Jayanti (Hinduism)

In Hindu mythology, Jayanti, sometimes equated with Urjjasvati,[1] is the daughter of Indra, the king of the devas and ruler of Heaven, and his consort Shachi. Jayanti is described as the wife of Shukra, the god of the planet Venus and the guru of the asuras. Their union results in the birth of a daughter, Devayani.[2] Jayanti is described as the sister of Jayanta.[3] Jayanti also refers to one of the eight eternal companions (Ashtanayika) of Goddes Durga.[4][5][6]

Jayanti
Shukra with his wife.
AffiliationDevi
AbodePatala loka
Personal information
ParentsIndra and Sachi
SiblingsJayanta, Devasena
ConsortShukra
ChildrenDevyani

Texts

Jayanti appears primarily in the description of one event, the tale of her marriage with Shukra. The tale is retold in many Hindu scriptures with some variations as per the interpretations. The texts include the Vayu Purana, the Matsya Purana, the Brahmanda Purana,[7] the Devi Bhagavata Purana,[3] and the Padma Purana.[8]

Legends
Jayanti's husband Shukra

The Matsya Purana narrates that the asuras were almost decimated in battle with the devas. Their guru, Shukra, goes to Kailasa to please the lord Shiva and acquire new powers to revive the asuras from doom. Shukra performs severe tapas (austerities). The devas try to destroy the remaining asuras and their refuge by Shukra's mother, Kavyamata. But after the murdered Kavyamata is resurrected, Indra, the king of the devas, becomes worried that with Shukra's success the asuras will regroup and attack again. He sends his daughter Jayanti to serve Shukra and to do anything possible to the advantage of Indra.[9]

In the Devi Bhagavata Purana, Indra orders Jayanti to entice the sage to disturb his austerities. Jayanti is displeased with her father's methods, but still goes to Kailash to honour his orders. At Kailash, she becomes an attendant of Shukra and serves him faithfully. She fans him with a banana leaf, gathers cool fragrant water for him to drink, and collects fresh flowers and darbha grass for his worship. She also stands in the heat and uses her upper garment to offer shade to the sage. She prepares a warm bed for him to sleep in and fans him until he falls asleep. She also speaks sweet words to please the sage. She serves him like a dutiful disciple and disregards her father's instructions to break Shukra's penance.[3]

In the Matsya Purana, Jayanti follows her father's orders. After a thousand years, Shiva appears before Shukra and grants him the powers he desired. A pleased Shukra talks to Jayanti and promises to grant her a reward for her services. On her request, he married her.[8][9]

Matsya Purana and the Brahmanda Purana relate that the couple's union produces a daughter called Devayani.[9] The Hindu epic Mahabharata, which recalls a detailed account of Devayani's life, mentions that she is the daughter of Jayanti.

References
  1. Dikshitar, V. R. Ramachandra (31 January 1996). The Purana Index. Motilal Banarsidass Publishe. ISBN 978-81-208-1273-4.
  2. V. R. Ramachandra Dikshitar (1995) [1951]. The Purana Index. 1. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 636. ISBN 9788120812741.
  3. Mani, Vettam (1975). Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary With Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 355, 760. ISBN 0-8426-0822-2.
  4. 1) Bangala Bhasar Abhidhaan ( Dictionary of the Bengali Language) Shishu Sahitya Samsad Pvt Ltd. 32A, APC Road, Kolakata – 700009, Volume 1, p.151. (ed. 1994)
  5. Manorama Year Book (Bengali edition)Malyala Manorama Pvt. Ltd., 32A, APC Road, Kolkata- 700 009(ed.2012), p.153
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. Wendy Doniger O'Flaherty (1980). The Origins of Evil in Hindu Mythology. University of California Press. pp. 125–126. ISBN 978-0-520-04098-4.
  8. Rajendra Chandra Hazra (1987). Studies in the Puranic Records on Hindu Rites and Customs. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 34. ISBN 978-81-208-0422-7.
  9. Baman Das Basu (2007). The Matsya Puranam. The Sacred books of the Hindus. Cosmo Publications for Genesis Pub. pp. 128–136. ISBN 978-81-307-0532-3.
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