वसु
The eight Vasus are divine beings who reside in the heavens alongside the Devas. The eldest of them, Dhyou, led them in an unfortunate act that incurred the wrath of the sage Vasishta, who cursed them to be born on earth. As a result, they were born to King Shantanu of the Chandra dynasty and Ganga, the river goddess. Ganga, to release them from the curse, drowned seven of them at birth, allowing them to return to the heavens. However, Dhyou, cursed with a long life of sorrow, survived and grew up to become Bhishma, the renowned warrior and grand elder of the Kuru dynasty in the Mahabharata.
Connection to Other Entities and Stories:
- Vasishta’s Curse: The Vasus incurred Vasishta’s curse for stealing his divine cow Nandini. This theft, although committed under Dhyou’s leadership, led all eight Vasus to suffer the consequences.
- Bhishma’s Vow: As Bhishma, Dhyou’s earthly form took a terrible vow of celibacy and loyalty to the throne of Hastinapura, which earned him the name Bhishma (the one who took a terrible vow). Bhishma’s tragic life, marked by sacrifice and adherence to dharma (duty), reflects the sorrow embedded in his curse.
| Figure | Relation to the Vasus/Bhishma | Role in Mythology |
|---|---|---|
| Ganga | Mother of the Vasus/Bhishma | Drowned seven of her children to free them from the curse, raised Bhishma |
| Shantanu | Father of the Vasus/Bhishma | King of Hastinapura, whose marriage to Ganga gave birth to the Vasus in human form |
| Vasishta | Cursed the Vasus | Sage whose curse led to the Vasus’ mortal birth |
Connection to the Mahabharata:
Bhishma’s role as the grand old man of the Kuru dynasty ties him directly to the events of the Mahabharata, where he stood by the Kauravas out of his loyalty to the throne, even though his heart leaned toward the Pandavas. His death on the bed of arrows during the Kurukshetra war, where he chose the timing of his own death due to a boon granted by his father, marked one of the most poignant moments of the epic.
In conclusion, the story of the eight Vasus, especially the transformation of Dhyou into Bhishma, reflects themes of divine retribution, duty, and the intertwining of the cosmic and human realms in Hindu mythology.