7 Shraps (Read Curses) That Changed The Course Of Hindu Mythology

There is something really awesome about 'shraps'. I'm not talking about the ones we so generously give to one and all. Because there were some legit 'shraps' boss. This wasn't Twitter, people really had to think before they spoke, because one wrong curse could really change one's fate.

Let's take a look at some of the most interesting curses given to the gods and the mortals. Since the back story to some of these were quite long, we have tried to take the gist and make sense out of it.

1. The shrap of Bhrigu.

anudinam.org

Who 

Devas (demi-gods), Asuras (demons), Shukracharya (leader of Asuras), Bhrigu, and Shukracharya's mother .

What

Isn't it just annoying when kids involve their parents every time they realise something's not going their way? This one story is just that. Annoying kid in this case is Shukracharya (leader of Asuras). Tired of getting whipped by the Devas on every single occasion, Shukracharya went to the boss, Shiva, to ask for powers that would make his clan invincible. Devas, scared that Shiva would grant him his wish, attacked the Asuras who were all staying at Shukracharya's father, Bhrigu's, ashram. 

Scared, helpless, and not knowing how to deal with the sudden attack, Shukracharya fled to take shelter from Bhrigu's wife. Since Bhrigu himself was AWOL, she decided to protect the Asuras from Indra and other demi-gods. She had left Indra immobile.

Climax

Perplexed, the Devas decided to seek help from Vishnu to free Indra. Post a major verbal duel, Vishnu eventually severed her head with his Sudarshana Chakra. When Bhrigu returned to see his wife lying in his ashram without a head, it pissed him off. Obviously. He cursed Vishnu to be born on earth several times and suffer the pains of death and worldly life. Boss man.

He then went on to resurrect his wife back to life through his powers. YOLO did not apply back then.

Thus, Vishnu was later born on Earth in different avatars. Krishna was one of them. 

2. The curse of Vriddhakshatra.

mtdata.ru

Who

Vriddhakshatra, Jayadratha, Arjuna, Abhimanyu

What

So everybody knows about Arjuna's son Abhimanyu who died after single-handedly destroying 'Chakravyu', but only a few know that it was Jayadratha who took his life. Angered at this, Arjuna's voice could be heard from each and every corner of the city. "Before sunset tomorrow, I shall slay this Jayadratha who caused my son's death. If Drona and Kripa come between him and me these acharyas also shall be overwhelmed and slain!"

Jayadratha was also not an average Joe. Turns out nobody was back in the day. So when Jayadratha was born, someone predicted (because everyone loved to predict) that even though he will become a handsome young prince who will receive all the glory, he will die a gruesome death in a battle where someone will sever his head from his body. Afraid of fate, Vriddhakshatra, his father cursed ,"He, who shall cause my son's head to roll down on the ground, shall have his head burst at that very moment into  fragments."

Climax

During the war, Krishna distracted Jayadratha by making it seem that the sun had set. Krishna advised Arjun to send the arrows in swift relays, so that the head may be supported from falling to the earth and lands straight into Vriddhakshatra's lap. The severed head landed on Vriddhakshatra's lap, he let go of it in horror, and as cursed by himself, Vriddhakshatra's head burst into a hundred fragments.

Boom! Karma's a bitch ain't it?

3. Rishi Kindama's sadistic curse for Pandu.

Youtube

Who

Pandu, Rishi Kindama, Deer (only imaginary this time)

What

Pandu was an ace archer (better than a gold medallist from China), who was hunting deer at a forest.  But instead of a deer, Pandu ended up hitting the rishi and his wife. Upon hearing a human shout in pain, Pandu rushed to the site only to realise what he had done. 

Climax

Still breathing, Rishi Kindama cursed Pandu. "If you ever approach a woman with the thought of sex, you shall die then and there," he said as he breathed his last. This was because Pandu had killed them while they were being intimate. In a way, a lot like what the cops (maybe that's why some call them Pandu) in India do to innocent couples. Just that couples nowadays aren't as powerful as before. 

Years later, Pandu got what he deserved when he was unable to control himself on seeing Madri (his second wife) and died while sambhog-ing. 

