HAVYAGHNA – A rakshasa

Havyaghna had a miraculous birth, being created from the smoke of a sacrificial ritual (yajna) of the sage Bharadvaja. Havyaghna (“leavings of the sacrifice”) began eating the leftovers (havis) of that yajna. Bharadvaja asked the demon why he would do this. Havyaghna explained that he was the Krishna that Brahma had cursed and could be freed from that curse if Bharadvaja would sprinkle him with Ganga water, ghee, and soma. When Bharadvaja did as asked, Havyaghna was redeemed from Brahma’s curse.

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