Devalok
Legend · 1 telling · Pan-India

Jamadagni threatens the Sun and receives the umbrella and sandals

Who is in it

  • Surya comes as a Brahmin and gives the gifts

Texts: Mahabharata

The story, beat by beat

  1. Jamadagni practises archery; his wife Renuka fetches the arrows.
  2. At noon in the hot month she rests in the shade, her head and feet scorched.
  3. Jamadagni vows to shoot down the Sun.
  4. The Sun comes as a Brahmin and pleads that he gives rain and food.
  5. Jamadagni will not relent until the Sun asks for protection.
  6. The Sun gives him an umbrella and a pair of sandals; hence the custom of giving them.

heat anger gift custom

How it is told, place by place

Base telling · Primary text (translation)

Mahabharata, Anushasana Parva 95-96

Pan-India All traditions

Bhishma tells Yudhishthira why umbrellas and sandals are given at rites. Renuka, fetching Jamadagni's arrows at noon in the month of Jyeshtha, is scorched on head and feet and delays under a tree. The sage takes his bow to destroy the Sun. Surya comes in the guise of a Brahmin and argues that the Sun draws up moisture and returns it as rain and food; then says the Sun never stands still to be shot. Jamadagni answers that he knows him and will pierce him at midday when he seems to pause. Surya seeks his protection; the sage smiles and spares a suppliant but asks for a remedy; Surya gives an umbrella for the head and leather sandals for the feet and establishes the gift as a custom.

The Mahabharata, tr. K. M. Ganguli (1883-96), sections read for the Vedic layer § anushasana.95-96

Sources: The Mahabharata, tr. K. M. Ganguli (1883-96), sections read for the Vedic layer

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