya.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2019-01-28 |title=Story of Aṇimāṇḍavya |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/compilation/puranic-encyclopaedia/d/doc241396.html |access-date=2022-11-19 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref>
 
=== Cursing Dharma ===
Mandavya approached [[Dharma]] (sometimes identified with [[Yama (Hinduism)|Yama]]), asking why an innocent man like him had suffered the hardship that he had gone through. Dharma stated that Mandavya had tortured insects like bugs and ants when he was a boy, and his impalement had been the punishment. The sage countered that the [[Dharmaśāstra|Shashtras]] stated that no man should have to suffer for any sin committed before the age of five, arguing that he had been unjustly punished. Since Dharma had attempted to murder him, a [[Brahmin]], the greatest of sins, he cursed the deity to be born as a [[Shudra]] on earth. Accordingly, Dharma incarnated as [[Vidura]] in the [[Mahabharata]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Williams |first=George M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N7LOZfwCDpEC&dq=dharma+mandavya&pg=PA56 |title=Handbook of Hindu Mythology |date=2008-03-27 |publisher=OUP USA |isbn=978-0-19-533261-2 |pages=56 |language=en}}</ref>
 
[[File:Mandavya ( माण्डव्य) Temple.jpg|alt=Mandavya  Temple|thumb|Mandavya Rishi Temple in Damkada Tansen Nepal|240x240px]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
[[File:Mandavya ( माण्डव्य) Temple.jpg|alt=Mandavya  Temple|thumb|Mandavya Rishi Temple in Damkada Tansen Nepal]]
 
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{{Rishis of Hindu mythology}}
{{HinduMythology}}
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Latest revision as of 16:40, 22 August 2025

Mandavya
AffiliationRishi
TextsMahabharata, Puranas


Mandavya (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.), also called Aṇi Māṇḍavya, is a sage in Hinduism. He is best known for a legend where he is wrongfully punished by a king by impalement.[1]

Legend[edit | edit source]

Impalement[edit | edit source]

According to the Mahabharata, Mandavya was once performing a tapas with his arms raised, standing in front of his ashrama for many years. During this period, some thieves happened to pass by his ashrama, having stolen property belonging to the king. Finding that the king’s men were pursuing them, the thieves fled, after leaving their stolen property in the sage's ashrama. The king’s men seized Mandavya, believing him to be an accomplice. Mandavya refused to talk to his accusers. When the thieves were caught, Mandavya was also produced before the king, and they were all condemned to death. The thieves and the sage were struck at the tip with a trident, and while the thieves died, Mandavya stayed alive.[2]

According to the Brahmanda Purana, while the sage was undergoing this injustice, Ugrashravas, the cruel husband of Shilavati, wished to visit the house of his favourite prostitute, and the unsuspecting Shilavati agreed to carry him to her house. When the couple came across Mandavya, the latter understood the man's intentions, and cursed him to die before the next sunrise. Horrified, Shilavati, with her piety, ensured that Surya, the sun god, would not rise the following morning. Since this led to universal chaos, the devas approached Anasuya, who convinced Shilavati to let the sun rise again.[3]

Shiva blessed the sage with longevity, and several sages appeared before Mandavya, making inquiries regarding him. When the king realised that Mandavya was innocent, he rushed to seek the sage's forgiveness. His men tried to pull the trident from his body, but were unable to do so. Finally, the sage had to be released by cutting the trident, with its tip (Aṇi) remaining in his form. Hence, he came to be known as Aṇi Mandavya.[4]

Cursing Dharma[edit | edit source]

Mandavya approached Dharma (sometimes identified with Yama), asking why an innocent man like him had suffered the hardship that he had gone through. Dharma stated that Mandavya had tortured insects like bugs and ants when he was a boy, and his impalement had been the punishment. The sage countered that the Shashtras stated that no man should have to suffer for any sin committed before the age of five, arguing that he had been unjustly punished. Since Dharma had attempted to murder him, a Brahmin, the greatest of sins, he cursed the deity to be born as a Shudra on earth. Accordingly, Dharma incarnated as Vidura in the Mahabharata.[5]

Mandavya Temple
Mandavya Rishi Temple in Damkada Tansen Nepal

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Sage Mandavya's story". The Hindu. 24 June 2016. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  2. ↑ Valmiki; Vyasa (19 May 2018). Delphi Collected Sanskrit Epics (Illustrated). Delphi Classics. p. 2346. ISBN 978-1-78656-128-2.
  3. ↑ Krishna, Nanditha (1 May 2014). Sacred Animals of India. Penguin UK. p. 140. ISBN 978-81-8475-182-6.
  4. ↑ www.wisdomlib.org (28 January 2019). "Story of Aṇimāṇḍavya". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  5. ↑ Williams, George M. (27 March 2008). Handbook of Hindu Mythology. OUP USA. p. 56. ISBN 978-0-19-533261-2.
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