Sage Chyavana's story is told in Satapatha Brahmana and very briefly is in Rigveda. His story is told in Mahabharatha in detail. Sage Chyavana is the author of many Hymns in Rigveda. He was the grandson of Brahma. He was half brother to Sage Sukracharya.
1.1 Princess Sukanya pokes Sage Chyavanas’s eyes in play.
The version of this story as told in the Mahabharata and Puranas is as follows:-
Once Sage Chyavana was taKing a penance on the banks of the river Narmada. Chyavana was so absorbed in penance that white ants constructed their nests round his body and left only his eyes visible.
Sukanya, daughter of King Saryata, seeing two bright eyes in what seemed to be an anthill, poked them with a stick in child play and he became blind. The Sage visited King Saryata, and wanted the promise of the King to give him Sukanya in marriage for the offence made by her.
Since his daughter was at fault for the blindness the King was ready to give Sukanya to the Sage in marriage. Sukanya too accepted her folly and expressed readiness to marry the blind Sage in spite of Sage Chyavana looKing old and weak.
1.2 Sukanya and Aswini kumars
Princess Sukanya left the royal Palace and enjoyments and took a life with Sage Chyavana in his hermitage.
One day the Aswini Kumars (sons of Lord Soorya) came by the hermitage. They were attracted to the beauty of Sukanya.
Subsequently the Aswins, showing compassion for her union with so old and ugly a husband as Chyavana, tried to induce her to take one of them in his place as her husband. But Sukanya was such a woman who was very loyal and devoted and chaste.
When their persuasions failed, they told her they were the physicians of the Gods, and would restore her husband Sage Chyavana to youth and beauty by taKing a bath along with them, when she could make her choice between him and one of them. The idea of Aswins was that all the three will look identical after bath and she may get confused and one of them could get her.
1.3 Aswin kumars bathe with Sage Chyvana
Accordingly the three bathed in a pond and came forth of like celestial beauty. Each one asked her to be his bride, and she recognised and chose her own husband. I am told that there is no eye movement for Gods. Sukanya probably knew this.
1.4 Sage Chyavana expresses gratitude to Aswins
Chyavana, in gratitude, compelled Indra to admit the Aswins to a participation of the Soma ceremonial. Indra at first objected, because the Aswins who wandered among men were not to be admitted.
An argument started. Sage Chyavana stayed the arm of Indra when he was about to launch a thunderbolt, and Chyavana created a terrific demon. When the demon was on the point of devouring the King of the Gods Indra, he had no alternate and he submitted and then onwards Aswin kumars could partake in Soma ceremony.
1.5 Children of Sage Chyavana
According to the Mahabharatam, Chyavana was husband of Arushi or Sukanya and father of Sage Aurva. He is also considered to be the father of Sage Harita. We will have the stories about Sage Aurva and Sage Harita later.
1.6 Rig Vedic version of Sage Chyavana
In the Rig-Veda it is said that when "Chyavana had grown old and had been forsaken, the Aswins divested him of his decrepit body, prolonged his life, and restored him to youth, maKing him acceptable to his wife, and the husband of maidens."
1.7 Amplified version of Sukanya story in Satapatha Brahmana
The story of Sage Chyavana and Sukanya is amplified in the Satapatha Brahmana: - The Sage Chyavana assumed a shrivelled form and laid as if abandoned. The sons of Saryata, a descendant of Manu, found this body, and pelted it with clods. Chyavana was greatly incensed, and to appease him Saryata yoked his chariot, and taKing with him his daughter Sukanya, presented her to Chyavana.
The Aswins endeavoured to seduce her, but she remained faithful to her shrivelled husband, and under the direction of Sage Chyavana she told them they are incomplete and imperfect.
Sukanya consented to tell Aswini kumars in what respect they were deficient, if they would make her husband young again.
They directed that he should bathe in a certain pond, and having done so, he came forth with the age that he desired. She then informed them that they were imperfect because they were excluded from a sacrifice the other Gods were performing. They departed and succeeded in getting admitted to join the other Gods.
1.8 Mahabharata version - Chyavana starts Yagya
According to the Maha-bharata, Chyavana sought Indra to allow the Aswins to partake of the libations of Soma. Indra replied that the other Gods might do as they pleased, but he would not consent.
