ASHTHAVAKRA – A sage
Sage Uddalaka’s daughter Sujata married his disciple Khagodara, and to them was born Ashthavakra. The word ashtha-avakra means “one with eight bends,” referring to his deformed body. There are two versions of how he acquired the eight bends. According to one version, once Khagodara was reciting holy mantras. Sujata sat beside him, but the baby inside her womb heard his father’s chants and said loudly that Khago- dara was chanting the mantras in the wrong way. Khagodara became very angry and cursed him to be born with a crooked body. … Continue reading