Indīvarāksha, A Vidyādhara

Indīvarāksha was a powerful Gandharva who was turned into a scary monster after he tried to learn medicine in secret, but he was eventually saved by Svaroci.

The Prince Who Wanted to Be a Doctor

Indīvarāksha was a famous and noble vidyādhara who lived in the higher worlds. He was the son of a great leader named Khaṅgīnalanābha and the father of a beautiful girl named Manoramā. More than anything else, he wanted to master the ancient science of healing called Āyurveda. He visited a very wise Rishi named Brahmamitra and begged to be taught, but the teacher recognizing his lack of humbleness, rejected him. Determined, Indīvarāksha decided to hide nearby and listen while the teacher gave lessons to his regular students. By being very clever and focused, he managed to learn all eight parts of the Āyurveda in only eight months.

The Teacher’s Heavy Curse

After Indīvarāksha finished his secret studies, he felt so much pride that he could not help but laugh loudly and make fun of the Rishi. Brahmamitra realizing what happened, was angered. Considering that Indīvarāksha acted like a sneaky monster by taking knowledge without permission. Brahmamitra cursed hin to actually turn into a rākshasa in just seven nights. Even though Indīvarāksha cried and bowed at the teacher’s feet to apologize, the curse began to change his body right away.

A Monster with a Memory Problem

Brahmamitra eventually felt pity for Indīvarāksha and told him that there was a way to break the curse. Brahmamitra explained that while he was a rākshasa, Indīvarāksha would forget who he was and even try to attack his own daughter, Manoramā. However, the teacher promised that if he ever faced the heat and power of an astra, he would suddenly remember his true self. This memory would be the key to turning back into a handsome Vidyādhara and returning to the gandharva loka.

The Rescue on the Mountain

Just as the teacher said, Indīvarāksha turned into a giant rākshasa and began chasing Manoramā across the steep slopes of Mandara mountain. He caught her and was just about to eat her when the brave Svaroci stood in his way. Svaroci pulled back his bow and prepared to fire a glowing astra known as the Pracaṇḍāstra. When Indīvarāksha saw the flashing light of the astra, his memory returned, and he begged Svaroci to stop. The scary monster shape vanished, and he became a prince again, wearing divine jewelry and bright clothes.

A Great Reward and a New Family

Indīvarāksha was so happy to be himself again that he thanked Svaroci for saving him from the terrible curse. To show his gratitude, he gave Manoramā to Svaroci as his wife. He also shared all the secret medical knowledge he had learned, teaching Svaroci the complete ashṭāṅga Āyurveda. After making sure his daughter was safe with a brave new husband, Indīvarāksha climbed into a divine vehicle and flew back to his home in the clouds.

Source: Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa, Chapter 58 – 64