Dadhichi (दधीचिः)

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

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

इन्द्रो दधीचो अस्थभिर्वृत्राण्यप्रतिष्कुतः | जघान नवतीर्नव || (Rig. Veda. 1.84. 13)

indrō dadhīcō asthabhirvr̥trāṇyapratiṣkutaḥ | jaghāna navatīrnava || (Rig. Veda. 1.84. 13)

Meaning : Armed with the bones of Dadhichi, Indra was invincible and slayed hundreds of Vrtras (asuras).

इछन्नश्वस्य यच्छिरः पर्वतेष्वपश्रितम् |  तद विदच्छर्यणावति || (Rig. Veda. 1.84. 14)

ichannaśvasya yacchiraḥ parvatēṣvapaśritam |  tada vidaccharyaṇāvati || (Rig. Veda. 1.84. 14)

Meaning: Desiring the horse- head (of Dadhichi) Indra roamed in the mountains, and found it at Sharnaya. 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.

तद् वां नरा सनये दंस उग्रमाविष्कर्णोमि तन्यतुर्न वृष्टिम् | दध्यङ ह यन्मध्वाथर्वणो वामश्वस्य शीर्ष्णा प्र यदीमुवाच || (Rig. Veda. 1.116.12)

tad vāṁ narā sanayē daṁsa ugramāviṣkarṇōmi tanyaturna vr̥ṣṭim | dadhyaṅa ha yanmadhvātharvaṇō vāmaśvasya śīrṣṇā pra yadīmuvāca || (Rig. Veda. 1.116.12)

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

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. Another very significant point here: Ashwini kumuaras, who received the braham svarupa, hayasirasu. That hayasirasu was removed and fell in saryanavathi. But along with that, horse head was offering benediction to all living entities and time to time it would come from the lake and go down again. This is going to happen till yuga. tad bhath samuthaya bhutebyo vividhan varan pradhaya yuga pariyantham tasmai vasunimajjathi(3.9.24 Bhr, dev)

The story of Vritrasura in Srimad Bhagavatham

The Srimad Bhagavatham explains this story in 6th canto in chapter 9 in this way: We have heard that Viswarupa’s head was cut off by Indra. And this exact head became: Somapeetha, Surapeethaha and Annaada. They became very famous. In future they will became: Kapinjala, Kalavinka, and Tithiri bird. Indra distributed the consequences of killing Brahmana: Brahmana hatya to earth (prithvi/bhumi devi), water, tree, and women and how that sin is manifested is explained in Srimad Bhagavatham. In the Trashtra’s yajna,which was arranged out of anger against Indra, Vritrasura was born as Indra shatru, Indra’s enemy and he covered all the 3 planetary systems. He aslo became the highest of the sinful person. In this way he came to be known as Vritra, aptly as his name suggests. All the devathas they came together and took shelter of Vasudeva bhagavan. That Vasudeva bhagavan gave message to Indra: Oh Indra please go and approach the great Rishi Dadyancha, his body which is personification of vidya, vrata and tapasya, ‘vidya vrata tapasaram gatram’ you ask for his body. Please go. He understands brahma swarupa. His body is unbreakable. It has taken me as the antaratma. If you ask from him, he will not say no. and through Viswakarma you can make a thunderbolt from his bones. It will always benefit you. Here Dadichi’s body is described very significantly. When the devatas approached Dadichi asking for his body, it has a significant import. Ultimately Dadichi was happy to offer his body. Indra explained munahe shaktibihi utsiktaha bhagavth tejas svamitaha He said by the power of muni shakti or Rishis Shakti(power) and also by the teja(splendor) of the lord, that vajrayudha/thunderbolt can be used and kill Vritra and his followers such as Namuchi, Sambara, Dvimurdva, Anarva, Puloma, Hayagriva, Sankuchiti, Viprachiti, Ayomuka—all were killed by Indra’s power. We read that vajrayuda or thunderbolt was given by Tvashtra. There is no contradiction between what Bhagavatham says and the Vedas. Trashtra himself is the Vishwakarma. He is the one who made the thunderbolt from the bones. In the Taitreya Samhita because there is not much description of Dadichi, in essence it is said that Trashtra gave the vajrayudha and using the Dadichi’s bones or skull or pack of bone symbolically there is no difference. Dadichi is one of the great rishi among the galaxy of Rishis with great character. The entire Atharva Veda and other corollary scriptures are his greatest gift. His life was full of commitment, sacrifice and the madhu vidya which came from him which is braham swarupa, it appeared first from him. Paramatma tattva was established in that and the Taitreya Sruthi which is compared to bird and it is said antharvagirasa puchyam pratishta. Only when Rishis like Dadichi personifies exhibits his dedication and commitment, that tyagashakti(dedication) what makes thunderbolt. Which is able to kill Vrtra, who is all pervading. This is the essence of this story. Indra might be ready to kill Vritra and yes the lord is also ready to destroy the papa Shakti, which is growing in our system. Then why is he not doing? Because wherever there is that symbolical dedication of Dadichi is there and wherever that commitment is there, then that becomes vajrayudha for Indra and Vritra’s death continues to happen and if some reason Vritra’s death doesn’t happen, that is not fault of Indra. Because one may not have the commitment of Dadichi. Therefore this Vritra killing it is the principle of eternal reality. A significant understanding given here.