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)

Summary : 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 the soma (madhuvidya).

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.

Dadhichi in Srimad Bhagavatham

The Shrimad Bhagavatham explains the role of Dadhichi rishi in the 6th Skanda (chapter 9) in

Tvashtra's son Viswarupa’s (also known as Trisiras) was killed by Indra. Tvashtra commenced a yajna out of anger against Indra. Vrttrasura was born out of the yagna fire as Indra shatru (Indra’s enemy) and he expanded rapidly all over the 3 planetary systems. All the devatas took shelter in Srimahavishnu. Accordingly, Mahavishnu informed Indra to approach the great Rishi Dadhichi.

Dadhichi (Dadhyancha) rishi's body is the personification of vidya (knowledge), vrata (austerities and vows) and tapasya (penance), ‘vidya vrata tapasaram gatram’. According to Srimahavishnu's advice devatas asked for the body of Dadichi. Viswakarma prepared a Vajraayudha, a thunderbolt from his bones and as it is invested with the power of Srimahavishnu, it was surely destined to kill Vrttrasura. (6.9.51 to 55)

Vajraayudha was used not only to kill Vrttra but also his followers such as Namuchi, Sambara, Dvimurdva, Anarva, Puloma, Hayagriva, Sankuchiti, Viprachiti, Ayomuka.

सम्वाद || Discussion

It may be seen that Vajraayuda or thunderbolt was given by Tvashtra Prajapati (the father of Vrttra). One may express a contradiction between what Bhagavatham says and the Vedas. It should be noted that Tvashtra is Vishwakarma himself or the devashilpi who makes the thunderbolt from the bones of Dadhichi rushi.

In the Taitreya Samhita extensive description of Dadichi has not been given, in essence it is said that Tvashtra gave the Vajraayudha and using Dadhichi’s bones or skull 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 is brahmaswarupa.