7 Most Famous Curses that Changed History | Many Will Shock You
Curses (Shraaps) were utilized by Gurus, Gods, and even devils in the Vedic era as a deterrent. And we’ve compiled a list of some of the most intriguing of those curses, which not only affected people’s lives but also the war’s outcome.
The Vriddhakshatra Curse
During the war, Arjuna’s son, Abhimanyu, was killed. Only a few people are aware that Abhimanyu was assassinated by Jayadrath. Arjuna, enraged by the death of his beloved son, had vowed to kill the person who had slain his son before the next day’s sunset. Lord Krishna, on the other hand, was aware that when Jayadrath was born, an astrologer foretold and told his father that his son would die a horrible death and have his head slain. As a retaliation, Jayadrath’s father, Vriddhakshatra, recounted a curse that whoever slays his son’s head and causes it to roll down on the ground will have his own skull shattered into fragments.
During the battle, Krishna advised Arjuna to hurl arrows and chop Jayadrath’s head so that it fell on Vriddhakshatra’s lap. As Jayadrath’s head fell in his father’s lap, Krishna hurled it on the ground in horror, and Vriddhakshatra’s head exploded into a hundred shards as he was cursed by himself.
The Yudhisthira Curse
Yudhishthira was administering the last rituals of all his lost family members after the battle of Kurukshetra. Karna, Yudhishthira’s brother, was among those who perished. Yudhishthira’s mother, on the other hand, had kept the truth of Karna’s sibling hidden from him for many years. He denounced womanhood in a weeping tone, saying that no one of them would ever be able to keep a secret after that. Perhaps this is why women are often distrusted when it comes to secrets.
Parashurama’s Curse on Karna
According to mythology. Surya and princess Kunti had a spiritual son named Karna who had been abandoned. Surya, on the other hand, was unaware of this reality in his formative years. Karna was raised by a low-caste charioteer, according to tradition, and was consequently sent back to Droona to study archery because he was not a Kshatriya. Karna then went to Lord Parashurama to learn how to fight. He also lied to Parashurama that he was a Brahmin there.
Karna took the bite of a Scorpio and didn’t disturb Lord Parashurama as he was sleeping with his head on Karna’s lap. This made Parashurama realize that only a Kashritya is capable of withstanding such suffering and Karna is a Kashritya. After realizing that Karna has lied to him about his identity, he cursed Karna by telling him that he would forget the abilities he had learned when he needed them the most. As a result of the curse, Karna and others were defeated in the battle of Kurukshetra.
The Curse of Bhrigu Acharya
It is a well-known truth that the Devas were always victorious in the eternal battle between the Devas and the Asuras. Shukra Acharya (the Asura Guru) became enraged after witnessing the loss of the Asuras and felt regret and guilt. Then he decided to please Lord Shiva in order to win mritasanjeevani, which would have given the Asuras an advantage over the Devas.
As Shukra Acharya walked out to meditate, the asuras sought refuge at Rishi Bhrigu’s ashram. When Bhrigu was gone one day, the Devas took advantage of the chance to attack the asuras camped at Bhrigu’s house. However, Bhirgu’s wife was present in the gap and saved not only the Asuras but also the immobile Indra (one of the Devas who came to kill asuras).
All of the gods then went to Vishnu for assistance in reuniting Indra. Lord Vishnu agreed to assist and went to Bhrigu’s house to get Indra. He ran across Bhrighu’s wife there and sliced her head off with his Sudarshana Chakra. When Bhrighu returned and realized she had lost her wife, she cursed Vishnu, saying he would be born again and again to suffer the pains of this world. This is why Vishnu has taken so many different forms over the years, one of which being Sri Krishna.
Jaya’s and Vijaya’s Curse
The guardians of Vaikuntha were Jaya and Vijaya (celestial abode of Lord Vishnu). Four Kumaras once paid a visit to the adobe. Jaya and Vijaya, unaware of their true identities, prevented the Kumaras from entering Vaikuntha. The disrespect shown to the four Kumaras infuriated them. They cursed Jaya and Vijaya to leave Vaikuntha at that point. Jaya and Vijaya, scared, went to Vishnu to beg him to lift the curse, but Vishnu was powerless to do so.
Vishnu, on the other hand, gave Jaya and Vijaya two options: they might be born as Vishnu’s devotees in seven incarnations or as Vishnu’s foes in three births. With a desire to avoid Vishnu, Jaya and Vijaya chose the latter.
Later, Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha, Ravana and Kumbhakarna, and Dantavakra and Shishupala, respectively, were born from Jaya and Vijaya. You may say that Jaya and Vijaya are both cursed and blessed in this situation.
Ashwatthama’s Curse by Krishna
You’ve probably heard the line, “Ashwatthama hai apun, kbhi nhi marega.” Do you have any idea who Ashwatthama is or why he never dies? Guru Drona’s son is Ashwatthama. Despite Guru Drona’s efforts to train the Pandavas, Drona’s son, Ashwatthama, battled the Pandavas.
In an attempt to destroy the Pandava dynasty, Ashwatthama hurled a Brahmastra towards Uttara (Abhimanyu’s wife) who was carrying Abhimanyu’s kid (Parikshit) towards the close of the battle of Kurukshetra. For attacking a woman, Lord Krishna cursed Ashwatthama, saying that he would carry all of humanity’s misdeeds and wander alone as a ghost without love till the end of the Kaliyuga. His body was cursed to be afflicted with illnesses.
His name is thought to be “Suryakanta” in the Kaliyuga. As a result, Ashwatthama will be on the lookout for death at all times, but he will never die. Ashwatthama will meet Sri Kalki, Lord Vishnu’s tenth and last form, at the conclusion of the Kali Yuga.
The Curse of Sage Gautam on Indra and Ahalya
Maharishi Gautam married Ahalya, Brahma’s daughter. Indra assumed his shape to enter Maharishi Gautam’s residence when he was out of town. Ahalya was unable to recognize Indra’s deception and thus lost her virginity. When Rishi arrived, he was informed about the crime. He became enraged, and he cursed Indra with 1000 vaginas all over his body.
Gautam transformed those vaginals into eyeballs after much coaxing. Rishi also cursed his wife with a curse. He transformed her into a stone and cursed her, saying that she would only return to her natural shape if Lord Ram touched her.
