In the solar system, Guru, Brihaspathi or Jupiter as his popularly known occupies the second largest position after the Sun. Jupiter is revered as celestial preceptor of the Gods. Worship of Bhraspati or Guru (JUPITER) Devata results in a cure from ailments affecting the stomach and helps one to ward off his/her sins, helps him/her in gaining strength, valor, longevity etc. He grants the boon of father-hood to the childless, good education. Thursdays are considered to be the best day for the worship of Jupiter. Following is the katha(story) which is recited by the devotee, who is fasting and praying to Bhraspati Dev on Thursdays.
Once Lord Indra, surrounded by many gods, Rishis, Kinnaras and Gondharvas sat on his throne in a proud mood. As guru Bhraspati reached there all of them except Indra stood up to pay respect. India used to pay obedience to his guru regularly but he showed discourtesy at that time. Bhraspati felt bad and left his palace. As Bhraspati left the palace Lord Indra realised his mistake and repented over his action. He felt that all his luxurious possessions were due to his guru blessings. Guru anger will turn it to dust.
Indra decided to go to
Bhraspati and tender apology for his action. It may pacify his anger. He went
to Bhraspati. Bhraspati intuited that Indra was coming to his Ashram. He
avoided meeting out of anger and disappeared immediately. Lord Indra returned
home disappointed. A demon god Vrishvarsha, sensed this situation and went to
his guru Shukracharya. He begged his gum permission to attack Indrapuri, the
kingdom of Lord India in those circumstances. Shukracharya permitted him. The
demon god surrounded Indrapuri and made a sudden attack. In the absence of Guru
Bhraspati blessings the gods lost all battles one after the other.
After his defeat the gods
went to Lord Brahma and related the whole story. He begged for safety and asked
for some strategy. Lord Brahma said, You have not done good by disgracing
Bhraspati. Anyway go to Vishwaroopa the learned son of Twashta. Request him to
become your priest. His blessings can save you. They went to Twashta and sought
his blessings. Twashta said, By becoming your priest I do not want to lessen my
virtues. But you go to my son Vishwaroopa. He will oblige you by accepting your
request for priesthood.
All the gods went to
Vishwaroopa and requested him to become their family priest for performing
Yajna. He accepted their request. By Vishwaroopa grace demon Vrishvarsha was
defeated and Lord India regained his kingdom. Lord India was happy. He implored
Vishwaroopa to perform a special yajna for further gains. Vishwaroopa agreed.
Vishwaroopa had three mouths. With one mouth he sucked the juice of Sompalli a
special creeper. From the second mouth he used to drink wine. He used his third
mouth for eating meals.
Vishwaroopa started
performing Yajna. The demon gods were frightened. They thought a plan to undo
the Yajna effects. One of the demon god went to Vishwaroopa and implored,
Honourable Sir, do you know that you belong to demon genealogy from your mother
side. Your mother is the daughter of a demon god. While performing Yajna kindly
make some offerings in the names of demon gods for their happiness. Vishwaroopa
agreed to his request. He made some silent offerings to demon gods so that no
one may hear it. The result was that the Yajna advantages were divided between
dieties and demon gods.
When Lord Indra came to know
the treachery he beheaded Vishwaroopa in a state of extreme anger. One of his
mouth from which he took wine, turned into a black bee. The second which he
used for sucking Sompalli juice became a piglion while the third one used for
taking meals was transformed into a partridge.
Lord Indras body was
immediately deformed due to sacrelige, the murder of a Brahman. All the gods
made repentance for one year but it had no effect on India. They approached
Lord Brahma for seeking some remedy to redeem India from the sacrelige. Lord
Brahma accompanied by Bhraspati went to Indra. He decided the sacrelige act
into four parts.
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