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 --
Katha -
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.
The first part was given to the
earth. As a result the earth became uneven. Some of its
portion became barren. But as a boon he said that the
earth would develop power to fill the khuds
automatically.
The second part of the sacrelige was
given to the trees and as a result they began to ooze
gum. But as a boon he said that the gum of guggul -
bdellium olibanum - will be treated pure and they would
have the power to rebud from their roots though their
upper portion may be dried up.
The third part of the sacrelige was given to the
woman folk and so they experience menstruation. As a
boon he blessed them to the pure or chaste on the fourth
day and capable to give birth to children.
The fourth
portion. of the sacrelige was given to water. As a
result it is covered with aquatic plant or Shaivaal. As
a boon the object in which it is added gains weight.
In this way Lord Brahma freed Indra from the heinous
crime by dividing it into four places. Who so ever reads
or listens this story is blessed by Bhraspati.
