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A name synonymous with anger
There are three different versions regarding the birth of Durvasar. According to the first version, when once during a fight with Siva, Brahma was seething with anger. The Devas were frightened and ran away from the scene of fight. Parvathi approched Siva and told him thus, " Dhurvasan Bhavathime," meaning that she was unable to live with Him. She prayed that as promised in the history of Athiri, Anasooya should be blessed with the three Lords as her children. Siva, in a state of anger, was born to Anasooya and the child was named Durvasar. (Brahmmanda Puranam , Chapter 44).
The second version narrates how Siva met two hermits known as Naranaarayargal and one of them asked Siva to poke his hand with his Trishul. Siva did so and there was a flood of blood which took three forms. It is said Durvasar was born out of one form. (Vamana Puranam, Chapter 2).
Once Siva was fighting against three demons called 'Thiripurangal', and when he shot an arrow that split into three. The three arrows burnt the demons, came back to Siva again as one and fell on his lap as a child. That child was Durvasar according to the third version. (Mahabharatam, Anusasanaparvam, Chapter 160, Sloka 14-15).
Durvasar was a devotee of Lalithambigai. Lalithasthavarathnam or Aaryaa Thvisadhi slokas (200) found in Aaryaa Vridhdham was created by him. Once when he was passing through a forest he met an Apasara called Menaka. She had a fragrant garland in her hand. Attracted by its fragrance, the sage asked her for the garland. Menaka bowed with respect and handed over the garland to him. With the garland adorning his head, the sage went to the Devalokam. He saw Lord Indra who was seated on his white elephant Iravatham. The sage removed the garland from his head and gave it to Indra, who took it and kept it on the elephant's head.
The elephant, disturbed by its fragrance, lifted it with its trunk, smelt it, dropped it down and trampled upon it. Durvasar became furious at this indignation and cursed Indra by saying, "Since you showed disrespect to the garland which was given by me, let the greatness and wealth of Devalokam perish." Indra climbed down from the elephant and prayed to be forgiven, but the sage did not relent.
So his curse started showing results and the glory of Devalokam started going down. Finally, on the advice of Lord Vishnu, the Devas churned the milky ocean, obtained the nectar and restored the glory of their world. This episode finds a place in the Aadhi Parva of Mahabharatam, Valmiki Ramyanam, Vishnu Puranam, Agni Puranam and Bhagavatham.
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