Chyavana then commenced a sacrifice to the Aswins; the other Gods were subdued, but Indra, in a rage, rushed with a mountain in one hand and his thunderbolt in another to crush Chyavana. The Sage having sprinkled him with water, stopped him and "created a fearful open-mouthed monster called Mada, having teeth and grinders of portentous length, and jaws - one of which enclosed the earth, the other the sky - and the Gods, including Indra, are said to have been at the tip of his tongue like fishes in the mouth of a sea monster."
In this predicament, Indra granted the demand of Chyavana, who was thus the cause of the Aswins becoming drinkers of the Soma.
1.9 Chyavana creates palace for King Kusika
In another part of the Maha-bharata, Sage Chyavana is represented as exacting many offers from King Kusika and his wife. Later, he rewarded them by "creating a magical golden palace," and predicted the birth of "a grandson of great beauty and heroism – Sage Parasurama."
1.10 Birth story of Sage Chyavana
The Maha-bharata, interpreting his name as signifying `the fallen,’ accounts for it by a legend, which represents his mother, Puloma, wife of Bhrigu, as having been carried off by the demon Puloman. She was pregnant, and in her fright the child fell from her womb. The demon was softened, and let the mother depart with her infant.
1.11 Chyavana prasa Lehiam (Chyavanprash Legyam)
The Chyavana prasa Lehiam, an ayurvedic preparation made with a good percentage of Amla fruit, is said to bring youth, vigour and vitality immediately. Hence the Lehiam is named after Sage Chyvana who looked very old and became young by taKing bath in a pond as directed by Aswin kumars.
1.12 Chyavana – pravara Sage of Srivatsa Gothra
I am born in Srivatsa Gothra. Chyvana appeared as the 2nd Sage in the pravara of Srivatsa Gothra. The pravara Sages are as follows in Srivatsa Gothra: "Bhargava, Chyvana, Aplavana, Aurva, Jamadagniya-Pancharisheya….."
SUMMARY
Sage Chyavana was the son of Sage Brighu. His wife was Sukanya. His sons were Harita and Aurva. Sukracharya was his half brother. Chyavana was associated with King Kusika and created a magical golden palace for him. Sage Parasurama was King Kusika’s grandson.
1.1 Princess Sukanya pokes Sage Chyavanas’s eyes in play.
The version of this story as told in the Mahabharata and Puranas is as follows:-
Once Sage Chyavana was taKing a penance on the banks of the river Narmada. Chyavana was so absorbed in penance that white ants constructed their nests round his body and left only his eyes visible.
Sukanya, daughter of King Saryata, seeing two bright eyes in what seemed to be an anthill, poked them with a stick in child play and he became blind. The Sage visited King Saryata, and wanted the promise of the King to give him Sukanya in marriage for the offence made by her.
Since his daughter was at fault for the blindness the King was ready to give Sukanya to the Sage in marriage. Sukanya too accepted her folly and expressed readiness to marry the blind Sage in spite of Sage Chyavana looKing old and weak.
1.2 Sukanya and Aswini kumars
Princess Sukanya left the royal Palace and enjoyments and took a life with Sage Chyavana in his hermitage.
One day the Aswini Kumars (sons of Lord Soorya) came by the hermitage. They were attracted to the beauty of Sukanya.
Subsequently the Aswins, showing compassion for her union with so old and ugly a husband as Chyavana, tried to induce her to take one of them in his place as her husband. But Sukanya was such a woman who was very loyal and devoted and chaste.
When their persuasions failed, they told her they were the physicians of the Gods, and would restore her husband Sage Chyavana to youth and beauty by taKing a bath along with them, when she could make her choice between him and one of them. The idea of Aswins was that all the three will look identical after bath and she may get confused and one of them could get her.
1.3 Aswin kumars bathe with Sage Chyvana
Accordingly the three bathed in a pond and came forth of like celestial beauty. Each one asked her to be his bride, and she recognised and chose her own husband. I am told that there is no eye movement for Gods. Sukanya probably knew this.
1.4 Sage Chyavana expresses gratitude to Aswins
Chyavana, in gratitude, compelled Indra to admit the Aswins to a participation of the Soma ceremonial. Indra at first objected, because the Aswins who wandered among men were not to be admitted.
