JAPA(S) 348 JARATKARU II JAPA^(S). A group of Gods (devas) of the third By means of penance he made his body lean and worn Manvantara (age of Manu) . In that Manvantara the out and so got the name Jaratkaru. Manu was Uttama, Indra was Susanti, and the 3) Marriage. The calm and abstemious Jaratkaru Devaganas (groups of gods) were Sudharmas, Satyas, remained unmarried for a long time. One day he Japas, Pratardanas, and Va^avartins, the five groups, happened to meet with his Manes. They were holding each consisting of twelve members. (See under on to a grass and were about to fall into hell, and a Manvantara) . rat was cutting the root of the grass which was their JAPAKA. A Brahmana who was constantly engaged in only hold. The moment the root is severed all the uttering Gayatri. Japaka was ordered to go to hell Manes would fall into the deep ravine of hell. It was because certain mistakes were detected in the uttering at this juncture that Jaratkaru, met his Manes. The of Gayatri. But Devi Savitri intervened. She appeared moment they saw him they said, "See Jaratkaru, we before him and gave him heaven. This Japaka was a are your Manes. We have to obtain, heaven, life, con- contemporary of Iksvaku. (M.B. Santi Parva, 3 tentment and happiness by the good deeds of your Chapters from 197). son. So go and get married quickly." It JARA. A forester. was this forester who shot an At first he did not like the talk about marriage. Still, arrow at Sri Krsna and killed him mistaking him for in order to procure heaven for his ancestors he agreed an animal. (See under Sri Krsna). to get married. But he made a condition that the name JARA. A harpy (RaksasI) . Though she was a harpy of the bride also should be Jaratkaru and she should she loved human beings. It is believed that if the be given to him as alms. Saying these words, he picture of Jara and her children is placed in the walked away along the forest. house and venerated, there will be no haunting of any News reached the ears of Vasuki, the King of the other 'kinds of demons. Nagas (serpents) that the hermit Jaratkaru was The figure ofJara was sculptured on the wall of the wandering through the forests calling out that somebody Palace of Brhadratha, the King of Magadha, and was should give him as alms a damsel named Jaratkaru. being worshipped. Because the King worshipped her, Vasuki had a sister. Jaratkaru was her name. Vasuki she had been looking forward to an opportunity to decided to give her to the hermit Jaratkaru. She was reward the King. Brhadratha had married two adorned with costly garments and ornaments and was of the of Kasi. daughters King They were twin sisters. taken to thehermitjaratka.ru. Jaratkaru said : For a long time they remained childless. The King "Hear my condition, I will not cherish her if she was very sorry, and went to the forest with his wives. causes displeasure to me. If she does so I will send He saw the hermit Kakslvan or Candakausika, the son her away instantly." and of Gautama requested that a son should be born On condition that if she did anything displeasing to to him. The hermit was sitting in meditation under a him he would leave her at once, the hermit Jaratkaru and mango tree a mango fell on his lap. The hermit married Jaratkaru the sister of Vasuki. (Devi took it and by prayer and meditation he invoked Bhagavata, Skandha 2; Mahabharata, Adi Parva, divine power into it and gave it to the King. The King Chapters 13 and 47). it into two it divided and gave to his wives. The queens 4) Leaves his wife. Jaratkaru lived in the hermitage became pregnant and the three returned joyously. with her husband looking after him with love and course both In due delivered. But each of them gave loyalty. One day the hermit was sleeping with his head birth to only half of a child. The horrified queens took on the lap of his wife. Though it was sunset the hermit the uncouth figures outside the palace and left them slept on. It was time for the evening worship there. Jara was watching this. She ran to the spot of the hermit. If he is aroused he will get angry. The the and placed two portions together. Instantly it wife was in a difficult situation. Anyhow she aroused of became a child proper form. Hearing the cry of the her husband. The hermit got up full of anger and child the out. mothers. came Jara appeared there and shouted, "You have hindered my sleep, you wicked placed the child before the King Brhadratha. As desired woman and teased me. So from today you are not my by Jara the child was named Jarasandha because he wife. I am going away." was joined together by Jara. This child grew up and She begged him for pardon with tears. But without became the notorious King Jarasandha of Magadha. paying any heed to the entreaties of his pregnant wife, 3 (M.B. Sabha Parva, Chapters from 1 7) . he left her. in It is mentioned Mahabharata, Drona Parva, Chapter The helpless Jaratkaru gave birth to a son named that 182, Stanza 12 when Arjuna fought with Jara- Astlka who later stopped the famous sacrifice, Sarpa sandha this harpy had been staying in the weapon of Satra meant for killing the serpents. (M.B. Adi Parva, was killed in Jarasandha and that fight. Chapter 47) . See under Jaratkaru II. JARATKARU I. A hermit who is Puranically famous. JARATKARU II. 1 Birth. This hermit was ) born in a Brahmana dy- 1) General information. It occurs in Devi Bhagavata, nasty known as Yayavaras. He was the only son of Skandha 9, about Jaratkaru, the sister of Vasuki and Yayavaras. (M.B. Adi Parva, Chapter 13). the wife of hermit Jaratkaru as follows. This devl 2) The name Jaratkaru. The meaning of the name (goddess) is the daughter of Prajapati Kagyapa, born Jaratkaru is given in Bhasabharata, Adi Parva, Chapter from his mind. So she got the name ManasadevI as follows : 40, (goddess born from mind) . Some think that she got is is "Jara consumption, Karu daruna (awful) . By and the name ManasadevI because she is the deity of mind. by his body became hard and awful and by penance There are some who imagine that she got the name he made his body to wear out, and so he got the name ManasadevI because she held Sri Krsna Paramatman 'Jaratkaru'." (the Supreme Spirit) firmly in her mind. This devl.