Jaya-Vijaya

The mythological story goes that the two demigod gate-keepers/dwarapalakas (Jaya and Vijaya) of the abode of Vishnu, known as Vaikunta (meaning place of eternal bliss), barred revered sages from entering Vishnu's abode on counts that the lord had other preoccupations. The sages having taken great measures to travel to Vishnu's abode were furious at the insolence shown by the gatekeepers and cursed the Jaya and Vijaya to be born as mortals and roam the earth (Bhuloka). The gatekeepers reported back to Vishnu of the incident that had taken place. Vishnu was disappointed at the lack of judgement shown by Jaya and Vijaya, in that he has time for all his devotees and would have taken time to meet with them regardless of other preoccupations. He told them that he could not take back the curse, but could give them options on how the curse would be lived out. He gave them the option either to be born several many times as great devotees of the Lord Vishnu, or a few times as powerful individuals that were the sworn enemies of the Lord Vishnu, and to die at the hands of Lord Vishnu. The dwarapalakas chose to be born a few times as enemies of Lord Vishnu, and took the form of the demons, Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu in Krita Yuga, Ravana and Kumbakarna in Treta Yuga, and dantavaktra and Shishupala in Dwapara Yuga. In this era, known in Sanskrit as the Kali Yuga, Jaya and Vijaya are free from their curse, and they can be seen as gatekeepers in Vishnu temples (and temples affiliated with Vaishnavism). Famous temples where statues of Jaya-Vijaya stand are the temple of Venkateswara in Tirumala (and at several many Venkateswara temples worldwide), the temple of Jagannath in Puri, and the temple of Ranganatha in Srirangam. However, Jaya-Vijaya dwarapalakas are most commonly associated with Venkateswara temples in the United States of America.

ee also

*Bhagavata Purana
*Nio