An argument started. Sage Chyavana stayed the arm of Indra when he was about to launch a thunderbolt, and Chyavana created a terrific demon. When the demon was on the point of devouring the King of the Gods Indra, he had no alternate and he submitted and then onwards Aswin kumars could partake in Soma ceremony.
1.5 Children of Sage Chyavana
According to the Mahabharatam, Chyavana was husband of Arushi or Sukanya and father of Sage Aurva. He is also considered to be the father of Sage Harita. We will have the stories about Sage Aurva and Sage Harita later.
1.6 Rig Vedic version of Sage Chyavana
In the Rig-Veda it is said that when "Chyavana had grown old and had been forsaken, the Aswins divested him of his decrepit body, prolonged his life, and restored him to youth, maKing him acceptable to his wife, and the husband of maidens."
1.7 Amplified version of Sukanya story in Satapatha Brahmana
The story of Sage Chyavana and Sukanya is amplified in the Satapatha Brahmana: - The Sage Chyavana assumed a shrivelled form and laid as if abandoned. The sons of Saryata, a descendant of Manu, found this body, and pelted it with clods. Chyavana was greatly incensed, and to appease him Saryata yoked his chariot, and taKing with him his daughter Sukanya, presented her to Chyavana.
The Aswins endeavoured to seduce her, but she remained faithful to her shrivelled husband, and under the direction of Sage Chyavana she told them they are incomplete and imperfect.
Sukanya consented to tell Aswini kumars in what respect they were deficient, if they would make her husband young again.
They directed that he should bathe in a certain pond, and having done so, he came forth with the age that he desired. She then informed them that they were imperfect because they were excluded from a sacrifice the other Gods were performing. They departed and succeeded in getting admitted to join the other Gods.
1.8 Mahabharata version - Chyavana starts Yagya
According to the Maha-bharata, Chyavana sought Indra to allow the Aswins to partake of the libations of Soma. Indra replied that the other Gods might do as they pleased, but he would not consent.
Chyavana then commenced a sacrifice to the Aswins; the other Gods were subdued, but Indra, in a rage, rushed with a mountain in one hand and his thunderbolt in another to crush Chyavana. The Sage having sprinkled him with water, stopped him and "created a fearful open-mouthed monster called Mada, having teeth and grinders of portentous length, and jaws - one of which enclosed the earth, the other the sky - and the Gods, including Indra, are said to have been at the tip of his tongue like fishes in the mouth of a sea monster."
In this predicament, Indra granted the demand of Chyavana, who was thus the cause of the Aswins becoming drinkers of the Soma.
1.9 Chyavana creates palace for King Kusika
In another part of the Maha-bharata, Sage Chyavana is represented as exacting many offers from King Kusika and his wife. Later, he rewarded them by "creating a magical golden palace," and predicted the birth of "a grandson of great beauty and heroism – Sage Parasurama."
1.10 Birth story of Sage Chyavana
The Maha-bharata, interpreting his name as signifying `the fallen,’ accounts for it by a legend, which represents his mother, Puloma, wife of Bhrigu, as having been carried off by the demon Puloman. She was pregnant, and in her fright the child fell from her womb. The demon was softened, and let the mother depart with her infant.
1.11 Chyavana prasa Lehiam (Chyavanprash Legyam)
The Chyavana prasa Lehiam, an ayurvedic preparation made with a good percentage of Amla fruit, is said to bring youth, vigour and vitality immediately. Hence the Lehiam is named after Sage Chyvana who looked very old and became young by taKing bath in a pond as directed by Aswin kumars.
1.12 Chyavana – pravara Sage of Srivatsa Gothra
I am born in Srivatsa Gothra. Chyvana appeared as the 2nd Sage in the pravara of Srivatsa Gothra. The pravara Sages are as follows in Srivatsa Gothra: "Bhargava, Chyvana, Aplavana, Aurva, Jamadagniya-Pancharisheya….."
SUMMARY
Sage Chyavana was the son of Sage Brighu. His wife was Sukanya. His sons were Harita and Aurva. Sukracharya was his half brother. Chyavana was associated with King Kusika and created a magical golden palace for him. Sage Parasurama was King Kusika’s grandson.
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