Kavyamata

Kavyamata — also called Usanas — is a minor character in Hinduism. She is described as a consort of wise Bhrigu, and the mother of Shukra, the god of the planet Venus and the preceptor of the Asuras or demons. She is the reason why god Vishnu was cursed to take Avatars on Earth.

Kavyamata
In-universe information
SpouseBrighu
ChildrenShukra

Legend

Devi Bhagavata Purana discusses the legend. Once, the Asuras fought a war against the Devas, and their guru Shukra decided to seek the favour of the god Shiva to defeat the Devas. He started penance on Mount Kailash, Shiva's abode, leaving the Asuras unprotected. The Devas came to know of Shukra's intentions and waged a war on the Asuras again. The Asuras rushed to the Hermitage of Shukra, while being chased by Vishnu and the Devas. Males were not present at the hermitage, when asuras arrived. Shukra and his father were work. Kavyamata followed Atithi Dharm and gave protection to asuras for many months. The hermitage was covered by a protective invisible shield that was impossible to be penetrated even by Indra. Devas who arrived at hermitage requested the wife of Bhrigu to release asuras from hermitage, however, she refused and said that they were her atithis (guests). It is not rational to unprotect one's guests. With one glance Kavyamata put all the Devas into a deep sleep. By her meditative power, Kavyamata (Usanas) petrified Indra, the king of the Devas, putting them in a state of paralysis.[1] Vishnu assessed the situation and surmised that he would have to break the armour of hermitage to protect the world from eons of chaos that would be ushered with the victory of the Asuras. Vishnu summoned his discus weapon — the Sudarshana chakra, and broke the protective shield / armour around the hermitage. While doing so, even Kavyamata's head got cut off who was protecting her guests. Shukra's father, the great sage Bhrigu, became angry when he returned to his hermitage and cursed Vishnu for his sin of woman-slaughter, saying that Vishnu would have to take countless avatars on Earth and suffer pain and confinement due to his sin. Vishnu, who himself overseers that boons and curses come to pass, accepted this curse of the grieving sage. When Shukracharya comes to know about this incidence, he pledges to have war against devas and help asuras, as a revenge of Vishnu's deed with his mother.

[2] Then Bhrigu resurrected Kavyamata (Usanas) by sprinkling holy water from his kamandalu (water-pot). Kavyamata woke as if from a deep sleep.[3] The rest of the story remains the same in all versions.[1]

In Ramayana

Although woman-slaughter is considered a sin in Hinduism,[4] in the great epic Ramayana, the god Rama – an avatar of Vishnu – is convinced by his guru Vishvamitra that killing the demoness Taraka is right. To convince his pupil, the sage gives the example of Kavyamata who was plotting to "appropriate herself to the dominion of Indra" and was killed by Vishnu, implying that treacherous and wicked persons could be punished as per the duties (Dharma) of the king.[4][5]

Notes
  1. Mani p. 402
  2. http://www.telugubhakti.com/telugupages/Sages/Bhrigu.htm
  3. Mani pp. 77-8
  4. Ananda W. P. Guruge (1991). The society of the Rāmāyaṇa. Abhinav Publications. pp. 213. kavyamata.
  5. Ramashraya Sharma. Socio-Political Study of the Valmiki Ramayana. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 108–9.
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References
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