Sharmishtha
Sharmistha (शर्मिष्ठा), also known as Sharmista or Sharmishtha, was the daughter of the great Daitya King Vrishparva. She was also a friend of Devayani. She was given as dowry to Yayati of the Lunar dynasty, when he married Devayani, the daughter of Sage Shukracharya, the guru of all Asuras. But then Yayati fell in love with Sharmistha because of her beauty and character and had three sons Druhyu, Anu and Puru from her.
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Puru of Mahabharata
Puru was son of Yayati and Sharmishtha. The mother of Anu and Puru, (whom the Jats claim as their progenitors), was Sarmishtha, the princess of King Vrshaparvan (Pargiter, F.E.,: AIHT, pp. 56-7.)[1]
Yayati dynasty
Yayati got two sons from Devyani –
Yayati also got three sons from Sharmishtha –
The descendants of Yadu are called Yadavvanshi in which was born Krishna, the founder of Jat sangha.
Story of Devayani and Sharmishtha
When Devyani came to know about the relationship of Yayati and Sharmishtha and their three sons she felt shocked and betrayed. Devyani went away to her father's house. Shukracharya was displeased with the king, and cursed that he would lose his youth and become an old man immediately. As soon as Shukracharya uttered his curse Yayati became an old man. Shukracharya also said that his curse once uttered could not be taken back and added that the only concession he could give was that if Yayati wanted he could give his old age to someone and take their youth from them. Yayati was relieved at the reprieve he was given and confident that his sons would willingly exchange their youth with him. Yayati went back to his kingdom. Yayati requested all his five sons one by one to give their youth to him to enjoy the worldly happiness. All the sons except Puru rejected his demand. So Yayati took the youth of Puru and enjoyed all the subjects. Puru became the successor King of Yayati.
The tirtha of Devayani in Sambhar
Sambhar is known for the Salt lake, the tirtha of Devayani and Shakambhari temple.[3]
References
- ↑ Hukum Singh Panwar: The Jats:Their Origin, Antiquity and Migrations, p.91, f.n.63
- ↑ Genealogy of Yayati
- ↑ Dr. Raghavendra Singh Manohar:Rajasthan Ke Prachin Nagar Aur Kasbe, 2010,p. 78
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