4. The curse on Jaya and Vijaya.

indianparentsforum.com

Who 

Jaya, Vijaya, the four Kumaras, and Vishnu

What 

Jaya and Vijaya were demigod gate keepers at Vishnu's crib called Vaikuntha, when one fine day, the four Kumaras - Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana, and Sanatkumara - approached. FYI the four sons of Brahma born from the power of his mind. That's right. Imagine knocking someone up just by thinking about her. Sunny Leone would've been responsible for more than half of India's population if not more. Anyway, Jaya and Vijaya, like the dutiful gatekeepers, asked the four to leave. They thought they were just children who wanted to create nuisance. Enraged, the four Kumaras cursed Jaya and Vijaya. They would now have to give up their divinity, and be born as mere mortals on Earth, and live like normal humans. 

Climax

When Vishnu finally appeared before the two, they pleaded with him to reverse the curse. Vishnu said he couldn't do so. However, he could tweak it a bit. He gave them two options; first, take seven births on Earth as a devotee of Vishnu, or second, take three births as his enemy. After serving either of these sentences, they could re-attain their stature at Vaikuntha and be with him permanently. 

But Jaya and Vijaya truly loved Vishnu, they couldn't even think of being away from him for seven lives. So they chose the latter. Three lives, but as Vishnu's enemies. In the first life they were born as Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha in the Krita Yuga. In their second life, they were born as Ravana and Kumbhakarna (you know these two) in the Treta Yuga, and in their third life as Dantavakra and Shishupala in the Dwapara Yuga. 

All these lives were taken by avatars of Vishnu. 

5. Urvashi's curse to Arjun.

wikipedia

Who

Urvashi, Arjun and Indra.

What

Unlike now, back in the day, Urvashi did not have a take-it-easy policy. Some say that Urvashi's grand plan was to entice Arjuna with passion so that he breaks his exile, and brings shame to the Pandavas. But since she was related to Puruva (an ancestor of the Pandavas), he looked at her like a mother. So keeping all these things in mind, she ended up being a swipe left. 

Climax

It was Adharma to reject any 'passionate' woman back in the day. Annoyed, enraged, and not so 'passionate' anymore, she cursed that he would be castrated, and would have to live the rest of his life like a woman. Later, on Indra's request, she reduced her curse to just one year. Arjuna eventually spent the thirteenth, and the final year of their exile without his man-parts. 

6.  Yudhishthira's curse to all women.

patrika.com

Who

Yudhishthira, Kunti and all of womankind!

What

So basically, it was only after Karna (who was pretty impressive in everything he did) was killed, that the mother of Pandavas, Kunti revealed that he was her son, and one of them. This made the Pandavas really mad, and depressed Yudhishthira a lot. He believed Karna should've been treated with respect and honour. He was very upset that Kunti had kept such a huge secret from him and the others. 

Climax 

Yudhishthira's curse was perhaps mankind's first example of bros before hoes. He cursed the entire woman race that they would not be able to keep any secret henceforth. Thereon, a number of events (both mythological and historical) have occurred on account of women spilling the beans. Some say this curse is still very much in place, but really, men are as bad. 

7. Indra's curse of a thousand vags.

asiaobscura.com

Who

Indra, Sage's wife and 1,000 vaginas.

What 

Madness clearly. The way this list has been flowing we can tell Indra has been up to a lot of mischief in his time. Apparently quite passionate for women, Indra once assaulted a sage's wife. When the sage found out he decided to give Indra what he apparently loved the most - vaginas.

Climax

He cursed Indra with one thousand vaginas all over his body. Realising it'll be difficult for anyone to take him seriously with so much vag all around, all the devas went to beg the sage to lift the curse since Indra was their chief. Even though he refused to lift the curse, he did change it so that Indra would have a thousand eyes instead. This wasn't the only odd thing about him though. If you were to read other myths regarding Indra, he was also credited to have a thousand testicles as well. Not a picture you'd want to paint. 

Let us know if you liked this, and we'll be sure to get you some more of these crazy 'shraps'.