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Dadhichi (Samskrit : दधीचिः) was the son of Atharva.  He is the maharshi associated with the creation of Vajraayudha, the thunderbolt weapon, wielded by Suradhipathi Indra. He is referred to in the context of killing of Vrttrasura by Indra.  The invincible Vajraayudha is prepared by Viswakarma (also known as Tvashtra Prajapati) from the bones of Dadhichi.  

Dadhichi (Samskrit : दधीचिः) was the son of Atharva.  He is the maharshi associated with the creation of Vajraayudha, the thunderbolt weapon, wielded by Suradhipathi Indra. He is referred to in the context of killing of Vrttrasura by Indra.  The invincible Vajraayudha is prepared by Viswakarma (also known as Tvashtra Prajapati) from the bones of Dadhichi.  

== परिचय ||Introduction ==

== परिचय ||Introduction ==

Dadhichi, the son of Atharva terrorized and defeated the asuras by his mere glance. When he went to the heavens and earth was filled by many demons and Indra was overpowered by them. The devatas upon enquiry learnt about his whereabouts and searched if he left behind anything to be used as weapon. "Dadhichi had with him a horse head" he was told. Indra went in search of it and found it in a lake at a place called Sharanya. With those bones he killed all the asuras.   

Dadhichi, the son of Atharva terrorized and defeated the asuras by his mere glance. When he went to the heavens and earth was filled by many demons and Indra was overpowered by them. The devatas upon enquiry learnt about his whereabouts and searched if he left behind anything to be used as weapon. "Dadhichi had with him a horse head" he was told. Indra went in search of it and found it in a lake at a place called Sharnaya. With those bones he killed all the asuras. The Rig Veda mantras extoll the glory of Indra thus <blockquote>इन्द्रो दधीचो अस्थभिर्वृत्राण्यप्रतिष्कुतः | जघान नवतीर्नव || (Rig. Veda. 1.84. 13)</blockquote><blockquote>indrō dadhīcō asthabhirvr̥trāṇyapratiṣkutaḥ | jaghāna navatīrnava || (Rig. Veda. 1.84. 13)</blockquote>Meaning : Armed with the bones of Dadhichi, Indra was invincible and slayed hundreds of Vrtras (asuras). <blockquote>इछन्नश्वस्य यच्छिरः पर्वतेष्वपश्रितम् |  तद विदच्छर्यणावति || (Rig. Veda. 1.84. 14)</blockquote><blockquote>ichannaśvasya yacchiraḥ parvatēṣvapaśritam |  tada vidaccharyaṇāvati || (Rig. Veda. 1.84. 14)</blockquote>Meaning: Desiring the horse- head (of Dadhichi) Indra roamed in the mountains, and found it at Sharnaya.

Previously to get madhu vidya, Dadichi maharshi who received from Indra and he had also taken shelter of Aswini Devathas. But Dadichi had one restriction: if he shares that vidya to others, then his head will explode. Then Aswini devatas had suggested a good idea to replace the head of Dadichi Rishi with a horse head and then after receiving the madhu vidya then the head will fall off and they could replace his original head back. Therefore they said the head of the horse was unknown to us and when Indra ordered to search, they found that it had fallen in Kurukshetra in a lake called sharyanavatha and they found it. And then Indra made Vajrayudha from the skull of the horse that is how Sayana Acarya explains in many places.

Dadhichi, was given the horse-head by Asvini kumaras, who learnt Madhuvidya from him. Dadhichi received this vidhya from Indra on condition that if he imparted this vidya to anyone else his head will shatter. Asvinikumaras desirous of obtaining the vidya offered to replace his head with a horse head, through which he can impart the vidya. After receiving the madhuvidya the horse head fell of and Asvinikumaras replaced the maharshi's original head.   <blockquote>तद् वां नरा सनये दंस उग्रमाविष्कर्णोमि तन्यतुर्न वृष्टिम् | दध्यङ ह यन्मध्वाथर्वणो वामश्वस्य शीर्ष्णा प्र यदीमुवाच || (Rig. Veda. 1.116.12)</blockquote><blockquote>tad vāṁ narā sanayē daṁsa ugramāviṣkarṇōmi tanyaturna vr̥ṣṭim | dadhyaṅa ha yanmadhvātharvaṇō vāmaśvasya śīrṣṇā pra yadīmuvāca || (Rig. Veda. 1.116.12)</blockquote>Meaning : I reveal, that mighty deed of yours, just as the thunder announces the rain, when through the horse's head, Aatharvan (son of Atharva, Dadhichi) you were given (madhuvidya).

== The description by Skanda Swami ==

== The description by Skanda Swami ==

Skanda Swami in his purport, he narrates this story little differently. Previously kala kanja the demons defeated devatas in the war and they came to Brhama and Brhama sent them to Dadichi maharshi and told them to give ability to defeat demons and devathas came to Dadichi maharshi ashram and Dadichi maharshi sitting in yoga and by the power of yoga he renounced his body and through his bones, Indra created thunderbolt. The story of Dadichi maharshi getting a horse head is described in Rk Samhita 1.117.22 and the head or skull was found in Saryanavathi. This is described in Rk Samhita 1.84.13. Saunaka maharishi in Brihad devatha  explains in 3.19.4.   

Skanda Swami in his purport, he narrates this story little differently. Previously kala kanja the demons defeated devatas in the war and they came to Brhama and Brhama sent them to Dadichi maharshi and told them to give ability to defeat demons and devathas came to Dadichi maharshi ashram and Dadichi maharshi sitting in yoga and by the power of yoga he renounced his body and through his bones, Indra created thunderbolt. The story of Dadichi maharshi getting a horse head is described in Rk Samhita 1.117.22 and the head or skull was found in Saryanavathi. This is described in Rk Samhita 1.84.13. Saunaka maharishi in Brihad devatha  explains in 3.19.4.